Lollipop colours for a party goddess look December 7, 2009 IT’s the one time of year when you can let your hair down – within reason, of course. No drunken snogs at the office party please, or embarassingly short skirts.But fun party makeup?Why not?Sure, you might not wear green sparkly nail varnish to work, or sumptuous gold eye makeup or even siren-red lippie, but you [...]
OUT OF OFFICE December 7, 2009 WAITING FOR GODOT RETURNSActing heavyweights Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart made the revival of Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece one of the year’s stand-out theatrical events. The show is going to be back at the Theatre Royal Haymarket for 11 weeks early next year. Stewart won’t be returning, but John Rees will be stepping ably into his [...]
PRE-PARTY PAMPERING December 7, 2009 24 Karat Gold Mask FacialThe ultimate luxury from master therapist JohnTsagaris, who fuses Eastern medicine with modern science to bring you a face mask made from pure gold, a substance with skin-boosting effects that was favoured by Cleopatra. An LED light mask follows to make sure your face will truly glow. £350, www.energybodies.co.uk Diamond Polish [...]
Galvins open a temple to fine food December 7, 2009 Galvin La Chapelle35 Spital Square, E1 6DY, tel: 020 7299 0400FOODSERVICEATMOSPHERECost per person without wine: £50 THE Galvin brothers first struck gold with their close-to-perfect Bistrot De Luxe in Baker Street, which fused rusticity with the fineness of serious French cuisine. Then they took over Windows at the Park Lane Hilton, turning it into a [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS December 7, 2009 LE BOUCHON’S FESTIVE CHEESEBOARDIf you’re short of ideas of what to put alongside the stilton on the Christmas cheeseboard, help is at hand from Spitalifields’ Le Bouchon Breton. The French restaurant’s in-house cheese expert – or, um, “frommelier” – will be running a festive cheese masterclass on 23 December. Priced at £100 per head, it’ll [...]
THREE OTHER FRENCH BISTROS December 7, 2009 MON PLAISIRNo one does the classics better than London’s oldest French restaurant, which serves up seriously hearty dishes like French onion soup, entrecote with “pommes allumettes” and coq au vin in quirky, rustic surroundings in the heart of Covent Garden’s theatreland. 19-21 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9DD, tel: 020 7836 7243 LA TROUVAILLEA wine list from [...]
What to drink this Christmas December 6, 2009 Champagne As chosen by Esme Johnston, director of www.fromvineyardsdirect.comPerrier JouetBelle EpoqueCream and honey, brioche and lingering nutmeg notes make this special edition bubbly a delightful classic that’s wonderful with food or on its own. £86.95 at www.thedrinkshop.com Serge Mathieu Superb grower’s champagne, it’s nutty and golden with creamy richness and a light, punchy mousse. Great [...]
The best places in the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2010 December 6, 2009 HOGMANAY IN EDINBURGHEdinburgh’s Hogmanay may not be quite the vast free celebration that it was when the city established itself in the Nineties as the New Year’s Eve capital of the world, but it’s still the greatest place there is to celebrate on the night. There’s the rowdy bonhomie of revellers braving the Scottish winter [...]
Copenhagen isn’t just about climate change December 6, 2009 THIS week, the world and his carbon emissions reduction adviser descend on Copenhagen, where they will try to save the planet. In between meetings, though, they will also be able to enjoy the city. Copenhagen is a small, manageable sort of a place, ideal for a city-break. At this time of year, the key thing [...]
TRAVEL NOTES December 6, 2009 Spa retreat in TaiwanSituated in Taipei’s scenic hot springs district of Beitou, Villa 32 is one of Taiwan’s most stylish and modern spa retreats. Offering five deluxe Japanese and European-style suites and open-air public baths overlooking mist-covered hills, Villa 32 is a haven of tranquillity. The resort offers packages including one night’s stay in a [...]