Anyone can use the #Cabernet hashtag in search engines and social networks. The event itself runs for a full 24 hours, starting in Australia and moving across the timezones with many wineries offering deals and events for the special occassion.  If you happen to be in NY, Wine Library and Cork’d are putting on a special tasting at the Roger Smith Hotel in Manhattan.  For more details, visit the Cabernet Day Eventbrite site.

So, if you’re searching for honeymoon ideas and you want more than just another beach holiday, memories that outlast the hotel bill and a bit of an adventure, look no further. Ooh.com has an unending supply of inspirational trips and adventures; here are a few romantic getaways that have recently caught our eye.

Reindeer sledding in Sweden
Think saunas under the stars, a 2 day reindeer sledding tour in the beautiful Lapland landscapes, igloos, furs and the northern lights.

Surf and yoga retreat Byron bay, Australia
Relax and unwind, meander to the beach, immerse yourself in yoga, eat some amazingly healthy food and refresh yourself in the ocean each day with a surf.

Six day Argentine photography and horse riding adventure
For fresh air and wide open spaces,  gauchos, horse riding and polo, guided photography sessions and classic Argentine hospitality at a stunning family run estancia.

Bread making in Tuscany
From your stunning setting in the Florentine hills, learn to bake Italian specialities like focaccia, ciabatta, and grissini, start your life as man and wife with a new skill you have learned together.

Trans-Canadian motorcycle grand tour
The big one – why not go all out, take serious time off and go on a proper adventure together.

Kite Surfing Cape Town
Book into an American Airstream trailer on the roof of the Grand Daddy Hotel and spend the day on one of Cape Town’s beautiful beaches learning to kite surf. Enjoy stunning food and wine… brunch at The Grand Cafe in Camps Bay or a romantic dinner at La Colombe is a must.

Inner Hebrides Walking and Sailing holiday
The British Isles has some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world enjoy a week on board a 65ft ketch and then why not book into a beautiful old Scottish castle for a week on dry land after or try The Pool House Hotel perched on the banks of Loch Ewe in Wester Ross

Foodie taste-trek to Vietnam
Your sights and senses will be fully entertained on this 7 day trip from Hanoi to Saigon. Take a cooking class with the Vietnamese Nigella, a boat trip to eat at a floating village and haggle at the local markets.

Take a four day guided tour of New Zealand’s Lake Waikaremoana
This spectacular tour takes you round one of New Zealand’s ‘great walks’. The country has tonnes on offer for the adventure minded but don’t overlook it’s luxury side. Huka Lodge and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers are worth a few days stay…

Different doesn’t have to be difficult and adventures can involve as much luxury as you want – there are many many more ideas where these came from! Take a look around Ooh.com and get some inspiration to do something a little off the beaten track for your honeymoon!

A Pygmy Marmoset (Callithrix pygmaea) is seen at a primate rescue and rehabilitation center near Santiago August 3, 2010. The Pygmy Marmoset, known as the world’s smallest monkey and in danger of extinction, was confiscated after being found inside the clothes of a Peruvian citizen during a highway police check at the northern city of Antofagasta, some 1367 km (849 miles) of Santiago.
REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

The site gives off a food festival or farmer’s market vibe, complete with extremely tempting photos of specialty foods. There are delicious brownies, tasty tapenades, organic chutneys and specialty oils to end up in your shopping cart – it could get pretty pricey if you’re hungry!

On each product page you can read the producers’ personal stories of how and why they started, what it is that makes their foods so unique and special and discover their favourite recipes. Holly Caulfield from Chocoholly seems like a cool chick, as does The Coffee Fairy.

As the site is still very new we’re waiting to see even more products on there. The drink section is particularly strong, whereas the bakery treats could boast more. However, as more and more artisan producers discover the site, we bet it will be quite hard to make a decision among all this deliciousness.

Today’s post is from Bethany Dortmans, a travel blogger who knows how to spend a perfect day in Melbourne:

Melbourne is a city of secrets. While spectacular landmarks like the Casino, Federation Square, the Rialto, Eureka Tower and the Arts Centre dominate its skyline, the city’s heart and soul throbs within the city’s convoluted network of lanes and alleyways. Weaving their way through the city grid, Melbourne’s laneways uncover hidden gems and a warm, intimate atmosphere.

Here you can find what Australia’s cultural capital is renowned for: alfresco eateries, trendy cafés (you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bad coffee in Melbourne), street art, bustling bars and top-notch restaurants (if you’re lucky enough to get a table).

Start your treasure hunt at Centre Place, right near Flinders Street Station or check out Hardware Lane, Degraves Street, Block Place or The Causeway. On a sunny day (yes, these do happen in Melbourne) pack a picnic blanket, Frisbee, a good book and take a bicycle to one of the city’s many parks. In the CBD area, Birrarung Marr, the Botanic Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Carlton Gardens offer an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle.

At night Melbourne’s thriving music scene comes to life. The only problem you’re likely to encounter when sampling the nightlife is deciding which bar to go to. In the summer, Rooftop bar is a popular option, or for a taste of something different, grab a cocktail or a jug of Pimm’s at Madame Brussels, which is decorated like an indoor garden party. If you feel like experimenting, see if The Croft Institute – decorated like a science lab – passes the test.

Unlike its rival city Sydney, Melbourne is not known for its beaches, but this doesn’t mean the colourful bayside suburb of St Kilda isn’t
worth visiting. With its sun-filled boulevard, late-night bars, salsa dancing, cultural festivals and the historic amusement venue Luna
Park, St Kilda is popular with tourists as a quality summer destination.

And last, but not least – no visit to Melbourne is complete without getting involved in the local sporting scene. This sport-loving city is the home of Aussie Rules football, the world-famous Melbourne Cup horse race and the Australian Open. From sitting in the stands of the MCG with a meat pie in hand, to cheering on tennis stars at Rod Laver Arena to getting dressed to the nines for the Spring Racing Carnival, you’ll feel like part of the team in no time.

Going to Melbourne? Check out Ooh.com for some things to do while you’re there.

Offer interesting things to do in Melbourne? List them for free on Ooh.com.

‘How do you feel about having all these strangers in your house?’ everyone queries, ‘have there been any incidents?’

Prepping and doing supper clubs is like living in a little capsule – we are in the kitchen, chopping, peeling, slicing, marinating, cleaning, cooking, tasting. It takes all day and we don’t stop, sometimes there isn’t even enough time for lunch or to eat dinner!

And then all of a sudden, at 7.30pm precisely (rarely are people too early or late), the door bell rings and enter a bunch of strangers, none you have met before but they all start to have a good time, downstairs in our living room!

So far, no one has rifled through my knicker drawer or hidden in the cupboard overnight. The amount of people who have been to our supper club and respected our home is a true testament to how honest and kind most people actually are.

Guests are told to get their own water, lick their spoons because they are not getting another one, and to quiet down after 11:30pm. Some guests help with clearing plates or getting tap water for everyone. When someone can’t finish their plate, I encourage others from the table to take the last bit and they do, because it’s a house dinner and you are not in a restaurant – the boundaries are completely different.

Some people are really polite, thanking us to the ends of the earth for the dinner. We are ambushed with compliments and gratitude. We get dinner invites and make new bonds and friendships with some of the most charming and charismatic personalities.

There have been a handful of bad stories, such as people not donating (not the ones who forget – the ones who forget are traumatized and come back straight away). And some people don’t eat anything because they’d come for a birthday party and don’t like food in general. Or there’s that couple that just had a blazing row at the front door and burst into tears. Once someone even got their hair set on fire (by accident – that was quite funny)!

Of course, there are many annoying last minute cancellations but that is to be expected at any eatery – underground or over-ground.  If you book to eat in our home, you shouldn’t really cancel on the day, but sometimes things happen and it’s understandable. We’ve heard of a lot of excuses; the dog chewed up my homework sort of thing. Once, we had a no show which we were really worried about because we never heard from them again.

There hasn’t really been a nightmare guest, just the noodle guy who had a noodle hanging off his eye brow and threw all his food everywhere because he was too drunk. Simon ejected him after we found him urinating in the street.

Drunkenness is not uncommon, because people get to bring their own wine; but even so, people have been very respectful.

Some people stay on really late. Sometimes, we don’t let them go and stay chatting to them into the early hours. A few times, people have slept over and we’ve started all over again at breakfast. Many of our guests are fantastic, we have so much in common. A few weeks ago, I met someone who had been to school next door to mine, then went to Central St Martins during the same years – in the same building – in Long Acre! The greatest thing and the most valuable thing is making all these new friends.

More than anything, there have been some great nights, singing, dancing, marriage proposals, birthday songs, jokes and stories told.

We always want to join the party but we have to work and cook so sitting down with guests for dessert is a godsend! To be honest, sometimes I feel completely exhausted and just want to crawl up like a baby in my bed. Once, there was a couple who were really funny but it was getting very late and I was at my last tether, so I was really rude to them. I’m still so ashamed about how I lost it with them, stamping my feet around the room, making lots of noises, and slamming doors! They were a little unhappy upon departure… Simon is always happy to talk to everyone and is so patient. Feeling so bad having upset my guest, I will never do it again no matter how tired I get.

We don’t expect people to treat our house like it’s a home as well as a restaurant. You can’t have the best of both worlds and decide which one you want to pick when it suits you. The truth is, people will cancel, some people will take the piss, some people will be a little rude – but that’s because it’s just the way some people are – if we are to welcome people into our homes from all walks of life, we have to deal with what all walks of life involve.

The 30-year running supper club owner Jim Haynes, rightly says: “there’s no point in trying to understand people; we have to tolerate people and accept them the way they are and welcome everyone equally and with open arms.”

To find out when Uyen and Simon are offering their next supper club evening, click here. If you want to be in the know about food activities going on in London, check out Ooh.com.

All photos belong to Uyen Luu and Simon Fernandez

Gallo Rose had laid on a last attempt to reclaim the ebbing British summer with an Ibiza-style bar and dance area featuring real sand and bartop dancers! The music was top notch, with a DJ line-up including Dan Williams and Jade Jagger, quickly hurling the party into full carnival spirit. We thought we’d share our photo highlights from the event!

More photos after the jump.

Out front of the Beach Blanket Bablyon Party

The carnival spirit: bright colours everywhere!

Party goers enjoy the sights and sounds as the afternoon hit full swing

With a delicious range of Gallo Rose cocktails on offer, the bar was kept pretty busy

Yummilicious

Interior styling details at BBB Notting Hill

After a great time at the Gallo Rose party, Ooh.com headed out to enjoy the Soundsystems dotted around the carnival…

… where we met plenty of people having a seriously good time…

Not ready to let go of summer 2010? Us neither. Try Taking this sleek looking vacation home in Phuket, or hit this yoga retreat in the French Alps to extend your summer by a precious week!

- Summer is basically over (booo)
- New blue public hire bicycles all over the place (yay)

But ‘how does that work?’ we hear you cry. Well basically, in the UK, we have a couple of days of boiling hot weather around June time – that’s what we like to call ‘Summer’ – and then it rains until September when Autumn starts.

Oh, the Barclays cycle hire scheme you mean? – OK, if you want to know how to use the blue bikes,  read on for our simple guide:
1.  First you need to register as a user on-line.
At the moment you can only use the bikes if you become a registered user.  Go to the cycle hire page on the Transport for London website to register. You will have to pay £3 for an access key which will be sent to you in about 3 days and once received you should activate this on line. You use this key to unlock the bikes and your access and usage fee will be charged to the card you have registered with this key.

2. Cost? Access Fees. When you register you need to chose either:

Daily access: You will be charged £1  a day for any day you use a bike (best for the casual user – though do feel free to dress up nice and dapper)
Weekly access: You pay £5 in advance for 7 consecutive days use (the one to go for if you are a tourist in town for the week)
Yearly access: You pay £45 in advance and will be able to use a bike any day you like for a year.

Now, don’t forget to chose ‘auto renew’ when you sign up – so your account will be charged everytime you use a bike rather than having to load £1 on your access key in advance everytime. This is best to use with the daily access choice.

3. Usage Fees.

Trips up to 30 minutes: You can use a bike for half an hour at a time, as many times in the day as you want, for free (or no extra charge on top of your access charge). You must leave five minutes between each trip.

Trips more than 30 minutes: Whether you chose daily, weekly or yearly access, you will have to pay a usage charge for any journey over 30 minutes.

An hour long trip on the bike will cost you an extra £1, one and a half hours trip will cost £4 and two hours will be £6 extra and so on up to 24hrs.

4. Locations.
You will find bike docking stations all around Zone 1, central London. Stations are no more than 3-400 meters apart – See the Map for locations. (please can we have some more out West please Mr Boris, I’d like to ride one to work)

5. What else?

- Don’t drink and bike – I know it seems like a good idea at the time but not in the middle of the city…

- Buy a helmet and wear it.

- Beware of the blind side of lorries, buses and coaches.

- A late return charge (over 24hrs) will cost you £150 and non return £300 (there are trackers in each of the bikes though so no ideas about your own spanking Boris bike for £300)

To register as a Barclays cycle hire user click here

Don’t forget - on the 5th September the streets on London will be closed to traffic and opened up for free use by pedestrians, cyclists, rollerskaters, skateboarders – anything without an engine can join the Sky Ride

If you are into bikes check out Going Going Bike - a new auction site for everything bike.

And if you fancy getting away from it all on a bike – ever thought about going on a guided mountain bike trail in Cornwall or a cycling an canoeing holiday in the Wye Valley? There are lots of inspiring trips and tours to be found on Ooh.com

I have an addiction. Well several actually, red wine, shoes, chocolate, Twitter, cheese, trashy magazines, Master Chef (I know) and cooking classes. Yes, I absolutely love going to cooking classes and by this stage have managed to attend a whole host of different classes in London not to mention the ones I fit in while on holidays in different countries. Poor MTV boyfriend even got dragged along to one while on our honeymoon in Sri Lanka. So let’s just say I jumped at the chance when Ooh.com invited me to try out a class with The Roving Chef in London.

The Roving Chef is the lovely Hayley who roves her way all the way around to your house to give you a private cooking class in your own kitchen. There are a few major benefits to this. It is ridiculously convenient and the whole experience is more realistic as you cook using your own motley collection of saucepans and your own dodgy oven rather than perfect commercial style kitchens in which cooking classes are generally run. The downside is that the class lacks some of the fun social element of a group cooking class, plus you have to buy the ingredients yourself and wash the dishes!

In the class Hayley and I made chicken curry, fennel risotto, chicken with a chocolate sauce and a chocolate sponge cake. Given that I already have curry and risotto recipes on here and that the chocolate sauce dish was a bit of a disaster (Hayley had never made it before so I happily volunteered to be the guinea pig) I thought I would share Hayley’s chocolate sponge recipe with you.

It was incredibly easy with the ratios of butter, flour and sugar all the same. It also had a great light but rich chocolate taste which won plaudits from my work mates when I brought it in the next day to share with them. Hayley suggested sandwiching the cake with whipped cream and jam but I could not resist tweaking the recipe a little and adding my own chocolate and hazelnut frosting (made with the secret ingredient of Nutella).

Ingredients

1. Preheat the oven to 180c.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

3. In a separate bowl beat the eggs together and then add them gradually to the creamed butter and sugar, mixing well as you go.

4. Before adding the flour remove 2 tbs of flour and replace with the 2 tbs of cocoa powder. If you want to make a plain vanilla Victoria sponge omit this step and the cocoa powder.

5. Add the flour and cocoa mix and mix together well then divide the mixture equally into two baking paper lined and greased cake tins and make sure the mixture is level.

6. Bake for 25 – 30 mins or until a skewer pressed into the cake comes out clean. Turn the cakes out of the tins and leave to cool on a wire rack.

7. For the frosting beat the icing sugar and butter together using an electric mixer.

8. Turn the mixer down to a low speed and add the milk, once it is incorporated turn the mixer up to high and continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy.

9. Stir in the nutella by hand and then use half the frosting to sandwich between the two cakes and the other half to top the cake with.

A three hour lesson with The Roving Chef costs £100 although I received a complimentary lesson from Ooh.com.

To read more of Gourmet Chick’s recipes, restaurant reviews and travel notes click here. And to have a look at other cooking classes on Ooh.com click here.