cheriecity | cheriecity.co.uk

Bermondsey Bees at Delfina

October 16, 2011 by cheriecity

Delfina has been the beating heart of Bermondsey Street for over 20 years with its imaginative brasserie menu and collection of contemporary art.

Bermondsey Street is one of those quietly cool streets with the formidable Zandra Rhodes holding court at the Fashion & Textiles Museum and José Pizarro drawing the crowds to his relatively new sherry and tapas bar, José.

Last week, I was invited to a Bermondsey Street ‘love-in’ at Delfina, to discover more about Bermondsey Street Bees and welcome new resident, jeweller Alex Monroe, to the neighbourhood.

After a talk from local beekeeper Dale Gibson and Alex Monroe about his bee themed designs, we tucked into a 3 course dinner, created by head chef Stuart Dring, using Bermondsey Street Honey.

The starter of Bermondsey Honey, Fig and Shallot Tart was well-constructed but a little on the sweet side. The pastry and the honey mustard dressing were excellent, but the tart needed something to balance the flavours.

The tart was matched with Hacienda Araucano Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 2010, a delicious, refreshing white wine with a slight sweetness.

The main course of Braised Shoulder of Norfolk Pork with Bermondsey Honey & Bramley Apple Gratin and Cider Jus really was excellent. The pork, rolled into a ballotine, was juicy, tender and well-seasoned.

The potato gratin was given a new twist with the addition of the honey and bramley apple, which was noticeable yet subtle. I enjoyed every mouthful and would order this dish again without a moment of hesitation.

The pork was served with a pleasant, rounded red wine – Les Salices Pinot Noir Francois Lurton, France, 2010.

The Williams Pear and Vanilla Cheesecake and Bermondsey Honey Sorbet was an absolute triumph! The vanilla pod cheesecake filling was a little softer than usual, but it was deliciously creamy and went well with the sweet pear coulis and thick, chunky biscuit base.

The whole room was buzzing with talk of the exquisite honey sorbet. It was so delicate and light – a great new food discovery.

I always look forward to dessert wine and I loved the pairing of the cheesecake with a glass of Royal Tokajo Late Harvest, Hungary, 2009.

After dinner, we watched the honey being removed from the honeycombs. To extract the liquid, the honey combs were scorched using a kind of industrial hair dryer and were put in a large barrel. It was then spun at high speed to drain the honey, which was filtered through the tap, ready to be collected in a bucket.

We all tried a spoonful of freshly-collected Bermondsey Street Honey and I was astounded at just how different it tastes to even the premium supermarket honeys. It had aromatic, ‘green’ flavours of elderflower, dill and lime and the sweetness was an after-taste, not the main attraction.

It was great to experience Delfina’s use of honey on the menu and to now know the enormous difference between fresh local honey and its less inspiring supermarket counterparts.

The three dishes are available on the a la carte menu until 11th November 2011.

All photos by Chérie City.

Chérie City was a guest of Delfina.

Beauty

Nanoblur: The Instant Anti-Ageing Fix?

October 16, 2011 by cheriecity

Nanoblur, one of the most promising anti-ageing solution, launched in the UK last week with a demonstration and decadent party at The Box in Soho.

Nanoblur contains tiny light-reflecting prisms that temporarily fill fine lines and wrinkles, creating a soft, blurred effect. It’s to be applied over foundation or if you’re brave enough, over moisturiser alone.

The brand’s promise of looking up to 10 years younger in 40 seconds is a bold claim and ever the skincare cynic, I would say that ‘up to’ are the key words here (as a 17-year old, I doubt I’d get in to The Box)!

As soon as I applied Nanoblur at the launch, the small lines across my forehead and under my eyes appeared significantly reduced and some disappear all together. My skin looked plumper, refreshed and instantly mattified.

So impressive were the results among the beauty press and bloggers that a slathering frenzy began and the general consensus in the room was ‘wow’!

Applying Nanoblur at home was a little more tricky. I found that when applied over fresh make-up, Nanoblur tended to drag and took some blending to get rid of small white patches.

Possibly the reason it worked so well at The Box was because there was some surface oil on my skin to soak up. Nanoblur is strongly mattifying, which is great for combination or oily skin, but if you have dry skin, you should mix Nanoblur with moisturiser.

It took some practice, but as suggested by make-up artist Kenneth Soh, the best way of achieving Nanoblur success is to apply a thin layer to targeted areas with a fat brush. This has worked a treat for me and I now use Nanoblur for a mid-day touch up to slick away the surface oil – perfect for those with combination to oily skin.

So, is it worth trying out? Absolutely! It gives skin a great radiance boost and once you’ve found how to make it work for you, it could become a make-up essential.

Nanoblur is priced at £19.99 and is available now exclusively at Boots.

Ghent, Shopping, Stores

The Best Places to Shop in Ghent, Belgium

October 15, 2011 by cheriecity

Bypass the chain stores (of which there are few) in Ghent’s pretty, cobbled old town and you can find the most delightful independent boutiques, gourmet food stores and bookshops.

Read the Chérie City guide to some of the best finds in Ghent…

Rewind Store

I instantly fell in love with Rewind Store, primarily because it has the largest range of Sessun that I’ve ever seen! Rewind is a boutique concept store with an enviable mix of indie womenswear brands, stunning jewellery, vintage gems and lifestyle products such as Byredo fragrances.

Some of the Parisian, Belgian and Scando-cool brands include Filles a Papa, Won Hundred, WYRED, Le Mont St Michel, IRO and Wood Wood. With a sleek new menswear store now open, Rewind is the boutique that surely every fashion fanatic would dream of owning.

Luc Duchêne

This Belgian fashion house does laid-back rock-luxe with plenty of well-cut duffle coats, tweed Chanel-esque jackets, leather leggings and slouchy leather bags.

Bleu, C’est Gris

A fashion institution in Ghent, Bleu C’est Gris offers high end pieces from DSquared2, M Missoni, Patrizia Pepe and Stills. The creative window displays are even archived online.

Lingeriet

Browse through Lingeriet’s rails of cute, girly underwear from Bjorn Borg, Princesse Tam Tam and Calvin Klein in what looks like an old-fashioned hardware store.

Kloskanthuis

The scent of lavender floats around this adorable homewear store that offers hand-made Belgian lace, Flemish soaps and fine linen.

Paard Van troje

Paard Van troje is the bookshop of dreams where you can easily lose a few hours. Paard Van troje is stylish without even trying and is filled with intriguing and academic books that are dying to be read on the canal-side, watching the world go by.

Yuzu For Nicolas Vanaise

Once you’ve tried the obligatory Belgian pralines, visit Yuzu for some weird and wonderful creations by experimental chocolatier, Nicolas Vanaise. Choose from Japanese-Belgian fusion chocolates, macarons, marshmallows and artisan teas.

Sao Paulo Koffie & Thee

Sao Paulo Koffie & Thee is a little corner of Brazil in Belgium, this coffee and tea emporium has everything you need to make a superior brew.

Weyn’s Honig Miel

Weyn’s Honig Miel is a wonderland of all things honey-related. The honey spice cake and honey madeleines looked particularly tempting.

Gusto Vero

Gusto Vero is a gourmet store full of authentic Italian produce on a real foodie street.

For a break from your shopping, stop for a coffee or tea at Pain Perdu and OR Espresso Bar on the very cool Walpoortstraat or Julie’s House in Patershol.

Which is your favourite independent shop in Ghent? Please share your tips below…

Ghent, Hotels

An Excellent Stay at Ghent Marriott

October 13, 2011 by cheriecity

The Belgian city of Ghent is a weekend break dream – picturesque and laid-back with real character and tradition. A vibrant university city with a buzzing atmosphere, Ghent lies somewhere between the ‘chocolate box’ perfection of Bruges and the avant-garde fashion holy land of Antwerp. The social heart of Ghent is by the river Lys canal, so, where better to stay than right in the centre of the action…

Location

Ghent Marriott occupies the best spot in the historical Old Town, right on the canal. The listed original brick and wood facade is a striking contrast to the modern interior with an impressive glass atrium.

The building housing the Ghent Marriott has a rather illustrious history as a former brothel, denoted by the backward facing golden swans on the facade, although all signs of vice have been stripped away in favour of sleek, contemporary interiors.

The Room

My room on the second floor was very spacious and bright in a calming, nautical palette of yellow and blue palette with deep wood highlights. Unlike some hotel rooms, the bed wasn’t the only focus of the room, as I had a large work desk, a comfy seating area and a large flat screen TV. This is particularly good for business travellers who need a bit of extra living space to avoid cabin fever.

A tea and coffee maker, fluffy bathrobes, powerful air con and free broadband internet made the stay even more comfortable.

I first experienced a Marriott ‘Revive’ bed at London Marriott Grosvenor Square and I can barely describe just how heavenly they are. The ultra-soft, dreamy beds are a Marriott trademark and are present at all of the group’s hotels worldwide, so you can always look forward to a good night’s sleep.

The Bathroom

The marble bathroom was just the right size and had a bathtub-shower, so you can relax and unwind properly in the evening. Ghent Marriott has beaten the record for the number of bathroom amenities offered. The bathroom sink area was filled with bits and pieces including dental kits, a comb, bath salts, hand soap, facial soap, loofah, body lotion….the list goes on.

A Welcome Treat

Waiting in my room for me was a delightful box filled with a double layer of Belgian truffles and pralines from the neighbouring chocolate shop, Van Hoorebeke. Belgian chocolate was then ticked off my list, although it made a continual appearance throughout the trip.

Drinks at Poppi Bar

On the first night we came back for drinks in the relaxing Poppi Bar, at the centre of the hotel atrium, which was lit up in changing colours at night. The barman at Poppi makes an excellent Amaretto Sour and we even spotted member of the BBC Symphony orchestra having a post-concert night cap.

Breakfast

Marriott breakfasts are always rather special and the breakfast served each morning at Korenhuis was a real highlight. There was an excellent hot buffet selection, a variety of mini pastries and fresh bread, cheese, yoghurt, sliced fruit and cereal.

Korenhuis comprises three separate dining rooms, but our favourite was the deep red room with large windows overlooking the canal, where we enjoyed a private dinner on our last evening.

To burn off the indulgent Belgian cuisine, Ghent Marriott offers a fitness room and Marriott bikes that you can hire to explore the city. As the Old Town is pedestrianised, locals ride their bikes everywhere, even at night on the way home from the pub, after a few shots of jenever!

Ghent is perfect for city breaks, as you can see the best bits over a few days and still have plenty hidden gems left to uncover on a second visit. Ghent Marriott’s enviable location, superior service and stunning canal-side views make it an exceptional place to stay – in fact, I could hardly bear to leave.

Photos: Chérie City and Ghent Marriott.

Chérie City was a guest of Ghent Marriott.

Bars, Cafes, Ghent, Patisserie

An Amazing Foodie Tour of Ghent, Belgium

October 5, 2011 by cheriecity

Belgium is world renowned for its fine chocolate and beer, but there are still some local food secrets to discovers, such as Ganda ham, Nazareth cheese and Jenever – a kind of gin popular in Belgium and the Netherlands.

This week, I was invited to come and explore the foodie and cultural delights of Ghent, staying at the Ghent Marriott, perched conveniently on the picturesque banks of the river Lys canal.

On our second day in the city, we took a 3-hour ‘Nibbling Through Ghent’ walking tour with Lynn from VIZIT. She regaled us with tales about the city’s landmarks and colourful locals. We heard about students occupying the castle over the rising price of beer, why the noose is the symbol of Ghent and various saucy stories of naked statues and how to spot a Medieval brothel (just look for two backward facing swans)!

Julie’s House

Our first stop was Julie’s House, a petite bakehouse and tea room in the historic Patershol area, close to the canal. Just open for a few years, Julie’s House has become the place to stop for a sweet treat. Julie serves a daily selection of pies and tarts, bijou cupcakes, brownies, scones and clafoutis.

We sampled chunks of delicious Rocky Road, lemon cheesecake and walnut cake – my favourite was the refreshing lemon cheesecake.

Daskalidès

Our next stop was for another sugar high at Daskalidès, a Belgian chocolate shop with a history. In 1931, the Daskalidès-Kestekides family established two brands of home-made pralines – Daskalidès and Leonidas. Formerly a family-run business, Daskalidès now has ever so stylish shops around Europe, but the story started in Ghent.

Pralines are the signature chocolate at Daskalidès – I loved the patterned Kenya Noir with Kenyan coffee and cocoa nibs. You can also try hand-made truffles, liqueur pralines and artisan ice cream. There is a huge selection of beautifully-packaged gifts to take back home such as orangettes, pâtes de fruits, marshmallows, nougat, Florentines and chocolate galettes.

Cafe Den Turk

We stopped for a half-way beer at Cafe Den Turk, Ghent’s oldest pub dating back to 1228. Cafe Den Turk first opened as a coffee house (hence the Turkish coffee name reference), and then became a traditional pub, serving a wide range of Belgian beers.

I tried a glass of Gruut blonde – a local beer brewed in the city of Ghent. It’s a light, slightly cloudy beer that’s very easy to drink, although it does have a high alcohol strength at 12%.

Petite Normandie

Our next foodie destination was a narrow cobbled street that used to be named rue de Paradis, due to the number of French first floor brothels. Nowadays the street’s primary vice is cheese, from a tiny traditional shop called Petite Normandie (Donkersteeg 21).

We tried four Belgian cheeses – the mild and nutty Narazareth cheese, a goat’s cheese with prune jelly, a garlic soft cheese with a white rind and a stronger Cheddar-like cheese.

Het Groot Vleeshuis

We finished our foodie adventures at Het Groot Vleeshuis, the 15th century great Butcher’s Hall of Ghent, which now acts as a showcase for East Flemish food.

A number of Ganda hams (Ganda is the Old Celtic name for Ghent) hang from the wooden beams overhead, telling of the building’s history, yet there is a modern bar and cafe where you can order dishes made using artisanal local produce.

We tried three types of ham – two thin dried hams and one cooked ham – served with strong local mustard boasting a closely-guarded secret recipe. All were delicious, but I preferred the cooked ham, as it was juicy, thick and full of flavour.

t’ Dreupelkot

Skipping forward to our last night in Ghent, we rounded off the trip with a night cap at t’ Dreupelkot, a tiny, popular bar overlooking the canal that serves over 100 varieties of jenever. Owner Pol is a quite a character and so legendary in Ghent that he has a mural above the alleyway that leads to his bar.

We ordered a selection of flavoured jenever shots – vanilla, raspberry, mango, hazelnut and cactus, but if you’re really adventurous, try the ultra-hot chilli flavour. This eye-watering shot was apparently created after a group of workers from the Volvo factory suggested that the jenever wasn’t strong enough – Pol’s revenge!

Ghent is a perfect city break destination for foodies and after the tour, you can continue the gastronomic discoveries at some of Ghent’s most stylish restaurants – Belga Queen, Brasserie Pakhuis, Korenhuis and Bord’Eau Brasserie.

Chérie City was a guest of Ghent Marriott.

All photos by Chérie City.

Concerts, Events, Hotels, Hotels - Luxury, London, News

Stompin’ At The Savoy With Paloma Faith

October 4, 2011 by cheriecity

This month sees the return of the world famous Stompin’ At The Savoy, the iconic and glamorous evenings of live music at the decadent London hotel.

Stompin’ At The Savoy has played host to musical legends such as Josephine Baker, Frank Sinatra, George Gershwin, Noel Coward and Amy Winehouse and was name-checked in Chic’s ‘Le Freak’.

For the relaunch of Stompin’ At The Savoy, the stunning Lancaster Ballroom will be transformed into an intimate late-night supper club from the 1940s and who better to bring the jazz spirit back to The Savoy than Paloma Faith!

Paloma will perform with the 30-piece Guy Barker orchestra and will be joined by special guests to be announced on the night.

Guest will start the evening with a glass of champagne and once seated, cocktails and a late night supper menu will be served throughout the evening.

Stompin’ At The Savoy is set to bring back a bit of swinging, old-world cachet to the legendary hotel, making it once again the most decadent jazz haunt in town.

Stompin’ at The Savoy, produced by Three’s A Crowd, will take place at The Savoy on Saturday 29th October from 10pm until late. Tickets are priced from £125 and can be booked by telephoning 0845 177 0181. Full details are available at www.stompinatthesavoy.co.uk

Take an inside look at The Savoy on Chérie City.

Designers, Fashion, London, London Fashion Week

LFW SS12: Holly Fulton

September 27, 2011 by cheriecity

Holly Fulton once again brought poolside glamour to London Fashion Week with her striking art deco prints, high octane swimwear and sundowner cocktail dresses.

However, the Holly Fulton girl has blown all her cash on living the high life and while dressed for Las Vegas, her staycation will be on a beach closer to home – Margate!

Holly Fulton is a very clever designer – she develops her unique art deco print each season and brings back certain motifs from past seasons (coral is a continual favourite), so that her brand identity is etched onto your brain.

The 90s are a strong focus for the new collection with checkerboard tote bags, zebra-print bomber jackets, studded mini-skirts, high-cut swimwear, boxy tailoring, big earrings and acid orange clutches.

But wasn’t all 90s rave-wear for ‘the kids’, as there were some stunning, breezy strapless cocktail dresses in soft yellow and pastel blue with reflective mosaic patterns and elegant feather trims worn with statement necklaces.

Sleek palazzo pants are a big part of the collection and each pair features a print with a variation of Holly’s seaside themes – coral, checker flags, shells, jellyfish, seahorses.

The palazzo pants were shown with loose silk t-shirts, sheer blouses, slinky bandeau tops and cropped embellished silk vests.

One of the most interesting new looks was a silk shift dress featuring a Pucci-esque illustrated underwater scene with psychedelic jellyfish and other whimsical marine life.

The Pucci reference continued with patterned silk scarf bandanas to compliment the affluent poolside look.

It seems to me that Holly Fulton’s strength is Spring/Summer, as she can be more daring with the silhouettes and her signature colour palette of canary yellow and swimming pool blue lend well to a lighter season wardrobe.

My only criticism would be that the bikini tops aren’t particularly well-cut, as they don’t appear to contour the body, resulting in either bagginess or under-spillage on the models (god help the civilians)!

Overall, it was another glamorous, covetable and exciting Spring/Summer collection from Holly Fulton. Now with her own dedicated spot on the LFW schedule (previously partnering with David Koma), Holly Fulton can develop further and lead the way for young London designers.

For more info, visit: www.hollyfulton.com

Cafes, Patisserie, Toronto

The Amazing NADÈGE Patisserie in Toronto

September 25, 2011 by cheriecity

There was one place that was top of my ‘Toronto to do list’ – NADÈGE Patisserie in on Queen Street West. Luckily, I came across NADÈGE, a glistening white beacon of decadence, as I was walking back towards the centre of town after my art tour of West Queen West with Betty Ann Jordan.

Run by Nadège Nourian (a fourth generation pastry chef born in Lyon, France) and her native Torontonian partner Morgan McHugh, NADÈGE draws in the crowds with its high-end pastries, gourmet sandwiches, Kusmi Tea and bijou macarons.

A world away from the gilded opulence of Ladurée, Nadège Patisserie is like a pastry laboratory, all sleek and shiny, designed in clinical white with flashes of hot pink and the cool geometric logo.

Nadège studied at an esteemed pastry school in Normandy and has worked alongside top chefs in restaurants around the world, including Michelin star restaurant Hakkasan in London, before setting up her dream patisserie in Toronto.

The cakes and tarts are particularly impressive, like little works of art. My favourite was the cosmic-looking angel cake with mini macarons resembling meteors that crashed into the cake (pictured below).

NADÈGE is also the perfect place to find sweet gifts, as you can buy adorable little tubs of chocolate-dipped madeleines, marshmallows, biscuits and chocolate tablets.

On my last day in Toronto, I returned to NADÈGE and spent my last few Canadian bucks on three macarons – Cassis, Chocolate Orange and Salted Caramel.

They really were excellent and lived up to the hype. The cassis macaron was bursting with thick, gooey fruit paste and the chocolate orange macaron was a vibrant orange colour and was filled with a smooth, rich, dark ganache.

The Salted Caramel macaron wouldn’t please those who complain that Laduree macarons are too sweet, as it was a full-on sugar assault, but a delightful one, at that!

I would have liked to have sat on the patio to soak up the last of the Toronto sun with my macarons and a pot of Kusmi tea, but lunch at Luma was calling, so I saved my macarons to perk up my airport waiting experience.

The second outpost of NADÈGE is in Rosendale, on Yonge Street between downtown and uptown, so you can pick up some macarons without going out west.

NADÈGE Patisserie is a must for foodies visiting Toronto and I just hope that Nadège might remember us here in London and open a UK store. Bring the macarons and we’ll bring the crowds!

All photos by Chérie City.

Films, Toronto

TIFF 2011: Elles by Malgorzata Szumowska

September 24, 2011 by cheriecity

During my short time at Toronto International Film Festival 2011, I was drawn to the story of student ‘sponsoring’ in Polish director Malgoska Szumowska’s Elles, starring Juliette Binoche.

Parisian upper middle-class journalist Anne (Juliette Binoche) is researching an article for ELLE concerning female students who sell their bodies to pay for their education and a comfortable lifestyle.

For her story, Anne persuades two seemingly self-assured young students – the candid Alicja (Joanna Kulig) and a more discreet Lola, whose real name is Charlotte (Anaïs Demoustier) – to speak about their experiences of being ‘sponsored’ through their studies.

The film see Anne preparing a dinner for her husband’s boss, transcribing the interviews for her story and having flashbacks to her time spent with the girls.

At first Anne is emotionally removed and somewhat judgemental of their casual sexual encounters and her feminist sensibilities force her to view their trysts as humiliating and misplaced empowerment. As the story develops, we see Anne empathise with Alicja and Lola and begin to understand their motivations.

There are moments when OCD-prone Anne lets her guard down and gets drunk on vodka and makes a sloppy supper of pasta with Alicja in her apartment. Another is when she gets drawn into Charlotte’s giddy excitement of hearing one of john’s phone messages.

Szumowska and her female co-writer Tine Byrckel have the courage to suggest that the girls feel a slight rush of excitement to know that they’re desired by men, particularly those old enough to be their fathers.

However, it doesn’t gloss over the fact that they were drawn into prostitution through desperation and circumstance. As a new immigrant in Paris, everything goes wrong for Alicja and she can’t fall back on her family or admit defeat. For Charlotte, her family’s poverty and her dead-end job don’t add up to a university education or even enough money to live on.

The deeper Anne gets involved in their lives, she begins to question her own bourgeois lifestyle and her supposedly ‘respectable’ family’s flaws. She has fractured relationships with her emotionally-absent husband, pot-smoking teenage son and PlayStation-addicted younger son. The final scene of the dinner party sees her own personal act of freedom and rebellion, breaking out of her conservative mould.

Alicja and Charlotte’s seemingly breezy sidelines are marred by the shame of Alicja’s mother discovering her profession, Charlotte’s difficulty in keeping her second life a secret and most imporantly, Charlotte’s encounters with brutal sexual abuse.

This is a vital element of the film, as it avoids idealising student prostitution, although one could argue that uptight journalist Anne may temporarily live vicariously through the girls. Indeed, the all-female team are sensitive to this and show the reality that while they are not the stereotypical idea of a prostitute, being pimped or forced into selling their bodies on street corners or brothels, there are still dangerous, damaging consequences.

Elles is sure to divide opinion on student prostitution, but Malgoska Szumowska tackles the subject in a human, non-judgemental way that makes us question just how much exploitation we face in our own lives and what exactly is socially acceptable. Juliette Binoche was made for the role and while it’s not likely to be one of her most critically acclaimed performances, it’s clearly a personal project that has great significance.

For more film news, read my reviews of:

Art, Hotels, Shopping, Stores, Toronto

West Queen West: A Tour of Toronto’s New Art Quarter

September 23, 2011 by cheriecity

Every city has its up-and-coming art district, but very few can live up to the vibrant, energetic spirit of Toronto’s West Queen West. I met with Betty Ann Jordan, an arts journalist and owner of Art InSite for a tour of most up-and-coming neighbourhood.

Betty Ann is quite the doyenne of the Toronto art and design scene and she knows literally every young creative and entrepreneur on the west side. Betty Ann was our passport for drawing out gossip and tales about the area, so you’re sure to find out some interesting facts that you’d never usually be privy to.

We started our tour at the Gladstone Hotel, a boutique art hotel steeped in history. Each of the 37 rooms has been individually designed by a local artist and a whole floor has been made into a dedicated gallery space.

During our visit, the exhibition featured chairs customised by big-name Canadian artists and designers that were to be auctioned off. The team at the Gladstone is made up of artists and curators who are in charge of the cultural programme and organise their own art happenings around the city.

In the daytime, local creatives come and drink coffee in the delightful Gladstone Cafe and the newly re-opened Melody Bar retains its historical legacy while offering cockails and good food.

Then it was on to The Drake Hotel, Queen West’s second boutique art hotel with a slightly cooler buzz than the Gladstone. The Drake Hotel is the place to be seen in Queen West, whether it’s catching up with friends over a monster brunch of Southern Fried Chicken with Waffles or catching some sun on the Sky Yard roof patio with a glass of Rosemary Lemonade from their grown-up Lemonade Stand.

The uber-cool dining room hosts a series of pop up restaurants based on their favourite movies and countries. When I visited, the theme was Chinatown circa 1940s L.A with a decadent Chinese menu designed by chef Anthony Rose.

The rooms are modern, slick and beautifully designed and the narrow corridors lend to daydreaming about the hotel’s illustrious past as a former brothel. The Drake also has full-time art curators, so you can expect lots of fun surprises and intriguing artwork scattered around the hotel.

Next door is the Drake General Store, a hip reinvention of the traditional hotel gift shop filled with cool design pieces and kitsch sourced from around the world and an art wall featuring the work of up and coming artists from Toronto.

Another Betty Ann insider secret was the graffiti art on the back streets directly behind, which was commissioned by the Drake Hotel.

We visited some wonderful art galleries and boutiques along Queen Street West and Betty Ann took us up Ossington Avenue, an up-and-coming street that is making a name for itself away from the increasingly high rent and condos of Queen West.

Read the Chérie City and Betty Ann Jordan guide to the best of West Queen West…

A2ZANE – The handsome and charming Zane was a handbag specialist at Canadian department store Holt Renfrew before setting up his own Queen Street West boutique, so this guy really knows his leather. He was the first to bring The Cambridge Satchel Company to Toronto and stocks niche brands such as Rebecca Minkoff, Juma, Matt & Nat and Tila March.

Chasse Gardée – Stylist Daniela Bosco’s industrial-chic boutique is the place to find womenwear and shoes by niche designers and indie labels. Brands include Swedish Hasbeens, Kelsi Dagger, Rokin, Finsk, Karen Walker and cool NYC label A Détacher.

Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Arts Projects – Focusing on artwork with a narrative, Katharine Mulherin’s three showcase galleries host exhibitions by emerging and mid-career Canadian and international artists. We saw a fantastic exhibition by Robert Hengeveld concerned with the beauty of artificial nature.

Stephen Bulger Gallery – A chic photography gallery with a private screening room and a petite cafe. Showing during our visit was the 60th anniversary exhibition of Ruth Orkin’s American Girl in Italy.

Sweaty Betty’s – Drew Barrymore ditched her after-party to drink with friends at this hole in the wall bar and patio that overnight became the place to be. They don’t do cocktails, period. Ask for anything more demanding than a whiskey or a beer and you’ll be shown the way to The Drake!

Thieves Boutique – Sonja den Elzen’s sustainable collections using natural materials and dyes are seriously covetable without compromise. Other brand stocked include Heartfelt, Zuzanium and Heidi Ackerman (no, not a Haider Ackerman typo).

If you’re coming to Toronto, plan a weekend visit to West Queen West and starting with a brunch on the patio at The Drake or lunch at Union on Ossington. Then stroll down Queen Street West, visiting the boutiques and galleries, back into the centre of town.

…and you absolutely MUST book a tour with Betty Ann Jordan!

For more info, visit: www.seetorontonow.com and http://artinsite.net

Chérie City was a guest of Tourism Toronto and Kuoni.

Websites

A Brazilian Treat From Cox & Kings

September 22, 2011 by cheriecity

SPONSORED POST

There are few greater pleasures in life than travelling, particularly if it’s to a destination you’ve always dreamed of visiting. Cox & Kings, the world’s longest established travel company, offers luxury holidays and tailor-made holidays to help you see the world and get the best out of your trip.

With Cox & Kings, you can take a short break in destinations such as Portofino, Vienna and Bruges or long-haul vacations to Costa Rica, Madagascar, Fiji, Muscat, Rio de Janeiro and many more.

Of course, a luxury holiday doesn’t just mean relaxing by the pool, as Cox & Kings also offer wine tours throughout France, Italy and Spain and RA Worldwide Art Tours. An art expert will lead you through the cultural sights of Lebanon, Rajasthan, Florence, Ravenna or Barcelona.

Ever the intrepid explorers, Cox & Kings kindly brought me back some goodies from their last trip to Brazil – Autêntica Gold Cachaça and Dom Pedro ground coffee. My challenge was to cook up something delicious using these ingredients.

Cachaça, distilled spirit made from fresh sugar cane juice, is mostly used in Caipirinha cocktails and is Brazil’s most popular spirit. Making a Caipirinha just seemed a bit easy, so I tried using cachaça as a marinade for steak.

Simply buy some thick, high-quality steak, you can use hanger steak or medallions like I have, and cover it in a marinade to be left overnight. For two large steaks, I mixed up five tablespoons of cachaça, three tablespoons of soy sauce, two tablespoons of honey, one teaspoon of ketchup, two large cloves of crushed garlic, a dash of olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lime and salt and pepper to season.

Flash fry the steak to char the edges and either finish in the pan or the oven. I served the steak with Gratin Dauphinoise and asparagus, but you can go all out Brazilian and accompany it with rice and bean and Pão de Queijo (cheese bread).

The cachaça gives the steak a subtle aromatic, zesty flavour and was a welcome change to how I usually cook steak with either béarnaise sauce or honey mustard.

For dessert, I made a chocolate and coffee mousse with crushed amaretti and cachaça. I used a regular chocolate mousse recipe and added a splash of concentrated coffee, increasing the thickness to make up for the extra liquid.

Fill a glass ramekin with a small layer of crushed amaretti biscuits and add a tiny drop of cachaça (only to the bottom layer). Then alternate layers of mousse and crushed amaretti and sprinkle some on the top.

It’s perhaps not the most authentic Brazilian dessert, but the crunchiness of the amaretti and a powerful shot of cachaça was a great new discovery. You can even make it in a rush by using ready-made chocolate mousse and drizzling the coffee concentrate over the top.

For more info and destinations, visit: www.coxandkings.co.uk

Where is your dream destination for a luxury holiday? Have you tried cooking with cachaça?

Designers, Fashion, London, London Fashion Week

LFW SS12: Michael Van der Ham

September 22, 2011 by cheriecity

Michael Van der Ham is one of London’s most promising new designers and the anticipation of each collection has brought an international crowd. The BFC are a constant presence at his shows (a good sign of support) and the front row was scattered with the likes of Sarah of Colette, Hamish Bowles, Anna Dello Russo and Lulu Kennedy.

A long way from the crushed velvet and jewel colours of Autumn/Winter 11-12, the new collection is a breezy mix of sheer silk-chiffon and heavier tweed and shimmering brocade in a fresh palette of azure, coral, turquoise, magenta, lavender, navy and lashings of white.

A key influence for Van der Ham was the photographer Joseph Szabo, not in relation to the style or fabric, but the kind of girl he was designing for. A teacher, photographer and author, Szabo is known for capturing the beauty and emerging sexuality of teenage girls (back in the 70s, of course).

Michael Van der Ham’s signature patchwork and collaging of vintage and luxurious fabrics with varying weights and textures is developed further. Many of the dresses feature layering and draping of contrasting fabric, like a sash, and silk skirts have the home-made look of a long silk scarf wrapped around the body and sewn up as a dress (a nod to grunge and Szabos young girls).

The A-line shift dresses and body-skimming draped skirts will be a godsend for Michael Van der Ham devotees who found Autumn/Winter’s crushed velvet pieces unforgiving.

The focus on separates continues with vibrant printed silk shirts in slim-cut trousers in cotton sateen and tailored tweed jackets. It’s a pristine, intelligent look with clean lines – feminine yet with a boyish cut.

The new prints including abstract brush strokes, confetti and feather prints are used lightly and seem to snake around the body in a very subtle way. The sheer t-shirts worn over long printed dresses

The dresses usually steal the show, but the shoes and accessories are so insanely gorgeous, they deserve a mention. I adored the two-tone felt and glittery tweed bags with a Chanel-esque woven fabric and metal chain strap.

I immediately zoomed in on the exquisite printed fabric t-bar heels and with good reason too – they were the work of Christian Louboutin! The shoes come in six variations of Michael’s collage prints and are sure to be major sellers.

Matthew Stone created a very cool 90s-inspired show soundtrack and Luke Hersheson gave the models girly grunge-luxe hair that was lightly tousled and centre-parted. The sparkling blue and lavender eye make-up and creamy, lucid skin by M.A.C gave the models a youthful radiance that was central to the look.

Michael Van der Ham’s SS12 collection could be his most commercially successful yet, as the collection is so diverse and democratic. Whether it’s fine tailoring, a multi-fabricated statement dress or a daytime print dress, Michael Van der Ham is the one to invest in for the next season.

For more info, visit: www.michaelvanderham.com