The Refinery | Restaurant Review

The Refinery is a good-looking restaurant in Southwark. It has a great vibe, lots of buzz and a sophisticated decor. We reviewed it on a Saturday and it was absolutely heaving.

Upon being handed the menu thinks get difficult, there is just so much to choose from. The menu is good and varied, something to suit every taste; from salads, to steaks to burgers. We notice on the special menu that there is some salmon and sea bass, the waitress (who is lovely and helpful) informs us that the fish is fresh, they get it from the market in the morning. I also spot a Negroni on the specials menu and immediately order it. Negroni’s are more bitter than my usual taste but I have a soft spot for them.

After much umming and ahing we finally decide on what to eat thanks to the waitress. We have prawn lollipops and a Mediterranean flatbread sharing platter to start. As you can see, presentation is impressive. The prawn lollipops in particular look great. The lollipops are amazing, perfect prawns in perfect batter. They come with an amazing sauce which also has just enough kick.

The Mediterranean flatbread is pitta bread, roast vegetables; peppers, aubergine and courgette- all great, two dips, both stunning. The homemade hummus has ruined me. I just don’t want to eat the supermarket stuff anymore. The baby ganoush is also superb.

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strawberrylemonadeWe ordered some Strawberry Lemonade. It was delicious and fresh.

salmon

refinerysteak

For our main we have the Pan-Fried Salmon which comes with stir-fried vegetables and teriyaki sauce, and the Cote De Boeuf Steak. All the steaks come with onion rings, chips, roast tomato and flat mushroom. To say it is a generous portion would be a vast understatement. I am so full after eating it that I have a coke float for dessert. More of which later.

The steak is amazing, well cooked and tender. I ordered it with a great peppercorn sauce. The tomato is roasted, I love roast tomato and the chips and mushroom are just as good. The onion rings are not greasy and are fried well. This was a very good choice; excellent meal.

The Pan-Fried Salmon is delicious; tender with stir-cooked vegetables and a wonderful teriyaki sauce. A great, Asian-influenced, meal. The fish is very fresh and the meal works beautifully.

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pornstarmartiniA Porn Star Martini: great cocktail that comes with a prosecco chaser.

princecharmingA Prince Charming. Another great cocktail. This one was fun and sweet.

negroniA classic Negroni. The cocktails at the Refinery are of a very high standard, and they don’t skimp on the alcohol.

brownie

The brownie is very good. Warm and wonderfully chocolatey. It comes with ice-cream.

cocktailThe Lemonade, the strawberry comes on the side. It is fun watching it become red.

cokefloat

For dessert I had a coke float as I was so full. This is a coke float with a difference: it has rum and sherry in it. They don’t skimp on their alcohol at the Refinery. There is no watering down of cocktails. The coke float is amazing and different. Very imaginative.

The Refinery is a brilliant restaurant. Definitely go and have a meal there. You won’t regret it.

Achieve Oscar-Winning Skin

While red carpet glitz and glamour is achieved by fabulous stylists and make-up artists, fresh, glowing skin is definitely the best accessory- and you don’t need a celebrity budget to look good.

Follow Facial Therapist and Skincare Expert Amanda Elias’ inexpensive solutions to Oscar-Winning Skin:

EXFOLIATING

WHY? Exfoliating removes the dead skin layer which sits on the surface of our healthy, new skin. When there is an accumulation of dead skin, it leaves the complexion looking lifeless and grey because light isn’t reflected evenly. By removing this dead skin the light will reflect evenly and directly off your healthy skin.

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HOW? You can achieve beautiful skin with scrubs but my personal recommendation would always be chemical exfoliation. Using a product daily that contains AHA’s (like Glycolic Acid or Lactic Acid) or a BHA (like Salicylic Acid) will gently exfoliate by loosening the bond that holds the dead skin to the surface, rather than scrubbing it which can cause irritation and inflammation in sensitive or problem skin. Don’t let the word acid scare you; daily use products typically contain a concentration of 10% AHA and lower so although powerful, they won’t burn the skin.

SUFFERING WITH ACNE OR BLACKHEADS? Exfoliation is the key treatment. These conditions occur when dead skin and oil gets trapped within the pores and bacteria breeds. By removing the dead skin you’re helping to prevent these blockages which in turn will reduce the breakouts. Using chemical exfoliants rather than a manual scrub will also help to fade any discolouration left over from spots.

FIGHTING THE SIGNS OF AGEING? Glycolic and lactic acid helps by increasing cell turnover, this in turn stimulates the production of collagen which is the support matrix of the skin. Collagen starts to break down as we get older which is why we want to stimulate the body to produce more; lots of collagen means plumper skin and less wrinkles.

UNEVEN SKIN ON THE BODY? If you have rough skin with red dots on your arms, thighs or bottom this could be a condition called Keratosis Pilaris. This is caused by too much keratin, found in the top layer of the skin, blocks the pores. There is no cure but exfoliating, especially with AHA’s and BHA’s, can make a dramatic difference to the appearance and texture of the skin.

So you’re well exfoliated, now there’s cleansing and moisturising.

CLEANSING is essential to keep the skin healthy and you looking your best. The majority don’t cleanse enough; twice in the evening (note evening not night) and once in the morning. If you find cleansing often strips your skin, change your cleanser. Use a cleanser designed for your skin type and steer clear of soap. With its high PH, soap can cause dryness as well as help bacteria to breed in problem skin.

MOISTURISING is vital, particularly with product that contains an SPF. In the winter UVA is still present in the atmosphere; while UVA doesn’t burn us (it’s the UVB rays from the sun that cause burning) it can still cause premature ageing and is the number one cause of ageing to our skin. No matter what anti-ageing products you use, if you don’t use an SPF daily- even when it’s grey and miserable- you’re not fighting ageing.

When choosing a moisturiser make sure you choose one for your skin type to keep your skin moisturised and therefore youthful.

If you have oily skin but you use an anti-wrinkle cream designed for mature skin, it’s likely to cause breakouts and can leave the skin looking puffy. If you don’t like moisturising because it leave a sheen on the skin, look for a moisturiser that has a matte finish.

GLOW Leonardo Dicaprio dazzled on the red carpet showing off an enviable tan recently. To get a healthy, natural looking glow I would recommend a spray tan for both men and women. If you’d rather give it a go yourself, try a tan like Cocoa Brown which gives a gentle tan in only an hour. If you have facial hair, be careful to gently rub as close to the hair as possible or you’ll have a tan line around the hair.

Highly experienced within the industry, Amanda Elias is the brains behind effective yet affordable skincare brand, Bravura London  a business founded following Amanda’s own skin problems and subsequent discovery of using AHA, BHA and Hydraulic Acid for troubled skins.

 

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

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…

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Fattoria = farm and wine estate

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

Holland & Barrett Summer Survival Kit

miranda kerrFestival Favourites

 

 

Morning miracle: Vitamin C & Zinc Effervescent £3.35 for 20 tablets

Waking up in a tent isn’t ideal, particularly if the night before was a late one. If you have been partying hard and are feeling a little run down, reach for Holland & Barrett’s Vitamin C & Zinc Effervescent to help restore your immune system. Add one tablet to a bottle of water and you will feel refreshed and ready to take on what the day has to offer.

 

 

 

Hangover helper: Milk Thistle £21.99 for 200 capsules

Festivals are usually a celebration of music, friends and the summer season, which might lead to some over-indulgence! The liver is one of the body’s most important organs and works by neutralising chemical pollutants and alcohol so help maintain normal liver function with the natural herb Milk thistle. Take one capsule two to three times daily, preferably with meals.

 

 

 

Festival Fresh: Dr Organic Tea Tree Wipes £2.75 for 20

It’s no secret that festivals rank highly in the lack-of-cleanliness league table, so it’s important to find a convenient way to stay refreshed on the go! By packing Dr Organic Tea Tree Wipes, you will be able to freshen up in an instant. These wipes are free from any harsh chemicals, meaning they are revitalizing and offer antibacterial protection to keep you germ free. If you are prone to spots, particularly when you have to ditch your usual beauty regime, these wipes are particularly suitable for blemish prone skin, so you can use them to clean both your face and body.

 

 

Festival First Aid: Tea Tree Oil £3.99 for 10ml

If you are likely to get spots in the festival environment, or often find yourself with a bite or a sting, Holland & Barrett’s Tea Tree Oil is a must-have. Made from the Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) this pure and natural oil has a spicy scent that is an essential for any festival wash bag. Known for its many topical uses, Tea Tree Oil can also be added to your post-festival bath water for its refreshing effects!

 

 

Easy Energisers: Mixed nuts & raisins £2.89 200g

Spending an excitable weekend away from your home comforts can take a toll on your body. Keep some tasty slow-release energy snacks in your backpack for a natural energy boost throughout the day, so you don’t miss out on any of the action. A delicious mix of Walnuts, Brazils, Almonds, Hazels, Peanuts, and Raisins, this go-anywhere pack is high in protein and makes a nutritious treat.

 

 

 

 

Caffeine Craving: Guarana Liquid £4.89 for 30ml

If snacks aren’t your thing, try adding Guarana Liquid to your refreshment of choice for a natural caffeine boost. Holland & Barrett’s Nutritionist Kate Butler BSC says: “Guarana naturally contains caffeine, which has a stimulatory effect that may help to support energy and alertness. Adding Guarana liquid to a beverage each day at the festival can be an easy way to boost your energy levels naturally.”

 

 

 

Beach Beauties

 

Summer scent: Pure Coconut Oil 453g Oil £14.99

The sweet aroma of coconut conjures up images of tropical holidays and relaxing on the beach. However, as well as being a tasty and nutritious ingredient and base for cooking, coconut oil can be used as an effective body moisturiser. This versatile oil is made from real coconuts and when applied, leaves the skin feeling soft and sweetly scented, perfect for getting in the mood for summer.

 

Within days of the 28 year old Victoria’s Secret model and wife of Orlando Bloom admitting she “cannot go a day without coconut oil”, sales at Holland & Barrett’s UK stores shot up by more than 50% on last year as customers clamoured for a slice of the supermodel’s secret. Miranda disclosed the information in interviews about how she has keeps fit and healthy following the birth of her son, stating “I personally take four tablespoons of coconut oil per day, either on my salads, in my cooking or in my cups of green tea.” Holland & Barrett’s Nutritionist Kate Butler said one of the reasons coconut oil was so popular was its multi-functional benefits when used on the skin, hair or eaten. “The small molecular structure of coconut oil allows for easy absorption through the skin, giving it a soft, smooth texture” said Kate. “This makes it an ideal ointment for the relief of dry, rough skin, and an effective after-sun lotion because it literally melts into your skin.  Coconut oil works wonderfully as a hair conditioner too as Miranda Kerr’s diet shows can be eaten on salads or used as a cooking oil”

 

Perfect Pins: Dr Organic – Royal Jelly Cellulite Cream 200ml Cream £9.29
This summer, it’s time to minimise that orange peel bottom and those wobbly thighs with a little help from the doctor! Dr Organic has a revolutionary cellulite cream which utilises unique properties found in the incredibly active ingredient and is formulated using researched and tested anti-cellulite extracts. The cream is designed to be massaged regularly into the affected area, supporting circulation and penetrating through subcutaneous fat cells trapped in the collagen and elastin fibres to give you luscious summer legs.

 

 

 

 

Enhance that sun kissed glow: Tan Tablets £5.99 for 60 capsules

Everyone loves returning to the office to an array of compliments about their sun kissed glow, so for a naturally longer lasting tan this summer try Holland & Barrett Tan Tablets. Containing key vitamins that are needed to achieve a deeper tan, PABA, L-Tyrosine and Copper, Tan Tablets can help you to develop a sun kissed look with a reduced amount of time in the sun. Kate Butler says “It’s well known that some sun exposure is good for us. It helps our bodies produce Vitamin D which in turn helps us absorb calcium, regulate blood pressure and even improve mood,  yet too much sun can harm the skin, with damage occurring in just minutes. Used responsibly with a little sun exposure, Tan Tablets provide the body with the nutrients it needs to help enhance a natural tan.”

 

 

 

Lose those extra pounds: African Mango capsules £9.99 for 60 capsules

As the dreaded bikini season draws ever closer try taking a slimming supplement such as African Mango alongside a healthy diet to help you feel confident when baring all. African Mango is thought to act as a natural appetite suppressant, supporting weight loss when used alongside a healthy diet. Studies have shown that seeds from the fruit cause significant weight loss and improve blood sugar levels. Trials carried out in 2005 and 2009; published in the Journal of Lipids in Health[i], found that participants taking an African Mango supplement before meals, three times a day, lost 5.3% of their body weight, compared to 1.3% of those taking a placebo. Holland & Barrett’s Nutritionist Kate Butler advises, “Initial clinical studies have shown that significant improvements in body weight and body fat, as well as in cholesterol and blood glucose levels, have been observed in individuals supplementing with African Mango.  Initial results appear promising and have set the precedence for further research.”

 

 

Soothe your skin: Aloe Vera Gel £3.49 for 100ml

The sun can be stronger than it often feels and after hours of basking in the heat, skin may become pink in colour.  To ease the sting of sun burn try rubbing some Aloe Vera Gel on to the sore areas. The cooling gel soothes the pain and also helps to speed up the healing process. As well as aiding with sunburn, Aloe Vera gel can help soothe the irritation of insect bites and heat rash which can be a common irritation in warmer climates.

Celebrity fan Jemma Kidd uses Aloe Vera Gel after being out in the sun to sooth and heal the skin: She says: ‘I religiously put it on when I’ve been in the sun. It’s so soothing and healing. We have hundreds of aloe plants in our garden and when we’re burnt we pick a leaf.’  

 

Holland and Barrett