A specially curated guide to help you enjoy the next 48 hours in Bristol

FESTIVAL LAUNCH  |  THE LEGEND RETURNS

A three-day festival exploring the life and career of the Bristol-born film star and style icon Cary Grant. Due to Covid-19 restrictions this fourth biennial salute to the boy once known locally as Archie Leach will take place online but will still offer a mix of screenings, talks, watch parties, a video essay competition and fun and creative ways for audiences to get involved.

The theme this year is journeys – 2020 is the 100th anniversary of when Archie/Cary first sailed to the USA but the theme also represents his personal and professional travels, from humble origins to substantial wealth; from a family with secrets to a media headline-maker; from obscurity to global adoration.

carycomeshome.co.uk

CHEERS TO THE WEEKEND  |  BRISTOL'S CRAFT WINE

Nania's Vineyard is a Bristol drinks company inspired by their backyard allotment vineyard. The canned English rosé spritzers are crafted from the Rondo grape, Glastonbury spring water and finished with a touch of a raspberry shrub from the Bristol Syrup Co.

There is a 20% Christmas special offer for readers using the code newsletter2.

naniasvineyard.co.uk

WEEKEND WINES  |  THE PERFECT BLEND

NOVEMBER ISSUE  |  OUT AND ABOUT & LOOKING GOOD

WEEKEND RECIPE  |  THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE

Minced beef is convenient and reasonably speedy to cook with... but its texture is solely responsible for giving cottage pie its nursery food reputation. Replacing the mince in this British comfort food classic – the perfect antidote to a chilly winter day – with slow-cooked beef shin, however, puts a grown up spin on a familiar dish. 

Making your meaty casserole the day before you assemble your cottage pie really does make a big difference to the end result as the depth-charged flavours are given a chance to settle and mature. If you're dining a deux, stick with the quantities below and freeze the surfeit for using another day (it's also fabulous in a shortcrust pastry pie.)

When it comes to the mashed potato 'lid', do it your way: substitute some of the potatoes with sweet potatoes, parsnips or swede; add finely chopped spring onions, sautéed leeks and/or grated cheese before mashing – it's all good. And if beef's not your thing, replace the beef shin with lamb neck and the thyme with rosemary for the ultimate shepherd's pie.

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

800g beef shin, cubed
2 large onions, peeled and chopped
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
2 sticks of celery, sliced
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp dried thyme
4 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
600ml beef stock
2 tbsp cornflour
Approx. 200ml red wine (optional, but highly recommended)
Vegetable oil, for frying

For the mashed potato topping

Approx. 1.5g potatoes peeled, boiled, mashed and seasoned to taste (see note above.)

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 150c/Gas Mark 4 (or turn on the slow cooker to low).
2. Heat a splash of oil in a large pan (or ovenproof casserole dish, if oven cooking) over a high heat and brown the cubed beef all over (you may need to do this in several batches.) Set the browned beef to one side.
3. Add the sliced onions, carrots and celery to the same pan and sauté until thoroughly softened, adding a little bit more oil if necessary.
4. Add the tomato puree and the thyme and stir well before adding the red wine (if using) and allowing to bubble down for a few minutes until reduced.
5. Introduce the beef back to the pan and pour in just enough stock to cover. Mix the cornflour with 3 tbsp cold water and stir it in. Bring to the boil and simmer briefly before covering with a lid and braising in the oven for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more water if necessary, until the meat is velvety soft. If using a slow-cooker, cook on Low for 6-7 hours.
6. Tip the cooked meat mixture into a container and allow to cool completely before storing in the fridge, preferably overnight.
7. On the day of serving, take the casserole from the fridge. Remove and discard any visible fat that may have risen to the surface, allow to come to room temperature, spoon into an ovenproof dish and create an even but textured topping with the mashed potato. 
8. Cook in a pre-heated oven at 180C fan/gas mark 6 for 30-40 minutes until the mash is crisp and golden on top and the gravy is bubbling around the edges. Serve with a heap of buttered greens.

OBJECT OF INTEREST  |  NEW OYSTER CULT

This year has seen a riot of avant-garde colour bursting into watch design like never before. Rolex has always had a playful side since the late Sixties when it started adding joyful colours and tones on its enamel Stella dials. Forty years on, five new colourful dials have been added to the 2020 Oyster Perpetual 36 line up.

Incredibly cool with unisex appeal thanks to the mid-sized 36mm case the range will look great on any wrist. The new hues are: coral red, yellow, green, turquoise blue and candy pink. All have Chromalight displays, which means that these dials are super bright in the daytime but also have a beautiful lume and are perfectly legible in the dark too. The classic stainless steel Oyster bracelet, domed bezel, super self-winding movement and waterproof quality – up to 100 meters – are all what you'd expect in this thoroughly modern classic. £4,450.

For availability and more details contact Mallory, an official Rolex retailer.

BEAUTY MUST-HAVES  |  WARM YOUR LOOK

As the winter months turn colder, sculpt and warm your look with the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Colour, £42. A staple in your makeup bag; this product is enriched with mineral waxes and beeswax for a 'second-skin' effect.

Order online: harveynichols.com

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING  |  LUXURY WOOLLEN GIFTS

Luxury socks and accessories brand Corgi Socks has been hand-crafting luxury woollen goods for more than a century. These Fairisle cashmere and cotton socks are the perfect Christmas gift presented in a new Corgi Christmas box. Beautifully comfortable for lounging at home and keeping your toes toasty on a chilly evening. Available in three sizes.

£39; available online at corgisocks.com

ON THE BOOK SHELF  |  GOING SOLO

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL  |  MATURE STUDENTS

The University of Bristol offers a range of part-time short courses for adult learners. Their pathway courses are designed for mature students who are interested in exploring their options for further study.

Their 'Reading English Literature' short pathway course runs across 15 Wednesday evenings, January – May 2021, 6-8:45pm, with breaks for half-term and Easter.

Discover more about the course here: bristol.ac.uk

Their 'Mastering English Literature' short pathway course runs across 10 Tuesday evenings, February – May 2021, 6-8pm, with breaks for half-term and Easter. This course is for graduates in any discipline from any university who want to return to study and sharpen their study skills or prepare for Masters study. 

Read more here: bristol.ac.uk

'Ways into History' is a 15-week short evening course running Wednesdays, January – May, 6-8:45pm, with breaks for half term and Easter. This course will consider the history of slavery, with a particular focus on the city of Bristol and its role in the slave trade.

Learn more about the course here: bristol.ac.uk

EASY LISTENING  |  THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS

Set aside 30 minutes to listen to BBC Radio Bristol and Professor Bruce Hood and focus on fulfilment this month.

The Happiness Half Hour is a new podcast from BBC Radio Bristol and Professor Hood, whose ‘science of happiness’ course at the University of Bristol has been re-packaged into 10 episodes revealing simple strategies scientifically proven to improve wellbeing.

bbc.co.uk

ON THE BOX  |  ACROSS THE POND

In a UK exclusive, former American president Barack Obama encounters historian David Olusoga to discuss his long-awaited memoir A Promised Land, his reflections on the volatile racial divide in the US, his steadfast refusal to abandon American ideals, and how the sight of a Black president and Black 'first family' in the White House may have cast a spotlight on the depth of racial fault lines in America.

Watch it on BBC iPlayer here

As we watch David Olusoga's interview with Barack Obama, we remember our exclusive interview with the historian, writer, presenter, broadcaster and professor of public history at the University of Manchester from our September issue.

Emma Clegg spoke to David about the racial inequality within the television industry just days after his powerful James MacTaggart Inaugural Lecture in Edinburgh.

Enjoy our nine minute read here

INTERIORS  |  HOLDING SWAY

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK  |  NEW ON THE MARKET

Arranged over the top two floors, this is an attractive and modern duplex apartment in a lovely block, set back from the road with honey coloured stone exterior.
The apartment has a generous entrance hall, which flows into the open plan sitting room, dining room and kitchen. In the hall is also a recessed utility cupboard, with space and plumbing for a washing machine.

The generously spacious open-plan reception room has a private balcony and with views across to Christchurch. There’s a large dining area which in turn leads to the beautifully appointed kitchen, with granite worksurfaces, cupboards and a host of integrated NEFF appliances, including an induction hob, dual oven and microwave combi-oven, full height fridge and freezer and a dishwasher. 

On this floor there are also two versatile bedrooms; the main enjoying a fully tiled en-suite shower room. Adjacent to the main bedroom is bedroom three, currently used as a home office or study, but plenty of extra bedroom space when required. This bedroom is served by a fully-tilled guest bathroom. on the top floor is a well-proportioned second bedroom, with its own private balcony and enjoying some of the best views in the building. Once again this bedroom is served by its own en-suite shower room, w.c and a wash basin. 

Outside

The apartment has two recessed balconies, big enough for a small table and chairs to enjoy the spectacular views. Residents of The Kensington enjoy access from Kensington Place to a rear car-park with an allocated parking space. On the market at £850,000.

For further details contact Rupert Oliver Estate Agent