Images from the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, India (photos by Brad A. Johnson)

 Mumbai is chaos. Absolute, full-sensory chaos. The noise. The pigeons. The traffic. The incessant honking. The wild dogs barking. The heat. The tongue-wetting aroma of durian on the sidewalk. The wafting incense of marigolds and jasmine. Cows leisurely wandering through rush-hour intersections. Horses clopping. Children laughing. It’s maddening. And it’s what makes Mumbai one of the most interesting cities in the world, a place everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. 

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is the perfect antidote to all this frenzy. One of the world’s beloved grand dames, the turn-of-the-century palace overlooks the iconic Gateway of India in the Apollo Bunder neighborhood, on the banks of the Arabian Sea in the Bay of Bombay. Step inside the hotel, and the city’s swirling rumpus immediately fades. Serenity cleanses the senses. Here’s a quick look around this beautiful hotel. 

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Jasmine Sour Martini at Hookah Lounge in Hyderabad (photo by Brad A Johnson)

If you've got a jasmine bush in your yard (and the jasmine is blooming throughout Los Angeles at the moment), or if perhaps your neighbor has one... Make this drink! This is one of the best, most elegant cocktails I've had in a long time. I discovered this jasmine sour martini at the Hookah Lounge at Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, India. And I can't get enough. 

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Taj Falaknuma Palace hotel, Hyderabad, India (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

On the outskirts of modern, high-tech Hyderabad, on a hilltop in the heart of the Old City, one of India’s finest historic palaces recently opened as a luxury hotel. 

Falaknuma Palace sat empty for much of the last half century, sealed up like a time capsule as a curious reminder of what life must have been like for the royal courts before India gained its independence. It took several years to dust off the cobwebs and remove the overgrown weeds from throughout the sprawling estate, but after years of painstaking restoration overseen by the former princess herself, along with Taj Hotels as a partner, the time capsule has been opened. Falaknuma Palace has been reborn. This is a truly stunning hotel, an otherworldly experience, a retreat of a lifetime. The service, the cuisine, the history and the glamour… This is India at its finest. Just make sure to schedule two or three utterly lazy days where you don't have to leave the estate. Here's a look around:

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A view from the wing of Air India en route to Srinagar, Kashmir (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

I know, I know. What took me so long? But better late than never. I've joined the revolution on Instagram. Here are my first Instagram pics from Kashmir (using Hipstamatic for iPhone). Log into the Instagram app on your phone and follow me @bradajohnson.

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Hyderabad, India (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

If this picture doesn't make you smile, then nothing will. This picture captures the very essence of Hyderabad. These two kids were sitting in the back of a three-wheeler mini cab in the parking lot of the Nizam Museum. Their smiles, their eyes, their spirit—pure magic. Pure India. I'll be posting more stories about Hyderabad soon. Stay tuned.

Bottega by Michael Chiarello (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

My good friends over at Food Republic just published my Top 5 picks for wine tasting and dining in Napa and Sonoma. Obviously, the choices for restaurants and tasting rooms in Northern California’s wine country are vast. Picking only five restaurants or tasting rooms is an impossible task. I could easily spend a month (hell, years?) driving the backroads and historic trails of Napa and Sonoma counties, stopping every hundred yards for yet another sip and swirl at yet another winery’s tasting room. And the restaurants? That’s even harder, so I’ve narrowed it down to what’s currently hottest. 

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Srinigar City in the Kashmir Valley of the Himalayas (Brad A. Johnson)

There are so many stories to tell about Srinagar, an extraordinarly beautiful city in the northernmost Indian state of Kasmir (technically Jammu & Kashmir—an area that Pakistan would also like to claim as its own, but which is under the control of India), high in the Himalaya mountains. Stories are coming, but for now, here's a visual journey. The city, the lake, the people, the flowers, the roads...

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Chicken and pheasant pot pie at The Tenth in Vail (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

The best chef-driven restaurant in Vail is still, hands-down, Kelly Liken. That’s a point that almost every chef in town is begrudgingly willing to concede. But the former Top Chef contestant has some fierce new competition this year. Here’s what’s new in Vail: 

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Risotto-stuffed quail at La Marmotte, Telluride (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

They call this old mining town "To Hell You Ride," but there’s seriously no prettier place on earth than Telluride. This is Colorado at its absolute best. Rugged. Remote. Utterly unpretentious. And with a stronger sense of community than any other ski resort in the state. The snow hasn’t stopped falling since January, and the mountain is absolutely primed. They’ve got the highest restaurant in America and an unquenchable zest for happy hour. 

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I took this shot from the balcony of my living room at Lumiere (an amazing condo hotel), overlooking Mountain Village, the resort community that's connected to Telluride by the local gondola. The sun had just set but the mountainside was still illuminated by 14 inches of fresh snow. I love the amber glow of the lights, and the way it reflects on the sidewalk and snow. Even way off in the distance, you can see the faint amber glow of porch lights from other houses and cabins. God, I love Telluride. It's one of the most beautiful places on earth.

221 South Oak, Telluride (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

221 South Oak is an ultra charming restaurant in downtown Telluride. Housed in a vintage cottage, with sultry jazz and vocals warbling from the stereo, this is the perfect spot for date night. Chef Eliza Gavin is one of the best chefs in town. She makes a half dozen different sausages in-house every week, using elk, pork, beef, duck, you name it. She serves an amazing Rocky Mountain trout. The grilled elk chop is brilliant. And there's a pumpkin butterscotch pie that will have you licking the plate and begging for more. 221 South Oak St., Telluride, 970-728-9507

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Colorado lamb at Eight K, Snowmass (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

I’ve long argued that Colorado produces the best lamb in the world, and after a recent two-week trip though the Rocky Mountains, I believe it even more. Just take a look at some of these Colorado lamb dishes. I couldn’t get enough.  

From Eight K in Snowmass, here’s an awesome crumb-crusted rack of lamb served with braised lamb shoulder and crispy lamb sweetbreads.

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Ceviche at Cima in Beaver Creek (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

It’s been snowing like CRAZY in the Rockies this month. And if that wasn’t enough, here’s yet another delicious reason to get to Beaver Creek RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Globetrotting superchef Richard Sandoval (of New York’s Maya and L.A.‘s Zengo, etc.) has opened his latest restaurant, Cima, just below the Beaver Creek ski basin at the Westin in Avon village. This is vintage Sandoval, a brilliant weaving together of Latin American and Asian flavors with skillful technique: tuna tiradito and octopus ceviche; pork belly ramen with a coddled farm egg; chipotle chicken udon noodle soup with a red chile pozole broth… Westin Riverfront Resort, 126 Riverfront Lane, 970-790-5500

 

Take a look around...

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Tuna carpaccio with preserved lemon, fennel and harissa (photo by Brad A. Johnson)

Executive chef Rob Zack at Eight K, the beautiful restaurant inside the Viceroy Snowmass, serves some of the best lamb chops and Rocky Mountain trout in the Aspen/Snowmass area. And, holy crap, the tuna carpaccio is amazing. Low-key glamour. Roaring fireplace in the center of the dining room. 130 Wood Rd., Snowmass Village, 970.923.8000

Take a look around...

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