luxury

Strawberries
The fragrantly sweet juiciness and deep red color of strawberries can brighten up both the taste and aesthetics of any meal; it is no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world. Although strawberries have become increasingly available year-round, they are at the peak of their season from April through July when they are the most delicious and most abundant. While there are more than 600 varieties of strawberries that differ in flavor, size and texture, one can usually identify a strawberry by its red flesh that has yellow seeds piercing its surface, and the small, regal, green leafy cap and stem that adorn its crown. In addition to strawberries that are cultivated, there are also varieties that grow wild. These are much smaller in size, but feature a more intense flavor. Food Chart This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Strawberries provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating ...

Fine Living: Premium Chocolates
The world of chocolate has its highs and lows, to be sure. And the solid milk-chocolate bunnies we all enjoyed as kids are fine for 7-year-olds, but your palate has evolved beyond swapping quality for quantity. While Ferrero Rocher and Godiva are fine for some, the true chocolate connoisseur knows that the best there is to offer cannot be found in any drugstore. Thankfully, gourmet chocolate is more abundant -- and more available -- in today’s market than ever before. After all, if Americans spend about $13 billion a year on chocolate, why shouldn’t we spend it on the good stuff? La Maison du Chocolat Country of origin: France Price: Truffles are around $80 per pound and boxes are as much as $200. As one of France’s finest manufacturers, there may be no other store that makes chocolate as luxurious as La Maison du Chocolat. The name says it all; it translates to The House of Chocolate. La Maison packages its chocolates in leather boxes that are fine enough for the best jewelry. ...

Porsche Design P9521 mobile phone
After collaborations with fashion designers proved popular this year, Sagem has teamed up with luxury car manufacturer Porsche Design to produce a phone that boasts fingerprint recognition technology, enabling secure access to data and dialing. The P9521 is surprisingly heavy, but perhaps a price worth paying for its sleek black glass and solid aluminium finish. Created to epitomise contemporary design, the square-jawed flip phone has more than a whiff of Eighties style about it. But with a touch screen colour display, MP3 player and a 3.2 mega pixel camera, it’s safe to say this flash phone matches style with substance. But with a hefty price tag of £800, Porsche is likely to burn a hole in your pocket as well as rubber on the track. Available exclusively from Porsche Design stores and from ...

Exotic Rides: Lexus IS F
In the not-so-distant past, there was a time when the Toyota Motor Corporation’s amenity-laden American affiliate, Lexus, was heavily scrutinized -- not for the grade of the vehicles produced, as most car manufacturers are, but for the catalog itself. This barrage of criticism was spurred by the complete absence of a single performance model rolling off of Lexus assembly lines. Enter the Lexus Intelligent Sport series -- code name: IS. Although the first two generations of 200/300 and 250/350 were well received and a formidable foray into the arena of high-output luxury sedans, rivals like Infiniti, Mercedes, Acura, and specifically BMW were beefing up their offerings to previously unheard of proportions, putting the heat on Lexus to remain competitive. And Lexus took on the challenge with gusto -- thank the vehicular lords. If the IS 430 prototype was to serve as any indication of Lexus performance capabilities, not even that could prepare us for the unveiling of the supremely ...

Top 10: Exclusive Adventures
While sprawling on a beach for two weeks with a chilled margarita is certainly preferable to a hard-day’s slog in the office, more and more of us are looking for a side portion of something a little more challenging for our vacation time. That said, just because we’re up for a little adventure Indiana Jones style, it doesn’t mean we’re prepared to skimp on creature comforts; yes, we still expect world-class customer service and five-star accommodation while we’re trekking up the side of a mountain or exploring the coral reefs deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Indeed, more companies than ever are catering to the well-heeled adventurer like ourselves, and we’ve tracked down the top 10 exclusive adventures you can book for your next stint away from the burdens of office life. Number 10 Gorillas in the MistUganda, Africa - Credit: iStockPhoto.com Uganda, East Africa Home to over 300 birds and the greatest concentration of primates in East Africa, Uganda begs to be explored. If you don’t ...