Recipe by Melissa Blease

French Onion Soup

It's all too easy to think of French Onion Soup as a restaurant treat only. But consider this: that hearty, deeply flavoursome broth topped with big cheesy croutons originated as a simple French peasant dish made from onions, stale bread and water; it is, in fact, the ultimate frugal comfort blast that never fails to satisfy, whether served at a sophisticated dinner party of simply as a simple midweek supper.

Contemporary versions of French Onion Soup are slightly more sophisticated than the original version but it’s still super-simple to prepare, the key to success being patience, patience, patience: in order to develop that trademark depth of sweet/savoury flavour, the onions need to be cooked low and slow so that they sweeten and turn a rich brown caramel colour without burning. The optional flourish of adding sherry or brandy towards the end of cooking time further adds to the deeply umami party, and to make a vegetarian version (albeit with a much less rich-tasting result), simply replace the beef stock with vegetable stock.

Ingredients (serves 4)

50g butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1kg onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tsp sugar
4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2 tbsp plain flour
250ml dry white wine
1l hot beef stock
A splash of Worcestershire Sauce
4 tbsp sherry or brandy (optional)
4 thick slices from a large baguette
Dijon mustard
Around 150g Gruyère cheese, finely grated

1. Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large, heavy-based pan over a very low heat. Add the onions, sugar and a generous sprinkling of salt and gently sauté (uncovered) for around 40-50 minutes, stirring frequently until the onions are fully caramelised and deep golden brown in colour. If the onions seem to be browning too quickly, reduce the heat slightly, add a splash of water to deglaze the pan and continue cooking.

2. When the onions are fully caramelised, add the wine to pan and turn the heat up. Continue to sauté, stirring continuously for around 8-10 minutes or until almost all of the liquid has evaporated.

3. Sprinkle the plain flour into the pan and stir until the flour has cooked out completely and the roux has thickened. Add the hot beef stock, a splash of Worcestershire Sauce and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper and stir again to thoroughly combine the all the ingredients in the pan. Simmer on a low heat (partially covered) for 30 minutes, adding the sherry or brandy (if using) for the last 5 minutes of cooking time.

4. Meanwhile, toast the French stick slices on one side under a hot grill. Turn the bread over and thinly spread the untoasted side with Dijon mustard. Top with liberal handfuls of the Gruyère cheese and grill until the cheese has thoroughly melted and started to brown on top.

5. Ladle the soup into warm, deep bowls and top each bowl with a slice of the hot, cheesy toast. Serve immediately.

OUR MARCH ISSUE: OUT NOW

You'll love our fabulous March magazine which features a great collection of reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bristol's best businesses. We hope you enjoy the read!

15,000 copies are delivered door to door, and you can pick up a copy at many places around town – including our stands at Waitrose, John Lewis, House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols.

Read the digital version of our current issue here!

And if you would like to have a copy sent in the post every month, then we offer a postal subscription for just £33 for 12 issues, £18 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.25. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – see our website. 

Enjoy Australian wines with up to 25% off

And now the reds… Following last week’s newsletter for great whites at the Great Wine Co., this week we discover delicious reds from talented producers also on offer in their March special.

The Footbolt Shiraz | D’Arenberg
Earthy, spicy Shiraz from McLaren Vale in South Australia, full of black plums, liquorice and black pepper, with a peaty underlayer of mushroom, pipe tobacco and charcuterie | £13.30

Are You Game? Pinot Noir | Fowles Wine
A fun and bright Pinot Noir with exciting, distinctive aromas of vibrant red cherry, clove and crushed mint leaf. These vivid aromas become more subtle and savoury in the mouth, with leather, rising bread dough and baking spices | £13.87

Luccio Novello | Pikes
A vibrant showing of fresh red fruits, boiled lollies, red confectionary, pomegranate and crushed rose petals. Slight hints of dried herbs as the wine warms and opens in the glass | £13.87

Markview Cabernet Merlot | McWilliams
Aussie Cabernet-Merlot blend that is classic Hunter Valley: a mouthful of red and black berries, a nose full of spice and a lovely balance between the two | £9.95

Pax Aeterna Old Vine 'Barossa Nouveau' Grenache | Chaffey Bros Wine Co.
Vivacious Barossa Valley Grenache: savoury and complex while also delicate and succulent, with red fruits including cranberries in the mouth and a nose-full of aniseed and spice. Pure pleasure | £13.87

Wild Scarlet Shiraz Cabernet | Rojomoma
This classic Australian blend of Shiraz and Cabernet shows vibrant varietal characteristics; richness from the shiraz and dark cocoa notes of the cabernet sauvignon | £18.33

See the full range of Australian wines on offer at The Great Wine Co by clicking here.

Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy

The Tudor name was established by Hans Wildorf in 1926 as a sister brand to Rolex; the name had appeared on watches made by Rolex, but in 1946 Wildorf formed Tudor as a separate company, offering affordable watches that would sit alongside Rolex’s reputation for high precision, dependability and build quality.

Nowadays Tudor is a mighty force and, as well as sharing a rich history with Rolex, it is its own entity and enjoys premium brand heritage and tradition.

With a ‘big crown’ aesthetic and reflecting the style of Tudor’s 1950s diving watches, the recently introduced Black Bay Fifty-Eight is smaller and slimmer than the standard Black Bay watches with a 39mm steel case. The automatic movement is the excellent Manufacture Calibre MT5402 and water resistant to 200m. 

Shown here with a navy Nato strap is the blue face with luminous markers and a blue inlay on the rotating aluminium bezel. Priced at £3,020, the vintage styling paired with the modern build makes for appealing everyday wearability, as well as an investment that will bring joy for collectors.

Click here see the full Fifty-Eight range with dial and bracelet options at Mallory.

Reiss wedding collection: Scarlet Metallic Detail Jumpsuit

The scarlet jumpsuit in ivory adds a decorative edge to a signature silhouette. It's cut with a deep v-neckline and fitted with adjustable shoulder straps | £348

Available at reiss.com

Jo Malone London: The Blossoms Collection

The air of a new season fills the city with fragrance. Among busy streets and serene gardens, glistening blossoms fan out on arching tree branches and bushy evergreens...

This year’s Blossoms collection from Jo Malone London includes three light floral colognes, as well as a lightweight hair mist and diffuser. The collection features the Osmanthus Blossom, Nashi Blossom and Waterlily Colognes, as well as the Star Magnolia Cologne and Hair Mist and Silk Blossom Diffuser.

Browse the Blossoms at jomalone.co.uk

Curated by Daniel McCabe

In an end of year blitz of new arrivals the extraordinary fourth The Analog Sea Review came in and I haven’t mentioned it. This ‘offline culture’ journal collects essays, stories, interviews and images (from Paul Simon, Joan Didion, Eimear McBride, Hannah Arendt, Pablo Picasso, Leonard Cohen, Toni Morrison, Donna Tartt and others) that are interrelated with ingenious, unannounced sub-themes. They guide our curiosity with unexpected tangents and sensory experiences very differently to the way we register digital information and entertainment – quite a feat. If you’d like to know more, the publisher will explain in a talk at Magalleria on April 13 | £14.99

store.magalleria.co.uk

Floral Masterclass and Afternoon Tea, Harvey Nichols Bristol, 19 March

Enjoy a floral masterclass and Afternoon Tea at Harvey Nichols Bristol.

Hosted by Flowers By Blomme, make your own fresh bouquet while enjoying a glass of prosecco, followed by Afternoon Tea at the Second Floor Restaurant.

Floral masterclass, fresh bouquet to take home and Afternoon Tea | £85 per person 

Taking place at The Second Floor Restaurant, Sunday 19 March, 1.30pm–4.30pm. Book at sevenrooms.com | harveynichols.com

Renewal, Clifton Contemporary Art / Online, until 31 March

Clifton Contemporary Art is currently showing a range of exciting new work by regular gallery artists, which can be seen on its newly designed website. 

The work includes Carl Melegari’s layered, intricate and potent archetypal human studies, Elaine Jones’ shifting, elemental earthscapes, Andrew Hood and Tom Hughes’ entirely different visions of the city environment, and contrasting still life paintings by Stephanie Axtel and Lynne Cartlidge. As the light lengthens and the seasons shift, it’s time to see the world afresh.

cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk | 25 Portland Street, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4JB

Exultate Singers: Easter by Candlelight, 11 March 7.30pm, St James Priory

Exultate Singers returns to the medieval church of St James Priory to perform a feast of beautiful Renaissance and Baroque choral music from Italy and Spain. The concert showcases the wealth of musical resources of these countries between the 16th and 18th centuries. Large-scale works include Holy Week motets written for three separate choirs, and Domenico Scarlatti’s virtuosic and dramatic setting of the Stabat Mater in 10 voice parts.

These contrast with the intimate and reflective devotions that make up Victoria’s settings of words from the evening Tenebrae service, sung in small groups around the church by candlelight to create a moving experience of atmospheric Passiontide music.

Tickets £10 to £18, discounts for under 18s and full time students, available at shop.exultatesingers.org 

SOFA Project calls for furniture donations

Leading Bristol Reuse and upcycling charity, SOFA Project is launching an appeal for quality reusable furniture and household goods with an increase in demand from low-income families.

The price of furniture has risen by over 11% in the last year according to February’s figures released by the Office of National Statistics. The price of fridge and freezers have risen by nearly 16%.

The furniture and household goods donated to SOFA Project will be used to meet local needs, including Bristol City Council’s Local Crisis & Prevention Fund. 

Donations can be made to SOFA Project and arrangements for free collection by contacting sofaproject.org.uk | West St (Old Market) / Gloucester Rd

Steven Luatua returns to the starting line-up

Steven Luatua returns to the starting line-up for Bristol Bears’ round 20 Gallagher Premiership clash with Harlequins at Ashton Gate (3pm KO).

The All Black makes a timely return to the starting lineup, replacing the injured Sam Jeffries, in the only change from last week’s emphatic victory over Northampton Saints.

Luatua co-captains the side with scrum half Harry Randall in BS3. Charles Piutau continues at full-back following his dazzling display last time out, while among the system players, Joe Joyce returns from the injury sustained against Bath at The Rec in round 18.

In the midfield, Semi Radradra is set for his 50^th first-team appearance for the club.

The club is saddened to announce the passing of Callum Sheedy’s father, Phil this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with Callum, his mother Jackie, sister Sinead and the whole of the Sheedy family at this sad time.

Bristol Bears team to face Harlequins at Ashton Gate on Sunday 12 March (3pm KO) | bristolbearsrugby.com

Fire Iron Art

Joanna Williams A.W.C.B is a female artist blacksmith creating a wide range of hand-forged artistic and functional ironwork for the home and garden. Inspired by nature, she utilizes her design skills and traditional blacksmithing techniques to translate flowing forms and textures into sculptural metalwork. 

Creating garden sculptures large and small, interior design pieces, bespoke wrought iron gates and railings, each unique piece is individually handmade to the highest standards, crafted with passion, enthusiasm and attention to detail. Her floral ironwork has been curated for luxury cruise ships, including Ovation of the Seas, and is seen across the world. In between creating new pieces, she shares her skills through blacksmith experience days for those that want to try their hand at this ancient and exciting craft.

Underfall Yard, Cumberland Road, Bristol BS1 6XG; 07966682140; fireironart@yahoo.com; fireironart.com

Ambra Vale East, Clifton Wood, Bristol BS8

Offered for sale by Rupert Oliver estate agents.

Situated towards the eastern edge of the terrace, No.58 is currently let with an established HMO License for 4 bedrooms. Subject to consent, this could be converted back into private use. The house enjoys a highly versatile layout over four floors offering plenty of opportunities to any new owner to configure as desired.

From the pavement entrance, a light-filled entrance hall with period arch leads down to the rear, and a central wooden staircase leads to the upper and lower floors. 

Over the basement floor is a fabulous full-depth open plan kitchen and dining room spanning some 27' with rear access out onto a private paved and decked courtyard. The kitchen is well-appointed with plenty of storage along with an oversize range cooker and hob. 

The lower ground floor above has a charming full-width sitting room, complete with a woodburning stove and light-filled south-west facing sash window. To the front is a generous family bathroom, finished with a contemporary “claw & ball foot” roll top bath, enclosed shower cubicle, “his and hers” sinks and a w.c. Adjacent to this room is a useful fifth bedroom / home office or gym.

Across the hall floor are currently two well-proportioned double bedrooms. The rear bedroom has a large full width footprint whilst the bedroom to the front is a generous double.

On the top floor are two double-bedroom suites each running across the full width of the house; one to the front and one to the rear. Each bedroom enjoys private use of a fully fitted en-suite shower room, with some superb views from the rear bedroom.

Outside the house enjoys a small but sunny south-west facing courtyard garden with views over the pretty pastel coloured houses opposite; plenty big enough for a dining table, chairs and BBQ. Opposite lies a well-tended “communal” garden which is lovingly maintained by the local community | Guide Price, £695,000

For more details, floorplans and images click here to see the property on the Rupert Oliver website.