Upscale Dining Tips

You did not misread the headline, I did say “Restaurant” and “Toilet” in the same sentence.  This is a luxury concept restaurant that serves up edible excrement, that is, dinner served up in a decidedly dumpy way!

Diners at the Modern Toilet are seated on acrylic toilets, with the lid down of course.  The toilet seats are stenciled with images of seashells, roses or Renaissance paintings, to add a touch of class.

I learned a few new things today.  It seems there are actually things to do in Las Vegas other than gamble  (can you imagine?)!  This information threw my imagination into overdrive, and I decided I must pass on these Vegas travel tips to my readers.

I won’t keep you in suspense, the top 5 things to do in Vegas other than gamble are:

1.    Shop
2.    Experience the national parks, recreation and unique spots
3.    Dine
4.    Shows
5.    Outstanding museums, galleries & exhibitions
 

We recently set out to find the most expensive single item you could order off of a restaurant menu here in Chicago.  In blogs past we have explored the most expensive restaurants, or most expensive burgers, but we have never looked for the single most expensive item.  At last, we have found the culprit within Chicago, and it is not cheap by any means.

This year we at Imagine Lifestyles have put together a list of ideas to assist our fans and readers with the annual event of deciding on the perfect Father’s Day gift.  So without further ado, here are this year’s top 5 luxury gifts for Father’s Day:

1.    3-D, LCD, LED, HD TV by Samsung
2.    Gift certificate to an exotic restaurant
3.    Luxury rental car
4.    ipad
5.    Helicopter charter

Expensive restaurants in Asia are thriving, growing almost exponentially, which is quite a thrill to the culinary circuit and “foodies” of the world.

Some of the most exclusive and expensive (although that does not always translate to “good”) dishes can be found on the exotic continent, with unique twists and style.  The top 5 most expensive restaurants and items in Asia are as follows:

1.    Mezzaluna, Bangkok
2.    Aragawa, Tokyo
3.    Mibu, Tokyo
4.    Kitcho, Tokyo
5.    Krug Room, Mandrian Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong

When it comes to South Beach hotels, the Betsy Hotel certainly portrays poise and elegance, located in the famed Art Deco district on Ocean Drive.  This is a luxury hotel, upscale restaurant, lavish poolside bar and exotic garden spa all in one location.

There are 63 elegantly appointed rooms at the Betsy, all of which are private, beachside jewels with elaborate and creative design, and of course, every modern amenity.   The décor is decidedly tropical, yet not tacky.  A main attraction is the courtyard pool, where you can indulge in delectable specialty cocktails that will melt away your every worry.  Light fare is offered poolside.

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

Hey, my name is Alex and my friends and I will be visiting Miami Beach for 4 nights over my May break. We go at least once every year so I know the place very well, but for some strange reason I can't seem to decide the restaurants I want to go to this year.

I plan on making a reservation at Prime Italian and Michael's Genuine, however, I can’t figure out anything else.  I was thinking maybe Cuban with a modern, high-end twist? 

I’m not really interested in going to Nobu this year, and I’ve never really been too interested in Barton G. If you were in Miami for 4 nights and could eat at any 4 restaurants what would they be? I trust Imagine Lifestyle’s Taste! 

Thanks,

Alex, New York

For the finest in culinary encounters, you must go to the best luxury restaurants.  Luxury restaurants boast medleys of some of the world’s rare and most delicious combinations of food, but they do come with a lofty price tag.  In the classiest circles, dining out is an art, and the best chefs in the world are their artists.

If you are a culinary adventurer, know that some of the delicacies at an exotic restaurant can inflate the price of the meal to equal the weekly salary of some.  While you chew on that, here is a list of the top 10 most expensive restaurants in the world, and the average cost of a meal there:

The culinary world of the rich and famous is fascinating, in regards to the entrees, drinks, desserts, and of course, the outrageous prices.  As culinary explorers, join us on an epic journey through some of the world’s most expensive entrée, beverage and dessert items.  It is nothing but the best for our fans.

In the area of exotic cuisine, it takes a lot to surprise us at Imagine Lifestyles.  We love watching the Travel Channel, including Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” and Andrew Zimmern’s “Bizarre Foods”.  Meet Guo-Li-Zhuang, Beijing’s luxury restaurant that caters to the elite-by serving several types of pricey penises and testicles.

Aimed at the curious, the connoisseur and the health conscious, this luxury Chinese restaurant specializes in serving up the penises of horses, yaks, dogs, bulls, ducks and rare specimens to those who can afford it.  Note that a meal at Guo-Li-Zhuang is well into the hundreds, with delicacies such as Canadian seal penis costing upwards of $400 (this order must be placed in advance).

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

I read your luxury blog daily and love the variety of information you provide, especially the luxury restaurant tips for our area. 

That is actually how I discovered your blog, I had been searching for restaurants in Miami that I may not be aware exist, and found your blog about Nobu Sushi.  The added bonus is that you also cover exotic cars, which I love nearly as much as exotic food.  The content variety is awesome and a nice lunchtime read for me at the office.

Anyways, I am writing to get your take on the South Beach Food and Wine Festival this weekend, is it something to just stop by, or to plan on devoting the entire weekend to? 

Thanks guys you are awesome,
Tomas, South Beach

If you live or are planning to be in the Miami area this weekend, the 2010 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine is on.  The Wine & Food festival will take place Thursday, February 25 through Sunday, February 28th.  Read on to find out why it is a “can’t miss”.

Some of the most well-respected and recognized industry principals will again congregate in Miami Beach to educate and entertain the thousands of fans of this annual event. 

If you live in Miami, or are visiting us soon, and have a weakness for all that is culinary, Miss Yip Chinese Café is a must-try. 

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

My girlfriend and I just made it to Miami for Super Bowl week.  We previously read in your luxury blog about the Top 5 Luxury Restaurants in South Beach, and are thinking of trying some of them.  We are hoping to get into Nobu, as we love sushi, but are unsure of how difficult it will be to get in on such short notice and during Super Bowl week.  I will call Nobu today, but in the event that we do not get in, are there any other good sushi restaurants we can hit?

Thanks guys,
Adam, New York

STK steakhouse has just made its South Beach debut, opening a new location within the luxurious Gansevoort Hotel.  The long awaited arrival of this popular culinary treasure has come to a mouth-watering end with the opening of the doors.

This is no ordinary steakhouse, but a celeb sought-after dazzler with quite the following, including Fergie, Josh Duhamel, Michael Bay, Robin Givens and more.  Prior to the South Beach debut, STK Gansevoort held a several tastings and “friends and family” trials for a select lucky few.