AM IN THE CHAMPAGNE region in France for the first time, on an invite from the newly appointed president of Relais & Chateaux, Laurent Gardinier to visit his historic property of Domaine Les Crayeres situated in the heart of Reims. It’s a chilly morning when I reach the flagship of Relais & Chateuax hotels after a 90-minute drive from Paris’ Charles de Gaulle International Airport. The warmth is palpable when I step into the castle and get welcomed with a glass of champagne and hors d’oeuvre. That’s typical Relais & Chateaux hospitality—wherever you are, there is always personal luxury. The next 48 hours are bound to be a gastronomic feast, I think to myself. The two-Michelin star Le Parc restaurant is situated on the ground floor, adjacent to the reception, and Le Jardin brasserie, the
