Tag Archives: Exclusive Pictures

Croatia: Le Mandrac, The Gourmet Restaurant in Opatijia

Posted on March 12, 2015 | Leave a comment

After my long visit of Opatija

with Zé under a blazing sun, we follow Lungumare (a paved path along the sea with a beautiful view) to Le Mandrac, a gourmet restaurant. We are in a small cove with a backdrop worthy of the golden age of the Italian cinema. It feels like home… and also reminded me of the Marseille’s Calanques and a distant dinner at Chez Fonfon (a famous restaurant in Marseille).

I love the scenery, I’m blown away! The view from our table is just WOW (picture 1)! Impeccable service. The black bread looks like the one I tasted in South Tyrol (picture 4). Excellent starters (pictures 2 & 3), followed by a perfectly grilled fish with olive oil (pictures 6 & 7) and a chocolate cake, with in the middle some hot chocolate and garnished with a lemon sorbet … OMG and beleive me, I am not at all a dessert person (pictures 8 & 9). After the second starter, I wasn’t hungry!

The chef Denis Zembo

Honestly, I think it must be a nightmare to have lunch with me. Each dish is carefully photographed before and sometimes even after, as below, LOL! Here everything is so flavorful and tasty that between the main course and dessert, I improvise a quick meeting with the talented chef and owner of Le Mandrac, Denis Zembo (picture above):

– How would you describe your cooking? – Mediterranean cuisine with a twist. Unpredictable and surprising.

– What kind of ingredients inspire you? – Only some Mediterranean herbs and garlic found in the mountains. I like to use different techniques, such as caramelize. The presentation is half of the dish too.

– What traditional Croatian dish would you recommend to someone who comes for the first time in Croatia? – The risotto, all made pasta, scampi. My avant-garde interpretation of traditional fritaja (fritaya), with scrambled eggs and local ingredients: wild asparagus, truffles and mushrooms.

Thank you Denis Zembo.

Informations

Le Mandrac : Obala F. Supila 10, Volosko, 51410 Opatija – Tel +385 51 701 357. Opatija Tourist Board & www.visitcroatia.be

Follow my whole trip in the CROATIA section. ENJOY! I was hosted by the Office National Croate du Tourisme and as usual all my opinions are mine.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS, LIFESTYLE & HOTEL REVIEWS

3 Irresistible Fragrances for Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2015 | Leave a comment

To all the lovers of scents: three irresistible Fragrances for the Valentine’s Day and spring. Gentlemen, think to add with this nice attention: an exuberant bouquet of red-fuchsia peonies for a change, a fine jewels (diamonds are best friends of your girlfriends) or a pair of Louboutin!

Evening Rose of Aerin

Singular, explosive and refined for a glamorous sensual woman. An unexpected cocktail of rose and cognac, yes! I love the rose-based scents: here, with Rosa Centifolia and Rosa Bulgarian Absolute. Beautiful packaging and the bottle cap adds an extra sensuality to this strong fragrance.

Take the Evening Rose of Aerin on a wild beach in Portugal.

Jimmy Choo

Sexy, spicy and provocative for an explosive woman, inevitably a bit fatal. Sparkling hot rich fragrance with fruity and woody nuances. The packaging is a bit “too much” but that still stays chic and the bottle is super explicite. Yes, you are a sex bomb in Jimmy Choo!

Take your Jimmy Choo (fragrance & shoes) to a city trip in Paris, London and New York baby!

Cherry Blossom L’Eau of L’Occitane

Happy, subtle and airy for a mysterious graceful mischievous woman. This Eau de parfum (“eau” means water) is light and fresh, like a smile. The flowers of cherry trees of Luberon (in the South of France) symbolize the renewal, spring and contagious sense of happiness. Spray it from head to toes to feel flying!

Take the Cherry Blossom L’eau to celebrate Hanami in Kyoto or The Royal Greenhouses in Laeken

Related posts : BEAUTY & DESTINATIONS

Swarovski Optik: Binoculars CL Pocket 8×25

Posted on January 10, 2015 | Leave a comment

Portugal-Sagres-Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-7

I tested the binoculars CL Pocket 8×25

I love being surrounded by nature

but I must confess I’m not a bird watcher. I’m more obsessed with the Ocean and I really like spending my freetime to walk along the coast to enjoy the endless view and sometimes surfer friends in the water. When I received the beautiful binoculars CL Pocket 8×25, I decided to try them in Sagres, one of my favourite part of Portugal.

So I went to the Fortress of Sagres (Fortaleza de Sagres), overlooking a cliff facing the Atlantic Ocean with spectacular views. The fortress is near Cape St. Vincent, the most easterly point on the south-western part of Portugal. A very windy area, but this time I was lucky, no wind and an incredible light. I guess the best conditions to test binoculars and make these pictures.

Bel objet, great luxury design

The binoculars CL Pocket are so small and compact that they are easy to slip into a small bag. By cons I found them a bit heavy to put in the pocket of my jacket. Finally I’ve kept them around my neck.

It wasn’t so easy to adjust both lens. Believe me or not, it was the first time I used binoculars (yep!). And as I never read the instructions before (LOL)… When I succeeded, what fun! It was like a new world opened up to me! Even the birds have started to become more interesting to me! Unfortunately, the lens of my camera is not able to show the scale of what I was looking through the binoculars.

I’ve never thought binoculars could change as much my perception of what surrounded me. The quality of the lens definition is amazing! It’s like having the full picture with all of the details.