Victorian railway murder inspires gripping first novel May 11, 2011 MR. BRIGGS’ HAT BY KATE COLQUHOUN Little Brown, £16.99 by Lucie Greene Mr Briggs’ Hat, the debut novel by award-winning historian Kate Colquhoun, is a current hot pick of the literary press. And it’s easy to see why. This is a rip-roaring tale of murder and intrigue set in 1864. The story – based on [...]
Jazz, cigars and pop stars come to Docklands May 11, 2011 WITH finishing touches being made to Battery Club in Canary Wharf, the owners are not resting on their laurels. They’re in the midst of launching Alphabet City, a hip new members only dining room, bar and lounge at the O2. With all manner of pop star after-parties in the mix, locking down a founder membership [...]
The glamorous way to drink May 11, 2011 IF you want the finest cocktails served by the most talented bar staff in the most spectacular setting – and let’s face it, who doesn’t – London’s swish hotels are right now the place to find them. Thanks to a slew of upgrades and openings, the ever-burgeoning popularity of sophisticated cocktails and the continuing cultural [...]
Two cylinders: one hot car May 10, 2011 FIAT’S decision to sell its 500 city car with a super-economical two-cylinder engine may not stem from sentimentality. But my desire to drive it does. How would it compare to the original iconic Fiat 500, a car that also had a two-cylinder engine and which I have driven and have a fondness for? The original [...]
CAR TALK May 10, 2011 VAUXHALL’S INSIGNIA VXR IS UNLEASHED Vauxhall has introduced a package to de-restrict the Insignia VXR so that it’s capable of 170mph. Called the ‘Unlimited’ option the package removes the ‘regular’ Insignia VXR’s 155mph restrictor and costs just £250. Available for the hatch, saloon and sports tourer versions it means the Insignia VXR Unlimited’s turbocharged, 321bhp, [...]
Chelsea gets some traditional Brit grub in a sleek modernist setting May 9, 2011 The Penny Black 212 Fulham Road, SW10 9PJ www.thepennyblack.com FOOD **** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE **** Cost per person without wine: £40 IT sounds like the name of a pub, doesn’t it? For some reason, the image I had in my head of a restaurant called The Penny Black was some dark, old-fashioned tavern, a place [...]
Learning to make the most of asparagus May 9, 2011 ASPARAGUS is one of the glories of the British spring. Its yearly sprout excites chefs the country over. The problem with asparagus, though, is that it’s not exactly sexy for the rest of us. You don’t race to the supermarket with a craving for it – nor do you discuss its sensual merits with foodie [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS May 9, 2011 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLUEPRINT CAFE The Design Museum’s well-respected restaurant, the Blueprint Cafe, opened 21 years ago today. To celebrate, head chef Jeremy Lee has created a three-course set menu, including a glass of fizz (and, of course, Blueprint’s fantastic views along the Thames from its Bermondsey riverside setting) for a very reasonable £21. Dishes include [...]
Goldmine: Beauty gets bling May 9, 2011 IT makes sense, when you think about it. Gold prices, thanks to the recession, have soared in the past few years making gold jewellery, bullion, and gold accoutrements the ultimate status symbol. Now the trend is hitting the beauty world as products containing 24 carat gold become hot property. Gold Leaf nail varnish by nail [...]
Don’t cry for me, Argentina: I’ve found Malbec paradise May 8, 2011 THE new Argentina is deeply seductive – its famous beef and increasingly famous wine are celebrated in restaurants from New York to Beirut. Its natural beauty, from the Andes to the plains of Patagonia; its sparkling heat, beautiful people and stunning horses lure travellers the world over. And Buenos Aires, the gorgeous, cosmopolitan crown on [...]