Bryan Adams Photography Exhibit In Düsseldorf

April 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bryan Adams Exposed

Last week I came across a poster depicting a photograph of Amy Winehouse and the words “Bryan Adams – Exposed.” To my surprise, the poster was advertising an exhibition of Bryan Adams’ photographs. I was confused, Bryan Adams, isn’t he a singer?  I had to check with the Breidenbacher Hof Personal Assistants who always seem to know what is going on in Düsseldorf.

Bryan Adams Exposed

It seems that Brian Adams, known for such songs as Summer of ‘69, has been exhibiting his photographs at the NRW-Forum in Düsseldorf.  The exhibit runs through May 22nd 2013.  Adams has been shooting photos since childhood.  His hobby evolved into a passion and has become widely acknowledged.  Subjects include portraits of his family, friends, and other elements that define him and his surrounding.

I of course had to see the exhibit for myself!  After all, I’ve loved him as a musician- I had to see his photos!

The breadth of topics was immense.  On the one hand there were photographs of superstars, ranging from Michael Jackson to Amy Winehouse to Mickey Rourke.   Yet, at the same time, Adams shot images of British soldiers returning from a foreign assignment.  These photos were particularly provocative and included images of injured soldiers going on with their lives by presenting their strength and will to live.  My personal favorite was a picture of Queen Elizabeth II, which he took on the occasion of her golden jubilee. The photo is so impressive that you can now find it on Canadian stamps!

So if you have the opportunity to see one of his exhibitions, such as the current one in Düsseldorf, I can definitely recommend it to you!  If you are staying at the Breidenbacher Hof, A Capella Hotel just ask your Personal Assistant and they will bill happy to arrange the visit for you!

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Bryan Adams Ausstellung in Düsseldorf

April 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bryan Adams Exposed

Letzte Woche bin ich zufällig auf ein Poster gestoßen, auf dem ein Foto von Amy Whinehouse zu sehen war, sowie die Worte „Bryan Adams – Exposed“. Zu meiner Überraschung war das Poster die Ankündigung zu einer Fotoausstellung von Bryan Adams. Ich war etwas verwirrt, Bryan Adams ist doch Sänger, oder? Also habe ich kurzerhand unsere Persönlichen Assistenten befragt, die immer auf dem Laufenden sind, vor allem was Events rund um Düsseldorf angeht.

Bryan Adams Exposed

Es sieht so aus, als würde Bryan Adams, der sonst bekannt ist für Lieder wie Summer of ’69, tatsächlich seine Fotografien im NRW-Forum hier in Düsseldorf ausstellt. Die Ausstellung geht noch bis zum 22. Mai diesen Jahres. Das Fotografieren ist schon seit seiner Kindheit ein großes Hobby des Sängers. Aus diesem Hobby hat sich eine Leidenschaft entwickelt, wie er nun beeindruckend präsentiert. Schon immer hat Adams Bilder von seiner Familie, Freunden und anderen Dingen gemacht, die ihn und seine Umgebung beeinflussten.

Selbstverständlich wollte ich mir diese Ausstellung unter gar keinen Umständen entgehen lassen! Da ich Bryan Adams schon immer als Musiker sehr geschätzt habe, musste ich mir nun auch ein Bild von seinen Qualitäten als Fotograf machen!

Die Bandbreite seiner Themen war beeindruckend. Zum Einen zeigt er seine persönliche Interpretation von Superstars wie Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse und Micky Rourke, zum Anderen aber auch Bilder von britischen Soldaten, die aus einem Auslandseinsatz zurückgekehrt sind. Letztere Fotografien sind zum Teil provokativ und enthalten Aufnahmen von verletzten Soldaten, wie sie ihren Alltag fortsetzen und dabei ihre Stärke und ihren Lebenswillen zeigen. Mein persönliches Lieblingsbild ist das von Queen Elizabeth II, welches Adams anlässlich ihres goldenen Thronjubiläums machte. Das Foto war so beeindruckend, dass man es nun in Kanada auf Briefmarken findet!

Solltet ihr die Möglichkeit haben eine seiner Ausstellungen zu besuchen, zum Beispiel die aktuelle in Düsseldorf, kann ich es Euch nur empfehlen! Wenn ihr im Breidenbacher Hof, A Capella Hotel übernachtet, fragt doch einfach unsere Persönlichen Assistenten und sie werden gerne alles für Euren Besuch vorbereiten!

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Chicken And Lobster Ravioli At The Knolls

April 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Chicken And Lobster Ravioli

Starting the first of April, The Knolls got a brand new menu, specially designed by our new Executive Chef, David Senia. It has been very exciting to have Chef Senia on the team, not just because of his vast years of experience that he brings to the kitchen but also his friendly and cheerful personality which brings much life to the kitchen at The Knolls.

Part of the exciting tasks leading up to a new menu launch is the tastings and food shows. Watching the chefs at work skillfully plating each dish is almost like watching a work of art come to life. Next up is the tasting of the food. One of the signatures on the new menu is the Chicken and Lobster Ravioli.  This is a unique dish because it is served with a light citrus sauce, giving it a mildly tangy flavor, which perfectly complements the savory elements.

And what better way to celebrate the new menu than with the recipe for Chicken and Lobster Ravioli?  Now admittedly, this recipe is a bit labor intensive.  So if it is too much for you, then please stop by The Knolls and allow our chefs to prepare it for you!

Chicken And Lobster RavioliIngredients:

Ravioli-
700g  Lobster
700g  Foie gras
500g  Celeriac
300g  Chicken breast
1tbs  Olive oil
White pepper & salt (to taste)
50g  Chicken stock
100g  Ready-made Pasta dough

Ragout-
100g  Shallots
1  Lemon skin
1  Orange skin
1  Tomatoes
100g  Olive oil

Method:

For The Ravioli-
-Remove the lobster from the shell, keeping the head and the shells
-Blend the lobster, foie gras and chicken breast in a food processor until smooth
-Add in the olive oil and mix well. Season with salt & pepper
-Roll out pasta dough and make ravioli with the lobster and chicken stuffing
-Keep refrigerated until needed

For The Ragout-
-Dice the shallots and tomatoes
-Cut the orange and lemon skins into fine slices and blanche in water to remove the bitterness
-Combine shallots, tomatoes, orange and lemon skin, with the olive oil and mix well

For The Sauce-
-Roast the lobster shells in a pan until fragrant
-Add in the chicken stock and reduce until it begins to thicken
-Add a touch of cream and season with salt & pepper
-Strain and keep aside until needed

To Serve-
-Blanche the readymade ravioli in a salted boiling water for about 2 or 3 minutes until cooked
-Add the cooked ravioli into the sauce and braise, until the sauce coats the ravioli
-Divide the ravioli into pasta plates and pour the sauce over
-Drizzle the ragout on top

 

Voila!  Enjoy this beautiful Chicken and Lobster Ravioli!

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Visiting Capella Ixtapa and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

April 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Capella Ixtapa, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Capella Ixtapa is located in a unique and beautiful area of Guerrero, Mexico.  Blending into the lush green backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo lies along a hilly tropical coastline and is surrounded by dozens of white sandy beaches.  I am fortunate to live in a paradise that blends two diverse destinations into one.  Ixtapa is a modern, master planned resort town with perfectly maintained landscaping, vanguard architectural design and services, a luxurious Marina with yachts from all parts of the world, exclusive residential areas, boutiques and two 18-hole, designer golf courses.  Meanwhile, Zihuatanejo is a charming traditional fishing village, rich in folklore and history and complete with its harbor, market, townsquare, beaches and main street.  Though the two towns have their differences in habitat and style, they share that same wonderful sense of Mexican hospitality.

Capella Ixtapa, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Both of the towns and the hotel offer a myriad of opportunities to explore the area and enjoy its surroundings.  In this blog post I list some of my colleagues’ and my favorite activities in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.  If you are interested in any, please send us an email, we’d be happy to organize the experience during your visit to Capella Ixtapa:

-  A visit to Petatlan, a town known for it’s gold market, church and typical Mexican street scene. You can learn more about Petatlan in our previous blog posts here and here.

-  Eco Tourism: Experience the eco-tourism in Ixtapa while biking, kayaking, snorkeling or visiting the wildlife refuge, El Refugio de Potosí.

-  A visit to Barra de Potosí: This small beachside village has endless fine-sand beaches and a large lagoon brimming with bird life.  You can swim, take boat trips, rent a kayak and paddle around the estuary or go horseback riding.

-  Golfing: Golf courses in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo are carved into some of the most stunning landscapes that you have seen, designed to seamlessly blend in with natural landscape.  Capella Ixtapa guests are granted access to the best area courses to enjoy during a golf vacation in Mexico.

-  Deep-Sea or Small Game Fishing Trips: Go deep-sea fishing with experienced and local captain and crew for Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado or Tuna.  While small-game fishing, you can reel in Bonita, Yellow Fin Tuna, Snapper, and many others.

-  Cook Your Own Catch: Bring your catch back to the hotel, and our Chef will prepare a delicious feast for you (you can even help the Chef prepare your lunch or dinner with a personalized cooking tutorial!).

-  Private Picnic on the Beach: Enjoy this lunch Oceanside listening to the sound of the waves crushing on the cliffs or in the privacy of your suite.

-  Swimming and Snorkeling at Ixtapa Island or Las Gatas beach: both beaches offer one of the best snorkeling experiences in the Pacific area.  The Ixtapa Island   (our General Manager’s favorite spot to swim and relax) has four different beaches to explore and enjoy, and Las Gatas Beach will enchant you with its white coral sand beach and crystalline water.

-  Sunset Cruise: Experience Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo from the Ocean, and enjoy the sunset with a grand view of the hotel zone of Ixtapa.

-  Shopping and City Tour: Take those postcard perfect pictures and shop for traditional Mexican artisan souvenirs.

-  Zihuatanejo Market (or a visit with our Chef): A small town market is a place where the sentiment of old Mexican tradition of “trade” still lives on, el Mercado is a place where farmers meet and sell their goods.  Experience the stalls full of colors, textures and smells where you’ll be able to buy some of the freshest fish, meat and produce.  You can accompany our Chef during his trip to the market and once you arrive back at the Hotel, you can join the Chef in the kitchen for cooking lessons using your purchases, and enjoy your creations in your private lunch set up overlooking the Pacific.

-  Swimming with Dolphins: A favorite activity with both children and adults; swim with dolphins and learn about these amazing mammals.

-  Horse Back Riding: Ride along the beach at Playa Larga or trot along picturesque countryside trails throughout our mountain ranch tour.

-  Canopy Tour: Enjoy a family adventure that provides just the right mix of fun, physical challenges and pure adrenaline rush.  There are different high ropes activities such as hanging and moving bridges, ladders, and zip lines up to 250 meters long and 30 meters high that allow you to fly through the trees.

We also have some fantastic activities on property, including:

Capella Signature Margarita Making Classes

Educational Tequila Tasting

Mexican Wine Pairing Dinner

Mexican Cooking Classes

 

For more information on any of the above mentioned activities – or any other activity you are interested in doing in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo please contact our Personal Assistant at pa.ixtapa@capellahotels.com or call them at +52 755 55 5 11 00.  Your PA looks forward to helping you experience Capella Ixtapa and our beautiful Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo!

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Un Destino, Doble placer: Ixtapa – Zihuatanejo

April 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Capella Ixtapa, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Capella Ixtapa está ubicado en una única y hermosa área de Guerrero, México. Mezclado entre el exuberante telón verde de las montañas de la Sierra Madre, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo se ubica en una costa de montañas tropicales rodeada por docenas de playas de arena blanca. Soy muy afortunada de vivir en un paraíso que mezcla dos destinos tan diversos en uno solo. Ixtapa es una ciudad resort, planeada y moderna con un paisaje perfectamente mantenido, servicios y diseño arquitectónico de vanguardia, una lujos Marina con yates de todas partes del mundo, exclusivas zonas residenciales, boutiques y dos campos de golf de 18 hoyos. Mientras tanto Zihuatanejo es un encantador pueblo pesquero, rico en folklore y tradiciones, con su marina, mercado, playas, plaza y calle principal. A pesar de que los dos sitios tienen sus diferencias en estilo de vida, comparten el mismo sentimiento de hospitalidad mexicana.

Capella Ixtapa, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Ambos sitios ofrecen una gran variedad de opciones para explorar el área y disfrutar sus alrededores. En este texto enumeraré algunas de las actividades favoritas de mis colegas así como mías en Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Si les interesa realizar alguna, por favor mándanos un email, estaremos muy contentos de ayudarte a organizar una experiencia durante tu visita a Capella Ixtapa:

- Visitar Petatlán, un pueblo famoso por su mercado del oro, iglesia y típico sabor a pueblo mexicano. Puedes aprender más acerca de Petatlán en uno de nuestros anteriores blog posts dando click aquí y también aquí.

- Eco Turismo: Experimenta el eco turismo en Ixtapa, mientras paseas en bicicleta, haces kayak, snorkeleas o visitas el Refugio de Potosí.

- Barra de Potosí: Este pequeño pueblo junto al mar tiene infinitas playas de fina arena y una gran laguna llena de aves exóticas. Puedes nadar, tomar un pequeño tour en lancha, rentar un kayak y remar alrededor del estero o incluso montar a caballo por la playa.

- Golf: Los campos de Golf de Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo están ubicados en unos de los paisajes más bellos que alguna ves tendrás opción de experimentar, diseñados para armonizar perfectamente con el paisaje natural. Los huéspedes de Capella Ixtapa tienen acceso garantizado a los mejores campos para disfrutar del Golf durante tus vacaciones.

- Pesca Deportiva: Experimenta la pesca de mar profundo con experimentados capitanes y tripulación locales, Marlin, Pez Vela, Atún y Dorados son algunas de las especies que puedes conseguir en Ixtapa. También hay pesca más pequeña en Playa Bonita como Atún Aleta Amarilla, Pargo, y muchas especies más.

- Cocina tu propia pesca: Trae tu pesca del día de vuelta al hotel, y nuestro Chef te preparará un delicioso banquete (incluso puedes ayudar al Chef a prepararlo con un tutorial personalizado incluido!).

-Picnic privado en la Playa: Disfruta tu comida en la playa escuchando las olas rompiendo en las rocas o desde la privacidad de tu suite.

- Nado y Snorkel en Isla Ixtapa o en Playa Las Gatas: ambas playas ofrecen las mejores experiencias de snorkel en el Océano Pacífico. La Isla Ixtapa (el sitio favorito para relajarse y nadar de nuestro gerente general) tiene 4 diferentes playas que explorar y disfrutar, y Playa Las Gatas te encantará con su playa de arena blanca coral y su agua cristalina.

- Crucero a la Puesta del Sol: Vive Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo desde el Océano, y disfruta el atardecer con una impresionante vista de la bahía.

- Tour de la ciudad y compras: Toma esas fotos tan perfectas como en las postales y ve de compras buscando tradicionales souvenirs y artesanías mexicanas.

- Mercado de Zihuatanejo (o visita con nuestro Chef): Nada como un mercado de poblado pequeño para sentir el sabor auténtico de México, sitios donde la tradición del trueque aún existe, El Mercado es el lugar donde los productos locales aún ofrecen sus productos frescos. Experimenta los estantes llenos de colores, texturas y olores, donde podrás comprar pescado, carnes y productos de lo más fresco. Puedes también acompañar a nuestro Chef en la cocina para una clase de cocina con los ingredientes que adquiriste, y disfruta de nuestras creaciones culinarias en una cena privada contemplando el Océano Pacífico.

- Nado con Delfines: Una de las actividades favoritas tanto de niños como adultos; nada con delfines y aprende todo sobre estos sorprendentes mamíferos.

- Montar a Caballo: Monta a lo largo de Playa Larga o lleva tu caballo a trote alrededor de pintorescos paisajes y caminos rurales en las montañas que rodean el resort.

- Tour de tirolesa: Disfruta de la aventura en familia mezclando diversión, actividad física y adrenalina. Hay varias actividades de tirolesa para diferentes grados de emoción, lo mejor es que siempre sentirás la adrenalina de balancearte entre la jungla.

Dentro de nuestra propiedad también tenemos fantásticas actividades como:

-Clases de Margaritas características de Capella

-Cata educacional de Tequila

-Cena con maridaje de vinos mexicanos.

-Clases de cocina mexicana

Para más información sobre cualquiera de las actividades que mencionamos aquí -o algún otra actividad que tengas en mente mientras visites Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, por favor contacta a nuestro asistente personal en el correo: pa.ixtapa@capellahotels.com o llámalos al +52 755 55 5 11 00. Tu asistente personal está esperando poder servirte y ayudarte a organizar una experiencia inolvidable en el hermoso Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo!

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Opening Capella Washington D.C. Georgetown

April 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Capella Washington DC

I will never forget the memories created the morning of Friday, March 22nd, 2013 when Capella Washington D.C., Georgetown first opened doors to the public!  But before the doors opened the enthusiasm behind-the-scenes reached a fever pitch.  Excitement had been building days prior to opening, with events such as orientation with our corporate leaders, to daily training sessions with department heads from other Capella Hotels and Resorts locations, to our employee Pep Rally event the Thursday before opening!

Each happening made me feel closer and closer to my colleagues, managers and corporate leaders, and gave all of us here at Capella Washington D.C. inspiration and the required tools for success.  I have never been a part of a hotel opening before, but now that I have and as Peter Schoch, VP of Food & Beverage says, “no one will ever take that away from me.”

The morning of Pep Rally was my personal favorite.  I arrived at 8:00 am to ten boxes of Krispy Cream doughnuts and knew it was going to be a great day.  Alex Obertop, General Manager and CAO, Owen Dorsey, opened with some speeches.  They let us know today was a party- not only for the hotel, but also for all of us.

Opening Capella Washington DC

That’s when the marching band arrived!  The band from Dunbar High School in Washington D.C., positioned themselves in the middle of 31st street, outside of the hotel and began their march through the outdoor patio into the main lobby entrance.  From there it was one big celebration.  A fantastic DJ played music and plenty of delicious food from our neighboring restaurant was served.  Everyone was clapping, dancing and smiling.  There was even a great video montage of everything we had done to get to this point— opening a hotel is hard work!  And after all of it, this was just what we needed.  The celebration really was the ultimate kick off to the journey we are now on.  I am so proud of what we’ve created and I am excited for you to experience it for yourself.

To hear more, be sure to follow me, your Capella Washington D.C. Insider, on Facebook & Twitter and keep a look out for my next blog post, featuring an annual spring specialty in Washington D.C.!

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