If your bedroom doesn’t have the proportions to accommodate a massive walk in wardrobe, you might be feeling a little underwhelmed by your storage options. But don’t despair, because every corner in your room has the potential to be converted into an amazing cupboard space.
With some imagination and the expertise of a professional cabinet maker, you’ll soon find yourself clutter-free and delighted by your stylish new design feature.
Here are some incredible corner wardrobe ideas that will give you maximum storage and elevate the aesthetics of your bedroom.
Choose sliding doors
Create more space with sliding wardrobe doors. Because they don’t open outwards, you can place additional furniture in front of them, giving you those extra inches to play with. In addition, choose a mirror finish to give the illusion of volume and light.
Opt for hanging rails
If you hate loads of shelving, then install a corner wardrobe filled with hanging rails instead. Use full length ones for longer garments on one side and a double layer of shorter ones for shirts and suits on the other.
Add an undergarment drawer and a shoe rack, and your clothing will be completely taken care of.
Include a dressing table
Fill the awkward corner section of your wardrobe with an elegant dressing table. It will provide a lovely space in which to do your hair and makeup.
Remember to add a mirror, accessory drawers, vanity lights and space for a stool.
Go doorless
Closing up your wardrobe can make your room appear cramped, so do away with doors and keep everything open plan and visible. It will give the look and feel of a walk-in without you needing an entire spare room. Manage your apparel with some customised shelves, hanging rails and accessory drawers.
Divide your space
Corner wardrobes are a brilliant way to divide a larger room into two sections. By keeping the door finishes uniform, you’ll be able to hide the partition, which when opened will reveal a gorgeous ensuite, home gym or study. For inspiration, take a look at a wide range of modern corner wardrobes by FCI.
Build above your bed
Maximise your storage options by custom-building cupboard space around and above your bed. This will create an alcove in which you can keep linen and blankets in addition to your clothing. This concept is especially useful in children’s rooms where toys need to be accommodated.
Consider swing doors
Instead of designing your corner wardrobe with two adjacent doors in the centre that constantly collide, fit a swing door across the corner instead. They will open out to reveal a larger storage cavity which can be customised with deep shelves. Use the space for bulkier items like towels, suitcases and board games.
Add a rotating shelf
If you’re mad about your shoe collection, then install a spinning floor-to-ceiling shelving rack in the centre of your wardrobe. It will allow you easy access to all your favourite pairs and they’ll be on display for all to see. It’s a great way to get the maximum use out of a tight corner.
These fabulous suggestions will have your storage issues sorted in no time, helping you to create a beautiful new bedroom space that will blow your mind.
In the perfect world, we’d all have fabulous bosses – those who help us grow, succeed and cultivate a harmonious workplace environment that’s a genuine joy to be part of.
But that’s not always the case and bad bosses are unfortunately a common occurrence here in the UK. Indeed, a recent survey found that 70% of UK employees have been bullied by their boss in the last three years.
In their lifetime, the averageBrit spends 3,507 days at work, including 204 days of overtime. That’s a lot of time dealing with bad bosses, overblown egos, ridiculous requests, endless meetings, and oppressive micromanaging.
A bad boss can make a great job, terrible. A particularly loathsome one can affect you in your personal life, too, so it’s important to deal with the problem head on. Whether your boss is the devil incarnate or more akin to David Brent from The Office, here’s 4 ideal ways to deal with a horrible boss.
Focus On Your Wellbeing
First things first; life is too short to be unhappy at work. Moreover, as Forbes reports, working for a bad boss may actually be killing you slowly. Indeed, as the site explained, “Swedish researchers found that working for a bad manager was linked to an increase in incidents of unstable angina and heart attacks, resulting in hospitalization or death”.
It’s time to put your wellbeing in the workplace first. If you dread going to work everyday and are bringing your boss’s negativity and toxicity home with you, then it’s probably time to bid adieu to your job.
Of course, you’ll want to put the mechanisms in place privately before doing so; apply for new roles or make plans with your partner for them to bear more of the financial load for a while. Life contentment should always come before workplace satisfaction.
It takes a lot of courage to do so, but if you feel brave enough have a frank conversation with your boss, you may well both benefit from your bravery.
Sometimes, people have absolutely no idea of how their behaviour affects others. Moreover, if you think your relationship with your boss isn’t great, chances are they think that too, and a simple talk might help fix it.
Jill Walker, author of ‘Is Your Boss Mad?’, tells the Guardian “Bad bosses find it harder to intimidate people who appear confident. Confidence is like a muscle, the more you exercise it the stronger it gets.”
Moreover, one study suggests that employees who stand up to their bosses are less likely to feel bullied and more likely to feel committed to their job.
When confronting your boss, it’s important to come prepared with examples of when you feel like they have been a bad boss; for a truly constructive chat, come armed with solutions, too.
This will allow you to take control of the situation yourself. Your boss is only human after all, and, like most people, won’t respond well to accusatory terminology – try using phrases like ‘’I’d prefer it if you’’, or ‘’I feel like…when you…’’. Be diplomatic for best results.
Manage Up
Managing up is all about adjusting to your boss’s preferred style of working and anticipating their needs. Let’s be clear, managing up is not about currying favour with a bad boss; it’s about making life easier for yourself.
What’s your boss’s workplace personality? Try and work around their weaknesses. The more awareness and understanding you hold of your boss’s personality and work attitude, the better you can deal with them
It might help to try not to think of your bad boss as your actual boss. Instead, think of them as a really difficult, annoying client who needs their expectations managing. Sometimes, the best way to tackle issues at work is to reframe them.
If your boss’s behaviour doesn’t change, appeal to their manager and to your workplace’s human resources department. If your boss is guilty of any inappropriate workplace behaviour such as bullying, discrimination, or inappropriate demands, your HR department must take it seriously.
Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their staff from stress at work, so make sure your voice is heard if you’re suffering. Others may well be feeling the same thing, and be grateful for your intervention.
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that you can spell ‘tresses’ from ‘stresses’. Hair, let’s face it, is a fragile thing, prone to damage from diet, heat, pollution and friction, both physical and emotional..
Our hair is a delicate balance of sebum, water, and protein. When these three things are not in harmony, your hair will suffer. Here are some tips for maintaining beautiful and healthy hair.
Shampoo Your Scalp, Not Your Hair
When you shampoo your hair, you strip your scalp of its natural oils. This can lead to dryness, itchiness, and dandruff. Instead of shampooing your entire head of hair, focus on your scalp.
Use a mild cleanser and massage it into your scalp for a few minutes. Massaging your head like at the hairdressersallows for gentle exfoliation, meaning dead skin cells won’t accumulate and lead to dandruff. Rinse the cleanser out it out with warm water and follow up with a conditioner.
Shampooing your scalp allows you to remove any build-up of sebum, sweat, and dirt. It also stimulates blood flow to the scalp and can help promote hair growth.
Conditioner Is Important
Conditioner is an essential step in maintaining healthy hair. It helps to replenish the moisture that is lost during shampooing. It also helps to detangle hair and make it softer and smoother. Choose a conditioner that is right for your hair type. If you have dry or damaged hair, look for a conditioner specifically formulated for these hair types.
Some things you need to consider when buying a hair conditioner include :
The type of hair you have
Your hair’s current condition
Whether you want a light or heavy conditioner
Do Not Use Harsh Chemicals
Hair products that contain harsh chemicals can damage your hair. Avoid products that contain sulfates, parabens, or phthalates. These chemicals can strip your hair of its natural oils and moisture, leaving it dry and brittle. Instead, look for hair products that are made with natural ingredients.
When shopping for hair products, it is best to read the label carefully to ensure it does not contain harsh chemicals. Some of the key ingredients you need to look for include aloe vera, coconut oil, and shea butter.
Also, make sure you do some research about the products a salon uses before you can visit for any procedure. You can learn about the average costs for the different services by checking out these salon prices online. The last thing you need is to get overcharged for a simple haircut. Or to settle for a service you cannot afford in the long run. As much as you need to look for affordability, it is vital not to compromise quality.
Use A Soft Brush
When you brush your hair, you can cause damage to the follicles. To prevent this:
Use a soft brush or a wide-toothed comb.
Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up.
Be gentle as you brush to avoid pulling or breaking your hair.
A hard brush can cause your hair to become frizzy and cause split ends. If you use a wide-toothed comb, it will help to distribute the natural oils from your scalp throughout your hair.
Let Your Hair Air Dry
Wet hair is more susceptible to damage than dry hair. When your towel dries your hair, you can cause it to become frizzy and tangled. Instead of towel drying, let your hair air dry whenever possible. If you must use a blow-dryer, use the lowest setting and hold it at least six inches away from your head.
Blow-drying your hair too often can cause it to become dry and brittle. You can avoid this by using a heat protectant. This product you apply to your hair before you use a heat styling tool. It helps protect your hair from the heat and can keep it from becoming damaged.
Buy The Right Products For Your Hair Type
There are many different hair types, and not all hair products are created equal. You need to buy products that are specifically formulated for your hair type. If you have dry hair, look for hydrating and nourishing products.
If you have oily hair, look for products that help control the oil. If you have curly hair, look for products that will help to define your curls. There is a hair product out there for every hair type. You need to find the right one for you.
Condition The Hair Ends
The ends of your hair are the most susceptible to damage. To prevent split ends, it is vital to condition your hair ends. You can do this by using a leave-in conditioner or applying a small amount of oil to the ends of your hair.
Leave-in conditioners are applied to wet hair and then rinsed out. They help to hydrate and nourish your hair.
You can also use a small amount of oil to condition your hair ends. This helps to add moisture and can prevent split ends. Choose an oil that is right for your hair type. Coconut oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil are all excellent options.
Trim Your Hair Regularly
Split ends can cause your hair to become dry and brittle. It is vital to trim your hair regularly to prevent this. You should know when to cut hair to promote hair growth, though how often you cut your hair depends on how fast it grows. If you have fast-growing hair, you may need to trim it every six weeks. If you have slow-growing hair, you may only need to trim it every two or three months.
Regular trims will help to keep your hair healthy and prevent split ends. If you notice that your hair looks damaged, make an appointment with your stylist for a trim.
Straddling the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to its west and the City of Westminster to its east, Westbourne Grove was once named the ‘Bond Street of the West’, owing to its expansive, entrepreneurial spirit.
The late 19th and early 20th century saw the road experience something of a fall from grace, with failed business ventures and boarded up shops earning Westbourne Grove the nickname ‘Bankruptcy Row’.
Fast forward to 2021, and Westbourne Grove has been rejuvenated, with boutique shops, luxury antiques dealers and even Notting Hill Carnival all gracing the ‘Grove’.
Though AJ Tracey may not have penned a paean to it, there’s still plenty of praises to be sung about Westbourne Grove. For one thing, it’s perhaps the epicentre of eating in this part of town, with several excellent eateries found on the road. With that in mind, here are the best restaurants on Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill.
SUMI
We had to start here, at one of Westbourne Grove’s newest additions and, since the Ledbury closed, arguably Notting Hill’s best restaurant.
We’re not alone in this view; earlier this year the Michelin Guide UK took the highly unusual step of adding SUMI to its restaurant listings, mid-season and without the official release of a new book. We wouldn’t be at all surprised if the restaurant was awarded a star come January.
SUMI is the informal, laid back sister restaurant to sushi master Endo Kazutoshi’s Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda, which is a fifteen minute Uber ride (if you can bloody get one) west in White City.
Let’s be honest here; eponymous fine dining restaurants often phone it in when it comes to their more ‘casual’ siblings. But at SUMI, it’s immediately clear that just as much care and attention has gone into the place as its kin up the road.
‘Sumi’ is chef Endo’s mother’s name, and this sense of reverence goes far beyond that nod to maternal affection. There’s love and respect in every morsel found on this clear, precise menu, primarily composed of nigiri, sashimi and temaki, the latter a technique developed by the family of Endo Kazutoshi.
There’s also comfort food of sorts here, done the Endo way in the form of A4 Wagyu sirloin grilled over coals (the chefs have several compact Konro grills lined up on the counter). It’s served with charred broccoli and a meat jus (‘SUMI meat sauce’) which has dextrously been lifted by the merest splash of rice vinegar. The effect is akin to the lightest yet most luxurious Sunday lunch you could dream of.
But really, it’s all about the fish here, which is top, top quality. Otoro sashimi is so buttery it verges on the obscene, and Ikura salmon roe nigiri pops with piquancy. The highlight of the whole meal, however, is a bite of Hotate Temaki – diced scallop and perilla leaf flower nestled on rice all cupped in a sheet of nori – which arrives looking so pretty that you’re not sure whether to eat it or wear it as a piece of jewellery. We’re glad we chose the former option…it’s an incredible mouthful.
It’s a bite we plan to repeat over and over again. SUMI has already settled into Westbourne Grove and we can’t wait to see what the future brings for this poised, precise restaurant.
From Westbourne Grove’s newest addition to a Notting Hill stalwart; Granger & Co has been packing them in for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner for the best part of a decade in this little corner of London.
Aussie chef Bill Granger, who arrived in London in 2011, must be doing something right; the all day dining restaurant is full to bursting at every service, and there are now three more Granger & Cos in the capital, in Chelsea, Clerkenwell and King’s Cross. The self taught chef and TV personality also runs restaurants in Sydney (where it all began), Seoul and Tokyo.
So, what’s all the fuss about? Well, for a place of such conviviality, where it feels like every family with a reference point in Notting Hill has decided to have a reunion, the food is genuinely great; fresh, vibrant and well seasoned. No amount of buzz or bustle can put this kitchen off their stride, with service prompt, and globetrotting but simple plates reliably delicious.
Many head to Granger & Co specifically for the breakfast, and it’s easy to see why. One, it’s walk-in only and the easiest time to bag a table. Two, those Aussies certainly know how to do a proper breakfast; hearty plates are full of sustenance and pay a commendable attention to sourcing (not always the case in such a packed, all day affair).
Our brekky order? A plate of soft shell crab, chorizo and kimchi fried rice might sound a lot for breakfast – in fact, it is – a lot for breakfast, but it’s superb and will keep you going until dinnertime.
If that dinner were to happen here, too (warning; they won’t let you keep the table that long, we’ve tried), then you can expect a menu that takes cues from East and South East Asia as much as it does from Australia. We return regularly for the shrimp burger with lemongrass dressing; a bonzer little sarnie, make no mistake.
Long before a taco revolution had somewhat belatedly gripped London between a soft corn tortilla; Long before Breddos and El Pastor were specialising in ‘Mexican food with British ingredients’; Long before KOL had refined this approach, and long before Sonora Taqueria had bested them all in London, came Taqueria.
Since 2005, Westbourne Grove’s Taqueria has been slinging the good stuff – traditional fillings on soft corn tortillas, mezcal, tres leche cake…you name it – and the quality here is still more than a match for some of the newer Mexican joints in town.
The restaurant is part of the Cool Chile Company, a wholesaler operation which was originally conceived to import Mexican dried chillies, corn and other ingredients integral to the cuisine into the UK. This respect for heritage and origin is evident in the superb food served at Taqueria in its sparse, minimalist space, particularly the tacos.
The taco menu here is extensive but true to tradition; the prosaically named ‘fish taco’ is top notch and the veggie options abundant (7 different, delectable vegetarian versions on our last visit). Their pico de gallo packs a fierce punch and is all the better for it.
A second outpost has now opened in Exmouth Market. Hurray!
For those gripped by the paradox of choice when perusing a menu, we admit that our list thus far hasn’t been too accommodating. Choices of nigiri, sashimi or temaki; of breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner; of a sprawling taco selection…it’s enough to bring the indecisive among us out in a cold sweat.
Something more straightforward, then, to finish with, where the decision making has largely been made once you’ve settled on the venue. Because Cocotte is all about one thing; chicken.
Specifically, free range, ‘farm to table’ rotisserie chicken, available in quarter, half or full bird portions, at £8, £12 and £22 respectively. The birds, sourced from the premium poultry producing region Pays de la Loire in Western France, are marinated overnight in a secret spice blend before being slowly grilled on the spit, the skin gradually blistering under the heat. Fabulous.
Throw in a few homemade sauces (the Cocotte’s gravy is basically a jug of umami), a couple of well thought out, healthy-feeling salads, and you’re good to go.
Come to think of it, ‘good to go’ is an apt phrase; although they have tables, Cocotte is perhaps best enjoyed as a takeaway; their boxes are ideal for a nourishing picnic lunch in nearby Powis Square park.
White tea doesn’t get as much attention as it should, but it is simply delicious. Nope, we’re not talking about a particularly milky cup of builder’s tea here, but rather a loose leaf offering made from the same plant as green and black tea, but extracted differently to give an entirely unique flavour.
It is the least processed form of the plant and as a result, it has the highest amount of antioxidants. Considering its alluring taste and the effect it has on your health, it seems to be a no-brainer as a coffee replacement. Or should that be big-brainer, considering its reputed positive effects on mind and body?
White tea, just like green and black teas, comes from the same source, which is the Camellia Sinensis plant. The main difference is that white tea is minimally processed and farmers harvest the leaves before the young buds lose their fine white hairs – this makes white tea one of the most delicate tea varieties around.
Before drinking white tea, it’s essential to be familiar with the best tea preparation practices, to lock in all those health benefits and keep the flavour as complex and sophisticated as this delicious tea deserves to be. With that in mind, here’s how to steep the perfect pot of white tea.
Use A Good White Tea Brand
White tea comprises young springtime tea leaves traditionally grown in China’s Fujian province. It comes in various types and flavours, incorporating everything from woody to fruity notes. There are several white tea products on the market today, meaning you don’t have to board the next plane to Fujian to get your fix; you can even buy white tea online, delivered straight to your door.
However, before making your final choice, it’s essential to perform a background check on these brands, checking for the caffeine level, shelf life, and tasting notes. Ideally, white tea production favours low-temperature brewing in a short amount of time. Therefore, your cup of white tea is likely to contain as little as six milligrams of caffeine, far less than 80-200 milligrams in a cup of coffee.
What’s more, white tea’s short brew time, low caffeine, and oxidation levels reduce acidity. These are things to look for when patronising the best white tea.
Add Warm Water
Water quality and temperature are crucial factors when brewing delicate white tea leaves.
Always keep the brewing temperature at an optimum level, and remember to preheat your teapot by pouring boiling water in and out. It helps bring out the scent of the white tea leaves.
Avoid boiling water when brewing white tea, as it can ruin its delicate flavour. You can stick to the ideal tea brewing temperature, in this case, around 75
Avoid boiling water when brewing white tea, as it can ruin its delicate flavour. You can stick to the ideal tea brewing temperature, in this case, around 75°C.
Add Your Tea Leaves
Use enough tea leaves to enjoy the best white tea experience with every cup you make.
This is because white tea leaves are much less dense and compact than other types, so using the same amount of white tea leaves as the other tea types might not be the best way to go.
Pay critical attention to the number of leaves you add to your tea when measuring with a teaspoon. Generally speaking, you’ll want around a teaspoon of leaves for every 180ml of water.
The More Steeping, The Better
What is the best steeping duration to use for your white tea? How long is a piece of string? The duration can vary depending on the white tea brand you’re using. Some speciality brands may have their specific duration tips on the packaging, which you should observe carefully.
Generally, experts recommend any number between five and eight minutes for the first steeping. You can steep the tea for another two to three minutes with every additional cup.
Ensure to drink your white tea while it’s hot. Your tea will change flavour if left to cool for a long time.
All in all, many individuals increasingly realise the health benefits of white tea; one being that it might help protect the body against various illnesses such as heart disease. However, steeping your white tea right can be a great way to enjoy your white tea savouring every cup.
For even the most extroverted, experienced first-dater, finding things to talk about on that inaugural meet-up can be tough. Play it safe and remain in your comfort zone, and you risk not letting your true personality shine; overcompensate for your lack of confidence, and there’s a danger you’ll overstep the mark and say something outrageous. We’ve all been there…
There are only so many ways you can phrase ‘so, do you come here often?’, but fear not; if you’re not too comfortable with the ebb and flow of flirtatious first date conversational sparring, there are venues and activities just perfect for a couple a little lost for ice-breakers. With that in mind, here are 5 first date ideas for those who find small talk difficult.
Visit A Comedy Club
If you find small talk difficult, then how about you outsource the jokes and banter to a professional. Yep, we’re talking about watching a stand up comedy show, where you can sit side-by-side with your partner, take in the performance, and share a few drinks and laughs as the ultimate social lubricant.
Don’t let that Dutch courage go to your head, however. Heckling at a comedy club is never wise, particularly on a first date. No prospective partner is going to enjoy watching you humiliated from the stage. Unless that’s something you’re both into, of course…
Take A Class Together
It can be a real bonding experience on a first date for you to both embark on a voyage of discovery and hopefully learn a new skill. Since taking a class together is such a hands-on type of date, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for conversation starters and ice breakers. You might even impress your date with your adaptability and aptitude.
Some of the most popular classes for first dates include cooking and arts classes (particularly sculpture or pottery), but for the most brave first-daters among us, a dance class is the ideal opportunity to get close with each other.
These generally involve a few basic steps of a particular dance, like the tango, waltz, or salsa. Some classes have a live band or DJ playing the music, which can make it even more exciting… Where do we sign up?
Find A Restaurant Where You Can Sit Side-By-Side
Let’s face it, keeping up a chat for the course of a meal is sometimes tough. Whether it be the consummating of a dating app conversation or the monotonous, weekly ‘date night’ of a married couple whose flame has long burnt out, awkward silences can be a pain in the backside and a real mood killer.
If that backside is parked on a bar stool however, overlooking the hustle, bustle and theatre of an open kitchen, conversation starters shouldn’t be a problem.
We’ve detailed a few of the best restaurants in Central London for side-by-side, open kitchen dining here. Do check them out for inspiration on a great date night idea for those who find small talk difficult.
Consider A Competitive Date Night
Many fear the prospect of sitting across from each other in a restaurant, attempting to strike up a friendly, flirty conversation in an environment akin to a job interview. Others find it understandably difficult to get that initial spark to ignite when sitting in silence in a cinema, theatre or concert. Indeed, it’s any wonder traditional relationships ever got off the ground when conducted in such romance-sapping settings.
Dates with a little competition involved are always fun and frivolous, and represent a great litmus test for any chemistry between you. Moreover, they provide natural breaks and prompts in conversation, awkwardness is easier to navigate, and the spirit of rivalry fosters a connection between the two that naturally leads to flirting.
You can also see how someone reacts to winning and losing, which is hugely important – if they scream in your face and do a little dance or victory lap…well, perhaps ghosting is allowed on this occasion.
A Bike Ride
If you feel more comfortable on two wheels than two feet, then why not head out on your bikes and cycle to nearby villages for a first date with a difference? There are so many incredible things to explore in the countryside – from churches to castles, lakes to woodlands, and often the areas closest to us remain those least familiar.
You could also check out a few nearby pubs along the way; a pub cycle-crawl, if you will. Pop in for a drink or two (remember your alcohol limits) and enjoy a change of scenery. Bliss.
A long and leisurely bike ride for a first date helps control the flow of conversation gently, and also helps you check out your prospective partner’s stamina, which could be useful!
You don’t have to tell us twice that life moves fast. Actually, we’re getting a little forgetful in our old age; you might have to tell us twice after all.
Life moves fast, and whilst nobody wants to confront the idea that their parents or close relatives are getting older and less independent, it’s something so many of us do have to face up to. So face up to it we shall.
Rather than ignoring one of life’s great inevitabilities, hoping that some feat of magic might happen and the hourglass’s sand stays suspended, it’s best to address things head on, with compassion, sympathy and steadfastness.
Today, we’re considering the more empathetic side of things, rather than the physical and financial support you can offer. With that in mind, here are 5 ways you can provide your elderly relatives with emotional support as they age.
Spend More Quality Time With Them
One of modern society’s greatest ironies is that whilst many of us are busy striving to make life easier through devices and technology so that we can have more time to live, we end up wasting more time than ever before.
Slow down and take the time to open your heart, arms and ears.
It seems so simple but can still get overlooked; calling in more often, even simply for a cup of tea and a chat, is a great way to help the elderly, to show they’re loved, valued and needed. Even if you’re only lending company rather than a hand about the house, the conversation and human warmth will be so appreciated, particularly in the face of a growing loneliness epidemic among our elderly population.
Be Sensitive To Particularly Trying Times Of Year
As we get older, we inevitably accrue more heartache and loss, as time takes relatives, friends and loved ones from us. As such, for your elderly relative, it’s likely that there will be times of year, dates, holidays and special occasions with a sometimes sad, sentimental resonance.
These can represent distinctly trying occasions for an elderly relative who is isolated or alone, so be alert to these times and when they’re approaching on the calendar. Even if you can’t be with your loved one in person, make sure you make yourself available for compassionate, considerate communication remotely. Better still; be there in person.
Practical Purchases
Offering practical, hands on help can lighten the emotional load in your elderly loved one, too. Whether it’s assisting them with getting their mail opened and dealt with, doing their grocery shopping, cooking, or even booking things like doctor’s visits or getting new hearing aids fitted, there are a whole host of daily tasks, chores and engagements you can help with.
There are also plenty of practical items you can purchase, set up and teach your elderly relative how to use. These include:
A pendant alarm, which can be worn around the neck or wrist and pressed in case of an emergency, giving peace of mind to everyone.
Mobility aids, whether that takes the form of a walking stick, zimmer frame or even an electric scooter.
Pill organisers
Step counters
Electric jar openers
Smart home hubs
Speaking of that last one…
Help Your Elderly Loved Ones Learn Digital Independence
For better or for worse, we can now use online technology to communicate with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Whilst this may have been designed to be an inclusive development, it can be isolating for those not conversant in Zoom, FaceTime, social media and texting.
One of the best ways to provide ongoing emotional support for an elderly loved one, then, is to help them gain confidence in computers. Once they have a grasp of how to message and video call, a whole new channel of socialising will have been opened up.
If you don’t possess the skills or patience to do this yourself, then the charity Age UK offer training courses in computer literacy for the elderly. You can find out if your nearest Age UK offers training courses on their website; simply enter your postcode.
Make Contact Regular But Routine
Though a spontaneous phone call or an impromptu visit is usually welcome, it can be disarming and distracting for some to always be alert to surprises. As we age, routine and predictability tends to bring comfort, and having a scheduled routine of contact between the two of you can give your elderly relative something to look forward to and differentiate the days.
Endeavour to establish a routine for your communications with an elderly loved one – say at 6pm every evening – to ensure a comforting sense of predictability.
Talk About The Past
If you’ve ever spent any period of time around an elderly person, you’ve probably, like most of us, rolled your eyes at some point during the ‘good ol’ days’ monologue.
But history can serve as our most important lesson for the present and the future, and who greater to learn from than those who lived it? And even if it is just a rambling monologue, you owe it to those who have lived a long life to listen.
There used to be a joke in the UK’s American expat community, that NFL stood for ‘Not made For London’.
How times have changed. Though the American expat community may still not understand how abbreviations work, there is now a whole host of great spots in the Big Smoke to watch the Big Game, and a real appetite for a sport that some in the capital still refuse to call ‘football’.
With that in mind, if you’re wondering where to watch the NFL in London, then here are 5 of the best places.
The Dugout at Belushi’s London Bridge
The continental-wide sports bar chain Belushi’s has six venues across London, all devoted to selling affordable beer and projecting sports onto big screens. But it’s in their dedicated Dugout in London Bridge that the finest NFL viewing experience can be found.
Here, you get your own private booth, complete with a TV showing the game. The best thing about this? You don’t have to spend the whole evening tediously trying to explain the rules to novices. The venue’s superb Tex Mex drinking food makes for the perfect accompaniment to the action.
Alternatively, Belushi’s in Camden Town is another great venue for watching NFL in London. Though perhaps more famous for its regular rotating roster of live music offering, the venue also has private booths and its boisterous, always buzzing ‘Cavern’ area, with a huge projector and the latest games broadcast from across the pond.
Kings Sports Bar at The Empire Casino, Leicester Square
Considering the slightly awkward times that the majority of NFL matches are shown live here in the UK, the Kings Sports Bar at Empire Casino is probably your best bet in the whole of London for some truly late night action.
At Leicester Square’s premier sports bar, the screens are on 24/7, the beers are brought to your table ice cold, and there’s even the chance to have a flutter, if the mood takes you that way, as as NFL odds for every game are updated live throughout the night.
Afterwards, if you’re after something a little more upmarket, you can sip cocktails on the Icon Balcony bar in the same building. They have a grand balcony overlooking Leicester Square. Here, the cocktail menu has a strong set of classics using only the finest liquors (Ketel One vodka, Don Julio Blanco tequila…you know the drill) and some inventive signatures, too. We challenge you to resist their Mon Cherry, made with spiced rum, Cherry Heering and cinnamon liqueur.
The Steam Passage, Islington
Cask ales, all day Full Englishes, fish’n’chip platters, and every broadcast Premier League on the TV… It doesn’t sound like the kind of place to get your American Football fix.
But it’s on Sundays that The Steam Passage on Angel’s Upper Street comes alive, with the NFL 6pm Sunday kick-off shown live each and every week, as well as the round-the-clock previews, analysis and gossip of the NFL RedZone channel.
Leadbelly’s Bar & Kitchen, Canada Water
Leadbelly’s Bar & Kitchen in Canada Water is open every day for brunch through dinner and beyond, making it the perfect weekend spot to start the festivities early in anticipation of the big game.
In Leadbelly’s ‘Sports in the Rear’ (their name, not ours) area, there are six screens showing Sky and BT Sport(s), with tables available to be reserved in advance. Here, Sundays see one or two screens devoted to the NFL action, though be warned; you may be competing with football (soccer) fans for the remote!
The Maple Leaf, Covent Garden
From Canada Water to the best Canadian pub this side of the Cape Spear, The Maple Leaf in Covent Garden is a sports bar which displays its heritage for everyone to see. From the flags waving outside the venue to the poutine served within, this pub is loudly and proudly Canadian.
In terms of sports, this means that the country’s beloved ice hockey is broadcast live with enthusiasm, but the pub still makes room for plenty of CFL (the Canadian Football League) and the NFL action, too. In fact, the latter is as well represented as the former at the Maple Tree, with live games shown weekly. Time to get stuck in!
If you’d rather have a few mates round and watch the NFL at home, then make sure you’re providing a proper All American party for your guests with these 5 tips for celebrating the Super Bowl Sunday at home. We can’t wait to get an invite from you next February!
Whether you’ve just moved into your first flat or you’ve simply shed the shackles of your usual interior designer and you’re keen to show off your creative side, interior designing can be pretty daunting for a novice. No wonder it’s such a handsomely paid, well-respected role.
There’s certainly more to an interior designer’s role than meets the eye. In fact, this isn’t only about aesthetics and what meets the eye; spaces also need to be functional, safe, purposeful and in keeping with the overall trends not only of the property, but also of the street and even of the country in which the premises reside.
Suitable for novices this ain’t. That said, there are certain small tweaks, adjustments and additions you can make to cultivate your own signature style and make your property a more pleasing place to live, both functionally and aesthetically. These are those; here are 5 beginner’s interior design tips.
Don’t Place All Of Your Furniture Flush Against The Walls
One of the most common mistakes a budding amateur interior designer can make when deciding the layout of the room is furniture placement. Usually, most of the furniture ends up getting placed right against the walls. However, this isn’t an aesthetically pleasing move, as it just makes the room lack a little personality.
Instead, give your furniture (and your property’s residents) some breathing space by placing some items away from the walls – even if it is just a few centimetres. This interior design style will make the furniture look like it’s floating – giving the room more personality and playfulness.
When thinking about positioning within a space, balance bears more significance than symmetry. For instance, natural elements are rarely symmetrical, but the right placement and balance of objects in our spaces can help us feel at ease.
Place Your Furniture Around A Focal Point
By having a focal point in a room, you will have a feature that you’ll be able to plan your furnishings around. One common focal point is a wall mounted television, which draws residents and guests alike into position on sofas and chairs, gathered round for the latest game or news bulletin. If you’re keen to get advice on having your TV wall mounted by professionals, click here, by the way.
You don’t have to settle for something as pedestrian as a TV for your room’s number one focal point, though. If you’re feeling more daring in your design ambitions, consider a sculptural element as a more unique, sophisticated centrepiece.
You don’t want to place your sculpture slap bang in the middle of your living room, however. Think about where guests will most likely place themselves.
Try balancing the visual weight when deciding on the layout of your room and the positioning of your sculpture – you don’t want one part of the room to look busy and one to have way too much free space.
Don’t Choose The Colour Of The Walls First
One of the most important elements of interior design style after the layout is planned is deciding on the colour of your house. If you choose to hire an expert interior decorator, they will usually caution against picking the colour of the walls first. Instead, you should start looking for furniture and other décor items that you like, then use the walls as an opportunity to pull the whole room together and create a visual ‘theme’ through colour.
Often you’ll find the furniture and décor that you like before you settle on a colour. Once you have the furnishings, you can choose a colour that creates a rhythm with them through texture, hues and fabrics or wallpapers.
Try not to add too many colours around the house – rooms that are rendered in wildly different shades might seem like a good idea, but it will likely make the effect as a whole feel disconnected.
Rather, it is better to stick to a maximum of three or four main colours throughout the home, and then use one colour to connect them all, which would ideally make an appearance in each room.
This synergetic element needn’t be anything super pronounced; instead, you could simply use a pillow, picture frame, flower pot, or item of crockery to weave the narrative thread of colour throughout your property.
For small spaces that don’t play a functional role around your home – like under the staircase, for instance – you can use dramatic colours to make an impact. This will make the entire place seem bigger and brighter as the small spaces will feel essential and aesthetically pleasing.
Sustainability Is Everything In 2022
We’re all aware by now of the importance of environmental responsibility when it comes to interior design. Indeed, we’d all love to tred a little lighter and leave no trace during our short time on this earth.
Sustainable interior design is all about creating beautiful interiors, but with a focus on people and the planet. Because if the world keeps burning up, there won’t be anywhere hospitable to dwell anyway, right?
Bottomless brunches, the young Brit’s cherished opportunity to eat a civilised meal and drink an uncivilised amount of alcohol, have become something of an institution here in the UK.
If you’ve been living under a sober stone in recent years, bottomless brunch involves restaurants offering unlimited amounts of prosecco or cocktails for an hour or two, alongside a short menu of (sometimes token) brunch plates. The whole ritual has become an integral part of the weekend in towns and cities across the country, so much so, in fact, that brunch bookings surged a massive 369% from 2013 to 2018.
Today, there’s a bottomless brunch to suit all tastes. After a Mexican that serves tacos and margaritas? You got it. Or perhaps one offering generous glasses of belly-warming rum punch and healthy portions of jerked lamb chops, rice ‘n’ peas, mixed salad and dumplings? All while you’re serenaded with reggae, soca and calypso music? Yep, there’s one of those, too. Keen for a slice of toast to soak up all that booze? It’s a bottomline brunch as much as a bottomless one for many restaurants.
While boozy brunches aren’t going anywhere and have a deserved place in the nation’s social calendar, the relationship between Brits and alcohol has certainly changed over the past few years. Recently, the average number of people in the UK abstaining from alcohol has increased significantly; during lockdown, 1 in 3 people took steps to reduce their alcohol consumption, and 6% have stopped drinking entirely.
Don’t get us wrong, we love a bottomless boozy brunch as much as the next person, but sometimes, we want to remember our weekend mornings. If you’re the same and you’re curious about what it might be like to spend your weekends not deep in hungover malaise, here’s why boozeless brunches are banging.
IT WON’T TURN INTO AN ALLDAYER
We’ve all felt the rest of our day slip away on that first sip of prosecco; the life admin you had to tackle, the deadlines you had to meet, the plans you had for a quiet night in with Strictly…
Moving onto the pub after a bottomless boozy brunch is inevitable, and with the stomach not properly lined (it so rarely is at a brunch), the likelihood of this thing turning into an all dayer is high. Instead, why not get the same sociability out of the occasion without the danger of laying waste to the weekend by enjoying a boozeless brunch?
THE RISE OF THE MOCKTAIL
You don’t have to stick to lattes and orange juice during your booze free bruncheon. In recent years, restaurants across the UK have seriously upped their mocktail game and this includes their brunch offering.
Many restaurants now offer ‘boozeless’ versions of their cocktails and, better still, create entirely new ones to cater for those forgoing booze. These days, with a high level of effort and creativity put into catering for the abstaining crowd, many of these non-alcoholic cocktails end up being more tempting than their alcoholic brethren.
Dishoom is one example of a quality restaurant serving quality mocktails. And it just so happens that their famous bacon naan roll, one of the best bacon rolls you can find in the capital we might add, is a fine brunch, indeed. To go alongside it, you can enjoy one of Dishoom’s exquisite, teetotal Espresso Martinis, made with Monsooned Catuai espresso and a touch of ginger, all for a total of just £15.10 – that sounds much better than cheap booze and badly cooked Eggs Benedict, don’t you think?
SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR NICE BOOZE
All-you-can-drink sounds like a good concept at first. However, paying £30 to drink as much Prosecco as is humanly possible is probably not a good idea. Why? Because you’re more than likely drinking cheap alcohol. Real bottom of the barrel stuff. A restaurant has overheads to consider, after all.
There’s also the time limit to think about. Ask yourself, can you really drink more than a bottle of Prosecco in two hours by yourself? Considering a bottle of cheap Prosecco only costs about £24 and your bottomless brunch costs £30 – well, you do the maths. Factor in the necessary cost of Gaviscon, too…
Of course, there are exceptions, with some fantastic brunch places offering up quality, hand-crafted cocktails. However, for that £30, you could buy a bottle of really lovely wine and enjoy something delicious elsewhere.
YOU CAN ENJOY THE WEEKEND
Is it just us or does our tolerance for booze definitely seem lower daylight hours? We’re not sure if there is any scientific basis to that claim, but we’re reassured by Andrew Misell, Director for Wales for Alcohol Change UK, who seems to agree with our hypothesis. He told Stylist Magazine that “Usually if we’re drinking during the day we’ll have things to do afterwards, and the effect of the alcohol on our system can make this harder to achieve, making us feel drunker than we usually would”.
Wouldn’t it be nice not to have that sluggish feeling of entering the afternoon a little hungover from your bottomless brunch?
THE BOTTOM LINE
Boozeless brunches can be just as fun as their bottomless counterparts. You’re able to spend time with your friends, drink refreshing mocktails, and then bounce into the afternoon hangover free and focused. What more could you want?
We know what you’re thinking, and nope, ‘getting your gutters cleaned’ isn’t a euphemism for a particularly intrusive elective procedure.
But rather, we’re speaking, frankly and literally here, about the channel that sits at the lower edge of your property’s roof, collecting rainwater and carrying it off in a safe and sustainable manner. Sometimes that channel can get a little, well, clogged…
Not only can clogged gutters affect your home’s exterior, but they can also cause a lot of damage to the home foundations, structure and interiors, via damp, mould and even flooding.
Accordingly, experts recommend you should get your gutters cleaned once or twice a year, depending on what part of the country you live in and the amount of rainfall your property is exposed to.
Still not convinced? Here are 4 reasons why it’s essential you get your gutters cleaned regularly.
You’re Unconsciously Providing A Home For Insects and Rodents
Gutters can easily become clogged with debris, whether it’s fallen leaves, shrubbery, or even plastic bags that have kicked up in the wind and found a new place to rest.
Well, here’s the thing; clogged gutters that have collected water can often become the breeding ground for insects and rodents. If the gutter water is mostly still, mosquitoes and spiders will flock to it – most of which are invasive species and can damage the local plant and insect life around your home.
A look at some of the other insects who love a bit of still water reads like a roll call of the most undesirable out there, including cockroaches, silverfish, stoneflies, and carpenter ants. To provide a balanced view, however, some rather pretty bugs like to splash about in still water too – painted lady butterflies and emperor dragonflies, for instance.
Aside from the insects, small rodents also make clogged gutters their home – mice, squirrels and rats, especially. They can be extremely damaging and harmful for your gutter itself and might require you to get a new one installed if they cause too much damage; they do love a nibble, after all.
What’s more, all the collected debris and mould, along with the gutter animals and insects, make for a very unhygienic environment, that’s for sure. And that’s not an attractive look for your home.
As Lacey Roofing, who offer professional gutter cleaning in Olympia, Washington, advise, one of the fundamental issues that comes with not having a clean gutter is that the gutter might start overflowing, especially during the rainier months.
While a clean gutter would redirect water away from your home, a clogged one would jeopardise the structure of your property from the ground up. This happens when the water overflows, is absorbed by the soil around the house and shifts its main foundations.
This can cause cracks in the foundation as it becomes unstable, which can often lead to cracks in your walls, both inside and outside. On top of that, your patio or driveway can also be compromised by these cracks and foundation shifts.
Clogged gutters can cause damage inside your property, too, especially if the water from the roof is not flowing properly. This can result in leakages, with water seeping into your home from above – the resultant roof repairs can be a time-consuming, costly endeavour you’d be wise to take precautions to avoid.
It can also cause flooding in your basement or under the house. Usually, dealing with these damages is significantly more costly than simply getting your gutter cleaned professionally. You can read more about what that involves by clicking here.
With the pandemic, more people have realised the importance of having aesthetically pleasing, accommodating outdoor spaces for themselves and their families.
However, with clogged gutters, your beautiful backyard garden may not stay that way for long. Unclean gutters can cause soil erosion, which risks destroying your flowers and plants. On the flip side, with clean gutters, you can direct rainwater to specific waterbeds, or even away from your garden, thereby reducing garden water wastage and ensuring that there is less soil erosion in your garden.
Protect The Value Of Your Home
Another benefit of having a clean gutter is that it will extend the lifespan of your roof. In winter, ice often gets trapped when the gutters aren’t clean, which often adds extra weight and stress on the roof. That’s not something you want; trust us.
Moreover, clogged water that gets frozen over risks seeping into your home once it melts. And that’s not something you want; trust us. Hang on; we already said that. It does bear repeating, though.
With the damage that gutters can cause to the property- shifted foundations, leaking roofs, a risk of flooding and cracks in the walls- it is no wonder that clogged gutters and their impact can affect the value of the house. In fact, it’s been reported that damage from escaped water costs UK homeowners a total of around £700 million a year.
Don’t be part of that figure; get your gutters cleaned today.
From embellished ball gowns to colourful cap sleeve day dresses, Britain has ignited its passion for Regency fashion, a style which is about as hot right now as the sexual tension between this year’s protagonists, Anthony and Kate.
Indeed, with the popularity of regency fashion search terms almost tripling since the beginning of 2022 (+194.80%), the new research reveals British fashion enthusiasts are ready to fully embrace the so-called ‘regency core’ trend with all its ruffles, embroidery, opulent textures and gowns with sequin embellishments.
And while the characters of Bridgerton may have to make a trip to the Modiste for their lace and silk gowns, we only need to search online for ethereal, ready to wear regency inspired pieces.
From left to right: DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Cynthia Puff Sleeve Maxi Dress, £250; The Vampire’s Wife The Villanelle Dress, £695; DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Colette Coated Cotton Midi Dress, £190
Yep, Regency fashion, with romance in abundance, has been revealed as the most popular fashion trend of 2022.
New research by Fenwick reveals a near twofold (+186.92%) increase in online demand for regency fashion over the past year, based on an analysis of recent UK online search trends. The study highlights a considerable popularity spike in the lead up to the second season of the Netflix hit, Bridgerton, that aired Friday 25th of March, with searches for regency dresses up 175% since December.
The fashion gurus at Fenwick also tell us that dopamine dressing’s popularity increased more than 2000% in the previous year. Yep, while regency fashion is growing to become the 2022 favourite, dopamine dressing is the fastest growing trend when looking at a year-over-year comparison, with searches up a whopping 2000% since March 2021.
It seems during the beige monotony of endless lockdowns, we actually learnt a lot about fashion. Primarily, that it’s all about feeling good – in other words, wearing clothes which bring you joy!
And we are still eager to have some fun with our fashion as we look ahead to the world opening up. This has been realised in OTT dresses with vibrant colours and feel-good prints still hitting the high street stores with enthusiasm. Expect to see dopamine dressing enjoying another stellar year, and loads of colourful, vibrant enthusiasm reflected in our clothes.
Say Goodbye to Y2K
From velour track sets to wide-leg jeans, Y2K fashion, which covers the late ’90s and early-to-mid 2000s styles, has been popular for a while now.
However, this trend’s popularity is slowly fading away with shoppers. Indeed, byanalysing the search data for fashion trends, the research from Fenwick reveals a plateau for the Y2K trend, which dominated the fashion world last year. That, and a thunderous spike in popularity for that dopamine dressing we just mentioned, with online search popularity up more than threefold since Dec ‘21 (+350%).
Despite scoring high points for popularity according to the volume of online interest in the UK, Y2K has seen a slight decline in average monthly searches in the previous year (-1.19% per month), and an overall significant year-on-year decrease of close to 16% compared to 2021, making way for other trends such as regency fashion which are growing fast.
To shop the latest regency core, dopamine dressing and other spring looks, browse Fenwick’s collection of women’s dresses: www.fenwick.co.uk
The figures for 2021 are in; according to Hitched’s National Wedding Survey, the average cost of a wedding in the UK almost doubled between 2020 and 2021, from £9’000 to £17’000. With inflation skyrocketing and the cost of living following suit, you might be feeling like corners need to be cut or compromises made if you’re still to have your dream wedding.
Fear not; your Big Day can still be as special and unique as those with cash to burn. In fact, it can be even more magical, free from the cliche and oppressive tradition of a blow-out wedding. With that in mind, here’s how to have your dream wedding on a budget in 2023.
Keep Things Compact
The best thing that you can do, both in terms of saving money and making your wedding planning easier, is to keep things compact and cosy. Doing so actually presents the perfect excuse for those who genuinely don’t want a large wedding but feel like there’s pressure to invite your great aunt’s cousin’s gardener along for the ride.
Because gaudy, opulent weddings are so pre-COVID, right?
Instead, simply embrace the new times, of thrift and fiscal responsibility, and let everyone know that the guest list is limited, so only immediate family and close friends are invited. It will help you to save money on just about everything, from the venue to the food, and it will mean your planning and preparation is less time-consuming too.
Separating out your essentials from the things that might be ‘nice to have’ but you’re not really that bothered about is a key part of planning a wedding on a budget. There are some things that are just difficult to do yourself and others that you just don’t have to include in your wedding.
Ask yourself about weddings you’ve attended in the past that have left a mark for better or for worse; do you remember the intricacies of the flower bouquet? What songs were playing during the wedding breakfast? Did you really need that fourth canape? At which point did a large portion of the guests decide to switch to buying pints, as the heartburn from the free-flow Prosseco was starting to become pervasive? Did anyone even touch the wedding cake?
All of these questions can inform which elements you must have, and which perhaps don’t leave such an indelible mark on your guest’s memories as they do on your bank balance.
A wedding that falls explicitly in the budget category gives you a good reason to forgo some expectations and traditions that might not really match what you want. Securing a venue and providing your guests with food might be essential, but is finding entertainment for the reception or even having flowers the most important thing?
Decide What to Rent and What to Buy
You’re going to need to make your wedding budget go further, but that’s fine; a world of peer-to-peer renting and loosely-defined lending now exists to make things easier on your wallet/purse/bag you stuff all your money in.
Whether it’s Chiavari chairs for the ceremony, floral Emilia Wickstead tablecloths for the reception, suits for the groom and best man, or fairy lights to illuminate the way from your wedding recessional, there are certain items you can rent that will help you save on your spending.
That said, there are certain items you probably do want to buy, too. If you’re serving bottles of claret for the wedding reception, then those designer table cloths probably aren’t going to make it through the day without your deposit being invalidated.
Getting the balance right between saving money and spending a lot of your time planning and preparing is tough. Sometimes you have to consider whether saving a bit of money is really worth the effort if it means it will cause you a lot of stress and take up a lot of your time.
Think about what sacrifices you’re really willing to make and what matters most to you; you want your memories both of the planning and celebrating of your big day to be as stress-free and special as possible. And the best way to do this? With a good ol’ fashioned to-do-list and budget spreadsheet, of course…
Make a Spreadsheet
However large or small your wedding is, a mental to-do list alone isn’t large enough to remember all the details for your big day. It’s time to dust off those excel spreadsheet skills you learnt in sixth form and make a spreadsheet to collate all the key dates, times, prices and contact details all in one place!
As the guys over at Wired highlight in their article ‘The Hyper Organised World of Wedding Spreadsheets‘, where planning a wedding is less about “I do’, more about ‘to do’, “spreadsheets can be generally helpful, they can also quickly spiral out of control, becoming a bullet-pointed reminder of all the social expectations heaped on people (and especially women) preparing for what they’re conditioned to believe must be a perfect event. “
Having a visual collection of the important information of the day isn’t only incredibly useful, it can also be reassuring simply knowing it’s there.
And with that, we do hope your day goes smoothly and your marriage is a loving one. Now, can we expect our invite in the post?
Not content with enjoying restaurant quality food on our sofas, many of us are longing for the full package that eating out brings; the atmosphere, the service and the wine. Oh, the wine; carefully curated to suit the meal, served at the right temperature and in the right glass. We do miss that.
This weekend, we’ll be doing dinner differently. If you’re to take your takeaway experience up a notch, then first, do your due diligence. Assess reviews of online takeaway delivery services in your area, check out the current restaurant-at-home options we’ve been blessed with during lockdown, and most importantly, consider these; our 5 IDEAL wine pairings for the UK’s favourite takeaways.
WHAT TO DRINK WITH THAI GREEN CURRY: ‘VILLA MARIA PRIVATE BIN RIESLING 2018 MARLBOROUGH’
A gorgeous Thai green curry should be seriously spicy (what, you thought that vibrant verdancy came from herbs?), heady on the aromatic scale from lemongrass and galangal, shallots and garlic, and just a little pungent from fish sauce. All of this should be pulled together and tempered with the underlying sweetness which coconut milk blesses any bowl.
The connoisseurs know that a proper green curry shouldn’t contain lime, so a wine which brings the aromas of citrus and is off-dry to cut through both the sweetness of coconut and savouriness of fish sauce is just perfect. Villa Maria’s Private Bin Riesling 2018 Marlborough does just that, with floral notes which complement the aromatic quality of a Thai green curry skilfully.
WHAT TO DRINK WITH NEAPOLITAN PIZZA: ‘FIANO DI AVELLINO DOCG 2019 MASTROBERARDINO’
Though the pizza delivery options in the UK are as diverse as they are delicious, if it’s authentic you’re after, then it has to be Neapolitan. From where proper wood fired, restrained, world beating pizza was born, Naples has also produced our favourite topping; the Pizza Napoli. This guy boasts umami, piquant notes aplenty in the form of anchovies and capers, and we just love it.
Pizza can be rich – the Neapolitan especially – and calls for wines with relatively high acidity. We’re keeping it authentic and sticking with wines from the Italian region Campania, which Naples is a part of. In the Campanian province of Avellino you’ll find a world class white we think pairs beautifully.
Fiano di Avellino by Mastroberardino 2019 is characterised by floral and citrus fruits aromas which cut through the saltiness of the pizza topping elegantly. And there’s something rather nice about enjoying a wine from the region which invented the pizza you’re eating, right?
WHAT TO DRINK WITH LAMB ROGAN JOSH: ‘DEFINITION MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR 2018’
Yes, we know Chicken Tikka Masala is often declared Britain’s national dish, favourite takeaway and several other questionable honours, but we’re ordering Lamb Rogan Josh tonight. We just can’t get enough of the intoxicating spice blend, heavy and heady with smokey green cardamom, cloves and cinnamon, with all that richness from ghee and (preferably) goat meat…heaven.
A chilled red is just the ticket with a Rogan Josh. A lighter skinned grape like pinot noir – here, we’re drinking a Definition Marlborough 2018 – which has spent an hour in the fridge until it’s between 12C and 14C is the ideal match for a curry; light and refreshing so as not to overpower the nuance of the curry’s spicing, but assured enough not to be overwhelmed by all that richness and fat. A glorious combination.
WHAT TO DRINK WITH FISH & CHIPS: ENGLISH SPARKLING ‘CHAPEL DOWN SPARKLING BACCHUS 2018’
Named last year as the UK’s actual favourite takeaway, fish and chips needs little in the way of introduction. Though a truly great version relies so much on the environment it’s enjoyed in – preferably on the beach, seasoned with sand and accompanied by a warm, plastic lager – right now we’re doing our best to elevate the experience in the domestic setting.
And we think an English sparkling wine does the job succinctly here. The darling of the wine world for several years now, English sparkling wine has consistently been voted the superior of prosecco, cava and the like in taste tests. Time to celebrate, with a drinkable, affordable (relatively!) Chapel Down Sparkling Bacchus 2018, which enjoys a crisp texture, refreshing finish and lightly floral palate just perfect for taking the edge off all that fried stuff.
WHAT TO DRINK WITH RAMEN: ISAKÉ CLASSIC ‘JUNMAI GINJO’ FROM TATSUUMA-HONKE BREWERY
Okay, perhaps it doesn’t usually make the upper echelons of the UK’s favourite takeaway lists, but it damn well should. And sure, we realise that sake isn’t ‘wine’ as we define it (actually, it’s a ‘beer’ if you’re getting technical, since it’s made by converting a grain’s starches into sugar, then following fermentation into alcohol) but we’ve got this far now, so spare us the scrutiny.
Born from a collaboration between a French Sommelier and a Japanese Saké expert, this sake is carefully designed to pair perfectly with dishes such as ramen. Made with a unique blend of Saké rices, flavours of melon, peach and walnuts are on the palate with a long, intense finish.
A glass of something this nuanced, with a deep, rich bowl of ramen? You might even forget the troubles of the world for a few sips and slurps.
The nation has taken tacos to our hearts. We’ve embraced enchiladas. We’re besotted with burritos. But here in the UK, the world of Mexican desserts remains something of an unknown, and something we’re perhaps yet to fully fall in love with.
Change all that today; desserts from Mexico are decadent but light, super indulgent and at times incredibly complex, offering a refreshing change from the usual French inspired stuff. With that in mind, here are 7 Mexican desserts you need to try today.
TRES LECHE CAKE
A classic Mexican dessert, this one, that sees a cooked then perforated cake soaked in a syrup made from three types of milk – evaporated, sweet condensed, and full fat or cream – before being topped with a sweetened whipped cream flavoured with vanilla. The result is an incredibly moist crumb and surprisingly light finish, and is a real treat for milk lovers. Serve chilled.
Rice pudding, Mexican style. Arroz con Leche is a deceptively simple dessert to make, since it uses just four key ingredients: condensed milk, sugar, rice and spice. That said, to make a brilliant Mexican rice pudding, timing is everything; you want the rice to be giving and unctuous, the cinnamon (and often, cloves) to have properly infused into the liquid, and the sweetness well rounded.
Some cooks choose to add extra toppings – a candied raisin here, a chopped nut there – but we think there’s something rather beautiful about the simplicity of the unadorned version. That said, one of the great things about Arroz con Leche is that it’s up to the chef to decide its accoutrements. Choose wisely.
Sweet condensed milk also makes an appearance in the Flan Mexicano, which is ubiquitous across Latin America, not only as a dessert but as a sweet treat throughout the day. A dark, heady caramel lines the bottom of a flan mold before a blended flan mixture of egg yolks, corn starch and sweet condensed milk (some like to flavour with orange zest) is poured on top.
After baking for an hour or so, the flan is allowed to cool before being refrigerated, then inverted to display that gloriously burnished caramel topping. Some love to garnish their Flan Mexicano with fresh fruit, while some choose to eat this airy, creamy delight just the way it is.
Forget tostadas; our favourite flat, fried Mexican tortilla is buñuelos, a simple but delectable dessert that sees rolled, fried dough topped with cinnamon sugar.
The recipe uses a similar method to traditional flour tortillas, but the addition of sugar, both in the dough and as a dusting, turns these buñuelos into a sweet treat defined by the air pockets and bubbles that form across their surface when deep fried. It’s common to see these discs eaten with a syrup flavoured with cloves and cinnamon for dipping…and who are we to argue? These are also sometimes served as balls.
Cinnamon, condensed milk, egg… Our list of Mexican desserts has so far drawn from a fairly narrow list of ingredients, so we’d thought it was time we turned our attention to paletas for something totally different.
Mexico is a country with some of the best and most unique fruits in the world, with Maracuyá (a type of passion fruit), pitaya (dragon fruit), soursop, huayas and nopales all growing here abundantly alongside more well known – and more recently introduced – fruits like mango, Cantaloupe melon and pineapple.
This abundance leads to paletas, a frozen popsicle of sorts made from blended fruit that boasts the most vibrant flavour and colour, ideal when you need something refreshing as a quick pick-me-up or cool-me-down on a hot and steamy day typical of Mexico.
Sweet tamales – a kind of dough made from masa and flavourings that is then steamed in a corn husk – are a dessert that comes out especially for celebrations in Mexico. Sure, they may sound simple, but these are intricate, sophisticated desserts, make no mistake.
Flavoured according to the occasion and the cook’s desires, with common versions including pureed pineapple, raisins, sweet condensed milk, and chocolate, however you choose to flavour your Tamales de Dulce, rest assured that the eating experience is a suave and satisfying one.
We had to finish here, with Churros. Although it’s likely they originated in Spain and Portugal before making their way to Mexico with Spanish colonies, the delicious deep fried dish is now ubiquitous across the country, and it’s easy to see why; they’re simple to make and incredibly satisfying.
Above all else, they’re a textural delight; the deep fried batter sticks and cinnamon sugar both adding to a crispy exterior and a pillowy middle, which is only made possible by the fact they’re made to order.
Then, there’s the dipping sauces…oh, the dipping sauces, of which dulce de leche or hot chocolate are the most popular. And the best part? It’s perfectly acceptable in Mexico to enjoy Churros for breakfast…result!
