Culinary perfection resides in the heart of The Waldorf Astoria Chicago, formally the Elysian Hotel, located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. The expert staff create sophisticated dining experiences at Ria, a two star Michelin rated restaurant brilliantly orchestrating seasonally driven French cuisine. Chef Danny Grant, named to the 2012 class of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs, and his team are focused on an attention to detail that is second to none.

At Ria, the dining experience focuses on local, seasonal fare that is transformed into a modern take on some classic French flavors. The wine pairings are very smart and often unique. The staff is attentive, incredibly knowledgeable, and very exceptional. The gorgeous comfortable dining room is bathed in silver and gold and soothing neutral tones. Intimate yet private, the tables are spaced far apart, dressed in white accented with a single burgundy calla lily. And the rolling Champagne cart carries unique offerings, many not available anywhere else in the US.

Ria offers a true fine dining experience in Chicago. Fabulous food, service, and atmosphere.

Ria is located on the third floor of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago at 11 East Walton Street.

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There are various forms of depression, and unfortunately nearly 20 million Americans are diagnosed yearly with 9 million of them being major or clinical depression. Although many of us suffer from this very real mental illness there is a stigma that is too often behind it letting many people feel isolated and suffer alone.

There is no need to feel alone when it comes to depression, first you need to be properly diagnosed to find out what form of the illness you have in order for it to be treated properly by a doctor. There are various methods and steps that can be taken without always diverting to medication.

In the following infographic learn more about depression facts, symptoms & myths to debunk the wrong message society has given and instead educate yourself further on how you can get the help you need.

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Burberry’s The Britain watch celebrates 158 years of the London-based brand, and marks the company’s first venture into the luxury watch market. The watches are inspired by the classic Burberry trench, with the rounded octagonal shape of the face taken from the D-ring closure on the famous coats. The color palette also follows the brand’s classic design-scheme.

“The Britain is the embodiment of our rich, British heritage,” said the brand’s creative director Christopher Bailey, who revealed the label’s Spring-Summer 2013 pret-à-porter collection last month in London.

The advertising campaign for the watch, a series of black-and-white portraits, was shot by Mario Testino in London and features young actress Gabriella Wilde.

Starring alongside her are Rob Pryor, previously a member of rock band Outcry Collective, who co-wrote the music accompanying the campaign images, and art dealer Harry Scrymgeour.

Riding on the city’s patriotic high after a summer of sporting success, a launch party for the watch was held in Burberry’s new flagship store on London’s Regent Street.

Prices range from $1,820 to $4,490.

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Remember that night when you had to snuggle up on the terminal floor in Orlando because your flight got canceled? Or that time when you dashed full-sprint across Chicago O'Hare airport only to miss your connecting flight by two minutes?

We’ve all been there, and we all have a few airports we’d prefer to avoid if at all possible. From missed connections to rampant delays and unexplained cancellations, sometimes those three-letter airport codes make us want to use some four-letter words.

That said, just because you had a lackluster experience at LaGuardia or your friend hates Hobby doesn’t necessarily mean that those are the worst airports, statistically speaking.

At Hopper, we ran the numbers to give you a solid factual basis for evaluating which airports you should leave off your itinerary. And if you can’t avoid them, at least you can come prepared for some good, old-fashioned air travel anguish.

How did we figure this out? We evaluated the 100 airports with more than 5,000 flights per year. Our criteria included average departure delays, number of flights canceled, on-time departure percentages and weather delays (both frequency and duration). The 15 airports featured in this slideshow are the ones most likely to turn your dream vacation into a living nightmare.

For a more detailed chart, check out the Hopper blog!

#15: Atlanta, GA—Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)

You’re probably not surprised to find Atlanta on a "worst airports" list, but you might be surprised to find that it’s actually the best of the worst. A dubious title, to be sure, but we still give Atlanta props for its 83.75% on-time departure rate.

It’s not A+ territory, but it could definitely be worse. That said, Atlanta does rank pretty high on the "canceled flight" list, with 1,038 nixed in 2011 alone.

#14: Knoxville, TN—McGhee Tyson (TYS)

With an average departure delay time of well over 13 minutes, this small airport isn’t doing Knoxville any big favors.

It faced 3,535 weather delays in 2011, and has an on-time departure rate of just 81.22%, well below industry averages. However, while it doesn’t do too well by the numbers, travelers seem to like the airport, which is clean and modern, if small. Should you get stuck in Knoxville, we recommend you head over to the Dead End Barbeque for some authentic Tennessee smoked meats and gooey pimiento mac and cheese.

Southern cookin’ at its finest.

#13: Houston, TX—William P Hobby (HOU)

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, but apparently that doesn’t include the on-time departure rate at Hobby.

At just over 75%, it’s well below the industry average. That said, if you do get stuck in the Lone Star State, there’s plenty of Tex Mex to keep you going until your plane comes in. And if your plane gets canceled, as it did in 1.19% of cases in 2011 (far above the industry average) we recommend you grab a Dos Equis and kick up your boots.

There’s no point crying over spilled cerveza.

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The best way to be appropriately dressed when attending an event that stands for sheer grandeur is to follow a simple list of dos and don'ts.

If you have a Black Tie affair around the corner, then keep in mind these essentials pointed out by couturier Archana Kochhar and outfitter Sarah Shaikh (Designer, SS Homme).

The Dos:

• The appearance of 'Black Tie' on an invitation indicates unequivocally that the host expects tuxedos to be worn.

• One must opt for the classic suit-tuxedo, white dress shirt, lapel, bow tie, and leather shoes—all of uncompromised quality, of course. A classic bandhgala (now appreciated worldwide) could also be an alternative for a distinct royal look.

• Wearing a white shirt underneath is the standard. No other dress color will complement your bow tie.

• Keep the suit color dark, preferably black, and add color to your look by using accessories like cuff links and pocket squares. Make sure they're all color-coordinated, though.
• If you're not comfortable with a bow tie, a semi slim tie works well too. Just remember to keep it classic.
• Accessories that always work: a watch, bow tie/tie, tie pins, cuff links, silk pocket square, and well-crafted leather shoes (oxfords or brogues).

The Don'ts

• Such an event isn't really open to much experimentation. It's important to remember that wearing a black tie reflects the guest's respect for the host and the event, so it's usually better to stay biased to the side of more conservative rather than less.

• Dress according to your body type and avoid oversized clothes.

• A black tie event has no room for trial and error. Avoid any funky hair-dos and wacky belts, and keep it understated.

• Don't bathe yourself in extra cologne. Excess is a turn off. Go with a classic scent.

• Bulky, bling watches do not blend well with a classic tuxedo. Pair appropriately.

• As basic as it may sound, your trouser colour should always match your socks.

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Some people prefer mountain views, others sprawling plains or oceanfront. But for a special subset of properties, the preferred views are of postcard-worthy landmarks.

From coast to coast, and a few places in-between, we’re showcasing homes with views of U.S. landmarks—no family vacation required.

Statue of Liberty

10 West St Apt 36E, New York NY

Price: $5.1 million

The lovely lady in green stands beckoning visitors from all over into New York City‘s Harbor. A gift from the French, she is easily one of the most iconic landmarks in the U.S.

Any home with a view of Lady Liberty is bound to be one with spectacular water and skyline views as well, and undoubtedly on the more expensive side. For example, this Manhattan apartment is located in the Ritz Carlton and spans 2,722 square feet of space with views from nearly every angle.

Washington Monument

1451 Belmont St. NW, Washington DC

Price: $385,500

The tall spire of the Washington Monument was constructed between 1848 and 1884 as a tribute to President George Washington’s leadership during the Revolutionary War.

Glimpses of the gleaming marble structure can be seen from this Columbia Heights apartment deck. The DC apartment is a 1-bedroom, 1-bath and includes a gas fireplace and open kitchen with granite countertops.

Gateway Arch

1523 S 10th St, Saint Louis MO

Price: $69,000

The tallest monument in the U.S. and tallest structure in Missouri, the Gateway Arch memorializes the westward expansion of the 1800s.

Glimpse at the architectural structure from this brick condo for sale. The industrial-styled space has 1 bedroom and 1 bath in a 924-square-foot space. The building is in the historic La Salle neighborhood and within walking distance to the St. Louis‘ farmers market and restaurants.

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Sales of after-dinner mints are falling - no wonder Britain is going to the dogs.

Another nail has been driven into the coffin-shaped dinner-party table. Actually, I thought it had been dead and buried in the late Nineties, at some point between Peter Mandelson ordering guacamole in a fish and chip shop and Jamie Oliver telling us to “tear and share”.

But any pretence that it had a future has been killed off with the latest evidence: the catastrophic decline in after-dinner mints.

According to research in The Grocer trade magazine, sales of After Eights have fallen by 11 per cent over the last year, while Bendicks have slumped by 14 per cent. This is a body blow, delivered to the stomach of Middle England.

Apparently, we are too busy dipping Doritos into jars of radioactive salsa while watching the X Factor pantomime to indulge in such refinements as sipping coffee from a demitasse, nibbling on a mint and discussing the Midlothian question with the guest on our left.

And we wonder why Britain is in such a mess.

The sales figures are the latest evidence that formal dining has gone the way of the dodo. Earlier this year a survey suggested that 40 per cent of adults had ditched dinner parties because they were too expensive in an era of rising food prices and shrinking wage packets; and a quarter of respondents said the rigmarole was just too stressful.

Who has a cruet set any more? We’ve swapped napkins for a sheet of kitchen towel and you are more likely to find an iPad on the table than a decanter.

Many will pronounce this as a triumph, as final evidence that the snobbish era of Abigail’s Party is over, that we are now a “one nation Britain”, as at ease with itself as with a squeezy bottle of ketchup on the table.

Pish, I say.

It’s not that entertaining at home has died out. It’s just that we have become slobs about it. I blame David Cameron and his “kitchen suppers”.

Supermarket trading figures indicate that sales of upmarket ready meals have shot up, with M&S’s Dine-in-for-£10 one of the hits of the recession. Meanwhile, pubs and restaurants have struggled. People are saving money by abandoning an evening out for a microwaveable beef stroganoff on the sofa with friends. One department store even claimed that sales of knives were on the wane, as consumers opted to use forks only.

The resurgence of “event TV” – which first came to prominence during the oil-shocks of the Seventies – is also to blame. The flickering light of Mr Carson’s butler’s pantry, or the glitter ball of Strictly, has replaced a dining table candelabra.

One of the booming areas for chocolate is “share bags”, big sacks of confectionery that you used to find only on sale in the cinema, but now a must-have when friends are around to watch Downton.

It’s a sign of how far things have fallen. After-dinner chocs were once genuinely classy. Victoria mints, Elizabeth Shaw crisp mints, Bendicks bittermints, with a royal warrant – these all harked back to the days when chocolates were an expensive treat, to be given as a present and sold in “fancy boxes”.

When After Eights were introduced by Rowntree’s in 1962 they were an attempt to cash in on the rising aspirations and wealth of the middle classes.

The television commercials showed guests and hosts in black tie, and one 1963 newspaper advert featured a woman in full-length evening dress, who trilled: “After Eight wafer-thin mints have the same effect on me as camellias and candlelight; they make me feel expensive, pampered and gay.”

For Robert Opie, who runs the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, the rot set in during the Seventies, when After Eights became widely available in the emerging self-service supermarkets.

“The little paper envelope was very recherché. But going into the supermarkets meant they became available to hoi polloi, to be put into their baskets alongside frozen food.”

It’s been downhill ever since. My parents used to serve Bendicks at their Seventies dinner parties after the osso buco and Grand Marnier soufflé. But now these chocolates are available on a 3-for-£10 offer from Asda.

“My gosh, they have gone downmarket,” gasps Opie, when I break the news to him.

Dinner parties can be competitive (“I marinated it in sumac and Iranian lime powder for 48 hours. It’s terribly easy,” your host boasts) and occasionally tedious (endless talk of mortgages and Ofsted reports).

But in an era of Charlie Bingham pies, a dish of homemade food, and a bottle of wine – even a linen napkin – shows you have made an effort.

Times, indeed, are tough. But in the words of David Cameron, let’s “spread the privilege” and open some after-dinner mints.

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With a focus on enhancing service and helping clients meet or exceed their claims management and general business goals, Sentry Insurance launches Sentry Insight, an innovative and industry leading risk management solution, to help companies and brokers manage, track and analyze claims 24/7/365.

Stevens Point, Wisconsin – 11 October 2012 – Companies across all industries look for every advantage to grow and strengthen their business, both top and bottom line. Risk Managers and corporate insurance professionals make their contribution to these goals by efficiently managing their total cost of risk through the use of internal and external resources and, increasingly, technology. With the launch of Sentry Insight, Sentry Insurance provides an improved, customer-focused way for businesses to get claims information and insight they need to meet their increasingly complex goals.

Sentry Insight is a smarter and easier solution to track claims and loss information. Faster access to more meaningful data will save customers both time and money and help brokers enhance the service and support they provide to their clients. Intuitive in its design and provided at no additional cost to active clients, the Sentry Insight RMIS combines claims information, tasks and reports into a single online system. Risk managers also have the ability to receive customizable claim-related alerts so they can be notified the minute critical information becomes available.

“Sentry Insight delivers on the Sentry Insurance promise of Strength, Protection and Vigilance, by giving our customers and their insurance brokers access to information that will help them better manage their businesses and help us continue to deliver exceptional claims services,” said Dan Revai, VP of Sentry Insurance National Accounts.

Developed by Sentry’s Digital Interactive Team after extensive engagement with risk management professionals and brokers, Sentry Insight has the features and flexibility to make managing risk easier. Key product features include: metrics at a glance; searchable claims by type, date and other criteria; dynamic dashboards with drill down capabilities; safety articles with tips and insights to help customers facilitate loss control and prevention; and more. Information about Sentry Insight is available online at http://www.sentryinsight.com and on YouTube.

Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is one of the nation’s leading mutual insurance companies. Sentry and its subsidiaries provide property and casualty insurance, life insurance, annuities and retirement programs for businesses and individuals throughout the United States. For a complete listing of underwriting companies, visit http://sentry.com

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With interior photographs by Jonathan Becker, tour the inside of ultra-exclusive London nightspot Loulou’s at 5 Hertford Street, London. For any expat traversing the London nightlife scene, Loulou’s may be the equivalent of walking Downing Street and believing that you can somehow talk your way inside. Loulou’s is located inside Robin Birley’s 5 Hertford Street membership club — within a rougey maisonette along Mayfair’s Shepherd’s Market. Interiors were done-up in a modern day Mad Ludwig’s townhouse with node sof African Queen and Truman Capote lent by designer Rifat Ozbek who orchestrates a series of lounges, drawing room, Loulou’s nightclub and signature restaurant that’s currently London it-club to be.

With 5 Hertford Street in Mayfair Robin Birley has updated the classic London club for a new generation. This brand new London members’ club opened on the 11th of July 2012 in Shepherd Market in an amazing Bordeaux-coloured 23,000 sqft 18th century townhouse.

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Anthony Giglio is a wine expert that wears many hats – he’s a sommelier, journalist, author and educator all wrapped in one.

Giglio currently serves as a wine columnist with La Cucina Italiana magazine, a writer with Food & Wine magazine, and a contributing editor with Wine & Spirits magazine. On top of that, he leads a number of wine classes and tours, has written a number of books and keeps a healthy list of side projects. No wonder he’s known as the “Wine Wise Guy.”

We caught up with Giglio to get his thoughts on the latest in wines and cocktails and to see what projects he’s working on lately. Check out the interview below.

You’ve written a number of books on cocktails. What’s your favorite cocktail?

I recently transferred my parents’ old Kodak 8mm films to DVD for their 50th Anniversary and discovered in one of them, entitled New Year’s Eve 1966, that my mom died her hair, smoked cigarettes and drank Manhattan cocktails — while eight months pregnant with me. This explains my proclivity for Bourbon. And Manhattans. And lately of Old Fashioneds. I got turned onto them while editing the Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s and Party Guide (I edited 5 editions) with Jim Meehan, a gifted mixologist, historian and partner in the much-celebrated New York City speakeasy/cocktail bar PDT. Jim and I would brainstorm while he mixed me amazing Old Fashioned cocktails, and I have been drinking them consistently ever since.

Here’s how Giglio makes an Old Fashioned: In mixing glass combine 2 oz. Bourbon; .25 oz. Maple Syrup; 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters. Stir with ice and strain into a chilled rocks glass filled with one large cube. Garnish with an orange twist.

And what types of drinks are you concocting for this fall season?

Fall for me is a return to all the brown spirits, including dark, aged rums, bourbons and ryes, of course. You can find 50 great recipes in the Mr. Boston Holiday Cocktails.

One of your latest books is the Food & Wine Magazine’s Wine Guide 2011. What’s new with this year’s guide?

I finished the Food & Wine’s Wine Guide 2011 in the summer of 2010 (it debuts every Fall, in advance of the new year on the cover); the 2012 Wine Guide will be out any minute (and was compiled without me by a new team of editors). The 2011 Guide — still available! — reflected not just the “best” of the best wines from all over the planet, but, reflecting the economic mood, the “best values” from everywhere. We even tasted boxed wines to evaluate their quality and recommended at least a half-dozen of them because they were so good.

You seem to have a focus on Sicily. How did that come about?

I married a Sicilian! My ancestors were mostly Neapolitan. But I also focus on Italy in general because of my wine column in La Cucina Italiana magazine. I often joke that I’m a victim of ethnic profiling because people meet me and say: “Oh, you’re an expert on Italian wine!” And I say, “Why, because my names ends in a vowel?” I’d like to think that my 20+ years experience as a journalists, sommelier and author have given me a pretty wide spectrum of expertise throughout the wine world — not just my ancestral homeland. That said, I do love leading gastronomic tours of Sicily with my partners at Authentic Sicily. We have a tour planned for next summer (June 30 – July 7, 2012) and it sold out in two weeks!

I’m a big fan of Sicilian wines from around Mount Etna (especially Frank Cornelissen), and I hear you discovered some gems while writing F&W Wine Guide 2011. Tell me more! Which varietals and wines should we keep our eyes on?

You simply cannot talk about Sicily without talking about its native Nero d’Avola grape, which shows up in many of the wines. For me it has a lot in common with Pinot Noir in its juiciness, but there’s also an earthiness that reminds me of Sangiovese (from Tuscany). You mention Frank Cornelissen, and I just wrote about him last summer in La Cucina Italian. He and a handful of other Italian winemakers are rethinking all the technological wizardry in winemaking and reverting back to ancient methods, like extended-maceration white wines (many of which are cloudy, amber-colored gems). They take some getting used to, but they are exceptional. From Etna I’m also a fan of wines made with the local Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Moscalese grapes. I could go on and on…

You’ve also uncovered some affordable wines in Italy and France, I hear. Any insider tips?

Umm… buy my Wine Guide, perhaps? Okay, okay – the best advice I can give is to go to a great retailer (not a big box warehouse) and ask for a salesperson who has time to take you around. Explain what you like and what you want to spend — don’t be shy; it all shows up at the cash register! — and take a tour. If the retailer says they’re too busy, take your business elsewhere, and let them know that you’re leaving with your really, really big expense account budget!

Any other wines from around the world that we should be keeping our eyes on?

I have been telling anyone who will listen that Spain is where I find the greatest bargains because most Americans don’t take the time to search through the Spanish wine section of their stores (and if you don’t buy them, the prices stay reasonably low). With all due respect to California, France and Italy, I’m hard-pressed to find extraordinary wines for $10 – $15. But from Spain, I can find amazing wines in that range that would cost double or more if they were from those other more familiar countries. It also doesn’t help that many Americans buy “by the grape,” and none of the grapes from Spain are familiar; nor are the regions.

Along with being an author, journalist and sommelier, you’re also an educator. What do you teach?

Thanks to the good folks at Food & Wine Magazine, I’ve traveled all over the U.S., as well as to Grand Cayman and Barbados, to conduct seminars on their behalf. One theme that we’ve repeated with great success is our Smack-Down series, which I came up with at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen a couple of years back, where we pit grapes, regions or even countries against each other. Everyone learns a lot — and laughs a lot — while tasting great wines along the way. I also teach occasionally at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. And at DeGustibus Cooking School in New York City, too, where we pass entire Saturday afternoons — three hours — tasting round after round of wines. They are too much fun.

What can tourists expect on your Authentic Sicily wine tours?

They can expect a decidedly unhurried tour where we mix food, wine and tourism with relaxation — something Sicilians do much better than we Americans. We stay at spa properties along the southern coast where we can golf, sightsee, work out or do nothing at all under the Sicilian sun. I’m not surprised at all that it sold out in two weeks.

What’s next for you?

I’m finally committing myself to blogging more regularly on my own website. And I’ve just signed on to contribute to my dear friend Sally Schneider’s website, The Improvised Life, where I’m currently billed as their “resident sensualist,” because they haven’t figured out how to define all that I do. Which leads to my “Next Big Thing” project: I’m currently working on a book that’s not just about wine because it encompasses all of my interests and talents: wine buying/tasting, cooking, entertaining, food shopping, improvising, making cocktails, travel, etc. It’s very much a giant mess of a work in progress right now, but I’m excited to finally be putting the proverbial pen to paper on this. Stay tuned…

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There's a ton of competition in the world of New York City sandwiches, and the release of our 2013 Restaurants survey saw a lot of movement on the best-of list.

Last year's winner was displaced by two shops in Queens, and a red-sauce Italian joint made its debut on the lineup with its old-school creations.

Click through the slide show to see the city's eight best sandwich spots, and compare the selection to last year's list here.

With all these tasty options, we think we're feeling a sandwich for at least three meals a day.

#8: Meatball Shop

Food: 24
Decor: 17
Service: 19
Cost: $23

An “original concept” that “works," this “rapidly expanding” meatball specialist offers “mouthwatering” orbs “served in a variety of ways” plus “even better” “make-your-own ice cream sandwiches”; “can’t-go-wrong” pricing ensures the “no-frills” setups are “always packed.”

Meatball Shop: Multiple locations

#7: Bouchon Bakery

Food: 24
Decor: 17
Service: 20
Cost: $25

Bringing the “Thomas Keller touch” to the masses, these cafe/patisserie combos purvey “transcendent pastries” and “fancy sandwiches” in “mall”-like settings; the mainly takeout Rock Center branch features “Today Show” convenience, while its sit down–friendly Columbus Circle sibling boasts “scenic” Central Park vistas.

Bouchon Bakery: Multiple locations

#6: Parm

Food: 24
Decor: 17
Service: 19
Cost: $29

They “elevate” chicken, meatball or eggplant parm to “dizzying heights” at this new NoLita adjunct to Torrisi, turning out “signature sandwiches” and other “just-right” “Italian soul food”; it’s already too “popular” for the “tiny” ’50s diner–inspired space, so expect a “lengthy wait” to “squeeze in.”

Parm: 248 Mulberry St.; 212-993-7189

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Truffle-hunters are sniffing out the prized delicacies in woodlands across England.

For many years those in the know have kept quiet about discoveries of a hugely valuable treasure found buried across the country.

But now the secret is out: truffles are thriving in English woodlands and some lucky countryside-dwellers are making a modest fortune by selling the “black diamonds” to top restaurants.

One British farmer has discovered what could be the biggest truffle find in Europe on a 10-acre site on his land in Wiltshire.

The farmer, who did not want to be named for fear of triggering an invasion of truffle-hunters, harvests up to 220lb of the delicacies every year without even needing to use a specially-trained dog to sniff them out. By contrast the typical annual harvest from a single site in truffle-mad Italy is around 45lb.

The Wiltshire farmer has sold his truffles to more than 100 restaurants at a price of about £150 a kilo (2.2lb).

He described how he created the perfect environment for truffles by accident when he started planting new woods in 1990 for firewood and as a windbreak under a Government forestry scheme.

“I had no idea what a truffle was then. But 15 years later we found, strewn across the path, these black things a badger had dug up,” he told Country Life magazine.

Experts said England has always had large numbers of truffles, which grow best in south-facing woodland with a chalky soil and lots of sunlight, but for many decades they have not been harvested.

The lucrative fungi have been found across the country, from Brixham in Devon to as far north as Darlington in County Durham.

Modern farming methods resulted in the destruction of some of the natural habitat where truffles thrived, but recent moves to replant hedgerows and woodland are reversing this trend.

Tom Lywood, who hunts for truffles with Italian Lagotto dogs, said: “Truffles and conservation can, and should, go hand in hand.”

There is also promising evidence that it is possible to impregnate trees with truffle spores, raising the prospect of artificially helping to boost the country’s harvests.

Truffles were found just before Christmas last year in a recently-planted oak and hazel woodland in southern England that had been inoculated with seedlings supplied by Dorset-based Truffle UK.

Nigel Hadden-Paton, of Truffle UK, said: “All we can guarantee is that the seedlings are inoculated – what we can’t guarantee is that they’re going to produce. For that, we have to place our trust in the hands of the good Lord.”

There is even an upside to Britain’s miserable summer for truffle fans. The recent wet weather has raised hopes of a bumper crop this year.

Worldwide production of black truffles has plummeted over the past century from 1,000 to 2,000 tons in 1900 to about 150 tons now.

Pigs were traditionally used to root out truffles, but hunters now tend to prefer dogs, which have the advantage of being less likely to eat a valuable find.

Even more valuable are white truffles, which cannot be grown in England. They are mainly found in Istria in Croatia and Alba in Italy, and can be sold for as much as £3,000 a kilo.

SEE ALSO: The 12 Most Expensive Foods On The Planet

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Ahh, Paris—the art and fashion capital of the world known for its over-the-top luxury properties and bohemian boutiques.

But though some (or, really, most people) can’t afford a stay at the iconic, Hotel Plaza Athenee or the Hotel Mathis Elysees Matignon, it doesn’t mean they have to skimp on their Parisian experience. 

Even the most budget-conscious travelers are sure to find value options without having to turn to crowded, 6-bed hostel rooms or chain hotels near the airport—especially with the help of this guide.

Check out our top picks for budget-friendly hotels in Paris and start packing!

Hotel Palm Opera

The 38-room Hotel Palm Opera is a well-run boutique with a fantastic central location. Rooms are clean and sophisticated with modern Danish-style minimalist decor, flat-screen TVs, and French balconies that offer excellent Parisian views.

The bathrooms are as immaculately clean as are the rooms, which are also surprisingly spacious. There’s little else in the way of amenities other than a small on-site dining room for breakfast, but this allows this contemporary, stylish hotel to be such a good value.

Hotel Joyce

Hotel Joyce is a mid-range hotel, part of the Astotel chain group—yet this particular hotel is very un-chain-like in design. Quirky would be a good word to describe it—oddities such as car seats (with seat belts) and funky light fixtures hang from the ceilings. The unique design elements mix well with the historical aspects of the hotel—like the glass-roofed solarium and stone walls. 

And it all adds up to make this boutique hotel a fun value option in the 9th arrondissement. The street and neighborhood are quiet, but within walking distance are train stations, the Moulin Rouge, and restaurants, and rooms are bright with white walls, murals, and bold accents. Travelers on a budget—and with a bit of a good sense of humor—should check this place out.

Hotel WO—Wilson Opera

The Hotel WO—Wilson Opera is a convenient 30-room boutique with a focus on design. Rooms are small but charming, with flat-screen TVs, modern decor, and black and white photographs of Paris. It’s true that some rooms are downright tiny, and in the bathrooms in Classic Rooms the shower area is practically on top of the toilet—but booking a larger Superior Room solves this problem and doesn’t come at too high of a price.

Rooms on the upper floors are particularly desirable, as some have balconies and views of the Eiffel Tower. With free Wi-Fi and a convenient location for reaching popular museums and attractions, Hotel WO is a good pick.

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Amanda Hesser is the author of The Essential New York Times Cookbook and the co-founder of Food52, a website about home cooking.

Hesser previously served as a columnist for The New York Times and as the food editor at The New York Times Magazine. She has written a number of books and memoirs, and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their twins.

We recently caught up with Hesser to hear the latest on her adventures and get her recommendations for the best places and things in the cooking world. Check out the interview below.

Among your other accolades, you’ve worked in bakeries and restaurants in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France… Sounds like a fairy tale. How did that happen?

I networked and set up the jobs while I was in college and then got a scholarship from Les Dames d’Escoffier to go and work at these places around Europe. I learned a bunch about cooking and baking, obviously, but more importantly, I figured out how to be resourceful and make it on my own in countries where I didn’t speak the language.

When it comes to cooking tools, I hear you prefer bone-handled forks. Any particular model you’d recommend?

They aren’t really made anymore. The ones I have are from antiques shops and are generally 19th or 18th century, so the tines are made of carbon steel and the handles are bone. I like them because the tines are thin and sharp and the forks are small but sturdy. People always gravitate toward long handled and bulky utensils, but what you really want is something that you can move agilely with.

Is there one store you frequent for all your cooking needs?

Not just one. I like to shop at lots of places! Over the years I’ve bought many things at Dehillerin in Paris.

Dehillerin is an old cookware shop on the Right Bank that sells to both chefs and home cooks. There’s nothing nice about it — imagine a hardware store for cookware, but you are helped by men in lab coats, and you’re surrounded by stacks of copper pots, ladles in every size, and lots of beautiful and obscure tools. It’s a cook’s playground.

What’s your favorite restaurant? You know, the one you could live on forever.

Blue Hill is a restaurant I’ve gone to for many, many years, and it always makes me happy.

Dan Barber, the chef, is a friend of mine. I’ve known him since he was just starting out and it’s been a delight to watch his career evolve. Every visit to Blue Hill reminds me of his story. Also, Dan catered our wedding and my sister-in-law’s wedding and both were unforgettable meals.

When you need a break from all of the madness that is New York, where do you go?

I like the madness. That’s why I live here.

Do you think social media is changing the way people choose and review restaurants?

It simply amplifies the social aspect of making dining decisions. People have always relied on their friends’ recommendations when it comes to restaurants, but now you can much more quickly and fluidly gather up a bunch of friends’ opinions.

Lastly, what’s the latest food trend you’ve picked up on?

Other than gluten-free everything? Cold brew coffee — seems poised to go mainstream.

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Each week we take a look at how much house you can expect to get at a specific price point. This week, we’re looking at homes priced around $325,000.

Augusta, GA

3249 Ramsgate Rd, Augusta GA
For sale: $325,000

White columns and a brick exterior create a classic look for this 5-bedroom Augusta home. Built in 1966, the 2,700-square-foot home sits on more than half an acre and has been recently renovated.

Reno, NV

3745 Brighton Way, Reno NV
For sale: $325,000

Take advantage of Reno‘s warm weather with this home, located across the street from a community pool and tennis courts. The 3-bedroom, 2-bath home has 2,564 square feet of living space.

Tucson, AZ

7770 E Calle Del Minique, Tucson AZ
For sale: $324,900

Close to schools, shopping and hiking, this one-level Tucson home offers 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in a 1,844-square-foot floor plan. Vaulted ceilings, a great room with a fireplace and a pool are other home features.

Ann Arbor, MI

2395 Dundee Dr, Ann Arbor MI
For sale: $325,000

Built in 1971, this Ann Arbor property is being sold by the original owner. Sitting on a quarter-acre lot, the 4-bedroom home has a solar-heated pool in the backyard.

Madison, WI

330 Woodland Cir, Madison WI
For sale: $324,900

Situated in the desirable Oak Bluff neighborhood of Madison, this 3-bed home includes privileges at the country club and marina. The traditional home was built in 1942 and features a new kitchen with stainless steel appliances, new cabinets and tile.

NOW READ: 20 Beautiful City Homes For Under $150,000 >

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What's worse than wasting money?

Spending it on things that you think make you look good, but really make you look silly.

A few years ago, I was invited, along with a group of my friends, to a party at a waterfront mansion here in Fort Lauderdale. The house featured two elevators, about 20,000 square feet, and a living room that resembled an upscale hotel lobby.

Check out these senseless purchases >

As we stood in a small group marveling at a side of life we’d never seen, one of my friends said, “Doesn’t this make you wonder what you did wrong? I mean, why don’t we have houses like this?” My response: “Really? I was just thinking about how long it would take to walk from the garage back to the master bedroom when I left my keys on the nightstand.”

Since my first mansion party, I’ve been to many others. I’ve also ridden on mega-yachts, kicked back in vast home theaters, and otherwise enjoyed the spoils of other people’s good fortune. I’ve learned something along the way: It’s fun to know rich people. But I’ve also learned that trying to impress people with ostentatious displays often creates the opposite effect. In other words, things you think are earning envy may be causing people to think you look silly.

1. An Expensive Sports Car

“Want to see how fast it will go?”

That’s the question I’ve been asked all three times I’ve been a passenger in a Ferrari. My answer was consistent, “Please, no. I’m begging you.” It doesn’t work. Instead it’s zero to 100 in 5 seconds on a city street.

I’m sure there are lots of people who enjoy riding in loud, cramped cars that can theoretically go more than 200 miles an hour. I’m not one of them.

While these guys (yes, in my experience they’re always guys) probably imagine themselves envied at every traffic light, are they really getting the status they paid for? They’re getting attention, all right, but maybe not the kind they wanted. When I’m stopped next to a Ferrari, all I’m seeing is someone who’s combined a mid-life crisis with a big checkbook.

Source: Money Talks News 

2. A Boat

If you take a ride down the Intracoastal Waterway here in Fort Lauderdale, within 5 miles you’ll pass more than a hundred million dollars in largely unused boats.

But if boating’s a crime, I’m guilty. As I write this, I have two 30-foot boats docked behind my modest waterfront home. I love boating, and I love working on my boats.

But the only advantage to actually owning one – especially a big, complicated one – is that it makes any other indulgences you have seem practically free. I’ve owned boats for many years, and I can state unequivocally that I’d be better off if I paid $1,000 to rent a boat for the day whenever the mood struck.

When someone asks me, “What’s the best boat?” I say, “Someone else’s.”

Source: Money Talks News 

The only thing you can do to make boat ownership dumber is to borrow the money to buy one, or to buy a new one. Think cars depreciate when you drive them off the lot? Chickenfeed. Boats sink in value so rapidly, it’s truly astounding. They also tend to sit unused for long periods of time, which is the worst way to maintain one. And with gas prices where they are today, the cost of an all-day fishing trip is measured in the hundreds.

Boats are no way to stay afloat, and unless you have money to burn, this pastime may not bring you the status you think it will.

3. Plastic Surgery

You think you look younger.

What you might look like is someone who’s so insecure they had to pretend they weren’t getting older by getting plastic surgery.

And don’t even get me started on breast enhancement, especially the (literally) over-the-top variety.

Source: Money Talks News 

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When one thinks of the Rhone-Alps region of France, the vision of snow-capped mountains and exceptional skiing come to mind.

Check out the best places to treat yourself in the Rhone-Alps >

But the second-largest region in France is also one of the country’s best year-round destinations, home of Cote de Rhone and Beaujolais wine, Evian water, and more than 65 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Known as the country’s top area for spas and wellness, the region is ideal for an add-on to a Paris trip, a combination journey from Switzerland, or a stopping point on the way to Provence, St. Tropez, or even Monaco.  

Here are our suggestions for a week-long luxury itinerary in the summer, spring or fall, combining all the best the area has to offer – spas, wine and food.

Begin: Lyon

Start your journey in the city of Lyon, a city of vibrant arts, culture, and of course, food. Shop for Hermes (their scarf factory is in Lyon), stroll the winding streets, and walk the scenic Rhone riverside.

Have an early dinner at famed bistro Daniel et Denise, where you can enjoy a traditional Bouchon and a cozy ambiance – think red checked tablecloths and vintage posters on the wall – as well as a lively, local-filled atmosphere.

Spend the night at the Hotel Sofitel Lyon Bellecour, which boasts a fashionable bar, spa, and Michelin-starred restaurant as well as a central location.

If you’d prefer something a bit more intimate, try the Le Royal Hotel Lyon, a 72-room guesthouse and home of the famed Institut Paul Bocuse cooking school.

You’ll be up early the next morning, so rest up.

Day Two: Wine, Wine, and more Wine

It could easily take a week to explore the Beaujolais vineyards of the area. Taste your way through the Beaujolais vineyards with the help of the Beaujolais wine app – free in the Apple app store, but also available in paper format for those who prefer something a bit more tangible. You can search by vineyard and city name.

Day Two: Chateau de la Chaize

If you only have a day, we’d suggest a visit to the Chateau de la Chaize in Odenas and the Chateau de Montmelas in Montmelas, both of which boast friendly staff and beautiful vineyards. The Chateau de Montlemas can arrange group tours for 20 or more, and is often dubbed “Sleeping Beauty’s Castle” for its picturesque views. The home is open for tours, and if you’d like to indulge in a castle stay, the home has apartments available for rent by the week.

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Luxury Hotels and restaurants have become a hive of activity in recent years as urban beekeeping grows in popularity on the rooftops of some of the most iconic landmarks around the world.

The latest to join the beekeeping trend is the Waldorf-Astoria New York, which welcomed this spring 20,000 new guests to their rooftop penthouse where the bees will come to roost every day after sipping on nectar from nearby Central and Bryant Parks.

It’s expected that the colony will eventually multiply to 300,000 and provide up to 500 lbs (227 kg) of honey a year for the hotel restaurant.

Interest in urban beekeeping has become a growing trend within big cities, not only as a means towards sustainability but also as a secondary measure to resuscitate a species that has undergone traumatic stress over the last few years. In a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder, young larvae and pupae were being abandoned and left to fend for themselves, resulting in massive die-offs. Theories abound as to possible causes, including pesticides, pathogens, genetically modified crops and cell phone radiation.

Why is their fate so important? Because pollinators like honeybees are responsible for one-third of the Western world’s food supply, says the beekeeping industry.

The Waldorf-Astoria follows in the heels of another local landmark in Toronto, Canada, where the Fairmont Royal York Hotel established an apiary in 2008. Last fall, beekeepers recorded their biggest haul to date, harvesting 800 lbs (363 kg) of honey that was used in the hotel restaurant.

It’s the same story in the City of Light, where colonies of bees get prime real estate atop iconic landmarks like the Palais Garnier, the rooftops of the Opera Bastille, the Grand Palais, and the Luxembourg Gardens.

Urban beekeeping is also popular in Berlin, London, Tokyo and Washington DC.

But it doesn’t come up all roses for urban honey-making. As pointed out by a 2010 story in US publication The Atlantic, bees are foragers who will gorge on anything that’s sweet, including artificial sugars from candy and maraschino cherry factories.

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Actress Jennifer Aniston will receive an equity stake in hair care startup Living Proof. Plus, get an up-close look at her new engagement ring. WSJ’s Elizabeth Holmes and Ron Winslow report on Lunch Break, below:

“You want to be part of something that’s exciting and authentic,” she tells the Journal. “You can’t get more interesting than these scientists.”

“Jennifer embodies everything we stand for – a unique combination of beauty and brains,” Jill Beraud, said in a company statement. “She not only has the most fabulous hair but is an amazing creative talent, and has shown she is a savvy businesswoman with a serious interest in developing small, innovative companies.”

“Over the years, my hair has been subjected to everything…blow dryers, flatirons, curling irons, color, extensions, you name it,” Aniston said on the company’s website. “After using these products, I felt like I finally discovered a solution that works every day.”

The former Friends star will shoot an ad campaign in November and have a say in package design and product development. Aniston is also the spokesperson for Smartwater.

(Below, Jennifer Aniston and her stylist Chris McMillan demonstrate Living Proof products.)

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Meet the Kingdom Tower, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This new tower is prepared to bump the Burj Dubai from its sky-high ranking as the world’s tallest building. The Kingdom Tower will surpass the Burj by over 560 feet — rising to a record 3,281 feet tall.

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