TASTE LIVERPOOL AUGUST EDITION 2015

Welcome to the September edition of TASTE. This month we're really pleased to feature yet another amazing cross section of the best Liverpool has to offer. It can be a difficult task choosing who and what to review when the creative juices of this city show no signs of slowing down, but I discipline myself...

This month we eat too much at the Old Blind School and Yardbird restaurants, get a quick trim that takes years off me at Voodou and then go hang out with the Mayans in the World Museum. Our feet get a well­ deserved rub after all that action with some top quality reflexology and afterwards I give them another treat by slipping them into a pair of the best shoes yet to grace Liverpool's cobbles. Now I need to be seen right? So it's off to Blind Tiger for a Mai Tai and a flirt before trying out the bed springs in Hard Days Night hotel. Perhaps not alone...Tough life isn't it? Enjoy!

Jefferson Waters Editor

Contents Voodou Hair Salon Four Seasons Catering Elaine Davies Reflexology Fishlocks Florist Taste Buds The Hummingbirds music review Yardbird Restaurant Shay and Blue Fragrances The Old Blind School restaurant and venue John Henry Bensons shoes Blind Tiger bar The Olive Tree shop Hard Days Night Hotel The Mayas ­ World Museum Exhibition Directory

Voodou Hair www.voodou.co.uk) 98 Bold Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 4HY 0844 445 7889

Let's face it, we like to look good in this city and the abundance of hair and beauty salons proves that when it comes to putting on a good show we leave other cities standing. The weekend tradition of glamming up is alive and well and the grooming stakes are just as high now for the fellas as the ladies. Barbers shops proliferate and everyone knows an Auntie Sheila who can carry a pair of scissors in an emergency but nothing equals the experience of placing yourself in the hands of a really good salon. Voodou, with their five, thriving, award­winning salons can confidently deliver seriously cool hairstyles to both sexes whatever the request. Consistently regarded as the best hairdressers in Liverpool, the team all look like a dream (which is always a great advert) and if you had a style in mind you're almost immediately tempted to change it when you see theirs. These are people who know how to handle hair and the salon reflects this effortlessly. It's snappy and business is brisk so you will need to make an appointment (book on line) but from the minute you walk in you can relax and rest assured that you've made absolutely the right decision with this professional and well run salon. Coffee, magazines, genuine interest in you as a person ­ nothing is too much trouble and by the time you sit in the chair you're all bezzie mates.

Skilled, attentive, inspired, friendly but not over­familiar, these are essentials in the hair styling business and simple things that a lot of other salons get sooo wrong.

At Voodou you receive a really insightful interpretation of what you want done, (not what the stylist thinks you should

have) and if you've suffered at the hands of an inferior salon somewhere else then their 'Voodou Genius Bar' is a great service capable of turning any colour or cut disaster into a triumphant success. So if you've got more split­ ends than a wicker sofa or a tone that's more brass than class, place yourself in their loving hands ­ they can turn it around. Extensions, Shellac nail bar, Waxing and two different areas for guys and dolls so there's no sniggering, there's no end to their abilities or offers. With their half­price colour days, Loyalty card, Student and corporate discount, plus £10 off for 'Voodou Virgins' this is a chain of salons that retains devoted clients with ease and really, that is the best compliment as salon can receive. The stakes are high in Liverpool, probably more so than Manchester or London, and so to run five salons simultaneously speaks volumes for their abilities, which is why three different people asked me where I got my hair cut that night.

Four Seasons Catering Company www.fourseasonscateringcompany.com 0800 242 5128

Last summer I attended a wedding in Cheshire that was a really big deal. Buckets of money had been thrown at this affair and there were over three hundred guests for the luncheon. Everything was perfect; the weather, the best man's speech, the choice of floral displays (which perfectly complimented the table linen) everyone looked gorgeous, but none more so than the bride who looked like a Vera Wang model, there were tears of joy and it was a wonderful day. Just one thing...The food was terrible. And even though the happy couple left from the lawn by helicopter the only thing my stomach could remember about the day was how badly presented the starter was and who serves cold Yorkshire puddings at a wedding?

Clearly catering has the power to make or break an event so choosing the right people to host your event is crucial. In a world of silver foil trays under polythene there are still some companies that strive to put the excellence back into catering and Four Seasons Catering Company in Liverpool is one such company. With many years experience providing beautifully presented (strawberries carved into roses) and excellent food for weddings, family buffets and Corporate Events they can capably feed hundreds of guests with a wide and interesting selection of menus. With an amazing 24­hour turn around for events, finger buffets, themed cuisine and more formal affairs are all taken care of with the quiet confidence you look for in a catering company at events where lets face it, you've usually got other things to think about. Four Seasons are also able to lay on the staff for a truly in­house and 5­star service. Their website is clear and simple and offers a great range of culinary options whether they it's tried and tested favourites, vegetarian and vegan, children's' menus or just something more personalized and flexible ­ all requests are catered for. After the dry melon balls and cremated bruschetta in Cheshire

last year I've developed a healthy respect for the people

who

create

food

properly...

Elaine Davies Reflexology 07917 190311 Any kind of personal and natural therapy requires certain things to be a success and in recent years there has been a tendency to think that anyone with a diploma is immediately a natural expert at what they do. This is not the case, anymore than we would put our trust in anyone who had simply passed an exam and set themselves loose on the public. Experience, technique, appropriate surroundings, a natural talent and capability are vital to a pleasant experience, especially around feet.

As an ardent fan of reflexology I've visited practitioners all over the country. Once someone interrogated my tootsies in a shed in Cornwall in the rain and I was scared. Another time I was treated to a complete odyssey in sensation by a Chinese practitioner who was aged 96 and had the self­assured but gentle grip of an all­in wrestler. My feet felt as if they were three feet long and made out of rubber by the end of it and the state of bliss that I derived from merely walking thanks to her skill and handling stayed with me for the rest of that day. Not bad for twenty­five bucks.

I searched long and hard for an excellent reflexologist in the Liverpool area, someone who could repeat the experience and

I'm happy to say that I have. Elaine Davies is a very highly trained Reflexologist based in Woolton offering treatments that can help with an array of complaints and issues such as muscular pain, stress and anxiety, sleep disorders, hormonal imbalance (oh yes) fertility issues, pre­conceptual care and pregnancy care, stress related digestive disorders and any other health and well­being related conditions. Obviously her reflexology can help with relaxation,improves mood, assists sleep, relieves tension and can improve your sense of well­being, something where there's always room for improvement.

Who could have thought laying down and doing nothing could achieve so much? With treatments starting at £35 for the initial consultation and hourly at £30 thereafter it really is great value for an excellent service. Just one thing ­ male clients are by referral only but we know you'll understand that guys as Elaine works from her home, so treat the missus first!

Fishlocks 6 Castle Street, Liverpool L2 0NA ww.order@fishlocks.co.uk

People have been sending each other flowers since the Roman times and if it's a non verbal gesture of love and affection you want to make, there is still nothing in the world like a huge, gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Over the last twenty years there have been attempts to standardize floral gifts by creating menus that emphasize speed rather than quality. This does a disservice to both the flowers and the recipients. Pizza we want quickly ­ flowers we want with thought and care.

Operating in the fine old tradition of a proper florist, Fishlocks have been creating beautiful floral displays in Liverpool for years and their reputation is as immediate here as say Moyses Stevens or Paula Pryke in London. When I first moved to Liverpool I needed to send flowers one day and asked a colleague where was the best florist in town and without hesitation he replied 'Fishlocks' No discussion.

They remind me of florists in Paris, buckets of fat, ravishing roses in arresting colours, all the work services strewn with high­performance orchids and 'working' seasonal flowers being twisted and arranged into truly wonderful presentations and a pavement display outside of potted gems to stop you in your tracks. With a generous repertoire of floral displays and occasions designed for, plus all the balloons, cards, chocolates, teddy bears....(Steiff, no less) wine, champagne and vases

that accompany fine flowers these days, Fishlocks are really on top of their game. The little unit in L1 next to H Samuel on Wall Street is a pleasant surprise as well, greatly enhancing what the architects didn't realize might become a windy and cavernous cut through to the main shopping action. We recommend their Peony hand­tied bouquet which starts at £30 and captures perfectly the casual chic of modern floristry, (no arranging required, just plonk it in water) andand is perfect for pretty much everything you might want to say with flowers. But if you really want to leave them speechless the Ultimate Grand Prix 100 red rose bouquet finished with diamante pins is a thing of absolute beauty and pretty much the pinnacle of what's available in the North West. Yes please.....

...Taste buds...

As we’ve come to expect from

this hyper­active and hungry city, the culinary landscape has changed yet again with several notable additions this month.

By far one of the most exciting is the new restaurant Vincent Cafe and Bar at Exchange Flags. Right in the heart of the commercial district it’s the perfect venue for a business lunch that includes top drawer sushi or Afternoon tea in an elegant and super­hip environment. Dress code applies, quite right......which brings us nicely to Dapper on Bold Street that has a sale on at the moment. Great news for lovers of D&G denim and the discount makes a big difference, believe me...............if you’re looking for a restaurant that looks the part in the summer sunshine then Amalia is a real winner. Enjoy modern Italian cuisine like Pollo Chicken light enough for lunch without needing a lay down afterwards, why not enjoy it in their courtyard terrace surrounded by stunning box­trees and far enough off the main drag to feel like you’re in Verona.......our favourite artists are creating some fantastic work this Summer, like Jefferson Waters 'Burnt Tuxedo' above. Check out more cool pieces and cutting edge ideas at www.dot­art.co.uk galleries on line....gin is experiencing a revival and it’s a great beverage in the summer, light, sharp and straight to the point. Jenever, the new gin bar on Hope St are Liverpool’s newest enthusiasts and their temple to all things distilled is a lush little stop off before (or after) the Everyman. We recommend a Little

Bird

on

crushed

ice.....

The Hummingbirds Gig ­ Ex­Serviceman's Club Band

Has the X­Factor given us 'talent fatigue'? Are we no longer impressed by an act unless they have two hundred dancers and a full backing choir with flames surrounding the stage? Well, thank god for a return to real talent showcased as nothing more and nothing less. The Hummingbirds have been quietly reviving the Liverpool music scene, which lets face it, has to be the most ferociously competitive and most demanding indie music region in the world. It's one thing following a tough act, but Liverpool created the best band in the history of everything so nubies have a daunting task if they want to make their

mark here to say the

least.

Hummingbirds

The I'm

please to say, are doing just that. Their 5­piece ensemble

acoustic have

made the jump from devoted

local

following to such things as supporting Reef at the O2 Arena and touring the country all in a relatively

short

space of time. With their fresh spin on stuff that feels like strangely mis­laid Oasis tracks, the tongue­ in­cheek sauciness of the Coral, the ballsy indifference of the La's (a bit) and of course, the DNA­inherited noises that were in John, Paul, George and Ringo's heads which inform every musical progeny that hails from this city. If they didn't sound a bit like the Beatles something would be terribly wrong and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the Hummingbirds.

The crowd love them and they sing along unprompted and with a gusto that is contagious. They write all their own stuff, which three or four tracks in, really starts to hit home with a surprising quality and you would be forgiven for thinking you were listening to a band with a much longer vintage. Cream always rises to the top and as well as coming up with their own original and great sound they look the part as well. Both on stage and Cream always rises to the top and as well as coming up with their own original and great sound they look the part as well. Both on stage and off as a band they're all on the same page, focused and professional and bang on trend, no vi sable loose­wheels in the shape of a grumpy drummer or a wobbly vocalist spoiling any of it. All this confirms in our minds that we will be reading reviews about the Hummingbirds in another five years time in larger publications when they've caught up with us. It's very reassuring that in an age of over­hyped, thin on substance bands and acts that we are supposed to be in awe of elsewhere in the country, Liverpool still has something in it's bricks and mortar that shapes brilliant music and we turn out high quality musicians with vision, skill and front. Please don't forget us when you're huge.

Yardbird ­ 60 Berry St, Liverpool L1 4JQ Restaurant Chicken. When you see it laying in the street even other birds eat it, which strictly speaking is cannibalism but hey,...Who doesn't like chicken? Yardbird doesn't just supply fried chicken. Other places do that. Yardbird takes you on a journey. I like to feed my eyes as much as much stomach and the truth is that this restaurant looks so damn cool, especially at night, even vegans are thinking twice. From the stripped wood and neon interior right down to the row of ironic rubber chickens hanging upside down in a friendly parody of the gaff over the road (?) it's David Lynch meets KFC. Actually, Yardbird has done something KFC never did which is to restore the reputation of fried chicken before it became lost forever under the burgeoning and endless parade of copy­cat nugget and fag­end establishments who aim their culinary horizons no higher than 3am hang­over food to to throw at each other in a fight.

In this establishment you can marvel at such inspired culinary acrobatics as 'Machine Gun Funk' a salt and pepper fried breast fillet served with speared watermelon and chili cheese waffle or push your boundaries with the doubtful sounding/delightful tasting 'Sweet and Hot 5­knuckle Shuffle' panko crusted jerk chicken fingers with fried bananas. More Deep South voodoo than Chinatown, this little chicken shack is gaining cult following as much for the blindingly original menu as it's Tarantino­friendly ambiance Refilled coffee, that most American of diner traditions is at last becoming a feature in this country and looks set to eclipse anywhere that insults it's customers by charging each time, and after the sun has set enjoy all Collins cocktails for a fiver. I can vouch personally for the Colonel Parker Hard shake (milkshakes for big boys and girls) which is four roses bourbon, vanilla ice cream & peanut butter.After three of these you can call me Daisy Duke and watch me slide over your bonnet which is perhaps not advisable into the on­coming traffic of Berry Street. Yardbird is more than just a fried chicken restaurant. It is an ttitude. A lifestyle choice. It is a slice of dark­ edged Louisiana for today's nocturnal urban dudes nd dudettes with more .suss to them than Colonel nders

Shay and Blue ­ John Lewis Perfume Our choice of fragrance is as important a part of our grooming regimen as the clothes we wear and the way we style our hair. It is our signature, the thing we want people to know when we first meet them and then to recognize about us after we become friends. Our calling card if you will, and the major perfumery companies have long recognized this intimate fact. The choice for both men and women (and unisex) is over­whelming today and most modern fragrance wearers have a selection for day, night, special events or day­wear. In short, perfume is as popular now as when the Egyptians first melted Myrrh cones on their heads. The names in the game at this end of the market are legends: Chanel, Creed, Kilian, Penhalligons, Balmain, Tom Ford, and after a cursory wander with our nostrils around The Beauty Bazaar even those of us with a very clear idea of how we would like to smell can get distracted to say the least. Well, hold on to your shnozz because Shay and Blue are finally available in Liverpool at John Lewis in L1 and they are a perfumery company that it's an absolute joy to be distracted by. I've got quite a good nose, in fact people are often surprised by my olfactory capabilities and I have a really good memory for scent but nothing I have ever encountered before could prepare me for this wonderful range of perfumes.

They take perfume into a completely new sphere of sensation, blurring the lines between smell and experience until it almost over­laps into the world of taste. Yes. That's right. This is perfume that will set your taste­buds off on a weirdly wonderful direction which is saying something these days.

Ex head of Chanel Dom de Vetta and perfurmier­it girl Julie Massey have created award­winning fragrances that bridge a lovely gap between scent and experience, creating fragrance to make memories with, for example the Salt Caramel is a dream to wear and you spend the whole day smelling like a freshly baked cookie. The Atropa Belladonna promises hallucinations and god help me, I did feel deliciously altered after a few deep inhalations. Power of suggestion? Who cares, it's a wonderful fragrance. Blood oranges, Sicilian limes, watermelon, almond cucumber ­ this stuff if more appetizing than the contents of my refrigerator and with candles as well, you too can waft around in your own personal envelope of bliss all day. Real winners ­ absolutely love them. Shunted Tom Ford off the 'wear me' top spot from the day I tried it. Literally addictive and in Liverpool at last.

recommends....

The Old Blind School 24 Hardman Street, Liverpool L1 9AX restaurant/bar/venue

The Old Blind School is a beautiful building. Grade 2 architecture always looks a treat when the decades of grime and fumes have been rinsed off it's lovely sandstone face, but recent transformation is more than a cosmetic scrub­up. It's a Lazarus­ like return to pre­eminence. From outside it feels as if this building actually approves of it's sympathetic renovation and new incarnation as most handsome new restaurant/bar/venue in town. The welcoming vibe greets you the moment you enter, like a house you might want to buy, and after many years of reviewing restaurants it was with an unexpected thrill that this jaded bon vivante took a table in anticipation at owners Paul Newman and David Mooney's newest venture. Its a big old gaff and as you absorb the faded grandeur of the place it's hard not to imagine that you're lunching at a country health farm or some similar stately pile, it's such a good­looking building. This place is going to be an absolute winner on all fronts I think, but particularly as a venue to host special occasions. I looked around me at all the other equally chuffed diners and noticed how happy we all looked. When a back­drop makes everyone look good enough for a Vogue shoot you know the place has massive potential There is a phenomena (appropriate for this place) called 'food blindness' which is the inability to see something on a menu that you want because everything sounds so appetizing and as Escoffier once

warned

us,

presentation

is

paramount and firstly we must feed our eyes. So here's a quick blizzard of particularly eye­catching delights before I tell you what I eventually chose (and thanks to my waiter Paul who was a faultless exemplar of the profession by waiting very patiently while I took bloody ages to decide), how about the vodka­cured sea bass for only eight quid, squash and chestnut crumble, Gressingham duck breast with black­pudding hash cake and Vimto gravy (deliciously Northern) the Rossini house burger with melting blue cheese and pate, or the 'Brain Blaster' a knockout burger made with fresh chillies, smoked paprika onion rings, sweet chili picked beef and topped with a charred scotch bonnet (great for jaded palettes?) and then the 'Spice Girl' char grilled chicken escalope finished with the house sweet­chili dressing. tempura king prawns and a crunchy sweet and sour slaw. Enough

to slow even Mel B down.Lord have mercy! Leave your diet at the door and raise a toast to Epicurus. This is a restaurant to eat in and after you've reached the bliss full state of satisfaction that can only come from eating proper food cooked in an interesting way, you can go back to admiring the outrageous charm of the place. Anyway, I went for the 'Gros Steak Francais' a taste­bud boggling fantasy of char­grilled steak rubbed affectionately with cracked peppercorns and topped with blue cheese and onion rings then coated with a Diane sauce and a cheeky grilled tomato like a kiss at the bottom of a love letter to my stomach. I think it's fair to

say I will be eating here again and if your tongue is alive and well you should too.

John Henry Bensons Mens Shoes Bluecoat Chambers Decent footwear is the sort of thing that once discovered becomes a vocation for both men and women alike. There's no going back after you've had a Church's on your foot. Ladies have this understanding already, but lot of gentlemen are perhaps put off by the idea of paying £350 for a pair of shoes because they're judging them through the perspective of £35 ones. It's only leather, it's not that important, etc, etc. This is like saying it's the same experience to drive around all day in a Renault Clio as it is in an Aston Martin. To reflect this aspiration of quality, Debenhams and John Lewis have dipped nervous toes into high end footwear with Loake and Berwick but their heart isn't really in it which left us hopelessly dependent on Flannels for everything nice. Again. Thankfully here in Liverpool, a city renowned for it's willingness to cough up for quality, there is at last a dedicated shoe shop with a very classy selection of work and evening footwear for fellas that is the perfect fit. John Henry Bensons has a wide choice of formal and casual shoes from such fine companies as Church's, Barkers, Gaziano & Girling, Sebago and Tricker,shoes in other words guaranteed to finish your outfit perfectly whatever the occasion. Shoes say a lot about people and we've all seen the tragic consequences if a guy is wearing a really nice suit but chose to stick a pair of faded Cornish pasties in the wrong shade of brown on his feet to finish it off. Utterly destroys the whole look. The thing about well­made and hand shoes is not only will you look a million bucks in them, they won't rub or make your feet ache. Test it. Write to me if I'm wrong, but prove you had the right size (men tend to do with shoes what some ladies do with braziers ­ squeeze in regardless of the pain). If it's the correct size, your foot will feel as if encased in a loving glove of leather and no amount of pavement assault will detract from the comfort. In fact, good shoes get better with walking, they soften and yield and shape to the individuals foot shape in a way mass­ produced and 'fashion' footwear from the high street never could. The

materials are simply not of a high enough standard and the item was manufactured too quickly to include enduring or lasting quality. At J H Bensons you can find the shoes all displayed beautifully on Regency style tables in an atmosphere of casual elegance. You feel like you're making a selection at say, your Gentleman's Club, rather than the frantic shoe­horning of the high­street cobblers who make you feel as if you're trying shoes on in the middle of Tesco's. All the shoes are well within reach compared to how much cash dinner and a club could burn through, and when a pair of these glossy walnut gems still feel like slippers in three years time and you're genuinely grieving when they have to go in the bin, they will have paid for themselves a dozen times over, no?

Blind Tiger 14 Pembroke Place, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 5PX Bar and restaurant

A parallel universe of 50's down­town shanghai, an incense veil of late­night lounge­culture, the kind of place Suzy Wong gets bladdered...all of these descriptions miss the mark when it comes to describing Seel streets latest addition to Liverpool's nightlife. The last time I was in a city that saw this many cool bars come and go it was New York, and as an ex­ Londoner my mates in the Smoke still can't quite work out why I haven't allowed myself to be dragged back to the churning vortex that is the West End. This is why. The scene in Liverpool is so effortlessly fresh and original that a bar like Blind Tiger opens and we merely greet it as a happy addition. If this were Hull or Torquay we would be giving thanks at a shrine outside that such a seriously styled and cool place had finally opened for us. This bar grows on you like a tattooed panther snaking over your relaxed shoulders and as you prop yourself at the bar insisting on another Mai Tai, your mood drifts happily up and away in this lacquered box of a venue. Opium­esque in it's laid­backness, the concept of drunken trouble is so far away from what this bar is about that it seems ridiculous as thankfully Blind Tiger is another quality venue judiciously steering a different course on Seel Street and leaving the testosterone­fueled antics to the chain boozers et al in Town. A contemporary dim sum late night diner with entertainment, the patrons and staff in Blind Tiger understand the value of quality leisure time and are way too interested in not only enjoying themselves, but contributing to the enjoyment their beloved patrons to be worrying about binge­drinking brawls or spilled pint histrionics. It's just not what this bar is about and I can assure you that you would be as comfortable in here at 2am as you would 2pm.

Described by creative director Peter Kane as: "An Asian style speakeasy

and

cocktail

destination, with full table service and hostessing and bespoke signature drinks list created by Daniel Cunningham' this is the sort of intimate, tasty little bar that would impress a first date and be fine to steer business contacts into at the end of an evening. Intimate little

alcoves

conversation

make

seem

every

deliciously

naughty and when you do finally have to leave the place stays with you like an enigmatic secret. With the Hung Gar Kung Fu

Academy performing the ceremonial "sleeping lion" dance to bestow blessings of fortune and good luck on the place on their opening night, all we can do is concur and wish them a long and healthy life.

The Olive Tree 61 Renshaw St, 0151 708 8780

About half way along Renshaw Street you can often be pleasantly surprised by a sudden blast of Nag Champa which washes over you like a breeze from the Orient in a Liverpool street more typically known for car fumes. It never fails to intrigue and like spiritual bloodhounds we follow the incense to it's location and one of Liverpool's most loved shops. The Olive Tree describes itself as 'a spiritual resource center' but for it's hordes of adoring fans it has always been so much more than that. A refuge of colour and cheer, philosophical literature,tarot decks incense, bells, cushions, scarves, crystals, singing bowls, buddhas....this cornucopia of the exotic seems endless and almost slightly surreal as it floods out of the door into the grey beyond. The atmosphere is unsurpassed. Customers often linger, many try to move in.The ambiance and welcome,

created

of

course

by

the truly wonderful and friendly owner Somaia and her staff, creates the sort of place where you can relax instantly. Shops like this are a rarity at the best of times and the actual merchandise refuses to fit into the mainstream definition of a shop that is so favoured by the chain stores. But that it's magic and charm. It's exactly this kind of 'hand made' shop that reminds us of bazaars and markets, the curiosity shops of old where anything might be discovered to delight and astound. Under Somaia's carefully selected and loving influence the Olive Tree effortlessly creates the warm sensation of visiting someone in their home which in turn makes each customer a friend. This spirit of retail seems to be under direct threat from high­ speed, maximum profit multi­nationals but not here. In this divine little place the Olive Tree's loyal fan­base is growing and interest in 'spiritual resources' thriving more than ever. Check out the many night classes and functions that they hold as well, like 'Tea and Tarot' and the Louise Hay Positivity Workshops, Angel Card Readings and meditation classes. Also firm supporters of local art and fair trade suppliers, the Olive Tree sets a fine standard for ethical consumerism with a cheerful and genuine smile.We love them x

Hard Days Night Hotel Central Buildings, North John Street, Liverpool L2 6RR Boutique Hotel When I review hotels I like to experience them in 'real time' or as a genuine traveler and tourist might, so obviously, I stay there. Bit strange when I can see my apartment from the window but I'm committed to the true experience. Also, it's probably a good idea to point out that I chose the Lennon Suite which is one of a pair of premier rooms in this iconic hotel in the heart of the city (the other being the McCartney Suite, of course) and that perhaps I should have chosen something a little less....fabulous, but sorry. This hotel is a great hit with the visitors to Liverpool who are Beatles fans to the point of extremity.

And why not? We're extraordinarily proud of having given the fab four to the world and this hotel showcases with a taste and restraint that would have been buried under an avalanche of over­sentimentality if handled in the States. The building is a ravishing Victorian edifice and the interior clings to it with inspired verve, the ambiance and staff more genuine than the trough of potted orchids and freeze­dried smile that other hotels pass off as a welcome to their guests and as I was taken up to my suite we enjoyed a really pleasant chat. The perks meet the eye of the price for this room (£500 per night) which is a pleasant surprise and my particular 'deal­breakers' were the Monsoon shower, fresh flowers (so often over­looked) and the roof­top views across the city which combine to make you feel that you are staying in a quality city 'boutique' hotel that could hold it's own outside of the capital in the way they manage in comparable European towns like Barcelona, Nice, Dublin or St Petersburg.

There is a white grand piano (I don't play) and you'd be forgiven for thinking that John and Yoko had just slipped out and you were waiting for them to return, but the theme doesn't get too stodgy. It's important to make the experience your own and the level of service and attention to detail make this stay feel like it's all yours. If you're planning a short stay and you want things taken care of for you with a four star aspiration greatest musical legend, then this hotel is it

Mayas ­ Revelation of an Endless Time The World Museum William Brown Street The sign of a really good exhibition is how it stays with you after your visit. Like most people, my understanding of the Maya was sketchy, involved quite a lot of unpleasant and bloodthirsty notions of human sacrifice, heart offerings and all that, none of which was made any easier after watching Mel Gibson's hair­raisingly epic movie 'Apocalypto' and I also had a vague idea that the Maya were quite bad at predicting the end of the world even though their calendars seem to warn us about it fairly regularly. Some books were written about it, some ancient conspiracies voiced, but on the whole the thing we know about the Mayan is that their culture collapsed suddenly after a doomed encounter with the Spanish in the 15th century. After visiting the new exhibition 'Mayas ­ Revelations of an Endless Time' at the World Museum my respect and appreciation for them has experienced a profound and vertiginous overhaul.

These artefacts, ceramics, bas relief, sculpture, jewelry and funeral treasures tell us of a highly sophisticated and creative civilization who's penetrating ideas about space and time radically transformed their understanding of the cosmos, and whilst their rituals were indeed gruesome, their contribution to the art of the world is uniquely beautiful and profound. At a time when in Britain we were struggling to rise out of the peat bogs, these people were adorning themselves with jade amulets, building stone structures higher than anything else man­made in the Americas and attempting to answer logically the riddles of time and space itself.

A humbling appreciation descends upon you as you tour this wondrous exhibition, and for an experience that is free to us here in Liverpool, (but please contribute if you can) I could not give a more glowing endorsement.

In fact, strolling slack­jawed from one

lush

sandstone

display

avenue to another you cannot but marvel at the sheer logistics of staging an exhibition this well. Just moving ordinary lumps of stone three

thousand

miles

and

reassembling them in a different city would be daunting, but all the treasures on display are priceless and over a thousand years old. Dropping anything is not an option.Produced in collaboration with the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico, this exhibition forms part of the 2015 'Year of Mexico in the UK' and a finer assemblage of cultural glory will not be found in this city this year. Congratulations to all involved. Get along while you can and see the beauty behind the jaguar...

We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Taste, next month we’ll be rounding up more amazing things to do in this fantastic city, until then, thanks for reading.

Lifestyle – Food – Drink – Arts – Culture

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