SHIOK! (pronounced – shook), Pan Pacific London’s new innovative, Singapore influenced pâtisserie from the luxury hotel’s acclaimed pastry chef Cherish Finden, is now open! Located in Devonshire House, the 146-year-old building adjacent to the hotel and in the heart of Pan Pacific London’s estate, SHIOK! will combine the traditional flavours of Finden’s childhood with her signature flare, bringing a taste of Singapore to London in her first standalone retail space.
Ahead of the opening, Cherish said; ’In Singapore the word SHIOK! conveys a feeling of pure pleasure and happiness and this is what I want to capture. The patisserie is going to be somewhere you will want to bring your loved ones, any time throughout the day for an out-of-this-world pastry. I’m so looking forward to Londoners experiencing what we have in store’.
One of the world’s top pastry chefs, Cherish has worked in some of the most prestigious hotel kitchens in the world as well as becoming a household name as a TV Chef.  Cherish first found her passion for pâtisserie in 1991 with her first role at the iconic Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore. Now, almost 30 years later she has returned to the group to take on the role of Executive Pastry Chef at Pan Pacific London, the first European outpost for the collection. www.panpacificlondon.com

Cunard has announced that acclaimed chef, restaurateur, TV host and author, Matt Moran will headline the talent program for its inaugural five-day Great Australian Culinary Voyage. While on board Cunard’s first dedicated culinary cruise on board the luxurious Queen Elizabeth Matt will create exclusive dishes for onboard diners and share his passion for Australian food and produce with Cunard guests through talks and interviews.
Award-winning Matt Moran said: “My love for Australia’s food culture and produce runs deep. We are so incredibly lucky in this country with the variety of experiences and ingredients available to us, and the amazing landscapes and destinations we can all access through travel. Cunard’s Great Australian Culinary Journey brings these two elements together in a unique showcase and I’m thrilled to be part of it!”
Alongside Matt, celebrated chefs, wine makers and food critics (to be announced soon) will create a vibrant program of curated events and dinners, demonstrations, interviews, and onshore experiences.
Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth’s Great Australian Culinary Voyage will celebrate Australia’s unique food and wine culture. Departing from Sydney on 28 January 2023, the 5-night sailing takes in three of Australia’s culinary hotspots, sailing to Melbourne and Burnie (Tasmania), before arriving back in Sydney on 2 February.
Guests will be able to learn about Indigenous ingredients, sample beautiful Australian wines while on board and immerse themselves in the unique local food experiences on bespoke shore excursions.
To read more and to book, please visit: www.cunard.com/en-au/cruise-types/event-cruises/culinary-voyage 

Viking Cruises today announced the launch of their new ship, Viking Ra with guests setting sail on a new Egypt itinerary, Pharaohs & Pyramids in March 2018. The all-suite Viking Ra has 24 suites and accommodating 48 guests, reflecting Viking’s award-winning Scandinavian design and intimate sailing experience.  Viking Ra, named in honour of the Egyptian sun god Ra, will feature three suite stateroom categories, as well as an onboard spa, two Jacuzzis and an outdoor pool. Designed by experienced nautical architects and engineers, the ship combines elegant Scandinavian design with local design influences, including geometric Arabic patterns and terrazzo floors. The onboard dining, bar and lounge will include both regional and international cuisine, with Viking’s Culture Curriculum available onboard including: world-class lectures on history and art, informative port talks and enriching Destination Performances featuring folkloric shows and musicians."We are excited to announce our new ship, Viking Ra, in Egypt”. With her introduction, we will be the first and only Western company to own and operate a ship on the Nile, with Viking staff to guarantee the delivery of our award-winning service”, said Michelle Black, Managing Director of Viking Cruises Australia and New Zealand. “As we continue to grow our river fleet and provide new itineraries, we look forward to providing our guests with even more choice to explore the world in ‘the Viking way’.” www.viking.com

Prepare your palate for some iconoclastic taste sensations at Crystal ships' Silk Road and Sushi Bar. Silk Road features the cuisine of master chef Nobuyuki 'Nobu' Matsuhisa. His disciples have been schooled in his blending of classic Japanese food with Peruvian and European influences. While the Sushi Bar presents an assortment of Nobu's signature sushi and sashimi - such as Salmon Tartar with Sevruga Caviar and Tiradito Nobu-style, Silk Road tantallises with Black Cod with Miso, Grilled Wagyu with Anticuccho and a host of other delights.

Shangri-La Hotel, Doha celebrates its grand opening yesterday with Doha’s most eminent gathering for the event.  His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, The Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior for the State of Qatar and many local dignitaries attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A life-sized portrait of His Royal Highness the Emir and His Royal Highness the Father Emir was also unveiled.

The gleaming 50-storey hotel is located in the commercial district of West Bay and designed to resemble a falcon’s head in recognition of Qatari falconry – the country’s historic and elite pastime . Inside it is a fusion of Aian and Arab styles and it is also adorned with museum-quality art pieces which are on loan from the Sheikh Faisal Collection.  Shopping fanatics will be gal dot know that  Shangri-La Hotel, Doha offers a direct link to the City Centre Mall, the city’s largest mall, and is only five minutes from the waterfront promenade. www.shangrila.com

Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort has unveiled the first phase of its fresh new look with 146 of the resort’s 294 rooms now fully refurbished, restyled, and back in inventory The resort  embarked on an extensive AUD$40 million  renovation in May 2015 and the new look celebrates coastal living with match the driftwood timber floors, stone topped mini bars and the natural wooden furnishings.

The new Mirage Resort Rooms, Lagoon Rooms and Studio Suites have crisp, fresh textures and furnishings inspired by the tropical north Queensland surroundings. Splashes of ocean –inspiredl turquoise green inject colour into the white ,bright rooms.  Romantic canopied bedheads and indoor/outdoor balconies with luxurious daybeds encourage gusts to relax.

An exciting element of the refurbishment project is the creation and launch of 41 unique Lagoon Edge Rooms and 12 Lagoon Edge Studio Suites. From their private balconies, these new rooms and suites offer guests great views and direct access to the resort’s refreshing, saltwater lagoon swimming pools.

www.sheratonportdouglas.com

Three-Michelin-star chef, Andreas Caminada, will be opening his new restaurant, Igniv, at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in time for Christmas on 16th December 2015.  Igniv, means ‘nest’ in the ancient Graubünden language of Rhaeto-Romanic, and the concept is to create a space where guests share  culinary ecperiences in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Andreas Caminada is known for his vision and innovation within the culinary world so this new restaurant promises to be good.  A native of Switzerland’s Graubünden region (which faces Grand Resort Bad Ragaz across the Rhine). The new restaurant will allow guests to experience an entirely different gastronomic concept to that of his current restaurant Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau. Igniv’ s philosophy will be based on the idea of sharing and coming together to enjoy and share exquisite cuisine, creating a more social experience for guests. The menu is also designed to fit into this concept, with meals consisting of either 14 or 18 different sharing plates. “We want to bring people together around the table, to get them eating together, speaking to each other, sharing ideas while enjoying some of the same meals and dishes,” said Andreas Caminada. www.resortragaz.ch