Based in Italy’s beautiful Tuscany, in the communal city of Pisa, these driven chocolate makers and their employees spare no effort to produce some of the most tantalizing chocolates you can find. Although Amadei isn’t a major brand like Nestle, Mars or Hershey’s, chocolate lovers from the world over have developed a taste for their unique chocolate blends.

This smaller chocolate factory produces roughly 20,000 bars every year and some, like the 450-gram format of “Porcelana”, costs a cool US$90 — but rest assured, it’s worth it. In the case of Porcelana, the chocolate is made from porcelain-looking white cocoa and yes, it’s their most expensive brand.

In the late 80s, Alessio and his sister, Cecilia, took their first steps towards discovering the cocoa routes which happened to be less traveled. Over time, this very hands-on approach to finding the finest cocoa beans yielded tremedous results as their chocolate’s taste was as unique as their beans.

Together, the Italian chocolate makers experimented with new ideas which gave life to exclusive chocolate brands which have been made available worldwide. With passion and enthusiasm, they made their dream a reality and broke the homology of tastes to become the artificers of true and proper Renaissance taste.

Their chocolate collection is based on the belief that with each taste, a different emotion should emerge.

The brands you’re invited to sink your teeth into have Italian-sounding names like Toscano Black, Toscano Brown, Toscano Red e Blond, I Neri, Toscano White, I Cru, I Frutti, Le Praline, Le Barre and some lesser know ones, like the “9″ which is made of a unique blend of nine different cocoa bens.

The later also happens to be Cecilia Tessieri’s favorite pick.

High-cocoa-content dark chocolate, featuring unmatched purity and alleged medicinal qualities, enjoys a vogue among afficionados who are drawn to first quality chocolates. Italy takes pride in being home to companies like Amadei and a wide variety of specialty chocolate makers who create their sweet (and sometimes bittersweet) masterpieces exclusively from cocoa butter.

Amadei believes in the transparent sourcing of cocoa beans from the plantations and afterwards, their transformation in socially fair and environmentally undamaging conditions so that’s an approach bigger chocolate makers should emulate because more consumers will be requiring it, in the near future.

The Amadei chocolate brands are selectively made available in top 4-star and 5-star hotels, restaurants and luxury retailers, in both Europe and America. Of course, if you search a little, you can find online retailers selling various brands of Amadei chocolates — so more people can enjoy them.

Tags: amadei, amadei chocolates, cocoa beans, cocoa butter, fine chocolates, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, hazelnuts, toscano, chocolatiers, piza, tuscany, italy

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You read that right: the jungle, the Indonesian jungle, more specifically.

Tarzans and Janes of the world will feel right at home at the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. This luxurious yet intimate resort’s 18 suites and 42 villas offer the ultimate in privacy and comfort making it a wonderful tropical haven set in the lush Ayung River valley. Guest accommodations reflect the exotic surroundings, featuring uniquely crafted Indonesian furnishings and local handmade fabrics.

Locationwise, the Four Seasons Resort is located in the Indonesian village of Sayan, on the lush island of Bali. The resort is only ten minutes away from the island’s cultural and artistic centre of Ubud (be sure to visit the Monkey Forest).

Conveniently placed within the sound of the Ayung River, the resort’s two-level swimming pool is a cool and relaxing oasis cleverly designed to follow the river’s natural contours ‚Äì it’s just plain beautiful. The health club and spa features exercise facility, sauna, whirlpool and Ayurvedic spa pavilions.

Now, if you like innovative Indonesian specialty food as well as contemporary Asian-style cuisine, the resort’s Ayung Terrace, offering breathtaking views of the river below, should keep you raving for more delicious treats, meal after meal.

This is the kind of place you want to escape to, ideally with your loved one. It’s easy to imagine couples reinventing the world (hopefully, for the better), in this jungle paradise.

At between 500$ and 600$ a night, it’s another surprisingly affordable way to pamper yourself.

For travelers less familiar with this destination, let’s just say that with over 13,000 islands, Indonesia is the world’s most expansive archipelago. Bali is one of the larger islands, with a predominantly Hindu population of 3 million inhabitants and an agrarian economy.

By all means, it’s a refreshing tropical haven with a relaxed pace. Bali features splendid beaches, friendly people and a warm climate.

For all those who like Bali but would prefer a more urban, coastal experience, perhaps the Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay would be a good choice.

Tags: bali, four seasons resort, sayan, jungle, jimbaran bay, island, indonesia, travel

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Of course, you’d better tell your new friend what time it is to get that out of the way and then, you could talk about the rich heritage of this particular brand of finely crafted timepieces that are usually passed on from a generation to another.

Historically, Antoni Patek started making pocket watches in 1839, in Geneva, along with his fellow Polish migrant Franciszek Czapek. They separated in 1844 and, in 1845, Patek joined with the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, inventor of the keyless winding mechanism. In 1851, Patek Philippe & Co. was founded.

Nowadays, Patek Philippe & Co. is one of the most famous and expensive brands of wrist watches, in the world. Many watch collectors and enthusiasts regard these timepieces as the very best, second to none. Over the years, a number of notable individuals, including members of royalty, movie stars and tycoons have worn these watches -and- even Albert Einstein was a customer.

If you’re one to pay attention to details, you’ll be happy to learn that the company still makes all movements in house, in Switzerland.

The most recent collections include wonderful models for both men and ladies. The supreme test of ingenuity, in the case of Patek Philippe watches, stems from the sheer number of complications they can engineer in a wrist watch.

Technically speaking, a “complication”, in watchmaking, is anything a mechanical watch might do beyond telling the time and simple date. Patek Philippe upholds a tradition in complications that are useful in everyday situations such as annual calendars, dual time zones and world time displays.

Yellow or white gold (everywhere), sapphire crystal case backs, ultra-precise dials, countless technical refinements and all the features busy people crave make Patek Philippe watches both a pleasure to own -and- a valuable investment. Assuming you’d be interested in selling your timepiece, prices ranging from 5k$ to 60k$ are commonplace but most owners tend to pass it along to the next generation.

While some models are quite conservative in style and form, others are resolutely trendy and would fit any fashion conscious young adult.

Perhaps next time someone asks you what time it is, the Patek Philippe watch on your wrist will prove to be a powerful conversation starter, who knows?

Tags: patek, patek philippe, wrist watches, timepieces, luxury, gold, sapphire

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Located on the Northern Ari Atoll, this uniquely laid out resort and spa is a paradise for anyone looking to be pampered, Maldivian-style. Families looking to travel together are also welcome at this island-resort. However, divers might find this particular resort even more appealing thanks to a well maintained array of underwater diving sites, such as Maaya Thila, Fish Head, Panettone and Broken Rock. As a bonus, you can view the breathtaking house reefs and W’s own Fesdu house wreck. By all means, this is a amazing place to take pictures!

The room classes names say it all: Beach Oasis, Ocean Oasis, Seascape Escape and Ocean Heaven. It’s very easy to unwind in any of these rooms but you’re still free to choose according to your personal preferences.

If you’re into privacy when on vacation, you’ll love the all-villa retreat treatment. For instance, the bi-level beachfront and over-water retreats let indoor and outdoor mingle -and- roofs with peek-a-boo views of the sky really open up spaces. Furthermore, the glass-paneled floors reveal the lagoon’s fauna below.

Privacy is paramount at this W Retreat & Spa so you can enjoy your own plunge pool, sundeck and beach away from outside world.

Every room has an outdoor rainforest shower and honestly, that’s a blast. It’s impossible not to start a good day showering -outside- in such a magical setting. The 42 inch plasma TVs with DVD players are also a nice touch for anyone looking to catch up on Hollywood’s latest and greatest, hopefully with a loved one. There broadband internet access but there’s little chance anyone will bring a laptop to… relax, in this wonderful place.

Even if every room has a mini-bar, a munchie box (yummies) and a wine cooler, you’ll love the six (6) gourmet eateries on location, including the Fire (restaurant) where gourmet delights are served in rustic and natural surroundings with the moon and stars overhead -and- soft sand beneath your feet. Blissful… and delicious.

With 78 guest rooms available, the W Retreat & Spa Maldives may also prove to be the ideal setting for a “retreat” business meeting — with a stunning view, that is.

For those looking for the ultimate relaxation experience, there the Away Spa. The treatment areas allow for total privacy and complete renewal. Visitors can easily dedicate some time to their well-being with a natural healing therapy performed in one of 4 luxurious treatment villas. If you worked hard lately, you deserve to be pampered at the spa.

Of course, this is a W hotel so make sure to ask the Whatever/Whenever team what you crave and they will deliver whatever you want, whenever you want it. This retreat and spa should make for an ideal destination for your next “escape” into the world of luxury.

Tags: w hotel, w maldives, w retreat, w spa, retreat and spa, diving, underwater

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Discerning drivers will be happy to be reminded that Rolls-Royce, the venerable British car maker, has a new toy in store for them, it’s the six-speed automatic and extensively featured Phantom Drophead Coup?©.

The design team drew part of its inspiration for this “maritime themed” car from the classic 1930s J-class racing yachts which happened to be the fastest of their time. Like the Drophead Coup?©, these vessels possesed a combination of ability, versatility and fitness for purpose, not to mention downright beautiful.

If you like listening to the rain pattering on a cloth hood, you’ll like the idea behind Rolls Royce’s decision to opt for a soft-top instead of a more widely offered folding metal roof. The goals of honesty and integrity in the design process were paramount so this particular decision came naturally as the car stands to be a true coup?© and not “yet another” convertible.

The design team also found it important for the styling to give a clear hint at the Phantom Drophead Coup?©’s performance. That’s why the front of the car is more rakish and the radiator grille bears a rather streamlined shape.

Of course, it’s instantly recognisable as a Rolls-Royce but this new face embodies a modern, dynamic spirit while retaining the confidence and grandeur that has characterised the car maker for more than a century.

Another striking feature on this luxurious car’s face are its headlights which incorporate LED technology. These slim line sidelights add drama and expression to the Drophead Coup?©‚Äôs face.

Passengers can enter and exit the car in style, thanks to the unique and spectacular rear-hinged doors, which were pioneered in the Phantom. It takes a while to get used to these doors but, once you get used to them, they’re just as functional as “regular” doors, especially when using the automatic door-closing mechanism.

As you’d expect from the latest member of the Phantom family, the heart of this car is an all-aluminium 6749 cc V12 engine. Using some the most sophisticated engine technology available, including direct petrol injection, variable valve control and variable camshaft timing, it produces a maximum power output of 453 bhp at 5350 rpm and torquewise, 531 lb ft at 3500 rpm, all Rolls-Royce’s peerless refinement and unmatched drivability.

Tuned to deliver Rolls-Royce’s legendary ‘waftability’, this powerful engine gives 75% of its maximum torque at just 1000rpm while the remaining 25% arrives in one (sustained) linear stream, as the driver squeezes the throttle.

At just over 400,000$, the 2008 the Phantom Drophead Coup?© is different but in all fairness, it a good kind of different.

Tags: rolls-royce, phantom coupe, luxury car, waftability, powerful engine

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Add a St. Regis Resort to the mix of already diverse hotels, arts as well as entertainment offerings and things get even more interesting, in this coastal paradise.

The St. Regis in Fort Lauderdale is presented as the ultimate haven of style on Florida’s Gold Coast. With the Hollywood Beach and the Downtown Riverwalk nearby, that’s quite a pitch but with unimpeded views of the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway, this ultra luxury resort definitely takes the legendary St. Regis lifestyle to the beach.

Demanding guests will be happy to learn that the seaside elegance of the St. Regis’ rooms is mainly the work of famed interior designers, Hirsch Bedner Associates.

The 187 guest rooms, including 8 oceanfront and 20 Intracoastal suites, are designed to evoke the glamorous era of vintage yachting and luxe travel.

For most tourists looking to enjoy their stay in Fort Lauderdale, the resort’s irresistible combination of pampering, fitness and relaxation is their ticket to a pleasant stay. Pool side, beach side, at the spa or out boating and fishing, St. Regis’ guests may well experience the ultimate in sun-drenched Floridian luxury and style, in a 100% smoke-free environment.

Many visitors head to Fort Lauderdale for a well deserved spa day or even a day cruise but there’s a lot more to do. Families can visit the area’s museums to explore acclaimed art, culture, science and history exhibits. Taking the local bus is also a smart alternative, when staying at the St. Regis.

The glamorous energy of this South Floridian city provides a nice counterpoint to the wide ribbons of pristine sandy beaches (hence, the Gold Coast) which are perfect for beachcombing, sunbathing and a fabulous array of water sports.

Tags: st. regis, fort lauderdale, hotel, resort, florida, gold coast, beach, sand, spa

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The Trump Baja resort banks on it’s enviable location in Mexico’s North Baja to lure the rich Southern Californians into buying their share of this condo-hotel project for roughly 250k$, instead of over 750k$ for an equivalent oceanfront property, North of the border.

What makes this particular high-rise towers and resort development so interesting is that it stands to be the first such property along the North Baja peninsula to combine luxury resort amenities and services with premier “Trump-style” real estate ownership.

The world-class design team for this project, dubbed the Punta Bandera and featuring 400 meters of ocean frontage, is led by Guerin Glass Architects in New York and HOK in Mexico City.

Donald J Trump and Irongate are ahead of what’s expected to be a real estate stampede in the area and for rich folks looking for an income-generating vacation home (thanks to S&P Destination Properties’ services), it’s allegedly a good time to jump in a oceanfront resort project like this one.

Consistent with other Trump properties, this resort is set to cater to owners and guests (read: tourists) with a collection of amenities typically found at luxury resorts.

Features of the Trump Baja Resort are expected to include an owner’s concierge, lobby bar & lounge, pool house bar & cafeÃÅ, fine dining restaurant, infinity edge resort pool, lap and family pools, a spa, fitness center, tennis courts and walking trails.

Nearby, the cool activities abound, namely fine dining, outdoor sports, deep sea fishing and wine shopping in the Valley de Guadalupe, home of the land mark Adobe Guadalupe which is reminescent of Napa, in its early stages.

The first condo-hotel tower should be finished by year end and two more towers should be built within a few years, depending on how fast they’re sold to their new owners. In other words, if you’re looking to buy a luxurious condo in this sunny Mexican retreat, you still can.

With real estate prices in Southern California going through the roof, people are looking South of the border for a little financial relief. This is expected to fuel a furious realty development blitz over the next five to fifteen years where those who moved in first might see their North Baja property’s value skyrocket.

The numbers say it all — already, over 1.5 million Americans own homes, in Mexico, according to the Mexico Association of Real Estate Professionals. The group predicts this number will explode to 12 million, by 2025, as more baby boomers retire, in more affordable homes, South of the border.

For some people, this is just another condo-hotel project in a sunny destination but for others, namely those who follow the Mexican real estate rise, Trump’s Baja Resort project might be nothing short of a perfect fit.

Tags: trump baja resort, donald j trump, irongate, condo-hotel, resort, north baja, mexico

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Forbes evaluates that Celine Dion’s fortune is roughly the same as those from both Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lopez… which adds up to a cool 250M$. Singing in Las Vegas, in front of audiences who pay an average of 136$ per ticket, has worked wonders for this female show-business monument who sold over 140 million albums, over the years.

Let’s take a peek at 2006′s the Top 10 weathiest women, in entertainment:

1. Oprah Winfrey – 52, 1,5MM$ – She pockets roughly 225M$ per year through her vast commercial empire of media properties.
2. J. K. Rowling – 40, 1MM$ – Perhaps you didn’t know that the author of Harry Potter has already been on social welfare… but nowadays, she’s enjoying the other end of the rainbow, to say the least.
3. Martha Stewart – 64, 638M$ – She’s spent 6 months in jail for playing the insider game, as the head of her own publicly traded company. Now, she’s out to make the world even prettier, Martha-style.
4. Madonna – 48, 325M$ – Although her fortune now comes more from her shows than her album sales, she keeps pumping the hits enjoyed by a very large fan base.
5. Celine Dion – 38, 250M$ – Of the 140 million albums she’s sold, worldwide, 15 million were for her hit song “My Heart Will Go On” from the hit movie “Titanic”.
6. Mariah Carey – 36, 225M$ – Back with a vengance in 2005, she’s already sold over 160 millions albums, in her career.
7. Janet Jackson – 40, 150M$ – She’s never been as rich as her brother Michael but hey, she has enough to get by.
8. Julia Roberts – 39, 140M$ – She now gets over 20M$ per movie and overall, she’s the actress who’s been paid the most… of all times.
9. Jennifer Lopez – 38, 110M$ – Her revenues come from all over: television, music, cinema, clothes, perfumes and restauration.
10. Jennifer Aniston – 37, 110M$ – At the time when Friends was still a popular series, there have been times when she was banking as much as 1M$ per episode.

Quick legend: name – age, fortune – comments.

About Oprah Winfrey’s ascension to absolute financial freedom, it’s important to keep in mind she’s originally from a poor, rural area in Mississippi. That’s probably why so many women, from around the world, can relate to her. To this day, she’s also one of only two black female billionnaires, the other one being Sheila Crump Johnson. Her annual revenue of over 225M$ comes from TV (namely through Harpo Productions), satellite radio, magazines and various multimedia ventures. For the handsome men out there, she’s still single… and doesn’t have kids.

Popular teen idol, Britney Spears, doesn’t make the Top 10 list even though, at a relatively young age of 25, she’s earned a 100M$ fortune, mainly from her 75 million music albums sold (remember the hit “…Baby One More Time”). More recently, her multimillion-dollar endorsement deals, namely her profitable line of perfumes, has helped pad her wallet.

Entertainment is a huge market segment which is driven by culture, innovation, quality and flair. These women have proven it’s possible to succeed in a world still massively dominated by men.

There’s no end in sight for the appreciation of the fortunes held by these generally young women who continue to… entertain the world.

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Nobody knows for sure who’s active in there but there have been media reports about Paris Hilton and Naomi Campbell being members. This online community, created by the Weinstein Company (generally known for their movie ventures) expects the small membership base to help create closer ties between members. Around 130,000 people are allegedly members but the Weinstein brothers would like to grow that number in the lower millions, in the coming years.

This international network is meant to share information that might come in handy for anybody with lots of money and very little free time. Matters as mundane as choosing the best restaurant to eat snails, in Los Angeles to more commercial interests like where to find a 60 ft yatch already anchored in the Meditarranean sea are the bulk of what supposedly available, in A Small World.

It’s always assumed this information is correct because no media, including Expensive.Name, is being granted access to see, first-hand, what’s really in there. You’re free to watch the CNN and CNBC interviews, for added insight on this.

On her web page, for instance, Naomi Campbell is said to describe herself as a "busy worker" instead of all the other things that would come to mind considering the recent legal ramblings she’s been into. In other words, this is probably just another place to show off as well as ask about anything glitzy, expensive and more often than not, largely unknow to the general public.

While there have been members raving about A Small World’s ability to help them find reliable photographers for their wedding or even nannies for their kids, it’s pretty clear such "quality services" can be found elsewhere, just as easily.

Perhaps the people who get invited (read: sucked) into this social network feel some kind of peer pressure to actually invest time in it and eventually sprinkle a little dough around so some level of spin enhances their actual or perceived "reputation", in the group.

Without going so far as to say this whole thing is about the "herd mentality" where everyone wants to be there because everybody who seems to be anybody is already there, the fact that it’s private says a lot about how narrow the networking can get — it’s like digital inbreeding on steroids.

The whole thing and the mentality behind it appear to be the web equivalent of a gated community. People should rightfully ask themselves why they would trade their current access to a world of unlimited discoveries for a limited, secretive and closed community?

If the members of A Small World are having a blast burning their money among themselves, good for them. Happy people are always good for our planet’s karma but "gated web sites" (like ASW’s) look like the metaphorical equivalent of lonely islands within a sea of exciting… and unlimited discoveries.

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The beautiful Saleen S7. Saleen’s delivery bay. Saleen’s 2006 Race Team.

Meet Saleen, based in Irvine, CA. Celebrating 20 years of car manufacturing excellence, they specialize in the manufacturing of vehicles for enthusiasts which includes technology developed by the Saleen/Allen Speedlab Race Team.

In other words, they offer road cars that are race track friendly, especially when it comes to the high-end. Saleen is known to be quite creative when it comes to building eye-catching cars destined to street racing.

The fast-car crowd will rave at the S7 supercar which is capable of over 200 miles per hour. Zero-to-60 time is under three seconds. You read that right, people: 3 seconds!

The Saleen S7 is currently selling for around half a million dollars US but you’ll probably get close to a million bucks by adding the maintenance, gas and proper insurance.

The S7 is designed to compete with the fastest, quickest, best handling and most luxurious grand touring cars in the world, while providing a distinctly American driving experience for the fortunate few who will own one.

The “wow-factor”, on a scale of 10, is a definite 20!

The company was started by former racing driver Steve Saleen, in 1983. Saleen profited from his business degree from USC, coupled with experience in his father’s manufacturing business, to build and grow the company. Steve’s passion for racing also played a big part in the directions the company has taken, over the years. Steve began autocrossing, then rapidly moved into SCCA pro series (Formula Atlantic, Trans-Am Championship) and then into Indy car racing.

By 1984, the first Saleen street car was ready for sale. It boasted special aerodynamics, an attractive and highly functional cockpit and a precise handling suspension package.

The result was a car built as a limited edition model with individual serial numbers, further insuring the authenticity. Later, demonstrating the car’s performance, the company’s race team brought home a victory for Saleen, Ford and sponsor General Tire at the 24-hour race at Mosport Park in Ontario, Canada.

It’s great to see an entrepreneur and his friends succeed at something they like. Saleen is about passion about cars but also about the American dream of building awesome products.

Perhaps GM and Ford could take a hint or two from Saleen, businesswise and productwise… well, especially the later!

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