Mark Hix on the difference between morels, chanterelles and girolles and why you should eat them all the time August 2, 2016 Girolles are one of the first mushrooms to appear on the UK’s culinary calendar. If you’re very lucky, you might find a rare morel or a scarlet elf cup, which grows in freezing conditions in the early part of the year unlike most of themushrooms we pick here. But trust me, the first funghi you’re [...]
Opinion: Why more transparency is needed on letting fees to make sure both landlords and tenants are getting a good deal August 1, 2016 There has been much debate in the press and both Houses of Parliament regarding the subject of letting agents’ fees and whether these are fair or reasonable. Unfortunately as far as I am concerned, they are neither. The all-too-common practice of asking tenants to pay exorbitant administration charges, and a host of other overheads, to [...]
New homes on sale in London: from apartments on London City Island to family homes in Edgware August 1, 2016 London City Island From £405,000 A summer party heralded the sale of 100 new homes on the enormous London City Island complex on Saturday. Developer EcoWorld Ballymore offered champagne ice pops, a BBQ and a DJ to entice prospective buyers to look at the studio to four bedroom apartments on the Leamouth Peninsula. There will be [...]
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child review at the Palace Theatre: A sappy script but possibly one of the best staged plays the West End has ever seen July 28, 2016 JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series stood apart from the canon of children’s literature by allowing its characters to grow up. Peter Pan famously never aged and Just William was 11-years-old for about 50 years. Harry, Ron and Hermione, on the other hand, were in their late 30s by the end of the seventh book, sending [...]
Now We Are Here at the Young Vic gets to the human stories behind the refugee crisis July 28, 2016 This latest play in the Young Vic’s refugee season was written by refugees themselves, in collaboration with local writers. In the first half, three actors take it in turns to tell the stories of Desmond, Mir and Michael (played with real charm by Gary Beadle, Manish Gandhi and Jonathan Livingstone). They sit on chairs and [...]
Mark Hix on how to make Middle Eastern cheese labneh at home and keep it as a snack July 26, 2016 You have probably had labneh in Middle Eastern restaurants as a part of a mezze selection, but have you tried actually making it yourself at home? I'm a big fan and quite often have it hanging in my fridge. It's a really tasty and cheap alternative to a soft goats cheese or curd. It's a [...]
Working Lunch review: Searcys at The Gherkin has turned itself into a brasserie on the French Riviera for six weeks July 26, 2016 Searcys at The Gherkin 30 St Mary Axe, EC3 WHAT? Fine dining atop everyone’s favourite pickled cucumber, with impressive views over the City through its iconic lattice beams. Retro stripey sun loungers and carts packed with Provencal produce decorate the 40th floor bar in honour of its six-week Summer Riviera pop-up, which also comes with a [...]
Volvo V90 D5 AWD review: The Swedes finally go into battle with the all-conquering Germans with their new estate car July 25, 2016 Sweden’s two great carmakers, Saab and Volvo, have met very different fates. The former was declared bankrupt and production ended in 2014. The latter, on the other hand, is experiencing a glorious renaissance, funded by Chinese money and spearheaded by the brilliant XC90 SUV. Swede dreams, indeed. While the XC90 is Volvo’s halo model, its [...]
Sloth-spotting in the heart of the Costa Rican rainforest is becoming a popular pastime with Brits July 25, 2016 The internet is responsible for reviving many things that should be extinct: men’s rights activism, the music career of Rick Astley and, less unpleasantly, everybody’s favourite endangered species, the sloth. Despite the fact they can barely drag themselves across a road, these smiley slow-coaches have somehow managed to take over the world wide web. Time [...]
Opinion: Sotheby’s International Realty UK’s Robin Paterson on the benefits of Brexit on the London housing market July 21, 2016 In just four weeks the UK is already recovering from the ‘post Brexit dip’. We have seen the pound to euro exchange rate bounce back and we have seen our political dismay begin to correct itself with the welcome and surprisingly swift appointment of our new Prime Minister. We cannot deny that, in the first [...]
