The London Games has generated a wave of luxury and everyday use products with Olympic makeovers in exclusive limited-edition avatars. The winners are haute macaron houses. Pierre Hermé and Fauchon have released limited edition cookies and packaging for the Olympics. A special Olympic box set of 12 macarons from gourmet macaron designer Pierre Hermé in flavours like salted-butter caramel, milk chocolate and passion fruit, and jasmine flower and jasmine tea is wooing the sweet tooth of savants. Each Hermé box set, which is only available online, costs €27. Fauchon is offering sweet somethings too, with special edition packaging and new flavours designed exclusively for the London Olympics. Fauchon, which has declared its presence in London at Club France in Old Billingsgate Market for the French Olympians, has launched a cassis-flavoured macaron with a white chocolate, Union Jack cap created by pastry chef Fabien Rouillard. They also have Paris: the limited-edition Fauchon macarons are retailing at Paris’s flagship boutique on Place de la Madeleine. NTT DoCoMo, the Japanese phone company has asked Pierre Hermé NTT to imagine mobile phones inspired from its sweet foods. The models come in five different colours called “macaroon pink”, “apricot orange”, “vanilla”, “blackcurrant blue” and “chocolate-brown”.
Not to be outdone, California winemaker Chandon released a limited-edition bottle of sparkling wine for the summer Olympics; an American packaging statement in red, white and blue stripes. The Brut Classic is created from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and blended with 10 to 20 per cent Reserve wines from previous harvests. The bouquet is citrus spices layered over notes of almond and caramel. The prestigious Wine Spectator magazine described it as crisp and lively with aromas of green apple, cinnamon and vanilla.
Not so upmarket though, but Coca-Cola UK has released a special edition gold bottle draped in a white Union Jack.
Hospitality, too, got a new address with the Hilton London Wembley officially opening on July 18. It is located next to the Wembley Stadium and Arena in Wembley City.
The 361-room hotel was designed by The Manser Practice; its highlights being a two-floor wall depicting important events at the Wembley Stadium and a hand-painted installation illustrating the River Thames. The design follows a British theme, with Union Jack rugs displayed in the lobby.
The hotel offers 18 suites, a 660-person capacity ballroom, 10 meeting rooms, a business centre, 200 on-site parking spaces and a ninth floor bar, SkyBar 9, with a view of Wembley Stadium. The Living Well Health Club has a 12-metre pool, sauna, steam room and 24X7 gym. The restaurant can hold 280 guests. Let the games begin.