Friday, 26 June 2009

Stan the man

An absolute legend, everytime I look at this picture it brings a smile to my face, bless you Stan Laurel. Here are two bona fide classics for your ears x

Thursday, 25 June 2009

Confessions of an Oolong drinker

I have been threatening to post about tea for some time, so here you go, I attended a fantastic tea tasting last night courtesy of the fine people at Jing Tea. We tasted a selection of cracking teas, see below the teas & my tasting notes, click on the name of each tea for more information.
All images courtesy of Jing.

First up was a green tea, the hand made Japanese Gykouro

App: Vibrant, dark green, small fragile leaves
Nose: Cut grass, light freshness, vibrant hints of sherbert, summertime in the parks
Taste: Incredible umami sensation, rich, smooth, creamy, grassy notes
Finish: Wonderful long developing  quenching finish, makes the mouth water



App: Light green, hints of yellow, roasted & grassy
Nose: Nutty, toasted nuts, straw & sunbaked hay
Taste: Wonderful balance, elegant, extremely refreshing, lovely minerality, clean & crisp, very moorish
Finish: Dry & crisp



App: Light green, light white fur, lots of whole buds
Nose: Fragrant, fruity, light grassy notes
Taste: Sappy, hints of watermelon, luscious  & very easy drinking
Finish: Light & fragrant



App: Elegant leaf & buds, lively green with hints of yellow
Nose: Sweet, honeyed, hints of Nori seaweed
Taste:  Intruiging, subtle balance, almost taste the slight fermentation
Finish Hard to put your finger on it, gorgeously moorish, very refreshing, perfect partner for seafood & sushi.



App: Tight dark green clusters with hints of yellow, once opened, full leaves with hints of red on edges of leaf.
Nose Beautiful creamy notes, rich & buttery, lovely floral notes, very welcoming & complex
Taste: Full & rich, explosion of warm flavors, extremely drinkable, I think this is my favourite tea on the planet.
Finish: More, more, more, full & complex, infuse, infuse, infuse, develops with each infusion



App: Dark reddish brown, until infused the leaves unravel to reveal hints of dark green
Nose: Lovely toasted mocha, dark chocolate, ground nuts, lovely earthy aromas, complex.
Taste: Wonderful, bitter sweet complexity, hints of almond, dark chocolate, hints of exotic musk.
Finish: Hints of sandalwood, long, long complex journey to finish, an absolutely beautiful drop.


Please if you have not experienced the delight of the above teas, then order some immediately, it is a very rewarding journey. Just make sure you treat the tea with respect, no boiling water & make sure your infusing your leaves with quality water.

Enjoy your fresh cups of tea with these little beauties x




  

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Flowers

Here is a selection of blooms for you all & a rather splendid recipe for sag aloo with potato, spinach & turnip.

1 Large Onion chopped
2 Large Potatoes cut into cubes
1 Large Turnip chopped into cubes
400gms Spinach
1 tsp Fresh Ginger
2 Cloves Garlic chopped
1/4 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp Garam Masala
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper

Fry the cumin seeds with the olive oil in a large pan, add onion, fry until turns brown. Add potato, turnip, garlic, turmeric, ginger & garam masala, fry until soft. Finish with spinach until it wilts over the potato & turnip, finish with salt & pepper.

Wash down with a beautiful bottle of Gavi di Gavi, fantastic.

Hope your enjoying the sunshine, enjoy x


Friday, 12 June 2009

Summer Breeze


Hi all, been lazy with the posting of recent, been up in Edinburgh working on the opening of the first Hotel Missoni, if you are ever in town please check it out, drink some wonderful wine, eat some wonderful food & enjoy the best Martini in Scotland.

Got this cracker courtesy of the great alainfinkielkrautrock, it's a summer smash from the brilliant Phoenix, plus an old favourite for your pleasure.

Enjoy xx


Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Il Paradiso

Out at another wonderful wine tasting last night, met this incredible producer called Giancarlo Cignozzi, who is making the most incredible wine Il Paradiso Di Frassina in Tuscany.

Giancarlo is supported by Bose sound, yep, Bose, Giancarlo has always believed that by playing music to his vines 24hrs a day he ends up producing better wine & I cannot argue after tasting. Giancarlo was spotted by Mr Bose who telephoned him up to tell him that he wanted to support him & now the entire vineyard is wired up with a wonderful Bose sound system so Giancarlo can play Mozart to his fruit 24hrs a day. There is a real science to this & it is currently being studied by several universities around the globe. Anyway please follow this link & check it out, the wines are absolutely sublime & Giancarlo is an absolute inspiration.

Keep on dancing x

 
 


Friday, 24 April 2009

Reverend Dez

Something for the weekend, praise be & rejoice for my dear Reverend Dez, enjoy x 





Thursday, 23 April 2009

Ivy

Here is a wonderful little self portrait of my dear Ms Ivy, look out for her fundraiser soon, for a night of fun, frolics, performance art & impeccable music.

On the performance tip, I went to the cinema last night to see 'Let The Right One In' a Swedish story of childhood, love, friendships, family & vampires. If you have not already seen it, please do, it's a beautiful film, dark overtones of violence & bloodsucking reveal a tender, touching film of real emotion & warmth, I loved it.

Enjoy these beauties, especially this track from Mandre, which I cannot remove from my speakers right now, feel that funk.