The Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach is currently hosting an exhibition entitled “Cocktail Culture” that explores the social rituals of the cocktail hour through the lens of fashion and design.  Featuring more than 150 objects, including attire, accessories, ads, decorative arts, illustrations, photography and more from the 1920s to the present, it promises to “leave you positively stirred, not shaken!”

Since the Leopard Lounge at the Chesterfield is one of the most popular cocktail bars in all of South Florida we thought this was a good excuse to do a quick profile of Michelle Gagnon, our bartender.

Michelle didn’t really plan to follow a career in bartending – it just happened that way.  “When I was at college I had a friend who owned a bar and restaurant.  I was helping them out one evening and one of the bartenders didn’t show up for work, so guess what…I ended up on the other side of the bar.  I absolutely loved it and have been bartending ever since.”
After college she stayed in the restaurant business then opened her own establishment in in West Hampton, New York.  Thirty years ago she rolled up in Palm Beach, and for the last twenty she’s been happily working at the Leopard Lounge Bar.

What has made her stay behind one bar so long?   “I just love the people who hang out here, whether they are regulars or new guests.  Every day is different – fresh stories, different experiences…there’s never a dull moment!  Also, the people I work with are the best.  Mark, my manager is great, the other bartenders, Lou, John and Candy are such a pleasure to work with.   And my fiancé, Adam Austin, piano player-entertainer extraordinaire, works here regularly, so that’s wonderful too.  Everyone on the team has become my extended family, so it’s not really like work at all!”

The Cosmopolitan was Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice in Sex and the City

When asked what cocktail she is most regularly asked for she replies “a Cosmopolitan – but served our way…Sex in the City.”   As you’ll no doubt be aware, the Cosmo was Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice throughout much of the series. The classic recipe includes vodka, Cointreau and lime juice, with a bit of cranberry juice and a dash of orange bitters to add an extra bit of tartness and a nice pink colour.

As for Michelle she sticks to white wine, but she has been told she makes the best Brandy Alexander ever.  The traditional recipe is a mix of brandy, crème de cacao, cream and a little grated nutmeg.  Michelle adds her own secret ingredient but refuses to reveal it – “I can tell you, but then I’d have to kills you” she says with a smile.

Michelle’s other claim to fame, along with the rest of the Leopard Lounge team, is being featured in a host of magazine articles and also in an A&E TV special about Palm Beach.  The Chesterfield Palm Beach and Michelle also feature prominently in a hilarious new book entitled “A Year in Palm Beach” by Richard and Pamela Myers that’s described by Donald Trump as “A fun read that shows a side of Palm Beach most people never see or even hear about.”

So, if you want to experience cocktail culture make a beeline for Palm Beach – you can take in the exhibition of the same name at the Norton Museum of Art, then and experience a few Cosmopolitans and Brandy Alexanders in the company of Michelle!

Let us know your favourite cocktail and why it gives that something special?!

Francine Boissonneault

Palm Beach County is blessed with some of the greatest big-game fishing in the world. The warm, fertile waters of the Atlantic’s Gulf Stream are closer here than anywhere else in the United States – literally a ten minute boat ride. Sailfish are routinely caught within sight of the beach, and the Florida record is a whopping 116lbs! There are plenty of local companies who offer private charters. Other big sport fish you can expect to catch are Blue Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Swordfish and King Mackerel.

Exploring the waterways of Palm Beach County is a great way to spend the day. There’s well over a 100 miles of freshwater canals, rivers, and lakes to keep you busy! Hire a jet ski or a Craig Cat (both for two people), try canoeing or kayaking, or rent a larger boat for the whole family. Another option is to book onto an excursion on the waterways around Palm Beach, Singer Island, and Peanut Island.

Big game fishing

The crystal clear waters, teeming with all kinds of colourful marine life, are ideal for snorkelling. You can take tours to Peanut Island, or into the Atlantic Ocean for snorkelling over coral reefs just off the beach over sunken piers. Expect to see lots of tropical fish, turtles, rays, starfish and sometimes manatees.

A number of companies also offer scuba diving courses and excursions. Just off the Palm Beach coast lies the Breakers’ reef in 60′ of water, voted as one of the top ten drift dives in the world by Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine. Pristine coral reef formations with over 400 species of fish, crustaceans, sponges and invertebrates can be found within a mile offshore – perfect for beginners and experienced divers alike.

Water-skiing

Water-skiing is available the whole year round, with a wide variety of different locations to choose from, either inland or on the ocean. And when the surf is up you can ride the waves too!

Airboating in the Everglades

Then of course there’s the spectacular inland wetlands of the Florida Everglades. The best way to experience this amazing region is on an airboat. Safe, exhilarating and fun for all the family this brings you face to face with some of the most beautiful scenery in all the USA, as well as some very colourful wildlife, including Florida’s most famous residents – alligators. Also look out for crocodiles, caiman, deer, egrets, cottonmouth snakes, otters, racoons and manatees.

Of course, if that all sounds like too much rushing about, and you fancy something a little more sedate, we have 47 miles of beaches that are perfect for sunbathing, paddling, swimming, barbecues, walking…and just chilling out.

Francine Boissonneault

The area around the island that is now known as Palm Beach was, from the early 18th century, home to the Seminole Indians. By the end of the 1700s their numbers were swelled by slaves who escaped from rice plantations in South Carolina and Georgia, becoming known as Black Seminoles.

During the American Revolution, the British—who controlled Florida—recruited Seminoles to raid frontier settlements in Georgia. The confusion of war allowed more slaves to escape to Florida and the British promised slaves freedom for fighting with them. These events made the Seminoles enemies of the new United States and over time these tensions led to a series of conflicts, known as the Seminole wars, which rumbled on between 1817 and 1858. Over the course of the wars most Seminoles were forced to relocate west of the Mississippi River in a process of Indian removal. fewer than 200 Seminoles remained in Florida and they fostered a resurgence in traditional customs and a culture of staunch independence

Co-ee-há-jo, a Seminole Chief

Despite these hostilities a few Europeans had settled along the coast around the island now known as Palm Beach. The name arises from an incident in 1878, when the Providencia, a brigantine carrying a load of 20,000 cocoanuts harvested in Trinidad, was washed ashore. Since the weather was calm it has been suggested the captain intentionally ran aground to collect on the insurance. The locals claimed salvage rights then they joined the captain and crew in consuming the ships provisions, which included large quantities of wines and cigars – the party lasted two weeks! Once everyone sobered up they started planting the cocoanuts (which were not native to these shores) in a bid to establish a commercial cocoanut industry.

The very same year enormously wealth industrialist, Henry Flagler, visited Florida for the first time, then again in 1883. Noting the lack of good hotels and transportation he also recognised the area’s potential as a tourist destination. In 1885 he began constructing the 540 room Hotel Ponce de Leon (named after the Spaniard who claimed Florida for Spain in 1513) in St Augustine. Realizing the need for a sound transportation system to support his hotel ventures, Flagler purchased the Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax Railroad, extending it to West Palm Beach by 1894.

On August 24, 1901, Flagler married his third wife, Mary Lily Kenan, and the couple soon moved into their Palm Beach estate, Whitehall. Built as a wedding present to Mary Lily in 1902, Whitehall was a 60,000 square foot, 55-room winter retreat that established the Palm Beach season for the wealthy of America’s Gilded Age. Shortly afterwards, on April 17th 1911, the town of Palm Beach (taking its name from those salvaged cocoanuts, which were now thriving plantations) was incorporated – and has never looked back.

The centenary programme is already underway. Don’t miss these events:

Worth Avenue

Historical Walking Tour of Worth Avenue

Wed, 23 March, 11:00 – 12:00, 256 Worth Avenue, Palm Beach (map). Also 13th and 27th April.

Led by noted historian, Jim Ponce and sponsored by the Worth Avenue Association, join Mr. Ponce in the Gucci Courtyard (256 Worth Avenue) for a 1 hour walking tour of wonderful Worth Avenue. For further information call 561-659-6909 or visit their website at worth-avenue.com.

Paris, 1911 – a Century Celebration

Sun, 27 March, 15:00 – 16:00, The Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach (map)

Mr. Siegel will perform enduring and engaging masterpieces written exactly 100 years ago. This event is sponsored by The Society of the Four Arts. For further information or to purchase tickets call 561-655-7226.

2nd Annual Barrett-Jackson Road Rally

Friday, 1 Apr

The rally begins at 3:00 p.m. and will travel from the Palm Beach County Convention Center to the Gucci Courtyard on Worth Avenue. The event will be the 2nd Annual Road Rally at the 9th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Palm Beach which will take place April 7 – 9 at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

Citibank book signing

Fri, 1 April, 15:00 – 17:00, 400 Royal Palm Way, Palm Beach, FL 33480 (map)

Citibank located at 400 Royal Palm Way, will have on display from 10:00 to 5:00 important works of art by Deborah Pollack. From 3:00 – 5:00 they will host a reception for Ms. Pollock who will be available to sign books. Champagne and light refreshments will be served at that time. For more information please contact Elizabeth Guiles at 561-835-4571.

Palm Beach Theatre Centennial Follies

Fri, 1 April, 20:00 – 22:00 Henry M. Flagler Museum (map), also 2nd April

The Centennial Follies is a book musical that follows a young couple on their second marriage who come to Palm Beach to celebrate the Centennial – Directed by Barrie Ingham. For more information please call 561-366-8980 or visit www.PBTheaterGuild.org.

Garden Club of Palm Beach Flower Show

Sat, 2 April, 10:00 – 16:00

Presented by the Garden Club of Palm Beach at the Esther B. O’Keefe Gallery – The Society of the Four Arts, 2 Four Arts Plaza. Hours open to the public: April 2, 10 am – 4pm and April 3, 12 noon – 4pm. For more information call 561-837-6635 or visit their website at www.gardenclubpalmbeach.com

A Salute to America – Gala Dinner Dance

Sat, 2 April, 19:00 – 20:00, The Beach Club, Palm Beach (map)

In Honor of the Palm Beach Centennial and 79th Anniversary of the Palm Beach Round Table this event will be held at the Beach Club and is being hosted by the Palm Beach Round Table. The public is invited. For reservations and more information please contact Barbara Anderson at 561-832-6418.

All-Town Celebration

Sunday, 17 April.

The Town of Palm Beach’s All-Town Celebration takes place at Henry Flagler’s magnificent mansion, between 6pm and 9pm – there’s going to be a spectacular parade, followed by an awe inspiring sound and light show. It’s free to the public so why not come and join the party?!

Francine Boissonneault

Polo has been around a long time – it was first played in Persia way back in the 5th century BC (and possibly much earlier than that). Tribesmen used the game as training for cavalry battles, with up to 100 players on either side. It gradually became the country’s national sport, popular with the nobility – even women joined in.

In early medieval times polo spread to the Byzantine Empire and, after the Muslim conquests, to the Ayyubid and Mameluke dynasties of Egypt and the Levant, whose elites favored it above all other sports. Notable sultans such as Saladin and Baybars were known to play it and encourage it in their court. It was also passed to other parts of Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, China and even Japan The name polo is said to have been derived from the Tibetan word “pulu”, meaning ball.

The modern game of polo developed near Tibet, in the north eastern region of India called Manipur – the earliest surviving records date from 33 AD (but the sport could have been played here long before that). In Manipur polo is traditionally played with seven players to a side each mounted on the indigenous Manipuri pony, which stands less than 13 hands high. There are no goal posts and a player scored simply by hitting the ball out of either end of the field. Players were also permitted to carry the ball, though that allowed opponents to physically tackle them!

British cavalry regiments in India started to play and the 10th Hussars introduced polo to England in 1834. In 1862 the first polo club, Calcutta Polo Club, was established by two British soldiers, Captain Robert Stewart and Major General Joe Shearer. The establishment of polo clubs throughout England and western Europe followed after the formal codification of rules in 1874 by the Hurlingham Polo Association.

A Gaucho from 1868

British settlers took the game to the Argentine pampas. The sport spread fast between the skillful gauchos and several clubs opened in the late 19th century – Argentina has dominated the sport ever since. James Gordon Bennett, Jr. organized the first polo match in the United States at Dickel’s Riding Academy at 39th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City.

The modern game of field polo requires two teams of 4 players. A full-size field is 300 yards long, and either 200 yards or 160 yards wide if there are side boards—these are generally 6″ high. There are tall collapsible goalposts at each end of the field spread 8 yards apart. The object of the game is to score the most goals by hitting the ball through the goal. Polo teams change direction after each goal in order to compensate for field and wind conditions.

Playing a chukka

A polo game has periods of play, known as chukkas. This term originated in 1898 and is derived from the Sanskrit word chakra, meaning circle or wheel. Depending on the rules of the particular tournament or league, a game may have 4, 6 or 8 chukkas, 6 being most common. Each chukka is usually 7 minutes long. Between chukkas the players switch to fresh ponies.

There are now many variants of the game played across the world. Arena polo, as the name suggests, is played indoors, on a slightly smaller pitch. Ponies capable of competing in matches don’t come cheap, so it is now very much a sport for the rich. However, other versions of the sport are rather less exclusive – they include canoe polo, cycle polo, camel polo, elephant polo, golfcart polo, Segway polo and yak polo!

However, if you want to see what most people would consider “real polo” there’s no better place than the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The stunningly beautiful setting, with three state-of-the art fields, attracts the finest players on the planet between the start of January and the end of April – the US Open tournament takes place there this year from March 20th to April 17th and if you want to enjoy the spectacle in style take advantage of The Chesterfield Palm Beach’s special Polo Package. To see the schedule of upcoming events click here.

Francine Boissonneault

Worth Avenue is aptly named – it’s one of the world’s most famous shopping streets, with a wealth of luxury goods, highly prized by the rich and famous who frequently wander the sidewalks.

For over 100 years the lush island of Palm Beach has attracted royalty, celebrities, socialites, politicians, personalities, writers, artists and captains of industry. They built monumental mansions and extravagant estates nearby, they threw lavish parties and had the time of their lives. And, of course, they shopped with a passion!

Stretching four blocks from Lake Worth to the Atlantic Ocean, Worth Avenue first became fashionable after the construction of the Everglades Club in 1918 – and has never looked back. Among the oldest retailers still trading is Kassatly’s Linens, established in 1926. Maus & Hoffman, also something of a Worth Avenue institution, arrived in 1961. Described as “the ultimate haberdasher” and “a fine men’s store for total outfitting”, it boasts extravagant wrapping paper made from uncut sheets of genuine $1 or $2 dollar bills – how very Palm Beach!

Worth Avenue now boasts more than 200 shops, offering everything from world-class designer jewellery, clothing and shoes to internationally acclaimed paintings and antiques. This year it has also benefitted from a $14 million renovation and facelift that features spectacular landscaping and parks. Here are some of my top tips for some truly exceptional shopping experiences.

The east end of the street begins with Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus – although they have stores nationwide, here they are uniquely Palm Beach. Saks will open on Sundays or after hours by appointment for special customers, while at Neiman an escalator ride is an ethereal two-storey descent through dangling strings of white feather butterflies and mirrors.

Jewellery

Vilebrequin, at 150 Worth Avenue, is where the celebrities, including Prince William, Pierce Brosnan, and George Clooney, go for the hottest, brightest swimwear. If diamond baguettes are more your thing, boutiques such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Tiffany offer ample bling. For a less costly but highly appealing alternative, try the costume jewellery at Mariko. Although the boutique offers many pieces of real jewellery, such as the ivory, Lucite, and silver ethnic baubles from New York sculptor Patricia Von Musulin, its specialty is “travel” jewellery — replicas of fine jewels or very sparkly alternatives.

Non-wearable art also abounds on the avenue. The Gasiunasen Gallery offers a variety of museum-quality pieces by well-known artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse. In Via Parigi, one of several shady courtyards off the main street, you’ll find Stubbs & Wootton, purveyor of exclusive velvet embroidered slippers – the truly well-heeled request these Palm Beach must-haves with hand-stitched initials.

Serious fashionistas flock to Eres, at 303 Worth Avenue, for this season’s most desirable lingerie and swimwear, while those who can never have enough shoes (with achingly chic bags, accessories, eyewear, watches, perfumes and haute couture to match) Salvatore Ferragamo, at 200 Worth Avenue, is an absolute must.

Finally, the avenue’s smallest store is Bibi’s Doggie Boutique, specializing in color-coordinated luxury collars, leashes, harnesses, dog bowls, beds, tee-shirts, coats, and other high quality items for dogs.

Shopping

From end to end, with its elegant offshoots, Worth Avenue stretches for less than a mile, but in that short distance it manages to cram in more desirable labels, brands and stores, from Gucci to Giorgio Armani, Brooks Brothers to Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors to Ralph Lauren, than you can shake a Louis Vuitton bag at. Did I mention they have a store here? It’s at 150 Worth Avenue!

One final thing, The Chesterfield Palm Beach is just two blocks from Worth Avenue and we’ve just introduced a special package for dedicated shopaholics – click here for details, and make the most of your retail therapy!

Francine Boissonneault

Whitehall is a monument to the extraordinary life of Henry Morrison Flagler, a man whose rise to riches mirrors the explosive emergence of the United States as the world’s greatest power.

Born in 1830, he started work aged 14, in the grain store of L.G. Harkness and Company at a salary of $5 per month.  He became a partner in 1852, then founded the Flagler and York Salt Company, going bust at the end of the civil war, having lost his $100,000 investment.

Henry then met John D Rockerfeller, who was at that time a commission agent for the Harkness Grain Company.  When Rockerfeller decided to leave grain, and go into oil, Flagler raised $100,000 from a relative and became a partner in the fledgling Standard Oil.  Just two years later it was the leading US oil refinery, producing 10,000 barrels a day. 

In 1878 Flagler’s wife was advised to move south for health reasons.  They wintered in Jacksonville, Florida, but Mary Flagler died soon after.  Henry remarried, and returned to Florida with wife number two.  Finding the area undeveloped, with inadequate hotel provision and poor transportation links, he was quick to spot the potential.  To cut a long story short he built a number of huge hotels and a railroad that stretched right to the tip of the Florida Keys, laying the foundations on which the state’s subsequent prosperity has been built.

Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway, reached Biscayne Bay by 1896.  He dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and power systems, and financed the town’s first newspaper. When the town incorporated in 1896, its citizens wanted to honour the man responsible for its growth by naming it “Flagler.” He declined, persuading them to use an old Indian name, “Miami.”

In the meantime Henry’s second wife had gone mad, and he remarried in 1901. Whitehall was built as a wedding present to his new bride, Mary Lily Kenan.  The 60,000sq ft mansion had 55 rooms and is now widely regarded as one of the most extravagant homes built in what Mark Twain described as America’s “Gilded Age”.

Grand Hall © Flagler Museum

Completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Whitehall, was “more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world.”  Whilst a private dwelling, it was inspired by a far grander sense of purpose – the desire to position American society as the ultimate expression of a western cultural tradition that stretched back 3000 years. There was a feeling at the time, expressed in Andrew Carnegie’s essay “The Gospel of wealth”, that the titans of industry were not just business giants but leader of the human race who had a duty to create homes which celebrated the “highest and best in literature and the arts, and for all the refinements of civilization…”
 
The architecture and setting is truly stupendous.  You’ll be amazed by the colonnaded facade and the Grand Hall, with its domed ceiling depicting the Oracle of Delphi.  Also in the Grand Hall is a magnificent bust of Augustus Caesar and one of the most extraordinarily ornate clocks the world has ever seen.   Many of the rooms recreate European interiors that celebrate the style of Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI, the Italian Renaissance, and Francis I.

Whitehall was also intended as a monumental example high technology.  When construction began Palm Beach was one of the least developed and most remote locations in the United States – it was arguably America’s last frontier. However, with 22 bathrooms, electric lighting, central heating, and a telephone system, Whitehall was not only an impressive statement of high culture, but perhaps the most technologically advanced home in America.

No visit to Palm Beach is complete without a trip to the home of the larger than life character who put it on the map!

To make the most of this extraordinary experience The Chesterfield Palm Beach, is offering a special Nights and the Museums package that includes accommodation and breakfast, two one-day admissions to the Flagler Museum and the Norton Museum, plus a Romantic Interlude Dinner in the Leopard Room featuring live entertainment.

We hope you’ve had an enjoyable stay at one of our thirteen luxury family-run boutique hotels. When you stay at a Red Carnation Hotel, you’re more than a customer; you are our guest.

It’s therefore very important for us to continually improve our service to ensure guests’ have the best experience possible. In order to do that, we’d be delighted to hear what you thought of your time with us.

Bea Tollman, Founder and President of Red Carnation Hotels, explains:

“The essential thing is that guests are delighted by what we do, and that we provide exceptional value for money. Above all, we want them to know that we care. When they check out of their room, they should leave with lasting memories of the best service they have ever received.”

We look forward to hearing from you.

Dover Sole, as the name suggests, is not a fish one catches off the steeply shelving coast of South Africa, but one that prefers the shallow continental water of the English Channel and North Sea.

I first encountered this delicacy when we moved to London in the mid-seventies, and very quickly developed a passion for it, either grilled or meunière. As with all fish dishes you need to find the best possible raw materials, then let the natural flavours speak for themselves – simple as this sounds in theory, it takes practice to perfect!

There are several little tricks that must be mastered. First, and perhaps most important of all, you must never overcook it. Secondly, and slightly contrary to the first tip, both sides must be as crispy as possible.

So, how to achieve the crispiness without spoiling the gorgeous melt-in-your-mouth moistness of the delicate flesh?

Start by lightly seasoning it with salt and pepper, then dust with flour. Next, brush both sides with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Then place it on a hot char-grill (or a ridged cast iron pan) for just 90 seconds (no more!), then carefully turn it at a 90° angle, on the same side, for a further 90 seconds to achieve a lovely diamond cross-hatching effect. Turn it over with a metal spatula (carefully!) and do the same again. Then gently transfer it onto a baking dish and place in the oven at 180°C for 8-10 minutes. The fish is done when the bones move easily away from the flesh when you delicately insert a fork.

It’s best served with simple accompaniments – home made tartare sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice and boiled new potatoes (tossed with a touch of butter, olive oil and chopped parsley). Done properly, it’s a taste of pure heaven, and one that one never seems to get tired of.

That’s why it’s a regular feature on the menu at some of our hotels, and why I’ve included it in my cook book – entitled “A Life in Food” it celebrates those recipes which are enduring favourites with our guests.  All proceeds, excluding postage and packaging, will be donated to my favourite charities – The Startlight Foundation and The Tick Tock Club in the UK.