Watch The Gentleman’s Wager: New Short Film Starring Jude Law

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Frostie

Our wonderful writer, Corinne, went to the screening of The Gentleman’s Wager and had a ball. Now our readers can watch it too. It is directed by Jake Scott. Take a look and let us know what you think.

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, the leading luxury Blended Scotch Whisky, as per IWSR 2013, today launches on global release a short film starring actors Jude Law and Giancarlo

Directed by British director Jake Scott, the film tells the story of a wager between two men striving for personal progress through the quest for a truly rare experience. ‘The Gentleman’s Wager’ sees Law in the role of a man who, despite having it all, challenges himself to strive for something he wants that money can’t buy.

Shot in The British Virgin Islands, Caribbean and London respectively, the story begins with Law and Giannini sipping JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL whisky on a truly unique hand-crafted boat as they look out across a stunning ocean seascape. We hear Law’s character state that he wants to buy the boat, but it is not for sale and the only way he can get it, is by putting on a truly unique performance. The wager begins.

Commenting on his role and involvement in the film, Law says: “The film is about improvement and progress and this is something I try to do in my work and life. I had to learn new skills through the shooting of this film and that combined with the places we visited and shot in, alongside working with Jake and Giancarlo too, made it a truly rare experience.”

James Thompson, Managing Director, Diageo Reserve says: “We are delighted to be launching
‘The Gentleman’s Wager’ film today. To us, Jude embodies the progressive spirit that the JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL brand identifies with and celebrates, so we’re thrilled he has taken on the lead role of the film and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with him in the future.”

The Courtesans Genius Video

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Frostie

We have the video for The Courtesans’ latest single, ‘Genius’.

This hard-hitting video considers the never-ending, unattainable portrayal of ‘the perfect woman’. With unavoidable advertising and mounting social pressure from both sexes, we too often witness childhoods ending all too early in favour of cheap lipstick and chicken-fillet bras as young women rise to the bait of their own growing insecurities overtly and subliminally governed by outside sources.

Beyond this, we find the anti-ageing army of surgery toters, trading botox and collagen injections that prey on the insecure and the vulnerable. Slimming pills, eating disorders, false hair, false nails, false person, false life. To conform is never enough for as we are judged and criticised for our differences and shortfalls so too are we judged and criticised for owning a beautiful face or a curvaceous body.

The clip sees the band – our four overtly-individual heroines – being burned at the stake for refusing to sacrifice their own opinions of how beauty should be perceived and how this should remain the property and under the control of the individual. Covering tattoos with skin-coloured paint does not alter the truth of what lies beneath the paint and indeed beneath the skin.

‘Genius’ will be released as The Courtesans debut single on 25th August and available from all your favourite online retailers. It’ll be shortly followed by their long-awaited debut album ‘1917’.

Simon’s Cat Indiegogo Film Campaign Raises Over £88,000 In Under a Week

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Frostie

British animator turns to crowdfunding to make first colour enhanced extended film

The #1 UK animation channel on YouTube with over 500,000,000 views!

The lovable and mischievous Simon’s Cat first appeared online in the animated film ‘Cat Man Do’, which was a viral smash-hit on YouTube in 2008. Now boasting over half a billion views and 3 million subscribers, Simon’s Cat is the #1 UK animation channel on YouTube.

The Simon’s Cat animation studio is looking to fund a special extended-length, colour episode, based on the chaos that erupts on the day of a veterinarian appointment. For this they have adopted the Indiegogo crowd-funding platform.

Simon’s Cat creator Simon Tofield explains “In the messages we receive from fans, a film about preparing for and visiting the vet is definitely the most common request. It’s a deep subject to explore, rich with the potential of loads of humour which is why we feel we’d like to make this our first broadcast length episode in colour! I am so grateful to our fans for their wonderful support!”

Indiegogo’s UK’s Anastasia Emmanuel says “We’re delighted and proud to have helped the Simon’s Cat team achieve their ambitions with ‘Off to the Vet’. We’ve successfully helped fund the ideas of hundreds of creators, inventors and businesses across the globe. Simon’s Cat is definitely one of the most fun and memorable campaigns we’ve ever hosted. We can’t wait to see the final film!”

For more information visit:

www.igg.me/at/simonscat

www.simonscat.com

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/simon-s-cat-in-off-to-the-vet

Andrea Lembke’s Recipe for Tangy Chicken and Mango Fajitas

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Frostie

Britain is expecting its longest summer since 1910 with scorching temperatures staying around until September, but it seems it’s not just the forecasters expecting high heats. According to new research the British palate is longing for something hotter too.

Mexican food is now one of the most popular cuisines in the UK, with fajitas featuring in the top ten. So why not join the fajita craze with taste developer Andrea Lembke, who’s serving up her favourite dish with a twist this summer with her favourite recipe for Tangy Chicken and Mango fajitas in this short video. The recipe is full of flavour, seasoning and spice and is a simple, sweet and scrumptious meal to enjoy with the family this summer.

Recipe for Tangy Chicken and Mango Fajitas

What you will need:
– 450g Boneless Chicken
– Extra Virgin Olive Oil for drizzling
– 1 Medium Sized Red Onion
– 1 Green Pepper
– 1 Red Pepper
– 1 Yellow Pepper
– 1/2 Mango
– 1 Santa Maria Perfect Fajita Kit, includes 8 Soft Flour Tortillas, Santa Maria Salsa and Faijita Seasoning Mix
– Santa Maria Chipotle Paste

For the Guacamole to serve with:
– 3 Large Avocados
– 1 Large Lime
– 1 Large Ripe Tomato
– 1 Small Red Onion
– 1 Red & 1 Green Chilli (Optional)
– Handful of fresh Coriander Plant

Method
Coat the chicken in the oil and Fajita Seasoning Mix. Heat a heavy based frying pan until very hot and add the seasoned chicken, this should be fried for about 3 minutes or until well browned.

For the guacamole, combine all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.

Chop the onion, peppers and mango and add into the pan, cook for a further 2 minutes or until the meat is cooked.

Warm Tortillas in a separate pan.

Serve with Salsa, Soured Cream, and Guacamole. Add some Green Jalapeños for an extra kick.

For more information, please visit www.santamariaworld.co.uk

The History of Tortelloni

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Frostie

Seen in the UK as a quick, cheap and easy meal, the authenticity, quality and simplicity of pasta has been overlooked. We tend to follow the method of ‘guess boiling’ our pasta and drowning it with any sauce to hand, while the Italians care more for their iconic dish, focusing on the simplicity of fresh, locally sourced ingredients such as olive oil, cheese and wine.

In this video master pasta maker, Giovanni Rana, tells the story of his artisan pasta making and shows us how to make and serve the perfect spinach and ricotta tortelloni, while Antonella Rana recalls the legendary story of the creation of tortellini.

Giovanni Rana and his family have been making fresh filled pasta for more than 50 years after noticing that home-made, fresh pasta was on the decline since Italian women started to work. His philosophy is simple: be true to yourself and the things that make you happy. For him, perfect pasta comes from a passion for food and the joy of sharing that passion with the people you love.

Recipe for the Perfect Ricotta and Spinach Tortelloni

More than 50 years ago, master pasta maker, Mr Giovanni, inspired by the old-world techniques of local women, began making tortelloni in a small shop in San Giovanni Lupatoto.

So he created a unique fresh-filled pasta, using the very best ingredients, and headed out on his scooter, to deliver his handiwork to the homes of families across Verona, The passionate, young pasta maker’s dream began to unfold across Italy and now the very same pasta is available in supermarkets in the UK today.

If you have the luxury of time, why not try Giovanni Rana’s unique recipe for these traditional Italian treasures; Ricotta and Spinach Tortelloni, using his short film.

Preparation: Pasta preparation: 25mins

Cooking: 2-3 minutes

Serves: 2-3

What you will need:

For the Pasta Dough

140g All purpose flour

2 eggs

For the Ricotta & Spinach Filling

85g Ricotta cheese

20ml double cream

15g Parmigiano cheese

30g of spinach, chopped

Pinch of salt and pepper

Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

For the Seasoning

Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

40g Ricotta cheese +15g Spinach leaves for serving per portion

Method

Put the flour with the salt in a large bowl.
Make a well in the middle then crack the eggs into the well, one at a time. Using your fingertips, mix well and begin to knead the fresh mixture into fresh dough.
Put the dough on a table and knead well with both hands until the dough is smooth and elastic, rolling it out using a rolling pin if needed.
Now for your filling; mix the ricotta and fresh spinach in a large bowl, adding a pinch of salt and pepper.
Roll the pasta to as thin as possible and using a pasta cutter or a knife, gently cut into squares.
Spoon out a teaspoon of the filling into the centre of each pasta square.
Then for the art of tortelloni making; carefully fold each pasta square diagonally and pinch the edges until closed. Then bring the corners together with your fingers and squeeze together.
Cook the tortelloni in a large saucepan of lightly salted boiling water and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, avoiding overcooking.
Drain the tortelloni thoroughly and finish by serving on a large bed of warm ricotta, with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and garnish with spinach.

Cook’s tip: If you don’t have all of the fresh ingredients available, why not try Giovanni Rana’s Simply Italian range, available in six delicious varieties including Tender Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni. Based on homemade Italian family recipes, they are simple and quick to prepare in less than 5 minutes. RRP £1.99.

Whiskey Cocktail Recipes | Cocktail Ideas

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Frostie

With cocktail season fast-approaching, thirsty folk on the search for the perfect summer sundowner need look no further than The Wild Geese whiskey cocktails.

The super premium Irish whiskey makers have teamed up with renowned bartender Marian Beke of critically acclaimed, Nightjar, voted one of the world’s best cocktail bars, to create a range of exclusive cocktails perfect for those long sunny days. Multi award winning The Wild Geese, enlisted the expertise of Marian, to hand-craft an array of bespoke and soulful cocktails bursting with intense flavour and dressed with delicate garnishes.

The first in the line-up, The Irish Apple, will invigorate and refresh at the end of a hot, balmy summer’s evening. The Wild Geese Classic Blend is fused with dry apple cider and tart rhubarb juice to create a cocktail to enjoy whilst soaking up the last of the rays. Sweet caramel is drizzled over the top of the long drink to add a touch of sweetness to this artisanal cocktail.

The Sarsfield Swizzle is a twist on the classic swizzle cocktail with a hint of spice. The Wild Geese Classic Blend is firstly mixed with crisp, botanical gin syrup and a dash of green tea bitters. Tangy lemon balm is added to the drink to bring out the citrus notes in The Wild Geese Classic Blend, and finally topped up with lemongrass and chilli beer for a zingy finish. Named after Patrick Sarsfield, the Irish hero who led the original Wild Geese in 1691, this cocktail mixes innovation and tradition perfectly.

For the third recipe, Beke marries The Wild Geese Rare Irish with the exotic juices of the Ugly Fruit, to achieve the ultimate bittersweet serve. The Freedom Sour is an innovative take on the ever-popular Whiskey Sour, freshened up with maple syrup and a layer of Matcha tea foam.

The three times voted ‘Best Irish Whiskey’ collection is made with superb quality aged Irish Whiskey stock and uses a special Extended Double Distillation process, creating a unique smoothness and richness unlike any other whiskey. The subtle and complex flavours are created using a pioneering distillation process, providing an unusual balance between robust and spicy malt, and light smooth grain.

Irish Apple

2 parts The Wild Geese Classic Blend Irish Whiskey

1 part apple and rhubarb juice

3 parts dry cider

1/2 part Kamms & Sons

Mix the Classic Blend, dry cider and apple & rhubarb juice by ‘rolling’ them in a cocktail shaker. Pour into a highball glass and float a large ice ball on top. Add the Kamms & Sons to create a bittersweet taste and garnish with a crab apple and apple blossom. Drizzle fresh caramel over the garnish for the final touch.

Sarsfield Swizzle

2 part The Wild Geese Classic Blend Irish Whiskey

1 part gin botanical syrup or 1/2 part gin & 1/2 sugar syrup

Dash of green tea bitters

Lemon balm

Top up with homemade lemongrass and chili beer

Pour a full measure of The Wild Geese Classic Blend directly into the serving glass. Add gin syrup as a sweetener and a dash of green tea bitter. Add lemon balm leaves to compliment the citrus notes in the Classic Blend. Top up with lemongrass & chilli beer and ‘swizzle’ the ingredients to mix them. Serve with pinewood and sweet spice.

Freedom Sour

2 part The Wild Geese Rare Irish Whiskey

1/2 part maple/ honey syrup

2 parts fresh squeezed ugly fruit juice

Few dashes of bitter

Matcha tea foam

Shake and serve in martini glass, top it off with matcha tea foam.

One last one for the World Cup.

Gold Cup

Ingredients
2 parts The Wild Geese Classic Blend Whiskey
1/2 part of lime juice
1/2 part coconut cream
1/2 part sugar syrup

Garnish
1/2 part of blue curaçao
lemon
passion fruit shell

Method
Blend a small handful of basil leaves, coconut cream and lime juice together until you have a liquid form. Pour into a cocktail shaker with sugar syrup and The Wild Geese Classic Blend Irish whiskey then shake hard with ice.

Serve in a rocks glass over crushed ice and add a passion fruit shell. Fill the shell with blue curaçao and garnish with the zest of a lemon. Add your nation’s flag to celebrate your team for the final, champion touch.

The combination of the triple citrus notes (orange, lime and lemon) with the coolness of the basil leaves make this a super refreshing cocktail with a mild and creamy, sweet finish.

Which one will you make?

Beyonce & Jay Z Kick Off On The Run Tour, Share Wedding Video

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Frostie

Beyonce and Jay Z have kicked off their On The Run Tour. They opened their 16-city tour in Miami, performing their 2002 hit Bonnie and Clyde.

The couple also let the public finally see their wedding video from their 2008 wedding, along with footage of their one-year-old daughter Blue Ivy.

“There were videos of Blue in the pool with her mom, walking holding hands with her parents, Jay Z kissing Blue. It was a sweet moment — Jay Z and Beyoncé were both facing the screen watching the Blue videos while they sang ‘Halo.’ It was like they were singing the song to their baby girl. The two of them were beaming, smiling watching their little girl on the screen.” a concertgoer told Us Weekly.

It is all very sweet and Mr and Mrs Carter are showing how strong they are against gossip about their marriage.

What do you think? Are they a great couple?

The Provincial Archive Release Video For Daisy Garden

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Frostie

Striking a balance between detuned synthesizers and entangled melodies EP single and album cut “Daisy Garden” deals with the pains of aging from a personal point of view. “I wrote ‘Daisy Garden’ about my Grandmother’s struggle, outward and inward, with the decline in her mental state,” says Schram. Director Blake McWilliam illustrates touches on these challenges in the new video for “Daisy Garden”. Hide Like A Secret EP, which includes the track “Daisy Garden”, is available to purchase now on iTunes. A portion of the sales will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada via Boom Charity.

TAKEN FROM LATEST EP, HIDE LIKE A SECRET, OUT NOW

May was quite a month for the Canadian band who’ve just put the wraps on a European tour through Germany and the UK – They enjoyed support from Clash, NME, Indie Shuffle, Q and Artrocker amongst many others and plan to return to UK shores in the autumn when they’ll announce details on their upcoming full-length album.

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