connoisseur club
Connoisseur Club

Cuisine, Czars and Caviar with the Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club

August 22 - September 2, 2008

Three Day London Extension

Stay in London's hip, award-winning Hotel 41. Tour Buckingham Palace and the Clarence House. Attend a private farewell dinner at Benares, one of London's hottest Indian restaurants.

Day 1: Tuesday 2nd September [B, L] Transfer to London Cocktail Reception and option for Theatre or Pub Crawl

  • An Official London Travel Representative will meet you dockside as you disembark the Crystal Symphony. Transfer into London by luxury motor coach. Visit a country house en route into London for private lunch with a welcome from the resident chef. After lunch, continue the drive into London and check in at your hotel.
  • Hotel 41, recently ranked #2 in the top 500 hotels of the world by Travel and Leisure, overlooks the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace and is a short walk from the Royal Parks and Pall Mall. “41” is a luxury five star hotel offering an exclusive haven for the most discriminating traveler.
  • Afternoon at leisure to explore the city on your own.
  • Evening Cocktail Reception.
    Remainder of the evening can be spent at leisure or you may choose to attend a theatre performance or join a pub crawl.
  • Overnight Hotel 41

Day 2: Wednesday 3rd September [B, D] Half Day Tour - Buckingham Palace and Clarence House Farewell Dinner at Benares

  • An Official London Travel Representative will meet you at the hotel for the half day walking tour.

Visit to Buckingham Palace
The official residence of Her Majesty the Queen. The palace dates to 1703 when the Duke of Buckingham built a mansion on this site. King George IV converted the country estate into a royal palace in the early 1820's, and it became the monarch's official London residence in 1837 when Queen Victoria moved in. On the tour you will see 18 of the palace's 600 rooms, including the 155-foot Picture Gallery, the Throne Room (complete with actual coronation thrones) and the State Dining Room. Don't expect a royal glimpse - the tour stays clear of the Queen's private quarters.

Visit to Clarence House
Clarence House was once the London home of Her Majesty The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh following their marriage in 1947 and of The Prince of Wales between the ages of one and three. It was also the home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1953 to 2002. The Prince of Wales returned to Clarence House on 4th August 2003, the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's birth, and it became his official London residence.

This is where The Prince receives official guests from England and abroad on behalf of the Nation, and brings together people from all walks of life through official seminars, lunches, receptions and dinners. Several thousand official guests are received at the House annually.

Members of the public will be able to see on display items from the Royal Collection and from the collection of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The decoration of the rooms retains the ambiance created by The Queen Mother, and much of her collection of works of art and furniture are in their former positions.

  • Afternoon at leisure to explore the city on your own.
  • Special Farewell Dinner with Michael and Tommy.

The acclaimed London restaurant, Benares, is the setting for an amazing Indian-themed Interactive Dinner. Created by Chef Atul Kochlar, the first Indian Chef to be awarded the coveted Michelin star. Benares has won numerous accolades for its delicately spiced food and striking design. With a standard of service to match, Indian food will never be the same again.

  • Overnight Hotel 41

Day 3: Thursday 4th September [B] Departures

  • After breakfast in the morning, depart to the airport.

You also have the option to enjoy London for a few more days or to head off to Paris via the Chunnel. Please call for details.

FARE

$2,085* per person based on double occupancy.
Fares include two nights luxury accommodation in deluxe king room; meals and events per itinerary; transfers, activities, tours and services of guide per itinerary; gratuity for driver and VAT.

Fares do NOT include international air; meals and activities not stated on itinerary (theatre tickets or pub crawl); alcoholic beverages, spa services, telephone calls and other items of a personal nature.

Please contact us for room upgrades.

*Please note, rate is subject to change due to fluctuations in currency.

$500 per person deposit is required to guarantee space.


Tommy and Michael at Singita Game Reserve, South Africa

Traveling with the Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club

Chef Tommy Klauber and Michael Klauber have been immersed in the hospitality business since they were children, growing up on the shores of Longboat Key, Florida at their family-owned Colony Beach and Tennis Resort. They have been fortunate to study and travel the culinary highways of the world extensively and are consummate hosts as you might expect!

Michael opened the successful, award-winning Michael's On East Restaurant in Sarasota over 20 years ago.  Tommy has owned and operated the highly-acclaimed Pattigeorge's since 1997, and recently opened a new restaurant in Lakewood Ranch's shopping and dining district, Polo Grill and Bar. Tommy is one of America's brightest and most creative chefs and Michael is one of the most well-known restaurateurs and wine experts in the US. Today their almost unlimited access to chefs and winemakers around the world consistently create one-of-a-kind experiences. Their seven Connoisseur Club culinary adventures to date have taken them (and their fellow travelers!) to France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Napa Valley and Southeast Asia.

941.957.4222 © Copyright 2008 Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club