For ten years, we tested and kept a list of Kyoto's most secret spots. Only 30 made the final cut. 30 unique and exclusive experiences that reveal the soul of Kyoto. "One afternoon in the space of a cherry tree in Kyoto, and here I am lifted to the highest heights of the intoxication of existing." - René Depestre Discover the loveliest spot to picnic on the banks of the river without being harassed by eagles, have your own barbecue behind the fish market, attend a tea ceremony in a private home, meet the craftsman who has just revived the traditional Kyoto fan that had virtually disappeared for 50 years, head to a fishing village to discover the world's first itinerant hotel, push open the door to a bar hidden inside a temple, eat the best egg sandwich in town, go to the public baths to reconnect with a local ancestral tradition, taste the aguri mochi that started a thousand-year rivalry, or watch as a wood warehouse is transformed into an izakaya at nightfall ... Soul of Kyoto was written by Thierry Teyssier, a traveling hotelier who likes to choreograph his dreams, and those of his clients. Here, he orchestrates encounters, discoveries, and shared moments to trace for us the soul of a city as beautiful as it is inaccessible. The 'Soul of' collection is a new approach to traveling that is all about wandering around, chance encounters, and unforgettable experiences. Guides for those looking to unlock the hidden doors of a city, find its pulse, and plumb every last nook and cranny to uncover its soul.

La Patisserie des Reves (translating literally as The Patisserie of Dreams) is the name of the world famous French pastry shops; the brainchild of pastry chef Philippe Conticini and entrepreneur and hotelier Thierry Teyssier. With four shops already open in France, the first shop in London opened in March, bringing traditional French patisserie with a modern twist to the British capital. Their recipe book of the same name published in French in 2012 is published in English to coincide with this historic opening. The book contains over 70 recipes for their signature pastries, recipes include the traditional Saint Honore (choux pastry, cream and caramel topping) and Paris-Brest (choux pastry with praline cream and praline sauce). Philippe Conticini has worked as a pastry chef for many years, including a stint at La Table d'Anvers restaurant in Paris. He and business partner Thierry Teyssier, who had already set up a theatre company, an events company and a similarly-named hotel company Maisons des Reves launched the Patisserie des Reves concept after deciding that they wanted a pastry shop that would recreate the excitement children feel about fresh cakes.