Plus, vegan foodie delights, Black Friday deals and festive must-haves View in browser
THE MIDWEEK BRIEFING

 News, views, city updates and more... to keep you going

LUXURY GIFTS  |  THE NAME OF THIS ROSE

Fragrance gifts for all

From luxury British perfumers, Floris, this is an elegant scent from its unisex collection and is described as, 'an oriental rose of striking beauty, inspired by the affiliation of intense fragility yet powerful scent within the flower. 'A Rose For…'
The fragrance is accompanied by a gold pen, allowing each owner to complete the individual naming of their scent. Featuring characteristic warm woody notes of patchouli, sandalwood and amber in the base give the fragrance strength, refinement and depth. Named by you, a rose for you.

Available at: frontlinestyle.co.uk

CITY ART  |  PLATE AT THE BIRD, BATH

Cherishing our local talent

Plate, Bathwick’s Restaurant & Bar, is obsessed with crockery. While serving the finest in local produce, the plate it is served on is an important part of the story. Many are created bespoke for the restaurant, whether displayed on the walls or for serving food. Take the dessert plate by artist Grayson Perry, currently exhibiting at The Holburne Museum. Guests will need to wait until they finish their dish to reveal the full wording on the plate below.

Another featured artist is Tom Rooth, creator of fine dinnerware inspired by the ocean. Each piece is hand-drawn, handmade and hand-finished. Every illustration is carefully sketched in pencil, from the ‘Octoplate’ where it was a challenge to fit all the tentacles on one plate, to the crab plate, called ‘Hercules – the one that got away.’ This dish is the exact size of the crab, which Tom drew around before returning it to the Devon sea.

Also adorning the walls of Plate are eye-catching pieces by British studio glass maker, Adam Aronson. Specialising in free blown glass, the shimmering pieces full of colour are inspired by a love of nature and the play of light on water and the landscape. No one piece is the same in size and shape, featuring a kaleidoscope of patterns and textures all captured within the glass itself. The plates fit perfectly with the playful ethos of the restaurant.

thebirdbath.co.uk

OUR BEAUTY SECRETS  |  LUXURY PAMPERING GIFTS

The perfect gift sets at Frontlinestyle

This year is no different from any other as Frontlinestyle continues to spoil us with a vast selection of tempting gifts from so many well known brands. If you are looking for the perfect pampering gift set then you'll find it here...

First up, we have CLARINS Gift Sets for men and women, consisting of so many of our favourite CLARINS products including skincare, makeup and fragrance.

Next, French beauty brand CAUDALIE with its state-of-the-art skincare showcases a beautiful array of gift sets, which make the perfect festive offering, and always a welcomed gift. 

Frontlinestyle also stocks ethical Australian haircare brand ELEVEN Australia. This lifestyle brand is designed for the young and young of heart, with a fresh and simple approach to hair care. It not only delivers incredible results but is also kind to the environment, vegan and cruelty-free. These sets are the ultimate hair care gifts with Christmas boxes for all hair types and hair needs.

Order online: frontlinestyle.co.uk

SHOPPING  |  BERRY CHRISTMAS KIDS

Hats off to Up to Seven

Designed and handmade at their workshop in Bath, these adorable, roll-edged hats are all knitted in anti-tickle wool, and can be machine washed at 30 degrees. Available in five sizes (and also in navy), they are priced at just £16, making them the perfect gift. They can be matched with Up to Seven’s beautiful handmade cardigans, baby shoes and mittens.

uptoseven.co.uk

CHRISTMAS MUST-HAVES   |   PULL A CRACKER

Harvey Nichols' fabulous Christmas crackers

As well as the usual groan-filled jokes and party hats galore, this box of six top-notch crackers from Harvey Nichols contain gifts you might actually want to keep for a change.

It’s potluck whether you'll get a delicious jar of Harvey Nichols jam, the tipsy Damson Gin Liqueur, a fabulous Harvey Nichols Champagne stopper or the oh-so-chic tin of Minted by Harvey Nichols mints. For the child inside, there’s a slinky spring in one of the crackers and a wooden whistle that’s great for rousing Dad from his post-pudding slumbers. These crackers will make your party go off with a Harvey Nichols bang. £60.

Order online: harveynichols.com

ANNOUNCEMENT – OUR DECEMBER ISSUE

Abiding by the spirit of the current lockdown period and wishing to respect Government guidelines, our December magazine – originally intended for 24 November – has been rescheduled to the first week of December. 

NOVEMBER ISSUE  |  GREAT WRITING, GREAT READING

Our current issue can still be enjoyed

As always, there's a lot of great reading by our team of wonderful writers and contributors as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bath's best businesses. Every month 15,000 copies are delivered door to door and, until mid-month, copies can be picked up at many places around town and from our stands at the main supermarkets: Waitrose, Sainsbury's (Green Park Station), M&S Foods (Twerton) and Tesco Weston village. Our December edition will be out very soon but in the meantime November's issue can still be enjoyed digitally. We hope you'll enjoy the read.

Alternatively visit our website to read online.

MIDWEEK RECIPE  |  VEGAN DELIGHTS

Recipe by Melissa Blease
Mushroom stroganoff

If you think that creamy, piquant, luxurious sauces have no place in a light, meat-free, vegan-friendly dish, prepare to have your preconceptions challenged!

Chestnut mushrooms have a closer texture and a slightly stronger flavour than their plain white counterparts, making them the perfect choice for what's ostensibly quite a 'meaty' sauce.

For a light/vegan alternative to soured cream, mix vegan yogurt with a spritz of lemon juice. Marmite, meanwhile, makes an excellent vegan substitute for Worcestershire Sauce in any dish.

Ingredients (serves two, can easily be doubled up to serve four)

350g chestnut mushrooms, chopped into chunks rather than slices
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce OR 1 tsp Marmite
175ml vegetable stock
3-4 tbsp half-fat soured cream/vegan yogurt and lemon juice
Olive oil
Small bunch of parsley, chopped
To serve: rice (wild rice works particularly well here).

Method

  1. Heat a generous drizzle of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan and soften gently until translucent, adding the garlic and the paprika for the last minute.
  2. Add the mushrooms and cook on a high heat, stirring often, until the mushrooms have stopped releasing their moisture (about five minutes.)
  3. Add the Worcestershire Sauce or Marmite and the stock and stir well before bringing to the boil and bubbling gently for five minutes or until the sauce thickens.
  4. Take the pan off the heat and stir the soured cream (or vegan alternative) and most of the parsley into the mix.
  5. Serve immediately on a bed of rice, sprinkled with the remaining chopped parsley.

OBJECT OF INTEREST  |  BEAUTIFULLY SIMPLE

IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII

Ever since the 1930s and 1940s IWC Pilot’s watches have set technical benchmarks. They are known for their precision and exceptional quality but also the understated, no-fuss dial design that follows the clarity of a plane’s instrument panel, which has always been a characteristic feature. 

The Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII is built into a 40-millimetre stainless-steel case with a dial that clearly sticks to the essentials – the brilliant white hands have a luminescent coating and a black outline and guarantee optimum legibility by day or night. The dial features large, rounded Arabic numerals to mark the minutes, but with two exceptions: the 12 has been replaced with a white triangle, while the date window is positioned where the number 3 would be. Water-resistant to 6 bar, the watch is powered by an automatic movement and has a 42-hour power reserve. It’s protected against magnetic fields by a soft-iron inner case, and the front glass is secured against sudden drops in pressure. The watch comes with a black calfskin strap. Overall a beautifully simple but refined and classic timepiece. £4,090.

Visit Mallory to explore this and the IWC range: mallory-jewellers.com

MIDWEEK WINES  |  ORGANIC CHRISTMAS OFFERS

By The Great Wine Co.

The preconceptions that organic wines are expensive or don’t taste great, are just wrong! This year, The Great Wine Co. has put together a collection of great, delicious organic wines for all to enjoy – and sprinkled a little Christmas magic on their prices. From a fresh, crisp Verdejo from £6.25 to a velvety, red-fruit filled Grenache – Syrah from £11.25 and everything in between. Here's a collection we hope you enjoy exploring!

The Spanish Trio – Embrujo Organic Verdejo, Garnacha Rosado and Tempranillo. All £6.25.

The French Duo – Domaine Cazes Canon du Marechal Rosé & Grenache – Syrah. Both £11.25.

Perfect Provence – Château Leoube, Rosé de Léoube Organic. £16.16.

A New Zealand Must – Yealands Estate, Land Made Sauvignon Blanc. £9.86.

Who says organic wines are expensive?! All prices shown are available in multi-buy – with a 10% saving online.

Enjoy the collection: The Great Wine Co.

TAKE FOUR RECIPES  |  SNIP, SNIP

Curried Parsnip Soup

In a large saucepan, soften 1 large, sliced onion in a generous knob of butter for 5 minutes until translucent. Add 2 crushed garlic cloves, a small knob of peeled, sliced root ginger and 1 tbsp mild, medium or hot curry powder. Briefly sauté the spice mix until fragrant before adding 6 large parsnips (peeled and chopped) and 1 litre of vegetable stock. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 30 minutes until the parsnips are completely soft. Remove from the heat and blend in a food processor or with a stick blender until silky. Reheat gently to serve, drizzled with cream, crème fraiche or olive and oil and scattered with fresh coriander.

Polenta and Parmesan Parsnips

Preheat oven to 200ºC/gas mark 6. Mix 6 tbsp polenta with 100g finely grated Parmesan and a pinch of nutmeg; season well and set aside. Parboil 2 quartered parsnips in boiling salted water for 5–6 minutes, until just tender; meanwhile, drizzle around 5 tbsp olive oil into a roasting tin and slide into the oven to heat. Drain the parsnips completely and toss them, while still warm, in the polenta/Parmesan mixture until thoroughly coated. Carefully tip the coated parsnips into the oiled roasting tin, turn to coat in oil and roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden.

Apple and Parsnip Mash

Simmer 850g peeled, chopped parsnips with 2 peeled, cored and chopped Bramley apples in a large saucepan of salted, simmering water for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain in a colander and set to one side while you return the pan to the heat. Melt 50g butter in the pan and gently sauté a pinch each of ground cumin and ground coriander before adding 100ml semi-skimmed milk and bringing just to simmering point. Reintroduce the parsnips and apples to the milk mixture and mash until smooth. Season to taste while reheating gently; lovely served with pork chops, sausages or nut roasts.

Parsnip Crisps

Preheat the oven to 180°c/gas mark 5. Line 2 baking trays with greaseproof paper. Using a vegetable peeler or mandolin, carve 3 large, peeled parsnips into long strips, straight into a bowl. Add 2 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil and toss well. Scatter the oiled parsnip strips over the baking trays in a single layer, season with salt and roast in the oven for around 15 minutes (turning halfway through cooking time) or until crisp and golden. Crisp up your snack bowl! Both/either beetroot and sweet potatoes can be added to the mix, while cayenne pepper, smoked paprika and garam masala each make interesting seasonings in place of salt.

ON THE BOOKSHELF  |  LOVE YOUR GARDEN

Here's a duo of books from a mother and daughter, Theo Moore and Jane Moore, both with a gardening theme. 

By Jane Moore
Planting for Butterflies

“Bring in the butterflies,” says Jane Moore, “and you will be helping to build an entire ecosystem, from pollination for plants to prey for birds.” Jane’s new book Planting for Butterflies, published by Quadrille, shows you how you can attract these beautiful insects and help them to flourish by creating a butterfly-friendly garden. If you plant the right plants, the butterflies will surely come.

£12; toppingbooks.co.uk

By Theo Moore, illustrated by Sarah van Dongen
The Allotmenteers

Tom and Sally are sad at the thought of having to give up their family allotment as their mum is going back to work. So, they offer to take on looking after it themselves. This is a charming tale of community spirit and how children can easily rise to meet challenges when given the opportunity. Sarah Van Dongen's vibrant illustrations are the perfect companion to Theo Moore's debut children's book, which also includes growing tips and recipes to try.

£6.99; toppingbooks.co.uk

ON THE BOX  |  ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Uncle Frank (2020)

Set in the 1970s, Uncle Frank is an American comedy-drama that follows a gay literature professor, played by Paul Bettany (Avengers, A Knight's Tale), as he makes his way home to attend his father's funeral with his teenage niece.

Starring Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Steve Zahn and Judy Greer, the film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of this year.

Watch it on Amazon here

Look out for...

Digital events at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution

Throughout December, the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) is hosting a selection of unmissable online events, exploring some of the world’s most prominent thinkers. On 1 December, Professor A.C. Grayling returns to BRLSI to deliver a live virtual lecture entitled Philosophy’s History. This lecture, part of BRLSI’s ongoing philosophy programme, will bring the delights of philosophical enquiry to your own living room, where you can ponder his thoughts at the same time as reaching for the Spinoza or the Schopenhauer!

On 15 December, Professor Robert Morrison of Bath Spa University will give a live lecture about Christmas in the Regency, as experienced by some of its most notable figures, including poet John Keats and novelist Walter Scott.

On 17 December, viewers can also tune into a lecture with Professor Joanna Bryson of Hertie School of Governance titled Artificial Intelligence and Human Lives: Looking forwards 2025-2070, which is about wealth, power, and intelligence, and how we are communicating these due to the digital transformation.

brlsi.org

INTERIORS  |  ARTISAN HOMEWARE

Get in the festive mood

Homefront Interiors in Margaret's Buildings is one of Bath’s most appealing independent shops, offering a carefully curated treasure trove of beautiful sustainable living and artisan homeware products from local artists and makers.

Homefront also source some of the best Christmassy bits and pieces to get you in the festive mood. As well as garlands, wreaths, decorations, cards, candles, candle holders, and so much more, there’s plenty to be found online and in store – opening from 2 December. We love these starry placemats and coasters, which will add a sparkling touch to the yuletide table. Set of 4 cork placemats; £21; set of 4 cork coasters; £11.

10 Margaret's Buildings, Bath; homefrontinteriors.co.uk

PROPERTY UPDATE  |   NEWLY RELEASED FOR VIEWING

New penthouse show apartment at Belvedere House, Lansdown

Penthouse apartments are invariably the crowning glory on any development, and these two stunning duplex penthouse apartments on this select development certainly live up to expectation. Both enjoy spectacular rooftop terraces with open views, and a host of design features, including a spectacular bespoke staircase that leads up to the sun lounge and roof terrace.

Developer Juniper Homes’ uncompromising vision for this luxury development is apparent from the moment you step inside. There are just eight apartments on this private development, each making the most of its unrivalled position; Belvedere House is perfect for discerning buyers.

Set in a delightful landscaped environment, apartments are at ground and first floor levels. All four ground floor apartments enjoy private courtyard space. Two of the first floor apartments have a private balcony and the remaing two apartments are the exceptional duplex penthouses. There is also a residents garden with two charming arbours.

Internally nothing has been left to chance, from the open-plan living space with high-specification kitchens through to superbly specified bathrooms and bedrooms that include thoughtful finishing touches such as walk in wardrobes. In a nutshell the interiors are stunning and Juniper Homes’ meticulous attention to detail and bespoke design shines through.

Prices start at £575,000 and reservations are now being taken. Each apartment includes two dedicated private parking spaces.

The Show Apartment is open to view by appointment, please call: Harling Hunter at Savills on 01225 474591 or visit belvederehouse.co.uk

Popular on our website this week:
Unlimited thinking: Bath Unlimited
The Tokachi Millennium Forest project
Bath Society of Artists’ open exhibition
Interiors: focal energy
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