Thompson and Hanks shine in awards-baiting Disney biopic November 28, 2013 FILM SAVING MR BANKS Cert PG | By Simon Thomson Four Stars SAVING Mr Banks is the true story of how, over two weeks in Los Angeles, Walt Disney persuaded P.L. Travers to turn her children’s book series, Mary Poppins, into a film. Starring double-Oscar winners Emma Thompson as Travers and Tom Hanks as Disney, [...]
Awkward laughs prove to be just what the doctor ordered November 28, 2013 THEATRE IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) St James Theatre | By Simon Thomson Four Stars IT’S THE dawn of the electrical age in a spa town near New York, and the enterprising Doctor Givings is treating hysterical patients. With vibrators. This is the West End transfer of Sarah Ruhl’s Tony-and-Pulitzer-nominated comedy In [...]
Where to Drink: Warm your cockles this Christmas with a cocktail or craft beer at one of these new bar openings November 28, 2013 THE PARTY train is chugging full steam ahead as Christmas approaches. Perhaps Nick House and Kelly Brook have been inspired by the season for their new City venture, Steam and Rye, which takes cues from the Roaring Twenties and the Wild West. The massive venue is spread over three floors. The main room resembles Grand [...]
How to stay sane in the workplace November 27, 2013 Jonathan Trott’s dramatic surprise departure from the Ashes tour reminds us that stress is a serious problem TEST cricket, the gentleman’s game with emphasis on the gentle, is the last sport you’d envisage being a rigorous mental challenge. But just one test into the Ashes tour, the out-of-form batsman Jonathan Trott followed Marcus Trescothick and [...]
Get-fit Diary: Learning to cook well proves an unexpected pleasure in week six November 27, 2013 I’m six weeks through an intensive get-fit programme, which involves not only hitting the gym four times a week, but completely overhauling the way I eat. It’s the latter aspect of the challenge that has proven most interesting, especially given my prior fondness for fast food and aversion to home cooking. For some reason the [...]
Review: The Sign of the Don November 26, 2013 FOOD Four Stars VALUE Three Stars ATMOSPHERE Four Stars Cost for two with matched wine and some sherry £148 Address: 21 St Swithins Lane, EC4N 8AD Tel: 020 7626 2606 If you were taking a partner out for an important occasion – an anniversary, maybe, or the death of a loved one – would you [...]
Mix it up: Grab yourself a cornflake Daiquiri this Christmas time November 26, 2013 @philip_salter IN case you hadn’t noticed, Christmas is creeping into our lives, bringing out the inner-child or Grinch depending upon whether your glass is half-full or empty. But whatever your disposition don’t despair – even Mr Scrooge can enjoy the hallowed traditions of Christmas films and gentle inebriation. For those whose glasses are full to [...]
Grill until the cows come home November 26, 2013 Fernando Larroude, master griller at steakhouse Gaucho, on how to treat a piece of meat EVERY time we have a barbecue in Argentina, we call it an asado and every time we have an asado, there is always a chimichurri rub. You can use it to baste the meat or as a marinade before you [...]
Dish of the day November 26, 2013 Fernando Larroude’s Steak & Chimichurri STEAK Cut of tapa the ancho (topside rib eye) Rock salt CHIMICHURRI RUB 1 Spanish onion 1 red bell pepper 2 bunches of coriander 1 bunch of parsley 4 garlic cloves Olive oil Sherry vinegar Aji molido (chilli flakes) Salt & pepper METHOD STEAK Ask your local butcher for an [...]
Five of the best Argentine wines November 26, 2013 Phil Crozier, director of wine at Gaucho, picks his favourite bottles from the menu Vina Patricia Malbec 2010 From Gaucho’s own vineyard in Lunlunta, Mendoza. Rich, with dried flowers and ripe black fruits, a touch of bitter chocolate and sweet spice to finish. Price: £17.50 Passionate Wines Demente 2011 A field blend of Malbec and [...]