Plus, the perfect recipe for a cosy night in and David Olusoga talks to Barack Obama View in browser
THE WEEKEND EDITION

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

FESTIVAL LAUNCH  |  THE LEGEND RETURNS

Cary Grant comes home

A three-day festival exploring the life and career of the Bristol-born film star and style icon Cary Grant. Due to Covid-19 restrictions this fourth biennial salute to the boy once known locally as Archie Leach will take place online but will still offer a mix of screenings, talks, watch parties, a video essay competition and fun and creative ways for audiences to get involved.

The theme this year is journeys – 2020 is the 100th anniversary of when Archie/Cary first sailed to the USA but the theme also represents his personal and professional travels, from humble origins to substantial wealth; from a family with secrets to a media headline-maker; from obscurity to global adoration.

carycomeshome.co.uk

CHEERS TO THE WEEKEND  |  BRISTOL'S CRAFT WINE

Take the weight off with a rosé spritzer

Nania's Vineyard is a Bristol drinks company inspired by their backyard allotment vineyard. The canned English rosé spritzers are crafted from the Rondo grape, Glastonbury spring water and finished with a touch of a raspberry shrub from the Bristol Syrup Co.

There is a 20% Christmas special offer for readers using the code newsletter2.

naniasvineyard.co.uk

WEEKEND WINES  |  THE PERFECT BLEND

Aruma Malbec 2018, Bodegas Caro Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena

The perfect blend of Argentinian terroir and French wine making skills, the product of the very special partnership between Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena Zapata – two men of enormous stature in the industry.

They identified the perfect spot in the Valle de Uco in Southwest of Mendoza, where the truest expression of Malbec is crafted. Aruma is the benchmark entry level wine for Bodegas Caro – a wonderful Argentinian Malbec with Bordeaux influence.

Just £149.88 per 12 bottles – £12.49 per bottle – save £42 (normally £15.99). Customers can also order a six-bottle pack for £74.94.

dbmwines.co.uk

ANNOUNCEMENT - OUR DECEMBER ISSUE

Abiding by the spirit of the current lockdown period and wishing to respect Government guidelines we are rescheduling the publication of our December magazine - originally intended for 24 November.

We publish in the first week of December. Advertisers please note that the deadline is looming – get in touch if you'd like to be included.

NOVEMBER ISSUE  |  OUT AND ABOUT & LOOKING GOOD

As always, there are many great reads by our team of wonderful writers and contributors as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bristol's best businesses in our November issue. We hope you'll enjoy the read.

15,000 copies are delivered door to door, and you can pick up a copy at many places around town and at Waitrose, where we will top up regularly during the lockdown period.

Alternatively, you can read the full magazine on our website

WEEKEND RECIPE  |  THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE

Cottage pie

Minced beef is convenient and reasonably speedy to cook with... but its texture is solely responsible for giving cottage pie its nursery food reputation. Replacing the mince in this British comfort food classic – the perfect antidote to a chilly winter day – with slow-cooked beef shin, however, puts a grown up spin on a familiar dish. 

Making your meaty casserole the day before you assemble your cottage pie really does make a big difference to the end result as the depth-charged flavours are given a chance to settle and mature. If you're dining a deux, stick with the quantities below and freeze the surfeit for using another day (it's also fabulous in a shortcrust pastry pie.)

When it comes to the mashed potato 'lid', do it your way: substitute some of the potatoes with sweet potatoes, parsnips or swede; add finely chopped spring onions, sautéed leeks and/or grated cheese before mashing – it's all good. And if beef's not your thing, replace the beef shin with lamb neck and the thyme with rosemary for the ultimate shepherd's pie.

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

800g beef shin, cubed
2 large onions, peeled and chopped
4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
2 sticks of celery, sliced
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp dried thyme
4 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
600ml beef stock
2 tbsp cornflour
Approx. 200ml red wine (optional, but highly recommended)
Vegetable oil, for frying

For the mashed potato topping

Approx. 1.5g potatoes peeled, boiled, mashed and seasoned to taste (see note above.)

Method

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 150c/Gas Mark 4 (or turn on the slow cooker to low).
  2. Heat a splash of oil in a large pan (or ovenproof casserole dish, if oven cooking) over a high heat and brown the cubed beef all over (you may need to do this in several batches.) Set the browned beef to one side.
  3. Add the sliced onions, carrots and celery to the same pan and sauté until thoroughly softened, adding a little bit more oil if necessary.
  4. Add the tomato puree and the thyme and stir well before adding the red wine (if using) and allowing to bubble down for a few minutes until reduced.
  5. Introduce the beef back to the pan and pour in just enough stock to cover. Mix the cornflour with 3 tbsp cold water and stir it in. Bring to the boil and simmer briefly before covering with a lid and braising in the oven for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more water if necessary, until the meat is velvety soft. If using a slow-cooker, cook on Low for 6-7 hours.
  6. Tip the cooked meat mixture into a container and allow to cool completely before storing in the fridge, preferably overnight.
  7. On the day of serving, take the casserole from the fridge. Remove and discard any visible fat that may have risen to the surface, allow to come to room temperature, spoon into an ovenproof dish and create an even but textured topping with the mashed potato. 
  8. Cook in a pre-heated oven at 180C fan/gas mark 6 for 30-40 minutes until the mash is crisp and golden on top and the gravy is bubbling around the edges. Serve with a heap of buttered greens.

OBJECT OF INTEREST  |  NEW OYSTER CULT

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 in glorious colours

This year has seen a riot of avant-garde colour bursting into watch design like never before. Rolex has always had a playful side since the late Sixties when it started adding joyful colours and tones on its enamel Stella dials. Forty years on, five new colourful dials have been added to the 2020 Oyster Perpetual 36 line up.

Incredibly cool with unisex appeal thanks to the mid-sized 36mm case the range will look great on any wrist. The new hues are: coral red, yellow, green, turquoise blue and candy pink. All have Chromalight displays, which means that these dials are super bright in the daytime but also have a beautiful lume and are perfectly legible in the dark too. The classic stainless steel Oyster bracelet, domed bezel, super self-winding movement and waterproof quality – up to 100 meters – are all what you'd expect in this thoroughly modern classic. £4,450.

For availability and more details contact Mallory, an official Rolex retailer.

BEAUTY MUST-HAVES  |  WARM YOUR LOOK

Sparkling tips from Harvey Nichols

As the winter months turn colder, sculpt and warm your look with the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Colour, £42. A staple in your makeup bag; this product is enriched with mineral waxes and beeswax for a 'second-skin' effect.

Order online: harveynichols.com

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING  |  LUXURY WOOLLEN GIFTS

Hand-crafted winter warmers

Luxury socks and accessories brand Corgi Socks has been hand-crafting luxury woollen goods for more than a century. These Fairisle cashmere and cotton socks are the perfect Christmas gift presented in a new Corgi Christmas box. Beautifully comfortable for lounging at home and keeping your toes toasty on a chilly evening. Available in three sizes.

£39; available online at corgisocks.com

ON THE BOOK SHELF  |  GOING SOLO

Solo: How to Work Alone (and Not Lose Your Mind)

Whether by choice or circumstance, as a freelancer or a company employee working from home, more of us are becoming solo workers than ever before. But once you've made the leap, how to do you actually work well in isolation? And how can you thrive while working alone?

Picking up where the freelancer bibles stop, Solo addresses what we gain but also miss when we shift from the structure of an office environment to the solitary confines of our homes or studios. Blending the latest research in psychology, economics and social science with guided self-examination and more than 10 years of freelance experience, Rebecca Seal shows you how to stay resilient, productive and focused in a company of one. 

Practical and inspiring, she also explores the idea of meaningful work and helps you define your own success.

£14.99; maxminervas.co.uk

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL  |  MATURE STUDENTS

Explore your options at the University of Bristol

The University of Bristol offers a range of part-time short courses for adult learners. Their pathway courses are designed for mature students who are interested in exploring their options for further study.

Their 'Reading English Literature' short pathway course runs across 15 Wednesday evenings, January – May 2021, 6-8:45pm, with breaks for half-term and Easter.

Discover more about the course here: bristol.ac.uk

Their 'Mastering English Literature' short pathway course runs across 10 Tuesday evenings, February – May 2021, 6-8pm, with breaks for half-term and Easter. This course is for graduates in any discipline from any university who want to return to study and sharpen their study skills or prepare for Masters study. 

Read more here: bristol.ac.uk

'Ways into History' is a 15-week short evening course running Wednesdays, January – May, 6-8:45pm, with breaks for half term and Easter. This course will consider the history of slavery, with a particular focus on the city of Bristol and its role in the slave trade.

Learn more about the course here: bristol.ac.uk

EASY LISTENING  |  THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS

The Happiness Half Hour

Set aside 30 minutes to listen to BBC Radio Bristol and Professor Bruce Hood and focus on fulfilment this month.

The Happiness Half Hour is a new podcast from BBC Radio Bristol and Professor Hood, whose ‘science of happiness’ course at the University of Bristol has been re-packaged into 10 episodes revealing simple strategies scientifically proven to improve wellbeing.

bbc.co.uk

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ON THE BOX  |  ACROSS THE POND

Barack Obama talks to David Olusoga

In a UK exclusive, former American president Barack Obama encounters historian David Olusoga to discuss his long-awaited memoir A Promised Land, his reflections on the volatile racial divide in the US, his steadfast refusal to abandon American ideals, and how the sight of a Black president and Black 'first family' in the White House may have cast a spotlight on the depth of racial fault lines in America.

Watch it on BBC iPlayer here

From the archives...
Rolling thunder: an interview with David Olusoga

As we watch David Olusoga's interview with Barack Obama, we remember our exclusive interview with the historian, writer, presenter, broadcaster and professor of public history at the University of Manchester from our September issue.

Emma Clegg spoke to David about the racial inequality within the television industry just days after his powerful James MacTaggart Inaugural Lecture in Edinburgh.

Enjoy our nine minute read here

INTERIORS  |  HOLDING SWAY

Georg Jensen Cobra Stainless Steel Candleholders (Set of Three)

The Cobra candleholder's fluid shape is undoubtedly one of Georg Jensen's most recognisable designs. The lightness of the candleholders has a magical effect – one that is doubled when the flickering candlelight is reflected in the surface.

These candlesticks – small (160mm), medium (200mm) and large (240mm) – form a beautiful natural group that, like a cobra, seem to sway this way and that. The designer, German-born Constantin Wortmann, says that his work shouldn't be taken too seriously and should evoke an emotional response. Made from stainless steel with a mirror-polished finish, the candlesticks are durable, weighty and stable. £150 for three. £150 for three.

mallory-jewellers.com

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK  |  NEW ON THE MARKET

Kensington Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8

Arranged over the top two floors, this is an attractive and modern duplex apartment in a lovely block, set back from the road with honey coloured stone exterior.
The apartment has a generous entrance hall, which flows into the open plan sitting room, dining room and kitchen. In the hall is also a recessed utility cupboard, with space and plumbing for a washing machine.

The generously spacious open-plan reception room has a private balcony and with views across to Christchurch. There’s a large dining area which in turn leads to the beautifully appointed kitchen, with granite worksurfaces, cupboards and a host of integrated NEFF appliances, including an induction hob, dual oven and microwave combi-oven, full height fridge and freezer and a dishwasher. 

On this floor there are also two versatile bedrooms; the main enjoying a fully tiled en-suite shower room. Adjacent to the main bedroom is bedroom three, currently used as a home office or study, but plenty of extra bedroom space when required. This bedroom is served by a fully-tilled guest bathroom. on the top floor is a well-proportioned second bedroom, with its own private balcony and enjoying some of the best views in the building. Once again this bedroom is served by its own en-suite shower room, w.c and a wash basin. 

Outside

The apartment has two recessed balconies, big enough for a small table and chairs to enjoy the spectacular views. Residents of The Kensington enjoy access from Kensington Place to a rear car-park with an allocated parking space. On the market at £850,000.

For further details contact Rupert Oliver Estate Agent

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