Dec
21
All hail the king of sauces
December 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment
It’s always a pleasure to go to a new place and discover something unique about it. Costa Rica has a lot of unique things (see here for one) but I’m interested in anything culinary and authentic.
Now as far as I know, here in London no deli nor fancy food shop sells this amazing sauce which the Ticos have every morning with their beans, rice and eggs . . . it looks like salsa verde but is a lot milder and has a warm savoury flavour with what I believe wine folks call lots of “mouth feel” . . . I had some with roast lamb the other night and it blew the traditional mint sauce out of the water. If anyone has cooked with Lizano then hit me back with a recipe.
Dec
9
Give peace a chance . . . and a syllabus
December 9, 2008 | 1 Comment
The road to peace is often rocky and in the case of the University for Peace literally so. Situated about 20 miles west of Costa Rica’s capital San Jose, the United Nation’s shrine to that most elusive of global ambitions is perched some 800 metres above sea level at the end of a precarious, snaking and dusty road.
This article appears in the education supplement of the UK Guardian 09.12.08. Read more
Dec
5
Celeb Watch
December 5, 2008 | 1 Comment
Gawking at celebs is a national pastime in London. An occasional series updated whenever I spot a celebrity in London and If I ever get a phone from this millenium then I’ll post pics here too . . . unless of course the 3AM girls demand an exclusive. Read more
Nov
30
Nuance
November 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Nuance. It’s a word you hear a lot about in media circles. Fareed Zakaria uses it on average three times per sentence I think. Personally I don’t think I’d used it more than a coupla’ times prior to entering the world of journalism. It has come to carry with it the very strong whiff of media snootiness. It seems to me that when those who would describe “ordinary people’s” views as lacking nuance, what they really mean — in very a nuanced way of course — is that people are just plain dumb. Read more
Oct
30
Rogues, Barfly, 28th October
October 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Rogues, Barfly, 28th October. Pic by Louise Roberts.
Ever wondered what happened to the the cast of the Lost Boys? Expensive haircuts, cool shoes and feathery earrings all feature when Rogues hit the stage. Hell, the bassist is called Frog and frontman/guitarist Sam James even looks like Corey Feldman. Welcome to 1987, leave all preconceptions at the door.
The following review appears in the latest edition of London’s premier music ‘zine, London Tour Dates. Read more
Oct
3
Krautpod#3
October 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Welcome to Krautpod3 with Uncle Pauly and Julian B . . . recorded in Julian’s high-class studio. Featuring Die Fantastischen Vier, Beehoover, Annett Lousian and others . . . download the podcast here.
Sep
29
Broken Records/Story One/Simon & Eliza, Macbeth, 24th September
September 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I like my electronica old school even if it is fake old school. Simon Mills plays gentle beats reminiscent of Bent’s lilting orchestral twiddling back when Bent were good. Layered on top, and with a crisp clarity that cries ‘look at me’, Eliza Wren Payne sings with the enthusiasm of a young girl who just discovered she can hold a note . . . lots of them. Looking like Sigourney Weaver during her bald period and with an accent so mom-and-pop-apple-pie you can be forgiven for thinking you’ve ended up in an episode of The Waltons, it’s no bold prediction to say that more of the UK will soon be benefitting from this striking Utah import. Read more
Sep
29
Who the Hell . . . returns with a whimper
September 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Q Magazine’s great feature of the early nineties was “Who the Hell . . “. Anyone over thirty with an interest in music will remember its scathing brilliance. It’s been revived with the November edition of Q . . alas, things ain’t what they used to be. Read more