London, England - Chelsea in Bloom 2013

Now in its eighth year, Chelsea in Bloom, in association with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), sees the streets of Chelsea filled with blossoms from 20–25 May. The annual competition heats up year after year as the areas stores and retailers compete for the coveted awards with a display of breathtaking floral designs.

This year’s Chelsea in Bloom theme is the ‘Decades’ and celebrates the 100th year of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The floral displays will reflect iconic periods of British design, while taking inspiration from participating retailers’ archives from the past 100 years.

Here's a look at this year's displays.

Smythson of Bond Street:

Brown's luxury clothing:

Swanky Italian clothier, Brunello Cucinelli:

Hackett of London:

Savills Estate Agents:

Links of London:

Basia Zarzycka:

The White Company bedding and linens:

Space NK beauty products:

L.K. Bennett:

Partridge's gourmet grocery store in Duke of York Square:

Rag & Bone in Sloane Square:

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Hamilton, Bermuda - Barracuda Grill

Last on my list of Bermuda must-eat restaurants is the Barracuda Grill. Located right off Front Street in downtown Hamilton, next to the famous Hog Penny pub, I have dined at this restaurant on three separate trips to Bermuda, and have never once been disappointed. 

The creativity of the menu, service, atmosphere, presentation and wonderful flavor combinations of the dishes make the Barracuda Grill one of my favorites on the island. Delicious from starters all the way to desserts ... 

Amuse bouche
Prosciutto relish toasts

Mangalista Pork Belly
Sous vide cooked 24 hours, 64in fried Wadson egg, romesco sauce, preserved lemon

Yellowfina Tuna Tartar
Cucumber wasabi gazpacho, mango caviar, sesame, avocado, teriyaki crisp

Pan Seared Fresh Snapper
Fresh artichoke ravioli, black garlic emulsion, fava beans, pickled fennel, fig relish

Grilled Bermuda Rockfish
Black bean glaze, gingered sweet potato, sticky rice, soy foam, baby bok choy, teriyaki sesame crisp

Mascarpone Cheesecake
Lemon infused, brown sugar brule, sugar cookie crust, espresso whipped cream

Chocolate Banana Bread Volcano
Melanie's banana bread pudding, warm liquid chocolate, Grand Marnier creme anglaise

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Bailey's Bay, Bermuda - Swizzle Inn

No trip to Bermuda is complete without a visit to the Swizzle Inn for the island's famous national drink, the Rum Swizzle cocktail. What's not to love about a place who's motto is Swizzle Inn, Swagger Out !? That's exactly what you will do after a few pitchers of this Goslings dark rum and fruit juice concoction. 

The Dark & Stormy: another Bermudian specialty of Goslings Black Rum and Ginger Beer

Rum Swizzle

I visited the original location, Bermuda's oldest pub, near the airport, though there is a second location at the other end of the island on the South Shore in Warwick. The menu has food for all tastes, from mile-high nachos to chicken wings, pizzas, quesadillas, burgers and other pub favorites.

How about mixing up a pitcher of Rum Swizzles for your next party? Here's the Swizzle Inn's top secret recipe:

It's Official
It's Super Secret
it's The
Swizzle Inn
Rum Swizzle Recipe
4oz Goslings Black Seal Rum
4oz Barbados Rum (or any amber rum)
2oz Triple Sec
Juice of 2 lemons
5oz Pineapple Juice
5oz Orange Juice
2oz Bermuda Falernum or simple sugar syrup
4 dashes of Angostura Bitters


Mix in a pitcher with cracked ice and shake vigorously until frothing head appears. 
Strain into cocktail glasses and let the fun begin!
Serves 6

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