England

Fab Food: London to Lewes

Ebury Cocktail

Travel always presents adventures in dining, and hopefully locating a restaurant that satisfies on every level, from the ambiance of the decor to the satisfaction of an excellently prepared meal. After dealing with the crowds on opening day at the Chelsea Flower Show, I chose a nearby restaurant… The Ebury – on chic Pimlico Road where I met T. for lunch and a carafe of Rosé, ready to relax and unwind. My favorite selection appeared on the A La Carte menu: Duck Confit, succulent and tasty. Tom sampled the three-course lunch Set Menu: the soup of the day followed by a delicious fish main dish, and chocolate confection for dessert that I would have photographed had I not been fully occupied with my meal. Traveling from London to Sussex for a countryside idyll in the area of the South Downs, the town of Lewes offered informal, tasty meals at Bill’s Cafe, Restaurant and Store.

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England

Irish Sky Garden: Chelsea Flower Show

Irish Sky clipped yew and box Photo © Alice Joyce

Controversial… crowd-pleaser: Irish Sky Garden designed by Diarmuid Gavin. On Press Day Monday, the so-called flying machine, hanging eden, the ‘Wonkavator’ … dangled high above; a massive crane off to the side. The garden, which won ‘Gold,’ revealed an expansive, lush landscaped realm where reflecting pools of water played off the dense greenery of plantings that conjured up the emerald countryside of Ireland. Not to be mistaken, the site proclaimed itself in no uncertain terms as the largest gardenscape ever to emerge at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

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England

Chelsea 2011 The Telegraph Garden: Cleve West Design

Cleve West Design: The Telegraph Garden Photo © Alice Joyce

Cleve West’s elegant design for The Telegraph demonstrated a lyrical combination of gracefully harmonious plantings and a hardscape tableau that grabbed the attention of the botanically inclined and influential garden insiders. Featuring contemporary concrete sculptural elements created by Serge Bottagisio and Agnes Decoux, West’s garden reflected memories of ancient Roman ruins encountered at Ptolemais, Libya. The sunken design, set off by a bright burnt gold wall and water rill, results in an enchantingly serene space, inviting contemplation. Cleve West’s design garnered the Best Show Garden award at Chelsea 2011, making it 3 years in a row that The Daily Telegraph has won Gold.

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