The Steeple Times

Tag: Italy

  • Video of the Week: Total Control

    Video of the Week: Total Control

    Nicky Haslam adds another string to his bow

     

    Nicky Haslam is a man of many parts. He’s best known as an interior designer and author but over the years, in chameleon like fashion, he’s variously styled himself as Liam Gallagher, bought a house in Transylvania on the net and once told Vanity Fair he’d rather meet Kim Jong Il than Nelson Mandela. Whether he’s partying with Paris Hilton or working with a Russian oligarch, Haslam’s character and charm always shine through and for good reason he tops the list of the most invited in the land.

     

    Nicky Haslam’s “Total Control”

     

    Nicky Haslam’s life has been well documented in many a column but his latest move, recording a debut album entitled Midnight Matinée, can certainly be described as a bold departure. Yes, he did cabaret at Bellamy’s in 2009 and The Savoy in 2010 but having heard the first song, this truly does represent something akin to Kevin Spacey’s Beyond the Sea. I must admit that I thought it vastly superior.

     

    Produced by David Ogilvy, who wrote the music for a BBC film about the interior designer, Total Control is the first in the series of songs to be released. It is accompanied by a video by a Canadian filmmaker named Douglas Arrowsmith.

     

    We at The Steeple Times very much like Haslam’s “highly individual” foray into the “contemporary music scene” and for that reason make it our video of the week.

     

    For more on Nicky Haslam and his interior design business, go to: http://www.nh-design.co.uk

     

    Listen to Total Control and watch the accompanying video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyvmrswykXM

  • Going under the Kosh

    Going under the Kosh

    The sale of a $25 million mansion modeled on Marie Antoinette’s favourite retreat that has connections to Levi Strauss & Co., Yehudi Menuhin, the Zodiac Killer and a controversial dot-com tycoon

     

    Modeled on the Petit Trianon, a small château in the grounds of Versailles that was favoured by Louis XVI’s wife Marie Antoinette, the Koshland Mansion at 3800 Washington Street in Presidio Heights, San Francisco, California was built between 1902 and 1904 for a pioneer wool, hide and fur merchant named Marcus S. Koshland and his wife, Corrine.

     

    The Washington Street elevation of the former Koshland Mansion at 3800 Washington Street, San Francisco, California, CA 94118
    An aerial view of the 18,000 square foot property and the 2,600 square foot guest accommodation
    The inspiration for the Koshland Mansion: The Petit Trianon, Château de Versailles, Place d’Armes – 78000 Versailles, France

    The Koshlands, whose son Daniel (1920 – 2007) was to become a president of Levi Strauss & Co., commissioned an architect named Frank S. Van Tree to design a replica of the Petit Trianon after having admired it whilst on holiday in France. The front of the building, facing onto Washington Street, is considered such a faithful representation of the neoclassical building the Koshlands copied and as a result the house is now designated a San Francisco Designated Landmark.

     

    Daniel E. Koshland, Jr.

    Some 20,000 square foot in size and set on a 2/3rd acre plot, the completion of this sandstone faced “single family residence” was celebrated by the Koshland family with a Marie Antoinette themed ball in 1904. The invitations to this legendary event were purchased and printed in Paris and hand delivered to the guests.

     

    The Koshland Mansion survived San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake with only a little damage to the front elevation

    The 1906 San Francisco earthquake, just two years after they’d completed the building, somewhat interrupted the Koshlands hectic party schedule at 3800 Washington Street. Though the disaster caused the front columns and roof balustrade to collapse, the couple generously opened the otherwise undamaged property to some 60 to 80 displaced family and friends. With no mains water, the guests had to fetch water from Fort Mason but they were no doubt happy to have had somewhere to take refuge.

     

    During subsequent renovations, as well as restoring the façade, a 5-car garage was added in 1909 and a greenhouse and extension in 1912. In the ensuing years, until her death in 1953, Corrine Koshland, better known as Cora, opened up 3800 Washington Street as a venue for concerts. A founder of the San Francisco Symphony Association and one of the first directors of the San Francisco Opera Company, Koshland invited music critics to review the performances and gave both Yehudi Menuhin and Isaac Stern their musical debuts at the house as child prodigies. Amongst the other big names to play in the masnion were Igor Stravinsky, Jascha Heifitz and Leonard Bernstein.

     

    Sir Yehudi Menuhin KBE (1916 – 1999) pictured in his youth

    In 1953, the Koshland Mansion was sold for $100,000 by the estate of Cora Koshland. The purchaser was Walter E. Buck (1884 – 1966), president of the American Distilling Company. Buck and his wife Emily, who were well known for “Gatsby-esque parties” at their 1,300 acre estate, Woodside, redecorated 3800 Washington Street by “painting the mahogany library white, removing the dark green, gold-tooled leather from the dining room and developing small card rooms in the basement.” It seems likely that the era of parties at 3800 Washington Street continued during their occupancy.

     

    On 11th October 1969, a murder occurred on the block where 3800 Washington Street stands when the Zodiac Killer, a to this day unidentified serial killer who operated in Northern California in the 1960s and 1970s, shot and killed a cab driver named Paul Stine. Stine had collected his passenger one block west of Union Square and had, as requested, driven him to the intersection of Washington and Maple Streets in Presidio Heights. Once there, the cab driver was shot once in the head with a 9mm before the killer, observed by three teenagers across the street, took his wallet and car keys. The Zodiac Killer tore off a section of Stine’s bloodstained shirt, wiped the cab clean and walked off into the night before the police could arrive.

     

    A sketch of the Zodiac Killer

    Subsequently, on the 14th October 1969, the San Francisco Chronicle were mailed a swatch of Stine’s shirt to prove he was the killer and then on 9th November 1969, a 7-page letter followed. Excerpts from it were published from it in the newspaper on 12th November which revealed that a police officer, Don Fouke, who had responded to the teenager’s call, had actually encountered the killer for 5 to 10 seconds on a stairway of a house close to the murder scene. Fouke had been told to look for a black suspect and on seeing a white man going into the yard of a house, had discounted the individual and drove on. The Zodiac Killer, in his letter, detailed the encounter but claimed that two policemen had actually spoken with him 3-minutes after he’d shot Stine.

     

    In 1975, a neighbour, Paul Renne purchased 3800 Washington Street for $675,000, supposedly to prevent it being acquired by property developers, but having been used as the 1982 San Francisco Decorator Showcase house, it was placed on the market and sold to a gallery owner named Heidi Betz and her business partner, an art collector named Charles Pankow. They paid $1.5 million for the house but failed in their bid to turn it into an art gallery due to objections from neighbouring residents.

     

    Halsey Minor

    In the two decades that followed 3800 Washington Street was sold several more times but finally it’s glory days looked set to return in 2007 when it was purchased by an “internet titan” named Halsey Minor and his second wife, Shannon. Having paid approximately $22 million for what essentially was going to be a very expensive renovation project, Minor supposedly assigned a further $15 million towards renovations and hired Michelle Obama’s favourite designer, Michael S. Smith, to oversee the project.

     

    Minor founded CNET, a tech media website that published news, articles, blogs and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics, in 1992 after leaving Merrill Lynch and built it into one of the first internet companies to achieve profitability. CNET was sold for $1.8 billion in 2008 and is now CBS Interactive. Another of the companies he co-founded in 2000, salesforce.com, was “one of the most successful companies of the decade” and achieved a market capitalisation of in excess of $15 billion.

     

    Having made a small fortune from his dot-com success, Minor diversified into investments that brought with them a lifestyle that would later be described as “a multi-millionaire who lived life as a billionaire.” In 2007, he began construction of a hotel in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia and announced this would be part of a series he’d open as part of the Minor Family Hotel group he planned. The hotel has never been completed.

     

    Carter’s Grove, 8797 Pocahontas Trail, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, VA 23187: considered to be one of America’s finest and most historic residences. It was bought by Halsey Minor in 2007 and has fallen into significant decline in the years since.
    The 1983 Group of Seven (G7) meeting at Carter’s Grove. Pictured outside the house are: Pierre Trudeau, Prime Minister, Canada; François Mitterrand, President, France; Helmut Kohl, Chancellor, West Germany; Amintore Fanfani, Prime Minister, Italy; Yasuhiro Nakasone, Prime Minister, Japan; Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister, United Kingdom; Ronald Reagan, President, United States of America and Gaston Thorn, President, European Commission

    In the same year, he also bought the Koshland Mansion and purchased 400 acres of land and a residence on the James River, the Carter’s Grove Plantation, for $15.3 million. Here, he planned a centre for thoroughbred horse breeding and at around the same time he attempted to buy both the Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida and the Pimlico Track in Baltimore. Both bids failed.

     

    Minor’s investments were not just limited to property and the equine sector. In 2006, he placed a $3 million deposit on a $59 million Gulfstream G650 and at Sotheby’s in 2008, he was the winning bidder on a painting by Edward Hicks, The Peaceable Kingdom, at a hammer price of $9.6 million and also bought paintings by Andy Warhol and Childe Hassam.

     

    Around this point, however, this dot-com tycoon’s fortune began to unravel when Merrill Lynch called in a $25 million loan and various legal suits connected to his art collection, investments and properties commenced. Several of his homes were repossessed and at a court hearing in August 2011, he claimed to have just $112,643 in cash and owned no publicly traded securities. Minor claimed to be majorly broke but the declaration did not cover illiquid assets such as art, real estate and shares in non-public companies. To this day, Minor remains listed in first place on the State of California’s Franchise Tax Board’s top 500 delinquent taxpayers owing some $10,455,580.69.

     

    In response to his supposed progression from riches to rags, Minor wrote an article for The Huffington Post in July 2012 entitled “Why I Fight”:

     

    “I often wonder what Thomas Jefferson would think of today’s America, a nation that is rapidly but silently abandoning the individual in favour of faceless corporations, rapacious banks and a collusive, unresponsive government… The simple answer is that someone must [fight] or we will emerge from this recession with wealth and power concentrated in a few tiny financial institutions representing a new ruling elite, not unlike the one that inspired Thomas Jefferson’s generation to revolution.”

     

    Somehow, in spite of his changed circumstances, Minor has managed to hold on to 3800 Washington Street. Though, during his tenure, the house has fallen into decline and is now half covered in ivy, it is still one of San Francisco’s finest properties and it is still situated in one of the city’s best neighbourhoods. It is still an asset of considerable value and Minor’s decision to sell may well help him rake back some of what he has lost.

     

    The hallway at 3800 Washington Street
    A drawing room at 3800 Washington Street
    One of the property’s dining rooms
    The opulent ballroom at 3800 Washington Street

    Steven Mavromihalis of Pacific Union International launched 3800 Washington Street onto the market in May 2012 for $25,000,000. This move came just after two Abandoned Building Notices had been issued on the property by the City and County of San Francisco Department of Building Inspection. On offer is the 18,000 square foot main house at 3800 Washington Street, a 2,600 square foot 3-bedroom house at 3810 Washington Street and a vacant lot at 125 Maple Street. Though the agents don’t give much more in the way of details, they do refer to the house having a double marble Palladian staircase, 22 rooms, a “spectacular ballroom,” 8 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 9 fireplaces, 3 kitchens, an elevator and three original stained glass windows by the San Francisco poet, writer sculptor and artist Bruce Porter (1865 – 1964).

     

    According to the agents, 3800 Washington Street is second only to Danielle Steele’s 55-room residence, The Spreckels Mansion, at 2080 Washington Street in the rankings of the largest homes in San Francisco. This is most certainly a mansion with a fair few tales to tell but whoever buys it will need both Steele’s wealth and imagination to get it back into good order. Dot-com tycoons and serial killers need not apply.

     

    Read more about the Zodiac Killer at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac_Killer

     

    A profile of Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. is available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_E._Koshland,_Jr.

     

    Read more about the downfall of Halsey Minor at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2154564/Halsey-Minor-tech-guru-files-bankruptcy-ruined-Carters-Grove-estate.html

     

    All enquiries about 3800 Washington Street, Presidio Heights, San Francisco, California, CA 94118 should be directed to Steven Mavromihalis of Pacific Union International on +1 (415) 345 3030 or email him at: [email protected].

     

    More details are available at: http://www.pacunion.com/homes/CA/San_Francisco/94118/3800__Washington_St/AGT-107397278-685992/ whilst a video tour of the property can be viewed at: http://vimeo.com/42775765

  • How the mac ’n’ cheese met the truffle oil

    How the mac ’n’ cheese met the truffle oil

    Christian Huhnt recounts an evening of rock ‘n’ roll at the opening party for Hollywood Road’s latest venue, Honky Tonk

     

    When you hear about the opening of a London-based “underground NYC inspired rock ‘n’ roll restaurant,” the last thing you expect is to find it in the very heart of an area that estate agents now call “Little Chelsea.”

     

    Honky Tonk, 6 Hollywood Road, London, SW10 9HY

    So, my companion Steffen and I headed off to determine what this mystery may be, and to learn what the owner, who is supposedly involved in The Supper Club, was willing to reveal that night. As soon as I arrived, I found myself sipping a chilled drink, while listening to some Screamin’ Jay Hawkins vibes. “The Gringo,” a mix of tequila, juice and wheat beer is described as “a delectable intertwining of Mexican and British” on Honky Tonk’s drinks menu and it is just such.

     

    As I was pushed deeper into the venue, away from the bar at the entrance, I felt I had been left alone in the middle of Shoreditch, with a 60s-inspired retro-American “highway diner” flair interior of unrendered walls, raw lightbulbs, Formica tables, and pierced and tattooed modern-hippy looking 20-somethings; only the pretty waitresses reminded me, that I was in fact not in a greasy US-diner, but at an opening in Chelsea, West London.

    Guests enjoying Honky Tonk’s opening bash
    Honky Tonk’s bar staff creating cocktails
    One of Honky Tonk’s waitresses serving cocktails

    When it came to the food, served as canapés, it again became clear, that I was in SW10. The “not” fried chicken, as the waitress educated me, is only coated with a “special recipe” and then oven-baked. It has as much crispy pleasure as it would have had fried, but it is far healthier and plainly designed so as not to dispossess the figure conscious guests of this elite neighborhood.

     

    Almost finished with this delight, I tasted the next dish on the menu: New England crab cakes in a chili-mayo sauce, followed by little potato skins loaded with chilli con carne and sour cream. As I wasn’t sure anymore if this food could be solely called “good old-fashioned American bites,” the next dish was most definitely the tip of the iceberg: the macaroni cheese, apparently the “Baked Beans of America,” the synonym of cheap grub, the epitome of total culinary absence. Here at Honky Tonk, though, they controversially served this with a porcini béchamel and truffle oil sauce, along with roasted wild mushrooms. Believe it or not, it worked and it was bloody good.

     

    While getting in the mood with another fancy drink, one of my favorites by the way, I tried a rum and ginger beer concoction topped with a slice of lime and listened to Elvis Presley’s Mystery Train playing in the background. Whilst enjoying this, I realise that the Chelsea boys and girls have arrived and are mingling with the hip East London crowd. I have seen this lot at many other openings and can’t assume they were shipped in, but nonetheless the spot is suddenly buzzing and a great evening follows.

     

    Examples of the humour of Honky Tonk’s management adorn the venue’s walls

    Honky Tonk promises to deliver the New York vibe, bringing cool Blues, Jazz and Rockabilly tones with regular live music to the heart of posh Chelsea. Well done so far.

     

    Rock on!

     

    Honky Tonk, 6 Hollywood Road, London, SW10 9HY. Telephone: +44 (0) 207 351 1588. Website: http://www.honkytonkchelsea.com.

  • Ferrari's 'F'lipping 'F'ool

    Ferrari's 'F'lipping 'F'ool

    The case of a Ferrari FF driver with more money than sense

     

    Last November, on my way to a lunch at The Stafford Hotel with The Steeple Times restaurant critic, Anthony Brown, I took a photograph of one of my favourite vehicles, a Ferrari FF, in Curzon Street, W1.

     

    Emblazoned with a Westminster City Council parking ticket, this particular FF, baring an Arabic registration “66 C,” was especially noticeable as it was “wrapped” in orange and black and I took a photograph of it.

     

    My photograph of the orange-black “wrapped” Ferrari FF in Curzon Street, Mayfair, London, W1 in November 2011

    After sharing the image on Facebook, I received, in Margaret Thatcher style fashion, the following reply from the renowned designer, Bruce Oldfield: “No, no, no!” Another friend, Anne Marie Legault added: “It doesn’t fit with the neighborhood.” Karen Ashworth, a Mercedes SL 500 driver and friend from my school days, summed up the thoughts of the majority though when she stated of the car: “I’m not a fan to be honest!”

     

    I subsequently saw the car a few times in the months that followed but never imagined that I’d see it on the Mail Online website and would certainly never have predicted that it would have ended up as an advert against uninsured drivers outside New Scotland Yard.

     

    The very same Ferrari FF outside New Scotland Yard today
    Instead of a parking ticket, this Ferrari FF now has a police notice glued to it’s windscreen
    28-year old His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi. His nickname is “RRR,” which supposedly stands for “rich in real estate resources.”

    The Steeple Times picture of the week, following on from this morning’s coverage of it, therefore, has to be of this particular FF. It turns out that it is owned by His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, the 28-year old son of His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the ruler of Ajman, and was recently impounded in South Kensington, London after he hadn’t bothered to insure it. Having paid £227,000 for such a magnificent vehicle, one would have thought he’d have the brains and finances to have done such. Plainly the age of excess and stupidity is still with us.

     

    Read the Mail Online’s coverage of the story at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2209551/Going-fast–Ferrari-proudly-display-outside-police-headquarters-deter-uninsured-drivers.html

  • Prince Lorenzo Borghese: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Prince Lorenzo Borghese: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks the businessman, philanthropist and reality television star Lorenzo Borghese: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force?

    Beer and bacon. I need both to function.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    “No one sues a homeless man.”

     

    Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2012?

    Kerry Katona: Who is she anyway?

     

    Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

    My black Labrador, Belle, who died of cancer in 2005.

     

    What might you swap all your wealth for?

    Someone else’s wealth, someone who has more wealth than I have.

     

    Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank.” What’s your view on the banking crisis?

    Plant more trees.

     

    What phrase or word do you most loathe?

    LOL.

     

    In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home.” What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

    Charity begins with a problem that needs a solution. Helping others is our responsibility as the dominant beings on this planet. My favorite charity is Animal Aid USA not just because I co-founded it, but because all of it’s members are volunteers and love animals.

     

    The judge in “Law Abiding Citizen” states: “I can pretty do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

    They say: “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Being blown up kills you, so that’s where I draw the line.

     

    If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

    My family, close friends and a little band called The Rolling Stones – there’s never a good party without good music.

     

    Prince Lorenzo Borghese

    If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

    Three bacon cheeseburgers in the middle of the Amazon jungle.  I think they would provide me with enough energy to sneak away and get lost forever.

     

    What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

    That all depends what one is drinking.

     

    A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

    Why do I have to choose? I’ll take all three.

     

    Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

    The one’s I have because I tend to know more people at those.

     

    Who is the most positive person you know?

    Mickey Mouse: That guy is always waving and dancing.

     

    What’s your most guilty pleasure?

    I don’t have one. What pleases me doesn’t make me feel guilty.

     

    If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

    A tiny freckle: I’m not a fan of tattoos, so the smaller the better.

     

    If you were a car, what marque would you be?

    Any electrical car as long as it’s yellow, has four wheels and a great sound system.

     

    Cilla Black presented “Surprise, Surprise.” Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

    I don’t wear underwear – I never understood the purpose.

     

    What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

    Several pictures of my family, a lighter and an empty pack of matches.

     

    Prince Lorenzo Borghese is the founder and president of Royal Treatment, a high-end bath, body and skin care line for pets. He is also the founder and president of Animal Aid USA, a not-for-profit focusing on saving animals and changing laws to stop animal cruelty. In 2006, he starred in ABC’s reality show, The Bachelor, and in summer 2012, he was one of the housemates in Channel 5’s Celebrity Big Brother in the UK.

     

    For more information on Royal Treatment, go to: http://www.getroyaltreatment.com

     

    For more information on Animal Aid USA, go to: http://animalaidusa.org

     

  • The yachting equivalent of Marmite

    The yachting equivalent of Marmite

    Edward Kay examines the latest offering from Arcadia Yachts

     

    Hidden among a huge choice of white multi-tiered yachts that look like wedding cakes are the new award winning range of Arcadia ecological yachts. The “Marmite” design is certainly eye catching but it certainly won’t be to the taste of everybody.

     

    An Arcadia Yacht at sea
    A closer view of an Arcadia Yacht

    The ‘half gliding’ hull is designed for economical cruising and the hybrid motors mean at 8 knots they run in absolute silence. The eco friendly theme continues with solar panels on the roof that recharge the batteries and there is also a water and sewage treatment plant so as not to pollute the sea.

     

    An interior shot of an Arcadia Yacht
    A helm station on an Arcadia Yacht
    A typical master bedroom on an Arcadia Yacht

    Arcadia Yachts have huge fully opening windows and terraces that fold out of the hull to the sea and make them all about outdoor living. The minimalist Francesco Guida interiors are stunningly designed with Italian flair mixing the mediums of wood, carpet, leather, marble and glass effortlessly.

     

    The latest yacht to be delivered from the Naples yard is the 115 (35 metre) “M Ocean” which displaces 180 tonnes and her twin MAN V12, 1,224hp engines give her a cruising speed of 16.5 knots and a top speed of 18.5 knots. At 16.9 knots she burns 386 litres per hour however at 10 knots that drops to just 77 litres per hour and gives her a range of 2,160 nautical miles.

     

    The range currently comprises of 85 foot at €4.5 million, a 100 foot at €7 million, and a 115 foot at €10 million (excluding VAT). There are also 135-155 foot boats planned.

     

    For more information on Arcadia Yachts, go to: http://www.arcadiayachts.it

  • Tom McLoughlin: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Tom McLoughlin: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times asks private aviation entrepreneur Tom McLoughlin: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

     

    7th January 2013: When we published this interview on 16th August 2012, we were unaware of the real identity of Thomas McLoughlin. He told us he was an ambassador for American Express and all manner of other tales. Our readers responded in their droves and he has now been identified for what he truly is. His answers will remain here as illustration of his persona. The man is an obnoxious fake. If you spot him, contact Chelsea police station as they are very interested in his activities.

    Update 13th February 2013: Thomas McLoughlin pleaded guilty to two charges on 28th January 2013 and is due to appear again at Isleworth Crown Court on 11th March 2013. Readers may wish to attend to witness his departure. It’s almost certain they’ll be waving him on his merry way to a Serco prison truck rather than to a Learjet or a Mercedes AMG.

    Update 12th April 2013: After having his sentencing delayed for health reasons, Mr McLoughlin is back in court again this morning. We await news with baited breath.

    Update 17th May 2013: Mr McLoughlin’s sentencing has been delayed until 12th June whilst the courts await medical evidence.

     

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force?

    My belief in God and my own God.

     

     “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    “Don’t get mad, get even.”

     

    Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2012?

    Tony Blair trying to resurrect his political career.

     

    Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

    A golf course when I can’t get to one.

     

    What might you swap all your wealth for?

    To live out my life on a desert with a certain Italian actress.

     

    Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank.” What’s your view on the banking crisis?

    Everyone knows that the City has been full of crooks for years. Unfortunately most of them are American now.

     

    What phrase or word do you most loathe?

    “Actually.”

     

    In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home.” What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

    Children’s causes here and around the world. Adults can take care of themselves.

     

    The judge in “Law Abiding Citizen” states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

    I wish I could position my mobile phone to assassinate some political leaders in the world.

     

    Tom McLoughlin pictured with Dovile Mazeikaite at No. 11 Cadogan Gardens, London, SW3. © Matthew Steeples, 2012.

    If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

    All my ex-business enemies with one or two assassins. Several girlfriends would accompany. The ex-business enemies would be disposed of at the first stop.

     

    If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

    My last meal would be Welsh lamb at No. 11 Cadogan Gardens.

     

    What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

    Champagne at breakfast but nothing else before midday.

     

    A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

    A martini with Stelios. I leased him his first five jets for EasyJet in 1994 and then he didn’t need me anymore.

     

    Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

    The after-party at the New Year’s Day concert in Vienna that I go to annually.

     

    Who is the most positive person you know?

    My daughter, Alexandra, aged 14.

     

    What’s your most guilty pleasure?

    A bottle of white Burgundy and a punt on Betfair.

     

    If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

    It would be a butterfly on the arse of a girlfriend.

     

    If you were a car, what marquee would you be?

    My car, a Mercedes CL63 AMG.

     

    Cilla Black presented “Surprise, Surprise.” Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

    As a private jet captain, I flew 3 plates of Nobu sushi to Baku, Azerbaijan. The sushi cost £2,000 and the flight £78,000.

     

    What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

    Photographs of ex-girlfriends.

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  • Frankie Dettori MBE: What’s on your mantelpiece?

    Frankie Dettori MBE: What’s on your mantelpiece?

    The Steeple Times asks Frankie Dettori MBE: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force?

    My faith, my family and my self-belief.

     

    “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

    I’ve never held a grudge in my life.

     

    Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2012?

    Child abuse, animal abuse and bad wine.

     

    Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

    Food.

     

    What might you swap all your wealth for?

    Most of my wealth is invested in my five children and the school fees! I was never rich and don’t expect to be.

     

    Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank.” What’s your view on the banking crisis?

    I think in both Italy and England, the bankers need to come back to a point where ordinary people like you and I can gain our faith in a system that should be fundamental for all of us. If you can’t keep your money in a bank, where can you?

     

    What phrase or word do you most loathe?

    “Frankie: We think you are a good thing on this one.”

     

    In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home.” What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

    The Fortune Centre for Riding Therapy and DAFA (Direct Aid for Africa).

     

    The judge in “Law Abiding Citizen” states: “I can pretty do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

    My mobile is fundamentally important to me in this modern world but interestingly I have never turned on a computer. My life changes within one phone call and the next evening I may be on a plane to Hong Kong to ride a horse there.

     

    If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

    My family just to ensure they do some real work, my fellow jockeys and John Gosden to ensure there is some decent conversation.

     

    Frankie Dettori MBE

    If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

    Because I’ve never been able to really eat for the whole of my adult life, it would probably be tagliolini verde and gratinati followed by ossobucco and then chocolate ice cream. It would be served with a bottle of Château Latour (not Italian, I know, but the best in the world).

     

    What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

    Depending on where you are, I think 10am is perfectly acceptable.

     

    A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

    A Negroni, of course.

     

    Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

    Ronnie Wood’s as he is one of the greatest guys in the world.

     

    Who is the most positive person you know?

    Franny Norton: one of the funniest men in the weighing room.

     

    What’s your most guilty pleasure?

    A burger at McDonald’s.

     

    If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

    My lucky number: VII.

     

    What was the first bone that you broke?

    I’ve broken every bone in my body.

     

    Cilla Black presented “Surprise, Surprise.” Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

    I nearly died in a plane crash in 2000, I’ve got five children, I’ve presented Top of the Pops, I’ve ridden seven winners from seven horses and I am lucky enough to have spent some time with Her Majesty The Queen.

     

    What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

    A photograph of Dubai where I spend three months every year, a photograph of our family home in Sardinia and a photograph of my mother.

     

    Frankie Dettori MBE is a champion jockey and father of five.

     

    Follow Frankie Dettori MBE on Twitter at @FrankieDettori

     

    Follow Frankie Dettori on Instagram at @frankiedettori_

     

     

  • Luca Del Bono

    Luca Del Bono

    This stylish Anglo-Italian entrepreneur was one of the founders of Quintessentially. Charm personified, Del Bono now assists wealthy foreigners invest in London’s finest homes and businesses. His most talked about venture is a £100 million project that will turn 50 St James’s Street into a member’s club, spa and hotel. In the residential sector, he represented a Ukranian who purchased Hanover Lodge in Regent’s Park for £120 million: Britain’s most expensive single family residence. His is a Rolodex that is second to none.

  • Hospitality’s game changers

    Hospitality’s game changers

    Sixteen rising stars in hospitality in New York by Oliver Estreich

     

    In the first of a series, we profile the up and coming achievers working in hospitality in New York:

     

    Miranda Mancuso:

    A lifelong New Yorker and graduate of the Brearley School, Miranda Mancuso’s interest in the hotel industry led her to the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. After graduation, she began her career with André Balazs Properties and is currently director of acquisitions and development. In that role, she focuses on finding and underwriting potential properties, helping to grow the company’s portfolio of boutique hotels. One recent project Mancuso was involved in was the acquisition of the Cooper Square Hotel, which is currently being transformed into the Standard East Village.

     

    Bobby Rossi:

    A New York native and Penn State graduate, Rossi has had a long history of brand building and hospitality development under his belt. Currently, Rossi owns and operates No.8 in which has quickly been recognised as an elite venue in New York City. Due to it’s rapid success, further outposts of the brand are being developed in Miami and Las Vegas with his partners, LDV Hospitality. In addition to his venues, Rossi is the principle of two other companies. One is Rossi Marketing Group, a leader in the strategic marketing field, and the other, Headlines & Heroes, an online men’s lifestyle guide that features products and services from an array of categories.

     

    Brian Mazza:

    Windsor Custom co-founder Brian Mazza developed an appreciation for the finest in menswear at an early age through his father, who instilled a love of fashion and understanding of quality, cut and design. A native New Yorker, he attended the University of Rhode Island where he majored in communications and dedicated a year to pursue his true passion and studied fashion and art in Florence, Italy at Lorenzo de Medici. When he returned to the States, Mazza accepted a position working in sales at Generra and also merchandised the collection for their top retailers. He subsequently began exploring the hospitality industry at The Paige Management Group where he quickly rose to director of hospitality and soon after became a partner at The Ainsworth and The Fulton, the group’s top-ranked venues. Windsor Custom combines Mazza’s expertise and love of the best in entertainment and dressing.

     

    Christina Civetta:

    Civetta started interning at PR Consulting where she had her first real opportunity to see some of the biggest NYFW shows and after-parties come together. It was this behind the scenes rush that sparked her interest. She states she has always have had a passionate love for fashion, art and music and that she loves that to to combine them organising events. Her favourite project was working on Mick Rock’s Exposed book tour, which she did with his manager and one of her close friends, Liz Vap of FeralCat Productions. She launched C2 Worldwide in 2010 with Cole Miller and feels she: “Hasn’t really looked back (or had time to!)” Her company works on partnerships for some of the most exclusive venues in Manhattan. She’s now expanding through the US and globally with brands and venue projects.

     

    David Hart:

    A chef who trained in London, David Hart has developed a wealth of diverse experience over the course of 18 years at the highest levels of the restaurant business. Having worked his way to the top in renowned companies, such as Soho House, Claridges Hotel and other well-known London restaurants, he adapted his talents and knowledge of the business to help launch various restaurants and bars in the UK.

     

    In 2004, Hart started his own events company and quickly secured prestigious accounts for the BBC and MTV at both the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival. It was while managing events logistics on board the yacht Annaliesse at Cannes in 2005 that he worked with Richard O’Hagan and the two became firm friends. Hart moved to the US in 2006 to run his own chef training and restaurant consultancy service. As Desmond’s executive chef and operations director, his culinary creativity is matched with significant operational knowledge.

     

    Michael Blum:

    Michael Blum has been working in real estate for the better part of ten years. He began on the construction site of a private residence and then worked for several developers and investors including a DC-based company focusing on commercial real estate. After graduating college, he moved to Bombay to co-manage the acquisitions for Crescent Heights, a US-based condo developer/converter. He also spent almost a year between India and Vietnam on residential, commercial and hospitality deals.

     

    In 2009, during his studies for his master’s in real estate development, he found a hotel in the Hamptons to use as his Capstone project for an artsy, boutique hotel. Simultaneously, he tried to acquire the hotel, only to lose out to a far more experienced Sean MacPherson.

     

    After completing his master’s, Blum was hired by a Mexican investor and hotel company, Grupo Habita, to oversee the construction and opening of a boutique hotel in Chelsea, called Hotel Americano. The hotel is on West 27th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues. It has 56 rooms, 2 restaurants, and four bars. In addition to acting as a developer, Blum was also in charge of the pre-opening and became general manager, overseeing a team of over 100 employees. Hotel Americano was on Condé Nast’s 2012 Hot List, and won a James Beard Award for Best Restaurant Graphics.

     

    Blum has recently left Hotel Americano to redevelop a hotel and retail project of his own at Texas A&M University.

     

    Michael Stillman:

    As the son of one of the country’s leading restaurateurs, Michael Stillman grew up with a unique vantage point on the inner workings of the industry. Michael learned from a young age how artful design, quality ingredients, and creative marketing all play a critical role in attracting and retaining a loyal clientele.

     

    After graduating from Brown University with a double degree in modern and contemporary painting and African-American political theory, Stillman worked for the acclaimed Union Square Hospitality Group before learning the business of The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group from the ground up. After stints in the restaurants’ kitchens and purchasing departments, Stillman played a critical role in the opening of the Smith & Wollensky restaurants in Houston, Dallas, and Boston. During openings, Stillman participated in staff recruitment and training, menu development, and operations. He then led the creation and execution of every aspect of Quality Meats, Park Avenue, and the group’s newest project, The Hurricane Club.

     

    When the proposed merger of The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group closed, Stillman became president of Fourth Wall Restaurants, a New York-based restaurant group that owns, manages, and develops unique restaurant concepts, including Park Avenue, Quality Meats, Maloney & Porcelli, The Post House, The Hurricane Club and Smith & Wollensky New York.

     

    Dana Loia: 

    A native New Yorker and the creative force behind Dana’s Bakery. During her career as a photo editor, Loia achieved great success but felt something was missing. Pursuing her passion for baking, she enrolled in the pastry and baking program at New York’s Institute of Culinary Education, and graduated with honors.

     

    A pastry advocate and longtime lover of macarons, Loia was surprised by the lack of variety in flavors available. She saw an opportunity to do something no one else was doing and created a line of French macarons that have an American twist.

     

    With flavors like caramel popcorn, thin mint and S’mores to name a few, Dana’s Bakery has received an overwhelming response and is an instant hit among New Yorkers.

     

    Dana’s Bakery is currently sold exclusively in New York City and will launch nationwide in August.

     

    Brandon Freid:

    A native New Yorker and graduate of the University of Miami, Brandon Freid joined the Impulsive Group in 2003 where he began his business career managing operations and assets for the Ameritania Hotel in New York City. Freid now oversees the operations and management of the complete Impulsive Group portfolio, which includes Impulsive Charters, which charters yachts around the world, the sophisticated four-star Ameritania Hotel located in Midtown’s Theater District; the Moroccan-themed Marrakech Hotel nestled in the Upper West Side and the award-winning Sanctuary Hotel, also located in the Theater District.

     

    Freid’s mastery of business and finance is coupled with a solid grasp of architecture and design. He plays an instrumental role in the interior design and renovation work of all Impulsive Group properties.  His most recent project was designing The Sanctuary Hotel’s new rooftop lounge and restaurant, Haven, which just opened this month.

     

    Zachary Goldberg:  

    Zachary Goldberg was born and raised in Manhattan and entered the world of nightlife at a young age. He attended Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School for high school and continued his college education at Baruch where he graduated with a degree in corporate communications. Goldberg has worked in restaurants ever since he was 16 years old beginning as an assistant maitre’d at Town Restaurant and Blue Water Grill. His first nightlife gig was creating electronic dance music parties, before EDM was cool, at Marquee. When Lavo Nightclub premiered, Goldberg obtained then glamorous position of VIP host.

    Vip Manchanda:

    One successful restaurant will just be the start of it for Vip Manchanda, who is just getting his feet wet in New York City.

     

    Manchanda worked in nightclubs, bars, and restaurants as a student at the George Washington University and after graduating in 2008 came to New York to pursue his career in finance. That year, he opened Brick NYC. After realising his true passion was in hospitality, he left his finance career in 2009 and has never looked back.

     

    Apparently there are many more projects in the works, and Brick NYC just seems to be the launching pad for this successful restaurateur.

     

    Brick NYC is a two-floor space located in Tribeca and serves modern Italian fare.

     

    Nick Kenner:

    Nick Kenner left his job in finance to go into the risky restaurant business with his pal Rob Crespi. Their idea for Just Salad came when they realized there weren’t enough quick, healthy lunch options near their offices in Midtown.

     

    With the help and knowledge of a family friend, chef Laura Pensiero, who developed the menu and created 27 unique dressings, Just Salad opened its doors in 2006. A line of hungry young professionals gathered and Just Salad became a de facto singles scene. The lunch spot was such a hit that Kenner and Crespi were able to open another location only eight months later. Revenue is expected to top $3 million this year.

     

    Nick Cohen:

    It’s been said of DJ Nick Cohen: “I don’t know if he’s better known for his skills, the women he’s been with or the sneakers he’s created, but either way if DJing were movies, this kid would be the Australian version of a young Johnny Depp.”

     

    Cohen’s skills are great, but his music selection is better. He is not afraid to play any song and has a knack for understanding what makes women dance. Recent coverage in W Magazine and the following of a really interesting crowd makes Cohen my choice for the next New York DJ to take the crown: “More importantly, whenever he is spinning, the party is very high end. Good energy is hard to bottle and Cohen has a supply for several lifetimes.”

     

    Cohen lost his DJ virginity at Bungalow 8, New York City’s legendary playground for the international jet set. By the time he was old enough to drink legally, he was regularly featured in the many publications which chronicle the movements of the young and influential tastemakers who compose his loyal fan base, such as New York Magazine, Page Six, The Wall Street Journal, the Daily News, Gotham and Hamptons Magazine, to name a few.

     

    Having sharpened his teeth at elite nightclubs and private parties in his native Manhattan and Southampton summer playground, Cohen has in recent years transcended his birthplace and taken the game on the road, headlining marquee gigs coast to coast and across the globe.

     

    In fashion circles they say that you’ve got to know the rules before you can break them. This concept succinctly sums up Cohen’s iconoclastic boundary-breaking and genre-defying style. The hallmark of DJ genius is dropping the track nobody expected to hear and hearing a dull roar of enthusiasm bubble up from the crowd as the dance floor fills to capacity. Whether he’s bumping Nas at a white-tie wedding or throwing on Fleetwood Mac at a hip-hop industry gathering, DJ Nick Cohen keeps their heads ringing and their bodies moving.

     

    His singular sonic signature has everyone from Paris Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld to real estate kingpin Aby Rosen, Stavros Niarchos, Vito Schnabel, Gwen Stefani, Larry Gagosian, Dasha Zhukova, Maria Sharapova and Shady Aftermath Records chief Stuart Parr asking for: “The Nick Cohen sound.”

     

    Having fully earned his stripes through years of residencies at storied venues like Bungalow 8, Marquee, Avenue, 1Oak, Le Bain, Jet East, Pink Elephant, Cain and countless more, Cohen is now available strictly for private functions. In his spare time, he has recently developed, launched, and successfully sold high-end sneaker company Upper Echelon Shoes and is currently working on what promises to be New York’s most exciting new restaurant venture. Stay tuned.

     

    Alexander Ott:  

    World-renowned master alchemist, published author, and explorer Alex Ott learned the life of a nomad from his globe-trotting mother and father, a nutritionist, architect and musician, respectively, who exposed young Ott to a vast array of adventures.

     

    From playing with lions in Africa to exploring the Atlas Mountains, surfing with dolphins, and fighting off nature’s elements in the rainforest, Ott learned how to get the most out of life. His journeys provided him with the unique ability to experience the flavors of foreign lands and taste all the fruits of the earth.

     

    Ott began his career in mixology at age fourteen and learned the tricks of the trade under the tutelage of Heiko Beck and Thomas Kothe, owners of one of Europe’s most creative cocktail bars. After getting his bachelor of science in organic chemistry and further cultivating his craft, Alex launched the exotic cocktail menu for the famed Buddha Bar in Paris. The process inspired Alex to delve deeper into the art and science of drink alchemy and to develop his unique approach to infusing fresh fruits, spices, and herbs into elixirs used to stimulate the mind and body.

     

    For the next few years, Ott continued traveling and experiencing foreign cultures, tastes, and scents. After surviving a harrowing plane crash in Thailand in 1998 that killed 101 passengers, Ott had a renewed sense of dedication to all of the passions in his life, including art, surfing, film production, nature preservation, and flavor alchemy. Alexander Ott’s path led him to New York City, where he made a name for himself at the fusion eatery Sushi Samba where he was the first in Manhattan to use the famous muddle stick.

     

    Acclaimed for his unconventional drink mixes, Ott landed roles as himself in the HBO series Sex and the City and earned titles such as “Mixologist of the Year” and “Best Mixologist in America” from national publications for many consecutive years. Since then, Ott has worked and consulted with scientists, flavor houses such as Givaudan, more than fifty major spirits brands, including Svedka Vodka, Gallo Wines and Möet Hennessy. He has created over 290 cocktail menus worldwide, and endless cocktails for high-end establishments and events such as the Oscars, produced Tom Ford fragrances, invented space travel beverages for NASA, and helped conjure the hangover prevention drink MERCY.

     

    From over twenty years of experience in food and drink science, Alex has developed a one-of-a-kind approach to cocktails, now called elixirs and potions. In his upcoming book DR COCKTAIL 50 Spirited infusions for the Body and Mind he shares his knowledge of food science of botanicals, juices, herbs, and spices to awaken and stimulate the world to the effects and benefits of earth’s finest offerings.

    Daniel Holzman:

    Co-owner and executive chef of The Meatball Shop, Daniel Holzman started his cooking career at age 15 at Le Bernardin in New York City. Working after school and on weekends and holidays, Holzman remained there for 4 years until, at the suggestion of chef Eric Ripert, he attended the Culinary Institute of America with a full scholarship from the James Beard Foundation. Prior to graduation, Holzman accepted a position at the soon-to-open Paladin in New York City for chef Jean Louis Paladin, working alongside such culinary notables as Wylie Dufresne and Sam Mason.

     

    Six months later Jean Louis Paladin asked Holzman if he would be willing to move to Las Vegas, NV, to fill a vacancy at his flagship restaurant Napa in the Rio Hotel. Accepting the offer, Holzman began what would ultimately become a 10-year culinary journey through some of Los Angeles, and San Francisco’s finest restaurants including The Campton Place, The Fifth Floor, Aqua and Jardinière.

     

    In 2004, Holzman began his first management job as chef of the California organic bistro, Axe, in Venice, Los Angeles. After 1 year at Axe, Holzman was offered and accepted the position of executive chef at the Inn of the Seventh Ray, a 250-seat restaurant in the Topanga hills known for its romantic outdoor setting and lavish weddings. Holzman remained at the Inn until 2007 when he moved to San Francisco to open SPQR, a rustic Roman osteria, as co-owner and executive chef.  Within 3 months of opening SPQR received 3½ out of 4 stars from Michael Bauer in The San Francisco Chronicle, a rating usually reserved for far fancier restaurants.

     

    In 2008, Holzman and three partners founded KB Treats LLC, an ice cream novelty company. KB’s first product, QB’s (crispy rice and marshmallow treats filled with ice cream), were an immediate success and can be found in markets nationwide, including Whole Foods, Giant and Stop and Shop.

     

    Michael Chernow:

    Co-owner and general manager of The Meatball Shop, Michael Chernow began his professional restaurant career in 1996 behind the bar of the popular nightclub, Life, on Bleecker Street in New York City.

     

    Learning from the ground up, Chernow quickly worked his way through the ranks becoming the youngest bartender on staff. After 2 years working at both Life in New York and its East Hampton sister club, The Tavern, Chernow signed on to open Woo Lae Oak on Mercer St. in New York City. In 2001, Chernow made the move to Los Angeles where he worked at Woo Lae Oak’s original location on La Cienega Blvd. Returning to New York, he opened Punch and Judy, a wine bar on Clinton Street. In 2002, Frank Prizanzano offered Chernow a position behind the bar of his eponymous flagship restaurant Frank on Second Avenue.

     

    For 7 years, Chernow managed the bar at Frank where he had a large, loyal following. In 2007, Chernow enrolled in the French Culinary Institute (FCI), graduated with honors, and was awarded an associate’s degree in both culinary arts and restaurant management in 2008.