Monthly Archives: September 2013

Homeland Season Three Preview: Spoilers

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Homeland Season Three, preview, review, spoilers, homelandHomeland is back. we are very excited. Here is the breakdown of the first episode.

Agent Peter Quinn makes a bomb in a basement, topless.

The Brody family have had a tough time, receiving death threats and bricks through their window. The FBI is following them and the media is hounding them. Dana comes home after a suicide attempt. She has a new boyfriend she met in rehab. She seems to be on the mend and sends a semi-nude picture to her new boyfriend. Her grandmother is also there, trying to help out the family. They eat together and have quality family time. Jessica finds it hard to deal with her daughters attempted suicide and has had to get a job as they have no money coming in

Carrie is off her meds and taking the brunt of the anger along with the rest of the CIA. They have not cleared up the bomb sight ‘because they are punishing us’. The CIA need a win badly and Saul, now in charge, already has a mission in place to take out a number of targets. They succeed in their mission, assassinating a number of bad guys. Agent Quinn was at the forefront of the mission and is upset when a child gets killed.

Carrie is in front of a committee, who are particularly harsh. The CIA are being blamed and the committee are digging for dirt and want to make the CIA pay for their mistakes. To compensate for being off her meds Carrie is drinking, picking up men and seems to be her own worst enemy. After a piece is leaked about her to the media- which doesn’t name her so her operatives are not harmed- she has a run in with Saul in a restaurant, causes a scene and tells them all ‘f**k you’. The newspaper piece is about her sexual relationship with Brody.

At a committee Saul talks about their success at their being ‘a little less evil in the world today’. The committee is still not happy and mentions the Carrie article. Saul, after a pause, confirms that, although the information is flawed, the operative in question was erratic and hide her bi-polar disorder from the agency for ten years. He then says that he never knew about the sexual relationship between Carrie and Agent Brody. Carrie watches on TV, devastated and in disbelief.

Spamalot Review – starring Les Dennis and Warwick Davis

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win tickets to see spamalot, win, competition,

As a huge fan of the Monty Python films, I was delighted to be able to review the latest version of Eric Idle’s Spamalot. The successful stage version of the film ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’.

In this version Les Dennis stared as King Arthur, Warwick Davis plays his horse Patsy and Bonnie Langford is the Lady of the Lake. It didn’t quite live up to my high expectations but it was still a great night out. The play steals a lot of the great lines and scenes from the original film and these were as funny as ever.

The songs, dancing and choreography are all fantastic and come across even better on stage. But the show sometimes felt too much like a pantomime. I expected this to be the case to some extent but it went too far. The fourth wall was broken too many times.

I wasn’t a fan of Dennis’s portrayal of Arthur. The character felt unnecessarily dumbed down and his performance was a bit unrealistic. One of the great jokes of the film is that nobody obeys King Arthur and he’s frequently left frustrated and outwitted much to the audiences delight. King Arthur’s exasperation and annoyance didn’t quite come across as well on the stage and therefore wasn’t as satisfying for the audience.

On the plus side Warwick Davis was excellent and very funny as Patsy and Bonnie Langford was good as the self-centered Lady of the Lake. I felt Arthur’s knights lacked a strong enough identity.

Overall the play was fun and you’ll have a good night out particularly if you never saw the original film

3/5

Spamalot is on at the Playhouse theatre until February 2014

http://www.spamalotwestend.co.uk/home

ATG Tickets- 0844 871 7631

 

KTZ SS14 London Fashion Week 2013

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British designers KTZ had a definite Middle Eastern vibe going down the catwalk. Some of it was great, others- like their burka inspired outfits- were more controversial. Guest on the front and second row also got some Argan oil. The middle east trend spreading in the UK has definitely reached our wardrobes.

Sorry for the quality of the photos, a video will be up soon. Unfortunately I managed to cut my hand just as we were ushered to our seats!

 IMG_1885 IMG_1887 IMG_1888 IMG_1889 IMG_1890 KTZ SS14 KTZ SS14 KTZ IMG_1894 IMG_1895 IMG_1896 IMG_1897 IMG_1898 IMG_1899 IMG_1903 IMG_1904 IMG_1907 IMG_1908 IMG_1910 IMG_1911 IMG_1912 IMG_1913 IMG_1914 IMG_1915 IMG_1916  KTZ

Lima Becomes Europe’s First Michelin Starred Peruvian Restaurant

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It was announced this morning in the 2014 Michelin Guide for UK & Ireland that LIMA restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia has achieved the distinction of becoming the first ever Peruvian restaurant in the UK and Europe to be awarded a coveted Michelin star.

 

The announcement was made at 7.00am this morning by Michelin which is arguably the most revered of all restaurant guides.   Having opened in August 2012 to critical acclaim, LIMA is the creation of executive chef Virgilio Martinez and the Gonzalez brothers. The menu, overseen by Martinez and head chef Robert Ortiz, integrates both traditional and contemporary Peruvian cuisine, representing the gastronomic expansion that has taken place in Peru in recent years.

 

Gabriel Gonzalez, co-owner of LIMA, said, “A Michelin star is an incredible accomplishment. I am so proud of Robert Ortiz and the team at LIMA who work to exceptional standards at every service, and feel this really is a testament to all of our hard work over the past year. To be the first Peruvian restaurant to achieve a star in UK and Europe is a huge accolade.”

 

Having opened only 13 months ago, Lima has undoubtedly played a huge part in the growing recognition and popularity of Peruvian food in the UK.

 

LIMA

31 Rathbone Place

London

W1T 1JH

www.limalondon.com

@Lima_London

Five fresh ideas to boost your business IQ

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All professionals want to be cannier, more effective at work and always one step ahead of the competition, but that’s difficult to achieve if they are relying on outdated, incorrect or inefficient business principles.

To help sweep out the mental cobwebs, management writer and business consultant Antonio E. Weiss — author of new bite-size business guide 101 Business Ideas That Will Change The Way You Work (newly released by Financial Times Publishing) — provides five fresh and practical ideas guaranteed to boost your business IQ.

1. IF YOU FEAR LOSING, YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO LOSE OUT

Loss aversion is the idea that people prefer to avoid losses than gain profits. In human decision-making, ‘losses loom larger than gains.’ For example, in the business world many investors sell stocks too soon, because they fear losing what they have gained. To mitigate the effects of loss aversion, you need to look out for your internal biases and those of your colleagues or customers. When evaluating any options, check whether you are overvaluing a potential loss and undervaluing the possible gains at stake. Also be sensitive to the loss aversion that others exhibit. When presenting options to an audience, for example, always bear in mind how loss aversion will affect how they perceive what you present – use fear of loss aversion to your benefit. Once you are aware of loss aversion there are ways of managing it and using it to your advantage. For example, consider trialling your goods with potential customers as once your service becomes part of their daily routine it is more difficult for them part with them – they fear losing what they’ve gained.

 

2. WHY EXPERTS GET IT WRONG

Although expert opinion carries much weight, often experts are no better at predicting events than the rest of the population. There is no accountability of many experts, such as television pundits. If they make predictions that do not come true, no-one is likely to call them up on it. They also tend to add increased variables to their predictions and overvalue certain variables, therefore distorting the normal paths of probability. Often the media drives these predictions to focus on one idea and the certainty of that happening. Therefore remember that although expert opinion comes from those in the field, that does not guarantee that prediction will come true.

 

3. FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BEAUTIFUL

Although this is a well-known belief, there is factual evidence to support this statement. Physically attractive people earn more, find it easy to get loans and even receive lighter prison sentences! Figures show that a less attractive American male can earn up to $230,000 less than his more attractive peers. That is even after adjusting for education and other factors. Therefore it is something to be aware of when selecting colleagues and employees. To discriminate positively or negatively about somebody because of their looks is a dangerous path to take. You would not discriminate against them because of their gender or race.

 

4. WHEN YOU CAN SKIP THAT MEETING

There is a widely held belief that face-to-face meetings are always better than those conducted over e-mail, instant messaging or even the telephone. However this is not always the case. Studies carried out by INSEAD and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University show that when business people have not met or are still in the early stages of a business relationship, there are benefits to meeting in person. However once a relationship has been established those benefits are not as strong and if the relations are strained a face-to-face meeting can actually increase tensions. Therefore in a business age where the diary is dominated by meetings and the travel to and from can be longer than the meeting itself, it is important to consider not only the benefits of attending but also the method or platform used to attend.

 

5. WHEN TO TRUST YOUR GUT INSTINCT

If you have confidence that your gut instincts are going to be right, they are more likely to be so. A study from Columbia University and the University of Pittsburgh showed that candidates with a high level of trust in their gut instincts were consistently better at predicting future events than those with a low level. This has been dubbed the ’emotional oracle effect’. It can be explained by how people dive into their conscious and subconscious memory. If people have confidence in their gut feelings then they are stimulated into accessing the memory’s ‘privileged window’, which contains vast amounts of knowledge learnt over time. By recalling this information, they are able to accurately use it to make informed predictions about the future. Those with lower confidence in their predicting skills, however, lack the internal confidence to reach into their recollections and look into the ‘crystal ball’. The lesson: in business, if you know something about a subject, try to stimulate yourself into a high level of trust in your gut feelings (by remembering when you were recently right about something, for instance) and then make your forecast based on your recalled previous knowledge. It’s likely to be a pretty good prediction.

For more clever business insights, check out 101 Business Ideas That Will Change The Way You Work by Antonio E. Weiss (Pearson) — available now, priced £12.99, from Amazon & all good book shops.

 

Top Tips For Trans-Seasonal Style

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Top Tips For Trans-Seasonal StyleSian O’Flaherty, UK Online Content Manager, ShopStyle – The fashion search engine

“Autumn is well on its way as the days get a little shorter and the sky greyer, but it’s arguably the most inspiring time of the year for fashion. The classic leather jacket and ankle boot sees a welcome return to the front of the wardrobes and this season there’s a lot of fun to be had experimenting with pastel, camouflage and more 90s trends.”

1. The leather biker jacket. If you haven’t got one of these already, you’ve been missing a trick, and a leather jacket is a MUST this season. Invest in beautiful quality leather and it’ll last you into the next decade. I personally love American brand Theyskens Theory for investment pieces. If black bores you, pick up one in gorgeous cobalt blue or in coloured suede for a fresh take. All Saints also have a great variety this season from shearling to bomber styles.

2. 90’s tartan classic the kilt has been revived in mini form this season and it looks great with ankle boots, sheer tights or bare legs, and a classic leather jacket. Asos do a show stopping piece in either neon pink or black.

3. Pastels are usually associated with Spring, but this season they’re taking over from the usual Autumnal aubergines and greens. This season why not choose a chunky knit in pastel blue instead of black? Erdem have a stunning silk blended cardigan and from Antonia Marras there’s a sweet light blue cashmere version.

4. Camouflage is big for this season. Christopher Kane started this trend by giving it a grown-up spin on luxe fabrics, and Whistles are doing some superb high street versions of this look. A camo sweatshirt is a great trans-seasonal piece too – try APC for style and top notch quality.

5. Kimono Drape Coats look so elegant and exude a vintage New York vibe. Whatever your budget from John Lewis to Ted Baker they’re cosy and perfect for layering in style.

12 Books To Read In 2012

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Peter James Dead Man’s Time

Peter James Dead man's time review

Few things in life are as fun as a hardback crime thriller in your hands and a few hours of spare time. This well-researched and fast paced book is an exciting roller-coaster of a book. I found it really hard to put this book down. Peter James is obviously a brilliant crime writer. Prepare to be blown away. Peter James is also a film producer, producing the Merchant Of Venice which starred Al Pacino and has worked as a screenwriter. Talented man. The hardback edition is an interactive book.

SOME WILL WAIT A LIFETIME TO TAKE THEIR REVENGE . . . A vicious robbery at a secluded Brighton mansion leaves its elderly occupant dying. And millions of pounds’ worth of valuables have been taken. But, as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, heading the enquiry, rapidly learns, there is one priceless item of sentimental value that the old woman’s powerful family cherish above all else. And they are fully prepared to take the law into their own hands, and will do anything, absolutely anything, to get it back. Within days, Grace is racing against the clock, following a murderous trail that leads him from the shady antiques world of Brighton, across Europe, and all the way back to the New York waterfront gang struggles of 1922, chasing a killer driven by the force of one man’s greed and another man’s fury.

Jim Pinnells Saturn’s Daughters: The Birth of Terrorism

Saturn’s Daughters Author Jim Pinnells Interview: On Russia, Pussy Riots And The Birth Of Terrorism, terrorism, Jim Pinnells, pussy riots,

I really loved this book. We interviewed Jim Pinnells so have a read. This book is a great insight into terrorism and revolutionaries. It mingles real and fictional characters brilliantly and really draws you into the world of 19th century Russia. Pinnells is a Russian Historian and it really shows. A brilliant book which will keep you gripped until the end, whilst giving you a fun history lesson. What more could you want?

Claire Garber Love is a Thief

love is a thief

An entertaining book which comes with a smart premise: what has love stolen from you? Heartwarming, smart, addictive and very, very funny. I also love Claire’s bio, ‘Claire did nothing remotely of interest until aged 26, when she visited the French Alps and fell in love with every single French man she met’.

Kate Winters is an ordinary girl, with a not-so-ordinary mission: take back what love stole!

Kate Winters might just be ‘that’ girl. You know the one. The girl who, for no particular reason, doesn’t get the guy, doesn’t have children, doesn’t get the romantic happy ever after. So she needs a plan. What does she like doing? What didn’t she get to do because she fell in love? What would she be happy spending the rest of her life doing if love never showed up again?

This is one girl’s journey to take back what love stole and maybe find love again along the way Feel-good, witty and addictive; Love is a Thief is the book everyone’s talking about.

Daron Sheehan The Socrates Project

Daron Sheehan The Socrates Project

An eco-thriller. Yes, en eco-thriller. Described as ‘Michael Crichton meets George Orwell’. The smart thing about this book is that it takes entertainment and combines it with the very real problem of the damage to our environment and global warming. We went to the launch and had a chat with Daron and adventurer Mark Beaumont. Daron went through quite a few drafts of The Socrates Project and you can tell his friends didn’t hold back as the novel is not a brilliant read which has started its own genre in literature.

The Socrates Project is a secret attempt by the United Nations to avert the predicted collapse of our civilisations. Simon Oceandis heads up the sicads, who must blend modern science and ancient wisdom to find the solutions before time runs out.

Not everybody welcomes the Project. An influential secret society plots to discredit and destroy the sicads. Torn between the love of a beautiful scientist and a fiery tribeswoman, Simon discovers an exotic world of adventure and wonder. To find the answers to save humanity, he must undergo a deep inner journey, yet his life becomes a frantic race for survival…

Is it happening? Could it happen? Should it happen? Decide for yourself! Live the story…

Charles Dubow Indiscretion

Charles Dubow Indiscretion

If you want a glamourous book about love and betrayal, desire and deceit, then Indiscretion is the book for you. Indiscretion is the first novel from Charles Dubow but it is a confident and powerful debut.

The Great Gatsby meets The Secret History in this torrid novel of love, lust and deception.

Harry and Madeleine Winslow are blessed with talent, money, and charm. Harry is an award–winning author on the cusp of greatness. Madeleine is a woman of sublime beauty and grace whose elemental goodness belies a privileged upbringing. Bonded by deep devotion, their marriage is both envied and admired by friends who spend summers at their East Hampton idyll.

When a holiday fling turns disastrously wrong, 26-year-old Claire falls into the Winslows’ welcoming orbit. They are enchanted by her youth and intelligence. In turn, Claire is entranced by Harry and Maddy. The love that exists between them is something of which, until now, she could only dream.

Seen through the omniscient eyes of Maddy’s childhood friend Walter, Indiscretion is a story about the complexities of love, the dangerous nature of desire and how obsession can tear apart even the most perfect of worlds.

This ebook edition also contains an extended extract from Maggie Shipstead’s award-winning, New York Times bestseller, Seating Arrangements.


Brigitte Cobb Make it Fly!: The step by step guide to make ANY idea, project or goal take off

Brigitte Cobb Make it Fly!: The step by step guide to make ANY idea, project or goal take off

I love how this book is layed out. It has exercises, tables, steps and a Do it! summary at the end of each chapter. Perfect for motivation and to get you started on your goals, whatever they may be. The tone is positive without being annoying and it is impossible to not feel inspired reading it. It is no nonsense, firm but fair and does the important thing of telling you to look after yourself. If you have an idea, project or even just a vague dream, buy it and you are on your way. I loved it.

Whether it’s a project at work or a dream for life, Make it Fly! is the ultimate success plan
for making things happen.

Its proven, step-by-step approach will make even the biggest goal achievable, giving you that vital first push and all the know-how, inspiration and practical techniques you need to see things through.

Discover how to:

Appraise your idea to make sure if it’s really ready to fly
Get the planning right so you know what’s happening now and what you’re doing next
Hurdle all the annoying obstacles that will try to put you off course
Stay motivated focused by taking every step in the right way and at the right time

Stop talking about what you’re going to do, and start doing what you’re talking about. It’s time to make it fly!

Dr Patrizia Collard Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy For Dummies

MindfulnessBasedCognitiveTherapyFD

With the stigma of mental health problems being eroded all the time, mindfulness and cognitive therapy are both huge topics and if this book shows anything, it is how mainstream mental health issues are now, which can only be a good thing as people who are ill are not suffering in silence. With this great book you can also download audio files. Like any ‘For Dummies’ Book, it is easy to read and understand. With great programmes and chapters on stopping the cycle of depression and breaking free from addiction, this is a very good book; if you have any problems or or just having a hard time, this book has a large amount of knowledge that can you put your life back on track.

It has a complete eight-week MBCT course, mindfulness exercises and even meditation practices. A must buy to get you over any bumps in the road.

Break the mental chains that keep you stuck in the past and start living a fuller, happier life If you suffer from depression you know how it feels to be dragged down by past hurts, regrets and disappointments. In this book you’ll learn an amazingly simple, yet highly effective, approach to breaking free of past woes (and future worries) and beating negative ways of thinking. Therapist Dr Patrizia Collard takes you on an eight–week journey of self–discovery, arming you with powerful tools for warding off future depression and related problems, such as anxiety, addiction and low self–esteem. Make room for peace of mind – learn to prepare a physical (and mental) space conducive to meditation practice Take a good look at what’s hurting you – find the courage to confront your demons, face–to–face, rather than pushing them away Break those mental chains – become aware of the background noise and static that’s distracting you from clarity and purpose Pay attention to the here and now – master mindfulness techniques for living in the present moment, rather than fixating on the past or worrying about what the future may bring Expand your focus – apply what you learn to beating an array of specific problems from addiction to depression, including eating disorders, pain, anxiety and more Audio download includes Seven guided meditations, including the sitting with difficult thoughts meditation and mindful breathing meditation Step–by–step advice to prepare yourself for effective meditation

Tiffany Reisz The Mistress

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Perfect for people who have read 50 Shades of Grey and are now not only huge fans of erotic fiction, but want to go further. Reisz’s writing really draws you in. Perfect for fans of erotic fiction. Is the latest book in the Original Sinners series. Hot, spicy, sweet and well-written.

Nora Sutherlin, Dominatrix-turned-literary-star, is held prisoner by two dangerous men. Under different circumstances she would enjoy this immensely. These men aren’t lovers, however, but tools of vengeance from an old adversary. Possessor of the hearts of two men, she plays her hardest hand. But her captor isn’t interested in play. Or pity.

In Nora’s world, however, no one is ever truly powerless. Her friends and lovers will do anything to save her – even if the only certainty seems to be sacrifice and heartbreak. The stakes are high in a dangerous game of love, lust and passion

Lucy Cruickshanks The Trader of Saigon

Lucy Cruickshanks The Trader of Saigon

The Trader of Saigon is a book you can really sink your teeth into. Cruickshanks really brings post-civil war Vietnam to life. You can almost smell and taste it. With a clever plot and characters that you really care for, this book is well-researched that is atmospheric and thought-provoking. An amazing debut novel.

From Hanoi to Saigon, a tale of one woman’s search for a better life – and a thriller that strikes to the merciless heart of post-civil war Vietnam. In the chaos and corruption of 1980s’ Vietnam, three seemingly unconnected lives are brought together by greed, fear and hope.

As a US Army deserter, Alexander is a man without country; trapped in a life he no longer controls and embroiled in the dark business of trading women. His latest victim is Hanh, a rural girl who moved to Hanoi to escape inevitable poverty and who sees Alexander’s arrival as the answer to her prayers. Neither of them has ever met Phuc – a Vietnamese businessman who backed the wrong side in the war and is now unable to pay his financial and political debts to the Party. But his struggles are about to change both their lives.

From a society torn apart by war comes a tale of redemption and salvation; a thrilling saga and an explosive debut novel.

Anouska Knight Since You’ve Been Gone

 

This is a beautiful story that you can really lose yourself in. It is a slow burner and a heartwarming, witty and funny read.

How do you learn to love again?

In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.

His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow

Victoria Fox Wicked Ambition

Victoria Fox Wicked Ambition

Victoria Fox is single-highhandedly bringing the bonkbuster genre back. We interviewed Victoria a while ago and her books are pure escapism. You get the feeling that she is not making it all up, but is a Hollywood insider who really knows her stuff and is spilling secrets. Fox is a brilliant writer and this is another great book from her. Believable fantasy.

If not victory, revenge!
Some will do anything for fame.
Others will do anything to bring the famous down.
Three superstars. Three secrets.

For Robin, Turquoise and Kristin, the spotlight shines brightly. They’ve reached the glittering heights of stardom, and are adored the world over. But in the shadows lies the truth… An expose could be their end.
Because not everyone is happy about their success. Not everyone wants the best for them. Some people want to reveal the real stories behind the luxury parties and gorgeous men, and bring their dazzling worlds crashing to the ground.
Who will fall first

Cathy Kelly The Honey Queen

Cathy Kelly The Honey Queen

A very talented writer. Her books are beautifully written. A wonderful book about life and friendship and all of the trials that come with it that will warm your heart. A gripping book to get lost in and a joy to read.

Can she find the strength to help the family she never knew she had?

Vibrant and warm, Frankie manages people as a career – so her husband’s silence on redundancy comes as a shock. Suddenly both their dream house project in pretty Redstone and their marriage are under terrible strain.

Only twenty-seven, Peggy is opening her own knitting shop in town but her past threatens to unravel any prospect of love and a family of her own.

Lillie is the friend they both need. Newly arrived in the small Irish town from Australia, she’s no stranger to secrets and heartache. Wrapped in the warmth of the community, Lillie must help herself and her new friends rediscover the joy in life…

 What book will you read?

Fattoria La Vialla Review: Organic Italian Food Fresh From The Farm

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I was first introduced to Fattoria La Vialla by my grandmother. Fattoria La Vialla is a family run organic Italian farm located in Tuscany. It produces food and wine strictly for itself in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Fattoria La Vialla sell directly to their customers like ‘a farmer who brings the fruits of his land right to your home’. No middlemen. It almost sounds too good to be true!

We got sent one of their large hampers to review. To say we were happy is too much of an understatement. You can see from the picture below just how impressive it is. Here is our review. Are their products as good as they look? Let’s find out…

photo 1

Fattoria = farm and wine estate

 

10

We were immediately blown away by the Fattoria La Vialla catalogue (or service card as they call it), which is the most beautiful and charming book I have ever seen. It’s packed with wonderful facts about the food and the amazing history of the farm. It’s filled with genuine love and passion, something you would never experience with a mega brand, and it leaves you feeling totally invested. I highly recommend asking for one.

Our hamper is generously packed, bottles and sauces of different sorts hide under straw. In total we have 4 bottles of wine, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, four different types of pasta, three different sauces, olives and a huge box of biscotti.

Wine The four bottles of wine consisted of:

fattoria la vialla wine

Barriccato, a strong, intense red. Fruity and wonderful. This is my favourite red wine now. Superb Riserva, fruity, woody and amazing.

Le Chiassaie is a sparkling white wine. La Vialla call this their ‘most classic’ and says it takes you to the very ‘soul’ of their farm. In that case, I would quite like to stay there, drinking this every day.

Vin Santo; even after all of that praise for the previous bottles of wine, this was probably my favourite. A wonderful sweet wine which is perfect to have in the (late) afternoon with biscotti. In Tuscany they call this ‘death’ because it is a match made in heaven. Made with the most high-quality grapes and then ‘forgotten’ for three years, the time and effort shows; I love it.

Biscotti

Biscotti – The box is a lot bigger than it looks

A wonderful box packed with three different Biscotti was included. These Tuscan biscuits were; Cantucci,; faithfully follows the traditional recipe, flour, almonds, sugar, almonds and organic eggs; amazing, Viallini,; invented by Piera, one of La Vialla’s cooks who is now retired, they taste like goodness and happiness, Brutti ma Buoni; classic and yummy. I can honestly say that all three biscotti were by far and away better than any biscotti I have ever had before. They’re in another league. When we finished the box we actually felt sad.

Olio, Olive Oil; I love the cute bottle, though not as much as I love the Extra Virgin Olive Oil. So high quality that you will never be able to eat supermarket bought olive oil ever again.

photo 4 (1)

 

 

The Pecorino Stagionato cheese is matured for at least 3 months. It’s a delicious hard cheese made from sheep’s milk. It has great flavor and texture. A classic Tuscan food staple.

Aceto Balsamico di Modena No kitchen is complete without Balsamic Vinegar and La Vialla’s has a complex fragrance of cooked fruit and wild berries. Delicious and can be added to almost any meal, even some dessert.

Olive Piccanti al Finocchio; I loved the olives. They make the ones we eat in Britain look completely sub-standard. They are big and juicy and full of flavour. I was not as keen on the spicy sauce. I am not a fan of hot things or spice in general. If you like spice this shouldn’t bother you though, and you can also use the leftover sauce for pasta, etc.

Pasta; A good selection of organic pasta came in the hamper. Calamari; which has a great, fun shape, the ever popular Spaghetti and the very traditionally Tuscan Pappardelle all’uovo. The pasta is as tasty and healthy as you would expect.

photo 3The Sauces were also amazing. Sugo Bombolino (what a name); Bombolino tomatoes, extra virgin oil, salt, garlic, basil and chilli pepper make up this great sauce. It was delicious. It tasted so real and was packed with so much flavor that I will definitely be ordering some more.

photo 4

My effort at cooking – Papperdelle pasta with lardons and Bombolino sauce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pasta all from Fattoria La Vialla

 

Sugo di carne alla toscana la vialla (Ragu), I must be honest, we have not tried this one yet. It has chicken liver in it which I have never eaten. Will give to another writer and report back. La Rosmarina; Rosemary Tomato sauce. Yum and yum. Like homemade sauce your grandmother would make. If your grandmother was Italian and a professional cook. Another incredible sauce.

photo 2 (1)

Another effort this time with the La Rosmarina sauce and Pecorino cheese

During my research of La Vialla I realised they also have a restaurant. I want to go. Every day. My only criticism of La Vialla is the lack of information on pricing. Apart from that, I am hook, line and sinker in love with their food, their social responsibility and environmentally-friendliness. If every food producer copied them the world would be a better place. There food is amazing, organic and the farm is family-run. I don’t know what else you could possibly want.

http://www.lavialla.it/uk/home_uk.php

In fact we were so inspired by La Vialla’s food that we have filmed are first cookery program using some of their ingredients. Sign up to our youtube channel to watch it and other cookery films in the near future.