Category Archives: Life & Style

Brugal Rum Cocktails | Cocktails and Rum Review

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Brugal Rum is the Caribbean and Spain’s No 1 selling rum. High praise indeed. It is 100% Dominican and has 80% of the market in the Dominican Republic. I received some bottles of the beautifully packaged rum; The Brugal Aňejo (RRP £20.29) and the Brugal Especial Extra Dry (RRP £20.27). I mean, look at it, if this bottle of rum was a model it would be Naomi Campbell. I love the rope detail. It just looks beautiful. But beauty alone does not make the world go around and taste is what really matters when it comes to rum. So let’s make some cocktails….

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Brugal Especial Extra Dry with Lemonade. Delicious. Just a great mix. These two clear liquids work well together.

The Brugal Aňejo with Ginger Beer. Rum and Ginger Beer is one of my favourite drinks. It is just a classic exotic drink.

I decided to make my own cocktail called Fruity Brugal. The ingredients are Lemonade, orange juice, lime, lemon, sugar and Brugal Especial Extra Dry.The Fruity Brugal. Cocktail created by Frost Magazine.

Put the rum in first. You need a shot of rum. Squeeze the lemon and lime in.
Add orange juice and then add lemonade.
Add a teaspoon of sugar and stir. Serve over ice.
Yummy.

I love rum and the amount of drinks you can make with it is vast.

Add your own cocktail recipes below.

Sponsored Post.

 

The Young Airhawk | Wine Review

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The Young Airhawk 2011 pack shot (LR)The Young Airhawk is a very interesting wine. In fact it is different from most other wines I have tried. It is a dry wine. Very much so. It also makes you want more. It tastes expensive, fresh and crisp. It also has a running taste of oak, but not too much.

I loved how fruity it was. It has a great, notable taste of peach, some lemon tones, green fig and a unique taste of asparagus. Which I don’t think I have ever tried in a wine before. This is a great wine full of a lot of great different flavours. A unique mix that really works. Fans of dry wine will especially love it.

Although this wine is priced at £14.99 from Morrisons I do think it is worth it. It tastes much more expensive.

The Young Airhawk – This wine is made entirely from barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc. Bouquet: Layer of green figs, asparagus and minerality, very well integrated with wood. Fresh, crisp and zesty with creamy texture.

The Young Airhawk, a fresh, crisp and zesty wine with a creamy texture made entirely from barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc, pays tribute to Nederburg founder Johann Graue’s son, Arnold. Arnold Graue loved speed, action and adventure and showed his bravery from an early age by signing on as a trainee air gunner with the South African Air Force.

Like his father, Arnold was renowned for his winemaking prowess, winning many wine prizes, but sadly after hiring a light aircraft to celebrate a perfect spring day his life was tragically cut short in a fatal collision with another aircraft. The Young Airhawk Wooded Sauvignon Blanc captures the spirit of this professionally driven young man with a huge appetite for life.

The Young Airhawk is available from Morrisons for £14.99

Toulouse in Instagram Pictures Part 1 | Travel

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I am fresh from a trip to Toulouse, I explored the wonderful city in the South of France, visiting hotels, restaurants, markets and tourist spots. All for my wonderful readers, It was hard, but someone had to do it. We are going to be doing a series of travel guides on the area but here is the first of Toulouse in Instagram Pictures. Our Toulouse Travel Guide is here.

Train to Birmingham Airport. Here is the shuttle to the airport.

Shuttle to Birmingham Airport.

No 1 Traveller Lounge at Birmingham Airport. A truly VIP experience.

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BMI Regional plane to Toulouse Blagnac Airport. We flew business class and were looked after by the amazing Michael Love.

BMI Regional plane

G & T time. When in the sky….

Gin and Tonic on BMI Regional flightView from the sky.

We stayed at the Citiz Hotel. A very stylish four star hotel. I loved my room.

Citiz Hotel

Dinner at J’GO Toulouse. The best pork and chips I have ever had in my life.

J'GO Toulouse

While we were having dinner a brass band started up outside and played ‘Funky Town’.

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It was Special National Music Day. The day that all of France get together and party. It was a lot of fun.

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My hotel room is top left. Needless to say there was no point in getting an early night. So we partied.

National Music Day in Toulouse

The next day we went to the Cite de l’espace. An amazing space museum and theme park. I saw rock from mars and the moon, saw astronauts suits. I also experienced walking on the moon thanks to the Moon Runner. I also spent some time in a Space Capsule and saw a great temporary Mars exhibition, With David Leach-Davies of 69 Magazine.

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Part 2 is here.

Part 3 is here.

Have you ever been to Toulouse? Make recommendations below.

About No.1 Traveller – fast facts

· No.1 Traveller specialises in premium hospitality and provides a complete ‘driveway to runway’ service – smart Chauffeur-driven airport transfers, express train tickets, airport parking, airport meet-and-greet and airport lounges (No.1 Traveller’s own collection, plus associate lounges abroad)

· It works with airlines, businesses and individuals to offer a convenient and comfortable service to take the stress out of going to and through airports – the smart traveller’s choice

· No.1 Traveller can be booked by anyone at www.No1Traveller.com or passengers can make their way to the reception of the airport lounge on the day

Airport lounge: Birmingham

· Opened October 2012; the first of No.1 Traveller’s lounges outside London

· Accessible to all passengers travelling through the airport

· Open daily from 0430hrs – 2030hrs; facilities include a range of seating areas across two levels, fully-tended bar, bistro area serving complimentary hot and cold dishes, complimentary newspapers, magazines and internet access

· Entry £27.50 per adult at reception, for up to three hours access (children £17.50 each), £22.50 if booked in advance (children £15)

BMI regional operates over 450 flights a week throughout the UK and Europe with one way prices starting from £59. bmi regional flies from Aberdeen, Antwerp, Bristol, Bremen, Billund, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Gothenburg, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Esbjerg, Frankfurt, Hannover, Hamburg, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Norwich, Manchester, Toulouse and Zurich. All flights include complimentary food & drink on-board, free 20kg hold baggage allowance and 30 minute check-in. bmi regional is the world’s most punctual airline having recently been crowned the title for the 8th consecutive year.  For more information, visit www.bmiregional.com.

Chinese Shanghai Composite index falls 5.3% on Monday

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Recent actions by the Chinese regulators to curb lending has further unnerved investors already unsettled by recent comments from Ben Bernanke. The interest rates Chinese banks charge each other surged last week to record highs before falling back.  And following a recent statement by the People’s Bank of China, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 5.3% Monday night.

 

Adrian Lowcock, Senior Investment Manager, at Hargreaves Lansdown;-  

 

“China’s new leadership is addressing some of the risks that have been building up in the banking system, inevitably this could result in some short term pain, possibly impacting on growth but it should benefit China in the longer run.  Chinese stock markets do look cheap at present,  based on 20 years of information.   In addition it is important to remember that China is a state-controlled economy and therefore it is very difficult to make a clear judgement on the accuracy of the information being provided.   There are some concerns China’s shadow banking system will spiral out of control, however it seems unlikely the People’s Bank of China will let the system fail.“

 

“In line with their 5 year plan China is undergoing a change from an export driven manufacturer to a consumer focused economy. This transition is not going to be smooth and there will be some bumps along the way.  China continues to grow, at around 6 to 7% per annum, but like all emerging markets this does not lead to a smooth rise in the equity market.

 

In 2007 investing in China was very popular and as a result valuations rose to very high levels. The market has underperformed both developed and emerging markets since. There are clearly issues in China’s financial system and authorities are now taking action to deal with these. For long term investors that want to have exposure to China this setback could be providing an opportunity to invest. Company earnings are rising and valuations are looking much more attractive. Most investors can get sufficient exposure through a well-diversified emerging markets fund such as First State Asia Pacific Leaders which has 23.9% in the region or Aberdeen Asia Pacific which has 18.47% in the area.   For investors wishing to take a more adventurous approach and are able to tolerate a higher level of risk then Jupiter China, managed by Philip Ehrmann, provides exposure.”

 

Taking the Big Fat Problem Out of Recipes

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Fresh_meatNew study prompts the Fat Information Service (FIS) to introduce 10 ‘recipe rules’ to reduce saturated fat content when following your favourite recipes.

A recent UK study[1] analysed 904 recipes developed by celebrity chefs and discovered over three quarters (87%) contained high levels of undesirable nutrients, particularly saturated fats. Eating too much of this type of fat contributes to heart disease and obesity.

Prompted by the new findings, along with evidence indicating that the UK currently consume 20% more saturated fat than is recommended, FIS experts have developed 10 easy to follow rules that can be applied to any recipe to help make it healthier by reducing the saturated fat content.

The new initiative by FIS aims to encourage the nation to get ‘recipe savvy’ by helping them recognise how to make their favourite home-cooked meals healthier without compromising on taste. For example, simply swapping butter for a vegetable oil based spread or replacing cream with low fat yogurt can significantly reduce the saturated fat content of a recipe.  In addition, FIS are also reminding people of the importance of comparing food labels and selecting products that are lower in saturated fat as another simple way to boost their heart health.

Dr Emma Derbyshire, nutritionist and independent advisor to FIS, comments, “Celebrity chefs are great for inspiring people to cook fresh meals and try different types of foods. The problem is that their recipes are generally far too high in saturated fat and calories to be eaten regularly, making them better suited for treats and special occasions.

“The ‘recipe rules’ developed by the Fat Information Service aim to address this by introducing simple changes that people can make to any type of recipe to make it healthier and allow them to include it as part of their regular diet.

“These simple steps to cut down on the amount of saturated fat, such as adapting recipes by swapping less healthy ingredients with lower sat fat ones, and using healthier cooking methods, could potentially save thousands of lives and years of living with heart disease.”

The Recipe Rules:

1.                  If the recipe includes cream, replace with lower fat fromage frais, natural yoghurt or crème fraiche

2.                  Swap whole milk for semi skimmed or skimmed milk

3.                  If you are using cheese to flavour a dish or a sauce, opt for a strong tasting cheese and use a smaller amount of it. Alternatively, try a reduced fat version

4.                  Swap butter for vegetable oil based spreads or margarine

5.                  Use unsaturated oils such as olive, sunflower or rapeseed oils instead of butter, lard or ghee

6.                  Wherever possible grill meat and poultry instead of frying it and cut off any visible fat or skin before cooking

7.                  Use a non stick pan to avoid adding extra fat when cooking

8.                  Add less meat to stews and casseroles and replace with pulses and extra vegetables instead

9.                  When making a pie opt for just one crust – either a lid or a base – as pastry is high in saturated fat  – (also try to make pastry with

Vegetable oil based spreads or margarine instead of butter)

10.              Grill, bake, poach or steam rather than frying and roasting

[1] Food and Public Health journal, April 2013.

Festival Survival Pack

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Festival survival packWaking up in a tent with a hangover means a dry mouth and bad breath. Forgotten your toothbrush? Then Oraldiet is the perfect solution to keep you minty fresh all day. It’s an innovative lozenge that contains the probiotic lactobacillus reuteri, which balances out the bad bacteria in the mouth – the main cause of bad breath. It also contains aloe vera gel, which helps to keep your mouth bacteria balanced and keep you bad breath free.

I reviewed Oraldiet to see if it works. I took one everyday after brushing my teeth and it made a difference. It tastes like a strong mint. My mouth was fresher all day and I also noticed an improvement in my overall dental health. Better gums, whiter teeth and my tongue looked healthier too. Pretty cool.

Being on your feet all day at a festival can leave you feeling a little sore in the sole, but now you can add an extra weapon to your armoury against foot care woes with Carnation Footcare’s Anti Blister Stick. Long lasting, invisible and non-greasy, the innovative Anti- Blister Stick can be applied directly to the areas of your feet where shoes pinch and rub, providing instant relief, while also being easy to pop into your bag and carry around – perfect for when you are stuck in a field in the middle of nowhere. I use this almost everyday. I even took it on a recent trip to Toulouse and it helped with the hours of fun sight-seeing, which are always hard on poor feet.

Planning on dancing the night away? Look no further than the 9bar range for all of your energy needs. Available in nine tasty varieties – Original, Nutty, Pumpkin, Flax, Organic, Peanut, Anglesey Sea Salt, Cracked Black Pepper and Sweet Chilli – there’s a flavour to suit every taste bud. Packed with nutritious seeds that give a slow release of energy, 9bars keep you feeling fuller for longer, allowing you to concentrate on more important things – like which stage to attend. I have tried them and they are delicious.

Don’t let hangovers get in the way of your festival fun. Start your day with a Nature’s Plus Red Lightning powder sachet and feel electric. Each sachet is packed with over thirty whole food extracts including cranberry and pomegranate, giving it an antioxidant punch, perfect for curing those sore alcohol induced heads. It’s the perfect way to start your festival day!

The lights have gone off, the field is silent and you feel the need to sleep for days. It’s safe to say that the festival is over. Make sure that you are ready to get back to the daily routine with Detox Patch-It. This simple plaster-style detox system uses reflexology to support the body’s natural detoxification process. Just apply the Detox Patch-it to the bottom of your feet and let it do all of the work. Using double distilled mandarin wood vinegar and green tea the patches deliver FAR-infrared energy to stimulate key reflexology points on the feet so you awake feeling revived and ready for your next festival!

The 9bar range is available from Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Holland & Barrett and independent health food stores nationwide. Original, Nutty, Pumpkin, Flax, Organic and Peanut are available in 4 x 40g multi packs, RRP £1.89, and in 50g singles, RRP 70p. Anglesey Sea Salt, Cracked Black Pepper and Sweet Chilli are available in Waitrose stores nationwide. All varieties are available as 30g singles, RRP 65p.

Oraldiet is available from www.revital.co.uk. £6.35 for 30 lozenges.

Carnation Footcare’s Anti Blister Stick is available from £4.05.

Detox Patch-It is available from Holland & Barrett stores nationwide. £3.99 for 2 patches or £29.99 for 20 patches.

Nature’s Plus Source of Life Red Lightning powder sachets are available from www.nutricentre.com. £1.38 for 6g sachet.

Free Shipping From US When Online Shopping? Yes Please | Shopping News

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summer clothesOnline shopping is great, in fact the only bad thing about it- apart from the destruction to your bank account- is the absurd rise in postage costs. So when we came across the news that American Express are offering card holders free postage from the US we got quite excited. Sorry bank account, it is too good to resist.

Throughout June, American Express Cardmembers in the U.K. can enjoy free shipping and a hassle-free experience when shopping online at top U.S. stores and brands with a simple promotional code.

American Express has partnered with Borderfree to launch the U.S. Summer Sales campaign, which runs until 30 June, and is valid when using any American Express Card on orders of more than £70. British Cardmembers can take advantage of the offer by entering the promotional code AMEXBF when paying with their American Express Card.

The campaign includes a wide range of top U.S. brands, such as Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Aeropostale. A full list of merchants can be found at the campaign website www.port51.com/amex .

In addition to free shipping, Cardmembers can browse online in local currencies, and see all taxes and duties up front at checkout. Shoppers will receive their merchandise within 10 business days and incur no additional fees upon receipt.

The promotion is valid when shopping online with an American Express Card, and when shipping to international destinations outside of the U.S.

Blackhouse Grill on the Market Restaurant Review

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The Blackhouse Grill on the market restaurant is located right next to Smithfields market. As we enter the restaurant we are taken to the back and around a corner to a beautifully designed room hidden from the street. It feels exclusive and relaxed. A long way from the hustle and bustle of the London streets we have just left. Grill on the Market’s menu focuses on seafood and steaks.

The atmosphere was great, very calm and relaxed. The staff immediately put us at ease. They were very friendly and knowledgeable. The seats were really comfortable. This would be a perfect place to go with some friends and the Blackhouse actively encourages this with its unlimited Prosecco deal every Saturday if you go with friends. Full details below. Your Prosecco is unlimited for two hours as long as you bring two friends. This great deal seems to be working, despite it being lunch time in the middle of the week there are plenty of people in the restaurant. Everyone seem to be  aged between 20 and 30. This seems to be a very trendy place hidden slightly away from the masses which makes it feel exclusive.

We start off with the Blackhouse sharing platter which gives us a chance to taste a lot of dishes in one. The platter includes honey, rosemary and lemon chicken skewer, fish cakes, duck spring roll and calamari.

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It looked amazing and all the elements were absolutely delicious. Often when you order a big platter like this the food is rushed and average. This was certainly not the case here. The rosemary and lemon chicken was succulent and beautifully flavoured. The deep fried calamari was crunchy and tasty. I particularly liked the beautuiful duck spring rolls. The sauces which accompanied the dish were also particularly good. They were sweet chilli, honey mustard and sour cream. All were filled with flavour and went beautifully with the different assortments. A great starter it tasted as good as it looks and lived up to the Blackhouse ‘honest proper food’ mantra.

For our mains we had the sesame crusted tuna from the seafood menu and from their special premium beef menu we had a fillet of English Longhorn.

My sesame crusted tuna was a beautiful piece of fish perfectly cooked and superbly presented. Tuna is often overcooked but not here the fish was perfect and shone.

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The soy sauce and sweet pickled vegetables were the perfect accompaniment. A really beautiful lunch. The sirloin steak was equally good if not better. The English Longhorn steak was really special. Perfectly cooked as you can see, it came with a superb peppercorn sauce and was probably the best steak I’ve ever had. The chunky chips were also excellent. To drink we were treated to unlimited Prosecco for two hours. The Prosecco was crisp and wonderful and it was great to have your glass constantly refilled. The whole meal was relaxed easy and fun.

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Our puddings didn’t disappoint either. My trifle was again beautifully presented (as all our food was) and was delicious. photo (86)

Trifles are not easy to get right, sometimes I find restaurants make them too heavy. But this was an excellent trifle.photo (85) The portion size was perfect and the cream and jelly were light and delicious. I really enjoyed it and the creme brulee was also delicious

The Blackhouse grill claims to offer solid, honest and simple proper food. It delivers 100% on this promise. The food was first class as were the service and atmosphere. We will definitely be going back to take advantage of that free Prosecco!

http://blackhouse.uk.com/restaurant/london-smithfield/

The Grill on the Market
2-3 West Smithfield, City of London, EC1A 9JX
T: 020 7246 0900
Twitter: @GotmSmithfield

Put some sparkle into your Saturdays with unlimited bubbly when brunching at the recently opened steak and seafood restaurant and bar, The Grill on the Market in Smithfield.Starting this Saturday (2nd February) from noon – 6pm,
diners can indulge in deliciously restorative brunch dishes such as eggs ‘any way you like them’ – poached,
scrambled, fried or Royale with smoked salmon; a classic BLT; steak, egg and chips; and maple glaze gammon
with home cut chips and sweet pineapple as well as a the ‘full works’ cooked breakfast, all washed down with unlimited fizz.
Simply take along two or more friends, order anything off the brunch menu to be treated to unlimited Prosecco
for the duration of your meal (maximum of two hours). With brunch dishes starting at just £9, the Grill on the
Market’s bubbly brunch represents excellent value for money.
Booking is essential, please visit www.blackhouse.uk.com/bubblybrunch to put some sparkle into your Saturdays and kick start the weekend in style.
2-3 West Smithfield, City of London, EC1A 9JX
T: 020 7246 0900
Twitter: @GotmSmithfield