OUT OF OFFICE May 26, 2010 PINTER PLAY COMES TO FLEET STREET Legend has it that Harold Pinter’s career was saved by Harold Hobson’s single favourable review of The Birthday Party: “a skull-beneath-the-skin play, exposing the horrors and fears that lurk under the calm, dull surface of our everyday existence”. In 1959, a year after its disastrous opening, The Birthday Party [...]
How to eat like a (vegetarian) king May 26, 2010 DESPITE the cult status acquired by super-deli Ottolenghi, known for its heavenly salads and cakes, and the super-sleek vegan Saf (see Joe McCanta’s column below), vegetarian restaurants aren’t exactly alluring to a professional, urban and carnivorous crowd. But Andrew Dargue and his wife Donna Conroy, from Teeside, think things should be different, and so two [...]
Wines to match your gourmet veggie dinner May 26, 2010 JOE MCCANTA SOMMELIER, SAF RESTAURANTS; FOUNDER, PURSIP DRINKS CONSULTANCY WORKING with primarily vegetarian (and even vegan) foods, I’m constantly having to look at innovative ways of matching food to wine. It seems that even in some of the top restaurants most sommeliers are terrified by the concept of not resorting to their good old stand-by [...]
Fabregas: I’ll let Arsenal decide future May 26, 2010 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has indicated he will not try to force the club’s hand over his desire to join Barcelona, insisting he is leaving the decision up to Gunners manager Arsene Wenger. Fabregas has told Wenger he wants a move back to his former club, seven years after swapping Catalonia for north London, and [...]
Murray must wait as light halts progress May 26, 2010 ANDY MURRAY cut a frustrated figure after rain and bad light halted his French Open progress at Roland Garros last night. The British No1 was leading Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2, 3-3 when play was suspended at 9.30pm local time. Frequent showers meant that the players did not even start their second round showdown until [...]
Injury-hit Strettle’s back with a wing and a prayer May 26, 2010 DAVID STRETTLE has vowed to take his England chance with both hands this summer – to end two years of injury hell. The 26-year-old wing has been rewarded for his blistering end-of-season form for Harlequins with a place in the starting XV to take on the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday. Now, he aims to [...]
Venter to miss final after losing RFU appeal May 26, 2010 SARACENS director of rugby Brendan Venter will be banned from the touchline for his side’s Premiership final against Leicester on Saturday after losing his appeal against a 14-week ban last night. The South African was handed the punishment by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel last week for “making provocative and inappropriate gestures” during the [...]
Stars won’t be sold, neither will club this year, says Hicks May 26, 2010 LIVERPOOL co-owner Tom Hicks insists manager Rafael Benitez has a “substantial” transfer budget at his disposal this summer – and has vowed not to sell star assets Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Hicks, though, says he and partner George Gillett are unlikely to sell the Anfield club any time this year, and are still holding [...]
Carragher’s ready to play anywhere May 26, 2010 ENGLAND defender Jamie Carragher, who quit international duty over his frustration at being overlooked at centre-back, has vowed to play wherever he required at the World Cup. Carragher, 32, has been enticed back to the England squad after manager Fabio Capello pleaded with the experienced and versatile Liverpool stalwart to end three years of self-imposed [...]
Question marks remain over tour, admits Strauss May 26, 2010 ANDREW STRAUSS admits it will take some time yet for him to prove whether his decision to sit out the recent Bangladesh tour was vindicated. The England captain returns to duty this morning when he leads out his side for the first Test against Bangladesh at Lord’s, taking over the reins from Alastair Cook, and [...]
