Virgin Atlantic Ruby / March 2015 by Spafax

March / April 2015

Spring into action Over 50 ways to enjoy the season in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, London and beyond

Trending now Cara Delevingne, Election theatrics, road runners, Easter chocktails, caveman cuisine...

CONTENTS

Editor in Chief Richard Rawlinson richard.rawlinson@ spafax.com

4 FILM BUFF Fashion to film for Cara Delevingne and Dior designer Raf Simons

Art Director Robin Castle Sub Editor Alistair Lawrence

6 MUSIC FAN Hits for George the Poet, 24, and Giorgio Moroder, 74

Fashion Editor Georgina Yates Production Manager Henrietta Hurll Contributors Danny Brogan Jo Caird Kat Halstead Chris McDonald Tracey Petherick

8 CULTURE The General Election comes to West End theatres

Chief Executive Officer Niall McBain

10 ACTIVE LIFE Marathons in London and Edinburgh, plus the Boat Race

Chief Financial Officer Simon Ogden President, Content Marketing Raymond Girard

12 HOT TOPIC Why St Patrick beats St George, plus the lowdown on the total solar eclipse

Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Development Katrin Kopvillem ruby is published bi-monthly by Spafax on behalf of Virgin Atlantic

14 TECHNOPHILE What’s new at Gadget Show Live, plus tech-toddlers

© 2015 Spafax Publishing, The Pumphouse, 13-16 Jacobs Well Mews, London, W1U 3DY Tel: +44 20 7906 2001 spafax.com The opinions expressed in this magazine are the writers’ and are not necessarily endorsed by Virgin Atlantic. Information is correct at the time of going to press.

Spring is in the air

On the cover Cara Delevingne © Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

e’ve packed ruby with a seasonal line-up of sparkling gems for Virgin Atlantic Little Red travellers. At the cinema, Brit model Cara Delevingne turns film star. In music, George the Poet reinvents rap. On the West End stage, the ‘Queen’ gets political before the General Election. London and Edinburgh get invaded by marathon runners. We ask why St Patrick is celebrated around the world, but St George gets only modest attention, even at home. Astronomers look to the skies for the total solar eclipse, a unique sight best experienced north of the border. Still in Scotland, traditional whisky gets a modern makeover, and, back down south, a restaurant draws inspiration from prehistoric times. We glimpse the future at a gadget show, and discuss why toddlers are so tech-savvy. And as Easter (6 April) isn’t the same without some chocolate, we sniff out the best confectionery, plus bars serving ‘chocktails’. Enjoy your flight and onward journey. l

Advertising Enquiries Merle Stein Account Manager merle.stein@spafax.com +44 (0) 207 906 1983 +44 (0) 782 456 1174 Printed by ESP Colour on paper comprising 75% recycled fibre

16 FOOD SPY The pure taste of ‘caveman food’ in Notting Hill 18 BAR CRAWL Whisky’s makeover, plus chocolate cocktails for Easter 20 FASHIONISTA The new Flower Power for her and for him 22 DAY & NIGHT Spring breaks in Boston and Miami 24 VIRGIN TERRITORY Virgin Atlantic Little Red news and information

FILM BUFF

From fashion to film Silver-screen debuts for Brit supermodel Cara Delevingne, and Christian Dior artistic director Raf Simons Words Richard Rawlinson

hey’re more used to ‘lights, camera, action’ at catwalk shows and advertising shoots, but Britain’s top model and the Belgian design supremo of French fashion house Christian Dior shine in cinema releases this spring. Cara Delevingne stars in The Face of an Angel, based on the 2007 murder of British exchange student Meredith Kercher in Italy, which led to the police investigation and trial of her flat-mate Amanda Knox and Knox’s boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito. Dior artistic director Raf Simons, meanwhile, stars as himself in Dior and I, the behind-the-scenes documentary following the creation of Simons’ first haute couture collection. They’re both captivating in different ways. Delevingne, 22, surprises those critics who sigh whenever a model tries to make it in movies. As waitress and student Melanie, she is often goofy and down-to-earth, quite similar in fact to the playful young woman we see in real life (or interviews on YouTube). Melanie looks like the off-duty Cara, too, ditching the glamour of Vogue shoots for check shirt, jeans, unkempt hair and, of course, those trademark eyebrows. The way Delevingne flirts with the camera draws you in, suggesting a bright future on the big screen; she’s already taking the lead role this summer in Paper Towns, a film about a lovestruck young man embarking on the trip of a lifetime to find the beautiful,

energetic and mysterious girl next door. The Face of an Angel director Michael Winterbotton and co-stars Kate Beckinsale and Daniel Brühl are convinced Delevingne is no onehit wonder. ‘Cara embodies certain qualities, an idea of optimism, the spirit of happiness and energy,’ says Winterbottom. Beckinsale adds: ‘I love Cara. She’s an absolute character and really serious about acting. She’s incredibly humble, funny and silly. Completely insane. Absolutely my type of girl.’ The film, which includes dark scenes of violence, sex and drugs, was another

milestone for Delevingne, who is reported to earn £6,500 a day through modelling contracts with companies ranging from Topshop and Burberry to Christian Dior. ‘It was an incredible experience,’ she says. ‘I found out I could act. I went in terrified but I got so much good advice.’ While Delevingne is a bubbly fashionista, the shy Raf Simons is a less likely presence in front of the camera. Dior and I director Frédéric Tcheng has a strong track record for insightful fashion documentaries, having worked on Valentino: The Last Emperor. Tcheng follows Simons from his nervous arrival at Dior’s atelier through to the unveiling of his first couture collection. There are potential tensions between Simons, a surprise appointment best known as a minimalist menswear designer, and the long-serving seamstresses and tailors under his direction. The judgement of the ghost of Monsieur Dior also looms large as we imagine what the late couturier would make of Simons’ contemporary interpretation of the iconic Dior look. Ultimately, the stoic Simons and his affable assistant Pieter Mulier charm the house. Dior and I is first and foremost a film about dedication to the creative process rather than one distracted by the fashion stereotypes of glamour and back-stabbing. l

Frock star Raf Simons has designs on Christian Dior

The Face of an Angel and Dior and I open in cinemas on 27 March

Take 3 Spring cinema releases

Still Alice Julianne Moore excels in this drama about a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Child 44

John Wick

Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman star in this thriller set in Stalin’s Soviet Union where child murder is covered up.

Keanu Reeves is a former mob hit man who comes out of retirement when punks beat him up and kill his dog.

MUSIC FAN

e’s the Poet Laureate of the YouTube generation, taking the rhyming spoken word out of the classroom and making it relevant to a growing fan base. His poems mix social and political comment with humour, performed on stage with catchy background tunes and rapper hand gestures. A nominee for the Brit Awards and BBC Sound of Music 2015, George the Poet (George Mpanga), is following the success of last year’s The Chicken and the Egg EP with a new album, out this year, which is expected to increase his audience. One key to George’s success is the way he blurs divisions. On the one hand, he’s a young man from a council estate in London’s Harlesden, whose music is inspired by the injustices he saw while growing up, as well as by a childhood spent listening to the likes of Eminem and Nas. On the other hand, he’s the bright grammar school boy who won a place at Cambridge University, graduating with a degree in politics, psychology and sociology, and demonstrating a rare talent for wit and wordplay. George from the street or George from the cloisters of academia, will the real artist please stand up? ‘I believe rap to be a specialist form of poetry,’

he says. ‘In William Blake’s poem London, you find a lot of regimented thought. I would argue that I did start off writing in a traditional poetry form but the extension of that was I was performing it.’ It’s analysis like this that conjures up the image of a model student. His sense of social responsibility is also a far cry from the bling materialism and machismo of some of the bad boys of the grime hip-hop scene. ‘Rappers have so much power to do good and they squander it,’ he says. He’s big on inspiring by example, having run poetry workshops for deprived children and released a video of his poem, Only One You, for the Prince’s Trust, which addresses the emotional problems faced by many young people. ‘When I was 10 or 11, I remember these lovely kids flippantly mentioning that the night before, their dad was beating up their mum,’ he says. ‘They didn’t understand the gravity of what they were saying. I remember trying to fight everything, trying to save everyone from every calamity. At some point I realised that I’m not going to be able to save everyone, but that when I do have the platform I will do everything to enact change.’ The ‘when’ is now. l georgethepoetblog.tumblr.com

Reinventing rap George the Poet, 24, brings attitude to spoken word performance Words Chris McDonald

Revisiting disco Giorgio Moroder, 74, returns to the electronic dance music scene talian legend Giorgio Moroder is most famous for producing disco diva Donna Summer’s sexy I Feel Love, and for 1980s film soundtracks such as Flashdance and some of the songs from Top Gun. He’s now back with a new album, 74 is the New 24, replete with an all-star cast of guest artists, such as Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Sia and Charlie XCX. In 2013, Moroder found himself back in the public consciousness after a long absence when he added spokenword vocals to the song Giorgio by Moroder by French electronic giants Daft Punk. ‘After Daft Punk asked me to be on their record I started to get offers to DJ, which I had never done,’ he says. ‘Then I started to get offers for a record deal.’ Those live shows were supplemented by remix work in 2014, with Moroder reworking I Can’t Give You Anything But Love by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, and Coldplay’s Midnight. Now dance fans across the generations are waiting for the awardwinning producer to fully step out of the shadows. ‘Dance music doesn’t care where you live,’ he says. ‘It doesn’t care who your friends are. It doesn’t care how much money you make. It doesn’t care if you’re 74 or 24 because… 74 is the new 24!’ l

Listen up Albums and audiobooks for the airborne

Belle and Sebastian Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance The Glaswegian indie-pop darlings’ ninth album is their most personal and political yet.

Kazuo Ishiguro The Buried Giant This audiobook narrates the Booker Prize-winning author’s latest novel, a dystopian tale of love, lost memories and revenge.

Jon Ronson So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed The latest investigation by the author of The Psychopath Test comes in audiobook form to explore the phenomenon of trials by public opinion.

CULTURE

Election fever

Events calendar

Two timely political plays get the theatre critic’s vote

Die with laughter Comedian Andrew Lawrence is bringing his sellout Edinburgh Fringe 2014 show to The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen on 20 April. Reasons to Kill Yourself sees Lawrence raging about payday loans, vegans and the comedy world itself.

Short and sweet The Glasgow Short Film Festival takes place from 11 to 15 March at venues including the Centre for Contemporary Arts and the Glasgow Film Theatre. This festival includes Vertical Cinema, a screening of 10 works by experimental filmmakers in the courtyard of the Victorian Briggait building.

Words Jo Caird

Fashion’s future Final-year fashion, textiles and performance costume students from the Edinburgh College of Art present their creations at SHOW 2015, a series of runway shows in the college’s Sculpture Court (23-25 April). Past ECA graduates have gone on to work for designer labels such as Prada, Vivienne Westwood and Sonia Rykiel, making this an opportunity to check out the design names of tomorrow.

Angelic voices Witness choral music at its very best when London’s world-renowned Westminster Cathedral Choir performs Bach’s Mass in B Minor at Westminster Cathedral, 7.30pm on 26 March. Tickets starting at £15 are available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

ith the UK General Election being the talk of the nation, two of London’s West End theatres are staging plays with political themes. The Audience, staged at the Apollo Theatre from 21 April to 25 July, stars Kristen Scott Thomas as Queen Elizabeth II, and focuses on the monarch’s weekly meetings at Buckingham Palace with the Prime Minister of the day. From Winston Churchill to David Cameron, the Queen has held these private audiences with no fewer than six PMs so far. The Vote, at the Donmar Warehouse from 24 April until Election Day on 7 May, is even more topical, imagining events in a London polling station in the final 90 minutes of polling day. The final performance of the real-time drama will be broadcast on Channel 4’s More4 during the last hours before ballot boxes close, a unique technological collaboration between the stage and the screen. In The Audience, Scott Thomas, who was made a Dame in the New Year honours list, inherits the regal role from Dame Helen Mirren, who took the lead when the play premiered in 2013. Peter Morgan wrote the play as a spin-off from his 2006 film, The Queen, which also starred Mirren. He became fascinated by the meetings between Crown and State, which are neither recorded nor minuted. Morgan started out suspicious of

Tick here for The Vote playwright James Graham and director Josie Rourke

this tradition. ‘Any influence over our PM needs to be examined closely,’ he said. However, the play remains a work of entertainment, with the director, Stephen Daldry, acknowledging that the Queen holds such a special place in the nation’s heart that ‘the audience just wouldn’t buy it’ if she was presented in a negative light. This spring’s revival of The Audience is billed as a ‘new version’ of Morgan’s play, reflecting the current political situation. Mirren had to adapt to lastminute script changes throughout the first London run and bagged herself a best actress Olivier Award for her troubles – no doubt Scott Thomas will acquit herself with similar panache. Likewise, those watching The Vote, whether in the run-up to polling day or on election night itself, will notice that what is being presented on stage is an exact parallel to what is going on in real life. This is a bold experiment between Donmar Warehouse artistic director Josie Rourke and playwright James Graham. Another parallel with The Audience is that Graham looks for the positive aspects of the political process. ‘A lot of people feel that if you’re doing a political play it has to be quite angry and cynical,’ he says. ‘There’s a default where we think political theatre has to be negative, where we go, ‘everything’s crap, everyone in power is rubbish and I’m really cross’.’ What Graham seeks to do instead is make The Vote ‘the kind of theatre where you leave believing that there is a chance that people can be good and that the system could work if we fought to make it work’. Whatever changes result from the General Election, it’s certainly a good time for political theatre (both on and off stage). l apollotheatrelondon.co.uk donmarwarehouse.com

ACTIVE LIFE

pring is the season when many of the world’s capitals host their annual marathons, a chance for athletes to compete and raise money for good causes; for spectators to enjoy a festival-like atmosphere; and for the host cities’ hospitality venues to benefit from the influx of visitors. It’s no wonder these 26.2-mile challenges take place not just in cities, but in other tourist hotspots: California’s Napa Valley and China’s Great Wall, for example, or South Africa’s Big Five Marathon, a race and safari in one. With around 750,000 spectators and more than 35,000 participants, the Virgin Money London Marathon (26 April) is among the most popular. It not only offers colourful crowds of road runners and revellers, but the route, which starts at Greenwich Park and finishes at Buckingham Palace, passes the city’s most distinctive landmarks, including Tower Bridge, Big Ben and the London Eye. With its potential for celebrity spotting and clowning around in fancy dress, the event is televised in more than 100 countries, so runners try their best to smile through their pain. Big grins at the finishing line were seen in tweeted selfies last year, including former footballer Michael Owen, diver Tom Daley and Natalie Dormer of Game of Thrones fame. Just over a month after London, the Edinburgh Marathon takes over the Scottish capital on 31 May, attracting some 16,000 runners. Surprisingly for a hilly city, the course has been designed to be as flat as possible,

Hit the road Are you a runner or reveller on marathon days in London and Edinburgh? Words Sara Kennedy

oin the crowds lining the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake on 11 April as Oxford and Cambridge crews row for their university in the Boat Race. Although the race doesn’t take long (16 minutes and 19 seconds is the record time), spectators make a day of it with lunches at the heaving riverside pubs. There are other sights to see on the river, too. The race of the reserve crews takes place before the main race, and there’s a procession of vessels, from camera boats to the Port of London Authority boat. Popular viewing points? The start

Pain and pleasure for marathon runners pounding the picturesque streets of London and Edinburgh

making it an excellent race for obtaining a personal best time. Notable scenery en route includes Holyrood Park, Leith, the coastline and the fishing areas of Cockenzie and Port Seton, and the grounds of Gosford House. With the UK fitness industry approaching a market value of £4bn per year, running kit is a sizeable business, although the sport doesn’t have additional costs such as gym subscription fees or golf club membership. Research on sport and recreation habits of people between the age of 16 and 65 has shown every tenth person runs. The hospitality industry is also courting runners. Come marathon season, several Edinburgh hotels offer early runner breakfasts, carb-fuelled dinners and transfer to the race start. Meanwhile, London’s City Jogging Tours offers tours, allowing a healthy sightseeing experience for runners of all abilities, with jogs through the streets led by an experienced guide. l

of the race, downstream of Putney Bridge, is the place to watch the crews warming up. The towpath along Putney embankment is a great location due to the clear view of the race in both directions. The tradition of dunking the winning cox takes place on the north bank by the Mortlake Anglian and Alpha Boat Club after the winning crew has been presented with the trophy. The event has been known to deliver a few surprises: last year, the umpire stopped the race after a rogue swimmer appeared in the race path, and strong winds creating dangerously choppy water have in the past led to both boats sinking. l

Head for the river Get down with the crew for the Boat Race

The Boat Race is more about fun than who wins (unless you went to Oxbridge)

HOT TOPIC

Solar power An astronomer sheds light on the total solar eclipse On 20 March, northern Europe witnesses the Moon passing between Earth and the Sun, a sight that won’t be repeated until 2026. We get the lowdown from Dr John Davies of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh. How rare are total solar eclipses? There are eclipses every year, but the ‘strip of totality’ is narrow. An individual town can expect to see one every few hundred years, so it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. What can people in the UK expect to see? In the north, about 95% of the Sun will be blocked, so the remaining Sun will look like a fine crescent Moon. Should we wear protective goggles? Even at 90% coverage the Sun is bright so viewers must use a solar filter from an astronomy store. Looking through a camera or sunglasses is a recipe for eye damage. Why is the phenomenon described as ‘a fluke of celestial mechanics’? If Earth was at a different distance from the Sun, the Moon would be too small, or too large, to cover the Sun almost exactly. The distance from Earth to the Moon is slowly changing, which means that in the past and in the future we lose the coincidence that the Moon appears to be the same size as the Sun. We’re lucky in both space and time. Dinosaurs never saw total eclipses and neither would Martians. l

Green with envy Why St Patrick inspires partying more than St George Words Jon Fox

The profiles of St Patrick, St George and St Andrew

t’s St Patrick’s Day on 17 March and St George’s Day on 23 April, but when it comes to events celebrating the patron saints of Ireland and England, Paddy wins hands down. Nor is the ‘craic’ confined to the Emerald Isle – much of the world joins in, donning shamrock green and necking plenty of the black stuff. As well as pubs from San Francisco to Hong Kong doing a pumping trade in Guinness, there’s everything from the St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York to the annual festival in London’s Trafalgar Square (Sunday, 15 March) and charity balls in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The reasons for Paddy’s preeminence are clear. Millions of people have been emigrating from Ireland over hundreds of years – to the UK, US and elsewhere – bringing with them their favourite

national custom. They also see St Patrick as having true links to their motherland, as the fifth-century priest responsible for converting Ireland to Christianity. St George, on the other hand, is said to have been a fourth-century Roman soldier who never lived in England. Some dispute whether he existed at all, and certainly not as the dragon slayer of legend. Surveys reveal few English folk can even name the date of his feast day and some secularists even argue that England should switch from a religious saint to a national hero such as the bard, William Shakespeare, who was, coincidentally, born on St George’s Day. St Andrew, though no true Scot, has growing national kudos as the Galilean fisherman who became one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. You see more blue and white flags flying in Scotland

on his feast day of 30 November than you see red and white flags south of the border in April. The ‘Crusader’ flag of St George has often found itself associated with far-right hooligans in recent decades, but mainstream politicians are seeking to revive the patron saint’s day as a respectable celebration of Englishness at its tolerant and creative best. Mayor of London Boris Johnson is supporting a festive party and concert in April, again in Trafalgar Square. But St Patrick remains the party patron par excellence. He’s said to have proclaimed that everyone should have a drink on his feast day after chastising an innkeeper who served a short measure of whisky. Popular Irish toasts on this day include: may the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends beneath it never fall out. l

TECHNOPHILE

Inspecting gadgets The latest from the top gizmo shows in the UK and US Words Danny Brogan

he National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham opens its doors from 8-12 April for one of the UK’s biggest technology exhibitions, Gadget Show Live. It’s your chance to get hands-on with the latest gizmos. Having established a cult following in its Channel 5 TV format, The Gadget Show first went ‘live’ in 2009 and has since been a firm fixture in any technophile’s calendar. More than 80,000 visitors are expected during the five-day event, at which they can enjoy live events as well as try out the gadgets themselves. The Future Tech Zone is the place to get a first glance of ‘tomorrow’s technology’. The show is keeping its previews under wraps, but in previous years we’ve seen the ‘Jetovator’ that gives you the ability to fly 30 feet above water and a robot that can dance ‘Gangnam Style’. The Game Zone is a chance for gamers to test out the latest games and consoles, and pit their skills against each other in a bid to win one of many prizes on offer. Making its debut at Gadget Show Live is the Active Zone. Here you will be introduced to the latest wearable tech geared towards helping you achieve your fitness goals. You’ll even get to test

the equipment while tackling an assault course within the hall. Fans of The Gadget Show can see its TV hosts on stage at the Super Theatre. Jason Bradbury and Jon Bentley demonstrate the latest gadgets, performing various tech challenges. Tickets for the Super Theatre do need to be purchased in addition to the show’s entry fee. The Build Your Own Gadgets and Kids Tech Trail hubs both provide plenty of entertainment for children. The next generation of inventors can try their hand at creating their own innovations as well as having a play with existing kit tailored for the younger demographic. For a sneak peek at what’s been causing a stir stateside, see right. l Tickets start at £16.99 for adults and £9.99 for children

Las Vegas debuts

Earlier this year, The Consumer Technology Show in Las Vegas unveiled several innovative products...

Musical fridge he Kube is T a fridge-cum Bluetooth speaker: The ideal companion for a picnic, this portable system can pair up to your smartphone and play your tunes, all while keeping your sandwiches and drinks chilled. kubesound.com

Linksters versus Generation Xers Differing media habits of tech-toddlers (or digi-babes) and the over-30s owever techsavvy we might be as adults, we’re often amazed by how advanced children are when it comes to use of both hardware and software. While Generation X consumers (born 1965-80) are digital immigrants who remember those analog days, Linksters (born 2000—) are digital natives, born with technology all around them. This results in a stark difference between the age groups. The over 30s might talk about how their viewing of realtime scheduled TV has declined now they can catch up on their favourite series any time and any place with TV on demand. They might also note how their buying of newspapers has declined now they get their fix of current affairs online. However, most admit to consuming a mix of old and new media. Some younger people, on the other hand, now consume literally zero

Robot chef

Double barrel he LG TWIN Wash T System is a washing machine that allows two loads, halving the time spent on this domestic chore. A second washer pulls out like a drawer beneath the regular, bigger washer. One for colours and one for whites. lg.com

he Serenti Cooki is T a robotic device that prepares meals at the touch of a button. Place the ingredients inside, choose your dish via a smartphone app, and the Cooki mixes the ingredients, cooking and stirring with its robotic arm to create a meal for a time specified by you. sereneti.com

traditional media: newspapers and magazines, TV and radio all being accessed in online format. Duncan Stewart, director of technology, media and telecommunications at consultants Deloitte, says: ‘It seems almost inconceivable to those over the age of 30, or perhaps even 25, that a new generation is consuming only digital media with zero traditional print and broadcast. But some are truly reading only web magazines, and only using internet music and TV services. In an utterly unscientific survey (my four kids and their circle of friends), the percentage of those who only consume digital media was estimated to be 80-90%.’ There’s a perhaps unexpected exception to this overwhelming digital preference: the book. Even though this young group own eReaders and tablets, and consume magazines on screens, they still read paper books on a regular basis. l

FOOD SPY

Pure Palaeolithic London’s first ‘caveman’ restaurant is a hit with the sophisticated Flintstones of the Notting Hill set Words Darryl Samaraweera

rom the Atkins to the Alkaline diet, weight loss and healthy eating programmes are adopted by millions of followers. While some disappear as fads, others stand the test of time. But few have the heritage of the Palaeolithic diet, otherwise known as the caveman diet. This is not about bunging a mammoth on the bonfire or foraging for wild berries in the woods. It’s the simple idea of returning to Nature’s larder, which leads to contemporary recipes free of refined sugars, processed oils, dairy products, grains and legumes such as lentils and soy (the latter apparently has too much phytic acid, which binds to nutrients in food, preventing you from absorbing them). So what can we enjoy from a menu based on the dining habits of our ancient ancestors? To find out, we head to Pure Taste in Notting Hill, heralded as London’s first Palaeolithic fine dining experience. The restaurant’s simple chic decor gives little away, except for caveman references in Chilean artist Otto Shade’s screen prints, hanging on the walls. Our first clue arrives in the form of a selection of bread to nibble as we peruse the menu: it’s sourdough and garlic focaccia, made without wheat flour and served with avocado butter. The menu is extensive and compiled by Pure Taste owner and head chef

Whether spicy duck or fig tart, Holly Redman’s dishes avoid refined sugar, processed oils and dairy products

Holly Redman, a chemistry graduate and nutritional therapist. Each dish is carefully labelled and a key informs diners what they can order if they are vegan or want a meal that’s low in carbs. Naturally, all dishes suit those following the Palaeolithic diet, and are free of dairy and gluten. My friend opts for the starter of seared scallops, apple and parsnip, while I choose Asian pork and cabbage. Both are cooked and presented perfectly. For the main course, my friend has halibut with spinach, lemon and dukkah, an Egyptian condiment of herbs, nuts and spices. I’m tempted by the trout and tiger prawn bisque but instead decide on the beef short rib with kale and apple. The meat, arriving in a rich treacly glaze, is so tender it makes my knife redundant. Although alcohol is not part of the Palaeolithic experience Pure Taste has an excellent list of organic wines from which I choose a deep, almost spicy Montepulciano. My friend enjoys a refreshing and tasty juice of the day with ingredients including spinach, coriander, celery, apple, ginger and lime. For pudding, it’s chocolate orange ganache, the large slice of rich chocolate proving surprisingly light given its gluten-free nature. Then it’s a cup of

Table talk Easter indulgences from exceptional chocolatiers

Yabba dabba doo! Pure Taste serves dishes to the Fred and Wilmas of today

coffee, with almond or coconut milk, served with a selection of delicate petit four, each morsel packed with flavour including my favourite, a maple donut. Redman’s menu changes monthly, and given the rich diversity of her creations, I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next time we visit. l puretasterestaurant.com

Iain Burnett, The Highland Chocolatier Edinburgh nown as ‘The Highland K Chocolatier’, Iain Burnett trained under Belgian, Swiss and French masters. The award-winning Scot’s most famous creation is his velvet truffle. The picturesque village of Grandtully is home to his shop and gift room, Legends Coffee and Chocolate House, while visitors to Edinburgh can find his chocolate at the Harvey Nichols food market. highlandchocolatier.com

Cocoa Ooze Aberdeen ounded by Jamie F Hutcheon in 2008 at just 17, Cocoa Ooze sits at the heart of Aberdeen. Favourites include chocolate marshmallows, popping candy chocolate and, of course, handmade truffles. Their bespoke service also offers printed chocolates and every mould, shape and size imaginable. cocoa-ooze.co.uk

Paul A Young London he former head pastry chef to Marco T Pierre White has four shops around London. Paul A Young runs an Easter chocolate master class at his Soho shop so you can wow your friends with handmade Easter gifts. Try sea salted caramel or peanut butter and raspberry jelly, which won gold at the International Chocolate Awards. paulayoung.co.uk

BAR CRAWL

Bar talk Fabio Cannizzaro, manager at Dirty Martini, on Easter ‘chocktails’ What makes a good night out in London? Having dinner with friends in Tuttons on the terrace in Covent Garden’s piazza and then heading for a cocktail at one of the Dirty Martini bars (Bishopsgate, Covent Garden, Hanover Square, Monument or St Paul’s). How many cocktails might you produce on a busy night? More than a 1,000! Our top seller at Covent Garden is a Passion Fruit Martini. What ‘chocktail’ would you recommend for an Easter treat? Our Chocolate Martini. It’s so delicious and everybody loves it!

Tell us about your Dirty Martini cocktails. Our signature martini can be prepared either with gin or vodka, stirred with a dry vermouth and brine and garnished with an olive. What is the atmosphere like at Dirty Martini? There’s always a buzzy atmosphere. Sunday through to Tuesday it’s more laid-back. Thursday through to Saturday the music is turned up and it becomes known for its party atmosphere! Chocolate Martini Mix the following into a paste: • 15ml Double Cream • 2 tsp Chocolate Powder Add the alcohol: • 20ml Absolut Vanilla Vodka • 20ml Briottet Crème de Cacao • 10ml Frangelico • Add cubed ice to fill the glass, shake and double strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a chocolate stick. dirtymartini.uk.com

Whisky galore The reinvention of Scotland’s national drink Words Kat Halstead

his year is The Year of Food and Drink Scotland, celebrating national delights from haggis and wild salmon to whisky, the spirit so entwined in the country’s ‘spirit’ that it’s known the world over as Scotch. Everyone from Al Capone to Lady Gaga have declared a weakness for a wee dram, and it seems whisky is becoming more fashionable than ever, accounting for 85 per cent of Scotland’s food and drink export (£4.3 billion per year).

Modern spirit: whisky’s makeover has increased its appeal among younger men and women

There are more distilleries per square mile in Scotland than anywhere else in the world. The Grampian region boasts the highest concentration and is home to the famous Malt Whisky Trail, which begins near Aberdeen and visits nine distilleries. However, distillery tourism and whisky bars are no longer just about traditional craft and the image of gents-of-acertain-age sipping their favourite tipple by log fires. There was a time when brown spirits lacked the hip-factor of clear spirits such as vodka and gin, but the times are changing. On the tourist front, The Scotch Whisky Experience, by Edinburgh Castle, offers visitors a seat in a fiberglass barrel for a swirling ride though the production process, finishing with the world’s largest whisky collection, more than 3,000 bottles. Technophiles can tap into their smartphones to play the Whisky Adventure Game, which leads them through Edinburgh’s city streets. ‘It’s a chance to explore different parts of the city, while learning some amazing facts along the way,’ says Susan Morrison, director and general manager of The Scotch Whisky Experience. For specialist bars, check out the eclectic décor of Whiski Bar on Edinburgh’s High Street, where the cult Black Bowmore is available on special request and one whisky cocktail is served in a teacup. That’s right, whisky cocktails. Gone are the days when adding a dash of cola could raise purists’ eyebrows. As Jo

Ellitt from The Macallan distillery says, ‘Whisky is a big part of cocktail culture. It’s a sophisticated drink, it’s no longer just akin to shortbread and bagpipes.’ The upmarket Tigerlilly on Edinburgh’s George Street employs some of the best mixologists in the country, and The Devil’s Advocate bar is experimenting with ingredients such as lavender bitters and fennel syrup. Drinking whisky straight is also broadening its appeal among both sexes. A women’s whisky club, the first of its kind in the country, was recently set up in the Pot Still on Hope Street in Glasgow, which has close to 500 varieties at the bar. Arisag in Merchant Square goes one step further, offering the chance to blend your own bespoke Scotch. Meanwhile, The Good Spirits Company off license on Bath Street is the place to stock up with blends concocted by the experts. Each of the country’s whisky-producing regions has its own character – the lowlands sweeter and less alcoholic. A good ‘nose’ might pick up peat, honey or even seaweed in the Island region. For those with a sweet tooth, the Glengoyne distillery in Killearn offers whisky and chocolate pairing – the perfect antidote to a wine and cheese. Perhaps healthier, too. Taken from the Gaelic ‘uisge beatha’ (water of life), whisky is believed to prevent dementia and heart attacks. Can it aid weight loss? As comedian Tommy Cooper once said, ‘I’ve been on the whisky diet – I’ve already lost three days!’ l

FASHIONISTA

Get feline eyes on the go with this travel-sized set. Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner Set, £27.55 / worlddutyfree.com

Add the finishing touch to your springtime ensemble with an elegant fedora hat. High crown fedora hat, Topshop, £32 / topshop.com

Give floral prints an edge with these heeled brogues. Secret Handshake lace up heels, ASOS, £40 / asos.com

Spring blooms Florals are back, this time in black and white, and for both women and men

These matching separates continue the trend of monochrome floral prints.

Words Georgina Yates

Feminine floral prints are given a sophisticated, monochrome edge in the season’s womenswear collections. Bold without being loud, Italian fashion house Max Mara sees women through the spring showers and into summer with macs, boots and rain hats with pretty micro-florals in a palette of black and white. Spring blooms in menswear, too, with the recent trend for psychedelic Flower Power looks getting the monochrome makeover. Topman Design splashed black and white floral prints over 60s-inspired knitwear for a retro ‘Woodstock’ look. 20

Black floral print contrast hem T-shirt and shorts, New Look, £12.99 / newlook.com

Coordinate your accessories for an overall look. Max Mara shows how to wear all-over floral prints.

Onyx woven biography bracelet, Astley Clarke, £95 / astleyclarke.com

It’s Woodstock meets Britpop for Topman Design.

Give a cheeky nod to the trend with a pair of printed socks. Paul Smith floral cotton-blend socks, Paul Smith, £17 / matchesfashion.com

Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s zinc edition Globe Trotter perfume case is fragrant travel companion. Purchase the Wardrobe for Him selection of perfume vials separately. ‘Zinc’ Globe Totter, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, £85 Fragrance Wardrobe for Him, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, £95, both at franciskurkdjian.com

Be bold in black and white. These suede shoes are sure to put some sophistication into your step.

Shirt with floral print, ASOS, £25 / asos.com

Houghton black suede H shoes, £85 / hudsonshoes.com

Embrace geek chic with these thick-rimmed frames. 0822 Black, Cutler and Gross, £295 / shop.cutlerandgross.com

BOSTON Day

Day & Night Words Tracey Petherick

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Night

From a Red Sox game to a Gay Pride festival, Boston and Miami offer 24/7 entertainment this spring

Boston is alive in spring with flower displays and the start of the baseball season. On 15 March follow the St Patrick’s Day Parade, then join the crowds in Stat’s Bar & Grille for a pint of Guinness. See the cherry blossom in Boston Public Garden 1 , across the street from the original Cheers bar, or discover the Secret Flower Sculptures at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum from 12 March. In April, Faneuil Hall Marketplace hosts an Easter egg hunt 2 while grown-ups can enjoy the pop-up eateries, artisan stalls and street performers.

Music lovers can get a pop fix with Massachusetts native Meghan Trainor 4 at the legendary Paradise Rock Club (18 March) while Celtic punk fans should check out the Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues (12-15 March). The best cocktails – and gourmet hotdogs – can be found at Trina’s Starlite Lounge or up the cool factor at Tres Gatos’ tapas bar-cumrecord store. Baseball is everywhere, with the Red Sox’s opening game on 13 April 3 . If you can’t get tickets, aim to see an evening game at Fenway sports bar the Cask n Flagon (their slowsmoked BBQ is a must).

MIAMI Day

Miami in spring equals sunshine and events galore. Take a speedboat tour of Biscayne Bay with Thriller Miami 2 , or check out The Data, Design & Display exhibition (through 19 April) at South Beach’s Art Deco museum, the Wolfsonian. Follow this with brunch at beachside courtyard restaurant, Cecconi’s. Don’t miss Carnaval, Miami’s Latin music, art and food fiesta from 1-15 March, culminating in the street party, Calle Ocho in Little Havana. April welcomes Miami Beach Gay Pride 1 . Get those suntanned abs out for the parade on 12 April.

2 4

Night Celebrate St Patrick’s Day on 17 March with a festival featuring DJs, Irish dancers and beer gardens in Brickell (try Fado’s Irish Pub). Catch a movie at the Miami International Film Festival (6-15 March), or some electronic music at Ultra Music Festival (27-29 March) 4 , The line up this year includes top names such as David Guetta and Tiesto. You’re spoilt for choice of nightlife at Miami South Beach 3 . Try the swanky Mansion club, or edgy Grand Central (April acts include rapper Talib Kweli). Wherever you party, finish up with a late night snack at La Sandwicherie in South Beach – open until 5am.

Virgin territory Facts to make you smile • Half of us brush our tongue when we brush our teeth. • On a night out, 80% of us would be more likely to talk to somebody we didn’t know if they smiled at us.

Keep smiling The British Dental Health Foundation shares advise on keeping teeth and gums healthy during longhaul flights on’t forget your toothbrush Always ensure you pack your toothbrush and toothpaste before flying. It might be a good idea to buy an extra travel brush and leave it in your case permanently.

location is a big temptation. It’s important to limit frequency of sugary snacks and drinks. The main cause of tooth decay is not the amount of sugar and acid in the diet, but how often it’s consumed. Keep any sugary foods to mealtimes only.

Maintain your brushing habits Despite long and sometimes unusual hours, it’s important that you continue to brush teeth twice a day for two minutes a time, using a fluoride toothpaste.

Maintain regular visits to the dentist Visiting a dentist is especially important when you plan to be away from home a lot, and could be without access to treatment and check-ups when abroad. A dentist will be able to spot any potential oral health problems in their early stages, and will give you advice on how to tackle them. l

Cut down on the frequency of sugary snacks Snacking while in the air and when arriving at your

General tips for healthy teeth

Do not brush teeth straight after eating or drinking, as the enamel on the teeth will have weakened.

It’s important to brush teeth before bed. During the night the flow of saliva, which is the mouth’s cleaning system, slows down.

Use a small to medium size toothbrush with soft to medium multi-tufted, round-ended nylon bristles.

Chewing sugar-free gum helps prevent tooth decay, as it produces more saliva which cancels out the acid caused by eating and drinking.

Food and drinks which are kindest to teeth include cheese, crackers, breadsticks, seeds, raw vegetables, plain water and milk.

• Teeth and smiles are rated the second most important attraction feature, after personality - more important, according to the body feature survey, than body shape, height, hair, face and eyes. • Almost 60% of us say we regularly floss, even though sales in the UK indicate that the true figure is actually more like 5%.

hange is in the Air! is the name we give to our sustainability strategy because we believe that sustainability means changing things for the better. It includes both our environment and community investment programmes. We’re consistently working to reduce our environmental impact. We’re reducing our greenhouse gas emissions with a more efficient fleet, helping drive the creation of sustainable aviation fuels, working to reduce our noise footprint, and focussing on better ways to manage our energy, vehicles, water and waste. We’re helping our designers, buyers and suppliers to create more sustainable supply chains, too. Want to do your bit? You can offset the carbon emissions associated with your journey. Our scheme, in partnership with The CarbonNeutral Company, helps finance renewable energy and resource conservation projects all over the world. Visit virginatlantic.com/changeisintheair and use the carbon calculator. We are also proud to support the work of Free The Children. Their mission is to create a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change. The UK schools’ programme empowers young people to discover the causes they care about, and to take action to address local and global issues of our time. For more information, visit freethechildren.com l

Our sustainability programme How Virgin Atlantic invests in both the environment and the community

Join Flying Club Get your membership off to a flying start by earning 750 miles* for the one-way Virgin Atlantic Little Red flight you have taken today. It’s free to join and you’ll earn Flying Club miles every time you fly with us* or use our network of airline, hotel or car rental partners. You can even claim miles for any flights taken on Virgin Atlantic in the past six months.* Ask a member of our cabin crew for an enrolment form now or register online at virginatlantic.com/joinonboard and soon you’ll be flying to fabulous destinations on us. *Excludes reward flights.

Virgin territory

Transfers As easy as ABC, Virgin Atlantic Little Red connections link London to the rest of the UK and the world Departures Shopping Food & drink

Flight connections Food & drink

Shopping

Terminal 2

Elevator

Escalator

Level 5: Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge

Food & drink

Level 4

Gates 21-26

Domestic to international connections London Heathrow Terminal 2 to Terminal 3

International to domestic connections London Heathrow Terminal 3 to Terminal 2

Here’s how we’ll connect you: ARRIVE: Simply step off the aircraft and our dedicated bus will be waiting for you. BUS: Board our bus and whizz over to Terminal 3. Then follow the Virgin Atlantic connection signs to your next flight. CHECK: You don’t have to do a thing. We’ll get all your checked baggage to the other side of the airport. The map above provides directions to the departure lounge.

Here’s how we’ll connect you: ARRIVE: At Terminal 3, follow the purple signs for Flight Connections. BUS: Then hop on the connections bus, which departs every six to ten minutes. Easy. CHECK: Just let security check your hand luggage before you go through passport control. Then just relax and enjoy the terminal facilities until your flight is ready to board.

Jeep with ®

It’s not busIness as usual. So you think you know Jeep? Think again. The all-new Cherokee doesn’t just offer outstanding performance off-road, it’s also guaranteed to stand out in the office car park. Its efficiency figures catch the eye too, returning 53.3mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 from only 139g/km.* New Cherokee models are also available with a range of fantastic features such as our award-winning 8.4” touch screen entertainment system, unique in-car wireless charging pad for mobile devices and adaptive cruise control. Hardly your average nine-to-five runaround, wouldn’t you say?

To book a test drive call our Business Centre on 01753 519442 or email us at fleet@jeep-comms.co.uk The all-new Jeep® Cherokee from only £279 per month† The all-new Jeep® Cherokee. Built Free.

jeep.co.uk/fleet Model shown is Cherokee 2.0 140 4x2 Longitude at £25,495 OTR excluding optional True Blue special paint at £625 OTR. FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE NEW JEEP® CHEROKEE DIESEL RANGE IN MPG (L/100KM): EXTRA URBAN 55.4 (5.1) – 61.4 (4.6), URBAN 39.8 (7.1) – 44.1 (6.4), COMBINED 48.7 (5.8) – 53.3 (5.3), CO2 EMISSIONS: 154 – 139 G/KM. Fuel consumption and

CO2 figures based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. *Figures based on 2.0 140 4x2 versions. †Business users only. Rentals based on Cherokee 2.0 140 FWD Longitude Plus on Contract Hire profile of 6 rentals in advance (equivalent of £1674) followed by 35 rentals of £279, excluding VAT and maintenance. Based on 10,000 miles p.a., excess mileage charges apply. Vehicles must be registered with Jeep Financial Services before 31st March 2015. Offer subject to status, guarantee and/or indemnity may be required. At participating dealers only. Jeep Financial Services, PO Box 4465, Slough, SL1 0RW. Chrysler and CNH Industrial are Official Global Partners of the Expo Milano 2015. Jeep® is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC.