Rediscover Truffaut at The Little Theatre Cinema

This month, 'The Little' is revisiting the films of François Truffaut. On Sunday 24 April, there will be a screening of Jules Et Jim; on Sunday 1 May, The Soft Skin will play,  and The Last Metro will close the series on Sunday 8 May. Book tickets via the buttons below. 

From beloved classics to unearthed gems, re-introduce yourself to the best films of yesterday – be that last decade, or last century – with Picturehouse reDISCOVER events. Tickets are only £5 for Picturehouse members, and £8 for non-members.

And if you would like to have a copy sent in the post every month, then we offer a postal subscription for just £30 for 12 issues, £15 for six issues or buy a copy for just £3.95. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – see our website. 

Win a £25 John Lewis voucher

This week's 8 letter word is made up including the above letters in green. We’ve placed 1 letter to give you a start. The blue letter is used more than once.

Clue: when one throws down a glove, this tends to happen...

Make sure to follow us on twitter ( @TheBathMagazine ) to see the answer: posted on a Wednesday afternoon. Winners picked at random.

Saturday 23 April is St George's Day. What better reason do you need for a full-on roast beef splurge? Oh okay, you could celebrate the Patron Saint of England (and, by the way, Bulgaria, Georgia, Portugal and Romania too) on any given Sunday instead; just don't blame us if sticklers for tradition set their dragons on you....

The weight of the rib of beef in this recipe will easily serve eight, which means that smaller groups will have lots of lovely leftovers to fill roast beef sandwiches with until the middle of the following week.

Ingredients

2.5kg bone-in rib of beef, chined by your butcher
1 onion, thickly sliced
Vegetable oil
Salt and pepper

Method

1. Remove the rib of beef from the fridge at least one hour before you plan to start cooking it, to allow to come to room temperature.

2. Preheat the oven to 230°C/gas mark 8. Weigh the joint and calculate the cooking time, allowing 10 minutes per 500g for very rare, 12 minutes for rare, 15 minutes for medium and 20 minutes for well done.

3. Scatter the onion slices across the centre of a sturdy roasting tin. Rub the joint of beef with vegetable oil and season all over with salt and pepper.

4. Put the joint on top of the onion and slide it into the centre of the oven. Roast for 30 minutes to brown the meat, then lower the temperature to 160°C/gas mark 3 and continue to roast for the calculated cooking times, according to weight and preference above.

5. When the cooking time is up, remove the beef from the oven, lift it onto a carving board, cover the with foil and a clean tea towel and allow to rest in a warm place for 30 minutes (the resting stage is really important, as it allows the meat juices to reabsorb after the cooking process, resulting in lovely, tender, easy-to-carve meat).

6. When ready to serve, uncover the beef and pour any juices from the carving board into the gravy before slicing.

7. Serve with roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, horseradish sauce, at least two varieties of veg and lashings of gravy.

Failsafe Yorkshire Puddings

Preheat the oven to 225c/gas mark 9 (or, raise the oven temperature after taking your cooked roast beef out to rest). Drop a splash of vegetable oil into each of 12 cupcake tin compartments and slide the tin into the oven to heat the oil until really hot. Meanwhile, whisk 2 large eggs, 100g plain flour, 100ml whole or semi-skimmed milk and a pinch of salt and pepper together in a jug until light and smooth (note: this batter can be made up to 8 hours in advance and kept in the fridge). Carefully remove the tray from the oven (both the oil and the tray will be really hot) and pour the batter evenly into each compartment. Slide the tray back into the oven to cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the Yorkies are well-risen and golden.

Perfect Rosemary-roasted Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 180c/gas mark 4 (or, roast your potatoes while your roast beef is cooking, on a separate shelf). Peel around 1kg medium-sized potatoes (Maris Piper are good here) and either leave them whole or chop to ensure they're all the same size (roughly around 8cm diameter). Parboil the potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes, then drain in a colander and leave to steam dry for 5 minutes. Shake the colander well to 'scruff up' the edges of the parboiled potatoes, then tumble them across the base of an oiled, ovenproof baking dish or tray, shuffling them around with a spatula to ensure they're evenly coated in oil. Season well and roast for one hour, or until the potatoes are just turning crisp and golden. Remove the tray from the oven, jiggle the spuds around and gently half-squash each one with a potato masher. Pick the leaves from 3 fat sprigs of fresh rosemary and chop finely. Sprinkle over the slightly squashed roasties, drizzle with a little more oil and roast for a further 20-25 minutes

The All-important Gravy

While your roast beef is resting, pour the fat and juices from the roasting tin into a jug. Allow the juices to settle and separate for around 10 minutes (on a cool window sill, perhaps?) then spoon off any fat that's collected on the surface and transfer to a small pan, leaving just the pan juices in the jug. Heat the fat, add 1 tbs plain flour and stir over a medium heat for a couple of minutes until you have a smooth, brown paste. Stir the juices from the jug into the pan, mix well, then gradually add 400ml beef stock, stirring continuously until thickened to your liking. Add the juices from the resting beef, then strain through a sieve into a warm gravy jug.

Fresh Horseradish Sauce

So simple, with a flavour that's world's apart from jarred horseradish sauce. Mix 4 tbsp grated fresh horseradish with 2 tbsp crème fraîche, 2 tbsp double cream, ¼ tsp English mustard and a pinch of sugar. Season with salt and set aside to allow the flavours to develop. Stir again before serving at room temperature.

Reign of terroir : six fine French reds under £40

When it comes to fine wine, our thoughts immediately turn to France as the traditional epicentre of 'terroir’: eccentric, idiosyncratic and unswervingly confident in its ability to produce the very finest bottles despite fierce competition. Here, all under £50, are some very, very good reds to impress.

Vacqueyras 'Variation' – Domaine de Montvac
Rich yet elegant red from the southern Rhône, all currants and prunes in the mouth, gentled by candied fruit on the nose and a lasting hit of spice. £33

Frank Phélan, Saint-Estèphe – Château Phélan Ségur
This is absolutely classic, old-school Saint Estèphe of excellent quality. Deep, purple-hued, with a nose of mulberries, blackcurrants and cedar, the wine is densely-textured and medium-bodied, with good balancing acidity and a seriously endowed, layered texture. The tannins are present, yet well-integrated and ripe. £35

Gigondas Les Hauts de Montmirail – Domaine Brusset
Deep crimson in colour, with a rich, spicy, smoky aroma, showing hints of chocolate and blackberry and a rounded, powerful palate with mouthfilling fruit. £36.

Moulin d'Issan, Bordeaux Supérieur – Château d'Issan
Vibrant purple colour. Ripe, expressive mulberry and pomegranate aromas, as well as a suggestion of oyster shells. In the mouth, it is soft, silky and succulent yet dry and savoury. Absolutely delicious, and ready to drink now or over the next 4-5 years. A bargain from Margaux Third Growth, Château d'Issan. £22

Cahors Château de Haute-Serre – Georges Vigouroux
The 'terroir' at Chateau de Haute-Serre transforms the Malbec grape into a very noble vintage. Very dark in colour with carmine highlights and a wonderfully complex and powerful bouquet of morello cherry, blackcurrant, and spices. £29.50

Givry – Joseph Drouhin
A round and captivating wine, appreciated by all wine connoisseurs. With its lively and bright colour, it has intense fruity aromas reminiscent of gooseberry and blackcurrant, evolving towards spicy nuances as the wine gets older. On the palate, there is a nice balance between texture and finesse, with firm but refined tannins. Long and enticing aftertaste, with flavours of very ripe fruit. £29.50

These are just a selection from The Great Wine Co's extensive range of French fine wines. Click the button below to explore the full collection.

Looking for more delicious foodie inspo?

Click through to browse our full Delicious Guide!

A special dinner with Guest Chef Michael Nizzero, 27 April, La Terra

La Terra is pleased to announce a special event, with guest chef Michael Nizzero joining the restaurant from the Waterside Inn, in what is hopefully the first of many similar events. 

Michael's career began in 2002 at the One-O-One Restaurant in Knightsbridge. He moved to Pisces Restaurant in Dubai in 2004, before returning to the UK in 2007 to take the senior sous-chef role at the world-renowned three Michelin starred Waterside Inn in Bray.

In 2002 the chef left England for sunnier climes once again, this time to take the helm at Relais & Chateaux's Hostellerie La Briqueterie in Vinay, France. Here Michael gained a Michelin star, becoming – at 28 – the youngest chef to hold a Michelin star in France at the time. His return to England came in 2015, when Michael became Premier Sous-Chef at The Ritz, London, working alongside Executive Chef John Williams MBE to achieve the restaurant’s first Michelin Star. After a stint as head chef at the Bath Priory as head chef in 2017, Michael has now returned to working alongside Alan Roux at The Waterside Inn.

Michael and Alex have together created a sumptuous four-course menu with a great wine pairing. The evening will begin with drinks and canapés on arrival at 7:30pm. This will be followed by a four-course dinner. Matching wines will accompany each course. £95 per person.  

Please call to book: 01225 482070
laterra.co.uk

The Rainbow Collection by Mallory

Mallory’s bespoke jewellery collection has a playful twist with a riot of multi-coloured precious gems set in handcrafted pieces that are vivacious, joyful and guaranteed to please for many years to come.

• 18ct yellow gold rub-set, round-cut rainbow sapphire and round brilliant-cut diamond cluster ring with tapered shoulders. £3.150
• 18ct white gold channel-set, princess-cut rainbow sapphire full eternity ring. £1,865
• 18ct white gold bar-set princess-cut rainbow sapphire line bracelet. £5,595

With a range of matching earrings, bracelets and colourful necklaces, explore Mallory’s own colourful Rainbow Collection as well as all the top brands and makers.

Mr Boho Cat-Eye Sunglasses

Wearable, modern and flattering cat-eye frame sunglasses; total protection UV400 with protection filter category 3. £79 

Available from Blue: bluewomensclothing.co.uk

Pacifica launches reusable masks

To mark Earth Day, Pacifica has launched their viral TikTok Reusable Masks in the UK.

These 100% reusable silicone masks lock in your serum with a vacuum-like seal to help smooth out the appearance of creases, fine lines and wrinkles whilst de-puffing and brightening your skin. All of Pacifica's Reusable Masks are priced at £15.

Available now at Cult Beauty: cultbeauty.co.uk

Baggu in 70s Madras print

The bag that folds into a pocket and can be reused again and again. Great for grocery shopping as well as for carrying laundry or sports kit, these bags can carry a lot of weight – up to 50lbs no less – and are pretty darn stylish to boot! £13.50

Available from Found: foundbath.co.uk

Netflix: Anatomy of a Scandal

Sophie's privileged life as the wife of powerful politician James unravels when scandalous secrets surface — and he stands accused of a shocking crime.

Starring Sienna Miller and Rupert Friend, Anatomy of a Scandal is available to watch on Netflix now: netflix.com

Curated by Daniel McCabe

We've been a bit on/off with Spike Art Magazine in the past. Art magazines are variable as a species and even the best can be a hard sell. But they can be the most inspiring, thought-provoking and satisfying of all print publications and when they’re hot, as this Berlin-based journal is right now, you just have to grab one. Following the sold out ‘Web3’ (explaining the NFT phenomenon) we now have the ‘Couples' issue which looks at partnership life, love, law and work. Along with Spike’s take on abstracts such as love, muses, promises and rivalries you’ll be introduced to artist-couples, curatorial duos, rom-com heroes, spectres, fembots and more. £15

Deirdre Elphick’s Same Moon exhibition, 23 April – 1 May, 44AD Artspace

Visit the 44AD Artspace website for more information: 44ad.net/same-moon_2022

The Vintage Bazaar, Saturday 23 April, The Cheese & Grain, Frome

The Vintage Bazaar has been established for over 10 years and is one of the leading fairs in the UK, with a fantastic reputation for the very best vintage and antique textiles, clothing, homewares and Brocante.

The VB also has some very talented designer/makers who use vintage and antique materials or are inspired by vintage design.

Visit The Vintage Bazaar website for more information: thevintagebazaar.co.uk

The Museum of East Asian Art talk: The Youthful Energy of Changing China

As part of the Global SinoPhoto Award (GSPA) 2021 exhibition programme, The Museum of East Asian Art invite British photojournalist Adrian Bradshaw to share his experiences on documenting China’s transformation over the past three decades. Bradshaw’s photo, titled Swimmer (left), was one of the highly commended photos in the Water Category in the GSPA 2021 competition.

This is a rare opportunity to learn first-hand experience of a photojournalist who witnessed China’s social, economic and cultural changes. 

The online talk will take place on 28 April, 6.30-7.30pm. Book now on the MEAA website: meaa.org.uk

Local musicians to perform at HMV Bath in AMERICANA FEST preview

The American Museum & Gardens and The 7 Hills bring you two hours of free music from celebrated local musicians in a satellite showcase at Bath’s new HMV store (17/18 Milsom Street, Bath BA1 1DB).

Headlined by award-winning artist Robert Vincent – Winner of The AMA UK 2021’s Album and Artist of the year  – the performance offers an early taste of what the new festival has to offer. Robert Vincent will be joined by some of Bath’s finest independent artists from Blue Violet, Joely, Kevin Brown, Jennifer Crook, Samuel Taylor and Clemencie.

This preview event will take place on Thursday 28 April from 1 to 3pm; AMERICANA FEST takes place at the American Museum & Gardens on 1-3 July.

americanmuseum.org; @hmvBath

At The Core: how to fight inflammation with diet

To book your free place on this open event, visit Eventbrite: eventbrite.co.uk

Selby Landscapes

Selby Landscapes is the leading landscape gardening company based in Bath with an excellent reputation for crafting beautiful and enduring outdoor spaces. Selby Landscapes offer a turn-key solution to your landscape requirements including landscape design and construction, garden design, planting and garden maintenance. Frequently working alongside other garden designers in the Somerset region, as well as offering an in-house garden design service, every garden project Selby Landscapes create, from city courtyards to large country gardens, is crafted to give a lifetime of pleasure.

Tel: 01225 571350; Web: selbylandscapes.com