Burger crack-down

It's been brought to my attention that there is a burger crackdown happening. The first thing that sprung to mind when I heard the news was perhaps some sort of burger mutation, rogue meats (like the Maccy D's worm infused patties or Ridley Road Market rats), or a super-villain situation. The reality of it is a bit more mundane: Westminster council have decided to grill (I couldn't help myself) burger joints who offer rare or medium-rare burgers.

So why is it that restaurants offering rare steaks aren't being given the same treatment? It's essentially the same thing right? Well actually, there's a teeny difference and here's the science: bacteria forms on the surface of meat. The surface area of steak is seared so bacteria is killed while the meat inside can still be bloody, tasty and bacteria free. Burgers are minced and therefore exposed to bacteria, so even if it has been seared, there could still be bacteria lurking throughout... Are you still with me??

Anyway let's drop the science - who cares anyway as long as it tastes good! I've always had the mindset of being exposed to a bit of dirt or germs can be good for you. After all, isn't that what vaccinations and immunisation is all about? And I've never had food poisoning from a medium-rare burger... *touch wood!!* Have you?

Right, I'm off to make my own burger. Medium-rare. In the meantime here are some snaps of delicious burgers I've sampled:

Meat Liquor, Dead Hippie burger. Super tasty, juicy topped with brioche buns Mmm...

Meat Market (part of the Meat Liquor family), Black Palace burger.Lots of onions. 

Home-made summer BBQ. Can't go wrong with a home-made ones. 

GBK, Wellington burger (and Taxidriver). Looks like GBK have upped their game. Tasty goodness.

Burger & Lobster, 10oz burger. It was a mother of a burger. Messy, huge, amazing. 

GBK, free cheeseburger, served by the All Blacks NZ rugby team! The perfect hangover burger and probably one Westminster council would target...

If all else fails - go for a chicken tower burger with hash brown and cheese. Home-made of course!

P>S>> I love this burger blog. Check it: www.burgerac.com/

Enamoured: 80 Years of Revlon

A "Happy (Belated Birthday)" is in call. 

As you may - or may not - know, this year is a certain American beauty giant's 80th anniversary. A pretty good chunk of the female population will most likely have had one of the brand's lipsticks or nail polishes in their make-up bag at some point in there lives; I am of course talking about Revlon. 

The stunning retrospective was held at the London Film Museum for three days last week. I was lucky enough (along with my colleagues/friends - the best kind of colleagues - Jess and Sheree) to enjoy and appreciate the exhibition at the launch party where there was champagne flowing, canapés floating and some of Revlon's nail ambassadors ready to treat nail polish addicts to a manicure with the new "Enamoured" design (see below).

Anyway, I'll keep this post short and sweet - a bit like the exhibition itself - but feel free to take a gander at The Glass Magazine where I wrote a teeny bit more about it...

The "Enamoured" design, which I have yet to try! Revlon Nail Enamel was used for this in Revlon Red and Knockout.

Revlon lipsticks in the shape of rouge lips.

Matching "lips and tips" - a Revlon innovation.

My current festive favourite nails, which I sported at the recent work Xmas party.

Barbican's Rain Room

At some point in most of our lives there's been a time when we've been caught out in the rain - without a brolly - soaked to the skin. Brrr.

The other day though, I was strolling leisurely in the rain yet remained completely dry. Well, that must be because you had an umbrella I hear you say? WRONG. I was in fact at the Barbican's newest art installation called the Rain Room. It's a very clever concept actually, incorporating art with science and technology, and the magic only comes alive through audience interaction; when you walk into it.

It's the strangest feeling; as you stand on the edge of the rain you think to yourself, "there's no way it'll stop raining...I mean, how does it even work?? Surely I'll get wet!". You don't get wet. Unless you run around like a loony boon (very tempting were it not for the other 4 people allowed in the room and the Barbican staff watching...). The folks at the Guardian have kindly provided this video explaining how it all works, so I don't have to...



Not too shabby, eh? Make sure you don't miss it! It ends 3rd March  2013, and yes there is a queue but it's definitely worth it. After all, it's only here you can control the rain - and you can leave your brolly at home (if it's not raining in the real world, that is).

Here's some photos I took earlier:

Where the rain begins and ends... nice and dry!

My friend mocking the rain...!

PITCHFORK

My oh my...was my last blog post really over 2 months ago?? Shame on you! Well, more like me, oops!

ANYWAY - I went to Paris last week to go to what I was expecting to be a pretty sweet music festival called Pitchfork. Did it live up to my expectations? Oh God YES!! In fact, it went above and beyond them! It's only their second year in Paris (originally from Chicago in the US) but my musical antenna senses it's only going to get bigger and better.

There was music from the likes of M83, John Talabot, Chromatics, Jessie Ware, Death Grips, Simian Mobile Disco and so much more... As you can see, there's a little bit of a variety with genres so there's something for (almost) everyone! And for you fuss-pots out there, the quality of the sound system and lighting was on another level, and to be frank, puts everything else to shame (like the Two Gallants gig I went to two days after Pitchfork - even though they were great in their own right!!). And if that's not enough, you can rest assured you'll get your money's worth as there's only two stages at arm's length from each other (okay okay, maybe not that close - but close enough!) and each set is one after the other, so all you have to do is just turn 180 degrees and enjoy the next act into the small hours. Not too bad, eh?!

But don't get too comfy, for there's pesky little pickpockets about! I know this as I had my phone nicked - scum bags! As a result, I have no photos of my own to share with you *boohoohoo* but my friend has kindly offered his for me to use. Hooray! Here they are in all its glory...


Grande Halle de la Villette - BOOM!

Italians do it better - Chromatics:

We had to buy tokens so that we could buy food and drinks!

John Talabot!

The insane Death Grips

Disco ball reflections!

 Room with a view...

Oh and the Eiffel Tour of course, with the beautiful autumnal sky...

Get Rich Quick

Let's face it - who doesn't want to get rich quick? 

I've always thought that I'd be happy with enough money to live comfortably and do the things I want to do. And I still believe in it...I think. More or less. But as each day goes by I can't help but imagine how life would be if I suddenly find myself rolling in dough? 

One guy pretty much landed a small fortune overnight, and his name is Mr Brainwash (Thierry Guetta) who became famous mostly thanks to the Banksy documentary, Exit Through The Gift Shop. In a nutshell, he "rips-off" other artists, musicians, you name it and jazzes it up and turns it into his own piece of work. Some even debate over whether he's even real or simply a creation? Or if he's Banksy. Who knows! 

So I went to his first solo exhibition during my lunch break today. It's in the Old Sorting Office on New Oxford Street and I have to say I quite enjoyed the exhibition. Filled with excited tourists and curious passers-by, it was a light-hearted and fun way to enjoy pieces of art, if you will, in a raw space. It almost felt like a tribute or paying hommage to the UK with images of the Beatles, the Queen and other British icons. He may have pinched artists's work, but he had an idea and saw it through to the end. Then he got rich, quick!

Maybe I should come up with a money-making scheme too... Do you have one? I swear I won't nick it! Hehe.

Get your bake on...in a cute apron!

Baking. It's like alchemy or some other sort of scientific experiment. I love cooking and baking, but in different ways. With cooking, if you follow a recipe you can pretty much guarantee it's going to taste good (unless you're like Bridget Jones, who follows instructions but still ends up with "Blue soup") Baking however, is a different kettle of fish. Your silky smooth cake batter may taste oh-so-good (huge fan of licking the bowl) but what comes out of the oven may not look - or taste - like the one in the picture.

Anyway, my brother just got back from a trip in Orlando and he surprised me with a super cute apron set from Anthropologie - something which has been on my wish list for a while. There I was expecting just a keyring from SeaWorld...score! This calls for some extra special baking! Which brings me to...

I often get cravings for Ferrero Rocher, especially since my brother flaunts the regular, massive boxes he gets from his girlfriend (he doesn't even share..what a meanie!) And then, oh!! (← that's a cartoon moment where a light bulb goes on above your head) Ferrero Rocher cupcakes it is!! After ploughing through all of the different recipes on google, I found one that seemed worthy of giving a go. Fast-forward to the moment of truth - my scientific experiment/baking session = success! Moist, hazelnutty chocolate goodness with smooth and crunchy textures throughout. Tastes as good as the real deal. I wonder if my apron gave me special powers... possibly my best sweet treat so far.

Retraction - my brother shares...on occasion... So I let him have a cupcake or two too, along with some other friends.

Here's some other deliciousness I made earlier:

 Cherry Bakewell Cake

Layered Raspberry, Marscapone and Disaronno Cake

 Kuma-chan pan (Cute Little Bear Bread)

 Blueberry Sour Cream Cake with Cream-cheese Frosting

Blogs and Zines - Spoilt for choice.

When you're in need of some fashion/cultural/lifestyle inspiration, you needn't look far these days. Whether it be on the shelf of a newsagents or a click of a mouse away, you're guaranteed to find something that will fulfil your needs.

Magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, to name a few, are like a nation's favourite dish - though on a global level. Some of the more recent blogs and zines could be compared to new culinary delights - they look good on the outside but will it give you food poisoning? Okay so maybe that's a bit extreme as a comparison (forgive the food analogy, I'm starving!) But that's how new classics begin. It's an outlet for creative individuals and in time could become our daily bread, to the hope of their founders! 

My daily bread never really changes, only grows I suppose. Here are a few of my current ones, both print and e-based:

Glass Magazine, Trendland, HUH  and Frankie are great all-rounders for fashion/photography/music/art/design/stuff and more. HUH even has a shop in Dalston.

Hunger is a new fashion biannual magazine from the makers of Dazed & Confused and AnOther, expecting some good stuff! For each issue they release both a male and female cover - take your pick! 

As for Rodeo, it's all in Swedish, but it looks promising! 

So, what's your daily bread?