Lotus Cars Releases the new luxury Emira Model for Serious Sportscar Drivers

Lotus is launching one of its latest super fast sports cars for people who love drive at high speeds around tight corners in luxury and comfort. The name is the Lotus Emira. The new model brings a combination of high design and technology, enhanced stability, and remarkable road handling with a low centre of gravity. The car also includes a powerful AMG turbocharged 4-cylinder engine to deliver ample acceleration and power.

The Emira recently made its debut appearance in the United States with Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button as the driver. Jenson put the all-new petrol-powered sports car through its paces at Laguna Seca Raceway. Like Lotus, Jenson was in California for Monterey Car Week, the Radford 62-2 – a reinterpretation of the Lotus Type 62 to be manufactured using Lotus technology – recently received its world premiere ahead of making its public debut with the Emira on the Lotus stand at The Quail, A Motorsport Gathering.

 

The Emira is an all-new mid-engined sports car that perfectly embodies the ongoing transformation of the iconic British sports car manufacturer. Its striking design is delivering exotic supercar appeal in sports car segment, with inspiration from the Lotus Evija hypercar clear in its fluid surfaces and crisp feature lines.

Two petrol engines are available, including a new-to-Lotus 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘i4’ from technical partner AMG as well as the much-loved and characterful 3.5-litre supercharged V6 from the critically acclaimed Evora GT.

 

A choice of manual, automatic and Dual Clutch Transmission is available, with power output from 360 to 400 hp at launch. All versions will hit 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds.

The United States and North America are key markets for the Emira as Lotus transforms into a truly global performance car company, and Lotus retailers across the country have already seen strong demand from potential customers.

For more information visit www.LotusCars.com

 

 

See the Top Artisan Fragrances of 2021

Read more

Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel debuts Fredericks for Breakfast and Lunch in San Francisco

The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in San Francisco recently opened their new eatery called Fredericks.

Fredericks is helmed by Executive Chef Daniel Corey (formerly of Michelin Star LUCE at the InterContinental), paying homage to Frederick C. Clift, the original owner of the property. The restaurant has a black and white floor similar to what adorned the space in the 1920s, as well as neutral walls with exposed brick, also part of the earlier space. The floor itself was the inspiration for the rest of the decor, which features a classical look from the hotel’s original restaurant while echoing the chic feel of modern day San Francisco.

Fredericks has a combination of booth, banquette and square table seating for guests who want to linger, enjoy their meal, and soak up the ambiance. A sampling of the breakfast menu reveals sweet pastries at breakfast such as a Kouign-Amann Baton and savory pastries like the Union Square with Sausage, Hash Browns, Egg & Cheese, as well as tasty offerings such as a Gravlax Plate with Bagel, Salmon, Cream Cheese, Tomato, Red Onion & Capers; Avocado Toast on Sourdough with an 8 Minute Egg; and a California Shakshuka with two Poached Eggs, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cilantro, and Yogurt.

The restaurant also serves lunch, where patrons will find soups and salads including the Kale Salad with Medjool Date, Almonds, Aged White Cheddar and Sherry Vinaigrette, alongside sandwiches and more substantial fare such as Fish Tacos made with Crispy Local Rock Cod, Smoked Jalapeno Crema, &  Marinated Cabbage and a Half-Roasted Chicken with Marble Potatoes and Grilled Lemon.

In addition, in a section with high seating and smaller tables, Fredericks also serves to-go food and drinks – with selections designed to complement the offerings in the Redwood Room – including a high-end coffee program with partner roaster, Peerless, gourmet pastries and snacks, elevated comfort food, and wine, beer and cocktails on tap.

The Clift’s legendary Redwood Room reopened on July 1, 2021 with a new sumptuous food menu, handcrafted cocktails, and a revitalized look. The room retains its namesake redwood walls and glamorous lighting, only undergoing a change in furniture, flooring, and wall art. The new bar is manufactured from an 800-year-old redwood tree found by a custom woodworker in Montana. Also new — original Gustav Klimt paintings [reproductions created by students of Klimt, under his direction] uncovered onsite during the hotel renovations — have been painstakingly restored and re-hung, lending the room an art nouveau ambiance.  Menu items include Warm Orange Pull-Apart Buns with Honey Butter made with honey from The Clift’s own rooftop beehives, Waygu Beef “Double Double” Sliders with White Cheddar and Onion Jam on a Brioche Bun, and Oysters on the Half Shell with Passion Fruit Mignonette and Caviar.  Newer cocktails include an updated Old Fashioned (“The Big Chair”) – a nod to the famed oversized chair that every visitor to The Clift has likely taken a photo with, and “The Mr. Clift”, the lounge’s take on a Manhattan.

More information at:
https://www.redwoodroomsf.com/

Fredericks is open seven days a week, Reservations are not required. https://www.sonesta.com/us/california/san-francisco/clift-royal-sonesta-hotel/fredericks

 

What Luxury Celebrity Swag was in the TASTE AWARDS VIP Gift Bags this Year

Every year the TASTE AWARDS event includes a fantastic feature called the VIP & Celebrity Gift Bag, also known as the Swag Bag. Even though the 12th Annual TASTE AWARDS were presented virtually due to the Pandemic, this tradition continued with “bags” becoming “boxes” that were shipped directly to select award winners, honorees, inductees, and nominees.

They included a selection of luxury chocolates and confections, as well as other unique surprises from partners such as Panache Chocolatier, CocoTutti,  Toni’s Toffee, DGZ Chocolates (Toffarazzi), Hazelnut Hill, Mel’s Toffee, Luxx Chocolat, and Regenie’s.

Award winning filmmaker Rob Serrini produced a short and humorous video about what several award winners received in the 12th annual TASTE AWARDS VIP Gift Bag, which was shipped to them directly in that unique year for awards events during the pandemic.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chef Jernard Wells (@chefjernard)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Eamonn McCrystal (@eamonn.mccrystal)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The TASTE AWARDS (@tasteawards)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TasteTV (@taste_tv)

 

Looking for Natural Honey? Try these 3 Family-Owned Brands from California

Most honey is good for you, but the kind that comes from small family-owned producers is often the healthiest, and the tastiest. California is world renowned as being an excellent source of artisan honey. It is also one of the largest honey producing states, right Behind North Dakota and often ahead of Montana, South Dakota and Texas. Each year California produces almost 14,000 Pounds of Honey. In fact, for this reason as well as sustainability, all bees are considered valuable that in California even wild native bumble bees may become protected under the California’s Endangered Species Act.

We’ve tried many honey producers from the Golden State, and here are three family-owned brands you should try right now:

3 FAMILY-OWNED CALIFORNIA HONEYS

TRUE GOLD HONEY

True Gold is owned by mother-son duo Sarah and Tyler Sample, both of whom are 3rd and 4th generation beekeepers. They’ve grown up in the apiary business, and know their way around the hives with skills and experience.  Their bee farm is called the Sample Family Apiaries, with their separate honey business called True Gold.

ORANGE BLOSSOMEZ HONEY & WILDFLOWER HONEY

The True Gold Orange Blossom honey is a golden color with a citrus element of course, plus some zest. The Samples say that it can only be harvested where the weather is mild enough for orange trees to survive. Fortunately, the trees for their orange blossom honey basically come from around their own homes.

True Gold is well recognized for excellence, and has won Good Food Awards, Cal Expo Awards, and others.

https://truegoldhoney.com

 

KISS THE FLOWER HONEY

Kiss the Flower Honey Company was founded in 2010, and focuses on best practices for bees, people, and the planet. They use only natural methods, and have several hives in Sonoma County, including a Santa Rosa property, as well as in the West County. The flowers used in the honey include eucalyptus, Himalayan Blackberry, apples, and acacias. 
Kiss the Flower produces only about 3,000 pounds of honey per year.

WILDLFLOWER HONEY

The Kiss the Flower Wildflower is classic honey. Their wildflower honey comes from hives on Mount Taylor in Santa Rosa.

STARTHISTLE HONEY

The Kiss the Flower Starthistle honey is a light gold color, with a mild and flowery flavor profile, as well as a bit of anise and cinnamon.

https://kisstheflowerhoney.com

SEKA HILLS HONEY

Seka Hills has a line of tribal products that honor Northern California’s Capay Valley. The Native Tribe is known as the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation
meaning ‘Home by the Spring Water.’ In the native Patwin language, ‘Séka’ means ‘blue.’

The Tribe’s product decisions are based on good environmental stewardship, with over 22,000 total acres in production in Yolo County

WILDFLOWER HONEY

The Seka Hills Wildflower Honey gets its taste and dark amber color from variety of wildflowers, such as redbud, rose clover and ceanothus, which are found on over 9,000 acres of tribal land. They produce the artisan honey in partnership with beekeeper John Foster

https://www.sekahills.com/