New Jersey is nicknamed the Garden State, so on a beautiful summer Sunday morning, we drove to Rutgers Gardens in North Brunswick, New Jersey to explore the beauty of their gardens. Part of Rutgers University, Rutgers Gardens is a sensational botanical garden that has delighted visitors for over 100 years and was the perfect place to stroll and spend a few hours soaking up nature. After "sheltering in place" for several months due to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, we were more than ready to get out in nature while maintaining social distancing, and the 180-acre Rutgers Gardens was the perfect place for a morning of exploration.

Chocolate is one of life's delectable sweet little pleasures, and New York-based Chocolatier Maribel Lieberman owner of MarieBelle New York shares her passion with her luxurious chocolate offerings.  Whether your chocolate preference is dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate, MarieBelle New York has the perfect chocolate to appeal to diverse palates. We loved sampling our way through the tasty offerings.

As professional chefs and home cooks know, a great source for high-quality culinary ingredients is worth its weight in gold. We recently found and fell in love with the company Italian Products & Beyond that is an incredible resource for high-quality culinary ingredients. Their extensive collection of EVOOs, vinegars, truffle products, pates, pesto, tomatoes, coffee, fish, salts, nuts, sweets, and so much more, are the stuff of culinary dreams! We especially love the Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs) from Gonnelli 1585, Frantoio Di Santa Téa Olio Extra Vergine Di Oliva. Happy Cooking!

I love Jazz piano and when I saw Michael Silverman's debut instrumental Jazz album, Michael Silverman - Human Spirit featuring Jeff Lorber, I was intrigued to give it a listen, followed by several listens. Joined by his brother, acclaimed veteran drummer Rob Silverman, and a host of talented guest musicians Jimmy Haslip, Eric Marienthal, David Benoit, Michael Thompson, Adam Hawley, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Gary Novak, the album sparkles with crystal clarity. The release hits the street on July 15, 2020. 

New York Jazz trumpeter John Lake has a fabulous new 11- track instrumental Jazz release entitled, Seven Angels, that hits the street on June 26, 2020. I got my hands on the release early for Luxury Experience, and instrumental Jazz fans are in for a real treat with Seven Angels. John Lake proves his mettle as a dynamic Jazz composer, arranger, and soloist on this dynamic freshman release, so be sure to grab a copy and give it a listen.

Continuum Distilling Charred created by Continuum Distilling, founded in 2019 and based out of Waterbury, Connecticut, is a delectable dark spirit made from local Connecticut Craft brown ales, stouts, and porters. Continuum Distilling is the brainchild of Head Distiller Brandon Collins, Jim Baranowski, brothers Tom and Jason Sobocinski, and Master Brewer Tyler Jones of Black Hog Brewing, who have partnered to create a unique and very tasty flagship spirit which they refer to a "beer whiskey." Crafted in small batches, the Batch Number is handwritten on each on bottle.

During these trying days of the coronavirus 2020, we thought readers might like to do a little "armchair traveling" to Southampton, New York to cheer the spirit and plan for future trips. While you may know that Southampton, New York is part of the chic and wealthy towns that comprise The Hamptons, did you that it is also a very historic town that was founded in 1646? Whether you wish to explore its pristine beaches, dine at world-class restaurants, do some retail therapy, or discover its cultural and historical offerings, Southampton, New York is a perfect escape in any season!

Continuum Distilling, founded in 2019 and based out of Waterbury, Connecticut, has created a delectable  alcohol  called Continuum Distilling "Drops" made from local Connecticut Craft Beer IPAs. Continuum Distilling is the brainchild of Head Distiller Brandon Collins, Jim Baranowski, brothers Tom and Jason Sobocinski, and Master Brewer Tyler Jones of Black Hog Brewing, who have partnered to create a unique and very tasty spirit. Distilled from "Grain, Cane, and Hops," Continuum Distilling Drops is a delectable clear spirit with floral, bright, hoppy notes, and 46% alcohol by volume (92 proof). Crafted in small batches, the Batch Number is handwritten on each on bottle.

During a visit to Southampton, New York, we discovered Plain-T and The T Loft, a company dedicated to the art of exceptional tea, founded by Tathiana Teixeira and her husband Alessandro Teixeira. As  avid tea drinkers, we always appreciate learning about nature's special bounty and meeting with Tathiana  Teixeira was like  getting a PhD in tea! Passionate about her exceptional line of high-quality whole leaf tea products, she shared her vast tea  knowledge with us and told us about their diverse product line of 85 teas. There is a tea for every palate and Tathiana is a perfect tea sommelier to find the right tea for you as we discovered during our tea experience. 

Love spending time in the Hamptons and wish you could bring its essence home with you? Hamptons Handpoured, founded by Hamptons native Brittany Torres, deftly captures of the spirit of the towns that comprise The Hamptons of Long Island, New York with her beautiful hand-poured candles. Made with love in small batches, Hamptons Handpoured candles are made with 100% American grown natural soy and high-quality, plant-based fragrance oils, with cotton wicks, zero additives, that are phthalate free, vegan, and have a 40-hour burn time. While you may not be able to spend as much time in The Hamptons as you would like, you can enjoy the experience anytime you like with these beautiful candles.

We had a wonderful stay at the 90-room luxury boutique Southampton Inn nestled on 5 stunning acres in the heart of Southampton, New York. The Southampton Inn has all the bells and whistles that one could want for a stay in the fabled Hamptons. The Inn boasts sumptuously appointed guestrooms, an excellent restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, croquet on the immaculate lawn, and much more. Located within walking distance of a movie theater, boutique shops, upscale restaurants, museums, cultural and historical venues, as well as Coopers Beach, the Southampton Inn is a charming and comfortable respite in The Hamptons in any season.  

Throughout the years, The Adventure Kids® aka Debra C. Argen and Edward F.Nesta of Luxury Experience have had exciting and diverse adventures. Our latest adventure involved learning the art of hand-crafting silver jewelry with Master Jeweler Eric Messin in the historic 1686 Pelletreau Silver Shop in Southampton, New York offered in conjunction with the Southampton History Museum. The added reward of this adventure was bringing home our stunning silver jewelry creations!  

Dinner at the restaurant Claude's at the luxury boutique Southampton Inn located in Southampton, New York provided a gracious respite during our stay in the fabled and historic Hamptons. A beautiful setting, excellent cuisine, and attentive and professional waitstaff made Claude's restaurant a highlight in Southampton.

Some restaurants keep getting better with age. Having recently dined at the upscale restaurant, 75 Main owned by Zack Erdem, in the beginning of March 2020, we can confidently state that they are one of them. The Southampton, New York restaurant opened in 2010 and back when most restaurants in the famed Hamptons were only open seasonally, the charismatic and pioneer visionary Zach Erdem kept his restaurant open year-round. An inviting, comfortably chic and contemporary ambience and an excellent and diverse menu created by Chef Mark Militello makes the restaurant a winner.  

The restaurant 75 Main, owned by Zack Erdem, and with an exciting menu from award-winning Chef Mark Militello, has been a Southampton, New York mainstay and a favorite in The Hamptons since it opened in 2010. Perfectly positioned on Main Street in the heart of Southampton, the attractive 75 Main strives for excellence and succeeds. We had a lovely Sunday lunch at the restaurant and are delighted to share the experience of 75 Main with two of their tasty recipes for Black Bean Corn & Quinoa Burgers and Roasted Honey, Balsamic, Mustard Salmon to tempt your palate into making a trip to Southampton, New York and dining at 75 Main.