Paladar La Guarida, Havana, Cuba

Paladar La Guarida in Havana, Cuba is the place where the famous movie "Fresa y Chocolate" was filmed. Since then it has become one of the hottest places in town. So when I went to Havana, La Guarida was on the top of my list!

My expectations were very high, since I read all the reviews on websites like Tripadvisor, Lonely planet, The New York Times, etc.
To my surprise La Guarida had its own website, which was even available in English (not very common in Cuba). I booked a table on-line and counted the days until my departure!

The hotel warned me to take a cab, because the restaurant is located in a poor neighbourhood. But nothing could have prepared me for the entrance to La Guarida's building... it felt like I walked into a movie.
I won't reveal too much though... so you can experience it yourself!

It is an amazing place... with absolutely gorgeous interiors... wonderful food (certainly for Cuban standards): fresh vegetables, salad, honey-mustard chicken, pork, seafood... My first visit was over lunch and the chef surprised me with a 'mean' pasta al limone e vodka. Wow!

The lovely lady who served me, Antonieta, spoke perfect English; she told me to come back at night for a more romantic atmosphere. So I did... and was not disappointed! By the way, if you go at night, ask for a table on the balcony.

La Guarida became right then and there one of my favourite restaurants... not just in Cuba, but in the world!!!

Really, I fell completely in love with La Guarida and didn't want to leave! What a pity that it is so far away from where I live...

Paladar La Guarida
Concordia No.418 /Gervasio y Escobar
Havana
Cuba
Tel: +53 7 866-9047
Website: www.laguarida.com 
(The website is not always available)

People... Green with envy

Doesn't his girl look good in green? I love they way she paired the green jeans with the green scarf. It's fashionable, but she's no fashion victim! (And she was really friendly too!)

Photo taken in Dusseldorf, Germany, with a Samsung Galaxy S phone.

Moët & Chandon Etoile Award for Mario Testino

On September 19th Peruvian fashion photographer Mario Testino was honoured with the first Moët & Chandon Etoile Award for his exceptional talent, achievements and charitable work (and for letting all the 'etoiles' shine). 

Testino celebrates 30 years in the business this year. He can count among his clients the British royal family, Prince Willem-Alexander and Maxima of the Netherlands, Kate Moss (he did her wedding photos), many fashion magazines and fashion houses such as Gucci, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace.

The whole fashion scene was there to celebrate with him: Kate Moss, Anna Wintour, Sienna Miller, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Candice Swanepoel, Georgia May Jagger, just to name a few.

Jo Thornton, Managing Director of Moët Hennessy UK stated “We are absolutely delighted that Mario Testino will be the inaugural recipient of the Moët & Chandon Etoile Award. Mario’s career mirrors perfectly the spirit of generosity and creative passion that the award captures and we look forward to acknowledging his achievements with the most glamorous of celebrations”.

Ps. I don't know if it was because of the weddings of the year (Kate & Kate).... or for some other reason, but many stars were dressed in white... for the occasion paired with red lipstick!

Photos courtesy of Moët & Chandon.

Latin chic!

Do you love the latin lifestyle as much as I do? Then you should get one of these books, that can show you how to create a latin atmosphere in your livingroom, kitchen & bedroom...!

The colours are so vibrant, the photos so beautiful, the recipes so yummy... Oh... and then those latinas..! Don't they look überchic? (The male models don't look too bad either.)

The first book, Latin Chic by the Venezuelan Carolina Buia and by Cuban-American Isabel González, gives brilliant advice on how to throw a latin style party. What food to cook, which drinks to serve, which flowers to buy and which dress to wear. Simply amazing!

Latin grill is not only a book with mouthwatering recipes, but also a wonderful coffee table book, because of the beautiful photos.

Well and then MaRio De Janeiro by Mario Testino... that might not exactly be suitable for the coffeetable, but is a musthave for fashionistas and photography lovers alike.

Last but not least, Living in Argentina is a great book to dream away & to see how stylish Argentians live.

For more information please visit:

Latin Chic http://www.latinchicstyle.com

Latin Grill http://www.amazon.com/Latin-Grill-Red-Hot-Dinners-Parties/dp/0811866602

MaRio De Janeiro

http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/photography/all/05732/facts.mario_de_janeiro_testino.htm

Living in Argentina

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Argentina-Taschens-Lifestyle-Cardinale/dp/3836508451

People... at Jackie's Best Dressed List Party

The guests at Jackie's Best Dressed List Party went to great lenghts to wear something special! I have to say it is kind of scary to decide what to wear to such an event. You certainly don't want to pick the "wrong" outfit or see another fashionista turning up in the same dress.... now would you?

Even on Twitter people were writing about their pre-party-what-to-wear-stress (including Jackie's Editor in Chief Eva Hoeke)!

All the big trends for the next season were there: animal prints, boy-meets-girl, clashing prints, lace and colour, colour, colour....
especially many shades of rust, reddish-brown, orange and ocher.

And yes... that is me in the last picture, wearing an off-white lace top by Zara, green skirt (vintage), bag by Mango, shoes by Comme il Faut, watch by Michael Kors.

First Days of Fall

I took these photos during the first days of fall. Can you believe that? Beautiful weather, sunny, warm... even better than summer! Probably because when you know warm days are gonna be scarce for a little while, you enjoy them even more! 

The lady in white is my friend Brigitte!

Sandals by Paul Warmer: http://www.paulwarmer.com 

Flip flops by Havaianas: http://www.havaianas.com 

Salad by Sol Beach: http://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.com/2010/09/sol-beach-scheveningen-netherlands.html 

Champagne by Beachclub Doen: 

http://tarasdolcevita.blogspot.com/2011/09/beachclub-doen-scheveningen.html

Photos taken with Samsung Galaxy S phone.

People... Polish Couture

In one word: wow! I saw this model walking down the street in Warsaw and immediately loved her dress. Unfortunately I don't know the name of the designer... she walked really fast... and I don't speak Polish... So if you know who designed this outfit, please fill me in!