travelguru.tv plays with the big boys!

This week I was privileged to attend the British Travel Press Awards 2011 along with 260 or so movers and shakers from the travel industry. I was delighted to be there as a second time nominee for the the category of Broadcast Travel Programme of the Year. A slightly mixed category admittedly made up of TV, radio and online programme makers (me!). I get how the lines are becoming increasingly blurred between TV and online video but to me, radio is a different beast altogether. Nonetheless I was very proud to see the travelguru.tv logo up alongside the 'big boys' from BBC World News, ITV, the Travel Channel, LBC and BBC Radio 4. Simon Calder's LBC Travel Show ran away with the gong but a great night was had by all.

To see the travelguru.tv nominated programme, Unique Macau with David Wickers click here

Cadiz region cookery course

I'm so excited about my latest travel discoveries I just have to share...

Last week I was away for a few days holiday in Spain with some girlfriends
Discovery no1: female only holidays are a joy!

We stayed in an apartment in Conil de la Frontera on the southern coast not far from Cadiz. Its a working town, not at all touristy but with the bonus of a giant sweep of beach which is blessed with a constant ocean breeze. Sevillanas flock here in summer to escape the oppressive heat of the city. The beach is delightful and I am a self confessed sun worshipper but...
Discovery no2: a couple of days sun 'fix' is enough for me, the urge to explore is greater than the need to tan.

Which led us to...
Discovery no3: Annie B's Spanish Kitchen and...
Discovery no4: to understand a region's food adds tenfold to the enjoyment of your holiday and a cookery course is a fine way to appreciate that!

In this part of Spain fish, salt and sherry are the three most important ingredients but, for the uninitiated, are not necessarily the easiest to embrace. Knowing where to shop, what to buy, where to dine out and what to order can be challenging, especially if you don't speak Spanish. A day with Annie will put you on track...

Our culinary experience began with shopping in Conil's central market for the pick of the day's catch. A thorough examination of each of the displays was conducted and some serious quizzing of the stall holders before Annie made our final selection - 1kg of glinting fresh anchovies, almost transluscent white prawns, two plump shiny sea bass and a large local flat fish the like of which you would not find in your local Sainsburys.

Then it was off to to her charming house in nearby Vejer de la Frontera. Annie's story is intriguing - a Scot by birth, with a background in catering in the UK, she stumbled upon Vejer back in 2000 and fell in love not only with the food and the climate, but the region, the lifestyle and eventually a house which, she confesses, she simply could not resist. Its not hard to see why - atop a steep hill in this impossibly pretty white town and centred around a courtyard with a small pool, the view to the coast from the roof terrace alone is enough to make you wish you lived there too!



After much cooing and photo taking, we settled down in the open kitchen to begin lunch prep. Annie, along with her able assistant Pepe, was in charge, but allocated tasks to us all as she worked to get us all involved and familiar with the processes. First there was a cake to be made and popped into the oven, various sauces to be prepared and fish to be gutted. It didn't take long though for the (first of several bottles of) sherry to be opened and the Fino/Manzanilla preference debate to hot up. I'm not usually a sherry fan but, under Annie's expert guidance, I have become a convert. Freshly fried boquerones and chilled Manzanilla - can there be finer match?


This is no gourmet cookery school - its very relaxed, no culinary experience is required and the actual cooking processes can easily be mastered by all. The key is Annie's skill in sourcing the best and freshest ingredients, preparing menus in simple but authentic local style and then pairing them with carefully chosen sherry and wines. The menu theme can vary but ours consisted of:

Appetisers: (devoured while prepping)
Anchovies 2 ways - pickled and fried
White prawns with an Asian dipping sauce (not local obviously but truly delicous)
Followed by: (served in the shady courtyard at the poolside table)
Ajo blanco - a velvety smooth almond and garlic cold soup
Fish baked in a salt crust and served with a salsa verde, new potatoes and roast asparagus
Orange and almond cake served with creme fraiche and local strawberries


All of the above washed down with a delightful selection of wines including a wonderful Alborino from the Galicia region and a fruity white Rueda.

It was hard to drag ourselves away as the day drew to a close around 5pm - there's something so convivial about preparing food as a group and then sitting down to share it. From just this one day I learnt so much about the region, its food and wines and it left me longing to find out more...

Annie runs a whole range of courses from one day (from 60 Euros pp) through to 5 night gourmet discovery tours of the region. For details visit her website

Think you know Miami?

My last visit to Miami was over 20 years ago - passing through, as many do, en route to join one of the cruise ships that set sail for the Caribbean every day from the gigantic cruise terminal. At that time, Miami didn't have a whole lot to shout about but, having just returned from a 5 day trip I realise now just how much it has changed. Indeed the pace of change is sofast that, even if you've been there in the past few years, there is always something new to discover...

In the 80s the TV show Miami Vice did the city a massive favour, got it back on the tourist map and inspired the restoration of the fabulous Art Deco District on South Beach. In the 90s it was the Latino club culture that drew in the crowds. The last decade saw the art and design scene flourish, regenerating entire districts and attracting worldwide interest. Broad trends whichhave combined to add exciting extra dimensions to the city's natural appeal of a spectacular beachside location and sunny Florida weather. Each has stimulated a ripple effect of growth and creativity; new hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, attractions and festivals. All of which give Florida lovers plenty of reasons to revisit.

The latest public space is the impressive New World Center, designed by Frank Gehry and home to the New World Symphony, an orchestra come post grad programme for young musicians. Contemporary, glass fronted and sleek from the outside, inside the building houses a 756 seat concert hall complete with five vast sail-like shapes that float against the upper walls to aid acoustics and double as screens for commissioned video art.

Out front there is a lovely park where those not fortunate enough to have tickets can picnic and listen as concerts are piped and projected onto an exterior wall. What a wonderful way to spend a warm evening!

Elsewhere in the city, other walls have been put to creative use. In the Wynwood Arts District, Wynwood Walls has become an epicentre for cutting edge street art. Set in a large grassy parkland, using primed walls of industrial buildings as their canvas, a collaboration of global artists have created a stunning and diverse collection of contemporary art. The project was conceived as part of the 2009 Art Basel and has now evolved into a permanent and inspiring outdoor space complete with its own uber cool restaurant, the Wynwood Kitchen and Bar.

New restaurant openings are practically a weekly event in Miami - the quality and variety of cuisines and venues are a big part of the draw. During our stay we tried out just a few but, from first hand experience, I can certainly recommend Sustain (comfort food with emphasis on fresh locally sourced produce) and Chef Allens (one of the city's longest established and best loved venues specialising in seafood). If you are watching your weight, try the organic and super healthy menu at the Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa where a delicious 3 course meal can weigh in at less than 600 calories (calorie counts helpfully noted against each dish on the menu). My 'don't miss' though would be to book yourself an outside table at SushiSamba on Lincoln Road. There you will enjoy not only outstanding, creative cuisine but one of the best 'people watching' spots in town.

More on Miami coming soon...

Barbados Food & Wine Festival

If you've been looking for an excuse for a holiday to Barbados, here's a good one: time your visit to coincide with the first Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival to be held on the island from 19-22 November.

Generally recognised as the culinary capital of the Caribbean and the only Caribbean island to be Zagat rated, its kind of surprising that they haven't done this before however, this is now intended as an annual event and promises to be a good one.

British chef Fergus Henderson will be joining US chefs Tom Colicchio, Marvus Samuelsson, Ming Tsai and Time Love for this four day epicurean festival. Along with wine experts and mixologists they will take part in cookery demonstrations and tastings around the island for locals and visitors alike. Event venues include Sandy Lane, The Cliff restaurant, George Washington House, Lion Castle Estate, St Nicholas Abbey and the Fairmont Royal Pavilion.

Not part of the Festival sadly but my top tip for a fabulous meal in Barbados is Sunday plantation lunch at Fisherpond Great House (early booking essential). Click here to whet your appetite by watching our Barbados Island Guide video featuring this and some of the other Festival venues.

travelguru.tv in the Startups 100 list

Celebration at travelguru.tv towers today with news of our 5th award. We are thrilled to have made it to No 39 in the Startups 100 list "the ultimate countdown of the UK’s most dynamic and innovative new businesses".

travelguru.tv other awards to date include:

Smarta 100 listed company 2010
Premis G! 2009 Best Audio Visual Communication
Travelmole Web Awards 2008 - Best Use of Video
Finalist BT Essence of the Entrepreneur 2008

We're going to have to get ourselves a bigger shelf!

Practically half price Cephalonia

Bargain of the week this week is the chance for a bit of late summer sun on the gorgeous island of Cephalonia. Stay in style at The Alymrya, a family run hotel in a fabulous setting with views out across cypress-clad forest to the sea and Ithaca. The large terrace with freshwater swimming pool is the place to catch the rays and get stuck into a good book. Or, if you can muster up the energy, you can take a stroll down to the sandy beach or wander around Fiscardo harbour. This is the place to be come the evening with plenty of restaurants to choose from including Tassia's, run by the same family as The Almyra.

Special offer price is just £500pp(a saving of £450pp) for departures on 25 September, including flights
from Heathrow or Manchester, transfers and bed and breakfast accommodation.
Visit the Members Area for more details

travelguru Bargain of the Week

Bargains are the order of the day right now so, on top of usual great value offers promoted alongside our videos, we are trawling the market to find travelguru customers the best deals out there. This will be a regular weekly feature in our Members Area so bookmark the page and check back frequently to make sure you don't miss out...

First up:
BOOK A 6 NIGHT NORTHERN LIGHTS VOYAGE AND GET 5 NIGHTS FREE
and, what's more... no single supplements apply!

For many, the chance to witness the spectacular Aurora Borealis is a lifetime's dream. Take advantage of this offer, fulfill that dream and... get a bargain to boot! Sailing from the UNESCO-listed harbour of Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the north and back again, the ships sail night and day and call in at a total of 34 ports.

The offer is available on selected sailings between October and December 2010 and must be booked by September 30th. Prices start from £941 per person. For more details and booking enquiries, visit our Members Area.