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Category: Fabulous friday

El Capricho in Jimenez de Jamuz, a small village outside of Leon, Spain, north of Madrid, has the serious distinction of having been named as one of the ten best steak restaurants in the World by Luxatic https://luxatic.com/best-steak-houses-in-the-world/. Travelers from Asia and other parts of Europe as well as the US, some flying in on private jets, to feast on their high quality dry aged steaks raised in their own farms, accompanied by organic home grown vegetables including some serious tomatoes and strawberries, and accompanied by their own wines. That, in itself, was enough for me to put it on my itinerary for a recent trip to Spain, but I was also to find out that El Capricho is a travel destination in itself to spend the entire day. And then there are its neighboring villages with their own appeal and El Capricho’s six room hotel to spend the night.
A gem of an exhibit for lovers of fashion and photography is  “High Fashion & Street Style” now at the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach .It features works of the all time greats of worldwide fashion photography juxtaposed with the contrasting street style photography. As they wrote in the program, “High Fashion photography embodies the life to which we aspire, street photography the life we actually lead”.Close to one hundred artists from Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts to Richard Avedon and Stevel Meisel and over 250 works dating from the 1930’s are represented. Here’s a photo gallery of some of my favorites (a tough choice).
Even if you aren't usually a particular fan of Colombian fashion, you might very well change your mind after seeing the fashions at St. Dom, what I call the "Temple" of designers for men and women in Bogota, Colombia. I had been following St.Dom on instagram along with other fashion in Colombia. Then, on a recent business trip to Bogota, I made a detour to their three story shop, a companion to a sister shop in Cartagena, and was blown away by the quality, design, and style of their 140 brands of clothing for men and women, accessories,  items of home decor and even chocolate sculptures. If you want to do a total remake of your wardrobe it's almost worth a trip there in itself.
Blueberry pancakes the size of a plate with lots of Amish butter and bacon at Reading Terminal in Philadelphia, lox and bagel at Barney Greengrass in New York, jamon serrano on a crusty roll at a bar in Spain, they all make for a delicious breakfast. But then, on another level are the breakfast buffets at top hotels – the lavish spreads with a highlight of cheeses and cold cuts at the Adlon in Berlin, all matter of herrings and other fishes at the Grand Hotel in Oslo,  Asian and European buffet at the Peninsula in Bangkok, and now there’s a new and very different edition to the list worthy of Fabulous Friday—breakfast at Maison Dedine, a five room Small Luxury Hotel of the World in Tunis, This make you hungry for breakfast in Miami? Read on until the end for my eariier two part series on where to go here.
Softer, lighter and fluffier than the finest cashmere I’ve ever felt is – would you believe – wool made from the fine undercoat fibers of wild goats from Kyrgystan, in the foothills of the Himalayas . It’s called Yangir. And then there’s the wool made from baby camel hair in Mongolia which it’s said “drives you to sin”   They’re the latest innovation and product of eight generation French company Brun de Vian-Tiran, founded in 1808, and  based in one of my new favorite towns -- L’Isle Sur La Sorgue in Luberon, Provence. There’s a museum you can visit and the products are sold online.
Bern’s Steak House in Tampa is nationally reknowned for its prime steaks. In fact, it has become a site for a foodie pilgrimage over the years, almost a reason in itself for a trip to Tampa. And yes, the steaks are top notch and it’s an experience. But, what is less known is its Dessert Room which warrants Fabulous Friday status. We’re talking a 45 page dessert menu for starters. That’s just the beginning of the story.
On a recent trip to Turkey thanks to our exceptional tour guide, Gamze Arteman,  I came across Iznik ceramics which are considered among the finest works of art from the Ottoman Empire. The art form was established and patronized by the sultans.. As any great art works or art form, they withstand the judgment of time, able to compete among the finest contemporary works in their genre.
Spotted at Acne Studios in Milan, this "handbag" when whichever one you have is never big enough.
In New York City, a place known for its pastrami sandwiches, Pop's Pastrami is a standout. I'm drooling just thinking about it.
First came the American travelers In their private jets, then frequent travelers to Italy who have done Tuscany, Venice, Rome and Florence. Apulia (or Puglia in Modern Italian) is getting discovered, but has still escaped the crowds and high prices, and maintains its authenticity and sense of place, and it’s a gem. It was here we recently traveled after Ethiopia (Ethiopian Airways has nonstop service from Addis Ababa to Rome). As with my earlier travel Fabulous Friday, rather than a travel article, I’m going to tell you about fascinating facts about the region relating to Italian history and customs, and show you culinary eye candy. Sit back, relax, and enjoy: