WHERE CHEFS EAT
All the best chefs in the world divulge their favorite restaurants, from off-the-beaten-path local joints to some of the most highly acclaimed dining spots across the globe. More unique than the standard food guide, this book offers a wealth of recommendations straight from the mouths of folks like David Chang, Jason Atherton, Anthony Bourdain and Yoshihiro Narisawa.
The Weekender Bag by Kámen Road
Kámen Road creates limited edition luxury travel bags. We’re fans of their sustainable business model. They work with the highest quality natural materials, leave no waste behind, and source locally from their West Coast base. We’re particularly taken with The Weekend Bag, which is made of full grain leather and 100% hemp canvas for the exterior and hemp and certified-organic cotton blends for the interior lining. Beyond the quality of the materials, the bag is as functional as it is thoughtfully designed. It’s small enough to sling over the shoulder, yet spacious enough to hold all your getaway essentials – like clothes, laptop, and even that favorite pair of boots.
Japanese Whiskys
Japanese whiskys (whisky with no ‘e’ is were it’s at, apparently) are on fire, and the Scots are none too happy about it. The single-malt market has long been dominated by the kilt-wearing Highlanders, but that all changed this year when critic Jim Murray named Japan’s Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 the best whiskey in the wold in his famed “Whiskey Bible”. The price on that bottle obviously skyrocketed, and it’s near impossible to find – so we’ve got two top-notch, great value names to get your hands on instead. Aged in fine Japanese oak, the Habiki 12-year Blended Whisky has a thick fluidity with rich honey and vanilla undertones. With the same honey presence, the 12-year Nikka Taketsuru finishes smooth with a fleeting hint of spiced apples. Our experts won’t stop raving about these two bottle. It’s almost annoying.
Clarks Desert Boots
The fellas we know who have these Clark boots never take them off. Beyond their stylish, cool, and (dare we say) sophisticated look, these boots are comfortable like no other and great for slipping on and off during your travels – especially in that dread airport security line. These British boot-makers have been mastering their craft since 1825 and definitely know what they’re doing.
The Folding Sunglasses by Persol
This Italian brand makes some pretty killer, classic sunglasses. The unisex shades come in a variety of colors and styles. We’re especially fans of the ones that fold up really small. These puppies are perfect for traveling since they take up such little space. And… James Bond wears Persol’s in Spectre. So, no big deal.
The Glassful Wine Club
The membership entails 3 well-curated bottles of vino for $54/month from Glassful’s highly selective wine experts. These folks put the time and thought into sending great bottles each month, which can open you up to knew styles, grapes and blends. Let them know some of your gift-receiver’s general likes and dislikes through a fun visual questionnaire and they’ll take care of the rest. As long time club members, we’ll vouch for their quality; it’s one of the better wine clubs around.
The Canon Powershot G16
Every traveler needs a great camera. Our favorite is the Canon Powershot G-Series (G16, latest). It blends the image quality of the big DSLRs with the smaller size of the easy-to-tote digital cameras. The G Series offers the best of both worlds, and is hands down our favorite and most used camera in our arsenal.
Lumio Lamp
These lamps are bananas. Relatively new to the market, the Lumio folks recently exploded after their appearance on NBC’s Shark Tank. They’ve come up with an innovative, dynamic, and versatile lamp which comes disguised as a hard-cover book. We love the Mini 
Lumio + in Red/Gray. Beyond being a mini multi-functional lamp, it also serves as a battery pack for mobile phones.
Ipad by Apple
This may seem like an obvious one, but an iPad on the road or in the air can be crucial to the passage of time. You can listen to Adele, practice your Spanish lessons, or watch Leonardo DiCaprio keep tryingto win an Oscar in his latest flick. It’s also a great vehicle to Skype with the fam back at home. Ipads are thinner, lighter and hold more data than ever before – so if someone doesn’t have one, they won’t be angry to get one.
bose noise CANCELING headphones
We were hesitant to jump on the bandwagon with these bad boys – did they make that much of a difference on flights to justify their price tag? The truth is, yes. These babies cancel out the annoying constant hum of the jet engines, the screaming baby directly behind you, and your nervous-flier neighbor who peppers you with questions to pass the time. BUH-bye. Instead, you’ll be able to sleep, read a book, or zone out with your favorite music or show for the entire flight, and get that relaxing vacation started a bit earlier.
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