Hong Kong nom nom: Getting to grips with the burgeoning foodie scene February 5, 2015 Hong Kong at night falls somewhere between Manhattan and Magaluf, combining the grandeur of the former with the trashy hedonism of the latter. I was there in September when the humidity was in the 90s and the streets were heaving with twenty-somethings moving from bar to club. It’s also home to one of the most [...]
Slimline time: Why svelte timepieces are the ultimate boardroom status symbol February 5, 2015 If a wristwatch is still a reliable marker of success, standing and savoir-faire – and by all means scoff away at the idea but, for better or worse, it frequently is – then I’ve an idea that the true sign of having made it is downsizing. On the way up, a big(ish) watch – from [...]
The pursuit of strappiness: Women’s watches are getting a couture makeover February 5, 2015 When it comes to women’s watches, straps aren’t usually top of a designer’s list of priorities. But despite all the attention the dial tends to get, it’s the strap that covers the larger proportion of your wrist. Thankfully, there are brands out there that do spend time on these means of attachment. Hermès is famously [...]
Time and space February 5, 2015 Introducing the Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon The idea of an all-grey watch may not seem terribly enticing on paper, but Omega’s latest version of its classic Speedmaster Moonwatch chronograph is a high-tech slice of horological cool. A couple of years ago the brand produced an all-black Moonwatch (so-called because the Speedmaster was [...]
Spyder sense: Even Sir Patrick Stewart is bowled over by the new McLaren 650S February 5, 2015 Everyone has their “happy place”. Most people think of a tropical island, a postcard pinned to their office wall. I don’t. Not any more. Now I have a different reference point for unbridled joy: pulling down the driver’s door of a McLaren 650S, firing its twin-turbo and racing through all seven gears in a breathless, [...]
Is the wine bar making a comeback? Pall Mall Fine Wines is giving it a bash February 5, 2015 The years have not been kind to the wine bar. Two decades ago it seemed there were three on every high street, offering a “sophisticated” alternative to the local boozer, where you could trot off to quaff some Chardonnay and talk about the hardships of the working week. As a journalist, I spent some of [...]
Dish that’s orbit of a guilty pleasure February 3, 2015 Daniel McGarey, head chef at Canary Wharf restaurant Plateau, on his Hawking tribute Why did you choose The Theory of Everything as your inspiration for this dish? The Theory of Everything is one of my favourite recent movies and while I am not a scientist, I believe I have a good basic understanding. I find [...]
Mix it up: Raise your glass to London’s best rooftop cocktail bars with a view February 3, 2015 Architects and engineers are at war with the sky. While they battle it out, the rest of us can sit back and raise a glass to the men and women who are realising humanity’s inexorable urge to break the heavens. Each skyscraper will have its day – but there can be no winners. Just consider [...]
Alternative Valentine’s Day 2015: Left-field options to woo your loved one on February 14th February 3, 2015 Stand out from the crowd with these left-field options to woo your loved one come February 14th – or just find someone new altogether. ALL LOVED UP AFTERNOON TEA Throughout Feb: Skylounge Use the view at this rooftop bar to seduce your Valentine over a selection of aphrodisiac sandwiches. Designed to get the heart [...]
Car review: The luxury Mercedes’ S63 AMG coupé with sports clout February 2, 2015 If you’re familiar with the Mercedes CL then you belong to a rather exclusive club. The German firm’s flagship coupé lacked both the mass appeal and visual charm of its four-door S-Class brother. As such, it barely registered in the minds of UK buyers. The harsh reality is that a manufacturer at the volume end [...]