A Day In The Life of Ryan Stanier, Director of The Other Art Fair

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Margaret Graham

As director of The Other Art Fair my days are always busy, meeting with artists and planning for the fair. 2015 saw the launch of two new fairs – one in Bristol and our first international fair in Sydney – and the 10^th edition of the London fair is coming up, (15 – 18 October) so I’m busier than ever!

My day typically starts at 6am. I’ll stop by my local coffee shop Ginger & White in Belsize Park for a double espresso on my way into work. I like to be in our Covent Garden office by 8 am to go through my emails and catch up with phone calls. The rest of The Other Art Fair team are in by 9 am – if it’s a Monday morning we kick-start the week over coffee, pastries and swap interesting stories from the morning newspapers.

I visit artists’ studios before lunch to discuss their practice and plans for the upcoming fair. I recently caught up with Dan Hillier at his studio in Stoke Newington. Dan has participated in all 10 editions of the fair and so we asked him to design our #TOAFis10 tote bags, celebrating 10 successful editions of The Other Art Fair.

I’ll have lunch with one of our fair partners, such as Deborah Curtis from House of Fairy Tales to discuss their exciting Matchbox Project for the upcoming fair. Then it’s straight back to the office for a creative planning session with the team, developing ideas for future editions of The Other Art Fair.

At the end of the afternoon Sophie, the fair manager, and I meet to discuss plans for our next international fair. I try to finish work at 6.30, and at the end of a busy week I’ll go to catch up with mates at The Engineer in Primrose Hill. My job is demanding, but it’s worth it to see the success of artists who participate in The Other Art Fair.

The Other Fair Old Truman Brewery Hanbury Lane LondonE1 6QL

15 – 18 October 2015

www.theotherartfair.com/

Dan Hillier’s #TOAFis10 tote bag is available to buy online or at the fair, with all profitable proceeds going to the fair’s charity partner The House of Fairy Tales.

Follow Ryan on instagram @ryan.stanier

New Favourite Hangout… presenting No. 11 Pimlico Road.

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Kesh

Londoners rejoice, we’ve found you a bar and restaurant which is every bit as sexy in their menu as they are in their décor and ambience and the best part is, it’s no pop-up, it’s here to stay.

Independently run, No. 11 Pimlico Road oozes style and cosiness and we mean cosy as in your new home from home. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you could pretty much make it your second home with its epically cool ambience and stunning decor. So roll up and make yourself at home here at No.11 Pimlico Road. They will do all the hard work, serving up their expertly crafted cocktails with a food menu which is every bit as delicious and made with love.

Frost were lucky enough to enjoy a cocktail masterclass with No.11 Pimlico Road’s head bartender, Elvis, and it’s certainly evident why their cocktails are of such a high standard after you’ve seen the passion which goes into crafting them. Not only did he take us through a step-by-step guide of how to make them, but we also got a little cocktail history on rums, tequilas and setting fire to oranges… yes there’s an art to that too. After getting a little historical run down on our favourite drinkies, we had the pleasure of trying out a few of the cocktails, made by our own hands with a little support from Elvis himself.

Their latest addition to the cocktail family and my personal favourite, is the Peanut Butter Rum. This hug in a mug is the most indulgent and delicious warmed alcoholic beverage i’ve ever tasted and I will go as far to say that it is worth the journey to No.11 Pimlico Road solely to taste this festive mug of joy. If you’re a fan of Harry Potter this is exactly what one would imagine a butter-beer to taste like, well an adults version. With it’s vanilla fused Rum, Cointreau and actual Peanut Butter, this is guaranteed to warm up any chilly night and will leave your tongue wagging for more.

If you’re a fan of the traditional cocktail, which we learnt is a composition of sugar, spirits, water and bitters, in other words, The Old Fashioned, well fear not as Elvis has taken the traditional and infused it with a little innovation to come up with The Tequila Old Fashioned. The result, a really clean, fresh take on an old great.

Coming soon… The Passion Fruit Mojito. So, if there’s any reason to wish this summer months back, it’s to try this summery creation and it was while trying to master this cocktail where you really notice the level of hard work and effort which goes into making and creating these cocktails, so next time you’re wondering why your cocktail order takes a little longer than other drinks, it’s all about quality and attention to detail.

As a testimony to any great bar I naturally ordered a Dirty Martini being a classic but hard to get the balance right, i’m happy to say No. 11 Pimlico Road passed with honours. It’s plain to see that everyone in the No.11 Family have a deep passion and love for the business and once you’ve visited, we’re sure you’ll be in love too. The upstairs area can be rented out and unlike many hire out rooms in bars today, there is a soul to No.11 which is bound to bring a unique magic to any event hosted here. The theme of this place is relaxed and light so kick back order that Peanut Butter Rum and thank us for it after.

Location:

11 Pimlico Road

London SW1W 1NA

http://no11pimlicoroad.co.uk

The Reluctant Pilgrim by Penny Gerrard Reviewed by Margaret Graham

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Margaret Graham

At the start of The Reluctant Pilgrim, Penny Gerrard asks, ‘How do I capture the contrasts using what can hardly be more than verbal snapshots? Can I bring you the sights, sounds and smells which for me, in the future, will immediately say ‘Israel’?

Well, she can, and she does.

The Reluctant Pilgrim records a journey Gerrard took which showed her some of the best and worst of the troubled land she has been reading about in the Bible since she became a Christian forty something years ago.

Starting at the shore at Caesarea Philippi Gerrard immediately brings to life the shore: I felt the warmth of the sun, the blue of the sea, and the five desalination plants of today’s Israel. And this is how the journey continues, history mixed with today, conveyed in straightforward prose and using interesting photos.

I was actually in Israel quite a while ago, cycling on and off road. I saw the parched land bloom, I visited places named in the Bible, I would, however, have liked to read Penny Gerrard’s journey before I went.

Why? She weaves us through past and present. The present being 3 shekels to reserve yourself a music filled cubicle in a public loo, the past being the fact that Roman soldiers were known to use dead chicks in lieu of the more usual sponges. Oh joy.

We go with her to Tiberius, founded on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. And onwards to, amongst others: Bethlehem, then the home of Dead Sea Scrolls and finally Jerusalem.

The Reluctant Pilgrim is a journey through faith, as well as a country. Gerrard has the happy knack of being able to bring a place to life. How? She doesn’t ignore detail, she writes with a great sense of place. The Reluctant Pilgrim is thoughtful, and evocative.

Bravo.

The Reluctant Pilgrim by Penny Gerrard can be obtained from Amazon.co.uk

Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Christian Gott

My waist line will attest that I love food, I could alienate most of the food industry with the old classic adage never trust a skinny chef, and I adore eating pretty much anything, Chinese cuisine, Italian cooking, Barbecues, but the food I love most is the classic Sunday roast. Succulent roast chicken with crispy skin; chunks of tender lamb flavoured with garlic, rosemary and anchovy; melting, fatty pork with salty crackling or medium rare roast beef with rich red wine gravy, it is very difficult to choose which I prefer most. Which is your favourite? Which is the most popular roast in the country? Well the roast that everyone worldwide knows is as British as roast beef, well is er.., roast beef

So if the king of the British roast is a joint of beef, in my humble opinion it is the equally aristocratically sounding Sirloin* that is the best beef to roast. There are moderately cheaper joints such as a corner cut topside that make for an excellent roast, if you can afford it a rib on the bone is perhaps the most show stopping roast to present at a table, but I prefer is the sirloin. The meat itself is very lean, however that lovely layer of fat will help keep the meat moist when cooking. The taste is terrific, there is minimal waste and it is fantastically easy to carve at the table, if you feel like impressing you guests.

*You are perhaps aware of the story that an effusive monarch was so taken with his beef dinner he knighted the remains of the joint on the spot. It has been attributed to Henry VIII, Charles II and the host of English kings in between and was so popular it was referenced by Jonathan Swift and Samuel Johnson, but the origins of the word sirloin are much less regal. The old English word would be originally written as ‘surloyn’ or ‘surloine’, and was derived from French word ‘surlonge’, sur meaning over and longe meaning loin, the sirloin was then quite simply a cut of beef taken from above the loin. Interestingly most or our words describing cuts of meat or the name of the meat are from French origins, the names of animals or livestock are more often of Anglo-Saxon decent.

Last time I gave you the recipe for Yorkshire Pudding, the classic accompaniment to roast beef. So here is my recipe for the perfect roast beef. A good local butcher will be able to provide you with a great piece of beef from a reputable, quality supplier. If you can find grass fed, mature beef, hung for three weeks it will be simply delicious, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Roast Sirloin of Beef and Rich Red Wine Gravy serves 6-8

1 ½ to 2 kg centre cut Sirloin, rolled and tied
( Ask your local butcher to do this )
250 gr Beef Dripping or Lard
1 tablespoon fresh Thyme leaves
½ tablespoon English Mustard Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon ground Black Pepper

For the gravy
350ml red wine
200ml beef stock
75ml port
1 small White Onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1 Carrot, peeled and sliced
1 stick of Celery, washed and sliced
1 clove of Garlic, peeled and crushed
2 tablespoons of Vegetable Oil
1 heaped tablespoon Plain Flour
1 Bay leaf
A few sprigs of Thyme

Heat your oven to 400 F / 200C/ Gas Mark 6 and weigh your joint of beef. Put the dripping into a roasting pan and place in the oven. Mix the thyme, mustard, salt and black pepper and rub all over the beef and when the dripping is melted and hot, place in the beef fat side down and return the roasting pan to the oven. Roast the beef for thirty minutes, then remove from the oven and turn the piece of beef over before placing back in the oven.

Turn the heat down to 360 F / 180C / Gas Mark 4. For every 450 gr of raw weight, cook your joint for ten minutes per 450 gr for a rare piece of beef and for fifteen minutes per 450 gr for well done. When the beef is cooked to your particular preference, take it out of the roasting pan, cover with foil and allow to rest somewhere warm for thirty minutes.

To make the red wine gravy, place the roasting tin on a high heat with the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, bay leaf and thyme. Fry the vegetables for a couple of minutes then add the flour, cook for a couple more minutes stirring continuously. Pour in the port, scrape with a wooden spoon to loosen any debris from the tin and add the red wine. Continue to simmer and reduce by three-quarters before adding the stock. Bring to the boil, reduce by a quarter and season to taste. Pour in any resting juices back into the tin, warm and pour the gravy through a sieve into a warm jug. Carve the meat and serve with the gravy and Yorkshire puddings.

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff Reviewed by Margaret Graham

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Margaret Graham

Fates and Furies

This is a novel that deserves its hype, and trust me, not all do.

At age twenty-two, Lotto and Mathilde are tall, glamorous, madly in love, and destined for creative greatness. A decade later, their marriage is still the envy of their friends, but by now we understand that things are even more complicated and remarkable than they have so far seemed.

Lauren Groff is in full command of her perspectives. She reveals each new twist effortlessly, and her vibrant prose keeps us gripped and involved over more than two decades. Basically, Groff explores the unsettling truth: that secrets are often the cement – or do I mean the engine? – of relationships.

I really enjoyed Fates and Furies, and admire the oomph of the prose and profound understanding of creative, and relationships, that Groff displays. It’s a clever, accessible, and resonant novel. Brilliant.

Lauren Groff is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Monsters of Templeton, the short story collection Delicate Edible Birds and Arcadia. She has won Pushcart and PEN/O. Henry prizes, and has been shortlisted for the Orange Award for New Writers. Her stories have appeared in publications including The New Yorker, the Atlantic, One Story, and Ploughshares, and have been anthologised in Best American Short Stories 2007 and 2010, and Best New American Voices 2008. She lives in Gainesville, Florida, with her husband and two sons.

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff. Published in hardback by William Heinemann in September 2015 at £14.99

Love You Better By Natalie K Martin Book Review

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Frostie

By Frances Colville

Natalie K Martin’s second book Love You Better is about domestic violence. Set in London, Thailand and Ibiza with links to other parts of the world, the story is fast paced with well-drawn characters and a good if somewhat predicable story line. We all know that domestic violence can occur in all sorts of households and relationships, and any book which reinforces this and flags up some of the telltale warning signs is welcome. The author has done her research well. And her love of travel shines through too.

However, the ending of the book was clearly signposted from the early pages and for me this detracted from the impact of the story as it evolved. It’s hard to care enough about the development of a character – even one you empathise with as much as Effie – if you’ve already worked out what is going to happen to her. There were a few other things which pulled me up short. Is the character Oliver intended to be the same age as the other main characters (that is, mid twenties) and if so, how can he possibly be one of the most sought-after lawyers in London? A three storey whitewashed Georgian house in a quiet street in Clapham for £500,000? I don’t think so. Nitpicking? Yes. But why not get it right?

This book is still a good read though. It flows well, it’s interesting and I did actually want to know if I guessed the right ending. And I liked the play on words in the title. A book worth reading in fact. I’m going to search out the author’s first book Together Apart and look forward to future offerings as well.

Love You Better is published by Lake Union Publishing and will be available in the UK in paperback and ebook versions from 8th October 2015.

Above Us The Sky – Milly Adams Book Review by Kathleen Thompson

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Frostie

An unputdownable debut from an exciting new author.

Phyllie, a young teacher, finds herself acting mother to her pupils, and to a Jewish boy, Jake, in particular, when the school is evacuated from London to rural Dorset. She bumps into a childhood sweetheart, Sammy, as they wait to board the train, and he mock proposes, to amuse the children. But did he mean it? And will he be safe in the submarine where he and Jake’s father patrol the dangerous waters of Norway?

Phyllie gradually adjusts to country life. Fiercely protective of her wards, she overcomes misunderstandings and conflict. But as her circumstances take a turn for the worst, she discovers genuine friendship and love—from unexpected sources.

Millie Adams weaves a compelling story of love and loss in war-time Britain. She draws the reader in with her intense details of life in those times. I truly felt the claustrophobia and stress of life within a submarine—and started to appreciate the constant danger and the frequent death or ‘burn-out’, of so many young men.

She describes life in the countryside with such detail and accuracy that one feels she lived through it herself —the reality of sugar rationing and ‘making do’ and the often forgotten role of the Women’s Institute, in holding things together and organising food supplies.

She touches on many influences on life in those troubled times—the festering anti-semetism, fuelled by Mosley’s ‘black-shirts’ and ignorance; the reality of the bombing and airborne raids on civilians and the ubiquitous pain of loss, often of someone far too young.

As I said, unputdownable. A truly excellent read, a book that is well-written, compassionate, amusing, observant, and so tense I could hardly turn the pages quickly enough. I can’t wait for Milly Adams’ next book.

Amanda Holden Struggles With Nerves on First Day of Shoot

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Amy Voce

Having last appeared on stage in the nationally acclaimed ‘Shrek the Musical’ back in 2011, Amanda Holden made her long awaited return to the stage in what could prove to be her toughest role yet.

In a behind the scenes video documenting her latest acting role, Holden is seen to struggle with nerves and even forget her lines on two occasions in front of impatient directors.

But as is always the case in show business, all is not as it first seems.

Holden, a mother of two children herself, was actually filming a spoof advert in her latest role as the face of Pebli Town, a revolutionary new pre-school toy that fuses traditional play with the latest technology.

With Holden reciting her lines to a team of directors made up of three children, Pebli Town is designed to give youngsters full control of four traditional play pieces and a physical play board that in turn interacts with a tablet to bring the toy to life.

“As an actor, it’s not often you’re asked to perform poorly in front of directors that are a similar age to your own children,” said Holden.

“What has impressed me most about Pebli Town is that children are really the directors of their own show. It’s also a toy that allows parents to be more involved whilst accommodating for all key developmental and educational needs a parent would want for their child.”

With four exciting interactive game modes, Pebli Town is designed to help develop children’s problem solving skills and hand eye coordination whilst sparking creativity, imagination and self-expression.

“As a performer myself, I think it’s really important that children are given the opportunity to express themselves and show their creative side at play time,” admitted Holden, who is mother to nine-year-old Alexa and three-year-old Hollie.

“I know from my experiences that children can be incredibly creative if encouraged in a fun way.”

As an established actress, singer, presenter and judge, the daily juggle between career and family life remains an admittedly challenging one for Holden.

“Like every mother, sometimes it feels a little like the time you have to spend with your children is going, it’s slipping away. It’s about finding a balance and making sure you get to spend the right amount of time with your family and my current workload absolutely allows me to do this.”

“It’s scary how quickly your children grow up so its important parents spend as much time with them as possible.”

“Even physically, Lexie went from a size two to a three in two months and she has gone to school with a sort of side, low ponytail and there’s no Alice T-bar shoes anymore, she has got slip on shoes. Because Holly is three and a half and looks up to her big sister, she tries to dress the same and appears more mature than an actual three and a half year old. You can even have a full conversation with her.”

With Pebli Town representing a new age of toys being brought to life through technology, the current trend of parents allowing their children to have unfettered access to their own tablets and mobile devices is growing, with children now spending an average of two hours 56 minutes in front of a screen every day.

According to a recent survey by ComRes, 84 per cent of parents believe there are educational benefits in their children having access to tablets and smartphones, a statistic Holden supports.

“It can only be a positive thing introducing children to technology in a way that is safe, controlled and benefits their educational development,” said the 44-year-old.

“Pebli Town has got the balance right as 99% of all game play is still done on the board so you avoid having your children glued to a tablet.”

As for Holden’s future career ventures for the rest of 2015, her relentless workload doesn’t look as though it will ease up just yet.

“I am filming something for the BBC now and doing a load of stuff for Text Santa. As for acting, there is a possible musical in the running but I can’t tell you too much at this stage. Watch this space!”

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