Modern Lifestyles SUMMER 2015

HAWAIILO N G CO V E

FEARINGBOMBAYF A S H I O N

F A S H I O N | H O M E | L E I S U R E | D I N I N G | T R A V E L | C U L T U R E

MODERN LIFESTYLESY O U R L I F E • Y O U R S T Y L E

SR2015

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6 ModernLifestyles.tv

10 Hawaiian Traditions The Modern Hotel

18 Tiki’s Grill & Bar Home of the original Mai Tai

20 The Crown Jewel Hyatt Regency Waikiki 22 Lake Living Lake Side on Long Cove

32 Bombay Sapphire New Distillery

38 On the Market Jeff Bridges $29.5M Estate

48 Tequila Blender Dean Fearing

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ML CONTENTS

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ML SUMMER15

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52 First Tier California Cabernet

56 The Modern Chophouse Hibiscus

64 Most Wanted Great Escape, Grand Design

68 Summer Fashion Ready-To-Wear

76 About Town Social Side

82 Rolls Royce The Wraith 86 Speed Demon Nissan GT-R

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SUMMER ISSUE 2015PUBLISHER Madwest Media

GRAPHIC DESIGN Madwest Media SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT Madwest Media

VIDEO PRODUCTION Madwest Media

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Andrew Chalk, Richard S. Pollak, Jim Sherman, Timothy Miller

PHOTOGRAPHYKelli Mahand, Robb McDonough, Iwan Baan, Jill Broussard, Stephen Karlisch

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES & SUBMISSIONSTimothy Miller • [email protected]

ADVERTISING SALES Timothy Miller • [email protected]

WWW.MODERNLIFESTYLES.TVMODERN LIFESTYLES is published by Madwest Media, LLC. Dallas, Texas

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of Madwest Media, LLC. Copyright ©2015 All rights reserved. Reprinting, in whole or in part, is expressly encouraged with or without written permission of the publisher.

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The Modern&The Traditionsof hawaii

WORDS RICHARD S POLLAK



The traditions of Hawaii’s past blends

perfectly with a new modern lifestyle

that we simply call paradise. Today, the

beaches of Waikiki are a bustling oasis of

not only the traditional sun and fun but a

new era of outstanding dining, shopping

and living. The ancient spirit of aloha with

the old sites of traditions are still within

walking distance while also exploring the

modern Hawaii.


The Modern H o n o l u l u Hotel is the best example of the new chic modern lifestyle which

is right in the heart of the Waikiki Beach. It has taken over as the beach’s resort for celebrities. At the Modern, the famous don’t mind being discovered as they relax right next to you! If you are a celebrity who wants to hide out, then you will prefer your rendezvous at the Trump or the Halekulani. Both properties boast five star services and cater mostly to an affluent Japanese wealth. Just a lei’s throw away from the Modern, both properties are also within walking distance to the most expensive retail shopping which is located on the main drag of Kalakaua Avenue. Gone are the cheap tee-shirt and fake pearl necklace shops that are now replaced by Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Chanel and Hugo Boss. It is amazing how many pairs of sheep fur UGG’s boots are sold in this 85 degree weather, especially to the Japanese. The store has tripled in size since our last visit less than a year ago!



Back at The Modern, the hotel has become the weekend outpost of choice for the cast of the locally filmed Hawaii Five-O series. The CBS remake of the classic Jack Lord series, now stars actor Alex O’Loughlin as Steve McGarrett. Every week the show opens with that same panoramic view of Waikiki Beach as McGarrett stands atop of the infamous Ilikai Hotel. He can also peer straight down directly into the Modern’s man made beach and sundeck which is actually part of the original Ilikai and still connected by a second floor walkway .

Then, after the opening scene, O’Loughlin can head down to relax at the Modern’s exclusive man made adult guests only beach and sundeck on the second floor with his fiancee. The adults only sun deck features a three inch wading pool that brings the spirit of Waikiki beach right to the hotel since the Modern is actually one half block from the sandy beach.

The Modern Honolulu offers suite accommodations for guests who are seeking a little more space and a private terrace overlooking the Waikiki Marina and beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. The irresistible ocean view rooms tantalize your spirit to relax and enjoy paradise.

The contemporary decor of the Modern Honolulu rooms and their


refreshing looking Lanai urges the guest to sit outside and “enjoy the view of the tranquil marina, sparkling pool and the mesmerizing ocean which lures guests outside to their private terraces for many hours of the day and the nights.”.

The hotel reminds their guests,”whether its the sun or the moon above that the light lingers into their rooms as they slip into a complimentary Sarong and Slippers. Just two of the many courtesy amenities of the Modern.

You can even cross paths with Danny “Danno” Williams (actor Scott Caan) the Hawaii Five-O sidekick as he and his new German Shepard puppy can be seen walking down the beach past all the luxury yacht docks just in front of the Hotel.

At the end of the beach you can gaze out to the Pacific Ocean to your right and to the Halekulani to your left. There is even a replica of the Kamekona Shrimp Food Truck from the famed TV show right in front of you. Dive into their Fried Shrimp platter or return to the Modern to dine at Hawaii’s number #1 restaurant. Morimoto’s.

We would recommend to Hawaii Five-O’s Medical Examiner, Dr Max Bergmann (actor Masi Oka) a known


celebrity foodie to dine at the only five star restaurant in all of the Islands of Hawaii, Morimoto’s inside the Modern. Our once in a lifetime dining experience for two begins with the Chef ’s raw bar which comes in the $80, $100 or $150 sizes. Large samplings of his sushi or sashimi combinations run from $45 to $200. Then you have to experience the one pound Australian Wagyu Ribeye (the best beef on the island) for $98. The Seafood ‘Toban Yaki’ comes with Keahole Lobster, Alaskan King Crab, Mussels, Clams, Diver Scallops in a spicy red Miso Sake broth for $50. The simple Duck, Duck, Duck: features a trio of seared Duck breast, a Duck confit Spring Roll and Duck Meatball soup for $29. Morimoto’s is easily the most impressive meal on all of the Islands and perhaps even a lifetime..

The Modern’s study turns into a sexy bar for their hidden Happy Hour. It isn’t what it immediately seems. It waits demurely behind a wall of books in the lobby till 5 p.m. Each evening the bookshelves rotate to reveal The Study. The decor is neutral palette and clean lines which are whispers of the Modern’s subtle sophistication. That’s your invitation to get to know The Study – a knockout cached in an understatement bar. Cocktail tables are barely an arm’s length from


endless sectionals, lush ottomans and melt-into-me chairs where you can always command a comforting seat at the bar. The cocktails here are legendary. A varied menu in the Study features Fried Calamari, creative Pizzas, a Gourmet Burger and Island style Ahi Tuna Poke that works well with the Liquor refreshments. The $13 specialty Cocktails with creative names such as Huckleberry Fin,The Scarlet Letter, Dante’s Inferno or Men are from Mars/Women are from Venus reflects the Study’s theme of books on the shelves. VIP Service is standard with the Island’s best bottle service for premium Spirits starting at $250.

The Poolside Passageway and the Grove are the Modern’s all day breakfast, lunch and dinner spots. They are nestled in a tranquil garden of Arbors, Bougainvilleas and Hibiscus alongside the main pool. With daily rays of sunshine and cool breezes, the Modern’s own dining venue is a must during your stay. The night view of the harbor during dinner at The Grove is one of the most romantic yet casual dining experiences on the island.

It is a new tradition to watch the nightly fireworks from your Lanai or stroll down to the beach for the spectacular show. This is the best way to end your day at the Modern!


If you happen to walk down Kalaua Avenue by the Aston Hotel, Honolulu, you have to stop by Tiki’s Grill & Bar. The Tiki’s Grill & Bar is beautifully located on their second floor. The view is right across the street from the best beach in Waikiki. The restaurant with its breathtaking romantic sundown dinner for two is also the most partying place at their Lanai Bar. The bar is known not for creating the Mai Tai (where they let Don the Beachcomer and Trader Vic fight it out for who invented it) but at Tiki’s Grill & Bar they just made it the most famous drink in Waikiki!

Tiki’s Executive Chef is infamously known as Chef Ronnie, who left the Executive Corporate Chef position with Roy’s to create the Tiki’s award winning cuisine. The menu is a culinary adventure where everything is locally produced . We enjoyed a priceless four course menu sampling of 5 incredible tastes of each course showcasing: Coconut Shrimp, Kalbi Beef Gyoza, Ahi Tataki, Duck Duet, Miso Pork Pot Roast, and the Beach Boy Seafood Combo with Shrimp and Scallops.

For month’s, I was looking forward to trying Hawaiian Poke for the first time. After reviewing the Tiki’s Grill & Bar menu many times before my trip, I salivated for their Prime Rib Poke! After all, how wonderful

could Prime Rib Poke be? Randy, the Restaurant Assistant Manager, ensured me that I had an additional full order of the Prime Rib Poke for myself and every course we sampled!

Hangin’ at the Best Lanai (patio) Bar in Waikiki, Tiki’s Master Hawaiian Mixologists create their

TOP FIVE: the Surf Mai Tai, the “Five-O” Lava Flow, Ocean Potion, Mega Mango Mojito and Pro Bowl Punch all served in Hawaii Keepsake Glassware. Some of Tiki’s other favorites from the Bar are the Shark Bait, Skinny Chi, Kalkoa Sunset, Blue Bikini and the Ultimate Malibu Mai Tai. The list never ends with popular cocktails including Top Shelf Margaritas and Coladas served in Coconuts!

According to an old Hawaiian Legend, Mama has worked in the Kitchen of Tiki’s Grill & Bar forever preparing her World Famous Thai Chicken & Green Papaya Salad. Her secret recipe is unknown even to Executive Chef Ronnie and she plans on keeping Thailand’s most famous national recipe a delicious secret.

It’s the view at Tiki’s that makes the cuisine taste even better! As the sun sets and we were finishing a sampling of 5 desserts including Lilikoi Creme Brulee, Molten Hot Hawaiian S’mores, Crunchy Chocolate Spring Rolls, Baked Apple Volcano and our favorite, Hawaii’s Most Ridiculous Small Brownie with a World Famous Mai Tai in our hands, we say “aloha” and ”mahalo” to Tiki’s Grill & Bar for a true culinary paradise.

TIKI’S GRILL & BARWE MADE THE MAI TAI FAMOUS


WORDS RICHARD S POLLAK

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The Hyatt Regency is the Crown Jewel of resorts in Waikiki and is situated at the prime beachfront locale. The resort offers guests the

most amenities of any hotel in Hawaii. As a beach driven property, the Hyatt’s exclusive Waikiki bungalows are the most sought after on the beachfront. A simple crossing of Kalakaua Avenue and you are there. A true nirvana of sand, sun and great guest services.

At Japengo, the premier Pacific Rim Restaurant in Waikiki, Chef de Cuisine Jon Matsubara creates the MAKAI TASTING MENU. It is a tour of the Pacific Rim with truly inspirational locally Hawaiian grown and raised produce and proteins. Before even starting this seven course feast, we munched on their Crispy Japengo Chicken in a dynamic Chili Oil dipping sauce. Our next courses featured Oyster Shooters with Quail Egg, Caviar, Sesame Chili and a Sashimi of Hamachi with Toasted Garlic, shaved Jalapeno

CROWN J E W E LH Y A T T R E G E N C Y W A I K I K IWORDS RICHARD S POLLAK

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and a Tojo sauce. Then we dined on the Scallop Truffleyaki which was torched and lacquered. A Saka steamed Kona Abalone was presented with Emoki Mushrooms, green Garlic butter and a Bacon Dashi. My highlight was the Singaporean Chili Lobster Tail garnished with Lemon grass,Coriander and a Kalei Egg.

Next, a bowl of Japengo Bouillabaisse was a creation of refined aromatic spiced Kaffir Lime broth swimming with Alaskan Crab, fresh island Fish and Chinese flowering Cabbage.

One of the marquee dishes on the Japengo menu is the LOCO “FOIE GRAS” MOCO which is Japengo’s gourmet take on the Island’s plate lunch. It combined Hawaiian ranchers three oz. Filet Mignon, a two oz Foie Gras, Quail Egg and a special Hamakua Mushroom Rice covered with Bourdelaise sauce. A far cry of inspiration from the World Famous Rainbow Drive-In’s original version of Hamburger Patties covered in brown gravy topped with a fried Egg on a paper plate with Rice and Macaroni Salad.

For dessert, the Tiramisu was an island favorite of Kona Coffee, Mascarpone and lady fingers. We sneaked in a fresh Coconut Brulee, as well for dessert.

The Hyatt features a majestic Pool on the second level with wonderful views of the Pacific ocean through the most beautiful Palm trees in Hawaii. There is the unlimited shops and conveniences that are right in the Hotel’s lobby. You can have this all for 3 days and 2 nights after making $1000 in purchases within the first 3 months with your Hyatt Credit Card. Yes, even the majestic Hyatt Regency Waikiki is accessible to a new card member.

The Modern Lifestyle has now Journeyed to the famed tropical Island of Oahu to honor the old traditional life with the modern beat of today’s Waikiki Beach. A true Paradise with a Modern taste for all senses!


Lake Side onLong Cove



HOW WE FOUND WATERCOLOR, SEASIDE ANDROSEMARY BEACH IN TEXAS


Introducing Long Cove, inspired by and modeled after the popular Florida destinations Watercolor and Seaside, is located on posh Cedar Creek Lake in Texas, just over

an hour outside of Dallas. The location makes it a convenient retreat for city dwellers all over North Texas to come unwind and relax, but not miss an ounce of the of the good life. Long Cove truly offers a luxury getaway, while promoting an unplugged, relaxing family-oriented experience.

The lakefront property is a full-service luxury retreat, yielding itself to a lifestyle many come to look for in a second-home. Amenities at Long Cove include boat valet and concierge, lakefront swim club, fishing and canoeing pond, driving range, biking trails, outdoor gathering spaces and fire pits, tennis courts, fitness center, amphitheater and more. A full staff also is available night and day to accommodate any homeowner’s request – from catering arrangements to grocery shopping. The property offers custom second homes, which can be built-to-suit, accommodating the unique needs of each resident. Long Cove also offers special land plots for waterside cottages,


lakefront homes and family compounds, which can all be constructed and finished to your heart’s desire. Love Cove’s floating docks and boat valet service allows lake access all summer.

Long Cove was created by Dallas real estate developer, Don McNamara, who has invested in notable projects, such as Cityplace and West Village in Uptown. As a long-time resident of Cedar Creek Lake himself, McNamara spent 10 years planning the perfect, family-friendly lake community.

The Long Cove project architect, John Boyd, a DFW resident, implemented a new style of architecture on this special development. He calls it “Texas Lakefront Architecture,” and believes it is a style completely new to the region. He is an expert on architectural and interior design, and his work focuses on creating spaces that facilitate and encourage family “together time.”

Cedar Creek Lake ownership opportunities continue to grow as sophisticated developers target the lake for planned upscale second home environments. Others include Beacon Hill, The 505 Ranch and now, further south by about 25 minutes, closer to Malakoff and Log Cabin, there is Long Cove.



“My hope is that Long Cove gives families a one-of-a-kind chance to enjoy Cedar Creek Lake in the way that my friends and family have for years now,” says Don McNamara, developer of Long Cove and president and CEO of Hampstead Holdings, the developer. “This development represents a personal passion for me, and I’m thrilled to be able to introduce Long Cove to families in Dallas who are searching for that quick, convenient getaway that can be their go-to place for getting back to the basics of family life.”

Location, location, location. Long Cove is just 75 miles southeast of Dallas, via a pastoral drive down U.S. Highway 175, past Gun Barrel City, crossing south on 198. Here is also the best, deepest, side of the lake. McNamara knit together 1200 acres brimming with 80-year-old Post oaks, located along six miles of untouched shoreline on the south side of Cedar Creek. Long Cove is really the last great development opportunity on the lake.

For the longest time access and a low-lying bridge made it difficult for boats to get under as it sat on the water line, anything bigger than a rowboat could not pass. This kept many developers away until the state built a four-lane arching bridge, state highway 198, which



made the southeast portion of the lake much more accessible for watercraft.

The finger of the lake where Long Cove is located is itself the size of Lake Athens, and holds some of the deepest, calmest, clearest water on Cedar Creek, more coveted features of recreational lakes. Texas lakes are prone to drought, and Cedar Creek has seen the worst. But this side of the lake has the geography to keep water levels higher even during the worst five-year droughts. For one, this is the southern end, the dam is here, and water is always naturally flowing downward. This end is closer to Athens, which enjoys a rolling natural terrain of hills that slope into the lake.

By car, homeowners enter a gated community, then proceed down a two-mile entry road winding through forest and meadows, passing by fishing ponds and over a 100 year old one-way iron bridge. The wooded surroundings offers a sense of privacy and seclusion, which combined with the on-site concierge service, makes owning a lake home far less of a chore, which is a basic premise of the development.

The Waterside Cottages are turn-key lakefront homes, offered in seven different floor plans and a “low country meets Hill country” architectural style –with customized finishes and the “Seaside” look: pastel clapboard, beach house classic made of faux cedar shakes. Custom homes are available in one of five styles: craftsman, rustic shingle,


low country, ranch, Austin stone and Hill Country contemporary. Waterside cottage square footage runs from 2000 to 3600, 3 to 6 bedrooms. The lakefront lots feature up to 150 feet of shoreline and are sized between 1/2 acre to 1 acre, while the waterfront Family Compound properties are sized to accommodate multiple structures, with up to 470 whopping feet of shoreline and up to 2.5 acres per lot.

Ultimately, Long Cove will be comprised of multiple neighborhoods and more than 300 waterfront properties. Future phases include a new marina now under construction, restaurant and the excavation of major extensions to the lake that will increase Long Cove’s existing shoreline from six miles to eight miles or more, which is already underway.

In addition to lake and pool activities, Long Cove has a toy barn with a “lending library” for every piece of on land sports equipment or water gear you could imagine for fun at the lake.

Beyond the shores of Cedar Creek, in the piney woods, a regulation-sized sports field encourages quick football, rugby, tennis or soccer games. There is also a PGA quality driving range and short golf game practice area


where the family can get away to swing the clubs without feeling the pressure to play a full 18 holes of golf.

Above all, Long Cove is an upscale community where you might be wearing flip flops and shorts the whole weekend, but help from a friendly staff will be there when you want it, if you want it. Boat valet services mean your boat is always gassed up and ready to go. The floating docks keep your boats available no matter the lake level. Lawns can be mowed, trimmed, houses cleaned and refrigerators stocked upon your arrival.

The whole point is to relax, take it easy, and play with the kids when you get here.

“Every consideration has been taken in the design of the Long Cove development and in the combination of amenities we offer. It’s all about putting the right ingredients in place to make for a phenomenal family experience,” said Chris Kelsey, Long Cove president. “Long Cove is unlike any other lakefront residential community in Texas, trading the traditional private golf community feel for a new idea – a luxury getaway that redefines quality family time.”


Bombay Sapphire Builds Global Distillery

Includes Botanical Glasshouses Designed by Heatherwick Studios

WORDS ANDREW CHALK PHOTOS IWAN BAAN



It is a distillery, a visitor center, a green project, a who-we-are statement in corporate

definition. In the space of two hours it is hard to take it all in and comprehend. That

is Bombay Sapphire’s new global distillery situated in Laverstoke Village, Hampshire

in the heart of the English countryside just a mile from where Richard Adams set

some of the rabbit scenes in Watership Down.


The site is mentioned in The Domesday Book (a medieval census performed in 1086) that later became a paper mill

(run by French Huguenots who fled to England to escape persecution) that for a time printed colonial bank notes.

Bombay Sapphire set down roots in 2010. The bold vision for the run down site took four years to realize. They moved the Carterhead stills from the old distillery in the northern English city of Warrington. They tore down over 20 corrugated steel sheds, built new buildings in complementary redbrick, replaced all the utility systems with modern equivalents and restored open access to the river. So focused was their environmental goal that the old water mill became a hydroelectric generator along with solar panels covering the roofs of many of the buildings. The distillery buildings now run over, but do not interact with, the waters of the River Test, the cleanest river in England (fishing permits cost $1,500/day). A nature reserve at the back has seen resurgent wildlife including the recent return of otters. However the biggest, most eye-catching innovation was the commissioning of Heatherwick Studio to create two orb-shaped greenhouses, positioning them as organic growths bursting out of the side of the distillery building. Waste heat from the distilling process is redirected here, keeping one greenhouse at tropical, the other at a Mediterranean temperatures. Inside are the living plants, or ‘botanicals’, that go into Bombay Sapphire Gin (these are merely examples--the annual production of over 24 million bottles

ABOVE The River Test runs underneath the distillery.

RIGHT Domesday Book Entry.

BELOW Botanical component tasting example.

FAR RIGHT The spectacular greenhouses.




FAR LEFT The historical Dakin Stills used in the unique

Vapour Infusion process at Laverstoke Mill.

ABOVE Master distiller Nik Fordham explains how the

greenhouse uses heat recirculated from the distillery.

LEFT Cocktail made to order in the gin bar.

demands a much larger quantity). In an adjacent building visitors see

and sniff each of the botanicals in a self-guided component tasting, marking those preferred, with mixologists on-hand to whip you up a cocktail based around them in the gin bar at the end of the tour (designated drivers get to take a gin and tonic pack home).

Before the bar is the impressive distillery room with two giant Carterhead Stills. It is here that Bombay Sapphire uses its distinctive ‘vapor infusion’ process to introduce the botanicals into the gin. Under vapor infusion a cage of botanicals is suspended above the distillate and, as they are heated by the distilling vapor, infuse their flavors. The challenge, as expressed by master distiller Nik Fordham, is to maintain consistency in an environment in which botanicals are subject to weather and supply volatility. Responsibility for that falls to Bombay’s Master of Botanicals, Ivano Tonutti, who has established a record of consistent supply going back a decade.

There is already a gin shop but plans include a cafeteria and corporate events area. Cocktail classes are underway and are fully-booked. Future plans may include specially distilled gins for sale at the distillery only.

This distillery is a captivating experience for professional and consumer alike. Bartenders will come away with a deeper appreciation for the product, while aficionados will derive new insights into how gin is made. Make the all-essential reservation at distillery.bombaysapphire.com.

On TheMarket

$29.5 Million Estate38 ModernLifestyles.tv


MONTECITO HOMEOscar-Winning Actor Jeff Bridges Lists His Montecito Home

Iconic actor Jeff Bridges, also known as “the Dude,” has listed his Montecito, Calif., home for $29.5 million.


The 9,500-square-foot house was built in 1988 and acquired by Bridges and his wife Susan in 1994.



The Tuscan-inspired estate is

filled with custom touches including antique tiles from Italy and a stone fireplace mantel.


Set on 19.5 acres, the Bridges raised their children at the unique property. With five bedrooms and five bathrooms, there was plenty of room for work and play.



The amazing property features

guesthouses, a small vineyard, a

greenhouse and a recording studio.


The property also has several walking trails which lead to a nearby natural hot spring. With views of the Channel Islands and a recirculating creek flowing through the idyllic property, it can’t be easy for the family to move out.



The Bridges are relocating to a smaller home

now that their daughters have grown up. The

massive estate is a rarity for its location and is

sure to bring in several interested

bidders.





Dean Fearing

TEQUILA BLENDER

WORDS ANDREW CHALK


At least, those who get there soon will be able to. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and the Ritz-Carlton estimate that they have enough for about 11,000 cocktails. That may sound like a lot, but anyone who has seen these people drink knows that it is not.

I was a guest at a recent me-dia coming-out tasting for Dean’s imbibement and I personally pre-ferred this tequila straight. Put that down to this being an añejo - a tequila aged in small oak barrels at least one year, a process that ame-liorates the ferocious high notes of

Chef, restaurant owner, founding member of

the Gang of Four that established The New

Southwest Cuisine, rock star and beloved

Dallas icon. Dean Fearing can now add

another title to the list - tequila blender.

Through a marketing arrangement with Tequila Patron, the

market leader in ultra-premium tequila, guests at Fearing’s

restaurant and the Rattlesnake Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Dal-

las will now be able to sip a unique tequila - Fearing’s Barrel

Select Tequila, chosen and blended by Fearing on a recent

visit to the distillery in Jalisco.


young (blanco) tequila. In its place is instilled a plush cloak of oak, vanilla, banana, orange peel and woody flavors all transported by a mouthfeel of substantial body em-anating from the phenols leached from the wood. The vanillin of the French oak and the banana notes are most foreword, but this is a subtle, refined, complex beast. In all honesty, hitherto Patron has not been a favorite tequila of mine. This expression changed all that. I would redo the labelling. It is classy and traditional to the point of be-ing frumpy. But even as he edges into elder statesman status Fearing


still has edge in an Anthony Bour-dain kind of way (maybe it’s the verve with which he plays I used to love her, but it’s all over now).

When Fearing visited Patron’s Hacienda in Jalisco with his restau-rant’s General Manager, Michael Gluckman, production manager Antonio Rodriguez confronted them with a rack five barrels high in the barrel room. Fearing and Patron Master Distiller Francisco Alcaraz sniffed and sipped their way through dozens of samples of year-old spirit, ultimately creating the final blend from two specific

barrels. Fearing went home with a ‘reference sample’ and the re-mainder was bottled and labelled for shipment to the Dallas Ritz-Carlton.

Patron kicked off the Fearing’s launch with a visit by their lead mixologist, Andres Ismael Moran Gutierrez, whose bar, 400 Conejos (400 Rabbits), is in Guadalajara. He crafted a couple of superior cock-tails that are now available at the Rattlesnake Bar.


A FIRST TIERC a l i f o r n i a C a b e r n e t

WORDS ANDREW CHALK PHOTOS ROBB MCDONOUGH


If you are still kicking yourself for not getting in early to the lists of Napa cult wineries Screaming Eagle,

Colgin or Harlan check this out. Ovid Napa Valley is a newer, lesser known Napa cult wine founded with a nothing but the best approach by medical software entrepreneurs Mark Nelson and Dana Johnson.

Consider that Ovid is on Pritchard Hill, sharing land with the likes of Chappellet and Mondavi’s Continuum. The vineyard was planted and continues to be managed by David Abreu. The first winemaker was Screaming Eagle/Harlan/Staglin winemaker Andy Erickson and France’s most famous enologist Michel Rolland is a

consultant. Ovid makes only four wines each year. All Estate Grown. Ovid Napa Valley is a red blend of four of the five Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot). “Experiment, an experimental blend of red Bordeaux varieties that varies each year. Hexameter , a Cabernet Francintensive blend and Loc. Cit., a site specific Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

I tried the 2012 Ovid Napa Valley . It has a ruby red color and medium plus viscosity. The color is intense at the core, lightening towards the meniscus. In the nose, the ripe raspberry fruit is accompanied by black pepper and mushrooms. In the mouth, the fruit is expansive and benefits from breathing. The raspberry fruit is confirmed along with thyme. There is a bottomless pit of subtle nuances of fruit and herb flavors. Tannins are soft and lush, making this a wine that is easy to drink now, but it will keep for several years.


The forward fruit style marks this unmistakably as a Napa Valley wine but one with tremendous breed that exemplifies all that is best in Napa fruit.

Currently Ovid sells for between $150 and $200 a bottle but the history of other Napa cult Cabernets suggest that this could increase substantially.

The best way to get on the conveyor belt is to sign up on their web site now and plan a trip to the stunning winery this summer. Tours are private and by appointment only.




HIBISCUSMODERN CHOPHOUSEWORDS RICHARD S POLLAK PHOTOS JILL BROUSSARD, STEPHEN KARLISCH

Hibiscus features cuisine anchored in the modern chophouse genre showcasing the best local and regional responsibly raised products

Wood cooking is a noted specialty at Hibiscus which is applied to pasture-raised steaks, poultry and game from nearby ranches and much of the restaurant’s pristine seafood issues from the Gulf of Mexico. The April menu showcases Chef Graham Dodds’ creativity and inspiration of the farm to table philosophy. The Chef says, “I responsibly resource from local producers with exceptionally high standards. Everything that we can put on a plate is organic and natural with no GMO’s.”

Chef Dodds’ credentials include preparing a featured dinner in New York at the famed James Beard House in 2015. He has received TOP 10 chef and restaurant honors for the past two years from the Dallas Morning News. He shares with his community as a major participant in the annual Chefs to Farmers Festival. He strives to bring the farmers to the main stage and celebrate what they do for the industry. His drive is to educate the public in making responsible food choices. Demonstrating what to eat and from where!


The appetizers span the globe of interest and taste. I was looking forward to trying the lamb ribs featured on their website menu.

Unfortunately, during my first visit to Hibiscus, the lamb ribs were no where to be found. Fortunately, on my return visit, our server Michelle, mentioned the lamb ribs as an off menu item. I was thrilled to engulf one of the specialities of the house because it was a hidden offering that didn’t appear on the first courses on the April menu.

Over a two night dining extravaganza, we experienced all of the first courses on the menu. The Charcuterie plate has been called a meaty glory by well known Dallas foodies. Mastering old school techniques with modernized takes on in-house salum, rillettes, torchons and mousses. The wood platter also comes with an array of house made pickles, vegetables, and mustards. There are veggies like beets, cauliflower, and mushrooms that are graciously mixed with fresno, tabasco, Serrano, and banana peppers. The meats were exotic from rabbit pate to goat chorizo and duck breast.

The highlights of the first course were the Akaushi Carpaccio which we also experienced as an 18oz bone-in strip for one of my main courses. On my first night, I sampled the P.E.I. Mussels in a pleasant broth rich with caramelized onions, bratwurst and the house pumpernickel. Another regular favorite is the Foie Gras Chicken Liver Pate with a fennel & orange marmalade lathered onto toasted brioche.

For the second course, Chef Dodds has gone to the farm to create salad masterpieces with his own creative interpretations. I am always amazed at the salad station and their efforts. It was a great touch serving the salads on chilled plates for fresh crispness. The second course


selections of mixed greens, dinosaur kale, caesar, Boston Bibb and baby beets each has been cheerfully played with. My caesar would have destroyed the Roman Empire if you were trying to duplicate the same old salad. The salad station goes crazy with a mix called Eric’s Mache. The unrecognizable caesar is a mess of Eric’s Mache french salad greens, crispy fried white anchovies and buttery croutons. My wife’s Boston Bibb was a perfect balance of fresh greens, citrus, feta , candied cashews and avocado. David, our server the first evening, who has been with Hibiscus since opening shared with us the secret dressing of grape seed oil, oregano and sesame that lightly coated the Bibb.

Texas beef is highlighted separately from the rest of the Hibiscus main course menu. The restaurant rustles in a tenderloin salad, 10oz Tenderloin,18oz Akushi Bone-In Strip and the Texas Favorite 20oz Bone-In Ribeye with frisee, horseradish and pickled green tomatoes.

You will notice that Chef prefers to prepare his beef along with the huge pork porterhouse with the bone-in for more flavor.

The main attraction to the menu is the third course which features an array of creations from land and sea. The brick roast chicken with fava bean puree, fiddleheads, morels, spring onions and ricotta is a modern take on an old traditional oven baked bird. I experienced the Muscovy Duck, “Coq au vin” and the Wagyu Oxtail with crispy Gnocchi and Arugula Pesto on my first visit. The Stripped Bass, Skate Wing and an off menu Scallop feature are the best that the sea has to offer.

While everyone of the third courses (main entrees) is presented perfectly orchestrated with vegetables and sauces, we conquered the sides as well without question. Hand cut fries, Gruyere Potato Puree and assorted mushrooms are


balanced by creamed greens with herb crumbs, grilled asparagus and thumbela carrots with Green Goddess. We were very fortunate to go for the mushrooms which were all the Chanterelle’s in season.

The beverage program at Hibiscus acknowledges “the emergence of high quality Texas wines, along with spirits and cocktails concoctions with local and regional heritage.” There is a strong contingency of Texas crafted beers featuring Lakewood Lager and Temptress, Real Ale, Fireman’s 4 Blonde, Revolver Blood & Honey, Rahr, Pride of Texas Pale Ale and St. Bernard. The cocktails are uniquely named just off center, from their original creations. As with the Chef ’s play on the known caesar salad, that comes out from the kitchen in an unfamiliar brilliance.

The bar’s cocktail lineup is just as creative and impressively tasty. The Jaded Mule, Tom Nichol, Pimm’s Play, Agave & Aperol, Manhattanish, Basil Gimlet, Martinique Fix, Clover Club, Strawberry Collins and Brown & Stirred all played well and tasted even better. The Manhattanish poured with Elijah Craig 12 year Bourbon, Averna Amaro, Cherry Heering, Apersol and Orange Bitters is a wonderful far cry from the New York City staple. The well known Tom Collins is divorced into a Tom Nichol with Tanquery 10 Gin, Chamomile Syrup and fresh Citrus while a Strawberry Collins is created with Bar Hill Gin, Solerno Blood Orange Liquor, fresh lemon, Muddles Texas Strawberries and club soda. The Chef explained that the wine list was separated with the “glass for one” and then “glass for two” where small split bottles serve two glasses.

The dessert station churns out the best in-store Ice Box Cake in Dallas. It’s Oreo Cookie crust is filled with vanilla ice cream and then topped with crushed Butterfingers before freezing. We also finished off the heirloom carrot cake with a Carrot-Ginger Coulis and the Valrhonda Chocolate Mousse. Hibiscus also presents a “Dude, Sweet Chocolate & Texas Whiskey Tasting” as well as a tasting of Texas cheeses with raw honey.

The Hibiscus commitment is “to elemental cooking and thoughtful sourcing as echoed by its soulful, rustic decor, which was created from indigenous materials with a historic building in the heart of North Henderson Avenue.” Hibiscus is the Modern chophouse with the best locally raised responsibility in the Dallas dining scene.





Louis Vuitton’s Great EscapeActe V/The Escape takes its cue from the artist movement Streamline Moderne

As far as aesthetic and artistic movements go, I’m more fasci-nated layman than expert. Art Nouveau I pretty much have sussed. Art Deco I get – not least because everything I’m most attracted to, be it furniture, textiles, jewellery or vintage fashion – usually hails from that era, as I keep finding out. But Stream-line Moderne? That’s a new one for me. It’s also the inspiration behind the sixth and latest high jewelery collection from Louis Vuitton, “Acte V/The Escape”.

As it turns out, Streamline Moderne is what it says on the box – streamlined. Those smooth curves of cars from the 1930s – the long, sweeping lines of their fenders – and the austere, bal-looning shape of the Zeppelin, that’s all Streamline Moderne. A lot of the furniture we think of as Mid-Century Modern – the fat, squat chairs with smooth, curved lines, often in gleam-ing steel and soft leather – are all under the influence of this forward-looking movement.

But how to translate this into jewelery?

It’s all in the V. The inverted triangle shape appears across the collection as an accent in onyx, a repeated shape in diamond pave, or diamond shoulders at the outer edges of an enormous opal set as a ring. It’s suggested in the shape of the bold black onyx surround that frames a vivid emerald in the bold “Newport” ring, and the blue enamel shapes surrounded by diamonds, pearls, and equal-ly blue tourmalines in the generous lengths of the Exelsior necklace.

But just as prevalent as this iconic V shape is the tassel – multiple strands of tsavorite beads or pearls suspended as bunches from drop earrings, choker-like diamond neck-laces and a cuff. The tassel is synonymous with jewellery of the Art Deco era, but as Acte V/The Escape is the second chapter of a high jewelery collection which started with the Art Deco-inspired first chapter, it makes sense.

And, as always with the luxury French mai-son, travel is an underlying theme, and in the case of this high jewelery collection, it is in the colours of the materials that travel is evoked – a remarkable grey Burmese sapphire like a sea fog, iridescent Australian opals evoking the colours of the ocean, and the exotic blues of a particular shade of tourmaline. Tahitian pearls, Australian opals, Burmese sapphires – Acte V/The Escape lives up to its name with a round-the-world trip of a collection inspired by a bold aesthetic movement that has me fascinated.

Louis Vuittonwww.louisvuitton.com


Grand DesignJaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Grand Tradition Grande Complication takes the notion of a “grande complication” into orbit

Of all the astronomical watches at last month’s SIHH in Geneva (all matters starry emerged as something of a theme at the show), Jaeger-LeCoultre’s rose gold version of its Grande Complication proved that this is still the one watch that takes the idea furthest and in the most unexpected way. An otherwise standard “grande complication”, if such a description is not too strong an oxymoron, Jaeger’s latest offering plays with the variance that can be observed during the year between “mean” time and the time as indicated by the stars.

Of course, there is really no such thing as a conven-tional grand complication. The term traditionally means a watch that has both perpetual calendar and minute repetition functions (and quite often a chronograph as well) and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s example incorporates the best of the expertise developed over the centuries of watchmaking tradition in La Vallée, long acknowledged as the hotbed of excellence for complicated watches in Switzerland (neighbours in the Vallée de Joux include Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Blancpain and Bulgari as well as specialist ateliers for Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and others).

That means superlative finish and an absolute dedica-tion to refining and improving existing knowledge, as with the Trebuchet hammers developed to give the gongs a more precise strike or the super-light flying tourbillon at the heart of the watch. The tourbillon in-cludes some 73 parts, several key components being printed silicon, weighs less than a gramme thanks to its titanium cage and runs on lubricant-free ceramic ball-bearings at a very modern 4Hz.

The tourbillon is at the heart of the watch’s ability to indicate sidereal; i.e. star time. Thanks to a mechanism below the dial, the tourbillon carriage and the blue lacquer star chart that it sits within rotate counter-clockwise in 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4 seconds, while the hands and sun indicator follow the normal day. A suitably heavenly sound is produced from a specially developed crystal gong that has a square section to optimise the contact with the hammer when it strikes.

While the watch has an almost extreme concentration of tradition and technology packed into it, Jaeger’s preference for relatively conservative case shapes and details allows the functions to take precedence in the design. This watch is set to join the galaxy of stand-out timepieces.

Jaeger-LeCoultrewww.jaeger-lecoultre.com



S U M M E R2 0 1 5 Louis VuittonReady-To-Wear Fashion









American Heart Association Côtes du Coeur

American Heart Association Côtes du Coeur


American Heart Association Côtes du CoeurOn March 25th the American Heart Association held The Côtes du Coeur Gala at The Hilton Anatole Hotel to raise support for heart disease re-search. Event Chair Kate Rose Marquez welcomed hundreds of diners and dozens of sponsors to the banquet which was followed by a live auction emceed by Scott Murray.

Philippe Blanck

Scott and Carol Murray

Dani Cook

Kate Rose Marquez

Kentucky Derby Party

Kentucky Derby Party

Lee Park Junior Conservancy President Marty Cude and Vice President Kirsten G. Williams. Sarah Harvey, Carmaleta Whiteley and Kay Hammond

Aaron Carroll and Whitney Brune With Kate Bartholomew, Joe Mims and Samantha Martin


Kentucky Derby PartyWhat more elegant location to celebrate American Pharoah’s romp to the finish line than Arlington Hall at Lee Park. G. H. Mumm, Champagne sponsor, made sure that the bubbles flowed and an auction raised funds for the Hall’s preservation.


Dallas Museum of Art • Art Ball 50Art Ball is the premier fundraising gala for the Dallas Museum of Art. For this year’s 50th anniversary event Chair Nancy Carlson assembled a sophisticated event involving a tented reception (with Moët Hennessy cocktails) a sumptuous dinner and a live auction con-ducted by Christie’s Hugh Edmeades.

Dallas Museum of Art • Art Ball 50


Brad Oldham and Christy Coltrin and Michael and Shelle Sills

Clint Carlson, Art Ball Chair Nancy Carlson, Eugene McDermott Director at the Dallas Museum of Art Maxwell L. Anderson and Jacqueline Anderson

Howard Rachofsky, Nancy Rogers and Cindy Rachofsky

ModernLifestyles.tv 79Dallas Museum of Art • Art Ball 50


Lawrence and Katy Bock Nancy Rogers, Molly Barns, Kathleen Hutchinson and Dallas Snadon

Travis and Shelby Goff and Katherine and Blake Woodall Barbara and Steve Durham




Rolls Royce WraithWORDS JIM SHERMAN


Rolls Royce has been synonymous with posh and excess for decades. Realistically the only people you see driving a modern Rolls Royce are rap stars, NFL players, oil barons and now a new up and coming category… an auto review writer! (I said driving one, not owning one.)

Yes, I had the privilege of driving the Rolls Royce Wraith for a couple of days. When I picked it up it was snowy and icy. Then rain and more ice. Welcome to winter in north Texas. There is nothing like driving a $400k plus car on I35E through Dallas at night in freezing rain. It’s nerve wracking even parking it in the garage of a writer’s modest home. (Honey, what are the damage liability limits on the homeowner’s policy?)

First stop – pick up my young daughter and go get some pizza, because where else do you go in a Rolls Royce?

From the ultra-plush carpet floor mats to the LED star field in the headliner, chrome knobs to open the vents, wood grain this and leather wrapped that the car is a work of art. Motion sensors in the map pockets of the door light up when you reach in with your hand. The seats have, I don’t know, 30 adjustments (exaggerated, but not by much) and once you have it set, it is more comfortable then any living room recliner I’ve ever sat in.


The Wraith’s coupe doors are suicide style and quite large and heavy. It only took a whole day and one of those “I wonder what this button does?” moments to realize that they power close. The center caps on the wheels are weighted so that the Rolls Royce logo is always right side up. Don’t even get me started on the umbrella mounted in each door jam.

The engine is quiet even under heavy acceleration and the 624-horsepower, 6.6L V12 had plenty of power to move the 2.5-ton coupe. It is more maneuverable than you would expect from its size. After all it is just over 17 feet long. Steering is light and predictable and, considering the weather conditions, it had great traction and control.

But lets face it, at nearly half a million dollars it damn well should be awesome.

All the bells and whistles only partially describe how it’s equipped. With all the features it does have, the dash was surprisingly Spartan. There were very few buttons, knobs and displays. While this is great for simplifying the interior appearance, it takes a lot of time to learn how to get some of the simplest functions to work.

I typically program my five favorite radio stations and a few Sirius channels when I get a car to test-drive. The complexity


of the infotainment system in this car limited me to two radio stations and I’m not sure I ever mastered mode changes on the radio.

The Wraith has bird’s-eye cameras as well as a forward-looking parking camera. And then there was my favorite function – the infrared (IR) camera. The IR camera allowed me to see which of my neighbors just parked their cars and I found a couple of areas on my house where the insulation wasn’t quite up to par.

All that having been said, the overall experience was amazing. I loved driving it but hated the type of attention I got. (FYI, no one ever lets you merge in a Rolls Royce but they do slow down to see who’s driving.)

So on my “would I own one” meter it ranks kind of low. The artistic design and level of quality in the materials set the bar so high nothing else is even close, but it’s not my personality at all.

Test miles: 350Miles per gallon: If you have

to ask …


This car guy’s dream machine

So much has been written about the Nissan GT-R it’s tough to actually sit here and try to come up with something original. I could talk about zero-to-60 and quarter-mile times, skid pad ratings and all the other things that go with a performance car. But if you follow me, you know that’s not my style. So why bother?

Instead, let’s simply talk about what it’s like when you have an opportunity to live with one for entire three days. And let me tell, you what a memorable 72 hours.

Before picking up the car, I failed to appreciate the magnitude of driving a GT-R. Every stoplight, every parking lot … everywhere I went, the red GT-R took center stage. People who are not big into cars and didn’t even know quite what the car was were impressed with the sound, style and lines of the car. It was a conversation-starter like no other.

This thing has got plenty of power, great handling and incredible sound. I’d taken maybe six or seven people for a ride in it and they all agreed it was an amazing automobile. When you take into consideration that it’s only around $100,000, there is nothing in its category that could even come close to the performance you get out of the GT-R for the money.

In Normal Mode, it drives like a sports coupe should, with plenty of power and just plain old fun. And there is Comfort Mode, to soften the suspension a little. There is a Save Mode, which helps with fuel economy (snicker).

But who cares about all that? After all, R mode is just three independent switches away. Hold each one up for two seconds until the red light comes on … three red lights and the GT-R is armed and ready.

THE CAR EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT

2016 NISSAN GT-R

WORDS JIM SHERMAN


Picture yourself saddled up on a Tyrannosaurus Rex that someone just kicked it in the nuts.


To say Nissan hit a home run with the GT-R would be an understatement.


Picture yourself saddled up on a Tyrannosaurus Rex that someone just kicked it in the nuts. THAT was a Nissan GT-R in R mode. The power band up to full boost was so much fun. It just whooshed and BAM! It was gone.

The all-wheel-drive gripped the road and provided an incredible amount of confidence in any situation. But even with all that traction, a little practice and you can break the rear end loose just enough to provide a nice adrenaline rush to anyone in the passenger seat.

Speaking of passenger seat, let’s talk interior. The seats are firm yet very supportive, keeping you planted behind the wheel and everything else is exactly where it needs to be. This one had navigation and a Bose stereo, plus all the little other things that you’d expect for $100,000. I rarely drove with the radio on, though I’m sure it was nice. Most of the time it was windows down as I found myself chuckling and saying “let me sing you the song of my people” just before I accelerated past some slower traffic.

To say Nissan hit a home run with the GT-R would be an understatement.

Yes, I had a hard time turning this one in, and yes, I would absolutely own one.

Test miles: 350 (nowhere near enough – I wanted to put 100,000 on this one)

Average miles per gallon: 19

Fun factor: Immeasurable!


Modern Lifestyles SUMMER 2015

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