DON LAK HOT, HOT, HOT

Whenever I need a break, the choices can be collected into two main groups. Either combing either the boulevards of Paris and Rome or the white sandy beaches of a tropical island. Paris and another lunch at L’Arpege would have been a good choice except that too many thousands have just made the same choice and are already there. The same with Rome. The Caribbean, on the other hand, is in low season.

One of the best topical moments was sitting high above Magens Bay on St Thomas listening to Israel Kamakawiwoole, sipping 25-year-old Cruzan rum, and wondering if my taste buds will ever return to normal. While shopping for lunch I had a run in with Scotch Bonnets without even knowing it and, as any judge will tell you, ignorance is no defense.