The Steeple Times

Tag: French

  • The King of Macaron

    The King of Macaron

    A review of Bougie Macaron & Tea by Claire Rubinstein

     

    Bastille Day has just passed, and here at The Steeple Times we are still marveling at the excitement and euphoria caused by one man at our recent Blakes launch party. Jean-Hervé Nedelec created a ‘Lynx Effect’ as he worked the room with his tray of Parisian Bougie macarons with female guests falling over themselves and out of their clothes to get their hands on his exquisite macarons. The undisputed Bernard-Henri Lévy of the confectionery world, Nedelec has got the snack that gets the girls.

     

    Jean-Hervé Nedelec tempts Alexandra Abrahams, Claire Rubinstein and Alexandra Naylor with his macarons at the launch of The Steeple Times at Blakes Hotel, London, SW7

     

    Not to be confused with the English coconut macaroon, this sweet meringue-based confection is made with egg whites, sugar and ground almonds, filled with a ganache and comes in a wide variety of delicate hues and subtle flavours. Some say the French macaron is the embodiment of Parisian chic (something  the French have built their national identity around), if so then the gulf between it and its British counterpart (an ill-formed heavy dollop of coconut) speaks volumes of the gulf between our cultures and cuisine.

     

    There has been much debate over the history of the macaron with different regions of France boasting different varieties with similarly diverse histories dating back as far as 1791.

     

    Now popular the world over, this front-row worthy snack has become a crowd-pleaser with the fashionistas – Lady GaGa is a fan and macarons have multiple mentions on shows such as Gossip Girl and can be found as far afield as Japan, Korea (often with the Asian flavour of green tea), USA, Canada and Australia. In France, McDonalds even sells macarons in their McCafes sometimes using advertising that likens the shape of the macaron to that of a hamburger!

     

    Bougie Macaron & Tea unites French gastronomy with the distinctive seasonal flavours and the inventiveness of British cuisine. This summer sees British strawberry and cream, rhubarb & pistachio, hedgerow red fruit, and toffee apple amongst others. Autumn highlights will include Earl Grey, matcha and passion fruit as well as the ever popular salted caramel, chocolate, lemon and vanilla.

     

    Perfect for parties and the ideal gift, we say: “Let them eat macarons!”

     

    For more information on Bougie Macaron & Tea, go to: http://www.bougie.co.uk or telephone: +44 (0) 20 7836 4980.

  • Singing for a Diamond

    Singing for a Diamond

    Music fit for The Queen

     

    In recent days, Gary Barlow’s albumn Sing has topped the UK album charts with sales of 40,000 copies.

     

    Two hundred and ten musicians, including the African Children’s Choir and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band, helped record this special tribute to The Queen. Produced by Barlow with the assistance of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gareth Malone, Sing also features Prince Harry on the tambourine, Hayley Westenra, Alfie Boe and the Military Wives choir. Sing will be performed this evening at a special concert at Buckingham Palace in the presence of Her Majesty.

     

    Another tribute I was alerted to came from a singer named Anton Lorien who contacted me via Twitter. He was approached in 2011 by the British Monarchist League who asked him to produce a song for a lady he describes as having: “Given her life selflessly to the people of Britain and the Commonwealth.”

    Mr Lorien’s song, Like A Diamond, is available to download on iTunes but I wholeheartedly recommend that you watch the video clip available above. It contains some wonderful footage of The Queen and the clip at 3:33 where our Monarch runs to watch her racehorse is especially worth seeing.

     

    Gary Barlow pictured with Prince Harry on the tambourine working on Sing

     

    Both Sing and Like A Diamond capture the feelings of our nation brilliantly. Be sure to sing along tonight.

     

    For more information about Anton Lorien’s Like A Diamond, go to: http://www.antonlorien.com

     

    For more information on Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band’s Sing, got to: http://www.jubileesing.com

  • Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the Commonwealth Realms

    Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the Commonwealth Realms

    Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II  governed as constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states and headed the 54-member Commonwealth of Nations. Supported by her gaffe prone husband, “Brenda,” as Private Eye nicknamed her, served steadfast through good times and bad. She liked to drive a little quickly when given control of the wheel of a Range Rover and also found washing up relaxing. This monarch like no other will never be forgotten.

     

  • Jo Malone MBE

    Jo Malone MBE

    This dynamo opened her first store at 154 Walton Street in Chelsea in 1994 and admits she had no money and made every error in the book whilst starting out. It all paid off as the Jo Malone brand that was created in her kitchen was sold to Estée Lauder in a multi-million pound “deal of a lifetime” in 1999. Malone grew up in a council flat in Bexleyheath and readily admits she’s a “merchant at heart.” She’s now moved into television presenting and also launched a new fragrance brand, Jo Loves, in March 2011.

  • Gerry & Kate McCann

    Gerry & Kate McCann

    Their daughter Madeleine disappeared on the evening 3rd May 2007 from a holiday apartment whilst they sat enjoying tapas with a bunch of friends. Some believe the poor child was kidnapped. Others have alternative theories. A public fund to find “Maddie” raised hundreds of thousands of pounds but Mrs McCann’s book, Madeleine, contains so many references to trips on private jets and meeting famous people that it makes one question whether the search for the child or fame has become the focus.

  • Dmitry Rybolovlev

    Dmitry Rybolovlev

    This billionaire businessman started out in medicine but soon moved into commerce realising that enterprise would better provide for his family. He was imprisoned on falsified charges of contract murder for 11 months in 1996. Subsequently cleared, Rybolovlev then went on to make his fortune in potassium and banking. This divorced father of two has used his fortune to fund the restoration of many of Russia’s churches and also bought Donald Trump’s former residence, The Masion de L’Amitie in Palm Beach, Florida, for $95 million in 2008. This risk taker also parted with another $88 million in December 2011 to purchase New York’s most expensive apartment for his 22-year old daughter. Rybololev’s passions are surfing and 19th and 20th century art.

  • Jack O'Shea

    A gentleman butcher. He’s deservedly been named Butcher of the Year by The Independent and his shops in Brussels and Knightsbridge are a mecca for foodies. He took on the might of Sir Roger Moore and his campaign against foie gras by selling it from his Selfridges counter in 2011. He was ejected from the store on Christmas Eve but rightly responded to his critics with a simple one liner: “I couldn’t give a damn.”

  • Céline Dion CC OQ

    Céline Dion CC OQ

    Dion met her husband and manager, René Angélil, when she was 12. Her rise has been meteoric and she’s now one of the richest women in showbiz. Whether she’s “Falling into You” or “Taking Chances,” however, there’s just something utterly irritating about her demeanour. Please could someone send in an iceberg? This Titanic of a voice needs to sink.

  • Uggie

    Uggie

    Born in 2002, this Jack Russell has starred in Mr. Fix It, Water for Elephants and The Artist. Whether he’s sat on a bar stool in London with our good friend Alexandra Abrahams or winning a Palm Dog Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, this talented little pooch is deservedly film’s top dog.

  • Sir Christopher and Lady Meyer

    Sir Christopher and Lady Meyer

    Sir Christopher and Lady Meyer love the media circuit and television sofas. (more…)