Sommaire pour May 2023 de Robb Report

The menu’s fascinating sandwich course, Picnic Elena, pays homage to Catena’s mother, who loves making elaborate picnic sandwiches. Since bread is the soul of any sandwich, this one features a variety known as pan de oampo ("camp bread”), an Argentine country loaf prepared in mud ovens in the morning, often served with jam for breakfast or slathered with olive tapenade in the afternoon. Vigil updated the recipe, traditionally composed of flour and the special lard that makes Argentine empanada dough so delicate and flaky, with a blend of beef tallow and pork lard, as well as changed the bread’s shape. Vigil’s lard imparts a distinct flavor because it’s rendered from paneetta cured for 24 hours in a brine laced with juniper, bay leaf, and a mix of peppers. It’s that…

TRAVEL When architect Geoff Hull first stepped onto this old government office site on London’s Whitehall eight years ago, he found it in a hazardous state. He stumbled on everything from waterlogged basement flooring to air-conditioning ducts artlessly rigged down the center of corridors, an ad hoc solution that had defaulted to permanent. The stringent historic protectionism he was tasked to work within, known in the U.K. as listing, had seemingly not been applied by the government to its own Old War Office (OWO), a landmarked Edwardian-era building commissioned in 1898 and, famously, Winston Churchill’s office during WWII. “I could see the grandeur, the importance, but it was disappointingshocking, even—what the government had done to the building,” says Hull, a director at EPR Architects. Nonetheless, he says, “it was one…

"It was so fun,” says Roisin Lafferty, creative director of Kingston Lafferty, of designing the Dublin project her studio colorfully named the Kaleidoscope. The opulent city-center apartment, renovated for the very social Irish technology pioneers Dan and Linda Kiely, turned out to be a sexy mash-up of 1920s glam, 1970s luxe, and a heavy dose of Verner Panton whimsy. The result: a look that more closely resembles a private members’ club than your standard, run-of-the-mill flat. “It was kind of like designing a playground for adults,” says Lafferty of the couple’s second home, which is meant to be more of a party pad than a residence. “They’re pretty successful people [and] completely self-made. This was a celebration of their achievements and really just a chance for them to play,” she…

GENIUS AT WORK FIRST PRINTINGS OF popular titles such as To Kill a Mockingbird or The Old Man and the Sea can fetch upwards of $100,000—but not if their covers are battered, their dust jackets missing, or their delicate pages detached. Although returning damaged classics to their original condition may be impossible, having them finely bound can save cherished copies from the dustbin. Unlike antiques such as furniture and decor, the worth of which can be greatly diminished by restoration, literary works can recoup some of their monetary value (and extend their longevity) if properly refurbished. Chelsea Bindery in Battersea, London, takes the endeavor one step further by transforming first editions into objects even more decorative than the originals. “A particularly artistic or lavish binding adds to the desirability of…

It has been a topsy-turvy time for jet cards, one of the most popular forms of booking a private aircraft. Less expensive than fractional ownership and more consistent than on-demand charter, 20 new jet-card offerings have been introduced since the pandemic hit in 2020. “Folks who fly privately tend to be busy,” says Doug Gollan, president of Private Jet Card Comparisons. “The fixed-rate, guaranteedavailability cards make it easy: A call, text, email, or use the app, and bang—you’re booked in less than a minute.” From the lone Sentient Jet Card introduced 25 years ago, the number of programs has skyrocketed to more than 80. But during 2021 and much of 2022, as private aviation experienced record demand and a chronic shortage of available aircraft, 30 companies paused aspects of their…

For those who believe that the main purpose of fire is to make meat taste better, the quest for the holy grail of grilling never ends. In the past half decade, advances such as infrared cooking and remote sensors have made the summertime tradition a bit more scientific. Here are four hi-tech systems that will turn any backyard BBQ into a sizzling success. Nicolas Stecher Traeger Timberline XL Traeger continues optimizing its famed wood-pellet grills to set the market standard in precise, consistent temperature control. In addition to unprecedented customization options and patented engineering to bathe your meat in delicious woodsmoke, the $3,799 Timberline XL features a fullcolor touch screen offering a “set-it-and-forget-it” mode, and will even perform regular maintenance checks. Loaded with two Meater wireless thermometers, an improved 360…

STAGS LEAP DISTRICT, a small American Viticultural Area (AVA) on the east side of Napa Valley, skyrocketed to fame in 1976 when Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon took first place among red wines at the Judgment of Paris, beating out, among others, Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1970 and Chateau Haut-Brion from the same vintage. Fifty years after the production of the wine that would bring renown to this small AVA—and put Napa Valley on the map—the 16 wineries of Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association are releasing a limited-edition 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, the first collaboration among its members. Originally planted in the area in 1961, Cabernet Sauvignon accounts today for more than 80 percent of the grapes grown on Stags Leap’s 1,200 acres. With a winemaking history dating back to…

WATCHES & JEWELRY Bulgari is shedding its skin—again. To celebrate 75 years of its most seductive design, the Roman jeweler has managed to put a new twist on its most recognizable motif. This platinum-set diamond, onyx, and cabochon-emerald choker presents a bird’s-eye view of a snake’s figure as it slithers around the neck. Typically, a Serpenti design forms a loop, with the animal’s head meeting its tail below the wearer’s collarbone. This piece embodies a thoroughly modern and less literal presentation—no small feat when you consider the design has been continuously in vogue since the mid-20th century. But in fact, the new look is, at least in concept, closest to its earliest predecessor. The first Serpenti debuted in 1948 as a square-faced wristwatch with a coiled band; it wasn’t until…

The artistic director of Apparatus didn’t intend to start an influential and widely admired interior-design practice when he began creating his own lighting in 2010. At the time, the now 41-year-old Los Angeles native says, “it was about making things to live with.” After studying costume and scenic design at UCLA, Hendifar spent 10 years creating women’s wear and taking occasional interiors projects on the side. That combination might explain why the products he has penned for Apparatus—which he cofounded in 2012—have proven popular with stars such as Joseph Altuzarra, Rose Byrne, and Liev Schreiber, whose homes have all been illuminated by his fixtures. Along the way, he has also established outposts in L.A. and N.Y.C., and this month he’ll open a London showroom. But whether his products are installed…

THE RULE FOR spotting game in the bush is to look for what doesn’t belong. In the shaggy green wild of the southern Serengeti, a flash of ivory snags the eye like silk on a nail. Could it be? Yes, it is—a rare sight among the fever trees and gnarled acacias: a hot tub. It’s set into an elevated, wraparound deck of Kenyan Meru oak in the shadow of a sprawling canvas sheet. There are lounge chairs and, around the corner, a small dining table with a bottle of Chenin Blanc perspiring in a silver bucket on starched white cloth. The en suite, when fully opened to the breeze, offers panoramic watercolor views from the king-sized bed and feels closer to being outside than in, notwithstanding the stocked bar, writing…

DREAM MACHINES A DEVOTION TO MOTION Summer is on the horizon, so why not sail through the season aboard a superyacht from this selection of the largest, most distinctive, and sometimes offbeat vessels available for charter? Diverse amenities on unique vessels ranging from 144 feet to 377 feet include a sprawling owner’s deck, an extensive water-toy trove, and even a glassed-in garden. Whether it’s a newly built benchmark such as the 377-foot Ahpo, a reimagined classic like Coral Ocean, or a peerless design as seen with Maltese Falcon, each will be the pride of any port of call, from Sardinia to Saint-Tropez. Julia Zaltzman 1. Phoenix 2 (297 feet) Move over Jay Gatsby, Lürsen’s Phoenix 2 brings all the Art Deco that any fan of the 1920s aesthetic could want…

I suppose this is it. The beginning of the end. No, not even that. The end of the end. Before me, poised like a scorpion on a hot rock and looking slick in Ligurian satin black, is Jaguar’s F-iype R75 Coupe, a 567 hp, 5.0-liter clenched fist of supercharged V-8. It looks fantastic. Like it would pick a fight in a nunnery. It’s also the last sports car fit solely with an internal-combustion engine that the British marque will ever make, 75 years after its first, the peerless XK120. Strange and heavy words to write. We’ve known for years that the automotive sector would be sending gasguzzling cars the way of cigarettes and sunbeds, but even so, Jaguar’s clean-sheet strategy feels all too soon. Its electrified fleet is due in…

FIELD NOTES On the third night of my camel trek from Jaisalmer, India, figures from the desert materialized in our camp: an old man swaddled in shawls and a boy clutching a plastic oil canister. Greetings made, they sat by our fire. From his shawls, the man pulled out two flutes and began to play—a fluid, warbling melody over a low drone. The boy drummed his empty canister, producing booms and gulps like a tabla. Sparks crackled. The sky boiled with stars. In the intense silence between songs, you could hear the infinity of the universe. Although wrapped in a blanket, I had goose bumps. What I was experiencing was awe—and according to a recent book, it was more profound than you might imagine. In Awe: The New Science of…

The first time Greg Carr visited Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, in March 2004, he left a message in the visitor’s ledger, unaware the brief missive would prove prophetic—or that he would play a crucial part in its fulfilment. In the slim, faded black book from the early 2000s, among comments spaced months apart—a sign of the dismal tourism numbers—he wrote: “This is a spectacular park and it could become one of the best in Africa with some assistance. Greg Carr.” Almost two decades later, his encouraging words in the guest book have begun to ring true. Only an eternal optimist could have written such a positive assessment of a place that had been all but abandoned, where the most visible signs of animal life were swarms of mosquitoes. Gorongosa, sprawling…

Forget about returning from vacation with beach seifies and a tan. A whole new industry of luxury “trips”-guided psychedelic journeys that break down inner barriers and provide spiritual healing-is taking hold. Instead of souvenirs and sand in all the wrong places, you may come home with a brand-new outlook on life. But are you destined for a Bwiti fire ceremony at the Root Healing center in Portugal, or a magic mushroom voyage in Canadian wine country with the Journeymen Collective? Adam Morganstern…

THE GOODS THIS MONTH’S WHO, WHAT AND WEAR Laura Catena, fourth-generation vintner and managing director of Catena Zapata Winery in Mendoza, Argentina, was always opposed to the idea of a winery restaurant—largely because she couldn’t devote the time needed to make it the best in the region. That all changed when her head winemaker, Alejandro Vigil—who, along with his wife, María Sance, owns Mendoza’s top restaurant, Casa Vigilmade an offer. “We were starting construction on a new vermouth distillery and hospitality center, and he proposed the idea of adding a restaurant that he would manage,” Catena says. “I agreed on one condition: that he would make wine the star of the dining experience.” Vigil loved the idea, and Angelica Cocina Maestra, the world’s inaugural wine-first restaurant, was born. While the…

you could almost smell the money from across the street. Back in the early 1900s, this gritty corner of downtown San Francisco, just south of Market Street, was home to the famous Mint Building with its imposing Doric-columned facade. At the time, it was said to hold a third of the United States’ gold reserves. Today, Mint Plaza, running alongside the now-landmarked 150-year-old Mint, is a cool, pedestrian-only thoroughfare buzzing with outdoor cafes and food trucks and well-known for its signature movable orange chairs. Look up and sprawling across the ninth floor of a former firehouse and Hale Brothers Department Store warehouse is the 6 Mint Plaza penthouse, a stunning 3,520-squarefoot loft that just might define San Francisco urban living. A discreet entry leads into this 1924 building that was…

Modern superyachts have become oversize toy chests, with new technologies and designs pushing the boundaries of aquatic recreation well beyond paddling around in a kayak or careening down a giant inflatable slide. From piloting your own personal sub beneath the waves to foiling across the surf, the following high-tech playthings represent a sea change in open-ocean fun. Gemma Harris U-Boat Worx Nemo With a footprint similar to a pair of Jet Skis, the Nemo submersible was designed for transport on any yacht in the 100-foot-andabove range, though it’s compact enough to be trailered behind a large SUV or pickup. Allowing one to travel in covert-operative style, the Nemo comes in singleor double-seat configurations (priced at about $588,000 and $637,000, respectively) with both versions able to reach a maximum depth of…

WHEN IT COMES to collectibles, the earliest examples of any item are often the most coveted. Take Mickey Mantle’s rookie-season baseball card, or a first edition of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America, both of which can fetch eight figures. In the rarefied sphere of high-end automobiles, though, where the alpha and omega of significant models can be equally appealing—and, sometimes, equally pricey—collectors are now at a crossroads never before encountered. The current market window has opened wide enough that legacy marques will soon be able to present both their first EVs and grand finales of lineups powered solely by internal-combustion engines (ICE). It begs an interesting question: Which will offer the greatest return on investment down the road—the vehicles at the end of an era, or those that…

A century ago, an expedition to the North Pole involved dogsleds and explorers in heavy, fur-lined clothes, windburned and famished after weeks of trudging across ice floes, finally planting their nations’ flags in the barren landscape. These days, if you’re an American tourist, the only way to reach 90 degrees north latitude, the geographic North Pole, is aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a six-star hotel mated to a massive, 492-foot ice-breaking hull. My wife, Cathy, and I are among the first group of tourists aboard Ponant’s new expedition icebreaker, the world’s only Polar Class 2-rated cruise ship (of seven levels of ice vessel, second only to research and military vessels in ability to maneuver in Arctic conditions). Our arrival on July 14 couldn’t be more different from explorer Robert Peary’s on…

To celebrate her 25th birthday in December, Natalie Belden decided a trip to Paris with her boyfriend was the only way to go. But after booking the voyage, the Washington, D.C.-based pharmaceutical sales representative happened to check tickets for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE)—a luxury train service on her travel bucket list. “Somehow there was an opening for the day after my birthday, for two people,” she says. “It was a one-night from Vienna to Paris. We weren’t even planning on going to Vienna.” But she rearranged her itinerary anyway. “That’s how badly I needed to go on this trip. I have been wanting to go on this train for years and years and years.” What’s so special about this particular locomotive? “It’s the lure of being in Europe and getting…

They call them Aldo’s Fish. The brightly colored, distinctly midcentury patterns on the plates at Villa Bologna Pottery in Malta were designed by Aldo Cremona, who worked there for more than 70 years. Born deaf to a poor family, he had limited schooling and never learned to speak, communicating instead through his vibrant artwork. The facility’s signature scroll design was his handiwork, too, as were a series of water jugs, jauntily daubed with splotches of paint to resemble women. “They were supposed to be saluting admirals, but Aldo didn’t like painting men, so he made them ladies instead,” says the pottery’s owner, Sophie Edwards. Cremona died last year, but there’s still a shelf full of those jugs in the workshop acting as templates for the designs. A small sticker indicates…