Le Bonbon - London - March 2015 by Le Bonbon

WELCOME LONDON!

March 2015 - n째 01 - www.lebonbon.co.uk

Photographer: Flavien Prioreau www.ﬂavienprioreau.com ﬂavienprioreau@hotmail.com

EDITO

Founder

•1

Bon’jour!

Jacques de la Chaise Editor in chief

Founding a new magazine is always a bit emotional, as is any new pro-

Amandine Jean

ject. It’s altogether uncertain, thrilling, fascinating… an entire new ven-

Design

ture yet to come.

Tom Gordonovitch Journalists Deborah Bannwarth

Therefore, Le Bonbon Family is honoured to introduce you to their little sister on this side of the pond.

Liz Clark Jim A. Bishop

Her mission is to bring people closer together by transforming neigh-

Olivia Sorrel-Dejerine

bourhoods into homely villages and sweeten up your lives with a bit of

Copy Editor

Bonbon sugar.

Rachel Camilla Thomas Tricia Woodcome

Originally created as a reference in helping people to know about the

Sales and marketing

best things happening in their city and after six years in Paris, Le Bonbon

Account manager – Charles Guillet

wants to show you lovely Londoners what’s happening here. We’ll be

Sales manager – Vuk Levkovic

providing a selection of the best new venues, events not to be missed

Sales advisor – Benjamin Buring

and alternative trends.

Every month, our Le Bonbon’ers rush to get those little magazines, which always have a different face on their cover, one of their faces!

Le Bonbon Limited

And yours could be next!

16 Palmers Road – Founders E20SY London

Le Bonbon is here to stay in London with our unique sweet style, the

Company number 9371015

best tips and a little ‘je ne sais quoi’. We’re looking forward to sharing our secrets about this amazing city with you. Make sure to check out our website to be up to date on food, culture, nightlife and much, much more. Jacques de la Chaise Founder

Advertising and enquiry vuk@lebonbon.co.uk charles@lebonbon.co.uk benjamin@lebonbon.co.uk 074 3686 8236

DIRECTIONS FOR USE HOW TO BENEFIT FROM THE Bonbons

1 CHOOSE

2 DETACH

3 ENJOY

Choose the right one. (Find out the ones that jump out at you)

Rip it off! (Detach the bonbon that will make you happy)

Beneﬁt from the offer. (Present it to the shop and beneﬁt from it)

DESCRIPTION OF A Bonbon Sign

Name of the shop

EPICERIE 56

Offer

Deﬁnition of the type of offer

10% discount Want a good french wine or olive oil for a bargain? Bring your bottles and ﬁll them up!

Description

Address and main information

56 Chatsworth Road, Lower Clapton, E5 0LS Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 7.30pm Saturday Sunday from 8.30am to 6.30 pm www.lepicerie56.com

CONTENTS

•3

0315 7.

Chez Elles Bistroquet

L’eau A La Bouche

13.

15.

16.

Beard – A Hairy Exhibition

Vinvixen

Lurem

22.

25.

27.

La Petite Ecole Bilingue

Cocktail Playtime

L’epicerie 56

www.agnesb.com

LE BON TIMING

Meat and Greet According to science, meat increases desire and enhances sexual function. Well well well… It’s time to check with Meat and Greet, a juicy dating night, to ﬁnd out the truth. Designed to break down social barriers, the night will encourage hand-holding with ﬁngerlicking ribs, and be a place where you can feel comfortable spilling sauce down your shirt… Hot or not?

Curzon Bloombury While Curzon Soho might be facing destruction as part of the plans from TFL for Crossrail 2 construction, there is at least one piece of excellent news: Curzon Bloomsbury opens to

From 4th March. The Joint, 19 New Cavendish Street, W1G 9TZ £25 for 2 cocktails per person, sharing sides and one main each. Discounts if you bring a single friend of the opposite sex.

the public later this month, with six screens dedicated to world cinema and documentary. To celebrate, you are invited to Auteur Film Festival, a week-long event showcasing the best cinematography from around the world.

27th March-2nd April Curzon Bloomsbury, The Brunswick, WC1N 1AW

Smokes and Tipples Hotel Xenia just launched their exclusive Smokes and Tipples club a few weeks back. Take part in an evening hosted by the UK’s Ofﬁcial Cuban Cigar Importers, Hunters and Frankau. The cigar of choice will be paired with a selection of Whiskeys which, of course, you’ll enjoy on their heated Herb Garden Terrace.

Saturday 12th March, Smokes and Tipples tasting sessions, Hotel Xenia, 160 Cromwell Road, SW5 0TL. £30 per person

•5

Liz Clark Advertorial

LE BON BISTRO

Pictures

Marguerite Gaudin

Chez Elles: a journey to France Amongst Indian restaurants, there is a hidden gem that people only tell their very good friends about. Chez Elles is a restaurant where connoisseurs come to enjoy traditional gastronomy as well as bistro food.

wait for your table sipping a glass

and pains au chocolat are also

of Ricard. Nadia and Aurélie’s

offered. Obviously.

contagious friendliness gives

Wine ranges from £19 to £50 per

Chez Elles a unique ambiance.

bottle and covers every area in

Give it a go and you’ll soon call it

France. You can actually check

your new home ! Food wise, Chez

where your wine is from on the

Elles has nothing of the posh and

big black boards. Some heroes

pretentious French restaurant.

even went for a Tour de France

‘It reminds the French of their

and got all the wines from the

grandmother’s cuisine’ explains

map, one after the other.

Nadia Brahim and Aurélie L’Hote

Nadia. But froggies are not the

Thanks to this very special

met ten years ago in London.

only ones enjoying coq au vin,

atmosphere, customers are

Friends at ﬁrst sight, they tra-

burgundy snails in garlic, or duck

mostly regular. ‘As clients are

velled the world together, back

conﬁt from the menu. People

sometimes requesting very

and forth from their new British

from here and there are more

cheesy French tunes, we kind

homeland. During those trips,

and more eager to huddle up

of became DJs’, laughs Nadia.

they discovered a common pas-

in the cosy restaurant, to relive

On certain nights, we heard that

sion: Food. They dived into local

tasty memories from holidays in

the restaurants gets a bit crazy,

cultures to bring back a whole

France, or just to bring curiosity

ending up unexpectedly more like

new panel of culinary ideas to

to their taste buds. Head chef,

a musical ‘blind test’ or karaoke.

brighten your dishes!

Benjamin Cucis, sources almost

Our last tip: go there straight

And what better way to share

all his fresh produce locally.

after work from 5:30 - 7pm

their tasty devotion than opening

Thanks to his special of the day,

to enjoy ‘Les Happy’ with for

a venue in this district that is so

you can discover rare meals,

example the Happy cheese

special to them: Brick Lane.

such as blanquette de veau, a

platter and a carafe of wine for

Their very own restaurant where

veal stew that simmers slowly in a

£10. Our favourite when summer

ﬂowers are in tune with vintage

creamy white sauce.

is ﬁnally here is happy Ricard, a

furniture; suspended lamps made

On top of the lunch deals (two

very refreshing aniseed aperitif

from little bird cages enlighten

courses for £17.50), their Sunday

for £2.

the atmosphere, as well as fancy

brunches are also becoming

candles; a pergola table and

very popular. You can enjoy a set

an uncanny counter made of a

menu combining eggs (benedict,

gorgeous mosaic where you can

ﬂorentine, royale) and a nice salad plus a glass of wine or a ‘gourmandise’. Proper croissants

Chez Elles Bistroquet, 45 Brick Lane, E1 6PU Open Tuesday to Sunday www.chezellesbistroquet.co.uk 020 7247 9699

Drink responsibly

â&#x20AC;˘7

LE BON BREAK

Amandine Jean Advertorial

Pictures

Marguerite Gaudin

L’Eau à la bouche A real symbol of Broadway Market, L’eau à la Bouche is a unique destination for foodies; whether you are looking for the best cheeses, wine, for a nice large healthy salad or just for a comfy break over a proper coffee.

Saturday Market starting (again)

from France, Italy, and Spain…

almost at the same time, and

alongside some good music,

becoming the place to go for

which was pretty unusual in cafes

gourmets.

at that time’.

Twenty years ago, Stéphane

Stéphane started to offer the

Cusset left everything behind in

products he liked, as well as

his mother city, Lyon, and arrived

a few rarities such as trufﬂes,

in London on a night coach with

argan oil or Vietnamese choco-

only his rucksack on his back.

late Marou. He likes the idea of

When Stéphane Cusset opened

With his experience in restau-

people discovering new ﬂavours,

L’eau à la Bouche, ten years ago,

rants, bakeries or delicatessen

but all-the-while tries to keep it

a stone's throw from where it

on both sides of the pond, he

affordable.

is today, there were no hipster

decided it was ﬁnally time to

beards and basically not much

open his own place.

In this shop where the time seems to have stopped,

to do in Broadway Market. Since then, the delicatessen & café

In 2004 and with the obvious

you’ll ﬁnd a large selection of

unintentionally pioneered the

choice of Hackney, where he

traditional and natural wines

new face of the area, with the

was already living, the owner of

(and on-reﬁll wines), the ﬁnest

L’Eau à la bouche wanted ‘to

cheeses from Rungis (French) or

bring together the best tastes

Neal’s Yard (British), charcuterie

•9

and antipasti, soups, fresh bread,

So settle down on a bench at the

now also offers catering for the

Italian pasta and local beers…

huge wooden table and make

ever-increasing amount of local

all sourced from independent

new friends, or grab a seat by

photoshoots or for business

small producers, some of them

the window and just watch the

lunch.

very local, handpicked for their

world go by. Once your order is

quality and taste. ‘I don’t see the

ready, a waiter will look you up

point in buying organic food from

and call your name, because you

the other side of the world when

are not just a number. Relax and

I can get the best quality from

enjoy your Cosmic, a sandwich

locals’, explains Stéphane, who

with a hippie twist, or one of the

not only helps the local industry,

gorgeous salads... They became

but also now employs 30 people.

so popular that L’eau à la Bouche

L’Eau à la Bouche Delicatessen and Café 35-37 Broadway Market London E8 4PH food@labouche.co.uk www.labouche.co.uk 020 7923 0600

10 •

LE BON MARKET

Classic car boot sale

It’s time to put your dotty scarf on your hair or your good old braces on. The Classic Car Boot Sale returns to Southbank on 14-15 March, offering retro clothes, records or furniture from vintage car boots, and lots of live entertainment to boogiewoogie along to old school tunes.

Not really into cars? No problem

food traders will provide tasty

here, as you can sneak into the

street food, coffee and cocktails

vintage car boot to grab unique

from vintage vans and campers,

vintage clothes, records or

of course. Think craft beer, fresh

other old school items. Disco-

wafﬂes, gourmet ice lollies… Luc-

ver Gloria Pop Up Boutique, a

kily entertainment will be provi-

horsebox-turned-vintage shop

ded to move your butt and rock

sourcing 1920s-80s clothing

along to tunes from vinyls or take

and accessories from highly

part in a class with Swing Patrol.

collectable labels such as Chanel,

Before leaving, don’t forget to

Dior and Ossie Clark. The Old

catch a snap at the vintage-the-

Collectors Garage will be selling

med photo booth.

vintage advertising posters, Ever dreamt of driving the Dolo-

Americana and vintage American

Last but not least: Early birds

rean from Back to the Future?

gas pumps from the boot of a

will be rewarded; the ﬁrst 400

The emblematic car is coming to

Chevy Panel Van. You just moved

through the door on Saturday can

you, alongside Niki Lauda’s Ferrari

in? Emma Loves will be there to

claim an exclusive ticket to the

team van from the ﬁlm Rush and

give your new home a vintage

Classic Car Boot Sale After Party

over 100 classic vehicles.

touch with up-cycled furniture

on Saturday 14 March.

and retro homewares, while hat

– AMANDINE JEAN

fetishists will run to Trevor Marchant’s selection from the 1940’s. Even decades ago, people needed a good feed. London’s ﬁnest

14-15 March, 10am-6pm, Southbank Centre’s Hungerford Bridge Car Park. Entry Price: £4

LE BON SQUARE

• 11

Gillett(e) Place Not that square...

Newcomers will picture razorblades, beardy bastards, a hairy floor, Sweeney Todd giving free cuts on a barbers chair. Nope, think again. All you can find here are dealers and caring mothers, toothless junkies and old Rastafarians, wanderers and laughing kids, street food and a jazz club. But spend a little time to actually chill here and you’ll get a glimpse of what this square really has to offer; as a wanderer, you’ll enter unique, entrancing atmosphere.

And boy, was I one of these

rousing theme. Her smile was a

wanderers. On a lonely night,

glimmering invitation to join her

after a pretty disturbing movie

in this ecstatic dance. I ended

at the Rio Cinema, I found myself

up mesmerised by this concrete

drifting away from the Kingsland

mermaid, and all I recall is her

Road. My legs obeyed my

palm on my cheek and the bang

agitated mind. My mind followed

on the ground.

the target my eye spotted. Two divine legs perambulating in the

First thing my eyes saw upon the

moonlight, supported by 9-inch

rise of the following morning was

heels and red soles.

a whole gang of merry skaters gathered around me. Blurry as

Why the fuck was I stalking the

they appear, it seems they are

only woman wearing Louboutins

poking fun at me. But how could

in all of Dalston, should have

I blame them? I’m all messed up,

been the question I raised to

the girl is gone; the print of her

myself. But my thoughts could

hand on my face has not. But

not escape the surreal ambiance,

the Flat white from the Kaffa

and this White - red - Rabbit

coffee, this cigarette and the

managed to pull me away from

gentle crowd dispersing on Gillett

mental sanity. Her silhouette was

Square are enough to brighten

fading in the fog of Gillett Square

this new day.

as I realised a gentle melody was

– JIM A. BISHOP

ﬂoating. Then the Vortex opened, ﬂooding the square with a jazzy

Gillett Place, Hackney, N16 8JH

Amandine Jean Editorial

LE BON EXHIB

Pix

Mr. Elbank

Beard, a hairy exhibition After returning to fashion with the hipsters, beards are now making their entrance into the prestigious Somerset House for a photography exhibition this March.

Are you a pogonophile? Nope,

The artist met Jimmy Niggles,

nothing dirty, we swear! It’s only

whose friend died of melanoma.

a word that beard lovers will

Since then, Jimmy formed a band

know... and you, after Somer-

of bearded mates, represen-

set House’s new photography

ting their friend who used his

exhibition.

facial hair in order to cover the

Fluffy, rustling, scruffy or groo-

melanoma on his neck. The aim

med, patchy or bushy… Beards of

was to show support, pique

all kinds will gather at the Somer-

people’s curiosity at a time when

set House this March. More than

beards weren’t that common,

just a trend, facial hair is a social

and encourage them to book

attribute which can be fascina-

a skin check. In order to shoot

ting for some and repulsive to

60 amazing beards around the

others (kinda like Marmite).

world, Mr Elbank received over

Featuring over 80 photographs

1200 applications… and will help

by Mr Elbank shown for the ﬁrst

you brush up on your facial hair

time, the exhibition will feature

knowledge.

famous goatees as well as anonymous chin straps or even female sprouts. Just as Movember combines moustache lovers with ﬁghting against male prostate cancer, Mr Elbank’s #Project60 raises awareness about skin cancer.

Terrace Rooms at Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA, tube: Temple. Thursday 5th March Sunday 29th March 020 7845 4600 www.somersethouse.org.uk

• 13

14 •

LE BON BEST OF

Cinema : Our pick of the month

London is home to a variety of quirky and unusual ways to watch movies. Don’t worry-we have you covered with a selection of movie theatres not to be missed in the city this month.

• Pillow Cinema, Shoreditch

able to watch ‘Cocktail’ while

Love going to the movies but

sipping cocktails on March 14th,

sometimes wish it could be as

what more could you ask for?

comfy and cosy as watching a ﬁlm

www.popupscreens.co.uk

in the warmth of your own home? Well this is the cinema for you.

• Electric Cinema, Notting Hill

The concept is quite clear: BYOP

The Electric is an institution in

(Bring Your Own Pillow) with a

the heart of Notting Hill. Nothing

strict door policy: ‘no pillow, no

can beat its leather armchairs,

entry’. You’ll be able to snuggle

red velvet front row beds with

up on beanbags while being

cushions and its cashmere blan-

served booze and snacks. Scree-

kets. Order a drink at the bar and

nings take place in Shoreditch's

a burger from the Electric Diner

former tube station, with good

restaurant next door, and you’re

old classics until March 7th.

set! The Electric is also home to

www.pillowcinema.com

the Edible Cinema concept, one more reason to try it! (There is

• Pop Up Screens

also an Electric Cinema in Shore-

If you feel like watching quirky

ditch, but nothing compares to

ﬁlms in special locations, Pop Up

the original!)

Screens has you set! The next

www.electriccinema.co.uk

series of screenings is scheduled for March, and will pair movies and cocktails together. You’ll be

–

OLIVIA SORREL-DEJERINE

LE BON WINE SHOP

• 15

Vinvixen In Vino Veritas

If you like good wine, dogs, and silly jokes written on a board -together under one roof-, pop into Vinvixen, a little shop with big love for wine.

You probably wouldn’t expect a

mers ﬁnd the best wine to match

sweet, blond and blue-eyed girl

their palate (smart). Wine-tasting

to be a wine expert. But trust us,

events take place on a weekly

this lady knows her subject. On

basis and you can buy your own

top of having great knowledge of

bottle to ﬁll with wine, olive oil,

wine and spirits (especially Arma-

or organic juice.

gnac), she really aims to make Some can speak for hours about

wine more accessible, to make

So now (quotation from the

the appearance, bouquet, length

it into a bit of an adventure, to

blackboard in front of the shop):

and quality of a wine. Others

give people the opportunity to

‘If it can’t be ﬁxed with wine,

would hardly differentiate

explore, and to show everyone

then clearly you’re not drinking

between a great vintage and a

that there is an entire world of

enough wine!’.

simple table wine. But at Vin-

wine out there just waiting to be

Fair enough… Cheers, then!

vixen, whether you are a novice

discovered. Most importantly,

– DEBORAH BANNWARTH

or an oenophile, you’ll receive

she is extremely passionate and

the same friendly greetings and

genuinely enjoys sharing that

professional advice from Julie,

passion with whomever wishes to

the owner.

come into the shop. At Vinvixen the selection of wines is mainly sourced from small, individual growers, and they are organised by style instead of by country or region to help custo-

Vinvixen 450 Kingsland Road, E8 4AE. Transport: Dalston Junction, Dalston Kingsland www.vinvixen.com 07723 720851 Monday - Thursday 2-8pm, Friday & Saturday 2-10pm, Sunday - by appointment

16 •

LE BON LOOK

There’s a new brand in town. Lurem is passionate about your style, following your steps in the street to know you better and offer clothes perfectly matching your taste. Thanks to the brand’s sample sale, you can save some money towards serious business, such as partying.

Lurem, London street style with a Japanese twist

the Lurem venture. After many

multi-layered clothes, checked

years of modeling, Dawa had

or geometrical patterns and a

been modeling for Sonia Rykiel,

tomboy touch mixed with small

Remember that shop where the

learning fashion with the famous

jewellery. The best news is that

sales woman was yelling ‘Oh my

French designer, getting inspired

you’ll get to snap up many of

God, this dress was made for you’

by her, and then having the

these good quality items for a

when you actually looked like a

chance to step on the other side

very affordable price, thanks to

sack of potatoes? Forget eve-

of the show. As for Philippe, he

the 70% sample sale. Be quick, as

rything about that experience.

has been into fashion for ten

the team is already working on a

At Lurem, not only do they care

years, and ﬁnally decided to

fantastic new collection to suit

about your look, but they are

produce his own collection. The

your desires. But shhh, we’ll tell

even tailoring their collection

funny story is that they both grew

you everything later.

according to women’s tastes.

up in Tokyo at the same time and

– AMANDINE JEAN

‘We listen a lot to our clients,

had lot of friends in common,

we spend a lot of time outside,

but never quite managed to cross

watching women in the street

paths until Dawa moved to Lon-

to understand what they like’

don. No wonder the collabora-

explains Dawa Ma, who joined

tion worked out so well.

up with Philippe Chambret in

European shapes and Japanese spirit inspire Lurem’s very ﬁrst collection. You can expect

Lurem, 138 Bethnal Green, E2 6DG 020 8127 8338 www.lurem.co.uk Monday-Friday: 12-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 11-7pm

L’EPICERIE 56

EURO ACCOUNTING

Setting up a new business?

Fed up with your accountant?

Get a free consultation

Drink responsibly

Paying too much tax?

10% discount

Find everything you need from: • Company incorporation • Annual accounts and bookkeeping • Audit and payroll processing • Tax returns: 084 5680 5168 – 077 8986 2405 Email: info@euro-accouting.com Web: www.euro-accounting.com

Want a good french wine or olive oil for a bargain? Bring your bottles and ﬁll them up! 56 Chatsworth Road, Lower Clapton, E5 0LS Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 7.30pm Saturday Sunday from 8.30am to 6.30 pm www.lepicerie56.com

LA PETITE ECOLE BILINGUE

UBER - LE BONBON

£ 15 off your registration fees

£20 off! La Petite Ecole Bilingue, Oxford Gardens (2-11 yo) 90 Oxford Gardens, W10 5UW Le Jardin d'Enfants (18 months -3 yo) 137a St Marks Road, W10 6BZ La Petite Ecole Bilingue, Kentish Town 22 Vicar's Street, NW5 4NL +44(0)208 960 2725

LE BONBON CONTEST

LE BONBON

lebonbon.co.uk

Make up a Bonbon cover and post the pic on our FB page (Le Bonbon London) - The funkiest wins a free ticket & drink for the Bonbon launching party! (check out www.lebonbon.co.uk for more info)

VINVIXEN

Drink responsibly

LE BONBON WANTS YOU

Want to be a part of Le Bonbon adventure? Writers, photographers, graphic designers and eccentric sales men - Send us a few words hello@lebonbon.co.uk

A free tasting glass of the latest discovery on your next visit - while supplies last

450 Kingsland Road, E8 4AE. Transport: Dalston Junction, Dalston Kingsland www.vinvixen.com 07723 720851 Monday - Thursday 2-8pm, Friday & Saturday 2-10pm, Sunday - by appointment

LE BON WALL

To the fox living by Victoria Park: please, come back!

Sharing is caring. Your girlfriend looks amazing. Just

• 21

To my ﬂatmate: Please use your own butter/shampoo/

saying.

toothbrush/bed

Looking for writers // Photographers // Le Bonbon wants you in their team! amandine@lebonbon.co.uk

Le Bonbon is happy to bring sweetness in your life. If you want to publish an ad here, drop us a line! contact@lebonbon.co.uk

20th February. I owe you one!

To my wonderful princess, I love you even in London, don't worr y!

A sweet kiss on your lips from over the Channel ma chérie hérisson.

Farewell Django... you fury bastard will remain in our hearts.

Like us on Facebook to know everything about the latest events in London!

To my favorite rosbif: thanks for making my

all over the world.

Thanks to the Founder’s amazing team for coping with us !

Lukasz my bro,

life easier with nice meals, supportive and positive Post-it notes

with Le Bonbon it's a part of me who is in London ;)

Thanks to the very nice guy who drove me back from Brick Lane on Sat

Are you a social person? Eager to share your knowledge of London and be part of an incredible venture? Sales assistant internship (3 months min) // Send your CV vuk@lebonbon.co.uk

22 •

LA BONNE ÉCOLE

Speaking two languages is a priceless gift nowadays, but parents with mixed nationalities most often have to give priority to either one language or the other when it comes to picking their kid’s school. La Petite Ecole Bilingue is the answer, teaching in French and English, from both curriculums. Families from varying backgrounds, even those with a single language home, have already chosen to go “bilingual”.

La Petite Ecole bilingue

to each of them, following

music, sings together and is

and building their scholarship

awarded their 'stars' of the week.

project with their parents.

Something their parents will be

Kids from any background

proud of, right?

can apply, as everyone is able

On top of an immersive

to learn, according to Lady

experience from two different

Anne Henderson-Stewart, who

cultures with native speaking

If you have a chance to pop into

founded both La Petite Ecole

teachers and assistants on both

La Petite Ecole Bilingue on any

Bilingue Kentish Town and

sides, kids here are learning from

particular weekday morning,

Oxford Gardens in 2012 (with an

French and English curriculums.

you might ﬁnd some very well-

additional one, the ﬁrst to open,

This means they will still have

behaved kids, sitting at their

in Paris). Pupils who didn’t start

the option to go to a French or

desks, thoroughly practicing their

learning French or English from

English school afterwards.

writing in French. Come back in

an early stage can also simply

the afternoon and the English

catch up with some after-school

educational way has taken over in

tutoring. Another important

the classroom, with the teacher

dimension at La Petite Ecole

and their pupils sitting around

Bilingue is the art classes and

them for a lively ‘carpet time’.

the optional clubs from 4pm:

At La Petite Ecole Bilingue, there

science, Russian, chess, guitar,

are usually no more than 12 kids

drama… one for every taste.

in a class, and the educational

On Friday afternoons, all kids

board is particularly attentive

from 2 to 11 years old gather for the Assembly, a special moment where everyone plays

- La Petite Ecole Bilingue, Kentish Town, 22 Vicar’s Street, NW5 4NL. - La Petite Ecole Bilingue Oxford Gardens -from 2-11 yo90 Oxford Gardens, W10 5UW. - Le Jardin d’Enfants -18 months-3 yo-, 137a St Marks Road, W10 6BZ. 020 8960 2725 or petiteecolebilingue.free.fr

LE BON GREEN SHOT

• 23

Farm and the city A story about sheep, piggies and flowers Can you smell that? Yeah, that definitely smells of nature. Ha hem. Ok, we can’t blame a pig for smelling like a pig, but the poor beast does its best. But hey, seeing a real piggy in the heart of the city -and not with his head on a plate at the butcher’s-; isn’t it like heaven? Well, it may not be for some, but for those who love the countryside, maybe: it’s a farm. Now put your favorite wellies on, we’re taking you for a trip to farmland.

chicken and so on? Yes sir, it's

recycled fabrics, ﬁnger puppets,

possible. And you don't know the

imaginary bugs and more, all led

best part: it’s FREE. We knew you

by qualiﬁed tutors. Hackney City

would like it. On a more serious

Farm is also involved in many

note, a little bit of history (don’t

projects including beekeeping,

‘zzzz’ yet). Since 1984, this lovely

yoga, strawbale building or

green spot has been offering the

intergenerational meetings.

local community the chance to

For the greedy bellies, the

experiment the joys of farming.

spot also has a restaurant, the

Kids (and big kids) can freely

Frizzante. Freshly cooked food

admire the farmyard animals

is served there, made with

(special mention to the biggest

products from local farms in

(Article to be read while listening

pig ever), touch, smell and plant

Kent, or even sometimes with

to The Little House in the Prairie

ﬂowers, fruits and vegetables,

the vegetables cultivated in the

soundtrack). If you are the

and happily breathe with open

farm's very own garden. Lovely,

blessed parents of a kid who

arms, among the trees and the

conscious and green. 'What

thinks that chicken is only a

ﬂowers, singing 'Iolala Iou, Iolala

else?' would say our very close

synonym of nugget and who has

Iou'.

friend, a certain George C.

never seen a cow other than on

The team of this little farm in the

– DEBORAH BANNWARTH

a screen, the time has deﬁnitely

city also offers weekly courses

come to take them to Hackney

to help people know more about

City Farm. A farm right in east

the environment, nature and

London? With pigs, donkeys,

food. Arts and crafts workshops are also organised on various topics such as ‘rug rag’ with

Hackney City Farm, 1a Goldsmiths Row, E2 8QA From 10am to 4.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday. hackneycityfarm.co.uk

LE BON DRINK

Amandine Jean Editorial

Pix

Cocktail playtime! The Cocktail Trading Company is a wonderful experience for whoever wants to enjoy a quirky cocktail without being necessarily pretentious.

The sunken room is a comfy

your soup noodles, please call

square, with walls framed with

0141 347 ****." The concoction

blues legends and an intimate

is obviously delivered on time,

atmosphere brought by candle-

surprisingly in a take away noodle

light. An old piano rests in a cor-

box, with paper covered chops-

ner matching the vintage spirit

ticks (well, a pair of straws) and

bottles and books about the art

crispy noodles. The ever-pas-

On a Monday evening, we found

of mixology upon an old-fashio-

sionate mixologist-come-table

ourselves on a busy Regent

ned bookshelf.

waiter, Olly, explained how he manages to fry and dry noodles

Street. We escaped the city’s

with bacon ﬂavour.

craziest retail street to the base-

Awaiting you is a pint glass full

ment sunk beneath the all-day

of peanuts topped with a lovely

brasserie and bar Central & Co.

illustrated booklet as the menu.

Another winner is Scout’s

Literally just opening their fresh

You’ll ﬁnd at the end of the menu

Honour, a proper campﬁre

doors (or stairwell) is The Cock-

a crossword and doodle area just

celebration with a marshmallow

tail Trading Company Develop-

in case you’re playful or bored of

that your waiter will roast right

ment Bar and Table (they didn’t

your partner. Each double page

in front of you. The sweet taste

manage to ﬁnd anything longer),

depicts the cocktail creations

of smoked marshmallow syrup

the brainchild of award-winning

with delicate drawings, alongside

balances perfectly the bitterness

bar tenders Andy Mil, Elliot Ball

a recipe and intriguing descrip-

of tequila and lime juice. And

and Olly Brading.

tion such as: "Mix all ingredients

here comes the surprise: on top

in a noodle soup box. Deliver

of your mug is an actual sealed

within 30 minutes or your money

tin can. Once you open it, you

back. If you are unhappy with

will discover a surprise and a

Drink responsibly

• 25

party popper that will happily

served in a bell, and another

for giving (too many cocktails

make your neighbours jump,

fruity, boozy juice to drink from a

though, and your following day

naughty kids. Twice a week, the

festival themed boot… expec-

may not be forgiving).

whole team has to chain-seal the

tantly, we got quite drunk.

cans to box the fun in with fresh surprises.

Where London’s mixology seems more often than not overpriced

Each cocktail is ﬁlled with chil-

and uptight, these drinkable

dish joy and fun. To be honest,

creations are very affordable

we were overly excited and

(from £8 to £9.50). On certain

wanted to try every single thing.

drinks, a pound is given to good

There were delicious potions

causes, because their fun is also

The Cocktail Trading Company Development Bar and Table, the Basement, 22 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HU, transport Oxford Circus. Monday - Saturday from 4 to 12 pm. www.thecocktailtradingco.co.uk

26 •

LE BON GOSSIP

Our very first time

The very first word of the very first sentence is always the most difficult to go for. It has to be perfect, it has to seduce, it has to make you feel the deepest desire to keep on reading... So much pressure on a single word. The rest follows, naturally, like the flow of a river -that may also carry a lot of shit, but hey, that’s life!-. Anyway.

Imagine how it feels when it's the

pity on their little devilish faces.

very ﬁrst word of the very ﬁrst

Tshh, children, they don't know

sentence of the very ﬁrst Bon-

what they're doing. Ignore them.

bon. It feels like vertigo! It feels like the crazy sensation of excite-

Those are this kind of emotions

ment and holding your breath as

that ﬁrst word implies. Imagining

you start a new venture, the thrill

you, taking the magazine into

that makes your stomach ache

your hands, caressing every single

every time you try something

page with your ﬁngers (yeah,

new. Yeah, the ﬁrst time is always

we also have weird fantasies),

the most 'ohlala-iest' one.

reading it, maybe laughing a bit at the silly jokes, then abandoning it

The ﬁrst kiss, the ﬁrst night, the

on the seat of a bus for someone

ﬁrst broken heart, the ﬁrst time

else to read it, or sadly... dum-

you drive a car, the ﬁrst time you

ping it into a bin. Haha, again,

live by yourself, the ﬁrst time you

that's life!

say ‘I love you’. 'Only the ﬁrst step hurts' said a All these 'ﬁrst times' make the

certain dead author of whom I

most memorable moments of

forgot the name (sorry, random

your life, and can and always will

author). It might hurt, yes, but a

bring a smile on your face when

good challenge is always worth a

you think about them. The kind of

risk. London, let’s get started.

moments you'd tell your children about, full of nostalgia, and they'd stare at you with a look of

– DÉBORAH BANNWARTH

• 27

Drink responsibly

LE BON TIPS

L’Epicerie 56 Proper bread and croissants, cheeses directly from Paris’ most famous market Rungis, over 100 handpicked wines, and organic dry grocery... This is your new destination in Homerton if you are craving real taste and sustainability.

Vinarius, the nectar dealer In the evening, more and more people are gathering after work to share a glass of wine and a laugh at a new shop and bistro, Vinarius, Roman Road Market.

Originally from France, Remy Zentar had been

People go to Vinarius early in the morning to get

travelling around the world in his old Peugeot break

toast from their locally sourced artisanal bread and a

before ﬁnally settling down in London ten years

wood roasted coffee. Later in the day, they come to

ago. When he started L’Epicerie 56, he had two

sip on carefully selected Italian and French wine (plus

main aims: to create local job opportunities and

a few others, including organic and natural wines)

bring together his local neighbourhood around

from small, independent producers. Exquisitely

good quality products. He now employs 15 people,

chosen cheese and charcuterie are offered to match

is supported by the local community and is also

their choice of tipple. Philippe Polleux, French,

involved in Chatsworth Road old Market’ revival.

met Eugenio Cicarelli, his Italian partner in crime,

In Remy’s cute delicatessen, you can ﬁnd bread

during a wine training a few years back. Eugenio

baked by the Better Health Charity, which employs

was a winemaker in Italy, a sommelier, today is

disabled adults, coffee brought to England from

a judge for international competitions. Philippe

Africa by Ethical Addiction’s priests, a good

has been working in bars and wine shops before

selection of natural wines, as well as affordable

he and Eugenio founded Dago, a wine wholesale

cheeses from Rungis, Paris’ gastronomy temple.

company. Their philosophy is that wine, more

Trying to be sustainable in every way, L’Epicerie 56

than just an alcoholic drink, is a social and cultural

offers wine from tap so you can save money and use

factor inﬂuencing our lives for centuries. At Vinarius

fewer bottles. You can even reﬁll your olive oil and

you will discover wines that you won’t ﬁnd in the

eco-friendly washing machine liquid.

supermarket. Now all you have to do is ‘cheers’ their passionate staff as they tell you everything about the

L’Epicerie 56, 56 Chatsworth Road, Lower Clapton, E5 0LS www.lepicerie56.com 020 7503 8172 Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 7.30pm Saturday - Sunday from 8.30am to 6.30 pm

people behind the nectar you are enjoying.

Vinarius, 536 Roman Road, E3 5ES Wine tasting: info@dagowines.co.uk, Facebook & Twitter 020 3302 0123 Open daily 9am-11pm

LE BON PEOPLE

Deborah Bannwarth Editorial

Pix

Viktor Wynd & The Last Tuesday Society Alice has Wonderland, but if she had lived in London, no doubt she would rather have ended up in this museum. Maybe she would have discovered her dark side with his owner, Viktor Wynd? Let us tell you more about this strange place called The Last Tuesday Society.

Last Tuesday Society, to visit

Chinese Portrait

his museum of curiosities in

As a little bonus, Viktor Wynd

Hackney.

agreed to play the game of the Chinese portrait with us. So,

I could tell you that this place is

Viktor, if you were...

crazy, that if you ever go there, you will see what I've baptised

An invention, it'd be?

a 'monkey mermaid', some poo

Viagra

from Kylie Minogue, a reduced head, exotic butterﬂies, and

Coming from another planet,

more mysterious things.

it'd be?

I could tell you that when I

Paradise

I could tell you that at ﬁrst

made it there I couldn't glance

glimpse, the unicorn skulls in the

anywhere without being sur-

An object, it'd be?

window would probably catch

prised/amazed/amused... And

Underwear

your attention. 'Is this real life?'

sometimes a bit horriﬁed.

you might think.

But the best thing I can tell you

A meal, it'd be?

I could tell you that if you dare,

is to go and see for yourself. As

Oysters

you could push the door to grab

Viktor says, "everybody has to

a coffee, a cocktail, or to eat

make his own experience".

A moment of the day (or night), it'd be...

something in an unusual, quirky, and a bit gloomy atmosphere. In

Two pieces of advice, though.

that case, make sure you avoid

1: sensitive souls shouldn't go

the ﬂying cat, above your head.

by themselves (I've heard that

A super power, it'd be...

Nope. I am not totally insane

some people have mysteriously

Love

(yet). I've just been invited by

disappeared).

Viktor Wynd, Chancellor of The

2: don't take all of that too

A bad word, it'd be...

seriously. It's all "pretty silly"

Fart

there.

The magic moment

• 29

A ﬁctional character, it'd be...

If you could travel back in time,

Duc des Esseintes

when would it be? To live in the biblical city of

A city, it'd be...

Sodom

Babel A last word to conclude this little An animal, it'd be...

game, you'd say?

Killer whale

Come visit me. Ok. Obey, then.

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities Fine Art & Natural History 11 Mare Street, London, E8 4RP, transport Cambridge Heath - rail. Entry: £3 www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org Wednesday-Sunday 11-10pm

LE BON MYSTIC

30 •

Aries

Cancer

Horny buddy, it's like the holidays never ended. Be

For once, romance blossoms for you, Cancer. Are

the life of the party and rock any social scene or

you thinking of commitment or planning marriage?

gathering. It’s always a full moon for you, so just

And you didn’t tell us? Cheeky monkey. You and

don’t forget to try not to hurt anyone, keep things

your beloved may have recently reached a new

under control and get home safely. You'll be centre

understanding that has bonded you more tightly.

of attention, so everyone will hear what you say and

Don’t be silly - stop hiding that romantic feeling, get

see what you show them. Play nice! You should ﬁnd

her in a romantic haze. Nothing to be ashamed of,

a way to use your relentless energy. Why not get

that's perfectly acceptable - it's part of the joy of

involved in a comedy class, you big clown?

love, and it could very well last for a while. Make the

Taurus It looks like you have been rushing into things too

most of it.

Leo

much, mate. It’s time to slow down; honestly, you

The Sun, your planet ruler, is about to win the battle

are cornered. Avoid red for a while (yes, red wine

against Uranus, and winter as well. Take advantage

as well, swap for camomile tea instead) and go for

of this bliss to fulﬁll your plans. Don't be picky about

a break in a nice place where, for once, you won’t

details, and you will get protection from the stars.

have to run anymore. Anywhere that you’ll ﬁnd

Love is in the air, but don't get distracted. Keep it

water should be ﬁne, and you’ll soon notice that

warm, deep inside, until Spring has risen. Girls might

it’s less easy to run there. Otherwise, just get some

try to avoid a cruise on the Channel, for sinking

quality time at home, wait until Saturn has rotated

ships are legions. Guys, don't get in a ﬁght before

on the other side of Earth. Everything is always

the 15th! As your big mouth might get swiftly shut

better once that bitch has disappeared.

by those stronger than you. Otherwise, roar, bark, chant, growl, howl - the world is your oyster.

Gemini

Virgo

Saturn will cooperate with Mercury to provide you

You feel like partying every single day. And you’re

with a Hulk-like strength. Winter is fading away,

right. Quit your job and just follow your gut instinct.

and letting your feelings blossom again. Do not rush

Leave everything and start all over again from

headlong into a new love or life-changing project, as

scratch. Just keep your sex partner. It will be really

treacherous Venus is waiting for a misstep. Prepare

helpful for you after realising that you did some bad

for battle, get your head clean, your wallet full and

shit. Forget the gym for a while. Take the chance

start fresh for the bright days to come. Guys, a little

to pick up a book and read, it’s much needed in

sport won't harm you. Your alter ego might thank

the period you are going through. Though avoid

you. Ladies, some yoga sessions and a smoothie

thoughtful books. It would make you feel even

therapy are all you need to get you back on your

worse. Try new stuff: grafﬁti, ﬁshing or working. And

feet. Avoid tensions among friends and baseless

so long as you don’t reply to your banker when they

blaming of your lover. Easy, peasy Gemini...

call you, you’ll have the best month ever.

• 31

Libra

Capricorn

Change is in the air! You may be starting a new job,

Apparently the year of the sheep is not meant to

moving into a new apartment or heating up your

be yours. Don’t worry though, you can ﬂip that

love life with a new partner. Whichever novelty is

bad luck upside down. Stick on a trendy mix of red,

coming your way this month should be met with

brown and purple clothes every day. You will also

excitement on your part, as luck is certainly on your

need to buy either primroses or carnations every

side. If you're single, try out a new bar, café or class.

two days as they are your lucky ﬂowers. Whenever

Only good things await you outside of your comfort

you deal with numbers, make sure it includes both

zone. If you're in a relationship, switch up your usual

2 and 7, your lucky numbers. If you go through hard

routine of dinner and Netﬂix for a trip to the opera

times, just wait until August or November. These are

or a weekend getaway.

the two months where magic will appear.

Scorpio

Aquarius

The future looks bright for you, Scorpio, if you

You may be feeling a bit slow at the start of this

listen to your intuition! Keep your blinders on and

month, so take a nice long nap, stretch out in a

take what others are saying with a grain of salt this

yoga class or escape the city for the weekend. Once

month, as their advice may be tainted with ulterior

you've recharged your batteries, reach out to your

motives or bias that you’ve had no time to consider.

friends and ﬂourish into the social butterﬂy that

For any logistical decisions, weigh your options with

you are. Be open to a genuine conversation with a

a pros and cons list. When it comes to romance,

sibling, close friend, acquaintance (or a complete

listen to your gut and try not to get too caught up

stranger for that matter) that could put everything

in the details. Independence is a good look for you

you've been worrying about into perspective. The

this month.

more positive energy you emanate, the more you will receive!

Sagittarius

Pisces

Your cleverness will impress everyone around you,

Jobwise you are simply the best. You earn lots of

including your boss. As you will be shining all over

pesetas by over achieving all your targets all while

the month, be extra careful not to burn your wings.

having fun. If you celebrated Chinese New Year

If you didn’t read the previous sentence, just grab a

in Soho you will have tamed the ﬁrst sheep of the

cheeky energy drink and it should be ﬁne. Love-wise

year. If not, a sheep will tame you in March. That's

you will feel like you just watched ‘Inception’. For

to say everything is alright for you. You’d just better

sure it was great, but you didn’t understand a single

not show your happiness too much. It could make

thing. And if someone asks you ‘how are you?’ you

some of your friends jealous. Sport-wise you need

will only be able to naively reply ‘I'm very good’

to get back on the run if you don’t want that silly

without really knowing why.

goat to hurt you. Last but not least, face all of your problems instead of avoiding them. Otherwise, look forward to the white unicorn in your dreams.

32 •

LE BON SNAPSHOT

• 33

34 •

LE BON DIARY

Party Dark Circus Party Vintage + Burlesque + Circus and a hint of decadence is the equation of the Dark Circus party. The event combines cocktails, aerial acrobatics, circus sideshows and slightly debauched dancing. — Saturday 7th March from 9pm, One Embankment, WC2R 2AB. Entry: £25. www.darkcircusparty.com

Charity Red Nose Day On Friday 13th March Comic Relief is calling on the great British public to make their faces look funny for money! Members of the public can buy one of the nine new noses or get sponsored to paint their face (as well as other sponsored activities). We reckon that letting their kids do their make-up for a silly selﬁe sounds great. They can also send donation via text, and all money raised will be put towards transforming lives in the UK and across Africa. — Friday 13th March www.rednoseday.com

• 35

Theatre Antigone Remember ‘The English Patient’ or ‘Chocolate’, with Johnny Depp? French actress Juliette Binoche will be playing a contemporary version of Sophocle’s tragedy ‘Antigone’ across the month and is translated afresh by the TS Eliot Prize-winning poet Anne Carson. — 4-28 March, Barbican Theatre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk

Drink Irish Poitín – St Paddys Day Special Reverend JW Simpson (such a weird name for a bar, eh?), former home to the titular vicar until the late 1980s, this place is now a cocktail den. For St Paddy’s Day, you are invited to an Irish Poitín (pronounce poteen or pocheen) Masterclass. This traditional distilled beverage was ﬁrst discovered in the sixth century, then banned for 300 years, until 1997. Better get in fast before they ban it again. — Tuesday 17th March, 32 Goodge Street, W1T 2QJ. Fee: £25 (including 3 cocktails) www.revjwsimpson.com

LE BON ADDRESSES

36 •

CHEZ ELLES BISTROQUET

LA PETITE ECOLE BILINGUE

45 Brick Lane - E1 6PU

Ken- tish Town, 22 Vicar’s Street - NW5 4NL

020 7247 9699

0207 284 26 20

L’EPICERIE 56

LUREM

56 Chatsworth Road, Lower Clapton - E5 0LS

138 Bethnal Green - E2 6DG

020 7503 8172

020 8127 8338

L’EAU A LA BOUCHE

THE VIKTOR WYND MUSEUM OF CURIOSITIES FINE

35-37 Broadway Market London - E8 4PH

ART & NATURAL HISTORY

020 7923 0600

11 Mare Street, London - E8 4RP

VINVIXEN

THE COCKTAIL TRADING COMPANY DEVELOPMENT

450 Kingsland Road - E8 4AE

BAR AND TABLE

07723 720851

The Basement, 22 Great Marlborough Street - W1F

VINARIUS

020 7427 6097

7HU 536 Roman Road, London - E3 5E 020 3302 0123

HACKNEY CITY FARM 1a Goldsmiths Row - E2 8QA

LA PETITE ECOLE BILINGUE

020 7729 6381

Oxford Gardens - 90 Oxford Gardens - W10 5UW Le Jardin d’Enfants - 137a, St Marks Road - W10 6BZ

EUROACCOUNTING

0208 960 27 25

Tax returns: 084 5680 5168 – 077 8986 2405 Web: www.euro-accounting.com

DRINK RESPONSIBLY Ricard est une marque enregistrée de Pernod-Ricar

d S.A. – Ricard S.A. au capital de 54 000 000

€ – 4-6, rue Berthelot 13014 Marseille – 303 656 375 RCS MARSEILLE