The glam quotient of Abu Dhabi has just been pushed further up in sync with escalating gold price by unveiling a gold-dispensing machine. Touted to be the most expensive hotel, Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace has just installed a ATM-style kiosk that can dispense small bars up to 10 grams or coins with customized designs. The brain behind this luxurious concept is German entrepreneur, Thomas Geissler. This is Geissler’s first international foray for its “Gold to Go” brand. Are you wondering why Abu Dhabi was chosen to unveil this first of its kind gold dispensing machine? You should understand that Abu Dhabi is home to about 90 percent of the U.A.E.’s oil reserves. This in turn has supported its economy to sustain the global credit crunch in a much better manner when compared to its glamorous neighbor Dubai.

The machine was developed by TG Gold-Super- Markt, a brand of Ex Oriente Lux AG.

[Business24-7]

Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of the annual Guinness World Records book was sent on-site to verify the authenticity of the claim as soon as the discovery was made and a report sent in by Mr. Wigglesworth.
The world-record accreditation organization has now confirmed that the goldfish, named Herbert by the scuba-diver, measures a staggering 2.5 meters long (8 feet 20 inches) by 1.70 meters tall (5 feet 57 inches). Recognizing the mammoth goldfish, Craig Glenday said: “This is a once in a lifetime discovery, we never imagined here at Guinness World Records we’d ever be measuring a goldfish that was actually bigger than the world’s tallest man!”.  The tallest man in the world is Sultan Kösen from Turkey who stands at 2.46 meters (8 feet 1 inch) tall.

If you have a fetish for artistic artifacts, then why cant to rest on one such masterpiece? Newtons, the UK’s ‘family’ of furniture manufacturers are out with an exquisite French-style bedroom furniture range called as “The Chateau D’Or Bedroom Collection”. Hand-carved in mahogany wood, these pieces have been hand-finished in 24 carat gold leaf for a royal yet modern feel. Apart from the bed, the collection comes with a bedside cabinet and carved mirror.

The bed comes in three variants, the double bed is available at around $ 2,735, the King size bed is available at around $2,800 and the Super King bed comes at around $2,870. Quite a steal when the price of gold is sky-rocketing!

Gold is no ordinary metal. It looks good when ornamented but it also represents something that you would fight for. And if you want to push the envelope further and bring the opulence of this shiny metal to your bath room, why settle only for a gold bath tub? Pull the plugs completely and go for a gold sink, tiles and fixtures! Designed by Olivier Gagnère the Bagatelle Collection comes with an elegant gold finish. Available in seven colors, the Hastings Tile & Bath’s porcelain tiles have surfaces with the animal skin design and Gold Leaf Glass. The sink has a unique rectangular octagon shape, and comes in three variants- a gold metal finish, natural copper or polished chrome.

Once again the Academy Awards will lend its weight to charities as The Wrap has decided to unite the goodwill of celebrities to host the online auction of a rare, gold-plated Moёt & Chandon Methuselah signed by Oscar winners and nominees to benefit the Special Olympics. This Moёt Bottle is handcrafted by the legendary French Medal Manufacturer, Maison Arthus-Bertrand in a limited edition of only 200 in 2009, but this one-off bottle with signatures from some of your favorite celebs of Hollywood, makes it a once in a lifetime collectible. The proceeds from this spectacular bottle worth $5,000 in retail would go to the Special Olympics project in Haiti. For the serious bidders, here’s the link. Via: The Wrap

With this luxury Flexjet you can take advantage of Winter Game behind-the-scenes as well as offering you the best in airfare on their Bombardier aircraft.  Now, you ready to sign up for both?   We thought so!

TWG Tea Company is based in  Singapore and recently opened their ION Orchard Tea Shop where you can sample up to 400 teams from amongst their more than 800 teas.   (Rest assured they offer accessories and petit fors as well to the discerning palate).

The pinnacle of the tea collection is undoubtedly the Yellow Gold Tea a.k.a. T601 which is the world’s most expensive tea.   It achieves this status because not only is it incredibly challengeing to acquire, it’s also painted with actual gold.

However, the journey of this particular blend is only harvest on one mountain in the world and on one particular day of the year and only with golden scissors that prune from the top of the tree which is where the tea bud is located.

These illustrious buds are then sun dried and placed within sealed containers to slightly heat the tea leaves which allows them to release the plyphenols which is what gives the team it’s yellowish hue and provides a soft taste.

The tea is then painted with 24-carat gold flakes which is considered very good for you in both luck and health (what with gold being a mineral after all) and provides the tea with a beautiful shimmer.

This particular blend of tea sells for $150 Singapore for 50 grams (US$106).  That amount will brew you approximately 25 cups of tea.

Most expensive barbecue – world record set by BeefEater

CHESTER HILL, Australia — A barbecue gold plated all over, made by Beefeater especially for the ‘World’s Finest’ exhibition, has a value of 164 010 U.S. dollars (£100,000)-setting the world record for the Most expensive barbecue.
Photo:All parts of the grill except for the cooking surfaces have been individually plated in 24 carat gold and assembled by hand. (enlarge photo)

The Most expensive barbecue features a 6 burner BBQ and wok burner, roasting hood with viewing window and warming rack, high output burners, quartz start ignition, vaporizer grid and reflector system.

Proving Gold Grills aren’t just for rappers, BeefEater, Australia’s leading barbecue manufacturer, has tricked out one of its Signature Series 6 Burner SL4000s to create a uniquely lavish gold plated barbecue truly fit for a king.

“BeefEater has created the ultimate backyard status symbol for those who want to make a statement with their barbecue and have the money to burn,” says Peter Woodland, Managing Director of BeefEater.
“It’s for the man who has everything and wants more.”

Photo: the ultimate in backyard bling – the world’s first fully operational gold barbecue. (enlarge photo)

The BBQ itself has all the gadgets and gizmos you could wish for, plus a few flashy extras:
• Quartz start ignition technology system
• Vaporiser grid
• Six high output burners
• A wok burner
• A roasting hood with viewing window
• Warming rack and reflector system

Alan Chater, Beefeater European Sales Manager, said: “Part of the fun of having a barbecue is putting on a show, and that’s what we do best”.

“We wanted to go to the next step – it’s a great style statement and shows just what can be done. “It was purely made to see what we could do in terms of opulence, price and features. “It clearly does look spectacular.
Should it ever come to market in the future it will cost £100,000 because even the nuts, bolts and screws are gold-plated.”
On the Net: www.beefeaterbbq.com

Bacchus (the wine merchants) have started selling genuine golden champagne in Hong Kong. Distilled with 24-carat gold leaves, only 1,000 bottles of Luxor Brut are produced each year.

After pressing and bottling the golden mixture, they let it age in the cellar for 2-3 years. It consists of 90% Pinot Noir, 7% Chardonnay and 3% Pinot Meunier. You can get it in normal bottle sizes, magnum or jeroboam.

Apparently the tipple is enjoyed by the likes of Christian Audigier, Tony Parker and Mickey Rourke.

So if you really want to celebrate…

www.luxorbrut.com

www.bacchusasia.com