Tag Archives: 2016.

Hakkasan Chinese New Year 2016 Review

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Hakkasan Chinese New Year 2016 Review8 Hakkasan Chinese New Year 2016 Review9 Hakkasan Chinese New Year 2016 Review2Hakkasan exudes elegance, sophistication and charm from the moment you step in to its Mayfair arms and its style translates seamlessly into the signature dishes.

As part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, Hakkasan’s launched a special ‘year of the monkey’ menu priced at £88.88 per person, available until 22 February.

Each dish has been beautifully crafted by executive head chef Tong Chee Hwee and each symbolises luck, joy and prosperity for the year ahead.

Once settled, diners are greeted with a fabulously smooth and refreshing cocktail with Eldorado 3yrs rum, Amontillado sherry, banana, guava, lime, agave syrup and walnut.

Our starter of double boiled fresh ginseng and chicken soup with bamboo pith and wolfberry, was delicate with knotty cubes of tofu and the wolfberry was similar to cranberry.

It was soon followed by the Japanese wagyu beef with pine nut in a golden cup – delicious, crispy dices of meat which glistened in the crunchy shells.

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As the har gau scallop shumai, Chinese chive dumpling, duck and yam bean dumpling was brought to our table, I couldn’t wait to sample them all.

The scallop was fresh and chewy and the duck dumpling was tender and more-ish.

Our table among the London business-types was decked with the main dishes, including wok-fry lobster in spicy truffle sauce which filled the palette with a trio of textures of crispy onion, slippery exotic mushrooms and leathery-like feel of the distinct flavour of the crustacean.

The pipa duck had a crusty skin and the meat was beautifully tender and flavoursome.

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My favourite dish of the evening was the grilled Chilean seabass in honey – it melted in the mouth leaving a sweet and smoky aftertaste.

As we alternated between the main dishes of meat and fish, we also enjoyed the stir fry hericeum mushroom with lotus root asparagus and lily bulb in black pepper.

It was pleasing to the eye and the asparagus was lightly salted and cooked perfectly while the mushroom was surprisingly hard compared to the normal fungi we’re used to.

All the dishes were accompanied with a dried scallop and crabmeat fried rice.
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The evening concluded with a soy caramel banana delice with chocolate and peanut. It was beautifully presented, sweet, cooling and a light touch to end our dinner experience.

 

 

 

Golden Globe Awards with Moet & Chandon In Pictures

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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: (L-R) Actors Helen Mirren, Bryan Cranston, Robin Dearden and Leonardo DiCaprio attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon) *** Local Caption *** Helen Mirren;Bryan Cranston;Robin Dearden;Leonardo DiCaprio

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: (L-R) Actors Helen Mirren, Bryan Cranston, Robin Dearden and Leonardo DiCaprio attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon) *** Local Caption *** Helen Mirren;Bryan Cranston;Robin Dearden;Leonardo DiCaprio

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actor Alan Cumming attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actor Alan Cumming attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress America Ferrera attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress America Ferrera attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Comedian Aziz Ansari attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Comedian Aziz Ansari attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress Eva Longoria attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Eva Longoria attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Writer Sam Esmail (L) and actress Emmy Rossum attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Writer Sam Esmail (L) and actress Emmy Rossum attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Annie Guest (L) and actress Jamie Lee Curtis attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Annie Guest (L) and actress Jamie Lee Curtis attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress Jane Fonda attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Jane Fonda attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actors Kirsten Dunst (L) and Garrett Hedlund attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actors Kirsten Dunst (L) and Garrett Hedlund attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress Julianne Moore attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Julianne Moore attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Singer-songwriter Katy Perry attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Singer-songwriter Katy Perry attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress Laverne Cox attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Laverne Cox attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: TV personality Olivia Palermo attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: TV personality Olivia Palermo attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Rachel McAdams attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Rachel McAdams attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress Regina King attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Regina King attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actors Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (L) and Jason Statham attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actors Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (L) and Jason Statham attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress Saoirse Ronan attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Saoirse Ronan attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actors Sophia Bush (L) and America Ferrera attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actors Sophia Bush (L) and America Ferrera attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Actress Viola Davis attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Viola Davis attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. 

 

On last night’s red carpet, celebrities including Kate Hudson, Live Schrieber, Laverne Cox, Uzo Aduba, Eddie Redmayne, Amy Schumer, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis, Sam Smith, Eva Longoria, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis, Jussie Smollett, Bryan Cranston, Olivia Palermo, Wiz Kalifa, Regina King and Instagram star Kristina Bazan joined Moët & Chandon for its beloved philanthropic initiative, “Toast for a Cause.”

A red carpet staple for many Hollywood A-listers, “Toast for a Cause” invited Golden Globes nominees and celebrities on the red carpet to raise a toast with Mini Moët for which Moët & Chandon donated $1,000 to the celebrity’s charity of choice in his/her name. As a result, Moët & Chandon donated to charities such as MDS for ALS, Art of Elysium, I have a Dream Foundation, Trans Tech, Place Called Home, Global Citizen and many more. New to the program this year, Moët & Chandon donated another $1,000 to a fund supporting aspiring young film makers via the inaugural Moët Moment Film Festival.

Moët & Chandon also served the Moët Ruby Red, a modern take on the French 75 and the official cocktail of the Golden Globe Awards.

The after-party saw celebrities sip champagne from Moët Minis delivered through a designed champagne vending machine.

Photo credit: Getty Images

 

 

Some People Actually Have a Problem With The All-Female Ghostbuster Cast

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all female cast, ghostbusters, sexism, film, Upon hearing a piece of modern music my Grandfather always used the line, ‘You kids today, you don’t even know you’re born.’ Well if you are a young thing and you have not seen Ghostbusters then let me tell you: you don’t even know you are born. The same goes for most 80s & 90s films. The 80s and 90s were great decades for film. Fact. Which is super exciting because not only are they doing a remake of Ghostbusters, but it has an all-female cast. Yes people, you heard it right: an all-female cast. Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones will star in the 2016 remake. Problem is, even though it is 2015, some people actually have a problem with this.

Director Paul Feig tweeted the news of the new cast and confirmed the new Ghostbuster film release date: July 22, 2016.

 

Paul said: “It’s official, I’m making a new Ghostbusters & writing it with @katiedippold & yes, it will star hilarious women. That’s who I’m gonna call.” Not everyone is as enlightened as Paul however. Social media was awash with sexist comments about the all-female cast. Funnily enough, no one had a problem with the all-male cast. Some Tweets were funny:

 

 

The most depressing thing is that in 2015, the new Ghostbuster film having an all-female cast is actually a thing. While I won’t be giving any trolls publicity here there was one important person who gave it the thumbs up: the original Ghostbuster himself, Dan Aykroyd. A statement read:

 

“The Aykroyd family is delighted by this inheritance of the Ghostbusters torch by these most magnificent women in comedy. My great grandfather, Dr. Sam Aykroyd, the original Ghostbuster, was a man who empowered women in his day and this is a beautiful development in the legacy of our family business.” 

 Dan Aykroyd is obviously a very awesome and evolved man. As is (@JohnRossBowie) 

 

 

Bill Murray hasn’t said anything about the project but the other surviving member of the original, Ernie Hudson, doesn’t seem happy about it; he doesn’t think it should carry on the Ghostbusters name as it will have  “nothing to do with the other two movies.” and while he said he was not against the idea of an all-female cast his first reaction to the casting news on Facebook was  “No comment”. There are more brilliant reactions in this excellent Radio Times article.

 

Ghostbusters all-female cast: good or bad idea? Have your say.