Street food in the City? Street Kitchen co-founder Mark Jankel on his locally sourced alternative to Pret February 17, 2015 We were professional chefs and we thought it would be good fun to set up a street food kitchen, just to see how it worked. We did it as a bit of a laugh for two weeks, and loved it so much we decided to pursue it as a business. I left an executive job [...]
Mezcal: Has the time finally come for tequila’s cousin? February 17, 2015 Alcohol aficionados have been talking up mezcal for years. For as long as I’ve been writing about drinks, it’s teetered on the edge of being the next big thing. Although it has crept onto the pages of the odd drinks list, it isn’t even out of the starting blocks in competing with tequila, its more [...]
Car review: The new Porsche Cayenne GTS is a two-tonne ballerina on ice February 16, 2015 Ice, snow and a 434bhp, 163mph SUV might seem like a combination best suited to a disaster movie, but this is no ordinary SUV. Porsche has brought its latest Cayenne in GTS form to its winter driving centre in Skellefteå, northern Sweden, even though in the UK it’s more likely to experience a nice heated [...]
Not convinced? February 16, 2015 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW X5M PRICE: £73,583 0-62MPH: 4.2 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 258g/km MPG COMBINED: 25.4mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars PERFORMANCE Five Stars PRACTICALITY Four Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Five Stars MERCEDES-BENZ ML63 AMG PRICE: £86,920 0-62MPH: 4.8 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 276g/km MPG COMBINED: 23.5mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE [...]
Andaz Toranomon Hills arrives in Japan: A surefire contender for the best hotel in Tokyo February 15, 2015 Andaz’s signature blend of luxury and locality is immediately evident as you step into the lobby of its latest opening in Tokyo. More than 50 storeys up (the hotel fills the top seven floors of the second highest building in the city), Hokkaido walnut wood and rice paper panels remind guests that while they may [...]
48 hours in… Kyoto: Where to eat, sleep, drink and visit February 15, 2015 WHERE TO EAT Kiyamachi Sakuragawa Situated along a scenic stretch of the Kiyamachi-dori, Michelin-starred restaurant Kiyamachi Sakuragawa is an accessible way to try kaiseki, Japan’s haute cuisine. Smart casual dress is encouraged and the open kitchen means you can watch the chef whip up dishes while you wait. Call +81 255 4477. Bookings recommended. [...]
5 top trails: Hike your way round Japan’s numerous natural wonders February 15, 2015 NAKASENDO WAY This 11-day hike was a popular route through central Japan for 17th century merchants and travellers, but now it’s a much quieter, enjoyable trek through the countryside with traditional inns dotted along the way. Nakasendo is an ancient highway that translates into “the road through the mountains”, starting off in Kyoto, then [...]
Half term! Imagine Children’s Festival 2015 February 13, 2015 If you’re struggling to think of what to do this half term, head down to the Southbank Imagine Children’s Festival. A diverse programme of activities features readings from top authors including Russell Brand, Judith Kerr, Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz and Helen Skelton. For something more lively you can clap along to live performances of Charlie [...]
Film review: Coherence has the kernel of something interesting but doesn’t hold together February 13, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★☆☆☆ Coherence is soft science fiction slush that simply doesn’t hold together. As four couples meet for dinner, a mysterious comet streaks through the heavens, cracking mobile phone screens, fracturing reality, and encouraging the kind of ill-informed, feng shui and quantum theory-tinged, new age, nonsense-strewn dinner party conversation that makes you hope [...]
Theatre review: How To Hold Your Breath at the Royal Court February 13, 2015 Royal Court | ★★☆☆☆ Zinnie Harris’ How To Hold Your Breath begins with an intimate encounter. A man is alarmed to find the stranger he slept with isn’t a prostitute. She’s offended by his attempt to pay. It’s a zippy opening that makes the rest of the play feel leaden. The action shifts uncomfortably [...]