A specially curated guide to help you enjoy the next 48 hours in Bristol

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY  |  8 NOVEMBER

Although the annual Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in Bristol has been cancelled this year, with people being urged not to go into the city centre on Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, or on Armistice Day, 11 November, the council will stage the formal Act of Remembrance at HMS Flying Fox, and broadcast it on the council's Facebook page at 11am, so people can take part in the safety of their own homes.

Despite the cancellation, this Sunday is a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. In our latest issue, Andrew Swift remembered the brave men from the Indian subcontinent who fought for Britain in the First World War. "If their sacrifices have been long overlooked, many in Bristol are determined they should not be forgotten," he says.

Read the six minute feature from our November issue

NOVEMBER ISSUE  |  OUT AND ABOUT & LOOKING GOOD

COMPETITION TIME  |  CALLING ALL CIDER LOVERS

There's still time to win a case (12 x 500ml bottles per case) of Thatchers Katy Cider!

The competition was launched on our social media channels last week and will close on 14 November. Check out the posts on Instagram and Twitter to enter!

Winners will be selected at random, and must be 18+. Thatchers will deliver directly to each lucky winner.

Follow us on Twitter: @thebristolmag and Instagram: @thebristolmag

MUSIC  |  BRISTOL TALENT

WEEKEND RECIPE  |  A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

Be warned, you don't need to try this... but if you do, then it's pretty much guaranteed you'll be making bigger and even more elaborate, multi-layered rumtopf creations for years to come. Start now and your first signature party piece will be ready for Christmas, making the perfect gift for friends.

Traditionally rumtopf (meaning 'rum pot') was a Mitteleuropean way of preserving fruits from the summer months to enjoy later on in darker days of winter.

Rumtopf enjoyed some popularity in the UK in the '70s and, although for many it has never gone away, right now seems a good time for it to enjoy a new renaissance.

Prep time one hour. Ready in 1008 hours (six weeks)

The process is simple. Use the fruits you like – bananas are a no-no, but peaches, berries and autumn windfall fruit work really well. You can use just one fruit if you like but building up in layers is more traditional and makes a colourful and delicious dessert when served. Also the rum develops an incredible fruity kick.

Wash the fruit, pat dry, (peel orchard fruit if you like or leave - it's all okay), chop into inch-sized chunks. Small berries can be left whole and cherries can retain stones, which is great for flavour, but with bigger fruit, it's best to remove stones, pips and cores.

Once you have a layer of fruit in the jar, cover with plenty of sugar, then add dark 40% ABV rum to the jar to cover the fruit. Make sure the fruit is completely covered by at least an inch of rum. Never stir the rumtopf and store in a cool place.

If you start early in the autumn you should leave plenty of space in the jar to add other fruit layers, once again covering in more sugar and more rum. Keep building up the layers but you'll need at least six weeks for the last fruit added to be ready.

If you are starting now and want to have this ready for Christmas, keep it simple and maybe use some softer fruit: plums, figs, cherries etc and maybe in three weeks' time add some satsumas or cranberries for the top layer, with more sugar and rum.

Then wait, wait, wait.

Come the special day, serve like a fruit salad, on its own or with ice cream or custard, but make sure a snifter of rum juice is poured over and, for a celebratory treat, try adding the rumtopf rum to champagne for a festive cocktail base.

Naturally the alcohol content of the rumtopf is rather high, so please adhere to sensible guidelines. Enjoy!

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW  |  BAGS OF STYLE

Born in 2017 and quickly spotted by Vogue, Tatler, Vanity Fair and London Fashion Week, Amschela is the beautiful Bristol handbag maker with beautiful ethics to match. Excitingly, this month it’s looking for a local brand ambassador. We caught up with CEO Keri Andriana (pictured right), who spoke about her journey, values and why she's proud to be a part of our creative and culturally diverse city.

Enjoy our nine minute read here

OBJECT OF INTEREST  |  EFFORTLESSLY COOL

WEEKEND RECIPE  |  WINTER COMFORTS

Curry doesn't have to be complicated – and this dish proves the point. This comforting dish of spicy satisfaction can be as hot or mellow as you choose. Because you're letting a decent curry powder do the hard work for you, you can choose to turn the heat up or down accordingly, while the coriander and cumin further enhances the flavour, the fresh ginger adds warmth without fire – and the fresh red chilli is there if you want it.

During cooking, the butternut squash breaks down into a velvety sauce that binds the dish together, while the chutney elevates this dish to stellar heights, bringing depth and a unique sweet/sour personality to the party – either a fruity, complex aubergine pickle or milder mango chutney work really well. Meanwhile, if you like your curries creamy, the coconut milk does the trick.

This is a classic low'n'slow dish, happy to wait for when you're ready to eat it rather than the other way around. It also benefits from being made 24 hours before you plan to tuck in, which allows the sauce to thicken while the meat relaxes and the spices get to know each other. As with all curries/casseroles, it also freezes well.

Ingredients (serves 6)

1.5kg stewing beef (shin is good), cut into approx 3cm cubes
750g butternut squash, peeled and diced
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
2 onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
5cm knob of ginger, grated
Finely sliced fresh red chilli to taste (optional)
3–5 tsp curry powder (choose your strength)
500g good chutney/Indian pickle
Approx 800ml beef stock
400ml tin coconut milk (optional)
Oil for frying

To serve: plain boiled rice (pref. basmati) or roti

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees or set the slow cooker to low. Season the beef with the cumin and coriander.

2. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof casserole dish and brown the beef in batches, putting each batch aside as soon as the chunks have caramelised around the edges.

3. Add more oil to the pan if necessary and sauté the onion, butternut squash, garlic, ginger, fresh chilli (if using) and curry powder for 4–5 minutes, until soft and fragrant.

4. Tip the browned beef back into the casserole dish with the chutney, stock and coconut milk (if you're not using coconut milk, add an extra 400ml of water or stock) and stir well.

5. Cover the pot and cook in the oven for around 4 hours (stirring occasionally and adding more water/stock if necessary) or in the slow cooker for up to 8 hours, until the meat is very tender.

6. Serve with rice and roti.

SHOPPING  |  THE RETURN OF AN ICON

On the eve of its 50th anniversary, Mulberry is kicking off celebrations with the return of one of its most desired silhouettes, the Alexa – with key sustainable updates.

First launched in 2010, the satchel-style bag was inspired by Alexa Chung and quickly became one of the brand's signature pieces and the most sought-after Mulberry bag of a generation.

The relaunched Alexa has been refined in style and reflects Mulberry's commitment to responsible innovation. The range is made with leather from gold standard, environmentally accredited tanneries and has been crafted at the brand's carbon neutral UK factories. The result is an update to this laid-back satchel shape that epitomises a modern, sustainable approach to luxury.

The Alexa colour palette ranges from tranquil, earthy neutrals (charcoal, chestnut, chalk), to neon shades to light up the festive season (neon pink and neon yellow) as well as the key hues of the signature Mulberry palette (Mulberry green, deep amber and black). The Alexa collection comes in three sizes, a classic, a mini and a bold oversized version.

Shop Mulberry's new Alexa here

ADVENT CALENDARS  |  FROM HARVEY NICHOLS

ON THE BOOK SHELF  |  PIONEERING GARDENING IN JAPAN

Twenty years ago, Dan Pearson was invited to make a garden at the 240-hectare Tokachi Millennium Forest in Hokkaido, Japan. This month, our sister publication – The Bath Magazine – explored how the world-class designer tuned in to the physical and cultural essence of the place and created somewhere with its heart in Japan's long-held respect for nature and its head in contemporary ecological planting. These excerpts from the recently published book focus on the Meadow Garden, and its creative mixture of garden and native plants.

Enjoy our ten minute read

WEEKEND WINES  |  THE TOP RED

THE BIG SHOPPER  |  NEW FROM CHANEL

Bleu de Chanel Parfum is an intensely woody aromatic fragrance that opens with freshness and then lingers with a precious accord illuminated by New Caledonian sandalwood. It is now available in a refillable, travel-friendly twist and spray, a perfectly elegant combination of technical and practical. The ideal format for travel or after sport, you can take it with you wherever you go. 3 x 20ml; RRP £91.

Buy online at: chanel.com

ON THE BOX  |  FEEL-GOOD MOVIE

Miranda Wells is a hardworking young widow who's struggling to raise three children on her own. A powerful storm soon brings a devastating challenge and a mysterious man, Bray Johnson, into her life. In just a few short days, Bray's presence reignites the family's spirit – but he carries a secret that could change everything.

Starring Katie Holmes, Josh Lucas and Jerry O'Connell, this is the perfect feel-good film we all need right now.

Released on Amazon Prime today

INDIE SHOP SHOUT-OUT  |  KEEP IT LOCAL

A collection of independent businesses have teamed together to create an online marketplace for everyone to shop their favourite collections from the comfort of their own homes. Offering a range of beautiful and unique gifts and with the likes of Prior, BAM Store + Space, That Thing, Paper Plane and plenty more, this is not one to miss this Christmas.

Keep it local, support our talented creators and makers and let's show some love for our brilliant independents.

shopbristol.co.uk

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK  |  NEW ON THE MARKET

This is a deceptively spacious period townhouse; arranged over three floors and light and elegant throughout, making the perfect family accommodation. From the road, double electric gates provide access to the driveway and garage below, with a separate pedestrian gate opening onto a pathway leading to the attractive double front door.

From the entrance hall, there’s access into an exquisite 36’ through-reception room and open plan to the dining room.

To the rear of the house, a stylish and well-appointed, beautifully fitted family kitchen with French doors that open into the garden. Adjacent to the kitchen, a utility room provides additional storage, as well further access to the garden. Also accessed from the entrance hall is a useful cloakroom, which leads down into the garage.

On the first floor, there's a fabulous full-width drawing room to the front combining contemporary fittings with the period-style features and an impressive ceiling-mounted, electrically operated cinema screen for a home-cinema experience.

To the rear are two double bedrooms, served by a well-appointed family bathroom complete wooden panelled walls to dado level, a slipper bath, wash basin and WC.

Upstairs are three further double bedrooms, with an exquisite master bedroom enjoying views across Clifton to the front with a walk-in wardrobe and access to a luxury en-suite shower room.

To the rear are two further double bedrooms, with one bedroom enjoying access to its own en-suite bath and shower room; complete with a panelled bath.

On the lower ground floor is a versatile and generous garage space, providing parking for at least one vehicle with additional storage/work space.

The garage has been designed to park two cars if needed, using roller pads to move a parked car from one side of the garage to the other.

To the rear, the house enjoys a fully enclosed low-maintenance walled city garden catching the morning and early afternoon sun.

To the front, double gates provide off-street parking for one car with a paved pathway.

This property is on sale with Bristol Estate Agents, Rupert Oliver and has a guide price of £1.495,000.

Click Here for full details and more images