The Perfect Pancake Toss.

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WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN

Ocado discovers the formula behind the perfect pancake toss

ONLINE SUPERMARKET Ocado has cracked more than eggs ahead of Shrove Tuesday. Teaming up with one of the country’s top physicists, the innovative grocer has mastered the art of perfect pancake tossing.

With more batter expected to hit ceilings than the roofs of our mouths this Pancake Day, Ocado has created the ideal equation for a flippin’ good time. Working with Dr Mark Hadley, researcher at the University of Warwick’s Department of Physics, the formula behind the year’s trickiest culinary feat is above.

Where v is the launch velocity; g is the acceleration; h, the height of the toss; a is the length of the forearm; w, the spin; is the number of pancake half turns; and p, the pan diameter

Don’t be daunted by the science though. Ocado has simplified things, claiming that the recipe for a splat-free landing rests on one key element – ‘perfect pancake altitude’. When tossed at the right height, the pancake’s launch velocity and spin are perfectly matched – much like a topping of lemon and sugar – for optimum results.

For a typical toss, Ocado suggests you aim for a pancake height of 0.5 metres. Your upwards arm swing will naturally give the pancake a velocity of 3m/sec, imparting a spin of five radians per second, resulting in a successful travel time of just over half a second, before landing safely back in the pan.

Ocado has created three toss techniques with Dr Hadley to ensure there is a flip for everyone – from the pancake showboater to the harassed host cooking crepes for a cast of thousands.

· The Show Off This mammoth two-armed throw is suitable for those looking to wow a crowd, or cooks wielding a cast iron pan. With arms outstretched and swinging from the shoulder, one should aim for a height of 0.7 metres

· The Chef This quick, efficient toss is ideal for pancake connoisseurs. Whilst holding the pan near the rim, with just a flick of the wrist this toss will require a height of just over half a foot. 16cm to be precise.

· The Hungry Horde Many mouths to feed? Avoid over-exertion and a nasty case of ‘pancake elbow’ with this toss. The upper arm hardly moves as the forearm swings upwards from the elbow. The distance from the elbow to the centre of the pan is typically 60cm; to achieve the perfect toss time after time, one should aim for a height of 0.47 metres, to be exact.

But what’s the real secret? Dr Hadley flips pancake convention on its head and brings it down to size: “The trick is to break the air pressure. To achieve the perfect flip, one must restrict the size of the pancake. The traditional Ocado pancake recipe provides the ideal consistency to retain a suitable thickness which will combat the impact of air pressure, whilst also being light enough to toss.”

When it comes to cooking up a pancake storm, be sure to follow Ocado’s fundamental tips so the finished article is ready for a terrific toss:

· Lubrication Use one teaspoon of oil to ensure the pancake does not stick, yet isn’t too lubricated, resulting in ‘pancake slip’

· Cooking time Cook the pancake until it bubbles and blisters, to roughen the bottom surface. This allows the air to rapidly fill any void under the pancake and equalise the pressure

· Circumference Make it manageable – for bigger pancakes, the area increases much faster than the air can creep in. By increasing a pancake from 10cm to 30cm diameter, it becomes three times harder to toss

· The Strength Test Use a spatula to lift the edge of the pancake – if you can lift it 2cm away from the pan, then it is strong enough to toss

Jason Gissing, co-founder of Ocado comments: “Ocado strives to deliver more than a just broad range of groceries; we want to make people’s lives easier where their kitchens are concerned. As such, we’re proud to work with a diverse range of experts and suppliers to provide fun, new and exciting ways to celebrate the country’s tastiest occasions.”

For further information on Ocado pancake recipes and ingredients, visit www.ocado.com/webshop/recipes/

Get Lana del Rey's Style

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The ubercool Lana del Rey was spotted on the Mulberry front row yesterday, showcasing her Nancy Sinatra style in a chic Baseball jacket.

Anyone seeking a similar look might be advised to check in with Katherine Hooker, whose Baseball jacket is popular with leading American fashion editors and fashionistas alike.

The Baseball jacket can be bought ready to wear (£530) or made to order (from £645). Over 150 different fabric swatches of tweeds, silks, linens and cashmeres allow customers to match the mood of their garment exactly as they please. Each made to order piece is individually made in London and takes around four weeks to be completed.

Katherine Hooker London 0207 352 5091 http://www.katherinehooker.com

Pam Hogg:Wildlife

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After hearing much talk about Pam Hogg and her collections, I quickly realised this was the one show I did not want to miss out on. It soon became apparent that no-one else did either as the queue was round the block forty-five minutes before the show was even due to start. After making some ‘press friends’ in the queue, they were informing me of the exclusivity and notoriety of the Pam Hogg shows… so much so, one of the girls even said someone had stolen her invite out of her bag that day. All the talk just fueled my need to see the collection first hand. Overhearing crew conversations as we got closer to the front, the general consensus was that the venue was almost at full capacity and it wasn’t helping that there was some crazed woman at the front having a barny with security refusing to leave or move. At this point one of the crew shouted out for a single. For the first time in a while I was relieved that this was me and I ran in while I had the chance. It can only be described as having a Golden Ticket and the show certainly didn’t disappoint. As for the collection, unless your Gaga or Rihanna, who are big fans of Hogg, one cannot really refer to it as ready-to-wear unless you’re ready to get arrested. The attraction of the shows is that it’s become a bit of a spectacle. Jamie Winstone, a big fan of Hogg, even modelled one of the pieces. The show started as a bit of a hoe-down and the models were adorned with huge bonnets, jumpsuits of red and black leather followed by metallic silvers and oranges. They then developed into leather dresses with fur trimming and then a rose coloured sequinned number. The final pieces, sheer jumpsuits with strategically placed fabric panels. Although many of us will probably not be rushing out to buy one of Pam Hoggs more daring numbers, the collection is fabulously original and judging by this show, you can see how originality can easily turn into exclusivity. I am certainly excited about S/S13 already.

Jaime Winstone modelling Pam Hogg

Keshini xx

90% of Brits saying being "Friends with Benefits" ruined Friendship.

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90% OF BRITONS IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES WHO’VE HAD A ‘FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS’ RELATIONSHIP SAID IT RUINED THEIR FRIENDSHIP

The results of a recent survey, asking single people about their views on ‘friends with benefits’ relationships, have revealed that 90% of Britons in their early twenties who have had a relationship with a friend said it ended up ruining their friendship.

The poll of over 15,000 men and women was carried out by mysinglefriend in association with the DVD release of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (out now on Blu-ray and DVD).

Overall results show that of those UK singletons who had embarked on a relationship with a friend, 58% now think it was never a good idea as it always ends in tears. Only 1 in 20 of those surveyed think a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement can work for men but not for women.

“It’s fascinating to find that so many people have at some point dated a friend, and in the vast majority of cases this hasn’t worked out. I’d say we’ve found that it’s best to avoid practising on your friends – most friendships won’t survive!” Said Sarah Beeney, founder of mysinglefriend.

75% of 31-40 year olds won’t admit to ever having had a relationship with a friend
Of the 38% of over 40’s who have had a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship, 73% managed to remain friends after the relationship fizzled out

Despite 90% of those in their early twenties admitting they ruined their friendships, 60% still believe the arrangement can still work in some circumstances

Only 7% of resilient 20-30 year olds ended up getting hurt by having a relationship with a friend

In FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star as two friends who decide to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, soon discovering that getting physical really does always lead to complications…

Directed by Will Gluck and starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, out now on Blu-ray and DVD, also boasts hilarious performances by Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone.

How to Make Perfect Pancakes

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With Shrove Tuesday (21st February 2012) fast approaching, our thoughts are turning to creating that perfect pancake to help celebrate Pancake Day the traditional way.

So to help you make this year’s batch the tastiest yet, here are a few tips to see you through:

1. For the creamiest of consistencies, always measure your ingredients precisely and mix them with a large whisk to add air to the batter

2. Heat your frying pan for two or three minutes before adding butter to the pan to avoid burning and impairing the flavour of your pancakes

3. For a thin, crepe-style pancake, add two tbsp. of batter to the hot pan and spread evenly around the pan with the back of your spoon or ladle

4. Cook for 30 seconds on each side, flipping or turning in between, dependent on how energetic you’re feeling!

5. Add the topping of your choice – a drizzle of PLj Lemon Juice and a sprinkling of sugar is a traditional favourite – and enjoy!

Ingredients for the perfect pancake (makes 6-8 pancakes in an 18cm pan)

110g sifted flour

1 egg

100ml milk and 50ml water

50g butter, for frying

To serve: PLj Lemon Juice and a sprinkling of sugar

Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre of the mixture and break the egg into it. Whisk the egg together with the flour, and while continuing to whisk gradually add the milk and water until you have created a smooth batter. Add 2tbsp of the batter to your hot pan, evenly spread and cook for 30 seconds on each side. For a traditional taste, add a splash of PLj Lemon Juice, a sprinkle of sugar and enjoy!

An invigorating support to calorie-controlled diets, PLj is a blend of lemon juice and is rich in vitamin C – a 25ml serving contains at least 75% of the recommended daily intake and just 9 kcals – yet is free from all artificial colours, flavours and sweeteners.

With approximately 20 servings per bottle, PLj is the easy way to enjoy real lemon juice, but without the mess or hassle of chopping and squeezing. PLj is available from Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Morrisons, Holland & Barrett and all good health food stores priced £2.29 (RRP) for 500ml.

A few facts about Pancake Day

· Pancake Day is known as ‘Shrove Tuesday’ in the UK, and falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, or the first day of Lent

· The day is known as Pancake Day because pancake recipes were traditionally made to use up stocks of flour, milk and eggs, which were forbidden during the abstinence of Lent

· The word ‘Shrove’ is derived from the Old English ‘shrive’, meaning to ‘confess all sins’. On Shrove Tuesday, people would go to church and be ‘shriven’ ahead of the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday

· In the UK, the term ‘shroving’ was a custom in which children sang or recited poetry in exchange for food or money

· Meanwhile, ‘Lent Crocking’ was a term used to describe a custom whereby children would knock on doors asking for pancakes – and throw broken crockery at the doors of those who declined their requests!

· Pancake races are held around the UK on Pancake Day. One of the most famous takes place in Olney, where according to local folklore, in 1445 a woman of Olney heard the shriving bell while she was making pancakes and rushed to the church, frying pan in hand. Participants of the now world-famous Olney Pancake Race must be local housewives and wear an apron and hat or scarf when taking part!

· Pancake Day is celebrated differently around the world. In Brazil, Pancake Day is known as Terca-feira gorda and is the final day of the carnival in Rio De Janeiro while in New Orleans the day is marked by the Mardi Gras carnival

Sir Ian McKellen to guide adventurers on journey to Tolkien’s homeland

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Sir Ian McKellen to guide adventurers on journey to Tolkien’s homeland

Registration has opened for Crisis Mission: A Journey to the Midlands (and back again) – a high-tech quest from London to Tolkien’s homeland in the Midlands. The event is in aid of Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people.

One does not simply walk into Birmingham, so Sir Ian McKellen has signed up to guide intrepid teams along the way, peppering the route with a series of fiendish video questions, tough challenges and cryptic clues to unravel.

Teams will use interactive tablet PCs with GPS technology to provide location-based clues and live results. They will then be challenged to locate the GPS ‘hotspots’ on the way to the Midlands and crack the clues and complete challenges to earn as many points as possible.

The quest takes place on Saturday 12 May and sets off from London and Birmingham. Teams of up to six people can sign up at www.crisis.org.uk/mission.

Ian McKellen said: “It is a scandal that homelessness still exists in 21st century Britain, so I’m happy to support Crisis by guiding our adventurers on their journey. Best of luck to those intrepid teams as they explore Tolkien’s world.”

Leslie Morphy, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “It is incredibly exciting to have Sir Ian McKellan on board for Crisis Mission: A Journey to the Midlands. All the proceeds will go towards our work to end homelessness across the country.”

This is the third Crisis: Mission event. In 2010 teams raced from Thames to Tyne, and in 2011 Anneka Rice and Jeremy Paxman led contestants on a high-tech treasure hunt in Crisis Mission: Oxford.

Birmingham was chosen as the destination for the event as Crisis runs an outreach education and training programme for homeless and vulnerably housed people across the city.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar to launch in March

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(ARTIST IMPRESSION)

– The English steakhouse is a cut above the rest –

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar to launch in March

A quintessentially English dining experience, Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar will celebrate the best of English when it launches at the end of March 2012.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar will be the most English of English dining destinations, from the interior design to each cut of beef. Set in the County Hall, built 100 years ago to house London’s government, with views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, few can claim a more inherently English location or vista.

The choice of namesake, James Gillray, a famed caricaturist of the late eighteenth century, reflects the political history of the County Hall’s past, and the intelligence, style and humour of the English personality. James Gillray’s work punctuates the menu and will be exhibited on the walls of the steakhouse restaurant and bar.

An English steakhouse of the finest design, Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar is a homage to top quality beef -35-day dry aged Hereford Cattle from the Duke of Devonshire’s Bolton Abbey Estate in Yorkshire. The menu features nine cuts of steak – bone-out and bone-in – 300g Fillet on the bone, 450g Porthouse and 600g T-Bone steaks. Gillray’s Steakhouse signature dish, the 1000g ‘Bulls Head’ steak, will steal the show – a 1000g-butterfly cut, double rib steak served with the bone in.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar is all about indulging in great English produce. Every inch of the menu reflects this, displaying English food at its best – Brixham Diver Clams & Mussel Broth, Foreman’s London Cured Smoked Salmon and hand chopped Steak Tartare.

The design is sophisticated but unpretentious, playing on the eccentric but charming details of classic lighting and furniture pieces, such as Chesterfield sofa and Waterford chandeliers, all bespoke designs by designers Blacksheep.


The bar offers a sophisticated and stylish Thames-side destination, featuring one of the finest selections of gin in London and an impressive cocktail collection designed by head bartender, Carlos Santos. The newly created cocktail menu is ordered by historical era, from the Georgian era – cocktails such as National Debt, Wife & No Wife and Very Slippy-Weather each taking their name from popular James Gillray sketches – through to contemporary and modern English concoctions. The cocktail collection doesn’t stop there, but gives a nod to the next generation of cocktails – molecular mixology. >>

(ARTIST IMPRESSION)

>> The Englishness of Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar is evident throughout the bar menu, populated by 10 English beers (and two Scottish beers from Innis & Gunn), 33 English gins (including a few British favourites such as Hendrick’s) and five English vodkas. The bar snacks menu brings Englishness to life in bite-sized morsels – Pigs in Blankets, English Crumpet & Soft Boiled Egg and Venison Sausage Rolls with HP Sauce – England on a plate.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar opens at London’s County Hall at the end of March 2012.

www.gillrays.com

FASHION & FUN LEAD THE PARADE ON LADIES DAY AT THE FESTIVAL

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Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival, on Wednesday March 14, is gearing up to be a top day out. This is racing’s special day for the Ladies, where all eyes will be on the most elegantly attired females bidding to win prizes in the Best Dressed Fashion Awards.

Entry into the hotly contested Fashion Awards is open to all ladies who come racing on the second day of the four-day Festival. Fashion scouts will be on hand at the racecourse assisting contestants who wish to take part in any of the three fashion categories; ‘The Best Dressed lady’, ‘The lady with the Best Hat’ or ‘The lady with the Best Accessories’. Entry is free and fabulous prizes will reward the lucky winners.

Prizes for this year’s Fashion Awards include a short break holiday to the unique destination of Clowance Golf and Country Club Estate in Cornwall, provided by Seasons Holidays, £1000 worth of gift vouchers to spend at boutique British ladieswear shop Moloh, £1000 worth of gift vouchers from award winning Stuart Holmes Hair & Beauty Spa, £500 worth of gift vouchers to spend at contemporary British women’s clothing specialists Hobbs, a bespoke Hat from celebrity milliner Denise Innes and an overnight stay at the Hotel du Vin, located in the chic Montpellier district of Cheltenham, including dinner for two in the Bistro, a night stay in a romantic junior suite, breakfast and two 30 minute treatments in the spa.

The judging panel for the 2012 Fashion Awards includes: Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen who, with her husband Laurence, successfully runs design company Llewelyn-Bowen Limited and The Rt. Hon. The Countess Bathurst, the National Vice President of The Royal British Legion. Celebrity hair stylist Stuart Holmes from the Stuart Holmes Hair & Beauty Spa will judge the Best Hat and the Best Accessories prize will be judged by personal stylist Kate Parker.

Ladies can enter the Fashion Awards competition from 10:30am to 1.30pm by simply filling out an entry form and having their picture taken. Following the live judging of the selected finalists, presentations to the winners will be made in the Winner’s Enclosure before the last race. To be fast-tracked through the entry process on the day, Ladies can pre-enter for the Fashion Awards by visiting the Ladies Day page at www.cheltenham.co.uk

The racing action and the atmosphere on Ladies Day will be magical. There are seven top class races, including the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, one of the highlights of the Jump racing season. Between races there is the opportunity to browse in the many fabulous shops in the Festival Shopping Village or grab a drink in one of the various racecourse bars.

Now in its sixth year Ladies Day is an important part of the Cotswolds’ favourite four days. This year the emphasis is going to be on fashion more than ever, so put on your best racing outfits and attend one of the great social events of the sporting calendar.

The Festival takes place from 13th to 16th March 2012. For more information or to enter the Fashion Awards please visit the Ladies Day page at www.cheltenham.co.uk