1.12.11 – 2.12.11, Amsterdam
Amsterdam has the reputation of being Europe’s most hedonistic party city, but in reality, the excess is balanced with a progressive approach to health and spiritual wellness.
I was invited by Dutch airline KLM to experience the greener side of Amsterdam, and I’m not talking about hanging out in the city’s legal hash cafes!
A Relaxing Massage at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Our pampering started soon after hitting the ground at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Back To Life spa offers effective express treatments to help you relax before taking off or revive you between flights.
I started with a restorative back and shoulder massage from one of the super-friendly, caring therapists. She kneaded the knots out of my back, stretched my arms behind my head and snapped the tips of my fingers to enable a free flow of energy. I felt refreshed and relaxed already, but another treatment was still yet to come – the Aqua Massage.
I lay down inside a pod and looked like I about to be hurled into space, then the powerful water jets thrashed about my body in a sequence of movements that can be changed by remote control. Aqua Massage has a flexible water-proof ‘skin’ that acts as a barrier between the water and the body, so you can go in fully clothed.
After being lulled into deep relaxation, I perked back up at the Oxygen Bar. You can choose from different flavours of oxygen – orange or eucalyptus during my visit – and breath it in through the nose or mouth via a headset. After 30 minutes of oxygen, I experienced a clearer head, brighter eyes and an uplifted spirit. The cool air on my face also made my skin feel taut and refreshed. At just €7.50 for 15 minutes, it’s the perfect way to counteract the dehydration and fatigue caused by flying.
At Back To Life, you can also indulge in a fish spa foot exfoliation, where garra rufa fish nibble away the dead skin, followed by a smoothing massage.
Sauna Deco
After dropping off our bags at the decadent and relaxing Canal House, it was just a 2 minute walk to Sauna Deco, Amsterdam’s unique art deco spa whose interiors originate from Le Bon Marché department store in Paris. The stunning wrought iron railings and fittings were thankfully saved from demolition during the department store’s major renovation.
Inhibitions are to be left at the door at Sauna Deco, as the changing rooms are communal and the spa etiquette is nakedness, or a thin towel, for the saunas and steambath. What a way to break the ice and get to know your fellow travellers (in my case a group of UK journalists) a bit better!
I enjoyed a wonderful back and shoulder massage with hot oil poured across my back. The therapist had a soft, sensual touch and the connection with her felt more spiritual than just practical as she melted away my stresses, although admittedly this was my third massage of the day!
Dinner at Vardit Kohn’s House
The evening was dedicated to healing from the inside with a dinner party hosted by nutritionist and author Vardit Kohn at her house, just 30 minutes outside of the city. We started with Green Lemonade and worked our way through endives with walnut and feta, a delicious broccoli soup made with crushed raw cashews instead of cream (so good that we all had two bowls), aubergine and tomato salad, quinoa with sun-dried tomatoes, toasted granola with fruit salad and oat cookies that had been dipped in dark chocolate.
Vardit’s philosophy is all about balance and creating tasty, easy-to-make dishes that you don’t realise are actually healthy and good for you. Her energy and dedication is inspirational and she has a great sense of humour, even winning over the sworn cynics in our group.
Before the meal, we were plotting a late-night jaunt into the city to fill up on the Amsterdam staple of fries and mayonnaise, but we all felt full, satisfied and not in the slightest bit tempted.
Sahaja Yoga
The next day, we visited Sahaja Yoga to learn how to meditate. Our tutors were Peggy and Marco, a cool urban couple that wouldn’t look out of place on The Selby. They were open and candid about their experience with meditation. Peggy told us that she was immediately ready to be immersed, while Marco dabbled in it through Peggy and gradually made it a part of everyday life.
We learned about Shri Mataji and the path to enlightenment and then did a 10-minute exercise to try and unblock our chakras and let Mother Kundalini rise from our abdomen to the top of our head. Mother Kundalini is signified by a cool breeze felt by one or both hands hovered on top of the head. My right hand felt warm and my left hand felt cool, which Peggy told me meant that I am emotionally stable, but need to work on unblocking certain chakras.
Xpres Spa
Our final well-being treat was back at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at Xpres Spa. I chose the Seaweed Facial, which incorporated a skin cleanse, a milk and honey mask, massage and moisturising. The therapist gave me a relaxing hand massage while the mask was working and finished with a 15 minute back and shoulder massage while the rest of the group finished their treatments.
The great thing about Xpres Spa is that you can drop by for a quick ten minutes on the chair massager or spend an hour or so between connecting flights indulging in a full body massage. It’s also very handy for a last-minute holiday tidy-up such as a mani-pedi or waxing.
After my spa and wellness trip to Amsterdam, I felt rejuvenated, supple and ready to take on the festive season. Vardit Kohn’s healthy recipes and the meditation techniques I learned at Sahaja Yoga have left a lasting impression and I feel inspired to incorporate small changes to my life.
KLM operates 11 daily flights from London Heathrow to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with lead in fares from £99 return including all taxes.
Chérie City was a guest of KLM
Brasserie Pakhuis is one of those great restaurants that I feel privileged to have discovered. Pakhuis has style and atmosphere in abundance and its spectacular design is sure to impress.
Down a narrow lane in the Old Town of Ghent, Pakhuis feels like a secret that only those ‘in the know’ could find. This isn’t exactly the case however, as Pakhuis is one of Ghent’s most talked-about restaurants, but it does still feel special.
The restaurant
Housed in a large 19th century warehouse, Pakhuis was designed by Portuguese architect Antoine Pinto, who is also responsible for nearby hip restaurant-bar-club, Belga Queen.
Pakhuis serves a contemporary French-Italian menu with New World wines and was recognised with a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide 2011.
Together with two restaurants in Antwerp and Brussels, Pakhuis owns a farm called Le Devant, in the Bresse region of France. High quality meat, seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs go from the farm to the table and the restaurant’s signature dish is Bresse chicken.
The terrace
On a balmy summer’s evening, the terrace is the place to be, with its attractive white canopy. As we were a large group of European writers, we occupied a whole side of the terrace and ate from the Pakhuis set menu.
The group starter was smoked eel and mussels, but instead I chose a simple yet delicious Celeriac Soup with fresh herbs (my seafood palate has yet to appreciate eel).
Dishes
The soup was light and peppery with tiny pieces of celeriac and topped with fresh herbs – a good start to the meal.
I particularly enjoyed the main course of Roast Duck with blueberries, cabbage and Bintje potatoes. The duck was cooked medium rare, so was especially tender and the skin was golden and nicely scorched.
To finish, we had a slice of caramelised apple tart with a delicious biscuity crust, topped with crème fraiche. I washed it all down with a fresh mint tea, which they do really well in Ghent, served in an elaborate glass tea pot.
Brasserie Pakhuis is an absolute ‘must’ when visiting Ghent, whether you’re soaking up the bustling brasserie atmosphere inside or lounging elegantly on the terrace with cocktails. It really brings a new meaning to the words ‘warehouse chic’.
Chérie City was a guest of Brasserie Pakhuis.
All photos by Chérie City.
If you haven’t made your Christmas list yet, or need some last-minute gift ideas, here are a few suggestions…
This headband Jennifer Behr gold tulle headband is a little bit Blair Waldorf and suitably sparkly for Christmas parties (£60, Liberty).
Aromatherapy Associates Little Star, filled with de-stress bath & shower oil makes bathing even more luxurious and is a great stocking filler/Christmas tree ornament (£10, Space.NK).
I adore Molton Brown’s black and pink pepper shower gel, included in this Refraction gift set (£49, Molton Brown).
Top of my Christmas wish list, this Shourouk Miami Pendant would be in good company with my Shourouk bird necklace (£104, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED).
The ultimate luxury for stationery addicts – Christian Lacroix Papier Holy Virgin Notebook (£12.50, Liberty)
Northerners will already know the joys of Fat Rascals at Bettys Tea Room in Harrogate. If not, acquaint yourself with Bettys Christmas Hat Box (£50, Bettys)
LFW favourite Bora Aksu’s statement tights are always a talking point. I’m dying to get my hands on these navy Angel tights (£25, 3939shop)
This Chloé eau de parfum 75ml gift set comes in a stunning presentation box and the fragrance is a Chérie City favourite (£70, Selfridges)
philosophy keep the peace collection has quickly become a part of my daily beauty routine and I really cannot be parted with it!
A new routine for sensitive skin, keep the peace focuses on redness, hypersensitivity and irritation with soothing natural extracts and lavender oil.
Antioxidants protect the skin against environmental factors that can cause redness while advanced rejuvenation technology helps maintain a healthy skin barrier to keep skin hydrated and comfortable.
After cleansing, I use a few drops of keep the peace super soothing serum for redness and sensitivity (£42), which is easily absorbed and non-greasy. The light-weight oil balances skin and smooths over dry patches – particularly helpful for combination skin.
Usually, I would avoid using two moisturising products, but keep the peace super soothing moisturiser for redness and sensitivity (£36) has such a light texture that it doesn’t overload my skin.
The gel-crème formula feels cooling on the skin and it sinks in very quickly, deeply hydrating the skin. It has a mattifying effect and creates a base ready for make-up.
After two months of daily use, it has definitely reduced the underlying redness in my skin that I often get from exposure to pollution in London. My main skin concern is blemishes, but keep the peace leave my face feeling comfortable and therefore less stressed and sore.
keep the peace is suitable for all skin types, but it will most benefit those with normal to combination skin (drier skin types may need something richer).
philosophy keep the peace collection is priced from £30-£42 and is available at Selfridges.
* Samples
Shoreditch’s first pop up shopping mall, Boxpark, is now open, so we went down there yesterday to see what it’s all about.
Created by ex-owner of Boxfresh, Roger Wade, Boxpark is made entirely out of shipping containers, making it a low-cost, environmentally efficient retail concept. It also fits in with the regeneration of Shoreditch, filling that ‘no man’s land’ space between Shoreditch High Street overground station and the main road.
Boxpark is even more slick than expected and has a cool urban streetwear feel that is well-suited to east London. Brands include Lacoste Live, Dockers, DC Shoes, New Era, Farah Vintage, Original Penguin, Irregular Choice, Marimekko and Phaidon.
The stores are small enough to be showcases for each brand’s best pieces and the staff are good ambassadors, looking typically cool and stylish.
One of my favourite finds was Playful Promises, a vintage-style boudoir filled with gorgeous lingerie, nightwear, jewellery and burlesque accessories.
One of the more unusual stores is Onepiece, an American Apparel-style shop selling only a selection of cuddly preppy or alpine onesies!
The sales assistant rocked a navy alpine patterned jumpsuit with panache, but I can’t help thinking that anywhere other than the east end or up the mountains, they’d be a hard look to pull off!
The top tier of Boxpark is filled with restaurants and cafes including Bukowski, Foxcroft & Ginger, Mexway, Hôp Namô, Pie Minister, chop’d, and Frae.
Mexican food is always my first choice, so we went to Mexway for a burrito (£5.95). The Yucatan pork was slow-cooked for four hours and came with rice, black beans, lettuce, fresh tomatoes, sour cream, cheese and medium-hot salsa.
The burrito was huge, tightly packed and full of juicy sauce – one of the best I’ve tried in London. Most of the restaurants and cafes have indoor seating, but at Mexway, you have to rely on the heat from the fiery salsa and brave it on the benches outside (well worth the chill).
To warm up for the bus ride back home, we got a take-out chai latte and hot chocolate from Foxcroft & Ginger. Like their original cafe in Soho, hot drinks are served in china tea cups and there is a delectable selection of home-baked cakes, gourmet sandwiches and cooked brunch.
Boxpark is a great addition to Shoreditch and looks set to become part of the Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane shopping circuit. I’m looking forward to going back with a shopping list of Phaidon books and trying a Bukowski burger!
For more info and opening times, visit: www.boxpark.co.
All photos by Chérie City
East London has its fair share of great food markets, but The Long Table brings a new concept to Dalston – a night market with live performance, DJs and a bar with heated seating.
The Long Table is a collaboration between creative enterprise Bootstrap Company (Dalston Rooftop Gardens) and The Loft Project founded by Viajante chef Nuno Mendes and his partner Clarise Faria.
Every Friday, up until Christmas (and hopefully beyond, if they can be pesuaded), The Long Table will occupy a disused space behind Cafe Oto and Arcola Theatre and serves dishes from the best street food vendors and guest restaurants, up until midnight.
Last night, after Steven’s private view at Specs Gallery we paid a late-night trip to the market for some celebratory food. We hadn’t anticipated standing in a queue in the cold for almost 30 minutes, although this probably isn’t an uncommon sight in Dalston (it is the land of the secret bars/clubs and warehouse parties, after all).
The scene started to get tense as blaggers claimed to know the DJ/chefs/organisers to bypass the queue and two guys were unceremoniously kicked out for attempting to stride past security. This is just how much everyone wanted to get a place at The Long Table, but don’t even try to charm or strop your way past security, they won’t entertain any diva behaviour!
When the time came, those of us who patiently waited were rewarded with a foodie wonderland that was part carnival, part après-ski party. You can wander around the food stalls and choose from well-priced dishes to eat under the heated canopy, if you can find a spot.
When we visited, the street food vendors included The Loft Project, St John Bread & Wine, Moro, Big Apple Hotdogs, Lucky Chip, The Bowler, Le Petit Paris, L.A Sueño, House of Umami, Yum Bun, Lily Vanilli and many more…
We were most tempted by Big Apple Hotdogs, a local legend that food bloggers have even taken the day off work to visit (now that’s commitment, A Rather Unusual Chinaman)!
Run by Abiye from a cart based at Old Street, Big Apple Hotdogs are handmade in London, using natural casing and only the good cuts of free range pork and beef.
We chose The Big Frank (£5), a huge frankfurter made from pork, topped with fried onions and grilled to perfection. The thick, crispy skin bursts on the first bite, letting all the delicious meat juices flow. Unliked manufactured hot dogs, our Big Apple hot dogs were rich, well-seasoned and filled with large individual pieces of meat.
The plan was to follow with some cake or macarons but we were tempted by the Croque Monsieurs (£3) at Le Petit Paris. Made with lots of bechamel, gooey Gruyère, nutmeg, black pepper and butter-fried thin bread, these croques were the most authentic I’ve ever had in London and possibly in Paris! They come in four squares with cocktail sticks, making them easy to munch on standing up.
Le Petit Paris appears at food markets across London, although I’m hoping they might consider opening a permanent cafe, so that London Frenchies can get their Croque fix easily.
It may be cold and you might have to queue, but The Long Table is so worth a visit! Just down a few glasses of mulled wine or Lily Vanilli’s absinthe hot chocolate, make some new friends at the table and get dancing to keep out the chill. It’s the most fun you could ever have at a food market!
The Long Table is open every Friday until Christmas, from 6pm-12 on Abbot Street, Dalston.
Amsterdam, Hotels, Hotels - Design
An Amazing Stay at Canal House Amsterdam
December 8, 2011 by cheriecityCanal House has been top of my ever increasing travel list, so I was delighted to be staying at one of Amsterdam’s hottest hotels on my spa and wellness trip with Dutch airline KLM.
Canal House is located across three 17th century merchant’s houses on the Keizersgracht, in the historial Jordaan neighbourhood.
One of Amsterdam’s most picturesque and creative neighbourhoods, Jordaan’s cobbled streets are filled with art galleries, independent and designer boutiques, speciality delis and adorable cafes.
Owned by A Curious Group of Hotels, which includes Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds and the renowned L’Hotel in Paris, Canal House is a bijou boutique design hotel with just 23 rooms that combines plush, contemporary interiors with traditional Dutch touches.
Arrival
The narrow hallway resembles a mini Rijksmuseum with dozens of framed prints of iconic Dutch paintings, including Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’.
The hall leads on to the atmospheric bar and lounge with black lacquered walls, ornate ceilings, gilt mirrors, candle-lit tables and a luminous central bar with high chairs. The check-in desk is neatly adjoined and the ever-so-stylish and friendly staff presented our room keys and marked our location on a sleek black pocket map.
The Room
I stayed in a ‘Good Room’ (the starting room of five categories) on the top floor, which had a loft-style sloped ceiling and original timber beams. The cosy room was a perfect ‘crash pad’ size and they made good use of the given space with clever storage, multiple mirrors and floor to ceiling windows.
All rooms feature unique artwork and are designed in a seductive palette of damson, mauve and shimmering grey with raw silk and sumptuous velvet textures. The king size bed was extremely comfortable, with crisp white linen and adorned with plump cushions and a luxurious, thick dark purple velvet throw.
Amenities in the rooms include a slick LCD screen, Bose iPod docking station, Blu-ray player, a stack of glossy magazines and complimentary wifi. If you’re planning an indulgent night in, there is a Blu-ray and DVD library available at reception.
The Bathroom
The shower with Philippe Starck bathtub is all open concept, which could make it a little awkward if staying with a friend or family member, but in liberal Amsterdam, that’s how it goes!
The shower area and separate toilet were covered in tiny, richly coloured iridescent mosaics and a collection of five full-size Green & Spring products were provided for use during the stay. This may vex collectors of hotel bathroom mini products, but if you really love the products, you can buy them at the reception to take home.
A great feature is a box of extra bathroom amenities including a shaving kit, toothbrush and paste, shower cap and plenty of cotton wool, so you don’t have to call down to reception and admit your packing failures! I also loved the petite double sinks, extra large towels and waffle bath robes for lounging in.
Later in the evening, we came back to the hotel bar for a nightcap were invited through to the Great Room, which was hosting a private party for Esquire Best Dressed Man 2011. We spent the night chatting with Dutch celebs and young creatives, including Dutch rock group A Silent Express, singer Steffen Morrison, artist Ari Versluis and winner Felix Maginn of rock band Moke.
Breakfast
In the morning, we had breakfast in The Great Room, which has been swiftly transformed from a boozy party venue to an elegant dining room. I was instantly offered tea served in stunning white china and asked if I would like eggs for breakfast.
I picked a few mini muffins and delicious cloudy apple juice from the continental buffet table and was tucked into a beautifully-presented plate of poached eggs on toast with grilled tomato and streaky bacon. This set me up well for a morning strolling around Amsterdam, taking in the sights on a route planned just for me by the delightful receptionist.
As our visit was in chilly December, we warmed up in the cosy bar, but in the milder months, guests can soak up the sun in the garden and summer house, which can be hired for private events.
Canal House is the perfect city bolthole for a romantic or relaxing weekend break in Amsterdam. The hotel blends sophistication and cutting-edge style with exceptionally friendly, caring service and a warm atmosphere. The location in Jordaan is ideal for experiencing Amsterdam’s artistic, stylish Nine Streetsbest h district.
Rates start at €220 for a Good Room and the Best Room is priced between €595 and €700, with a complimentary in-room bar. All room rates include a full breakfast.
KLM operates 11 daily flights from London Heathrow to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with lead in fares from £99 return including all taxes.
Chérie City was a guest of Canal House and KLM.
Photos by Chérie City and Canal House.
Following the success of debut exhibition, memo, earlier this year, pop up pioneers Specs Gallery returns with Hindsight, hosted in an abandoned office space on Oxford Street.
Hindsight explores issues surrounding the city’s social, political and urban landscape, offering a thought-provoking alternative to a conventional gallery setting.
Hindsight will feature new works by London-based visual artists John Greene, James Voller and Monsieur Chéri himself, Steven Marshall.
Hindsight will be at Specs Gallery from 10-20 December with private views on 8 and 9 December (invitation only).
To attend one of the private views, RSVP with guest names to: info@specsgallery.co.uk
The newly-opened MEATliquor needs no introduction to London foodies, but for everyone else who missed the hype, here’s a bit of context…
Chef Yianni Papoutsis met pub owner Scott Collins and together they combined their love of good burgers with the Meatwagon, a travelling burger van that got bloggers and meatlovers flocking to South London. A few van thefts led to a stationary home, #MEATEASY above a pub in New Cross.
Just last month, the pair opened MEATliquor at a more permanent address, tucked away behind Debenhams on the corner of Henrietta and Wellbeck streets.
It’s housed in one of those 1970s brutalist buildings that London would happily forget, but its distopian concrete hive design just seems to work for MEATliquor.
Previously home to an Italian restaurant, MEATliquor is now a dark, illicit-looking diner with ferocious, primal and sometimes Satanic illustrations and blood splattered graffiti across the glass facades.
We visited early at 5pm, with only a handful of tables occupied, so we’d be guaranteed a table. It wasn’t as dark as expected and the Dixie music was at a reasonable level, so we could still chat easily.
The menu is full of tempting diner classics and Meatliquor’s own unique specialities and it was hard to decide what to order.
We started with some excellent cocktails – a Memphis Steamer (£8) and a St Lawrence (£7.50) – served in jam jars. The cocktails were potent and well-blended and my St Lawrence had a delicious hint of orange. The cocktail menu is so interesting that you’d want to try every single one, but next time, I’d go for the House Grog – a drink so intoxicating that it’s limited to two glasses per guest.
Our burgers and sides swiftly followed, served on a large metal tray with the burgers wrapped in paper – no plates or even knives, just forks and kitchen roll to mop up the mess.
I ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger (£7) and a thick, juicy beef patty that was nicely charred and made from excellent quality meat. The flavours were just pure grilled meat and the extra taste came from the accompaniments.
Unlike the glazed, slightly sweet burger buns that are usually served in London burger joints, MEATliquor’s bun was soft, floury and fresh. The burger came smothered in a toxic yellow-looking American cheese with grilled bacon lettuce, pickle, tomato and burger sauce.
The burger was sloppy and gooey with grease and meat juice dripping satisfyingly onto the tray. I wasn’t that keen on the slimy cheese and it certainly doesn’t do justice to the superior burger patty.
Steven went for the Dead Hippie (£7.50), a double patty burger with sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, a tribute to Yianni’s trip to the Burning Man Festival in Nevada.
The Chilli Cheese Fries (£5) were generously sized and the slim, crispy fries were loaded with chilli, cheese, onions, pickles and jalapeños. The x3 Mac N Cheese (£5) was similarly gigantic and had a rich, creamy mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan sauce, seasoned with nutmeg. It was topped with too much cheese, which could make it a bit sickly if paired with a cheese-smothered burger.
For dessert, we were tempted by the Crack Pie (£4) – buttery caramel and oat filling on a crunchy biscuit base with a pie crust, served with a heavenly Fior di Latte ice cream. At first, it looked too small to share, but it was so rich and sugary that it was actually just the right amount.
Meatliquor is a real meat and grease-fest, best enjoyed after a day of grafting – seriously, you need to be prepared for it! The prices are good, considering the quality and huge portion sizes, and really, one side between two is sufficient, although you’ll be tempted to work your way through the menu. I’ll definitely be back to try that badass-looking deep-fried chicken burger!
Here are the menus, so you can pick your burger and cocktails before you go…
SPONSORED POST
Travelling to far-flung destinations is one of life’s luxuries and a dream trip can open your eyes to new cultures, experiences and tastes.
Cox & Kings, the world’s longest established travel company, offers luxury holidays and tailor-made holidays to inspire and provide the experience of a lifetime.
Having visited Qatar this month, and fallen in love with the Middle East, I’m longing to explore its neighbouring countries. Nowhere does luxury quite like the Middle East and Cox & King offer bespoke holidays in Jordan, Oman, U.A.E, Morocco, Uzbekistan and Tunisia.
From one of their many globe-hopping adventures, Cox & Kings once again brought me back a culinary souvenir and challenged me to cook up a storm with it.
I often cook Japanese-style noodles and can make a mean Chicken Katsu Curry from scratch, but I admit, I have no expertise in the usage of soy bean paste – my gift from Cox & Kings.
After a bit of research, I found the soy bean paste works particularly well with chicken, so I set out to cook soy bean and garlic chicken with chilli, ginger and lime rice noodles.
Firstly, mix up a marinade with one large tablespoon of soy bean paste, a few teaspoons of water and mirin, one small clove of crushed garlic and a dash of sesame oil. Marinade overnight or just for a few hours if you don’t have time.
I pan-fried the whole chicken breast with just a touch of olive oil on a high heat to get the outside slightly charred and caramelised, then turned down the heat and left it to cook through (or you could finish it off in the oven).
Next, mix up a small amount of fresh or dried chilli, crushed ginger, one clove of crushed garlic, mirin and dark soy sauce, so you have enough to cover the cooked rice noodles.
To serve, twirl the noodles around a fork to get a nest effect and place the sliced soy bean chicken around them, and finish off with some scattered dried chilli or fresh coriander.
The chicken was deliciously succulent and the soy bean paste gave it a rich, malty flavour. With such a big tub of soy bean sauce, I’ll have to find some more interesting recipes – any ideas?
For more info and destinations, visit: www.coxandkings.co.uk
Where is your dream destination for a luxury holiday? Have you tried cooking with soy bean paste?
Finding a book under the Christmas tree is an absolute delight, but the thrill of receiving a beautifully-designed book just makes the words even sweeter.
Here are a few top picks to ask Santa/grandma/boyfriend for…
Pierre Hermé released the English version of his magnificent Macarons book just a few months ago, so now we can share the secret to creating the perfect macarons (Grub Street, £17.04, Amazon).
Edited by Purple’s Olivier Zahm, Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent is a the kind of stunning coffee table book that you might not go out and buy on a whim, so why not put it on your Christmas list? (Rizzoli, €82, Colette)
Viktor & Rolf’s first work of fiction, Fairy Tales, features a lonely disco hedgehog, a magical golden dress and a little girl with flame-red hair – all charmingly illustrated by the Dutch design duo (Hardie Grant, £7.22, Amazon).
Culture To Catwalk is the second book by Kristin Knox of The Clothes Whisperer. Read about how traditional dress and street style from around the world have influenced designers’ collections (£17.85, A&C Black, Amazon).
LUXE City Guides may be slim enough to slip into the tiniest of handbags but they are filled with enough juicy tips to have the best city break possible. The luxurious new Black Box is hand-crafted in black linen with a crimson interior and gold logo and can be filled with five guides of your choice (£38, www.luxecityguides.com)
Mark the 70th anniversary of the great F. Scott Fitzgerald with one of these exquisite hardback editions that are just as decadent as the novels themselves. Tender Is The Night is a Chérie City favourite, but you might be tempted to collect the whole set! (£11.99, Penguin Classics, Waterstones)