March 04, 2013
Culture is a concept that includes a refining and elevating element, each society’s reservoir of the best that has been known and thought, as Matthew Arnold put it. Arnold believed that culture palliates, if it does not altogether neutralise, the … Continued
March 01, 2013
Nigel Sutcliffe is the managing director of restaurant consultant Truffle Hunting. He was also the MD of The Crazy Bear Restaurant Group, one of the trio behind Terroirs, and the director of Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck. 1) Can you … Continued
February 28, 2013
An interview with John Wurdeman of Pheasant’s Tears Kvevri? Qvevri? Which is it? We are spelling it “Qvevri”. There was much discussion on this; a few German importers prefer the Kv rather than Qv but I have had the Travel … Continued
February 25, 2013
Anforak - Anhedoni - Anaphora - Aphorism - Anachronism - Anfora - Annie Hall There was a moment of hush as Stalin’s barber cleared away the topsoil and scraped off the clay. He paused like a priest about to confer the sacraments. Only the lid remained. … Continued
February 23, 2013
Michel Chapoutier planted his soap box firmly on the ground and gave of his wisdom according to The Drinks Business. If absence was air then, as with all critiques of natural wine the opposing view was fully aired in The Drinks … Continued
February 21, 2013
–by Christina Pickard After 11 years in London, I knew that making the move to Perth, Australia would bring me more sunshine, and more beaches, and an exceptionally good quality of life. I also knew what it wouldn’t bring me, … Continued
February 19, 2013
Over one hundred restaurants participating and counting. From Cornwall to Edinburgh, from humble bar to Michelin garlanded fine dining, you will be able to drink natural wines by the glass for at least a month. Revolutions are all about taking … Continued
February 15, 2013
“Forget all rules, forget all restrictions, as to taste, as to what ought to be said, write for the pleasure of it—whether slowly or fast—every form of resistance to a complete release should be abandoned.” Do you bite your tongue … Continued
February 11, 2013
A new Iron Sommelier Challenge has been inaugurated in the US Said to test the skills of wine waiters under the most extreme conditions, the challenge is divided into six stages. To the victor the spoils, a luxuriant chest hair … Continued
February 08, 2013
We have two kinds of morality side by side: one which we preach but do not practice, and another which we practice but seldom preach –Bertrand Russell My liberalism says live and let live. Do not court conflict, do not … Continued