THEGAYUK

Category: Lifestyle

  • RECIPE | Slow Beau Tomatoes

    There’s always a batch of these in my fridge every week- whether simply paired with a piece of toast, added to a salad, or even in a bolognese- these versatile tender tomatoes are sure to become a regular must in your kitchen.

    The slow three-hour roast enables the tomatoes and oil (remaining oil makes an epic dressing spooned over salads) to take on all the flavour of the herbs and is perfect for wholesome Sunday tinkering in the kitchen, when you may well be feeling a little slow yourself!

    TOMATOES – The beautiful red colour of tomatoes denotes that they are full of beta-carotenes which is really beneficial to our skin. Tomatoes contain high vitamin C, and also vitamins A & K. They are helpful when needing to boost your immune system and also have anti-cancer properties.

     

    Ingredients.

    1kg plum tomatoes, halved lengthways with seeds scooped out

    2 tsp dried oregano

    2 fat garlic cloves, finely chopped

    1 tsp basil

    1 tsp sugar

    small bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped

    240ml extra virgin olive oil

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 120c / 100c (Fan) / Gas Mark ½

     

    1. In a small bowl combine the oregano, basil, sugar and a couple of scrunches of salt.
    2. In a large baking dish pour in half of the olive oil.
    3. Place the tomatoes in the oily dish with the cut side facing up and sprinkle over your combined herbs/sugar mix.
    4. Drizzle over the remaining oil and place into the oven for 1 hour.
    5. Remove from the oven and turn the tomatoes over carefully, and back in the oven for another hour.
    6. Remove from the oven and turn tomatoes for the last time, and back in to roast for the next & final hour.
    7. Transfer half of the tomatoes to a bowl or serving dish. Pour over the majority of the oil, and scatter half the parsley and garlic.
    8. Place the rest of the tomatoes on top to form a layer, and drizzle with remaining oil, parsley and garlic.
    9. Set aside for an hour or so before covering and chilling in the fridge. These will keep for up to 5 days. Remove from the fridge half an hour before serving if eating cold.

  • Free Entry For Gay Football Fans At Dulwich Hamlet FC

    This coming Saturday 21st February at 3.00pm Dulwich Hamlet are at home to Metropolitan Police FC, in the Ryman League Premier Division, kick off 3.00pm.

    Dulwich Hamlet football club are offering free admission to all in the wider LGBT community, and their friends, via a flyer, for their match against the Met Police football club. This coming Saturday 21st February at 3.00pm Dulwich Hamlet are at home to Metropolitan Police FC, in the Ryman League Premier Division, kick off 3.00pm. Usual price is £10 adults, £4 concessions.

    Dulwich Hamlet Football club have a commitment to promoting the anti-homophobia message in football. Last week the team staged a very successful ‘anti-homophobia friendly’ against the Gay World Football Champions, Stonewall FC.

    If you’re interested email: therabblers@yahoo.co.uk

  • Valentines Day Land Rover Style

    Jaguar & Land Rover have confirmed the Jaguar C-X75, Range Rover Sport SVR and Defender Big Foot will feature in the new Bond film SPECTRE. The Jag will be the baddies’ wheels for the main car chase against the Aston Martin DB10 in Rome while the Landies have been spotted in Austria. Jaguar’s press site interestingly refers to C-X75s plural rather than singular. Whether the multiple vehicles will be needed for destructive purposes or if there are a couple of C-X75s chasing/being chased by Bond is something we will have to wait to find out.

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  • USED CAR REVIEW: Mini One D: Fun, Ecomonical But Expensive

    For years, if you were after a premium supermini there was only one choice, BMW’s Mini. Launched a barely believable 14 years ago, the ‘New’ Mini was available in 3 main trim levels, One, Cooper and Cooper S.

    The majority of cars would leave the factory with a 1.6 petrol offering between 89 and 170 bhp, giving performance that ranged from reasonable to rapid. Power wasn’t the issue though, fuel economy was. It’s for this reason that I would suggest hunting out the much rarer first generation One D.

    Introduced in 2003 and produced up to 2006, the D came with a 1.4 litre turbocharged diesel engine good for 75 bhp and more importantly, over 50 mpg. This engine actually came from Toyota and was shared with the Yaris. As you would expect, this engine is virtually bulletproof and has the advantage of a chain driven cam. In layman’s terms, this means you avoid costly cambelt changes that are needed for most other cars. If 75bhp isn’t enough for you (0-60 takes almost 13 seconds) then look for a post 2005 car which gained another 20 bhp. The more powerful engine can be identified by a plastic engine cover that the lower powered model does without.

    If there’s one thing to remember, it’s that the Mini is not an overly practical car. There was no option of 5 doors, the boot is tiny and the rear seats are cramped. While long doors help make rear access a little easier, they are heavy and have no protective rubbing strips to save your paint. The interior is funky but the centre speedo is a pain to use and the toggle switches on the centre console easy to confuse.

    Behind the wheel, the One D has almost all of the qualities that make the petrol powered models so appealing. You sit almost sports car low behind a chunky leather steering wheel with the stick to the 6 speed gearbox within easy reach. Although the tractor noises coming from under the bonnet may seem a little out of place, the handling is pure Mini. Turn is excellent thanks to quick steering that provides ample feedback from the front tyres. The gearbox is a delight to use with well judged ratios and a shift action that feels mechanical and direct.

    The car I tested had stability control fitted which does an excellent job of keeping you on the straight and narrow, switch it off and you can feel the rear of the car helping you into and round corners although this never translates into full on oversteer unless you do something very silly. This leads to my main criticism, the chassis is almost too good for the power output of the car. Even on tyres that wouldn’t look out of place on a motorbike, you always get the feeling the car could take another 100 bhp or more. This is no surprise as the brakes and suspension are identical to that on a Cooper S which has another 100 bhp. Admittedly, the test car was the lower powered variant which doesn’t help, I think you’d have the same issue with the 95 bhp version though.

    It is of course running costs where the One D really shines. As mentioned, you can get well over 50 mpg without even trying and over 60 mpg if you have a particularly light right foot. Even someone as lead footed as me struggles to get less than 38 mpg around town which coupled to low(ish) road tax of £110 a year makes for a cheap to run car. Do check insurance quotes though, it’s in a much higher group than you might think. You’ll also find Mini’s are pretty expensive to buy, only high mileage cars dip below £2500 with the best nearing £5000 even at 9 years old. The good news is that Mini’s tend to hold on to this value and even the introduction of a new model doesn’t upset prices too much.

    Things to look out for are electrical gremlins, cars pulling to the left or right, shoddy gearchanges and noisy power steering. These issues seem to affect the older cars more although be wary of them on any test drive you might take. With the Mini being a premium product, they can be expensive to repair although a dealer should offer you a warranty if you are worried. The interior isn’t quite as well screwed together as you might think so expect the odd creak from the dashboard. The One was quite sparsely equipped as standard so look out for the Salt & Pepper packs which add alloy wheels, fog lights, rev counter and trip computer. Many other options were available so check specifications carefully. Find the right car and you’ll have a reliable, fun and stylish runaround that won’t break the bank.

     

    For: Fun to drive, economical & styling.

    Against: Expensive to buy, not overly practical & a bit slow.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Pennethorne’s – At Somerset House

    There is something rather enchanting about Somerset House, and what a lovely setting it makes for Pennethorne’s Café Bar. Just standing in their courtyard you feel removed from the chaos of the city. Situated in the New Wing, Pennethorne’s is adorned in dramatic décor that seems to be ever so in right now. Black walls, brassy tables and dim pendant lights lined in rows. Unsurprisingly the majority of the crowd appear a little bit swanky-socialite.

    The staff are a bubbly bunch (shout out to Phoenix & Paulo for looking after us so well). Speaking of bubbles, their champagne menu is small but comprises of three carefully selected essentials; Brut (£33), Prosecco (£27), and a Cuvee (£66) made in Sussex.

    Seven PM and we appear to be the only guests eating, our waiter confirms most dining trade is over lunch period. Good to know if you prefer a quiet eat in the evenings.

    The menu consists of breads, tinned and potted dishes, salads, meat and cheese selections and items served on toast. Probably why this attracts a lunch-time crowd- but the dishes are sophisticated enough to translate into dinner. As some of the dishes are on the small side it makes good for sharing- just be aware of what and how many of your dishes come with bread as we found ourselves looking like a bakery at full swing.

    The bread was really well made (freshly baked by their in-house baker) and the menu boasts some lovely combos such as; Fig & Apricot, Bacon Brioche, and Walnut & Raisin.

    Kale was on the menu in the form of Crispy Curly Kale & Ham Hock Salad (£6). Of course we felt the need to order the kale, as much as most restaurants feel the fear that their menu without kale on it will deem them as non-foodie-friendly. Although that looks set to change with cauliflower soon to be the new kale, as said by someone as insignificant as this very sentence. A pleasant dish of warm kale, salty ham with small jewels of onion run through it. Bringing a much welcomed lightness amongst the richness of the other dishes.

    Potted Beef (£8). The meat appearing as pulled pork would, but in a cute little pot. Like the best bit of an amazing pie, tender flesh nestled amongst it’s own garlic, black pepper and red wine gravy. Sod the pot, bring me a trough. This was gorgeous.

    Another favourite of mine was from the Mortadella as part of the Selection of Meats (£16). Rosette, Mortadello and Iberico Ham all being of fantastic quality- no yucky plastic textures that a lot of restaurants tend to fob you off with. Both Mortadella and Rosette cuts had great marbling. The Iberico was smooth and melt in the mouth, but my least favourite out of all three.

    The favourite dish of our servers, and apparently a popular choice from diners, was the wild Mushrooms (£5) atop softly toasted bread. A good handful of wild mushrooms that still retained their lovely earthiness but amongst garlic and wine, and with a hint of something almost balsamic. I can see why this is popular as it all works very well together and is served in a perfectly sized portion.

    For those unfamiliar with Nduja – traditionally, is an Italian spicy pork pate and is also set to be one of our food trends for 2015. No doubt it will be popping up on menus everywhere shortly! Pennethorne’s Nduja (£4.75) smells like it will blow your mind, and it will. Expect hot lips. If you like a chilli hit, then this is your dish. We found ourselves going back for more and more of this one- addictive.

    Pennethorne’s have some real gems on their menu, and I really love the fusion of simple British traditions “…On Toast” and the tinned/potted dishes mixed with Italian influences. A bonus for garlic lovers, as Pennethorne’s love it too. The quality of ingredients you receive is great value for money.

    Sad to see no desserts on the evening menu, their breakfast menu does list pastries/muffins/doughnuts/sticky buns/bakes etc; sounds delicious! It could be well received for them to also have these appearing on the evening menu.

    Any fashion freaks visiting Somerset House for London Fashion Week this year, be sure to say hello to Pennethorne’s and go for the Mushrooms on toast, or Potted Beef.

    REVIEWED BY: Jordan Lohan
    ADDRESS: Pennethorne Cafe, New Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
    VENUE PHONE: 020 3751 0570
    PRICE: £££ (explained)
    STAR RATING: ★★★ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY:

  • The Week In Cars – Ferrari or Porsche?

    Porsche have shown us the hottest Cayman yet, the GT4. As suggested by spy shots, it gains a much more aggressive body kit with a fixed rear wing along with 20 inch wheels.

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  • TOP 5: Valentine Treats For Your Man

    Valentine’s, that wonderful day where we pluck up the courage to tell someone we love them. Or like them. Or maybe even just appreciate their existence. Here’s our Top 5 little gift ideas that won’t break the bank and will sure to please.

    1. Maison Blanc, Valentine Concerto – From £4.85

    Light chocolate sponge filled with rich, dark chocolate mousse, surrounding a disk of crispy feuillantine finished in a dark chocolate glaze. Plus, have your own edible message written on top. We’re thinking along the lines of Hands Off!
    www.MaisonBlanc.co.uk

    2. Jimmy Jane, Bourbon Natural Massage Candle – £13.19

    With up to 32 hours burn time, this fragrant candle contains skin soothing jojoba, shea butter, Vitamin E, soy and aloe. Just requires some masculine hands to pour and massage away the stresses of the day. Please do remember to blow it out before you pour onto a loved one. A&E on Valentine’s is not the most romantic place.
    www.Amazon.co.uk

    3. Beefayre, Bee Kind Body & Bath set – £26.00

    If you’re sharing a bath this Valentine’s then you can’t go wrong with the Beefayre bee kind body and bath set. With essential oils of rosemary and neroli you’ll both exit feeling like spring lambs ready to leap into action.
    www.beefayre.com

    4. MIMI, Sleeping Beauty Night Time Facial Oil – £35.00

    This lovely little kit allows you to make up 35ml of facial oil exactly how you want it. Contains anti-ageing Moroccan argan oil, nourishing avocado and peach kernel oils, toning grapeseed oil, repair oat protein and skin protecting essential oils, you’ll have a fragrant day mixing up something special for your loved one.
    www.makeitmakeit.com

    5. Jockey, 3D-Innovations pants – £14.00

    Now the words 3D and pants can only be a good thing, right? These sexy little red pants have been cleverly designed to allow an 8-way stretch which means every part gets a feature! For me one of the best features was the way they shaped around the bum. Without revealing too much detail it was certainly worth a look in the mirror whilst wearing them and I’m sure something the other half would appreciate. If only the shape stayed after you took them off!
    www.jockey.co.uk

  • COCKTAIL RECIPE | Gingerpolitian

    Gingerpolitan

    Ingredients.

    15ml bottlegreen ginger & lemongrass cordial

    35ml vodka

    15ml cointreau

    ½ lime, juice of

     

    Method.

    Shake all the ingredients together with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange peel curl.

  • COCKTAIL |Crimson Mist

    Crimson Mist

    Ingredients.

    15ml bottlegreen pomegranate & elderflower cordial

    50ml gin (I would use Tanqueray)

    60ml cranberry juice

    soda water, to top drink up with

     

    Method.

    Shake the ingredients together with ice and strain into a highball glass, topping up with soda water. Garnish with a fruit wedge or a curl of lime.

  • COCKTAIL | Cardhu Cocktail Honeyed Gold

    I’ve never been a fan of whisky, until I met Cardhu Gold! Surprisingly smooth and makes a darn good cocktail too!

    Honeyed Gold

    50ml Cardhu Gold Reserve
    60ml Pear juice
    60ml Ginger Ale
    10ml Honey water (equal quantity of honey and hot water, cooled before adding)

    Pour all ingredients into a whisky glass over ice cubes and stir.

    HOW TO GARNISH

    You could resort to the classic slice of lemon. Or you could step it up a bit with this simple to execute show stopper.

    Take an orange or lemon and slice around 4 inches of peel.

    Cut off the edges on the length sides to create parallel strips.

    Then take the strips and cut the angles to create a triangle or ‘z’ shape.

    Then twist so that the two ends meet in the middle and the orange or lemon mist is released.

  • Top Ten Motoring News This Week From Corsas To Teslas

    After complaints were made about an ‘ugly yellow car’, a local resident’s Vauxhall Corsa, ruining photographs of a Cotswolds’ village, Vauxhall have come up with an optional camouflage net for the car. Available in Flaming Yellow, Flame Red, Lime Green and Chilli Orange, they claim the bizarre accessory ‘has been designed specifically for use near National Trust premises and chocolate box Cotswold villages’. I think Vauxhall may be taking the p*ss somewhat.

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