2023 Spring
World champion Messi
Lionel Messi, the genius Argentine footballer of our century, has fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming world champion with his national team in Qatar. The seven-time individual Ballon d’Or winner also received the Player of the Year trophy for the seventh time at the award ceremony of FIFA, the world organisation of the sport in Paris. The 36-year-old playmaker, who transferred to Paris Saint-Germain after 17 years at FC Barcelona, scored at his fifth World Cup, earning the title of Best Player of the World Cup. It is not known whether Messi, nicknamed Messiah by his fans, will stay in Paris when his contract expires in the summer. The Argentine national team will continue to rely on the services of the football genius, who, after scoring 672 goals for the Catalans, was successful for the 28th times at PSG, reaching the 700-goal mark, a feat only matched by Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s top scorer with 709.
50 years of Rónai
Gábor Rónai, owner of Royal Diamonds Jewellery, is a cosmopolitan businessman at heart, who looks back on his parents with pride and is especially proud of his family. He talks about his Jewish heritage as well as finding his faith in God, inspired by his wife Alexandra, and we go through the highlights of his life, from his time being a government interpreter, to his connections with Formula 1, world stars, artists, leading politicians and businessmen, to the creation of his own business, Royal Diamonds Jewellery. The publication of a book about his life story, the founding of an award, his family’s passion for polo and his son Patrik’s obsession with horses. Gábor Rónai also shares some fascinating stories with the reader, such as the time he accompanied Michael Jackson in Budapest and the time he met Peter Malkin, one of the heads of the Israeli secret service.
Antarctica
Dr. István Tóth has given the finishing touch to his travels by Antarctica and thus has visited exactly 150 different countries of the world. „I have already been to all the continents and only this one remained. As I have travelled to 149 countries, I wanted to make the 150th one to be the highlight. Now I can say that I have gained unforgettable experiences and have not repented having a go at it. After returning home I can say that one of my dreams has come true, as I have been to 150 countries financed by myself. Hopefully my trips continue and I will write my reports about them in the Lyfe&Style magazine continuously. A new exotic place, Papua New Guinea is among my plans, although at the moment I feel that there isn’t any exotic place in the world like the Antarctica”, we learnt from our great traveller.
From Singapore to Thailand
This article aims to create by pen of Istria Tours 94 owner, Anikó Straub an atmosphere for a tour of Southeast Asia, taking the reader to Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. The cultural and culinary experiences of Singapore are recorded in an account that reveals that Singapore has Chinese, Indian and Arab quarters in one. The next stop is Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, from where a special tour takes you to George Town. Its Old Town is a UNESCO cultural heritage site and the city itself is a blend of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western cultures. After Malaysia, we head to Vietnam, starting with the former Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City. The final stop is Thailand with its statue of the Big Buddha, a mummy monk in a glass case with sunglasses, but the 18-armed Buddha and the Happy Buddha are also there. Bangkok, the capital, offers the Royal Palace, the Emerald Buddha, the Reclining Buddha and the Vat Arun Buddhist Temple, which can be viewed from a boat.
Fibula in Pécs
More than a hundred people wrote their opinions, and the overwhelming majority of them evaluated the Fibula Hotel in Pécs very highly, giving it a 4.7 rating. The article reveals that there was also a public vote, and last December’s poll put the new holiday centre of the city in Baranya County at the top of the list of popular Hungarian accommodations. “We came second in the South Transdanubian region in the ranking of the hotels of the year, while we were among the top ten nationwide”, said Evelyn Horváth, sales and marketing director of the four-star Fibula Residence Hotel & Wellness. It is the only adult-friendly hotel in Pécs that caters exclusively for guests over 14 years old in the five-building complex opened in summer 2020. Together, they offer 32 modern-style apartments, rooms and suites for those looking for quality accommodation in the historic city centre of Pécs.
Architect
A new series is launched in our magazine, Architect, featuring Tibor Várhelyi, architect and owner of Consolum Architects Ltd., who has been involved in the construction industry for 22 years. “I really like teaching others what to look out for. So I like to examine the pitfalls, facts, misconceptions, to see if it’s really as they say,” says the expert, who also wants to interview interesting people in some parts of the series who have something to say and can present their own businesses. “A lot of service providers have come up with great stuff, but it just doesn’t always reach people, or not in the way it should…” – is the essence of the new column. It will discuss developments in the construction industry and topical issues such as how much it costs to build a decent quality house and what you need to know about building energy.
ST Solar – green energy
ST Solar Ltd. in Dunaújváros employing sixty people has been among the few first ranking solar companies specialised in the clever use of solar energy for some time. Zoltán Kovács, owner and managing director and Milán Tímár, sales and marketing manager told us that this market is very environmentally conscious and is an investment that will bring a greener and better future for the new generation. They said that their motto is quality and reliability, and they want to put these these two things into practice in all their activity. They strive to work exclusively from top category stock, while also instilling environmental awareness from an early age. They also have a passion for sponsoring sport events. „In the solar sector, we are a medium-sized but very strong company with familiar atmosphere. We are among the top contractors and that is absolutely enough for us.”, they emphasized.
GWR NANO
Gábor Windt, a businessman, martial artist and stuntman, lives his daily life in an area of more than 100 hectares in the almost untouched nature just outside Dunabogdány. He is a brigadier general, a six-dan karate master and the owner and manager of several businesses. „We have been in business for a decade and a half and have been marketing and promoting our own products in the world for ten years. We have a presence in literally twenty countries. Probably our biggest reference is the interior and exterior thermal insulation of FIFA-accredited stadiums for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The special feature of GWR NANO is that it can be applied quickly and easily with a spray gun, its thickness of one millimetre is imperceptible to the eye and we can also colour mix it on demand. The material is used to follow the surface and its structure,” says owner Gábor Windt.
Space ambassador wanted
At the end of January last year, when the deadline for applications closed, 240 people were hopeful, but the latest shortlisting has left only four who could become Hungary’s second astronaut. He will be the second to make the cosmic voyage after Bertalan Farkas, who went into space in 1980 as the member of the seventh nation on Earth. The spaceflight is currently scheduled to take place sometime in 2024, but before that the quartet will undergo extensive basic training: a doctor and three engineers. Orsolya Ferencz, the Foreign Ministry’s commissioner for space research, believes that the Hungarian astronaut on the manned space flight will also be an ambassador of Hungarian space research and science, carrying out scientific experiments on the International Space Station, mainly of Hungarian development.
Hotel Abacus
The Abacus Business & Wellness Hotel**** Superior is located 25 km from Budapest, in Herceghalom. The hotel’s inspiring atmosphere, innovative environment and uncompromising gastronomical philosophy makes it the ideal place for family vacations, wellness weekends, conferences, business meetings and even weddings. The chef, Ferenc Toth, whose resume boasts with extensive foreign experience, uses simple, local and seasonal ingredients from Zsambek’s basin in his dishes. The majority of the spices he uses are grown in the kitchen’s own garden. Their dishes draw on both international sensibilities as well as the traditional Hungarian sense of taste; all while using modern culinary technology. The combination of gastronomical pleasures with a peaceful, familiar atmosphere and modern environment translate into more than half the guests being regulars. Their success was further confirmed when Abacus Business & Wellness Hotel won the title of Best Rural Business and Conference Hotel in Hungary.
Lamb on the grill
Around the holidays, I always think of traditional foods and their rise and praise, their reimagining or perhaps decline. Easter is no different. Lamb can be used to make so many dishes and not just for the festive table. The thigh or shoulder can be used to make stews, but it is also a fantastic roast, seasoned with rosemary and garlic. Perhaps the most familiar of all restaurant dishes is the lamb rib, served in a herb crust or with a characterful jus. And when it comes to soups, the casserole made with chopped meat is almost unforgettable, with tarragon, cream and lemon in harmony with the taste of the lamb. Finally, I would like to mention my personal favourite, lamb shank. A flavour with character like no other, when preparing it, the only limit is your imagination.
Villány and the franc
Villány is one of the best known Hungarian wine regions, which has established its reputation since the 90s. Among the red wines, Cabernet Franc plays a prominent role. Worldrenowned wine expert Michael Broadbent said that „Cabernet Franc has found a natural home in Villány”. A new system of protection of origin was introduced in the wine region in 2014. The Villányi Franc is the name given to wines of outstanding quality, with a large format, body, thickness, complexity and elegance, which show the kindness, roundness and fruitiness that are typical of Villány. The owner of the Streit-Zagonyi Winery, György Streit, has put his heart and soul into his 7-hectare Villány cellar. The Cabernet Franc produced in the winery’s vineyards is marketed year after year as Villányi Franc. The vintages sold by the Streit- Zagonyi Winery prove that Villányi Franc is a guarantee of quality.
Easter dishes
Perhaps only the Christmas holidays have as many and as colourful gastronomic traditions as Easter, the most important event in Christianity. However, it is also important to remember that these dishes – many of which are truly special – can be served not only during the festive season, but can also be a culinary delight at any time of the year, depending on individual eating habits. After the fasting period preceding Easter, the festive season is characterised by hedonism, with dishes prepared in European countries being very similar, but with different preparation methods in different regions, painting a varied picture on the gastronomic canvas. In some countries around the world, however, Easter is also a time for local Easter dishes, which are more in keeping with everyday practice. Stories and ideas from the world of Easter feasts.
Breaking news!
We have lived to test a Chinese car. The MG, with its British roots, started its European conquest a few years ago and arrived in Hungary last autumn. Their introductory model is the ZS, which is of course a SUV. We had no problems with the quality, outlook and build of the ZS. The counterpoint to the Chinese model is the Lexus NX hybrid, which was more fuel efficient than the smaller and lighter MG. Lexus has solved the central display management problem, so there’s nothing to complain about now. Kia Niro is also in its second generation. Here again we tested the hybrid version, which runs smoothly and well. The Toyota Aygo X Limited version is a good match for this model in terms of fuel consumption. The Toyota city car’s dynamism is not race car-like, but the combination of a gear-less gearbox and a small engine makes it ideal for city driving. The orange trims and the retractable canvas roof make it stand out.
Electric premiums
Car manufacturers with a long track record are also investing heavily in the development of electric vehicles. In this article, we look at the German premium manufacturers. At Audi, the RS e-tron GT tops the green range with 598bhp and a 100km/h time of 3.3 seconds. Closely related to the Audi is the Porsche Taycan, which is available in estate and four-door coupe formats. At BMW, the recently launched i7 is the largest electric car. The 2.7-tonne top-of-the-range model impresses passengers and drivers with its special interior. Mercedes is on a different path. The Stuttgart-based manufacturer has separated the S-Class from the all-electric EQS model, whose SUV version is now a giant SUV with all the luxuries.
ZEMA Cafe & Salon
ZEMA Porcelain and Jewellery House has launched a series of direct talks called ZEMA Cafe & Salon in the country’s rural cities and the capital from February.Theme : Beauty, values, fashion, arts. The aim of the panel discussion series is to present Hungarian values such as traditions, styles and identity through ZEMA’s products of Outstanding National Value. The first stop was in Sárospatak at the Tokaj Hegyalja University with Zsuzsa Csisztu. The next one took place in Újfehérto, the brand’s home town, and then in Nyíregyháza at the Kállay House, in a setting worthy of the brand. In the near future, the ZEMA Cafe talk show will be held in Lillafüred. Prior to that, we will also be present in Budapest at the ESSCA French private business university to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The panel discussions, which will continue until the end of the year, will hopefully bring the ZEMA brand and its enthusiastic followers even closer together.
Athletes of the Year
The Hungarian Sports Journalists’ Association held the awarding ceremony „M4 Sport – Gala of the Athlete of the Year 2022” in the Opera House of Budapest. After György Szöllősi’s greetings who is the President of the Hungarian Sports Journalists’ Association, the winner of the Male Athlete of the Year voting, swimmer Kristóf Milák was invited to the stage, who became world champion in 100 and 200 butterfly at the World Championships in Budapest and gained further three gold medals at the European Championships in Rome later. The Female Athlete of the Year award went to Luca Kozák, sprint hurdler winning a silver medal at the European Championships. The Italian Marco Rossi, captain of the Hungarian national football team was elected Coach of the Year. The women’s sabre fencing national team having the gold medal of sport historical significance at the World Championships became the Team of the Year in the traditional team sport category. The Lifetime Achievement Award of the Hungarian Sport Journalists’ Association in 2022 was presented to Fábiánné Katalin Rozsnyói, the Olympic silver medal winner kayaker and master coach by Katalin Novák, President of Hungary.
Social Life
Through our social events column, we want our readers to gain insight into various, in our opinion high level and exclusive events, parties, inaugurations, film, theatre premieres and fashion shows, exhibitions, concerts, sports events, etc. The list is endless but the various events have something in common: the high quality, high standard and style. Our aim is to inform you about interesting activities and programmes in each issue of our magazine. The list is endless but there is something still common among the various events, the high quality, high standard and style. Our aim is to inform you about interesting activities and programmes in each issue of our magazine. In our spring issue we were present at the DWC jubilee ball, the award ceremony of the Athlete of the Year and the Abacus Hotel’s carnival.
Gerard Butler
The Scottish actor, who made his name in Hollywood with „P.S. I Love You”, „300” and „The Phantom of the Opera”, is back to better times after so many failures. His world-saving action star look was most recently lent to the action film „The Machine”, in which Gerard Butler, a former pilot in the British Royal Air Force, attempts to fly an airliner from Singapore to Honolulu. Butler’s numerous film credits include many outstanding performances as a husband in love who sends a message from death, a law-abiding citizen and a preacher with a machine gun. But since „Attack on the White House”, he hasn’t really found himself in the right role. The actor, who was voted the world’s most handsome man by Hello magazine in 2005, is still hesitant to commit to anyone at the age of 53.
Oscar Gala
The “crazy” Chinese came, saw and won, with the mostly Chinese-speaking American film
“Everything Anytime Once at All”, winning in the seven most important categories. Cate Blanchett missed out on her third Oscar of her life, but she was not disappointed. Colin Farrell is more sensitive to the fact that he did not win for „The Banshees of Inisherin” (The Ghosts of the Island), widely acclaimed as the film of the decade. Austin Butler, who played Elvis Presley, was the most bet on, but at last he did not become the winner. Steven Spielberg must have felt left out, after all, “The Fabelmann Family” is one of the most personal autobiographical stories he has shared on screen. Tony Curtis’s 64-year-old daughter burst into tears of joy, “We won an Oscar!”, she shouted in memory of her actor parents, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. It was the first time Jamie Lee Curtis had been nominated for an Academy Award, and she won it for her performance in “Everything Anytime Once at All”.
Gold of the Nation
The heroes of the movie “The Gold of the Nation” are the water polo legends who have beaten the world between 1997 and 2008. During those 12 years, the team, which included Benedek, Kásás, Kiss, Szécsi, Biros, Molnár and others, won three Olympic gold medals, two European and one World Championship title, two World League and one World Cup. Six of them were also inducted into the International Hall of Fame. They have made a film with a light-hearted tone, but also with dramatic elements and emotional scenes, a swimming pool-themed cinema experience in line with current trends. It’s not a one-man sports film, but a film about a team, where each team member is equal. The secret of their success is not only their talent but also the match of their personalities. The water polo players become characters in the movie, yet they play no part. Their stories are written by life itself, but it is them who shape it.
