Author Archives: Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

‘TOP DOG’ … One Man, Two Lives

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How many superlatives can be used to describe ‘Top Dog’? I can think of many that have been used in other reviews, but let’s just keep it simple… this new offering from Richwater Films and Universal Pictures UK and directed by Martin Kemp, is just plain ‘good’… damn good.

Produced by Jonathan Sothcott (‘Vendetta) and exquisitely constructed, this is Martin Kemp’s (‘The Krays’, ‘EastEnders’) second outing as a film director, a testing piece of work that lays its cards on the table and dead body on the mortuary slab right from the outset. Blood, a tense opening narrative, you get the gist that this is going to be messy.

In the adaptation of the novel by Dougie Brimson (‘Green Street’), Leo Gregory (‘Green Street’ and ‘Cass’) plays a formidable and believable part as Billy Evans, a thirty-something East End car salesman who’s got it made, trophy wife, child, home, car, job, wants it all and wants the top dog position that will allow him to reclaim a family member’s pub as the home of his football firm, ‘Acton Casuals’. With the goading of the ‘AC brethren’, cocky Billy takes his lust for leadership one step further, violently cutting swathes through a trajectory that brings him face to face with gangland boss Mickey, played to perfection by Ricci Harnett (‘Rise of the Footsoldier’, ’28 Days Later’) who isn’t about to hand the title over without a fight. Vincent Regan (‘Clash of the Titans’, ‘St George’s Day’), with his mellow Irish tones, acidly accentuates the backbone of fear that runs through this film. It sounds a simple plot, but the exchanges of violence are as charged as I’ve ever seen in a film of this budget, and the spiralling depths to which the emotions sink are hard-hitting and raw.

Martin Kemp intended this film to be a ‘kitchen sink’ drama, void of Hollywood gloss, powerfully showing the perils of being top dog, being number one and of saying ‘I’m the leader’. The wives and partners play strong and potent roles, showing the realism of households living with the underlying deceitfulness and tensions associated with hooliganism and gangland violence. Danielle Brent (‘Cockneys Vs Zombies’) as Billy’s wife Sam, Lorraine Stanley (‘The Hooligan Wars’) and rising British acting talent, George Russo punctuate the storyline, stepping up to the mark with the confidence this gritty film demanded.
It’s not a pretty film, it’s not a clever film, it works within the boundaries of the budget, but it’s the sort of film that is truly British, an insight into the deep and ugly world of football hooliganism and gangland rivalries that existed in the depths of London in the 80s and 90s.

TOP DOG – in cinemas from Friday 23 May and is out today to own on Blu-ray £15.99) and DVD (£12.99) through Universal Pictures UK

A re-written version of ‘Top Dog’ by Dougie Brimson is soon to be published through Caffeine Nights Publishing.

Galvanina… A Unique New Italian Organic Fruit Drink

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With the temperature topping 23 degrees, it seemed the perfect day today to review Galvanina, fresh-to-the-market organic drinks with the romance of Italy deeply embedded in the branding.

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The Galvanina Collection comprises of Sicilian Lemon, Ruby Orange, Clementine and Red Grapefruit and as my favourite citrus fruit drink is lemon, I firstly tried Sicilian Lemon, slightly sparkling and cloudy, reminiscent of traditional lemonade and presented in a beautifully embossed 100% recycleable bottle. The Italian manufacturer recommends you ‘lightly tilt the bottle from side to side to revitalise the juicy pulp’… certainly not a mixture you have to shake hard to wake up! Refreshing and perfectly citrus sharp with delicious sherbet notes, Sicilian Lemon Galvanina is made to an old family recipe that uses only Mediterranean lemons, harvested by hand, from centuries-old citrus groves. These juicy organic fruits combine with mineral-rich, gently bubbling spring water for a fresh and thirst-quenching drink, that dances between sweet and sour on the tongue, perfect over ice.
First discovered by the Romans some 2000 years ago, the sparkling spring water in Galvanina organic fruit drinks is an extraordinary natural wonder. The snow and rain that falls on the Apennine Mountains collects in gentle pools before embarking on a long journey. As it slowly filters through sandstone and clay, flows along winding channels and languishes in cool, dark chambers, the water is naturally carbonated and enriched with a perfect balance of mineral salts. After 30 long months, it gently bubbles out of the spring mouth on San Lorenzo Monte.

 

Clementine arouses the senses of almost Christmas-like aromas, a truly unique flavour and highly drinkable. Clementines are bright, fresh and vibrant fruits, boasting a distinct flavour, rich in delicate honey and orange blossom notes. Galvanina uses only the juice of organic clementines grown in Sicily’s picturesque, traditional orchards, warmed by the sun in the day and cooled by coastal winds at night. You could try serving Sicilian Clementine Galvanina as an indulgent afternoon treat with cake.

 

I quite like my grapefruit drinks strong, but Red Grapefruit Galvanina is a delightful marriage of bitter, sweet and sparkling. Galvanina use a variety of organic grapefruits that have ripened slowly and naturally in the sun before being hand-picked. Their pulp is also conserved for a natural, fruit-rich texture, which enhances the juice’s aromatic intensity and effervescent spring water for a lively, thirst-quenching citrus drink. Indulgently serve Red Grapefruit Galvanina with creamy desserts and cheeses.

 

Ruby Orange was delicately sweet, made using the juice and pulp of handpicked blood oranges that have ripened fully on the trees. Cool nights, hot days and organic farming methods give this rich, garnet-coloured fruit a natural sweetness and make it extra juicy, zesty, fresh and sparkling on the tongue, an exceptional all-natural spritz. Enjoy Sicilian Ruby Orange Galvanina over ice with a few freshly torn mint leaves.

 

You can visit the ‘fresh ideas’ page each month on the website to find fantastic ideas for not only mixing the fruit drink with alcohol like Limoncello to make enticing cocktails and quenchers, but ideas on how to cook with Galvanina… amazing!

 

It’s such a shame that you have to hide the product away in the fridge to keep chilled as the unique bottles have a really nostalgic style and would look great displayed in your kitchen before consumption or using as a vase or decanter after, an idea which a couple of major coffee manufacturers have cottoned on to lately.

 

I decided to wait until I’d finished my review to investigate the price points on this range as I’d got a figure in mind as to what I’d consider reasonable. This is where I got the biggest surprise of all… and it was a very pleasant one. Available at Selfridges and Waitrose, the product retails at £1.59 for 355ml and £2.79 for 750ml, quite unbelievable considering the quality of the product and the gorgeous bottle.

 

The Galvanina Collection provides the perfect ingredient for mocktails for warm afternoons, over ice as a non-alcoholic aperitif or a punchy fruit base for evening alcoholic concoctions, and at only 47 calories per 100ml, this refreshing new Italian drink is certainly delizioso!

 

http://www.galvanina.co.uk/
Facebook.com/GalvaninaUK

London Heathrow Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal) focus on retail… Caviar House & Prunier

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VIS_9556  Thirty years ago, Caviar House & Prunier established their first store at Heathrow selling packaged salmon and caviar products. Following a chance encounter with Count Basie, who delighted in eating the packaged caviar at the airport, the team were inspired to develop a seafood bar concept.

The world’s first Caviar House Seafood Bar opened at Terminal 4 and is now a feature in more than 80 locations around the world, including Sydney and Dubai.Prunier[1]
Opening on 4 June, the new £1.6m restaurant has been designed to put the loved and renowned Caviar House & Prunier menu centre-stage to an international audience. Caviar House & Prunier is the only manufacturer of fine caviar and smoked salmon in the world to serve its products within its own restaurants and at LHR Terminal 2, passengers will be able to enjoy the products along with a speVIS_9593cially curated champagne menu. The restaurant will also feature a unique wine collection from Chateau Lafite Rothschild, a collection made up of 336 bottles, 28 vintages in original sealed cases of 12, retailing at €449,00 (price correct at time of print).
The restaurant, which overlooks the airfield, will have iPads at each of the 51 seats displaying multi-language menus, as well as content exploring the heritage of caviar and salmon around the world. It will also feature a phenomenal light structure simulating the movement of a school of fish, designed and commissioned by London-based lighting specialists, Cinimod Studio, the structure is 13 metres tall with a unique, unlimited animated sequence incorporating 350,000 LEDs… you will never see the same sequence within a 10 year period!
Caviar House & Prunier spend ten years bringing their sturgeons to maturity, ensuring their welfare and well-being every day of the year. The caviar is processed and salted to the highest standards possible using recipes that are several hundred years old, from a time when farmed caviar was the closely-guarded secret of a few caviar masters in the caviar city of Astrakhan in Russia.
I sampled Qiandao, the fruit of the hybridisation of two sturgeons indigenous to the Amur River on the northern border between China and Russia and now raised in the crystalline waters of Lake Qiandao, ‘the thousand island lake’ in the heart of the Huangshan Mountains. A firm-grained and delicate caviar with a smooth flavour and beautiful, yet subtle aroma.
The values of the company are impressive, with the whole focus on absolute sustainability and ecological responsibility, which is extremely important in today’s marketplace where the race to be the premium brand sometimes is achieved at the expense of poor environmental standards. The quality bar has most certainly been raised with Caviar House & Prunier.
https://www.caviarhouse-prunier.co.uk
@CaviarHouseP
Photographic credits: Visual Devotion and Caviar House & Prunier

 

London Heathrow Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal) focus on retail… The Plaza Premium Lounge

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The world’s leading airport lounge provider, Plaza Premium Lounge, will be opening at London Heathrow T2 in June 2014. Priding themselves on a quality of service which is trusted and welcomed by travellers across the globe, Plaza Premium Lounge is the industry leader in Premium Airport Services. Business travel is constantly evolving and with the current economic climate the centre of attention when budgeting for expenses, today’s business traveller is faced with fewer environments to rest, refresh and re-charge not only one’s own batteries but the energy cells of technological gadgetry used in everyday communication. But this concept is innovative, the company is the world’s first commercial VIP lounge for all travellers, irrespective of their airline or class of travel.
With 16 years’ experience in caring for travellers, Plaza Premium Lounge sets the benchmark for a luxurious and accessible airport experience. The Plaza Premium Lounge at London Heathrow T2 will be the Hong Kong-based company’s first venture in Europe and the only independent lounge at Terminal 2. There will be three phases to the opening strategy. In summer 2014, Plaza Premium Lounge will open in Departures, Lounge A3 (next to the terminal transfer desks) on Level 4. In Autumn 2014, a Lounge will open in Terminal 2 Arrivals and offer day hotel facilities for travellers, completing the phases with another Lounge opening in Terminal 4 in winter 2014.
Mr Song Hoi-see, the company founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Lounge told me “I’ve been a business traveller for many years and it was becoming increasingly difficult to find an environment where I could take time to relax before my connecting flight, perhaps re-charge my cell, take a shower… I realised this was a problem for all travellers, business or pleasure, so I researched the requirements and came up with the concept of Plaza Premium Lounge.”
Open daily from 5am to 11pm, the £38 charge per person allows access for up to two hours which includes a complimentary selection of food and drink including tapas and freshly baked artisanal breads, showering facilities (five luxury shower rooms with full amenities), use of the lounge facilities and business facilities (computer workstations, high speed Wi-Fi, charging sockets and full flight information), and entertainment in the form of TV channels, international magazine and newspapers. Also available at extra cost is a selection of vintage and non-vintage Champagnes at the Champagne Bar, an exclusive treatment menu by British organic spa brand, ILA, in the Wellness Spa and five private en-suite relaxation rooms.
With 110 locations in 29 international airports throughout the world and a development pipeline of 50 more lounges by 2015, Plaza Premium Lounge will become synonymous with luxury service at an affordable price.
To book, email uk@plaza-network.com
Website: www.plaza-network.com

Marco Bicego Jewellery… Venetian magic

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bicego[1]collection_image_small_collections_box_singolo-Paradise_senza_testo_[1] Marco Bicego is an Italian jewellery company whose pieces of elegance caught my eye as being exclusive and highly distinctive. Marco creates hand-crafted pieces that can be worn as an everyday luxury. The brand’s signature hand engraving is made with the traditional bulino, a special tool devised for the art of hand-carving which gives gold a fine, brushed texture, appearing to be almost soft like silk rather than a solid metal. It’s the softness of texture nestled alongside the delicate hues of exclusively-cut natural stones which deliver one-of-a-kind individuality to each piece of jewellery.
“The inspiration behind the creation of my jewels is rooted in my Venetian origins and the natural settings surrounding my territory” adds Marco “I have always believed in quality and in the secrets of Italian jewellery.”
Marco takes his jewellery range to another level with strong branding, changing the rules around the manufacturing process and pointing it in the direction of the woman who desires quality at an affordable price point.
www.marcobicego.com
facebook.com/MarcoBicegoJewels
@marco_bicego

Live The Brazilian Carnival With Brumani Jewellery

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Eduardo Brüner and his brothers, Emerson and Rodrigo, have created a new brand that combines their family’s legacy, the diverse cultures of their native Brazil, the irrepressibly upbeat nature of its people (think samba and Carnival) and a bounty of Brazilian gemstones. Aimed at the younger market with international red-carpet star Jennifer Lopez being seen recently wearing Brumani earrings, this fresh collection is bound to command attention.

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Renowned for sensual design and a sense of movement in its jewellery, Brumani is also known for exuberant combinations of diamonds and rare and precious gemstones. The Brazilian fine jewellers have designed more than 150 new pieces starting at £700. The new additions will form part of an extension to the beautiful Looping Shine, stylish Baobab and striking Panache collections in the form of new drop and stud earrings, statement rings, delicate necklaces and slim line bracelets. Renowned for sensual design and a sense of movement in its jewelry, Brumani is also known for exuberant combinations of diamonds and rare and precious gemstones. Their palette includes all of a girl’s best friends: from diamonds to rose quartz and amethyst to earthy smoky quartz.

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Brumani is HOT!

http://www.jewelista.com/designers-studio/brumani
facebook.com/Brumani

Beautiful Jewellery By Alexis Dove

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Touched by the nature of the South Downs, Alexis Dove works tirelessly to produce quintessentially English jewellery collections from her Sussex workshop.

Sarissa and Helios are part of the new ancient and modern-inspired collections by Alexis Dove. The thoughts behind the new pieces are to bring design elements from her fine jewellery pieces into the silver collections, connecting the two areas of her design work more closely.

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Inspired by jewellery from ancient cultures, using natural motifs such as leaves, flowers and other wildlife along with images from nature that were important to everyday ancient life including the sun, hand-hammered textures and granulation bring this beautiful jewellery to life, with the Aphrodite collection being an extension of her 2013 summer Helios collection, gorgeous feminine pieces of cascading olive leaves and twinkling faceted olive stones.

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As with all Alexis Dove collections, each piece is available in a variety of finishes, from silver to yellow and rose gold vermeil and with black rhodium. All Alexis Dove jewellery is handmade in Sussex and includes a signature clasp which is part of the hand-finished look. Prices start at around £40 and are available to purchase online with exclusive and bespoke pieces available at her stand-alone store in Lewes.

Alexis Dove Jewellery


facebook.com/AlexisDoveJewellery
@AlexisJewellery

Do You Know Where Your Diamond Originated From?

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arcticcircleYou can be rest assured when purchasing a piece of ethical diamond jewellery from Arctic Circle that it is produced in the most environmentally friendly mining area of the world.  A Canadian company adhering to world-leading environmental standards, protecting wildlife, water, air and earth while mining in Canada’s North, Arctic Circle’s policies are among the most rigorous in the industry, cherishing the landscape and the wildlife as much as the diamonds, which is as refreshing as the clarity of the fabulous jewellery collection.

The company can verify where each diamond is sourced and each stone is given a unique identity number which is laser-etched on the girdle with a maple leaf, this number stays with the diamond forever and the ‘birth certificate’ is available to view on their website.

The brand’s first UK stockist is TH Baker in Brighton and will also be rolled out to Dipples in Norwich, Allum & Sidaway, Wakefields of Horsham, Green + Benz, Judith Hart of Derby, Wright & Sons in St.Albans and Matthew Stephens in Limerick during October and November, aiming to be in 12 to 15 stores by the end of this year.  Prices start at around £1,500.

http://arcticcirclediamonds.com