THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

All the latest from London, the capital of the UK, home to the UK’s largest gay community.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Hayden, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | The Hayden, London

    ★★★★ | The Hayden, London

    There are lots of pubs in London that serve food but only a small handful where the food is excellent. The Hayden is one of these.

    The Hayden is serving classic pub and is well worth the trip to Westbourne Grove. Their menu is a superb take on many classics, but of higher quality.

    The slow-cooked BBQ Ribs were perfect! 2×6 pork ribs (12 in total) where the meat literally was very easy to tear off from the bone with a fork (no need to get your fingers messy), was very succulent, tender, and came with sumptuous bourbon BBQ sauce (tasty and yummy), and were the best ribs I’ve had in years. The ribs came with a large bowl of skin-on fries and a small salad for a bargain £17. I have been craving ribs for a long time and these filled the bill! My dining companion had the Pan-Fried Sea Bass. They were two smallish chunks served over tomato & mascarpone sauce, with asparagus and saffron braised fennel, and for him, it was a nice summer dish – not too heavy and no bones which made it easy to eat (£17.50). A man at the table next to us had the mouth-watering looking Sirloin 8oz steak – it was nicely grilled and nicely sized – and he looked like he was enjoying it (£19.50)!

    We actually started the meal with, I failed to mention, starters, and both were just perfect. The Original Popcorn Shrimp, well cooked and plentiful, served with sweet chilli sauce, is highly recommended (£9). Very tasty and very good quality. The Pulled Chicken quesadillas – four, nicely-sized, browned all over and not too cheesy (mature cheddar), with a few jalapeños (not spicy), and a side of guacamole was a large portion, (and cheaply priced at £7), and was also very very good.

    At times cocktail menus at pubs all blend into one, however, The Hayden has a special cocktail that will satisfy your thirst and knock your socks off! You have to, have to, try the Chora (it’s NOT on the online menu but on the drinks menu at the pub). It’s a beautiful-looking vodka drink made with lime juice, egg whites, cinnamon & almond syrup (producing a luscious foam froth) with Skinis Mastiha Liqueur (white Greek spirit made from resin). The Chora was just divine. The little flower on top of the foam added to the beauty of the drink (it was almost, I say almost, too beautiful to drink). Very sweet, beautiful burst of colours, delicious, refreshing and superb to say the least (£10.50). I also had the Watermelon Refresher (£7.50) and it tasted more icy and watery then watermelony (is that even a word)? My companion had the Red Pinot Noir with his dinner, he said it was fine, and a small glass is nicely priced at £7.25).

    Now on to the desserts. My companion is an expert at cheesecake – and he simply devoured his. It was light and lively and a nice size, served with raspberry jam (£5), while I had the Eton Mess which had chunks of strawberries and chunks of meringue. It was cream heavy which I find most desserts are (£6). I long for the days when I will see healthy desserts (fruit dish & sorbet anyone?). Desserts are always creamy, dairy, and very full of chocolate, but the desserts at The Hayden were again, very good.

    The Hayden has a cool pub look; dark interiors, with plenty of tables, a nice size fireplace – and a private area if you have a semi-large party and want some privacy. The night we were there there were lots of customers with American accents – I guess being in the vicinity of Notting Hill it’s a bit of an American enclave. But the pub is not just for locals. It’s on a strip where there are lots of cheap dining options (Nando’s is next door, Tinseltown Diner a block away, and a Gourmet Burger Kitchen across the street). Just bypass these and go directly into The Hayden.

    I guarantee you The Hayden will have better chicken (Half corn-fed Rotisserie Chicken @ £16.50), better burgers (various types at between £14.50 and £16.50, with skin on fries), and The Hayden will sure beat the diner food they serve down the road.

    And if you go to The Hayden Mon-Wed, you get 30% off your food. Or there is a set menu Mon – Fri until 7 pm where you get 2 courses for £16.50. And there are 2-4-1 cocktails from 5-7 pm Mon-Wed and Thurs & Friday 12 noon to 7 pm.

    There is plenty on the menu at The Hayden to keep wanting to go back for more. It’s a cool pub that’s also a perfect spot for drinks at the bar – but eating there is a must. With very staff, a trendy but not too trendy vibe, and great food and drinks – what more from a pub could you ask for?

    https://www.haydennottinghill.com

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Bōkan, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Bōkan, London

    ★★★★ | Bōkan, London

    Three floors of great food, drinks, and a spectacular view is what Bōkan is all about.

    Located across the water from the Heron Quays DLR stop in the Southwestern section of Canary Wharf, Bōkan is on top of the Novotel hotel building – it’s a bit hard to find and a bit in the middle of nowhere, but once you arrive you will be rewarded.

    Bōkanis on the 37th, 38th and 39th floors of the hotel, and as you can imagine, the views facing west (and south and north) are simply stunning, with the Thames almost literally at the foot of the hotel, and the buildings of the Shard and the City, along with Tower Bridge, straight ahead, and the new high rises of Vauxhall in the distance. The views are superb in either cloudy or sunny weather, day or night. The early evening we were there it was still light on a cloudy day but as it got darker the clouds added a cool effect to the view.

    Start your evening with a cocktail in the bar (38th floor). Their cocktail menu is limitless. We had two amazing drinks – the delicious Flying Dutchman (orange in colour, with unique ingredients including mandarin with ginger beer, and Peroni, with lime and corn wine topped with a cherry and a lemon skin twist), and the other was the Dark Whale – which was a notch better than the Dutchman and included rum, lime, mandarin, mint, ginger beer, and aromas of cinnamon, dark chocolate and unmistakable Angostura aromatic bitters for an explosion of flavours. Their cocktails are unique and tasty and very affordable in a bar that is laid back and not stuffy at all – very cool, just like the drinks!

    We were given a filo pastry over a mix of beetroot and apple as a pre-meal treat – it was interesting and inventive and tangy. One starter was a chilled dish, light and fresh: steamed organic hen’s egg which was well complemented by fresh tomatoes and creamy goats cheese and perfect for a summer evening, and was a beautiful looking and very colourful dish, while the courgette cannelloni with a small slice of watermelon was adventurous and quite different, but the bisque foam sauce did not enhance the dish.

    Dinner was a struggle to chose. Bōkan offers a sunset menu (£37) and an a la carte menu. We chose the Sunset menu (served before 6 pm every night) and we were glad we did as it’s excellent value with three courses. My main course of Osso Bucco (Short rib) was just perfect. Tender and succulent meat was accompanied with perfectly cooked mash and was topped with gorgeous baby carrots and strips of lemongrass. Every bite was mouthwatering. My dining companion had the Josper grilled cod with vegetables. The sugar snap peas contrasted perfectly with the saltiness of the samphire, all further enhanced by the rich butteriness of the hollandaise sauce. The dish was chunky, juicy and very flavoursome.

    As one would expect desserts were fantastic. The creme brulee with fresh blackberries and ice cream was one of the best – a thin caramel shell to break over the creamy brulee filling combined with a fruity coulis and the burnt toffee flavour of the sugar shell made it special. Meanwhile, the Ivory chocolate mousse, crunchy coconut, pineapple & ginger compote with coconut sorbet was a perfect way to end a dinner – it was not heavy and the crunchiness was a nice change – and it was not that filing.

    With Bōkan being an upscale modern European restaurant, the wines are très fabuleux! We were served the Asiato wine – Portuguese wine – which was a bit sweet but not too much – it went down very well and was a great accompaniment to our main courses. Other wines Bōkanserve include wines from every region imaginable – UK, Italy, New Zealand, Spain – the list goes on. The Graham’s port is a great way to end the meal – they have several so pick one – anyone!

    After our dinner, we retired to the 39th floor which is the outdoor space, and the very top of the building. It’s nice and cosy and, as you can imagine, it’s all about the views. If you do nothing more when you go to Bōkan and just have a drink in the outdoor terrace then you’re missing out on a great experience of both the 37th and 38th floors.

    Executive Chef Guillaume Gillan (protégé of the late Joël Robuchon) succeeds in bringing delicious dishes to Canary Wharf, with the added pleasures for cocktail lovers to enjoy the 38th-floor bar and 39th-floor rooftop terrace for a tranquil escape from the buzz of city life. Bōkan is a true experience in dining and drinking, with each floor a destination in itself. It is a place I want to experience again.

    Bōkan
    Floor 37-39, 40 Marsh Wall, London E14 9TP
    T: 020 3530 0550E: hello@bokanlondon.co.uk

  • The UK gets its first permanent rainbow crossing in Lambeth

    The UK gets its first permanent rainbow crossing in Lambeth

    The London borough of Lambeth has become the first in the UK to install a permanent rainbow crossing.

    2019-08-16 The UK’s first permanent Rainbow Crossing opened today (16 August) outside the Herne Hill entrance to Brockwell Park, Lambeth. The crossing is a celebration of Lambeth and London’s LGBT+ community with an eye-catching rainbow crossing spanning four lanes of major roads., and celebrates the borough’s inclusive nature and creative culture. Speakers were: Cllr Ibrahim Dogus, Lambeth Mayor, Cllr Sonia Winifred, Faith Henry, a young local resident, and guests were also treated to a vocal performance from singer Almaz. www.magnus-andersson.com

    The London borough of Lambeth has unveiled its brand new rainbow crossing – a planned permanent feature on Herne Hill, which aims to bring visibility to the LGBT+ community in the area.

    According to the BBC, a ‘Walk the Rainbow’ messaging will appear throughout Lambert, guiding people to the Herne Hill gate at Brockwell Park to visit the crossing, a council spokesperson said.

    People have been invited to share images on social media with the hashtags #WeAreLambeth and #HerneHillRainbow.

    2019-08-16 The UK’s first permanent Rainbow Crossing opened today (16 August) outside the Herne Hill entrance to Brockwell Park, Lambeth. The crossing is a celebration of Lambeth and London’s LGBT+ community with an eye-catching rainbow crossing spanning four lanes of major roads., and celebrates the borough’s inclusive nature and creative culture. Speakers were: Cllr Ibrahim Dogus, Lambeth Mayor, Cllr Sonia Winifred, Faith Henry, a young local resident, and guests were also treated to a vocal performance from singer Almaz.
    www.magnus-andersson.com

    Cllr Sonia Winifred, Lambeth Cabinet Member for Equalities and Culture, said: “This is a colourful and fun symbol of Lambeth’s inclusivity.

    “We’re proud of our LGBT+ community and have a tradition of championing equality and LGBT+ rights – this crossing celebrates that and is a physical example of our bold and progressive thinking.

    “What better time to unveil the rainbow crossing than in the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. We’ve come a long way, and in Lambeth, we’re proud to be leading the way.”

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Iris Theatre

    THEATRE REVIEW | The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Iris Theatre

    ★★★★★ | The Hunchback of Notre Dame

    Covent Garden is now Paris in 1831. Well, it is for 150 minutes when St. Paul’s Church in the heart of Covent Garden plays, to great effect, Notre Dame cathedral in an excellent outdoor production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

    Victor Hugo’s classic tale of survival, injustice, and love is played out in the grounds of the church by the actors from Iris Theatre. They are an award-winning theatre company created in 2007 to produce site-specific work centred around it’s Covent Garden home, St. Paul’s Church.

    A priest and a hunchback both fall for the mysterious and beautiful Esmerelda who solely longs to find her long-lost mother. When the unhappy pair try to take matters into their own hands they set off a chain of events that no one can control.

    Revolution then sweeps over the city of Paris and the mob breaks against the walls of the cathedral. Will the hunchback find true love? Will the priest save his soul? And will it take the people of Paris to save Esmerelda?

    Benjamin Polya’s adaptation is superb as the scenes move around the church courtyard and then brilliantly the most dramatic scenes of the play take place inside the church, perfect timing as the outdoors gets a bit chilly and the darkeness and smoke in the church adds great dramatic effect to the finale of the play.

    This very affordable production is for the entire family.

    The Hunchback Of Notre plays at the Iris Theatre until 1st September 2019, www.iristheatre.com

  • Theatre Review | Evita, London

    Theatre Review | Evita, London

    ★★★★ | Evita, London

    One of the biggest, best and most well-known of shows has made another return to London.

    Evita, which has been around since 1978, tells the story of Eva Peron (a/k/a Evita) who was the wife of Argentine President Juan Peron from 1946 until her early death in 1952 at the very young age of 33. She has been immortalised in this show that was written by the duo Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, with this being perhaps their most popular and famous collaboration.

    The songs in this show are epic. “You Must Love Me,” “Buenos Aires,” and of course “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” – perhaps one of the most famous songs ever written for a piece of musical theatre, are all here. Madonna brought Eva to life in the 1996 film version which made Eva perhaps more popular than when she was alive.

    Now there is a new production in the gorgeous venue that is the Regents Open Air Theatre. In a set that can be called bare-bones (there is, unfortunately, no proper set, just a wide staircase that leads up to the orchestra), it allows the cast to sing and dance to their heart’s content.

    Samantha Pauly is tasked to play the lead role – it’s a role, if you remember, where Elaine Paige and Patti Lupone both nailed. Pauly doesn’t quite nail it – she doesn’t quite have the voice and vocal range of these two divas, but she admirably gives it her all.

    The character of Che, played superbly by Trent Saunders, is our narrator who guides us through the story, and sings superbly in the anthem “And The Money Kept Rolling In (And Out).”

    Che continues telling the story when Eva meets and falls in love with Juan Peron, and in the process literally kicking his current lover out of the Presidential Palace, her rise in popularity and then, unfortunately, her sudden illness which leads to her death.

    But this production doesn’t quite convey the magnitude spell Eva had, and it leaves out the balcony where she used to wave to her admirers. Also, some scenes don’t quite add up: when a little girl suddenly appears (in a ghastly getup) to beg for money and then walks off with a wad of cash, and when the cast, and Eva, perform in their underwear – these are scratch your head moments.

    But all of this aside, it’s a huge huge musical with amazing songs, great dancing by a cast who works hard to entertain you, and all performed in a beautiful setting.

    https://openairtheatre.com

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Romulo Cafe, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Romulo Cafe, London

    ★★★★★| Romulo Cafe, London

    There are many undiscovered restaurant gems in London, but I’ve found one that will perhaps not be undiscovered for very much longer.

    Romulo Cafe, a restaurant that is a taste of the Philippines in the heart of Kensington (and London), has food that I guarantee you can’t find anywhere else in London. It’s Filipino food that is unique, flavorful, sumptuous and excellent value for the money. But don’t let the name fool you – Romulo Cafe is not really a cafe but a proper restaurant, beautifully designed and perfectly replicates Filipino food and culture, filled with the Romulo family history of General Carlos P. Romulo, hence you feel like you are in his home, with great staff who take care of you like you are family.

    But the food – wow the food – it’s just incredible, and at times indescribable. Romulo food is full of recipes passed down from generation to generation, and in Filipino style, sharing is the tradition. But I didn’t want to share the Sizzling Chicken Inasal Sisig – Jack Brand Diced Chicken thighs marinated in annatto sauce, ginger, green chilli, garlic, and lemongrass. Arriving sizzling to your table, it’s the aroma that hits you first – it’s a mix of sweet, nuts and pepper (annatto) – and a dish that has a perfect balance of all ingredients all in harmony – and was simply delicious. My dining companion and I were just simply amazed at how good it was! We carried on with more sharing plates – including the Dingley Dell Pork Belly Adobo which is slow-cooked in soy sauce, garlic and cane vinegar, and this too was simply delicious. Five large pieces of pork swimming in the sauce which tasted a bit like bbq, with a mixture of different coloured potatoes – this is a main course in itself – and so so good. Also so so good was the Kensington Fried Chicken. Four large pieces perfectly cooked (they are marinated with Romulo’s very own adobo mayonnaise and catsup sauce), and nice and brown on the outside, white on the inside, and crunchy. They are just the best! And best of all is that these dishes are great value at less than £8.75 each! Yes, excellent value.

    We, of course, had to have rice with our meal, and the large Garlic Fried Rice was just absolutely perfect, with only a hint of garlic which made the ride back home with my friend bearable! We were also suggested to try the Young Jackfruit and Coconut Stew as our vegetable. It was plentiful and was a liquid-like stew with loads of jackfruit, green beans with a small number of chillies but it was the sauce that made the dish absolutely amazing!

    And now on to the desserts. I can’t recommend enough the Banana Turon. It’s five banana fritters served warm with a side of toffee sauce. A fritter is, if you don’t know, made in the shape of a spring roll in a hard pastry shell – and inside was the best part-baked banana and jackfruit – for an absolutely yummy experience. Wow! And on the side is jackfruit ice cream – yes, it’s too much but I ate them all! We also had to try the Ube Cheesecake (ube is purple yam, hence the cheesecake is purple) with a graham cracker crust, topped with coconut and served with ice cream – exotic colour and a good flavour! And we also had the Sans Rival – a hard dessert made with dulce de leche and buttercream, cashews, chewy and sweet meringue – while good it did not, and could not, match the cheesecake nor the Banana Turon (which is a steal at £5).

    And I can’t finish this review off without mentioning Imelda’s High Heels cocktail. It’s strong (thanks to the Stolichnaya Vodka) with strawberry puree, Crème de Framboise, Crème de Mure and topped with Prosecco. And the kicker – it’s served in a high heel shoe! Ha! Also recommended is the Pinoy Mai Tai – a rum drink with Amaretto, Gran Marnier and pineapple – and it comes in a flaming (literally) Tiki mug! Don’t do what I did and panic and blow it out – let it burn, it’s part of the experience.

    Romulo Cafe is also a cafe in front, and there is a private dining room downstairs with a bar and karaoke machine, and the venue is licensed for both marriages and civil ceremonies.

    And the experience of eating at Romulo Café is an excellent one. It’s not just the food but the history of the restaurant, which is in the family name Romulo. In 2009, The Romulo family opened up its first cafe in Manila to celebrate the legacy of grandfather General Carlos P. Romulo. The London restaurant honours his memory with a large photo of him (and one of his wife) in the dining room. Meanwhile, their grandfather’s tastes were legend, and cultivated during years following a distinguished war career when he served as Philippine Ambassador to the United States, as President of the United Nations General Assembly (his signature is on the UN charter) and finally as the longest-serving Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. He was also the first and only Filipino to win a Pulitzer Prize and awarded the highest American civilian award, Medal of Freedom. And he loved food, and Romulo cafe London is a fitting tribute to his memory, with its extremely delicious food, nice and friendly staff, very comfortable surroundings, and a warm welcome from owners Rowena and her husband Chris – the nicest people this side of the river. Romulo Cafe is just simply a perfect place.

    Romulo Café London,
    343 Kensington High Street
    London, W8 6NW
    020 3141 6390
    www.romulocafe.co.uk

  • Sex-Dwarf Supreme! Marc Almond and Immodesty Blaize, Hammersmith Odeon

    Sex-Dwarf Supreme! Marc Almond and Immodesty Blaize, Hammersmith Odeon

    Fraulein Sasha de Suinn reviews Marc Almond & Immodesty Blaize, Hammersmith Odeon. 5 Stars!

    What separates scene-stealing queens from dumb, bonehead heterosexuals, so cluelessly chav-tastic that Katie Price is their Marlene Dietrich? In one word, panache, darlings! Equipped since birth with the most super-sensitive instinct known to humanity for detecting the extraordinary, outré, kitsch and baroquely erotic – barely the tip of a queeny iceberg! – gay men live, breathe and furiously fornicate in search of the fabulously improbable!

    And to that end, their sense of taste – sartorial, aesthetic, culinary and sensual – is rarefied to a degree usually only found in the feverishly inbred prose of one Edgar Allen Poe, and, more specifically, the poster saint par excellence of his shockingly incestuous aesthetes; Roderick Usher.

    Cursed – or blessed, perhaps? – with hearing, vision and touch so hyper-refined that the slightest sensations create  perverse tsunamis of mingled pain and delight, he’s brilliantly caricatured by Rocky Horror doyenne Richard O’Brien

    as the Baron Hellsebubbulus in the straight-to-video trashflick Elvira’s Haunted Hills. Still, screw fading camp icons way past their sell-by-date – with the regrettable deaths of Bowie, George Michael and the meandering, artistic irrelevance of Boy George, it’s still the mercurial Marc Almond – as unpredictable as ever! – who continues to electrify fans with the contents of his Technicolour closets!

    Beyond that sole exception of Bowie – his great and enduring muse – Marc’s continued to dwarf his musical friends, rivals and enemies with a twisted, harmonic finesse that constantly transfigures the most obscure, unlikely and sometimes, even shocking sources into enduring, signature moments of melodic bliss.

    Sure, arguably, that period of Marc’s greatest pop pomp – that untouchable, Tainted Love/Torch period, culminating in the masterful, gnashing froth-and-bile frenzy of Torment and Toreros – may have passed, but Marc – as uncannily prophetic with regard to all things gay as ever – has even anticipated, and artistically catered to, the maturing life-choices and ageing of his core audience.

    Disappointing? For some, yes, but frankly, it’d be impertinent to expect Marc to be frozen in artistic aspic, to ignore all the changes and growth in his life, and still remain the tortured, tormented Goth troubadour of yore, processing emotional pain with the forensic panache of a CSI sadist. For better or worse, Marc’s public persona is now a jolly, lairy, end-of-the-pier turn of a once mildly risque artiste in the fading autumn of their outrage. Still, appearances – especially in the LGBT universe – are deceptive, and the slightest ruffle of Marc’s present placidity can reveal the ferocious, Venus Man-trap within! Theatrically, it’s simply gorgeous, jaw-dropping, artistic schizophrenia, an apparently precious poseur abruptly morphing into turbocharged, alpha male machismo, a high-end, Bugatti queen high on consummate buggery!

    So – when he chooses to – Marc fabulously embodies the double-entendre, Julian Clary attack-dog of his peak, a boisterous sexual mania he ravishingly explores with pure, bollock-thumping bliss! Effortlessly sliding from the deranged, rockabilly raunch of Jacques Brel’sJacky to the fetishistic frenzy of That Dress and the creepy, psychopathic narcissism of Sinatra’s Strangers In The Night, Marc’s acute sense of screaming camp flawlessly strings together the subliminal manias linking his set-list, as admirably as a secretly poisoned pearl necklace on an unsuspecting debutante!

    Which brings us, quite suitably, to the billowing, cellulite-cloud charms of the plus-size, stripper princess Immodesty Blaize, universally – but surely, ironically? – lauded as neo-Burlesque royalty. Quite pitifully, Immodesty embodies the ultimate cliché of compliant, passive femininity that many straight men, inexplicably, find irresistible, especially if that preferred, stereotype lacks the facility of independent thought! But don’t cry on Immodesty’s behalf; the high-camp sensibility tonight is meticulously selected and viciously targeted by ring-master Marc, with drooling straight men completely unaware they’re the butt (in both senses) of Immodesty’s humour. She is, in fact, a very arch laugh at ridiculous sexual clichés shockingly easy to parody, that totally British, Carry Onmind-set that infantilises raw, dangerous, adultsexuality!

    And truly, Marc – and the adoring gay men and women forming the majority of his fan-base – are the only sexual adults present tonight. Like it or loathe it, the sad but shocking reality is that a huge proportion of heterosexual men (and some women) remain emotionally immature their entire lives, obsessed with objectified sex and seizing spousal security at the expense of inner lives. Quite pathetically, it’s up to Marc to spoon-feed his adorably vacant straight fans the tokens of desire – such as Modesty – that they recognise and respond to, but frankly, my watching tolerance turns to withering contempt when these massed, timid mixed couples even need Marc to cue and green-light their dancing to Strangers In The Night!

    My God – is heterosexual courtship, lust and desire really so lame? Based on the evidence ofthis gig, the answer’s obviously a resounding yes, but how thrillingly ironic and empowering does it get when Marc – a feisty cocktail of urbane Noel Coward and raunchy Joe Orton – can orchestrate killer signposts to heterosexual hearts like tonight’s Tainted Love and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, both re-arranged with the woozy, semi-amnesiac euphoria of prime GHB? This, surely, is the glorious subtext of current gender diversity; straight pop idols aren’t worth the contrived, media lies to desperately click-bait their laughably dreary lives. Christ, no wonder increasingly savvy platform divas – Madonna, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, the list is endless – suck mutual chick-lips for maximum exposure; no divas – male or female – know the human heart or rules of attraction better than the exhaustive self-examination pioneered by hardcore, heaven-sent homosexuals. So rave on, Marc Almond – you’re the perfect, pouting Mick Jagger for the gender-fluid generation!

  • BAD BOYS BLITZKREIG!

    Fraulein Sasha Selavie relishes Jean-Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show @London’s Southbank Centre. 5 Stars!

    There’s two French phrases which perfectly describe career maverick Jean-Paul Gaultier – enfant terrible (terrible child) and monstre sacre (sacred monster). Both, unsurprisingly, fit J-P more snugly than a designer condom dipped in superglue, evoking pin-sharp associations of some unprecedented, hugely unnatural prodigy, Shakespeare’s ‘changeling child’ indeed. Quite aptly, it’s a richly pregnant, imagistic trope also in the glam-rock retro-flick Velvet Goldmine, where an unearthly jewel gifted by aliens serves to spark Oscar Wilde’s fledgling muse, and is passed on through time as a potent, diversity totem to Jack Fairy, the movie’s alternate Bowie clone.

    Still, never expect J-P to lazily plonk his cheeky butt on someone else’s laurels; always impish, audacious and the very essence of cultural promiscuity without limit, hisFashion Freak Show deftly hijacks themes of maternal horror worthy of Joan Crawford’s Mommie Dearest at her most beautifully deranged!

    Let’s set the scene; loudhailers pierce velvet darkness, and immediately, a hospital delivery team appears, with the life-changing abruptness of an acid attack. Yes, it’s J-P making his biological entrance call, his evident exceptionalism and fabulous strangeness bamboozling orthodox diagnosis from the outset. As a theatrical framing device, it’s ideal, arguably only bettered in popular culture by the Velvet Underground’s shatteringly sinister Lady Godiva’s Operation on their White Light/White Heat LP, a grinding, pneumatic snarl sound-tracking a psychopathic sex-change surgery, an unforgettable intro to the Velvet’s compelling realms of sleaze, deviant sex and severely harmful (but oh so moreish…) drugs.

    Still, those are not quite J-Ps spheres of interest, but nevertheless, he’s outraged battalions of brain-dead bourgeois prejudices, especially in the stuffier recesses of a still shockingly patriarchal France. F*ck respect for elders, tradition and authority – in common with the needlessly inappropriate contrarian John Galliano, J-P’s flipped an irrelevant, hugely charming derrier at centuries of social petrification, ceaselessly championing that inexplicable, French obsession with extreme youth, a mind-set that – metaphorically, at least – lets embryos get away with murder!

    So, please, don’t insult J-P by expecting anything as mundane as theatrical logic, rationale or crushingly dull attempts at making sense. Rather, think of the show – the action itself – as a kaleidoscopic, impressionist explosion of the future contents of J-Ps’ skull from the moment of his voyeuristic delivery we’ve so eagerly spied on.

    Oh sure, the signature, J-P outrage tropes are out in defiant, socially outraging force – the Madonna-era bullet bras, the stratospheric shoulder pads and the wickedly frenzied, pelvic thrusts irresistibly imposed by his Josephine Baker, banana skirts on men and women, their jaunty, stubby hems a priapic storm of lemon-yellow arousal!

    Still, even the fiercest J-P couture falls flat if not worn by a Daphne Guinness or Tilda Swinton; mercifully, exceptional couture requires the devil’s contract of exceptional physicality to best elevate both, an assertion made tragically truthful by the appalling vision of fat, clueless, and – most unforgiveable of all – terminally gauche flesh forced into scraps of  deathless elegance Gaga would killfor!

    Oh sure, of course there’s music – how can any Gaultier show worth the name exclude the breathless pulse-beat of the catwalk? – but quite thrillingly, beyond the expected snippets of Bronski Beat’s Smalltown Boy  and Plastic Bertrand’s toddler-tantrum punk Ca Plane Pour Moi, there’s the live, shredded-wire descants of singer Demi Mondaine, her punning nom de plume a term of withering, bourgeois contempt to demonise the Parisian hordes of whores, Bohemians and unclassifiable exotics.

    As you’d expect, there’s a simply awe-inspiring devotion to finesse in every aspect of the show, most visible in the incandescent poise of the performers themselves. Dancer Lazaro Cuervo Costa stunningly genesplices the limitless pansexuality of late-era Prince with the lithe, sculptural fury of Usain Bolt, while a cheekily insouciant Jean-Charles Zambo marries a weightless, Fred Astaire eloquence into a riveting physique that’s a shockingly idealised Tyson Fury, way beyond the reach of the real boxer’s flesh!

    However – for all J-P’s sparkling focus on fluffy, inconsequential ingénues and their radiant youth, J-P cannily salutes the formative voices of previous generations, including a startling, unexpectedly ebullient address from Line Renaud, the 91-year-old activist, actress and singer, proving – quite irrefutably – that the voices of committed excess speak just as eloquently whether they’re closing on the grave, or merrily mincing into adolescence. But – finally – how does one begin to summarise J-P’s cavalcade of outrage in a phrase? A supernova soufflé? No; as always, the French say it best- incroyable!

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Pasta Nostra, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Pasta Nostra, London

    ★★★★ | Pasta Nostra, London

    Excellent tasting homemade pasta and very very reasonable prices? It’s Pasta Nostra.

    Only open for a couple of months, Pasta Nostra, located on a strip of Old Street between the station and Goswell Road, in an area that sorely needs good and good valued places to eat, is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood.

    It’s not a very big restaurant (though in the summer there is a conveniently locatedoutdoor space right next door), but the food is big – taste, portion and enjoyment! I highly recommend the Orecchiette dish. The pasta, in the shape of a very small ear, is green in colour because it is basil pesto and green beans mixed with potato. It’s absolutely delicious, and at £8 for a reasonably nice-sized dish, is a starter-priced but main course fulfilment! The Pappardelle – 12-hour braised oxtail and tomatoes, is also absolutely delicious, with the ragu lamb amazingly tasty and tender, the pasta fresh fresh fresh, and not too cheesy parmesan – perfectly priced at £12.

    The starters are also amazingly reasonably priced – so we decided to order three of them. The best of the three was the Watermelon, Mint and Feta Salad. At £5, it was a steal as there was plenty of watermelon while the mint gave it a zing, and just enough Feta to not overpower the watermelon. Excellent! Also worthy was the selection (9 slices) of three different types of Salami, and served with a Salame Bun, which was different but very good – and all for a mere £5! My dining companion wanted to try the Suppli – and I am glad he did! It was a large ball of dough with nice a nice crust of crunchy bread crumbs and stuffed with mozzarella and tomato rice – also £5, and a great deal for a dish we had never heard of!

    One can’t really eat ones way through a menu, but I wish I had the stomach and hunger for it because at Pasta Nostra there were other dishes we would’ve liked to have tried, including the Tortello Carbonara (with crispy cured pork cheek) and Bottonoini (filled pasta with mussels in a tomato sauce). I was very tempted to order the starter Gazpacho, but one of the ingredients was chilli, and the night we went was officially the UK’s hottest day ever, so I didn’t fancy eating anything spicy! But we did fancy dessert, and it was the Sicilian Cannolo(tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling). Yummy! One for £4 so I would recommend ordering two! Give the Tiramisu a miss – it’s served in a coffee cup and it’s too much cream, too much dairy, and just too much.

    Pasta Nostra has a nice menu of drinks, including the usual Italian specialities of Negronis and Campana Spritz, along with wines, beers and soft drinks. It’s a nice small modern-looking restaurant with a small bar in the front and tables in the back and upstairs with a great £10 takeaway special (pasta, sauce, and dessert – though the pasta is uncooked). Pasta Nostra is on a mission, according to its website, to make the best pasta in town. Well, I say they are on their way to a great start! I’ll definitely go back!

    https://pastanostralondon.com

  • Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show: Part Folies Bergére, part cabaret, part Rocky Horror Picture Show, and all fashion, you’ll be mesmerised!

    Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show: Part Folies Bergére, part cabaret, part Rocky Horror Picture Show, and all fashion, you’ll be mesmerised!

    ★★★★ | Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show

    The life of Jean Paul Gaultier is told in very unique style at the Southbank in a show appropriately called Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show. And what a show it is!

    Ever since JPG was a little boy he always had a thing for fashion. You see, his parents told him to be whatever he wanted to be – which helped him become the man he is today – one of the most well-known fashion designers of his generation. And JPG is the Créateur du spectacle et des costumes (Creator of the show and the costumes), Metteur en scéne (Director),and the Librettiste. Basically it’s his show, and it’s all about him, and of course his costumes!

    Part Folies Bergére, part cabaret, part Rocky Horror Picture Show, and all fashion, you’ll be mesmerized by what is taking place on the stage. It’s a full-on show that takes you through JPG’s life, which includes the soundtrack to his life, with songs like ‘Smalltown Boy,’ ‘I Want Your Love’ ‘Sex,’ ‘Relax,’ ‘Le Freak,’ ‘Respect Yourself,’ and the huge dance anthems ‘Work’ and of course ‘Vogue,’ where the young, virile, lithe performers give their voguing all on the stage. Also in the show is the story of JPG meeting his partner Francis while they were still students in the Paris suburbs. But it’s not JPG if it were not for the fashion, and fashion we get plenty of. Costumes in all shapes and colors, with nods to classic, simple, outrageous and of course fetish, and let’s not forget the cone bra that JPG famously made for Madonna – it’s all here in many cone dimensions.

    Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Freak Show (an invitation, according to JPG, to dream and to make your dreams a reality) is a show that, while is slightly artificial and over the top (like the fashion world), is a helluva good time, and a good way to spend two hours.

    TICKETS
    From £30
    Box Office: 0203 879 9555
    Website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk

  • Arrest made after homophobic abuse shouted at Pride event

    Arrest made after homophobic abuse shouted at Pride event

    A woman in her late 30s has been arrested following a homophobic incident at a Pride event over the weekend.

    A 38-year-old woman has been arrested in connection to homophobic abuse levelled at pride attendees last weekend. Footage emerged of a woman dressed in a niqab shouting “shame” and “despicable” at pride goers in Waltham Forest.

    In the video, which has been seen over 3.6 millions times taken, she could be heard shouting, “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

    “Shame on you, shame on all of you.

    “Shame on you, you despicable people. Shame on you, you shameless people.

    Arrested under section 4a of the Public Order Act

    The Metropolitan Police’s Waltham Forest Twitter account said on Monday: “Officers investigating footage circulating on social media of abuse directed at those taking part in a Pride event in Waltham Forest have arrested a 38-year-old woman under section 4a of the Public Order Act.

    She has been taken into custody at a north London police station.”