OCADO MEALTIME MASTERCLASSES: A UK FIRST COOKALONG

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Ollie Lloyd and Catherine Balavage

As Ocado continues to campaign for the nation to remix the recipes they regularly concoct, they offered lucky participants the chance to cook along live with the Great British Chefs Galton Blackiston, Simon Hulstone and Josh Eggleton via exclusive Google+ Hangouts. These consumers were able to interact directly with the chefs receiving cookery tips and five-star advice whilst ultimately experiencing the heat of a professional kitchen in the comfort of their own home. I was lucky enough to take part and had a lot of fun.

Those who chose to simply sit back and watch the chefs, could see the whole thing live on Ocado’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/ocado. Fun fact – streaming to YouTube from Google+ is a UK cookery first!

Now the live cook-a-longs with Britain’s greatest chefs (all of whom have been awarded Michelin Stars) are easily accessible to everyone via the Google Ad Network and YouTube.

The videos feature:

· Simon Hulstone’s curried chicken Kiev with squash sag aloo, filmed at The Elephant restaurant in Torquay

· Josh Eggleton’s Pimms Jelly, filmed at the The Pony & Trap near Bristol

· Galton Blackiston’s Scotch eggs with bois boudran dipping sauce, filmed at Morston Hall in Norfolk

Appassionata launch their second phase: Casa Leopardi

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After selling the final share of their first phase, Casa Giacomo, Appassionata are pleased to announce the launch of their second phase, Casa Leopardi, a traditional Italian farmhouse on the 5 acre Estate Giacomo Leopardi in Le Marche, Italy. Incorporating the rugged peaks of the Apennines with 180km of coastline, beautiful sandy beaches and numerous picturesque hilltop villages, Le Marche is the perfect retreat for all seasons.

Boutique and luxurious fractional ownership business Appassionata offers you easy access to an exclusive property of considerably higher value than the capital outlay required through fractional ownership. Appassionata’s fractional ownership model allows you to purchase a share in your property of choice, giving you exclusive occupancy for a number of weeks each year. The property is professionally managed and maintained, with annual running costs shared with co-owners.

As a lifestyle investment fractional ownership makes sense. The purchase is forever, so owners can choose to sell their share, rent out the property for the duration of their weeks or pass it on to family and friends at any time. Appassionata’s Estate Giacomo Leopardi is situated in 5 acres of sweeping Italian countryside, with panoramic views of the Apennine Mountains and Adriatic Sea. Set close to the medieval hilltop village of Montrefiore dell’Aso in Le Marche, Italy, the estate consists of two lavish properties – Casa Giacomo which has now sold its final share, and the newly launched Casa Leopardi.

Appassionata’s second phase, Casa Leopardi is a spacious, 420m² traditional Italian farmhouse which has recently been restored to the same high standards as neighbouring Casa Giacomo and is now available for viewings. Boasting five uniquely designed, en-suite bedrooms, a huge hand built kitchen and a sumptuous living – dining area set across three floors, this property exudes Italian style with terracotta tiled floors, traditional brick archways, beamed ceilings and open fireplaces. Original art, antiques, modern furnishings and high quality fittings are all combined to create the perfect balance of modern and traditional design. The perfect home away from home, the property also has its own sun terrace, private outdoor pool and a small gym as well as access to the estates landscaped gardens and all-weather tennis court.

Casa Leopardi has just one share remaining at the special launch price of £155,000 for a 1/10th fractional share, five weeks per year (normal price from £175,000), so Italy lovers will need to move quickly to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

For a true taste of Italy, purchasing a share in this beautiful property includes a stake in the olive oil produced from the olive groves around the property, wine from the estate’s vineyard, Périgord black truffles from the newly planted orchard and essential oils from the lavender plantation. Escape to your Italian dream with Appassionata.

For more information on Appassionata’s fractional ownership opportunities visit www.appassionata.com.

How Does That Song Go?

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Frost Magazine have come across a useful music resource.

Zlyrics have come up with a comprehensive online lyrics resource featuring over 700,000 lyrics from over 30,000 artists. It took them months to gather all the lyrics data along with the music video of every track. The lyrics submitted by users at Zlyrics are then double checked by our team to ensure the accuracy.

If you love music then check it out.

CAGGIE DUNLOP CASTS HER SPELL IN ‘THE WALK’

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Star of Made In Chelsea captivates passers-by in new silent movie

Made In Chelsea’s Caggie Dunlop has returned to the streets of Chelsea to star in a new short silent movie, entitled ‘The Walk’. Frost Magazine went to the W Hotel to see the film and we also interviewed Caggie. Caggie was brilliant in the film and was absolutely lovely. Caggie even said that her interview with Frost was the ‘best of the evening’, and you can read it here.

Shot in a style reminiscent of classic black and white silent films, the movie follows Caggie as she takes a walk around her regular South West London haunts. As she strolls through the streets of London channeling Brigitte Bardot’s 1960s glamour with her voluminous hair and smouldering makeup, Caggie leaves a trail of men transfixed in her wake.

After captivating everyone from an ice-cream seller to a painter, the secret to Caggie’s mesmerising allure is revealed in the final scene of the film as ‘Loving Words’, the fresh new scent from Impulse.

The fruity fragrance, designed by the world’s best perfumers under Ann Gottlieb, creates an air of romance making Caggie so irresistible to the men she encounters, she doesn’t need to utter a single word to have them falling at her feet.

Laura Grant, Assistant Brand Manager, Impulse said, “Impulse ‘Loving Words’ is such an irresistible fragrance, it does the flirting for you so there’s no need for words. We wanted to demonstrate its power by removing words entirely from the film. We felt there was no better way to showcase the ‘wordless’ love story than by taking inspiration from timeless silent movies.

“Caggie’s short on-screen stroll left her with a series of smitten admirers, the possibilities for spontaneous romance are endless!”

Watch the film, ‘The Walk’

The Chap Olympiad

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The Chap Olympiad is back again on Saturday the 7th and now also Sunday the 8th of July.

Hosted by The Chap magazine and Bourne and Hollingsworth, The Chap Olympiad is a divine weekend of famous themed sporting events, including umbrella jousting, ironing board surfing, butler baiting, shouting at foreigners and many more, all accompanied by live music, drinking, dancing and general merriment.

The Chap Olympiad is designed to reward panache rather than sporting prowess and requires very little physical exertion, celebrating sporting ineptitude and immaculate trouser creases.

Classic cocktail bars will be provided by Bourne & Hollingsworth and food will be served all day from luncheon to afternoon tea.

http://www.thechapolympiad.com/

How to Skateboard.

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Skate Tricks: (D-Street)

Whether you used to know your way around a skateboard in the hazy days of your youth, but time has eroded your skills – or you’re completely new to skating and want to ‘get on board’ with the hot new trend – then here are some top tips on how to perform a few simple tricks.

Joe Habgood, rider for stylish new skateboard brand D-Street, said: “An Acid Drop is a great trick to start with. It’s the simple act of riding off something and free falling to the ground, which is really easy to master and will give you that cool factor in an instant.”

Acid Drop:

Step 1: Position your feet over the bolts of the board and start skating at a speed you’re comfortable with.

Step 2: Roll up to a curb or ledge, keeping the momentum going.

Step 3: Roll over the edge and ride off smiling!

Joe said: “Once you’ve mastered that you can move on to more advanced tricks such as the Hippy Jump – a trick where the rider jumps over a bar, whilst the board goes under the bar or obstacle.”

Hippy Jump

Step 1: Find a small obstacle such as a bench or a bar.

Step 2: Place feet over the bolts and ride towards the object with enough speed to clear the obstacle.

Step 3: When you’re nearing the obstacle, bend your legs and crouch down a little, then jump over the obstacle. The board should continue along the ground.

Step 4: Land on the board on the other side of the obstacle with your feet on the bolts and bend your legs a little to absorb the impact.


The 360

Step 1: In a stationary position turn your shoulders in the opposite direction the way you want to spin as if winding up a spinning top.

Step 2: Now spin your shoulders (and arms, for balance) back into the direction you actually want to spin and lift the front wheels off the ground.

Step 3: Your board and legs will follow the twist of your body and you’ll pivot around on the back wheels.

Step 4: Spin as many times around as you see fit before putting your front wheels back down. 360, 540, 720 degrees – spin until dizzy.

Beercan slalom.

Step 1: Gather fellow skateboard enthusiasts.

Step 2: Distribute cans of beer, lager or cider. Hell, even those ready-mixed Pimms or G+Ts.

Step 3: Empty cans in a suitable fashion.

Step 4: Position cans equally spaced in a line. About 5 feet apart should do it.

Step 5: Ride skateboard towards cans and weave through the gaps without knocking any over.

Urban Dictionary of Skate Lingo

“fakie” means riding backwards.
“kickturn” is the act of turning corners by lifting the front wheels off the ground.
“frontside” means facing to the outside of the turn.
“backside” means facing to the centre point of a turn.
“Carve” to skate in a long, curving arc.
“Goofy-Foot” is a skater who more comfortably rides with the right foot leading.
“Switch Stance” is riding the board with the opposite footing than usual.
“Air” means riding with all four wheels in the air.
“Set” means a set of stairs.
“Kinked” means a rail with bumps in it.
“Session” is a time that you go out and skate.
“Bail” – the act of falling off your board intentionally

“Slam” is to fall off your board unintentionally

What’s Your Social Highlight This Summer?

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One of the social highlights of my summer so far was the May Fair Hotel’s annual Penthouse Party. It was hosted by Anthony Lee, General Manager of The May Fair who I had a lovely chat with. I popped along with Dominic Graham de Montrose, and then we headed to the Panasonic Olympics party afterwards. Magician Dynamo was working his magic there. He has to be seen to be believed.

Other social highlights: London Fashion Week, Lovebox, Impulse releasing their new fragrance at the W Hotel with Caggie Dunlop (who’s lovely), the Leo Bancroft launch at The Ivy and being Centre Court at Wimbledon.

2012 is an exciting year for those of us living in London with the Olympics on our doorsteps. We would love to here from people in London and outside about their summer.

What is your summer highlight so far? Let us know.

Men’s Fitness magazine Gets a Redesign.

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This article is not an excuse for a picture of a half-naked male model for my readers…oh, okay, maybe a little.

Men’s Fitness magazine, the UK’s leading fitness lifestyle title has had a comprehensive redesign for the August 2012 issue.

The magazine will still contain the same excellent fitness and nutrition advice but it will be delivered in a fresh and modern way.

The redesign reflects the positive development of the Men’s Fitness brand and will make the most of the authoritative, expert content.

New readers will find the magazine more accessible while loyal readers will get the same great fitness and nutrition advice that they have come to expect from Men’s Fitness magazine.

The redesign is just one of many developments for the Men’s Fitness brand, which recently increased its monthly brand reach by 16% to 1.2million. Congratulations guys, what an achievement.

Editor, Jon Lipsey

‘We’ve introduced new lifestyle content into the front section, created a completely new colour system and given the magazine a bold new identity. We also realise that our readers have busy lives and are under time pressure so we’ve made sure that they can get information quickly and easily. When they get the chance to spend longer with the magazine they’ll get practical advice that will enhance their lives.’

‘The redesign comes at a time when there is more demand than ever for Men’s Fitness content. That’s partly because of the high-quality material that we produce but also because fitness and health are of increasing importance to the modern man.’

‘There has been a shift towards men taking more interest in their health and fitness. They’re realising that by being active and eating well, they can feel better and lead fuller, more rewarding lives. There’s a lot of health and fitness advice out there but it lacks credibility. Readers know that we’ll give them information they can trust because we use the world’s best experts and we’re an authority on the subject.’

Publisher, Russell Blackman

‘The redesign is just part of the many brand developments that we’re currently working on and we believe that the result will enhance our expert content further, delivering it in a more accessible and stylish way. Our brand reach is up, newsstand sales have been strong and we are working on some exciting digital products which will further enhance the magazine and brand. Our Newsstand apps have had over 1.4 million downloads, showing the huge appetite for our quality content. 2012 will be a very exciting year for the brand’.