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Dirty
weekend goes upmarket, by Julia Carlisle - 2nd
February 2008
(Credit:
The Sydney Morning Herald)
The cook, the stripper, the wife
and her French lover.
No,
it's not the title of a new art-house movie, it's
just a regular night at Sydney's Hilton Hotel.
If
you're wanting more than just the standard romance
package, the Hilton says it has the solution.
With
the help of Sydney's infamous Madame Lash (the
stripper), one of Australia's top chefs, Luke
Mangan (the cook), combined with the Hilton's
five-star accommodation and service, the Provocateur
package creates an evening of romance, pleasure
and fun for couples wanting to get into the loving
mood.
When
I (the wife) first mentioned to my French husband
(the lover) we were heading to a hotel for a romance
package, he shrugged his shoulders rather nonchalantly.
Being
a typical Frenchman, he believes romance isn't
organised by a hotel, but is something that should
happen naturally. Ah, ze French!
As
for me, the idea of a five-star hotel room with
a big bed and crisp white linen puts me in the
sexy mood immediately.
We
check in during the afternoon and head up to our
suite on the 39th floor with its incredible views
over Sydney.
Just
seeing the enormous bathroom and bath for two
makes me squeal with delight.
Mission
one is to fill the bath, add copious amounts of
bath salts and bubble bath, slide in, watch the
city through the ceiling to floor windows, turn
on the flat screen TV above just for the thrill
and enjoy the moment - for as long as possible.
All
we know about the Provocateur Package, which I've
nominated to commence at 10pm, is that it will
"arouse our senses" to provoke an evening
of passion.
There
will be an aphrodisiac-inspired degustation platter
from Mangan and some wonderfully naughty tips
from Madame Lash.
In
previous correspondence, I've chosen some groovy,
seductive music, and selected an aromatic essence
for the evening.
Freshly
scrubbed and dressed up, but not wanting to stray
too far from our room, we head down to Mangan's
restaurant, Glass, for dinner.
Sitting
across from the Queen Victoria Building lit up
at night, enjoying amazing wine chosen from the
Sommeilier, we are already feeling happy and romantic.
Mangan's
food takes us to another level. The French-Asian-Australian
menu is exciting and interesting.
My
husband opts for a 100 per cent French choice
with steak tartare followed by a rare piece of
fillet with a herb crust - he is left speechless.
Meanwhile,
my mixed sashimi platter is light, fresh and tasty.
The lightly battered zucchini flowers filled with
ricotta with a tapenade are amazing.
Our
night could end here and we would be content.
A quick time-check and we're right on schedule.
It's 9.50pm so we decide to slowly meander back
to our room.
The
moment of truth has arrived.
Slowly,
we open the door. It's dark, but as soon we enter
our eyes adjust to the amazing scene of hundreds
of flickering tea candles with red rose petals
scattered on the floor throughout the suite.
Our
ears tune into the Barry White music playing in
the background and then we notice the lovely aroma
of Ylang Ylang wafting through the rooms.
The
coffee table has been beautifully arranged with
an enticing platter and a bottle of champagne
sitting in an ice-bucket waiting to be popped.
Mangan's
aphrodisiac platter includes a delectable feast
of fig and crab canapes, and freshly-shucked oysters.
And for the sweet, sticky fix there's chocolate-dipped
strawberries, chocolate truffles and creme brulee.
But
it's the huge bed that really says it all. A rose-petal
heart lies in the centre, with a feather tickling
stick placed in the centre, along with a pink
envelope.
Being
true to the Hilton and to other perspective passionate
couples out there, I don't want to ruin all the
surprises. What I will say is this: Madame Lash
is a woman who knows all the right steps in leading
a couple to a sexy and intimate evening.
In
her own words: "To truly experience pleasure,
love-making must become an art."
There's
a total of five envelopes containing "Seduction
Tips" hidden around the room. But there are
rules: we mustn't cheat, we have to take our time
to appreciate the naughty tips and we must have
fun.
Like
good students, we obey!
It's
a lot of fun with nothing kinky or uncomfortable.
There's a blindfold and you can use the tickler
if you want, but couples should just relax and
enjoy the whole experience.
Chatting
with Jerome Auvity, the manager of the Hilton
Sydney, next morning over coffee at Glass, he
says: "Australians are desperate to spice
up their sex life, so we brought in the experts
to help us design a package."
There's
no doubt the Hilton hotel, Sydney, has improved.
After two years of renovations, the hotel reopened
at the end of 2005 with a new look and attitude.
Auvity
says the hotel has a new approach and has revamped
its image to be trendy, energetic and sexy, but
it also wants to keep with tradition.
"Our
products have to match the expectations of the
Sydney people, who are stylish and sexy.
"For
example, our Provocateur package is sexy, but
it will never go below the belt," he says
in his strong French accent.
The
package, he says, will evolve and expand so couples
can keep coming back.
We
all agree, that it's a perfect evening for honeymoons,
anniversaries and celebrations.
My
husband has given a huge nod of approval to the
Hilton's effort in its romance package.
We
could try creating the atmosphere at home, but
we'd probably burn down the house, and Madame
Lash and Luke Mangan might not be available.
I
think we'll head back to the Hilton for our next
wedding anniversary in February.
IF
YOU GO:
Provocateur
package: Hilton Hotel, Sydney
Price:
From $650.
Call
(02) 9265-6045 or email: reservations.sydneyhilton.com
The
writer was a guest of the Hilton Hotel, Sydney.
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Hilton
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