Bristol actress Maisie Williams becomes Ambassador for The MAZI Project

Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams has joined The Mazi Project – a Community Interest Company who work with an increasing number of 16 to 25-year-olds in the city, many of whom are in care or are refugees, and develop and deliver brilliant, inspiring and healthy recipe boxes to their doorstep – as Ambassador. 

MAZI is a grassroot organisation empowering and nourishing disadvantaged young people. You can find out more about the organisation and Maisie's involvement with it at themaziproject.com

Featured image: courtesy of The MAZI Project / Jack Abbott Photography 

THE DECEMBER ISSUE: OUT NOW

Our December magazine features a collection of great 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. 

Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts wrapped in Parma Ham

Once you've assembled this classic Italian trattoria dish, you're less than an hour away from tucking into a molto elegante supper for two, perfect for uplifting a chilly winter evening... or a stylish Christmas Eve supper for two, perhaps?

There may not be many ingredients on the shopping list, but all of them go large on delivering flavour. The Parma ham adds a piquant, cheffy flourish to the dish, and the luxuriously creamy filling is the gift that keeps on giving as any excess ricotta that oozes out of the chicken mingles with the juices that collect in the foil wrapper to create a wonderfully luxurious sauce. Saluti!

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 large free range chicken breasts (each weighing around 170-200g)
6 heaped tbsp ricotta
12 sundried tomatoes, chopped in half
12 black olives, chopped in half
½ tbsp capers
6 slices Parma ham

To serve: Parmesan polenta; steamed spinach

Method

1. Mix the ricotta, sundried tomatoes, olives and capers together in a suitably-sized bowl. Season to taste, and set to one side.

2. Lay 3 slices of Parma ham onto a large chopping board, overlapping the edges to create a 'sheet'. Repeat with the remaining 3 slices of Parma ham.

3. Cut a deep slit along one side of each chicken breast (taking care not to slice all the way through the flesh), place it on a sheet of cling film and open it out like a book. Top with another sheet of cling film and gently pound with a rolling pin to even the fillet out to around 1cm thick. Lay the flat chicken breast onto a large plate.

4. Spoon half of the ricotta mixture across one of the flat chicken breasts and roll up to enclose the filling. Put the stuffed chicken breast onto the lower half of one of the Parma ham sheets and roll the ham around it, gently but firmly enclosing all the chicken and filling as you go. Repeat the whole process with the second filled chicken breast, the remaining 3 slices of Parma ham and the remainder of the ricotta mixture. Wrap the rolled chicken breasts tightly in cling film and put them in the fridge to firm up for at least an hour (or up to 6 hours, if you want to get ahead).

5. When you're ready to cook, preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 and heat around 1 tbsp olive oil with 2 tsps butter in a large, heavy-based frying pan over a medium-high heat.

6. Fry the wrapped chicken breasts for around 2 minutes on all sides until golden brown all over, then loosely wrap and seal each one in tinfoil. Put them on a roasting tray (sealed side up) and roast for around 16-20 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts.

7. Remove the foil parcels from the oven and allow to rest in a warm place for 5 minutes before carefully unwrapping, avoiding getting hit with a blast of hot steam while also making sure that none of the lovely juices run out of the foil.

Christmas at the Great Wine Co

The Great Wine Co have officially opens their Christmas wine shop. With such a huge choice you are sure to find your perfect festive bottle.

To whet your appetite, here’s just a few we really like the look of.

Order yours, there’s a multi buy discount and free local delivery on all orders over £50 | greatwine.co.uk

Psychopomp AQVAVIT

Bristol based Psychopomp Microdistillery has joined forces with Orkney Spirits Limited, (Orkney, Scotland) and Silver Circle Distillery (Monmouthshire, Wales) to launch ‘British Aquavit’.  Aquavit is a classic Scandinavian botanical spirit using caraway/dill/fennel seed. Psychopomp were the first producers of British Aqvavit; their recipe has taken inspiration from the Danish style, with more pronounced dill seed and caraway flavours, but with a Bristol twist.

50ml Psychopomp Aqvavit

• 20ml The Aperitivo! Co Vermouth Lyon
• Stir over ice and strain over a chilled Martini glass
• Garnish with a cocktail pickled onion
  

Want to find out more about Aqvavit? Visit linktr.ee/britishaquavit | microdistillery.co.uk 

Nicholas Wylde: Emerald & Diamond Drop Earrings

A glittering pair of 18ct white gold, emerald and diamond hoop drop earrings.

The elegant design features a pear-cut emerald assessed as 0.63ct in a claw setting while 58 more round-cut diamonds assessed as 0.23ct in total, Si colour G/H add an extra spark.

18ct white, 0.63ct emerald & 0.23ct diamonds | £4,070

nicholaswylde.com | Nicholas Wylde Bath, 2 Northumberland Pl, Bath BA1 5AR

Honey Willow: Personalised 9kt Gold Double Link Diamond Necklace

Celebrate her loved ones with a petite 9kt gold double link necklace, hand-stamped with the names or first letters of her loved ones or a date which is meaningful to her. Each link is set with a conflict-free diamond.

Circles symbolise infinite love, protection and unity. These two circles are freely moving, yet interlinked | £395

honeywillow.com

Georg Jensen bar accessories

Take your home bar to the next level with some über stylish stainless steel bar accessories from the Georg Jensen Living collection.

Shown here clockwise from top left:

• Indulgence stainless steel Champagne cooler | £226
• Wine and bar set in mirror polished stainless steel corkscrew and a silicone and stainless steel stopper and pourer | £131
• Sky stainless steel ice cubes (set of four) | £41
• Sky stainless steel cocktail sticks (set of six) | £45

There’s many more from the fabulous Georg Jensen Living range to see and choose from at Mallory: mallory-jewellers.com

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Holiday used to be a renowned international travel magazine that sold in the millions between 1946 and 1977. Around a decade ago it was revived and relocated from New York to Paris, where it's now published in English with ‘a French heart’. It’s notably less literary and more style/fashion oriented, but the gaze is still global, and the latest issue takes us to Detroit, with a heady mix of Motor City memories, Motown milestones, Detroit’s women MCs, house music legend Moodymann and more | £22 | BUY THE MAGAZINE HERE

Shindig Festival Gift Card

Shindig Festival 2023 has you covered this Christmas! Give the gift of a magical experience you and the whole family will look forward to. Enjoy four days of world class music and arts from 25 to 28 May, in the heart of the Somerset countryside.

Simply give this gift tag to your loved ones and pay later (kids under 12 come free!). To share the love this Christmas, Shindig will make a donation to local charity Boys In Mind/Girls Mind Too, when you use code SUPPORT at the checkout. In the words of Jazzie B from Soul II Soul, Shindig is “…a proper party for proper party people!”

Shindig Festival 2023 will take place at Dillington Estate, Somerset from 25–28 May | shindigfestival.co.uk

Victorian Christmas Weekends, SS Great Britain, 3–4 & 10-11 December

Take an unforgettable trip to Brunel’s SS Great Britain this December.

For two weekends, the award-winning attraction will be transformed into a Dickensian winter scene, complete with falling snow and a host of 19th^_century characters.

Watch history come to life and embrace the true meaning of the holiday as the sights, sounds and smells transport you into the heart of a Victorian Christmas.

You will also get to meet Old Father Christmas, who will be adorned in his traditional green robes and on deck to entertain visitors with tales of Christmas past...

Find out more at ssgreatbritain.org

Words by Daisy Game

REVIEW: The Nutcracker, Bristol Old Vic, until 7 January

Claire's family isn't the festive kind.

Her mum is a workaholic (“not now, Claire!”), her dad a bad – but obsessive – entrepreneur, and brother... Well, he's a brother. Alone on Christmas Eve, Claire (Mae Munuo) is left to her own imaginative devices, and spends her time in search of missing best friend, Charlie the Unicorn. That is, until she and her family receive an impromptu visit from mysterious clockmaker, Mr Choke (Tristan Sturrock).

Mr Choke brings with him gifts for all, including (hurrah!) a nutcracker for Claire. And so it begins – an adventure of epic (festive) proportion. Some of the original Nutcracker magic is kept on (the ‘Cracker himself, the King of the Mice, the toys who come to life) but the Bristol Old Vic’s version is a largely reimagined take. Gone is the Sugar Plum Fairy; gone is the land of sweets – both replaced by a more metallic world, a-clink with clockwork and its cogs. 

A well-deserved shout out here to set and costume designer Tom Rogers: the staging is beautiful, the action skipping between a large chalkboard backdrop adorned with chalk doodles, and a clockwork world. Visually, the whole production is a wonder: it's as if the Bristol Old Vic team have rummaged around in a child's busy head, scooped out the juiciest ideas, and dashed them in generous helpings onto the stage. There are unicorns and princesses, toys that come to life, a King and Queen of Mice – not to mention a King and Queen of Sausages. 

Make no mistake: this is a family show – and the smaller the audience member, the louder the giggle. But there are a few tasty morsels of darkness smuggled in to keep older watchers happy. The Mouse King’s approach in the show's first half (complete with ominous banging / scratching sounds) has a good scare factor to it, and when Mr Choke finally reveals his Dark Side – a string of dead mouse babies dangling from his dastardly mitts – it’s all rather nice and nasty. 

It's also worth pausing here to note how excellent Sturrock is in the role of Choke. Dashing about the stage, making cryptic comments on the nature of time (“time can’t be stopped – it has to keep moving…”, etc.) the Bristol Old Vic regular is excellent as the zany (but tortured) clockmaker: giving off a nice dose of Peter–Capaldi­–As­–Dr Who energy. It's a standout (ticket-worthy) performance. 

On the whole, this is a show that sparkles with festive cheer and affection. As we make our way out of the auditorium, I overhear one mother enquiring after who her daughter’s favourite character was – to which the latter, with the utmost seriousness, responds that it had been “all of them”. Which just about sums up The Nutcracker. 

Tickets (from £14) available at bristololdvic.org

Featured image: Denzel Baidoo as Nutcracker | Photo by Geraint Lewis

Harvey Nichols Bristol: Festive Beauty Social, 3 December (12–5pm)

Join Harvey Nichols for a day of complimentary skincare treatments, mini makeovers and beauty masterclasses. 

You will also be treated to a glass of prosecco, live music throughout the afternoon and a goody bag to take home.

Tickets £10, redeemable on beauty purchases made during the event; available at harveynichols.com

The Longest Johns, 17 December, Thekla

The Longest Johns are a Bristol-based a cappella folk music band, born out of a mutual love of traditional folk songs and shanties. They rock maritime songs alongside the more unusual and less traditional folk tunes.

Tickets starting at £17.50, available from The Longest Johns website: thelongestjohns.com

Exultate Singers: Carols by Candlelight, St James Priory, 10 & 14 December

Exultate Singers perform an exquisite programme of Christmas music, the perfect preparation for the festive season. Come and enjoy a wonderfully atmospheric evening in the beautiful surroundings of Bristol’s oldest building, St James Priory.

The Exultate Singers Carols by Candlelight concert will take place on 10 December at 4pm and 7pm, and on 14 December at 7.30pm. 

Tickets £13 to £17 from Opus 13 music shop on 0117 923 0164, or from the Exultate Singers website: shop.exultatesingers.org

Self-love Letters Workshops, starting 13 December, Elmgrove Community Centre

Love, happiness, joy and peace are all natural states of being.

This is why Epiphany Therapy, in collaboration with Project Create, created Self-love Letters Workshops – to give the people of Bristol the support they need to rediscover that place of healthy self-love available to all, irrespective of their life situation or relationship status. 

The attendees will address their barriers to self-love and anchor the feeling of love in their bodies, through mediation, discussion, journaling and drawing exercises, and inner child work. Pilot attendees reported increased levels of self-compassion. One of them said: “I feel mushy inside – gushing like lava with self-love”.

The workshops will be run monthly, and will take place 6.30–8.30pm, at Elmgrove Community Centre, Elmgrove Road, Bristol BS6 6AH | epiphanytherapy.co.uk

Featured image: Left Ellie Burns, Founder of Project Create | Right: Nika Nazarova-Evans, Founder of Epiphany Therapy.

Jack Savoretti and Natalie Imbruglia to make appearances at Forest Live 2023

Jack Savoretti, who was the first artist to announce dates as part of Forest Live 2023, has announced Natalie Imbruglia as the very special guest for his concert dates presented by Forestry England.

Since his initial breakthrough with BBC Radio 2 airplay in 2006, a succession of crafted albums has built Jack Savoretti an impressive career. Written in Scars (2014) and Sleep No More (2016) confirmed his growing popularity with gold-selling status and these were superseded by No 1 albums Singing To Strangers (2019) and Europiana (2021) which spawned Europiana Encore, a special extended edition released this year.

This month, Natalie Imbruglia celebrated the 25th anniversary of her acclaimed debut album Left Of The Middle featuring the worldwide smash hit Torn, a song that touched so many people and continues to resonate as a top-streamed single from the nineties. Natalie has released 5 more studio albums including 2021’s Firebird, and enjoyed chart success with top 10 hits such as Big Mistake, Smoke, Wrong Impression and Shiver.

Forest Live 2023 will take place at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum from 8–11 June; Jack and Natalie will play on 10 June. Tickets for Forest Live 2023 available from forestryengland.uk

Above: Natalie Imbruglia and Jack Savoretti

Semi Radradra makes his long-awaited return from injury

The Fijian superstar partners Piers O’Conor in the midfield, with Will Porter and Callum Sheedy at half back.

Deago Bailey comes into the side on the wing in place of the injured Luke Morahan, joining Gabriel Ibitoye and Charles Piutau in the back three.

Ellis Genge returns from England duty in the front row, while there are two changes in the back row, with Sam Lewis and Jake Heenan replacing the absent Fitz Harding and Magnus Bradbury.

Bristol Bears team to face Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate on Saturday (8pm KO): bristolbearsrugby.com 

Artisan Homeware

Artisan Homeware is an independent Bristol-based homewares business bringing traditional craftsmanship to contemporary interiors.

They sell handmade Boleslawiec Stoneware from Poland, UK-made luxury merino wool blankets and cushions and a huge range of fairtrade and eco-friendly Fair Trade Christmas decorations from just £5.95.

Shown Above: Medium Lasagne dish | £61 

artisanhomeware.co.uk

Fabric Designs by Isabell Browell

With an interior design background, Isabell Browell’s love of fabrics was the motivation to learn the art of lampshade making. Using handwoven Ikats from Uzbekistan and vintage silk Sari fabrics from India, Isabell aims to create lampshades which make a statement and transform a room.

She can also offer a bespoke lampshade service for specific interior room schemes. Isabell is based in Bath. Shown here: a 14 inch green/blue/ivory silk Ikat lampshade, £160. Isabell’s lovely products can be viewed on her website. 

browellinteriors.com

Howard Road, Westbury Park, Bristol BS6

Offered for sale by Rupert Oliver estate agents

This is a much loved family home, beautifully cared for and improved by the current owners over the past 14 years.

Dotted throughout are beautiful period features: from stripped pine wooden doors to cast-iron fire surrounds, a double storey triple sash bay window and stripped wooden floors.

The house itself is flooded with natural light, with clever use of modern Velux windows, sun-tubes and its south-east facing orientation. From the pretty front courtyard, the front door opens into a useful tiled lobby (perfect for coats and boots) with a part-glazed door opening into the welcoming entrance hall.

The hall runs full-depth down to the sitting room family kitchen at the rear. Under the stairs is a useful cloakroom / WC, and there is also access into the family / games room.

The sitting room to the front is exquisite; light-filled with a triple sash bay window, carved stone fire surround with a coal effect gas fire, stripped wooden floors, retained ceiling cornice work and fitted New England style shutters.

Adjacent to this is the family / play room, with double glazed French doors leading out into the paved side terrace. It is possible to presume this room could opened up into the sitting room, subject to the necessary checks, to create a full-depth through-reception space. To the rear of the house is a lovely light-filled family kitchen, with plenty of space for a full-size dining table with a side door leading out into the garden.

The kitchen itself is fitted with a generous amount of floor and wall-mounted storage, a 6-ring stainless steel Range Cooker and space for a double fronted American style fridge / freezer. It is worth noting, there is Full Planning Consent for a “side return” to the kitchen / dining room should a new owner wish to explore this space further.

Upstairs, over two floors are five hugely versatile bedrooms; with a stunning master bedroom suite over the top floor. This room has an expanse of storage as well as a stylish en-suite shower room.

On the first floor a large double bedroom flanked by bedroom 5 – currently the owner's home office. This space too could be adapted further, with the possibility of an en-suite bath / shower room in the space of the fifth bedroom. In addition, there are two further double bedrooms towards the rear of the property and a family bathroom.

There’s a mature level family garden, flanked on either side by a tall evergreen hedge providing privacy and an attractive paved terrace – perfect for al-fresco dining. Offers in Excess of £800,000.

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