The Botanist: September: On Our Radar
September: On Our radar
Is there anything better than relaxing in front of a roaring fire with a good book in one hand and a cocktail in the other? With the arrival of crisp autumn leaves and cooler days, we’re escaping to the warm embrace of our favourite hotels that put the fireplace front and centre. Keep reading for our edit, but if you’d rather stay cosy at home, we’ve got the perfect hearty dish from Melissa Hemsley and a recipe for our seasonal Crab Apple Collins too.
Ett Hem, Stockholm
Artist’s Retreat
Ett Hem, Stockholm
Low-key luxury awaits you at Ett Hem — ‘at home’ — an eclectic Arts and Crafts townhouse that’s decorated with eye-catching art and objects. Located in a calm and quiet corner of Stockholm, Ett Hem feels like a warm embrace. There’s a fire in the lounge and the Junior Suites, which have their own period fireplaces and four-poster beds.
Castle Hot Springs, Arizona
Back to Nature
Castle Hot Springs, Arizona
Big skies and even bigger mountains provide the impressive backdrop at Castle Hot Springs resort in Arizona. Watch the desert sky come alive at night from one of their open fireplaces, enjoy farm-to-table dining and explore the great outdoors of Bradshaw Mountains before taking a dip in thermal springs known for their healing mineral waters.
Storfjord, Norway
Scandi Style
Storfjord, Norway
Sitting atop a wooded, fjord-fringed hilltop in Alpine Norway, Storfjord is a secluded luxury boutique hotel with the trappings of a sleek Scandi log cabin. Slow down and relax fireside — this hotel has no shortage of fireplaces — from the lounge to the dining room, suites and even on the outdoor patio which has a Viking-style pan-fire.
Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville, France
Beside the Sea
Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville, France
Situated on the Normandy coast in the picturesque seaside town of Deauville, Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville is surrounded by six acres of grand gardens. A charming Norman manor house with nine cottages, every room or suite has an original fireplace and exposed wooden beams. The Great Lounge has a large fireplace too and is the perfect spot to sample their apple tasting platter.
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
Escape to the Country
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
This exclusive Hampshire country house features several stylish Georgian lounges with working fireplaces — perfect for warming up after a walk along one of the nearby trails. Their excellent and supremely cosy Hearth restaurant also has a wood-burning open fire. Elsewhere, The Long Room and two-bedroom cottage Church Lodge even boast their own private working fireplaces.
Melissa Hemsley, Grated Halloumi Toasts with Hot Honey
A RECIPE BY MELISSA HEMSLEY
Melissa Hemsley is a bestselling author who celebrates easy and accessible healthy food that everyone can prepare and enjoy.
Grated Halloumi Toasts with Hot Honey
This recipe takes cheese on toast to the next level. ‘As a long-term halloumi lover, it’s taken me far too long to get into grating my halloumi. It’s game-changing,’ says Melissa. ‘Salty golden halloumi with hot honey and its chilli kick are an amazing pairing. If you can find cherry tomatoes on the vine, they’re great here.’
Pairing recommendation: The Botanist & Tonic with grapefruit and rosemary.
Ingredients
400g cherry tomatoes
1 big handful of black olives, pitted
2 large slices of sourdough bread
3 tbsp olive oil
225g halloumi, coarsely grated
1 tsp dried oregano or thyme
Good pinch of chilli flakes
1 tbsp runny honey
2 large handfuls of rocket
Sea salt and black pepper
Method
Preheat the oven to fan 220°C/gas mark 9.
Put the tomatoes, olives and bread on a large baking tray.
Drizzle the tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Bake for 5–7 minutes to lightly toast the bread.
Pile the grated halloumi onto the toasts, sprinkle with the oregano or thyme, drizzle with the remaining olive oil and bake for a further 10–12 minutes until the halloumi is melted and golden. As soon as you take them out of the oven, sprinkle the toasts with the chilli flakes and drizzle with the honey.
Scatter over the rocket and serve straight away.
Extracted from Real Healthy by Melissa Hemsley (Ebury Press, £26). Photography by Lizzie Mayson.
THis month we're drinking
The Crab Apple Collins: a refreshingly crisp cocktail that rewards patience and is the perfect partner to this season’s slower pace.
Image Credits
Castle Hot Springs Arizona (1 & 3)
Ett Hem, Stockholm
Storfjord, Norway
Les Manoirs des Portes de Deauville, France
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
Melissa Hemlsey's Grated Halloumi Toasts: Lizzie Mayson
