Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Strange Nature gin from New Zealand, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
JAPAN. Today’s selection comes from Kansai International Airport Terminal where, as reported, the splendid new Terminal 1 airside area opened yesterday (5 December), writes Martin Moodie.
Our earlier reports focused on the equally new KIX Duty Free store but beyond this vast, 2,500 walk-through offer there is plenty more fine retail and food & beverage to be enjoyed.
Today, before flying out of Kansai to Hong Kong, I had the privilege to preview the new Café Dior by Anne-Sophie Pic, which opens officially on 8 December. This is a world airport first for Kansai and Dior has lived up to that billing in its own inimitable style.
Sited adjacent (and flowing through to) the newly opened and equally elegant Dior boutique (below), Café Dior by Anne-Sophie Pic features a delectable array of teas, coffees, wines, Champagnes, cocktails & mocktails, Viennoiseries (a bridge between pâtisserie and French bread) and more.
I opted for The Garden Latte, a rich, creamy, matcha-flavoured delight suitably adorned as the photo below shows.
I accompanied it with La Bobine, a cinnamon roll laced with caramel, spiked with a refreshing lemon zest and – a consummate touch – replete with a tiny white chocolate button (Dior haute chocolate).
Wow. Rich, textured, multi-layered, decadent. And a piece of art on a plate. I need to do another whole store tour to walk off the calories but, hey, you don’t get to dine in a Café Dior every day.
And the Ann-Sophie Pic reference? Well, in short, she is a legend in culinary circles – as is her family. The first family restaurant was founded in 1889 in the hills of Saint-Péray in Ardèche, under the name of Auberge du Pin.
Through three subsequent generations, the history of the Pic house is intimately tied to French gastronomy, embodying the French art de vivre. As does the new Kansai Airport boutique that bears her and another famous French creative name.
Next time you are travelling out of Kansai International Airport, do your duty free shopping, of course. But please leave time for one of the most delightfully refined food & beverage experiences in the airport world. ✈
