“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Garrett Dutton aka G.Love
OCCUPATION: Blues man G.Love and Special Sauce
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Nosara, Costa Rica
HOTEL: The Harmony Hotel www.harmonynosara.com. Renting a house is another great way to kick it.
RESTAURANT: Olgas has awesome Pescado Frito Entero or Tipicas. Blew Dogs is a fun surf bar and popular with the locals. The Gilded Iguana is a good dinner spot. Breakfast at the Harmony Hotel is great.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: The summer is the rainy season and the waves are bigger. And when I’ve been there it didn’t really rain that much. It’s fun to go over winter holidays to get warm. The waves aren’t as big then but there’s always something… Nosara is a good surf destination to bring your girl to as there are surf lessons, yoga, zip lining, horseback riding and a million things to do. But the beautiful beaches are enough!
ECO-FUN: Go to Ostinal Wildlife Refuge one night and help the Sea Turtle rangers locate females laying eggs. Or go during a hatch and help release the baby sea turtles into the ocean. It’s something you’ll never forget and a must if you bring your kids.

RECOMMENDATIONS: I recommend surfing, drinking as much good Costa Rican coffee and beer (Imperial or Pilsen), and eating as much ceviche and fried fish as possible… Oh Yeah!
GETTING THERE: I recommend flying into Liberia and renting a car for the 2 hour drive to Nosara.

I keep this restaurant list in my blackberry because I constantly find myself in a different neighborhood with the recurring question: Where should we eat? Voila! My fool-proof list for quality, value and charm (and to help recall places that I am near, or spots that I haven’t been to in a while) in no particular order, with recommended plates in italics:

Motorino Pizza - pizza margherita. East village.
The Breslin – mussel soup, pumpkin and pomagranate salad, poached egg over lentils, chocolate donuts. Flatiron.
Back Forty - donuts, roast chicken, fennel salad. East village.
Mermaid Inn – lobster roll, Old Bay fries. East village.
Indochine NoHo.
Hampton Chutney Nolita.
Nobu Tribecca.
Il Buco NoHo.
Rauoles Soho.
Smith + Mills – caviar. Tribecca.
La Esquina – ceviche, insalada de casa, tacos. Take-out menu yummier than sit-down. Nolita
Cookshop Chelsea.
Barrio Chino – enchiladas verde. Lower East Side.
Little Giant – mac and cheese. Lower East Side.
Freemans – artichoke dip. Nolita.
Blue Ribbon Sushi Soho.
Gramercy Tavern – chef’s tasting menu. Gramercy Park.
Union Square Cafe Union Square.
Cafe Mogador – Greek salad, country breakfast, hummus, labne, apricot and prune tagine. East village.
Candle Cafe – grilled seitan chimmichurri, all salads, meze plate. Upper East Side.
JG Melon – turkey burger and fries. Upper East Side.
Spotted Pig - gnudi, seasonal plate of 5 vegetables; chicken liver toast. West Village.
Bar Pitti – Insalata Pitti (not on menu; you have to ask), rigatonni Pitti, pesto, sauteed spinach. Greenwich Village.
Cafe Sabarsky Upper East Side.
Turks + Frogs – the meze appatizers. Tribecca.
Bobo Greenwich Village.
Taralucci + Vino – cappuccino, beet + corn salad, duck ragout. Flatiron.
Caracas Arepa bar East village.
Bacaro - duck ragout. Lower East Side.
71 Irving – California bagel, caprese panini. Gramercy Park.

It’s worth knowing where to get excellent food rather than average expensive food, don’t you think?! What are your favorites? Let us know what we should add…

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.
NAME: Rufus Albemarle
OCCUPATION: Designer
TRAVEL DESTINATION: The New Forest in South England, United Kingdom, a nature reserve named the “most environmental destination in the world,” is a huge tract of land that borders the Beaulieu Estate (pronounced BEULEEE) belonging to the Montagu family and is only a stones throw from Solent and the Isle of White, where the Royal Squadron Yacht Club has been host to J Class Yacht racing for the last century.
HOTEL: Limewood, www.limewoodhotel.co.uk. What makes “Limewood” so exceptional is the level of detail that has been afforded this Hotel. The interior decorator David Collins has done a masterful job and it is truly comfortable. Pavilions around the main hotel are like mini two-story suites, with wood burning stoves, so you can stay in your own “folly” and venture into the main hotel when you feel so inclined. The rooms (suites) in the Hotel are all spacious. Robin Hutson Hotel guru and co founder of Hotel du Vin and partner in Soho House has made sure that nothing has been missed.
GETTING THERE: Limewood is neatly nestled in The New Forest and only 1 1/2 hours from London, or 20 min by chopper, from Heathrow airport.
RESTAURANT: The hotel plays heavily on its cuisine. Alex Aitken (the former proprietor of and head chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Poussin) heads up the hotel’s two restaurants that offer “forest food”: locally produced and organic.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: This is an all-round-the-year hotel; you could use it as your country house with access to the best sailing in the world.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY: This is a supremely comfortable hotel in the most beautiful naturally wild location. There is nothing better than a long walk after lunch through the Moors in the mist to then return to the hotel and indulge in the spa.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Olivia Chantecaille
OCCUPATION: Creative Director, Chantecaille Beauté
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies
HOTEL: Private Villa
RESTAURANTS: Maya’s is owned and Run by Maya and her husband Randy. It is on the water where they serve delicious, local food and make you feel like family. You will always run into familiar or famous faces. L’Esprit de Saline (off of Saline beach) is set in a covered garden and they serve amazing local food with an Asian touch. Lastly, for a change of cuisine, I love L’Isola in Gustavia. It serves the best pasta that makes you feel like you are in Italy. Go to Le Piment in St. Jean for the most delicious paninis.
BEACHES: For swimming, Gouverneur and Saline Beach are two of my favorite places to spend the day and go for long swims. I love Anthelios sunscreen for the body from the local pharmacy. (The SPF is much less toxic than most and it is much more affordable than in the States.)

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: December – August. (Beware, September – November is hurricane season).
TRAVEL RECOMMENDATION: For those afraid of the tiny puddle jumper plane to the island, I recommend renting a boat. It takes 45 minutes and the minute you set foot off the plane and onto the water you immediately feel on vacation and all of the stress of city life melts away.
INSPIRATION: I got married in St.Barts this past year and spent quite a bit of time there. One of my favorite moments was at the end of a long day of swimming, when the sun was beginning to go down, I would sit on the terrace of our villa looking out at the calm water and the metallic reflections of the setting sun over the mirror-like sea. The mix of cool grays and rose blended with the warm light strongly inspired me for our new color palette for Spring 2010.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Tracy Smith
OCCUPATION: Owner and Founder, House of Lavande
TRAVEL DESTINATION: The Dordogne Region, France
HOTEL: Chateau Maroutte, www.chateaumarouatte.co.uk
RESTAURANT: An early evening visit is recommended for diner at Moulin des Abbayes, www.moulinabbaye.com in the nearby town of Brantome (known as the Venice of the Dordogne.)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: We were there in July and the sunflowers were in full bloom.
INSIDER SECRETS: Book a chef (or take someone with you that has a love of the culinary arts), because the castle is an excellent place to cook a beautiful meal and enjoy it al fresco while overlooking the valley below. There is also a grand dining room inside. Note: there are plenty of local markets, but not very close by.
NEAR BY: Book in advance tours in Bordeaux as it is only an hour from the castle.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Cena Jackson
OCCUPATION/TITLE: Director of Public Relations, Alberta Ferretti
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Santorini, Greece
HOTEL: Katikies, www.katikies.com
RESTAURANT: The Pool Restaurant Karini
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Mid to late June.
MUST GO: In Oia, the most westerly point of the island, there are tons of little markets and galleries where you can find amazing art and gold jewelry.
DON’T MISS: Go down to the sea’s edge and watch as the fisherman pull fresh fish and octopus from the water and throw it right on the hot grill.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Fabiola Beracasa
OCCUPATION: On-camera personality; Interview magazine contributing editor
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Lenox, Massachusetts
HOTEL: Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, www.kripalu.org
RESTAURANT: Everyone eats in the cafeteria where the food is 100% organic, natural and everything is composted and recycled… it’s wonderful.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Any time you need to get in touch with yourself and get away from the “noise” in your life.
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION: If your definition of “luxury” is a 5 star (or even a 4 or 3 star) resort, this place is NOT for you… if like me, your definition of luxury is finding a place that can help you grow as a person then you found the perfect getaway!
INSIDER TIP: If you go to the website and click on the “calender”, there are all types of weekend retreats suited to many different needs.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Waris Ahluwalia
OCCUPATION: Jeweler (House of Waris)/Actor/Author
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Venice, Italy
HOTEL: Gritti Palace, www.gritti.hotelinvenice.com
RESTAURANT: Harry’s, www.harrysbarvenezia.com
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: September and October.
SECRET RECOMMENDATION: Secrets are better left secrets.

Best way to figure out a color scheme for a space?

Start with the walls. The easiest way to chose a paint color is to find the one object in the room you obsess over. Within that piece, choose the color which draws your eye. Take the actual object to any paint store and have it color matched (most paint stores will mix the exact color if you bring in an item, fabric, etc.) If you are worried its too dark, have them add white to lighten it up, or go as far as to have just a hint/glow of that color in the majority of white.

What are the best items you find for the cheapest when decorating?
Amazing finds at flea markets such as Brimfield, Mass; Twice a week, the Bekman Gallery debuts a limited edition of an artists work, starting at $20. The artist list is incredible.

Where do you go for inspiration when you’re all “New Yorked City-ed out”?

I go upstate to the Hudson Valley. Not only is it an amazing place to visit but it’s also home to some of my favorite antique stores. Make sure to stroll down Warren Street in Hudson, and to drive all the way north on Route 9, through Springfield and Rhinebeck for great vintage furniture shopping along the way.

What is your favorite New York building/architecture?

The Four Seasons Restaurant by Philip Johnson. Being enveloped inside the genius of Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram building and the moving wire mesh curtains (due to the air-conditioning, which reportedly was a “happy mistake” found out only after the installation) is enough for me to be sure that this is an absolute masterpiece of architecture and interior design.

If you were a restaurant which one would you be?

A cross between Marlow & Sons, and Charles.

If you were a book which one would you be?

I would hope to be A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers… at least, one day, hopefully….

Can you share some “Haus” tips with us?

Trophies – whether using just one or a few, these look great on a bookshelf or end table in your library. Think about having them engraved with your favorite funny quotes.

Rope Knot – perfect as a door stop or place on the lower shelf of an entry console for a nautical accent.

Fouta Towels – these are 100% organic cotton and a great alternative to standard terry cloth. Wash them twice, they become extremely absorbent and are less abrasive on the skin than a typical bath towel.

Haus Interior, 250 Elizabeth Street, NYC, Tel 212 741 0455

We asked New York City-based wine consultant Jaime Dutton a few questions about wine to help us get through the summer.

What’s the best wine trick to instantly make a meal more “summery?”

Put a pretty ice bucket on the middle of the table with a bottle of red, white and rose in it.

Also, mix a nice white wine with some sliced peaches, a lemon wedge, fresh mint and a little bit of sparkling water and you have a delicious, summery drink.

Best wine to pair with lobster or fish?
White – a crisp, bright (meaning with fresh acidity, not heavy or buttery) Chardonnay from Macon (Domaine Chene, Heritiers de Comte-Lafon) or a Bourgogne Blanc (Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Thierry Matrot). I also love a great Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley in the summer – Quincy (Domaine Mardon), Pouilly-Fume (Domaine Alain Cailbourdin) or Sancerre (Domaine Bailly-Reverdy) are all regions where you can find delicious summer whites.

Red – I would suggest a lightly chilled Beaujolais like a Fleurie, Morgon or Brouilly. These wines are all 100% Gamay and there are many great Beaujolais producers that are making very delicious, fruit driven wines – nothing better with grilled fish. As for producers look for Jean-Marie Foillard, Marcel Lapierre, Chateau Thivin – they are all delicious, especially when served slightly chilled.

Best wine to pair with grilled steak?

For summer evenings on our terrace I like a Syrah from the Northern Rhone (Christophe Curtat – Saint Joseph Rouge, Alain Graillot – Crozes-Hermitage) or a Cotes du Rhone (Domaine de la Remejeanne, Domaine Escaravailles). These are simple wines––we enjoy them at home and they are great in the summer.

Best wine to give as a summer weekend house gift?

Something that you love to drink. I think Rosé is a nice gift. You can never drink enough Rose in the summer. Another idea is the fixings for a Kir Royale––a bottle of Creme de Cassis and a bottle of a dry sparkling wine (Champagne or Cremant de Bourgogne) or a bottle of Bourgogne Aligoté. A little bit of Cassis in the bottom of the glass, topped off with the white wine and you have a delicious, refreshing and lovely drink.

Great simple summery recipe accompanied with wine?

Pesto pasta and summer squash served with a lovely glass of Chateau Thivin, Cote de Brouilly 2007.

Dom or Veuve?

Dom of course – but the price difference between the two make it a hard comparison. The best way to go with Champagne is “grower-Champagne” not the big brands (check out the Champagne that is imported by Terry Theise). From the Champagne houses, I always reach for Pol Roger or Nicolas Feuillante.

What is your favorite drinking glass for wine or champagne?

Champagne – I like the old-school crystal Champagne Tulips (coupes), they are so classic, elegant and pretty.

House wines – we like to drink out of the Spanish tumblers that we picked up in the Basque Country. They are shallow glasses, but perfect for a little glass of wine.

Email Jaime Dutton at jdwine@gmail.com