Pre Cannes Festival 2013 | Social Diary

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May 2nd saw the Pre Cannes Festival. The press release said, “With the very special participation of celebrity guests Carol Cleveland (Monthy Pythons), Patricia Inder (John Lennon’s & Lemmy of Motorhead’s). And Jonathan Hansler (Axed the movie, Cadbury ads), British actress and writer Catherine Balavage, Zoe Griffin author of the book “Get Rich Blogging”, Andrea Iervolino the youngest and most successful Italian producer all the way from Italy.”
Yes, yours truly was honoured to be presented for my acting work. I was quite thrown when Paola Berta told me I would be presented at the event. Lots of thanks to her and congratulations on the event. I was interviewed by Fashion TV amongst others and I had a wonderful time.
Catherine Balavage being interviewed by Fashion TV.

Catherine Balavage being interviewed by Fashion TV.

The event was held at No 5, 5 Cavendish square. It is a beautiful and classy venue. I mingled with Zoe and actor Jonathan Hansler while Fabio Tedde & Paul Wiffen played piano.
Pointing out the Frost logo. We have sponsored the event for the past two years.

Pointing out the Frost logo. We have sponsored the event for the past two years.

I bumped into the vivacious and beautiful Zoe Griffin, author of “Get Rich Blogging” and owner of excellent blog Live Like a VIP, who were kind enough to mention me in the coverage of the event.
I also had a great chat with the makers of new energy drink Think Drink, an energy drink that is natural and tastes great. We also chatted with Delights of Italy who make amazing cupcakes and entirely edible flowers. They were beautiful and delicious.
We also saw some great films from the Cannes Short Corner Official Selections.
SOMEBODY TO LOVE by Braine Hownd FilmsCAVIAR 2 by Beluga Films

COLONEL BADD by Tiger Dreams

UNSPOKEN by Oakman Films

KIR ROYALE by Beluga Films

edibleofflowers frostmagazine

There were also great talks from marketing specialist Kathy Ennis, LA producer and entrepreneur CHRISTIE HSIAO of SERENITY  MEDIA GROUP, British actress and theatre producer VICKY MCKELLER, Gentiane Piovanacci, editor of MAMARAZZI news magazine, popular french artist LADYKAT and from Spain, Mac Chakaveh, president of the MARBELLA FILM FESTIVAL.

 

Keep an eye out for more photos from the event.

Fashion Fabulous Party | Social Diary

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I went along to the launch of the third edition of the Fashion Fabulous book. I was joined by actor/director Jack Bowman and his wonderful girlfriend Mary Burt. I also met the team behind new blog The London Index, Joseph and Leah-Jade. Check them out. Some of their photos are below.

I had a flick through the book and it is brilliant researched. I talked to Tracy and she said that she goes to every single shop and restaurant. Everything is checked to make sure it is of the highest quality. Tracey is also a hat designer and the hat she was wearing was spectacular.

Tracey and Russell Rose fabulous 086 fabulous 079dsc_0689

Sarah Eckersley + Leah-Jade Verasammy + Mary Burt + Jack Bowman + Guest + Catherine Balavage

Frost editor Catherine Balavage with actor and director Jack Bowman.

Frost editor Catherine Balavage with actor and director Jack Bowman.

 

Fashion Fabulous London returns with new guide for 2013

  • The results of an extensive mystery shop uncover the capital’s Top 200 retailers.
  • London’s best shopping districts revealed. Shoreditch and Shepherd’s Bush among up-and-coming areas pushing North Kensington out of the top 10.
  • Customer service in Prada rated equally to Primark.

 

London’s number 1 independent shopping guide, Fashion Fabulous London launched its new guidebook for 2013 on the 24th of April, and it is out now.

 

The third edition of the consumer guide picks out and reviews the top shops in London. The shopping equivalent to the Michelin Guide, the new edition of the book is a must-have for the style-conscious London shopper.

 

Fashion insiders Tracy Rose and Russell Rose have once again compiled the book by making mystery shopper visits to one thousand retailers across the capital. This year’s updated guide highlights the best shops visited by the couple with in-depth reviews of the hottest outlets.

 

This year’s Top 200 retailers named in Fashion Fabulous London include new entries from designer-run boutique Antoni & Alison in Farringdon and rising vintage outlet Emporium in Greenwich.

 

Once again, the West End tops the list of London districts with the most retailers in the Top 200, but new neighbourhoods have arrived in the Top 10 shopping districts.  Shepherd’s Bush, boosted by the presence of fashion destination Westfield London, now sits in the Top 10 ahead of Camden and Islington. Shoreditch has cemented its position as a fashion hotspot by ousting North Kensington from this year’s Top 10.

 

The changes in the guide’s Top 10 shopping districts reflect the increasing spread of quality retailers across London. Tracy Rose comments, “The West End remains London and the UK’s retail heart. However, we found from our visits across the city that lavish outlets and high-end service is far from limited to the boutiques of Bond Street and Savile Row. We are finding that retailers further afield in the capital are increasingly improving the quality of the customer experience, even in the current economic climate.”

 

Shops that offered a personal touch to customers were highly commended by the pair. Tracy states, “We particularly enjoy the experience offered by designer-run boutiques, where the customer can meet the creators of the items on sale. Being myself both a fashion designer and an avid shopper, I appreciate how much consumers value knowing about how their clothes were made.”

 

Each of the top retailers reviewed in Fashion Fabulous London receive a rating out of 5 shopping bags on choice, service and wow factor.  Every store was re-evaluated this year with many receiving new ratings: In service, Bond Street’s Prada store lost its five shopping bag rating while Primark on Oxford Street improved on its one shopping bag rating – both now having two shopping bags in the 2013 edition.

 

Readers of Fashion Fabulous London will discover personal accounts from Tracy and Russell from their visits to each outlet. Tracy recounts the story of a showdown with shoppers in the Alexander McQueen store, with one envious customer snatching a shoe from her grasp. In another review, Russell gets to know Camden’s leftfield Cyberdog shop by trying on a yellow laser print ‘Talk to the Hand’ T-shirt.

 

Russell Rose comments, “We hope that this year’s guide will be the perfect companion for fashion-lovers looking for either high-end or high street shops. Whether you’re looking for shoes or handbags, we’ve taken the leg work out of finding the best stockists.”

 

Fashion Fabulous London will be on sale from 30 April 2013 at leading retailers nationwide including Harrods, Selfridges and Waterstones, and online from Amazon.

 

Top 10 London shopping postcodes

The top 10 districts in London ranked by the number of Fashion Fabulous London’s Top 200 shops in each district.

2013Rank Postcode District 2012Rank
1 W1 West End 1
2 SW1 Belgravia 2
3 W11 Notting Hill Gate 4
4 E1 Brick Lane /Spitalfields 3
5 SW3 Chelsea 6
6 E2 Bethnal Green 7
7 WC2 Covent Garden 5
8 W12 Shepherd’s Bush =11
9 N1 Islington 8
=10 EC2 Shoreditch =11
=10 NW1 Camden 10

Business Continuity For Dummies | Book Review

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Business ContinuityI must confess that when I first saw the title of this book I was unsure what ‘business continuity’ actually meant. Was it to make sure that your business has the same branding through every part of the business? No, it is more obvious: it is to ensure the continuation of your business. Makes sense. The book tells you all about business continuity and helps you understand it.

Wiley, the publisher who published the For Dummies imprint, say: “Business continuity is all about having plans in place to enable your business to cope if disaster strikes in the form of fire, flood, terrorist attack, or simply if a key supplier lets you down.”

This book has five authors, which I think is a good thing, as they all have obviously written about their knowledge in their areas. Building a business is hard and it is a sad fact that most businesses fail. Prior research and the information in this book can help that. I found the chapter on achieving rapid results and quick wins particularly good. It even gave me some ideas for Frost.

Another thing I really like about the book is how easy it is to read (something that all of the For Dummies books have in common). The tables and checklists make me much more productive than a densely written book. After reading the book cover to cover I would highly recommend it for business owners. It just has so much information on recognising and avoiding risk. Each chapter has excellent information on keeping your business baby alive. It sets out an entire business continuity plan for you. An impressive and informative book. Don’t get a consultant, save your money and buy the book instead.

Business Continuity For Dummies

Wabi London | Restaurant Review

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I love Asian food. So reviewing Japanese restaurant Wabi was a highlight of my week.

Wabi is a tranquil, stylish and classy restaurant that feels like it is a million miles away from the hubbub and stress of London. It is two minutes walk from Holborn station. I really love the relaxing and elegant decor. The waiter has worked at other Japanese restaurants in London and says that the chef at Wabi is better and more original. They are trying to do something different and create an experience. So far they are achieving it. Now for the food and drinks.

photo(23)We arrived and have a cocktail each. I have the Mexico Sixty Six (Passion Fruit, Cabrito Reposado Tequilla, Vanilla, Black Pepper infused Shochu) and my colleague has the Sugarplum (Honey, Akashi-tai Umeshu, Thienot Brut Champagne) The cocktails are delicious and look amazing. Wabi would be a great place to come and have cocktails with friends or even business associates. The Mexico Sixty Six has the Japanese version of cola in it and packs a peppery punch. It is tasty and different and the ingredients work well together. The Sugarplum is soft and subtle in an ice cold glass. Tasty and refreshing. We then go on to the 10 course tasting meal.

photo(20)

Otsumami/Snacks

Fire roasted edamame, smoky scratchings & sweet and sour nasu

We start with these wonderfully fire roasted edamame. I love edamame anyway but these are extra delicious and come with pork scratchings and a great sweet and sour nasu. A really great sauce.

We had Weegmullen 2009 Riesling Mandelring at the start of our meal. An interesting German white wine which you might think was sweet but isn’t. It was brave of the waiter to recommend this as it makes you think first and then you like it. It was an excellent choice that went well with the meal.

photo(8)

Crunchy Temaki Cone

Toro, Wasabi Cream and Charcoal Onions

These are amazing. The waiter tells us to take a cone with some sauce and then dip it in the volcanic salt. Yum. A great mixture of taste and texture.

photo(18)

Seabass Sashimi

Served with home-made yuzu koji

The seabass was perfect. I have had a lot of seabass in restaurants and this is high in quality and wonderful. It was exciting to tr y the homemade Koji. Koji, if I’m not mistaken, is fermented cooked rice and or soya beans. Koji is at the heart of Japanese cuisine and is used to make soya sauce, miso and sake. Hear it added a nice kick to the seabass and chef should be rightly proud of his/her creation. It was an original and new experience.

photo(17)

Yellowtail Sashimi

Smokey Nasu and Yuzu Bubbles

This is one of Wabi’s most popular dishes. I can see why. It is just so different. For one, it’s fizzy on top, which is the Yuzu bubbles. This is definitely something to try. It tastes great and so is the texture. That along with the bubbles on top make it a wonderful dish. This dish shows that Wabi are original and are always trying to excel. I am impressed by their bravery and originality.

photo(9)

‘Lobster and Chips’

Kombu/butter poached Lobster with Uni, Vegetable Chips and Yuzu-Truffle-Egg Dip

Lobster and Chips. Just really good food. The lobster was amazing, great quality and as for the chips, who doesn’t love chips? These ones are just beautifully cooked and crispy. I could eat this every day. You only get a few chips but it is enough and also comes with Roe. The Roe does that satisfying thing of popping in your mouth.

photo(16)

Warm Loch Duart Salmon

With Lemon Miso, Green Chilli Salsa and Burnt Cedar

This salmon was perfect. It was soft and tender. It came away beautifully when you put your fork in. The salmon comes with mushrooms and a sauce which both contribute to the dish. Yummy. Asian food at it’s best.

photo(15)

Aged Rib-Eye Ishi-Yaki

Black Beer Marinated Beef, served sizzling with Japanese BBQ Sauce
(£15 supp for Wagyu)

This beef was the best I have ever tasted in my life. It is tender and soft.  It is the Australian version of Kobe beef. The cows have a better life than some humans and are massaged with beer. It was sizzling and came with a excellent sauce. Just beautiful. The sauce is sticky and salty.

We went on to a beautiful and rich Pinot Noir for the beef.

photo(10)

Todays Sushi: Tuna with Garlic and Green Pepper, Salmon with Celery and Scallops.

This was a real treat. The tune was perfect, great quality, and the scallops and salmon were also of the highest order. They were all already marinated so did not need to come with any sauce. A real triumph of cooking. (or not cooking?)

photo(14)

Calpico Sorbet with Slow Gin Jelly

This was so wonderfully different. The sorbet was great and the slow gin was a great touch. Wonderful.

photo(13)

Green Tiramisu with Cocoa Nib Ice Cream

This highly original tiramisu was a great way to end the meal. It was refreshing delicious. It looked great too.

We then had some green tea which was also tasted great.

Wabi are a great restaurant. The food is amazing, the drinks are great and the service is excellent. This along with the sophisticated and calming decor makes Wabi a great place to eat in London. Frost loves.

The tasting menu is £75. Price range is reasonable, medium to high depending on what you order.

Wabi London
36-38 Kingsway
Holborn
London
WC2B 6EY
Phone: 0207.400.5400

Nearest Tube: Holborn.

 

 

How to Create a Clutter-Free Modern Living Room

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HK_Government_House_Living_RoomIt is imperative that you keep a tidy, neat living room in your home. The living room is where you’ll entertain guests and where you’ll want to hang out after a hard day at work. Inviting guests over to a cluttered living room is embarrassing, and coming home to one after work will only stress you out instead of calming you down.

 

If you’re really stumped about why your living room is in a constant state of clutter, you should probably think about re-organising it into the room of beauty and comfort that it’s meant to be.

 

Restructure your entertainment system

 

If you have a large television, or a nice audio entertainment system, or both, it probably takes up a lot of space in your living room. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are a number of solutions. You could get a TV cabinet that neatly stores your sound system as well as your TV in one compact area.

 

Alternatively, if you really want to save space, TV wall brackets are the best way forward. Your TV will no longer take up any ground space whatsoever, and will be neatly and beautifully displayed on your wall.

 

Display your books in an efficient manner

 

Instead of having small piles of books and magazines all over the place, you should probably invest in a sleek-looking bookcase to neatly stack all your books and other items there. Put the big classics that you’ve already read at the top, with everything else that you read often on the lower levels for easier access.

 

What you could also do is invest in a coffee table that has storage cabinets beneath it, where you can store some of your other magazines and books for curling up on the sofa with.

 

Impose laws

 

This is essential if you’re a family with kids. You have to understand that your living room is never going to be uncluttered unless you enforce rules about keeping it tidy. The first thing to get through to your kids is that they need to respect their own house, and all the rooms in it.

 

Next, you need to lay down specific rules about them leaving their toys and belongings all over the place. Adults should be able to follow rules too – there should be no dumping of jackets, shoes and hats when you come in from work – use the coat hooks!

 

Snack Ideas: Kallo’s new rice cakes

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kalloricecakeI am one of those people who get grumpy and fainty when they are hungry so I am always looking for tasty new snacks to try. When these pastel coloured Kallo rice cakes arrived at Frost HQ I was quite excited. The packaging looks great and they looked tasty.

And they were. I loved the caramel flavour and the Blueberry & Vanilla. They are also low calorie, 36 for the blueberry and vanilla, and 40 for the caramel. although quite yummy so one is usually not enough. They are filling however and one rice cake will keep you going. I am now a fan and will be making sure I have some by my desk or in my handbag. Frost loves. A delicious guilt free snack.

 

This spring revamp your wardrobe, and your snacks, in this season’s prettiest pastel colours. Pale pinks, lilacs, spearmint and caramel shades dominated the catwalks for Spring/Summer 2013, showcased by top designers including Erdem, Valentino and Prada – and now in Kallo’s Sweet Jumbo Rice & Corn Cakes in Blueberry & Vanilla and Caramel flavours.

 

Newly launched in 2013, Kallo’s Sweet Jumbo Corn and Rice Cakes are presented in the sweetest lavender and caramel hues – perfect for matching with the latest spring fashion and make up trends. Delicious and satisfying, the Sweet Jumbo Rice & Corn Cakes are perfect for an afternoon pick me up at your desk, a delicious post dinner treat or on the move (in this season’s Mulberry Willow tote of course!)

 

Made from the finest wholegrain rice and corn with absolutely no artificial colours, preservatives, gluten containing ingredients or MSG, the Sweet Jumbos are suitable for vegetarians and clock in at just 36 calories per cake for the Blueberry & Vanilla and 40 for the Caramel flavour. Enjoy alone or try topped with berries, yoghurt and chocolate chips, caramel sauce and banana or even chocolate spread and strawberries! Just add a stack of fashion magazines and your new pastel nail polish for the perfect evening’s indulgence.

 

Kallo Blueberry & Vanilla Rice & Corn Cakes are launching in addition to Kallo’s successful savoury Jumbo Rice Cake range, and are the first fruit variety jumbo rice cakes on the market. Both varieties are available now in Tesco stores nationwide for £1.79.

Bar Keepers Friend Review

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Bar Keepers FriendI am not keen on chemicals. I believe there is too many chemicals in the stuff we use today, especially cleaning products. When I got sent Bar Keepers Friend to review, I was very pleased that there wasn’t a lot of ingredients. Two in fact: citric acid and oxalic acid. I immediately like the cleaner. Let’s see if it works.

I used the products on different areas of the house. They came in a spray (used on surfaces and the bathroom) a cream (used on the cooker and harder areas) and a stain remover.

The natural ingredients do much better than their chemical loaded counterparts. The stain remover gets rid of any stain and I even use the power spray on my bike. I am impressed and I am also converted. Top marks. Will use again.

 

New Bar Keepers Friend is a traditional, quirky,niche cleaning product first launched in America in 1882 but now being relaunched with two new cleaning ‘friends’ – a NEW Power Cream and NEW Power Spray.

 

BKF is great for specific jobs that require something a little more specialist and works a treat on stainless steel, glass, chrome, brass, copper, aluminium, porcelain, tiles etc and can be used in the kitchen, bathroom, garage, shed, on bikes, cars and boats plus many other applications!
The presence of Oxalic Acid found in rhubarb gives Bar Keepers Friend the edge and it is this unique formulation that can cut through rust grease and oil, mineral deposits and stains.

 

First launched in 1882, the BKF range is being enhanced and extended, and aims to fully

capitalise on its claim of “Once Tried Always Used.”

 

Bar Keepers Friend Stain Remover Powder (250g, RSP: £2.79) will be complimented by two

exciting, new products from the US:

 

NEW Bar Keepers Friend Power Cream – a superior cream formulation that “cleans where

others fail”. Formulated for cookware, kitchens and bathrooms (350ml, RSP: £2.99).

 

NEW Bar Keepers Friend Power Spray – this easy-to-use format delivers BKF cleaning

power for use in everyday cleaning situations, from kitchen and bathroom to stainless steel

and glass (500ml RSP: £2.99).

 

Bar Keepers Friend is a premium, specialist cleaner with a non-bleach formula that can

be used in the kitchen, bathroom, garage and shed! It removes stubborn stains and cuts

through mineral deposits, oil and grease, rust stains and everyday grime giving great results

on stainless steel, tile, porcelain, fibreglass, aluminium, copper, brass, chrome and glass. It

cleans work surfaces (is recommended by Corian), cookers, cookware, sinks, toilets as well

as cars, bicycles and golf clubs..

 

Other top-selling cleansers containing chlorine bleach which are not recommended for use

on stainless steel. BKF benefits from the unique cleaning power of Oxalic Acid (found in

rhubarb, parsley and chives) and when combined with its unique mineral base and surfactant

blend, delivers a unique cleaning performance.

 

BKF owes its existence to rhubarb! Back in 1882 a chemist from Indianapolis noticed how

clean and shiny his tarnished pot was after cooking rhubarb.

 

Using an active ingredient that’s found in the plant he made a talcum smooth cleaner and sold it to the city’s taverns. It

worked so well that it was called ‘Bar Keepers Friend’! BKF boasts a long and successful

heritage that few modern day equivalent products can match.

 

BKF is available in Robert Dyas, Lakeland, John Lewis, Waitrose, independent homeware/

hardware stores or online at www.barkeepersfriend.co.uk. It is distributed in the UK by

Kilrock Products Ltd.

 

Vivienne Westwood is Virgin Atlantic’s New Uniform Designer

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Iconic and controversial British designer Vivienne Westwood has been announced as the new designer of Virgin Atlantic’s iconic red uniform. The collaboration between the two British brands is a long-term partnership which will see a total re-design of the uniform across all areas. With original design and sustainability being vital factors to both Richard Branson and Vivienne Westwood, this project aims to bring these ideals together in an exciting and innovative collaboration.

male_sketch

For the new uniforms, Vivienne Westwood wanted to create a futuristic look which references her enduring interest in 40’s French couture cutting techniques as well as the Savile Row tailoring heritage. The new designs will capture the glamour and style that the Virgin Atlantic cabin crew are renowned for.

Female sketch

Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic commented: “Virgin Atlantic has a distinct spirit and from a design perspective we continually try to challenge the norm and stand out from the crowd. Our current uniform has been around for more than 10 years and we have seen other airlines start to copy it. When we were choosing the designer for this project, we wanted to work with a group of people who share our spirit of adventure, who believe in challenging the status quo and creating something truly memorable.”

Vivienne Westwood commented: “My clothes have always got a very strong dynamic rapport with the body- they are very body conscious, they help you to look glamorous, more hourglass, more woman. I design things to help people to hopefully express their personality. I am always trying to find fabrics that are more friendly to the environment – working with Virgin Atlantic they managed to research into this and find more eco fabrics.”

For the female cabin crew uniform the design process began by looking at cuts which encompassed function as well as form. The suit is, of course, in the iconic Virgin red and the silhouette extremely feminine to fit all shapes and sizes. The jacket enhances the female form with the aid of cleverly placed bust pleats, a nipped in waist and a curved hip line and the pencil skirt which looks deceptively simple from the front then reveals a cheeky dart and double pleat at the back. For the men, a sharp Savile Row inspired three piece suit in rich burgundy wool is subverted with shadow details in grey wool under the lapels and pockets. The effect is of a very traditional British look which is given a contemporary feel.

Over 7,500 staff including cabin crew, pilots, Clubhouse staff and Virgin Holidays employees will receive new uniforms from the iconic designer and employees have been involved throughout the design process. Passengers will receive a sneak peek of the new uniforms from July 2013 when cabin crew and ground staff trial the uniform at the airports and on board. Crew will provide feedback on the design, practicality and wearability so tweaks can be made ahead of the full launch in 2014.

Many items of the new uniform will be produced using recycled materials – in particular working with recycled polyester yarn made from used plastic bottles. The suiting fabrics will also have a nano finish applied which extends the life of garments and enables clothing to retain its colour and finish for longer. Virgin Atlantic is also developing all items with Closed Loop Recycling in mind. This new technology takes worn polyester clothing and turns it back into fibres that can be woven again into new fabrics and in turn new clothing.

Vivienne Westwood has also introduced recycled bags for the ground staff which will be produced for Virgin through the Ethical Africa Programme, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC). The bags will be created using recycled canvas, reused roadside banners, unused leather off-cuts, and recycled brass, produced in the Kibera slum, Nairobi, where discarded metal like padlocks and car pieces are collected then melted down.

To explore the Virgin Atlantic uniform project, visit our Pinterest board at http://pinterest.com/VirginAtlantic/New-Red-Threads/ and join the conversation on Twitter using #newredthreads.