PR Fired After Racist Aids Tweet

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Frostie

Justine Sacco, formally the head of corporate communications for Barry Diller’s New York-based internet empire InterActive Corp, has been fired after a racist tweet which went viral while she was in the air for an 11-hour flight from London to Cape Town, where she flew to be with her family over Christmas. Sacco issued a statement on Sunday to the Star newspaper in South Africa. She also deleted the tweet and then her entire twitter account after landing. The tweet (below) was retweeted over 2000 times and went viral after Buzzfeed picked it up and the hashtag #HasJustineLandedYet trended.

In her statement Sacco said she was in “anguish knowing that my remarks have caused pain to so many people. Words cannot express how sorry I am, and how necessary it is for me to apologize to the people of South Africa, who I have offended due to a needless and careless tweet.

There is an AIDS crisis taking place in this country, that we read about in America, but do not live with or face on a continuous basis. Unfortunately, it is terribly easy to be cavalier about an epidemic that one has never witnessed firsthand.”

Sacco was born in South Africa and her father still lives there.

And the best response is this tweet from Ellie mac @ellenmc

Going to North America. Hope I don’t get shot by George Zimmerman. Just kidding! I’m white.#HasJustineLandedYet

— Ellie Mac (@ellenmc) December 21, 2013

What do you think?

Cune Barrel Fermented 2012 Wine Review

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

We have been lucky enough to review a lot of wine and this Cune Barrel Fermented 2012 is one of our favourites. A fresh and balanced wine which doesn’t have the terrible acidity that lesser white wines tend to have. Although this is a young wine it still had the class and refinement of an older wine. A lot of effort has been put into this wine and you can tell.

A manual selection of grapes are picked at their optimum point of ripeness. Once in the winery, the grapes are cold macerated for 6-8 hours to creature more structure and flavour to finish the wine. The grapes are then lightly pressed and the juice transferred to new American oak casks for fermentation for between 15 to 20 days at cellar temperature, between 16 and 20 Celsius. The wine is tasted until it is at it’s optimum moment to rack and bottle.

100% Viura, the dry white wine has a toasty richness and is balanced by crisp, fresh, citrus characters. A soft, aromatic wine that goes beautifully with poultry dishes, smoked fish and makes a particularly good partner to paella.

This wine is now a favourite of mine and I will be buying it again. It is fresh, crisp, dry and has a wonderful citrus character. Great flavour.

RRP £9.49, Waitrose, Christopher Piper Wines, Eynsham Cellars, Luvians

Le Secret des Rôtisseurs Restaurant Review

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Frostie

The family-run Le Secret des Rôtisseurs has a lot of things going for it. First of all, it has introduced the art of rotisserie-roasted chicken to London’s Canary Wharf. You can watch as the chicken is slowly flame-roasted (This method of roasting also ensures the meat is cooked without retaining fats and oils, resulting in a chicken that is healthier and juicier than any other). The restaurant smells amazing.

This newly opened riverside French restaurant comes with a stunning view of the Thames and is beautifully designed, everyone is knowledgeable and friendly. The furniture includes unique pieces that originally furnished Altitude 95 in the Eiffel Tower. Designed by the highly esteemed Vassilew Slavik, the furniture graced the national landmark until 2007, when Alain Ducasse took over the license for the restaurant. It all feels very authentically French.

For our entrée we had snails on toast with mushrooms in butter and garlic. This was the first time I had ever eaten snails and they were actually very tasty. They were cooked well and came with a lovely garlicky sauce with a hint of lemon. The salad on the side was also good and came with a delicious dressing. A very good entrée.

We also had a salad francaise classique. Baby leaves, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and Parmesan. It had nice flavors and the Parmesan was delicious. I did find it a bit leafy and too large for my taste. I would like to have seen a larger range of starters to choose from, there were only three available, although the focus is on the rotisserie roasted chicken.

For a main course. I had the roast chicken with “secret” sauce and fries. When the waiter brings it over I say that looks amazing. ‘That’s because it is’, he replies. He’s not lying. It is amazing, the best chicken roast I can remember eating and the secret sauces is great, I am later told it is based around tarragon with sixteen different ingredients. The free-range birds are from carefully selected English farms to ensure the quality of the poultry. The roast is the best I have ever had in a restaurant.

Master Roaster Maistre Benoit, who has worked with France’s most elusive rotisserie oven craftsman, ensures all meat is cooked to his exact, secret standard, making it the best chicken in town. The technique dates back to 1248, when King Louis IX ordered the establishment of guilds, which included ‘Les Oyeurs’ or ‘goose roasters’.

If you are in the mood for something other than chicken, on weekends (Fri-Sun) meat changes weekly, with carnivorous delights such as the rolled shoulder of pork and succulent veal shank served with Le Secret des Rôtisseurs’ special sauce.

We also tried a beautiful piece of pork. The pork was succulent and moist but had a tasty crispy skin giving a beautiful different texture. It was cooked perfectly, something tough to do well with pork.

It came with a rhubarb ketchup. It was a great accompaniment and worked very well with the pork. Our sides of chips and broad beans were well seasoned and well cooked.

Throughout our meal we were treated to some superb wine. We started out meal with a glass of delicious Chablis from Burgundy. One of the very few wines at Le Secret des Rôtisseurs which is not from Bordeaux. The restaurant is justifiably proud of its wine list.They have an amazing cellar of Bordeaux wines that you can see if dining upstairs, or going to the bathroom. The restaurant goes to great lengths to bring the best wines direct from the vineyards and cuts out any middle man. Some of the wine they get is exclusive too only a few restaurants.

The chateaux Clauzet is a rich indulgent opulent classic red Bordeaux wine. It was particularly warm and comforting on a cold day.

For dessert I have the special, which is a chocolate mousse. It was beautifully presented and not only delicious but had a texture that was more like a cake. Yum.

We also had a great plate of different French cheeses.

37 Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, Canary Wharf. E14 8RR

Le Menu Parfait, £18.95
Half roasted chicken with any entrée and any accompagnement, £18.95.

www.eatlesecret.co.uk

Win A Copy Of The Promise

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Frostie

Frost Magazine has teamed up with our friends at Pearson — the world’s leading education publisher — to give away copies of revolutionary new self-improvement guide, The Promise.

The result of years of psychological research and insight, The Promise by respected psychologist Graham W Price is the definitive fool-proof route to a life free of negative thoughts and full of positivity . . . and that’s a promise.

The book maps out a clear and surprisingly straightforward path to achieving all the things we want from life: lasting relationships; job satisfaction; freedom from stress, anxiety, worry, regret, depression, addictions, weight problems and other self-limiting issues; and enjoying a rich and fulfilling life.

Across its 224 pages, The Promise reveals the secrets of Price’s Acceptance-Action Training (AAT), developed to significantly enhance motivation, resilience and relationships and empower people to reach their personal and professional goals.

As the title suggests, the book is a promise from the author to readers that if they follow his guidance they can banish forever the negative thoughts and feelings that limit potential, take control of their lives and determine their future. It’s a programme that’s already been proven to work with thousands of individuals from all walks of life.

The Promise is the last word in self-help books: a complete process of personal transformation presented in 13 inspiring chapters, with each unlocking more powerful techniques to grasp control of our destiny.

Easy to follow, and packed with real-life case studies illustrating the incredible things that can be accomplished, it is a compelling and persuasive guide that will appeal to anyone wanting to boost their abilities for a more fulfilling life.

We have 10 copies of The Promise by Graham W Price (Pearson, RRP £10.99) to give away. For your chance to win, follow @Frostmag on Twitter and Tweet, “I want to win The Promise with @Frostmag” or like us on Facebook. Alternatively, sign up to our newsletter.

Our review of The Promise is here.

MacWet Sports Gloves Review

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Frostie

MacWet Sports Gloves are a leader in their field so we had high expectations. The packaging says ‘all grip, no slip’ so we put them to the test.

First of all: they are gorgeous, sexy gloves. Perfect for adding a bit of glamour. As well as being stylish they are water resistant and windproof. They work wet or dry and give extraordinary grip. Perfect for shooting, horse riding or, basically, any other sport you could think of. We try them clay pigeon shooting and they work like a dream.

They improve your performance and give the best grip, their really is no slip, MacWet are so confident in their promise that they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. We don’t think you will need it as these are excellent sports gloves, possibly the best sports gloves available in the market today. Top marks.

To top it all they are machine washable. Glamorous, stylish and convenient? What more could you want?

Win A Copy Of 101 Business Ideas That Will Change The Way You Work

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Frostie

Frost Magazine has joined forces with Pearson — the world’s leading education publisher — to give away copies of new business guide, 101 Business Ideas That Will Change The Way You Work.

This illuminating title by respected business writer Antonio E. Weiss challenges long-held beliefs about good business practice to provide employers, managers and entrepreneurs with invaluable bite-sized nuggets of clever business insights.

Each idea in the 300-page book, described as a “box of chocolates for the managerial mind”, is neatly structured, giving a headline, summary and fun illustration, followed by snappy sections on ‘What You Need to Know’; ‘Why it Matters’; ‘What You Might Say About This’; ‘How This Will Change the Way You Work’ and ‘Where You Can Find Out More’.

And as each idea is covered in a few pages, 101 Business Ideas is the perfect book to dip in and out of when seeking another perspective or fresh inspiration.

The book’s author, Antonio E. Weiss, is a management writer and business consultant who has served leading public sector clients including central government and the NHS on strategy, performance improvement and capability building issues.

In writing 101 Business Ideas, Weiss has drawn upon the collective wisdom of contemporary business and social science thinkers including The New Yorker journalist Malcolm Gladwell and Israeli-American psychologist Daniel Kahnemann, winner of the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

It contains brilliant business tips and big ideas such as how to spot if a CEO is lying; why innovation can be overrated; why networking can make you anti-social; how biology affects your decision making; and why online procrastination actually accelerates productivity.

By telling readers what they need to know, why they need to know it and how to do it, 101 Business Ideas will ensure professionals are cannier, more effective at work and always one step ahead.

We have five copies of 101 Business Ideas That Will Change The Way You Work by Antonio E. Weiss (Pearson, RRP £12.99) to give away. For your chance to win, follow @Frostmag on Twitter and Tweet, “I want to win 101 Business Ideas with @Frostmag” or like us on Facebook. Alternatively, sign up to our newsletter.

2013 Top Music Moments

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Frostie

The Rolling Stones beat One Direction to claim music moment of 2013

· Rock icons beat pop princes in 2013 music review

· 8 out of 10 Brits think it hasn’t been a ‘golden year’ for pop

· Prince William belting out Livin’ On A Prayer beats Miley Cyrus’ twerk at VMAs

· The Big Reunion tour voted a bigger music moment than Beyonce’s surprise album

The Rolling Stones’ performance at Glastonbury has been named the biggest music moment of 2013.

With a combined age of 273, the Stones have romped to victory and shown the pop stars of today how to put on a show. The rockers not only came out top in a review of the year’s music high and lows by free music streaming service blinkbox music, but trounced pop sensations One Direction.

The Best Song Ever singers – with a combined age of 97 – came bottom of the top 20 list with the launch of their movie. To add insult to injury, the only other entry featuring the boys is Taylor Swift’s swipe at Harry Styles as he spoke at the MTV Video Music Awards, coming in at number 19.

Proof that a Rolling Stone gathers no moss, Mick and the gang’s epic performance at this year’s festival topped the survey by a landslide, with 1 in 4 putting them on top – EIGHT TIMES more than those backing the 1D boys.

In another sign of respect for the elder statesmen of music, the death of music icon Lou Reed came in second, followed in third place by the return of legend David Bowie with his new album Where Are We Now?.

2013 was a year of comebacks and reunions, including news that McFly and Busted would form a super group (4th), Eminem’s epic return (8th) and 90s pop band B*witched with The Big Reunion gang going on tour (10th) – a bigger moment than Beyonce’s surprise album (11th).

The future King of England can take a bow after his performance with Jon Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift (6th) eclipsed Miley Cyrus’ twerk-tastic We Can’t Stop/Blurred Lines show stopper at the VMAs (7th).

The summer time smash hit Get Lucky by Daft Punk was the only song entry in the survey (15th) whilst the naughty video to Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines was the only video entry, but failed to make it into the top 10 (12th).

Despite huge music moments over the past 12 months, 8 out of 10 Brits didn’t think 2013 was a golden year for pop music.

Over 2000 British adults were surveyed by One Poll for blinkbox music. Here is the full list:

1. Rolling Stones headline Glastonbury

2. Death of Lou Reed

3. David Bowie comeback album

4. McFly and Busted form McBusted

5. Adele wins Oscar for Skyfall

6. Prince William sings with Jon Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift

7. Miley Cyrus twerks at the MTV VMAs

8. Eminem’s comeback album

9. JLS announce they are breaking up

10. The Big Reunion tour

11. Beyonce releases a surprise album

12. The Blurred Lines video

13. Emeli Sande named UK’s biggest selling album artist for the second consecutive year

14. Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro appear on The Graham Norton Show

15. Daft Punk’s Get Lucky reigns over summer

16. Jay Z rides the London Underground

17. Beyonce’s performance at the Superbowl

18. Metallica play a special gig in Antarctica

19. Taylor Swift has a dig at Harry Styles as he collects MTV award

20. One Direction’s movie

OCÓO The Beauty Drink Review

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

I had heard about the new beauty drink, OCÓO, before we were asked to review it, and it really caught my attention. Being your best self usually requires time, effort, and money. So something you can just drink which makes you more beautiful? I’ll take it.

Now the review. The packaging is beautiful as I would expect, the colour looks like cola and the smell is not awful like a lot of drinks. It tastes nice too.

I did feel healthy after I drank it as it is fulll of vitamins, however, just being sent one bottle to review means I cannot know whether or not the drink has a real impact on my ‘beauty’.

OCÓO Left a good impression on me. I think it could be a quick and easy way to get the nutrients you need. It is certainly a good idea.

OCÓO The Beauty Drink is based on scientific proof that beauty care is more effective from inside the body, rather than from outside. Bringing together natural and beauty boosting ingredients, OCÓO contains 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamins and vital substances to boost the appearance and health of skin, hair and nails.

The goodness inside

A renowned team of leading dieticians and dermatologists played a key role in OCÓO’s three-year development. OCÓO’s active ingredient complex contains anti-oxidative power from vitamin-rich Power Berries (pomegranate, açaí, aronia, blackcurrants, red grapes and cranberries), extracts of green and white tea, ten essential vitamins and traces of zinc, selenium, copper, iodine, essential B-vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12) and vitamins C & E.

· Pomegranate: Powerful antioxidant and supports the immune system

· Acai Berry: Contains omega fatty acids and anthocyanin to help boost healthy collagen

· Aronia Berry: Contains the highest oxygen-radical absorbance capacity value of all the ‘super food’ berries

· Red Grapes: Harness anti-oxidative potential that is 20 to 50 times higher than Vitamin C or E

Why it works

With its active ingredient complex, OCÓO works from the inside out. Synergetic effects make the ingredients work even better together than if they were to stand alone. Because the ingredients come as a delicious fruit juice – as opposed to tablets – they reach the body in the form of a solution, which enables greater absorption. Unlike traditional beauty products, such as creams and lotions that do not penetrate deep into the skin, OCÓO supplies even the deepest layers of the skin with important nutrients, precisely where these vital nutrients are needed!

Key beauty benefits*

· Anti-Aging: Zinc and Selenium contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative, environmental damage.

· Skin Care: Niacin, Biotin and Iodine contribute to the maintenance of normal skin.

· Collagen Formation: Vitamin C contributes to increased collagen production in the skin improving function and increasing skin’s elasticity and firmness.

· Hair: Copper contributes to normal hair pigmentation; while Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair.

* Permitted Health Claims, see EU Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012, published in UR-Lex Journal, Volume 55 (2012). www.ec.europa.eu

OCÓO is available from Harvey Nichols and Amazon