Rare Winter 2019

Complimentary

RARE Food Travel People Life

Time for gin o’clock?

Spiced rhubarb cake recipe Heckfield Place: The wait is over AN island in the mountains Rare brand founder stories The wellness retreat Cosy up to luxury knitwear lifestyle edit: CHANGING WITH THE SEASONS

Issue 02 Winter 2018

make shopping rare again!

At the Rare Brand Market we are passionate about uncovering brands and supporting small, interesting independents. We celebrate all products and services, as long as they are rare!

Visit us at one of our pop-up lifestyle shopping events or why not join The Rare Brand Club, our new online free personal shopping service.

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To Join our C lub there is no charge. Simply sign up on our homepage and we will personally assist you to find the rare product or service you require. It may be for someone in your life or it may be for you!

Please visit our website to find out more about our 2018 pop-up lifestyle shopping events which run throughout the year in fabulous venues.

www.therarebrandmarket.co.uk

welcome Welcome to the third issue of RARE, our in-house magazine celebrating all things RARE in Food,Travel, People and Life.

The third issue of our seasonal publication reflects the festive season, a time when we celebrate all the things we love with our dearest family and friends.

The magazine is organised into Food, Travel, People and Life sections to make it easier to flick through and get to what you’re interested in! All the Rare and Emerging brands featured are Independents we work with through our pop-up markets and events and love shining the spotlight on!

Don’t miss our rare winter getaways – whether you’re searching for sun or snow, move away from the crowd and discover those more unique destinations. We’ve even helped you by recommending what to pack for your holiday in the snow. Treat yourself and others by picking an independent brand from our Christmas spirits drinks trolley, feast on gourmet foods and entertain in style with our selection of festive homeware.

My company, The Rare Brand Market, celebrates independent brands and products that are genuinely RARE and which often have the most wonderful back stories.

If you love what we are doing, whether you are a customer or own a rare brand yourself, then please join our Club! For customers, you get FREE Personal Shopping and for brands we will help you engage more with your target customers via pop-up retail, social media, social media etail advertising and PR. We think shopping should be totally pleasurable and believe there is an art to shopping wisely.

Life is about Engagement…we just love it to be Rare….

We are looking forward to taking you on our rare journey through 2019. We love to hear from rare brands who would like to be a part of our events next year and welcome customers. Please follow us on social media Instagram@ rarebrandmarket, Twitter@TheRareBrand, Facebook The Rare Brand Market.

Emma Schwarz, Founder

RARE 6

Food Travel 12

TIME FOR GIN O’CLOCK?

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BLACKBERRY BIRCHER MUESLI

SPICED RHUBARB CAKE

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HARVEST BROTH

CHOCOLATE, ORANGE AND BEETROOT BROWNIES

THE WAIT IS OVER

People Life

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AN ISLAND IN THE MOUNTAINS

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knitwear: founder story

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english wine: FOUNDER STORY

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WELLNESS RETREAT - OUR EDIT!

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jewellery: founder story food: founder story

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cashmere: FOUNDER STORY

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COSY UP TO THOSE IN THE KNOW

LIFESTYLE EDIT: CHANGING WITH THE SEASONS

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FOOD GATHER ROUND THE CHRISTMAS DRINKS TROLLEY! WRITTEN BY HILARY PARSONS

Impress friends and family at Christmas time by serving gin with a twist – this versatile spirit is simply wonderful accompanied by ice, your favourite tonic water and your choice of ‘slice’.

But, because it’s Christmas, you can liven up the party with a gin-based cocktail or adventure into the world of gin liqueurs. This spirit allows you to cater to everyone’s taste.

Here are some of The Rare Brand Market’s favourite finds:

For the complete production...

Copper Rivet Distillery is the only spirit maker in Kent, and one of only a handful that undertakes the complete process of brewing and distilling from grain to glass, thereby ensuring a premium range of distinctive spirits. Dockyard Gin is a contemporary take on traditional naval gins and celebrates the Distillery’s home of Chatham Dockyard. Dry, with GIN subtle citrus hints and spicy aromatic flavours, enjoy For small-batch production... with your favourite tonic and a slice of grapefruit.

Cabin Pressure Spirits have up-scaled since the early days of Dockyard Gin 50cl £29 www.copperrivetdistillery.com experimenting in a garden shed in Horsham, West Sussex.

However, the small-batch method is still evident through For the hand-picked botanicals... the use of the tiny 2 Litre capacity Nano-Still (likely to Slake Spirits combines small-batch production and be the world’s smallest in commercial operation) with the use of aromatic edibles to capture the taste of the its vacuum pump which gently bathes the six botanicals, seasons, Sussex by the sea and the South Downs. An preserving their subtle flavours that would be lost using autumn-har vest gin in which hand foraged hedgerow the traditional high temperature approach. In addition, fruit meets traditional spice, with a soft, almost floral the carefully selected botanical ingredients are ground by finish. The dragon featured on the bottle represents hand in a pestle and mortar and the final tipple is bottled in the unknown and reflects the mysteries from the elegant ceramic which ensures a more stable temperature natural world at the heart of Slake Spirits. Slake than glass and protects the product from light. Vacuum Hedgerow Gin 500ml £38 www.slakespirits.com Distilled Gin 500ml £34. www.cabinpressurespirits.com

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For serving with food...

Pinkster Gin has been around since 2013 when founder, Stephen Marsh was advised to give up beer and wine for medical reasons. Gin was a suitable alternative.

Keen to make a less bitter gin, Stephen experimented adding fresh fruit to the juniper and finally found his perfect recipe using raspberries. Pinkster is only produced when raspberries are in season, and nothing is wasted, with the gin-soaked raspberries being used to produce Boozy Berries and Gin Jam. Look out for their Hedgepig range of gin liqueurs, perfect ser ved with puddings, and better still proceeds are given to the British Hedgehog Preser vation Society. Pinkster Gin 70cl £35. www.pinkstergin.com For a smokey taste...

Inspired by her dad’s love of cooking with unusual herbs and spices and time in the US where entrepreneurship was strongly encouraged, founder of Willow Tree Distilling, Mary, grows the herbs on her family farm in Bedfordshire and selectively smokes the botanicals to give this gin its distinctive flavor. Willow Tree Gin 50cl £38. www.willowtreedistilling.co.uk

For the international influence...

Jarrold’s Gin uses 7 botanicals including Persian Limes or Noomi Basra, a key ingredient found in Iraqi dishes. This awardwinning* gin is a traditional London Dry Gin (a term which denotes a quality standard of production) but updated with a heavier note of juniper reflecting traditional Dutch Genevers. *Silver Outstanding IWSC 2018.

Jarrold’s London Dry Gin 70cl £38.50. www.drinkjarrolds.co.uk For rare botanicals...

Fishers Gin combines London dry gin and classic gin botanicals with more unusual finds, all native to the Suffolk coast – spignel, rock samphire, wood aven and bog myrtle. Fishers Gin 50cl £39.95. www.fishersgin. com

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For a winter warmer...

Beautiful bottles and intriguing names come courtesy of Gin Kitchen including Gutsy Monkey Winter gin, Blushing Monkey (yes, you guessed it, a pink gin) and Dancing Dragontail Summer Gin. Discover bold, earthy croatian juniper, fresh lime zest, fresh ginger and fresh thyme, Jamaican allspice, coriander seed, black pepper and a touch of cumin for warmth in Gutsy Monkey. Unconventional garnish of lime zest, sage leaves and red bell pepper brings out the wonderful aromatics. Gutsy Monkey Winter Gin 70cl £49 www. gin.kitchen For a neat gin...

Give your resident mixologist a rest as Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin is crafted to stand up on its own.

Simply ser ve over ice. Conker Spirit, Dorset’s first gin distillery make a small-batch gin from British wheat spirit, ten select botanicals and New Forest Spring water. Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin 70cl £35.75 www.conkerspirit.co.uk

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For a devilish gin...

The dramatic label found on Mayfield Sussex Distillery Hop Gin depicts the story of one of the encounters between St Dunstan & The Devil in the picturesque Sussex village of Mayfield. “Saint Dunstan, as the story goes, once pull’d the Devil by the nose with red-hot tongs which made him roar that he was heard three miles or more”. Besides folklore, East Sussex has a rich heritage of hop farming and the Sussex Hop with its citrus character is this gin’s signature botanical.

Mayfield Gin 70cl £32.75 www.mayfieldgin.com For a twist...

Two Birds keep the taste of summer alive with Two Birds rhubarb gin, distilled in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Or, for something quintessentially English and perfect for sipping on a winter’s evening, try Two Birds Sloe Gin, using handpicked, hedgerow sloes infused with award-winning London Dry Gin. Two Birds Rhubarb Gin 70cl £35. Two Birds Sloe Gin 26% 70cl £33. www.twobirdsspirits.co.uk

For a gin liqueur...

Join the craze for gin-based liqueur with Dampneys Remarkable Raspberry. Made with naturally ripened fruit from the New Forest, the berries are steeped in spirit to draw out the intense raspberry flavour. Try it as a warming winter ‘shot’, embellish a glass of bubbly or simply add tonic to enjoy. Remarkable Rasberry Gin 50cl £20. www.remarkabledrinks.co.uk/ And for those who dare to venture beyond the realms of gin, The Rare Brand Market has picked two rum brands and a mead to whet your appetite.

RUM The Rare Brand Market was delighted to welcome Aluna Coconut Rum to its markets this year. A winner at the World Rum Awards, Aluna Coconut is made with all-natural toasted coconut blended with rums from Guatemala and the Caribbean. It contains a fraction of the sugar found in other coconut rums and using pure, sustainably sourced coconut water gives a smoother and even stronger coconut flavour. Please visit www. alunacoconut.com/ser ves/ for great cocktail ideas including the delicious Aluna Hot Chocolate. Aluna Coconut 70cl £24.95 www.alunacoconut.com

English Spirit, based in a sleepy corner of Essex between the fabulously named Steeple Bumpstead and Belchamp Walter, claims to distill the world’s widest variety of spirits and liqueurs under one roof. Its Old Salt Rum was the first commercially produced rum in the UK. Using no salt and Black Strap molasses instead of sugar cane syrup as a base makes production trickier but we think it’s worth the effort. Ser ve neat, or with ginger beer, ice and a chunk of lime. Makes a delicious Mojito too. Old Salt Rum 50cl £36 www.englishspirit. uk MEAD Gosnells of London Mead Founder, Tom Gosnell first chanced upon mead whilst in Maine, USA. Now based in a London industrial unit, dubbed the Honey Cupboard, Gosnells launched their first vintage mead made with 100% local, raw London honey last month. Whilst their original Gosnells of London uses a Spanish Orange Blossom honey, this limited-edition mead uses honey sourced from hives in Woodberry Wetlands N16 and Lea Bridge Road E10, and is brewed to a stronger, more celebratory 12.5%.

Gosnells of London Vintage Mead 2018 limited edition 70cl £25 www.gosnells.co.uk

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wellness wednesdays recipe

CARROT CAKE BLISS BALLS PREP TIME 10 MINS. SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS 2 cups desiccated coconut 2 small carrots, quartered (120 grams) 12 medjool dates, seeds removed 1/4 cup raisins 1 tablespoon RARE PIP & NUT SMOOTH ALMOND BUTTER 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon concentrated natural vanilla extract pinch of salt METHOD Place the ingredients into your food processor and blend at high speed until the mixture is broken down and sticking together when pressed.

Use your hands to shape the mixture into balls.

Roll the balls through extra desiccated coconut if desired.

Place in the fridge to set.

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wellness wednesdays recipe

FESTIVE RED SALAD PREP TIME 20 MINS. SERVES 12-15

INGREDIENTS 1 red cabbage about 650g 2 small red onions, diced 2 red apples, cored and diced 250g pack cooked beetroot, diced 50g walnut pieces, roughly chopped

2 large oranges  5 tbsp RARE PAULA COLL XIMENEZ SHERRY VINEGAR 3 tbsp RARE BRISCOE’S CRANBERRY & PORT JELLY 2 tbsp clear honey 2 tbsp olive oil

METHOD Cabbage, red onion, apple and beetroot - all the brightest purple fruit and veg makes up this winter salad with sweet vinaigrette.

Quarter the cabbage, then cut out the white core at the bottom and discard. Finely shred the cabbage and tip into a large mixing bowl with the onions, apples, beetroot and walnuts. Finely grate over the zest from the oranges.

Cut a little from the top and bottom of each orange, so they sit flat on your work surface. Use a small, serrated knife to cut away the peel and pith in strips down the orange. Holding each orange over a bowl, cut away the segments, letting them and any juice drop into the bowl. Squeeze any juice left in the membranes into the bowl, too. Fish out the segments, roughly chop and add to the salad.

Whisk the sherry vinegar, cranberry & port jelly, honey and oil into the orange juice with some seasoning, then stir into the salad. Will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge.

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wellness wednesdays recipe

LIMONCELLO MERINGUE PIE TIME 1 Hr 15 MINS + Chilling SERVES 8

INGREDIENTS 375g Sweet shortcrust pastry 3 tbsp Cornflour 100g Golden caster sugar 2 large Lemons, juiced and zested 85g Butter cut into pieces 3 Egg yolks, plus 1 whole egg 3 tbsp RARE BLACKFORDS LIMONCELLO

METHOD Roll out the pastry to 20p thickness then use to line a rectangular tin about 35cm x 12cm, leaving the edges overhanging. Fill with baking paper and beans and blind bake at 190C/ fan 170C/gas 5 for 15 minutes, then take away the beans and paper and cook for another 15-20 minutes until pastry is completely cooked and pale golden. Trim the excess pastry with a small serrated knife while still warm.

For the Italian Meringue: 200g Golden caster sugar 4 Egg whites

To make the filling, mix the cornflour, sugar and lemon zest in a pan. Gradually stir in the lemon juice then 150ml water.

Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, and bubble for a couple

of minutes until thickened and smooth. Remove from the heat and beat in the butter until melted. Beat the egg yolks and whole egg, stir into the pan and return to a low/medium heat. Keep stirring for a few minutes, until the mixture thickens.

Take off the heat then stir in the Blackfords limoncello. Cool then pour into the tart case. Chill for 45 minutes.

To make the meringue, put the sugar in a pan with 75ml water. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved then boil until the temperature reaches 120C on a sugar thermometer. Meanwhile, whisk the egg whites in a large bowl to firm peaks, then slowly pour in the syrup in a thin stream, whisking all the time, until finished. Keep whisking for a few minutes until the meringue has cooled. Spoon the meringue into a piping bag with a round nozzle. Pipe little blobs then pull upwards to leave a peak on each one. Finish the meringue with a blowtorch to give a pale golden effect (or flash under a hot grill).

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TRAVEL

HOLIDAYING OFF PISTE WRITTEN BY HILARY PARSONS

If you return time and again to a favourite ski resort and like the familiarity of the piste and après ski on offer, then you may be happy with the status quo. However, if you don’t want to bump into someone from the school run on the slopes but fancy venturing beyond the Alps, then it might be worth considering something a little out of the ordinary.

Madonna di Campiglio, Italy Situated in the Dolomites, a 2 hour-drive from Verona (the nearest airport with direct flights from the UK), Madonna di Campiglio, whilst less well known than some of its European neighbours is a highly fashionable Italian ski resort. The picturesque village stands at 1,520m and muchof the ski area is below 2,100m so it’s best to visit mid-season when snow cover is more reliable. Famed for its perfectly groomed pistes, this resort is best suited to intermediate skiers although there are nursery slopes and even a black run with a section informally named Schumacher Streif after the once frequent visitor, Michael Schumacher.

area where hot water flows naturally from the earth. Perfect after a long day’s skiing! Nozawa Onsen generally experiences the highest snowfall in Nagano Prefecture and boasts trails with highquality powder snow. Cross-country skiing and snowboarding are popular activities here too.

Beana Laponia, Finland, Arctic Circle OK, so it may not offer the thrills of downhill skiing but this hotel is the first adult-only hotel in Finnish Lapland so you’re less likely to bump into those families hell bent on finding Santa. With just 11 bedrooms, this boutique-feel hotel is situated next to a private toboggan slope and the restaurant uses locally-sourced produce. A variety of winter activities are available including husky-sledding, reindeer sleigh rides, snow-shoeing through the forest and downhill tobogganing. After a day in the snow, you can have a massage, enjoy the sauna and choose from a hot tub in the hotel spa or the outdoor tub where you may be lucky enough to witness the Aurora Borealis.

InterContinental Mzaar Lebanon Mountain Resort & Spa Located in the heart of Mount Lebanon, 1 hour’s drive from Beirut, you may not associate snow with the Middle East.

Nozawa Onsen ski resort, Japan Located in the northern part of the Nagano Prefecture of Honshu, But Lebanon actually has six ski resorts, most notably Mzaar Kfardebian. With a height of 2,465m, powder-perfect snow and the main island of Japan, travel from Tokyo airport is likely to involve a bullet train –another cultural experience. Nozawa Onsen over 80km of groomed runs are on offer catering from beginners to advanced skiers. village is not only renowned for its historic and traditional ski resort with cobblestone streets but also as an onsen (hot-spring)

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Masikryong, North Korea Kim Jong-un was behind the creation of this luxury ski resort, the only one in North Korea, in a bid to boost tourist numbers and rival South Korea which hosts the 2018 winter Olympics.

Most visitors travel from Beijing to Pyongyang from where it is a 2-hourdrive to the Masikryong ski resort. Visitors can enjoy 110km of powdery snow and empty piste. The 120-room hotel boasts a sauna, massage room, beauty parlour and an ice-skating rink.

However, if as suggested, a giant screen at the bottom of the slopes plays patriotic music while showing footage of leader Kim Jong-un and his officials at a Party conference, it may be a quiet resort for a reason.

Tiffindell, South Africa For a summer holiday with a difference, why not head to Tiffindell, South Africa where the ski season runs from June to August. With an altitude of 2,720m, Tiffindell is situated on the slope of Ben McDhui (3,001m), the highest peak in the whole Cape Province and the highest resort in South Africa. State-of-the-art snow making equipment allows skiing throughout the season helping the resort to be voted number 19 in CNN Travel’s ‘World’s Best Ski Runs’ in 2014.

Fancy venturing beyond the Alps to find something a little out of the ordinary?

Mauna Kea, Hawaii A holiday where you can après ski on the beach? Did you know that Hawaii offers 11 of the world’s 13 climates? So, on the same day you could ski and surf. On Mauna Kea, visitors have the rare opportunity to experience the polar tundra in Hawaiias well as get one of the clearest viewsof the night sky on earth. As the tallest sea mountain in the world at 4,207m Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano,holds spiritual significance for Hawaiiansbeing home to the snow goddess Poli’ahu. As a winter sport destination, it’s not for the faint-hearted. With no lifts, you must ascend the mountain on foot before experiencing the thrill of skiing or boarding down.

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WARM HIDEAWAYS OFF THE BEATEN TRACK WRITTEN BY HILARY PARSONS With memories of the summer holidays still fresh in the Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing better than a family dog walk on a crisp, sunny winter’s day in Englandassuming that is everyone is still on talking-terms after Christmas. But if you fancy heading somewhere sunny and warm this winter, take a look at these unusual destinations which have caught our eye.

Barra de São Miguel, Brazil Featured by DesignHotels ™ and nominated by the prestigious publication Travel & Leisure as one of its “Best Secret Beaches on Earth”, now is the time to visit this coastline destinationwhilst it is largely free of big resorts.

Chefchaouen, Morocco If you’d preferless crowds and a more comfortable temperature in which to explore a city, how about taking a winter break in Chefchaouen, situated in the Riff mountains, approximately 2hours from Tangier international airport.

Prepare to take plenty of photos because this city is blue! I don’t mean in the melancholic or sexual sense, but this city is literally painted blue.

The colourof Chefchaouen’s Old City dates back to 1492 when an influx of Jews who had been expelled during Spain’s religious upheaval settled in this part of Morocco and brought their tradition of painting buildings blue to mirror the sky and remind them of Barra de São Miguelcan be found in Brazil’s north-eastern state of God. The tradition still continues today. Whilst mostof the city’s Alagoas, considered by many to be the Brazilian Caribbean where the Jewish population emigrated to Israel after the Second World War, waters are a fabulous turquoise(Brazilian seawater is typically green) the government still issues special paintbrushes to maintain the Old and coconut trees are in abundance. There is a choice of beaches to City’s blue hue. suit different holiday-makers –the main central beach is sheltered by the large coral reef off-shore so perfect for families and snorkelers.

Other attractions include a fortress dating shortly after the city was Just a few minutes’ walk in a westerly direction brings you to founded in 1471 toprotect Morocco from Portuguese invaders; the Barramar, with miles of white sand and strong waves, attracting Muslim city’s mosques, the Kasbah which was once a prison and surfers and fishermen. The serenity of this area helps you relax and to still has dungeons from that time, and of course the medina where reconnect with Mother Nature. you can haggle over the price of wool clothing, jewellery, beautifully designed pottery and Moroccan slippers. The medina is also a good The best time of the year to go is December to February when the location to enjoy Moroccan cuisine such as spicyfish tagine, cous average temperature is 30°C and before the rainy season which cous, bread made in a wood-fired oven and traditional mint tea. falls from March to August. The exclusive beach and spa boutique hotel, Kenoa has excellent reviews for service with a high ratio of staff to guests, the eco-chic architecture complementing the natural environment and the cuisine headed up by Brazilian chef, Cesar Santos.

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Little Karoo, South Africa If you want to avoid jet lag typical oflong-hauldestinations, then South Africa is a good choice. And Little Karoo is a semi-desert landscape, running parallel with the better-known Garden Route, between Johannesburg and Cape Town. It’s an area rich in culture and has attracted some of the country’s most creative folk including artists, musicians, crafters, micro-brewers, internet wizards, trendy hoteliers and the modern farmer. Karoo is also home to Tankwa Karoo National Park and the community-organised AfrikaBurn Festivalcelebrating art, performance, music with dramatic fires lighting up the night sky.

Stay in one of Little Karoo’s attractive Dutch gabled guest houses, before heading out on Route 62 which winds through the hills and valleys, taking you to exemplary vineyards such as Robertson Wine Valley and wildlife reserves such as Sanbona where you can spot the Big Five over the course of a few days.A trip wouldn’t be complete without stopping off at the many galleries including Magpie Art Collective in Barrydale where chandeliers are created from bottle tops and coloured plastic found in rubbish dumps –there are even two of these chandeliers hanging in the White House. There are plenty of quirky places to stay.

Charlotte Sinclair of Conde Nast Traveller magazine recommends Bobbejaansberg, a beautiful house with interiors designed by Gregory Mellor, at the foot of the Lemoenshoek mountains. Think linen sofas, brass bathtubs, a palette of sage green and pale yellow reflecting the surrounding landscape, a lap pool bordered by lavenderand plenty of places to sit and enjoy the panoramic views.

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lifestyle edit

CELEBRATE THE FINER THINGS

One of my favourite things about festive occasions which let’s face it are often based around food, is the opportunity to sample different dishes and share culinary experiences. Whether you are lucky enough to be invited somewhere for Christmas and are seeking a gift or are responsible for catering to the masses, trust these independent brands to bring you quality and taste.

The Red Beetle Travelling Food Ltd is a team dedicated to searching out and locating the best and most authentic Italian food products and then bringing these finds to your table. You are guaranteed a distinctive and exclusive, authentic Italian food that The Red Beetle has verified all the way from being grown to finally being packaged. And the name? Founder, Deborah, had a dream to drive around Italy in the family’s vintage Volkswagen red Beetle meeting awesome food producers, and fortunately for us, that dream became a reality.

The Red Beetle brings together North and South Italy in this collaboration between the creativity of Dolce & Gabbana and the confectionery artistry of Fiasconaro, a Milanese panettone revisited with the flavours of Sicily. www.theredbeetle.com Dolce & Gabbana Panettone made by Fiasconaro 1kg £45 including delivery. Order

by Dec 13.

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The Maxi Italy Hamper features all those ingredients needed to make an Italian food lover a very happy one. Introducing a brown nougat from Sicily, Parmesan crostini (or savoury biscuits) and the best coffee around. This lovely hamper includes Frantoio Muraglia Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ceramic Bottle, Deseo Parmesan Crostini, La Macina Ligure Organic Pesto alla Genovese, Antica Enotria Bella di Cerignola Olives, Sabadì Brown Nougat, La Tosteria Coffee Ground, Raimo Sundried Tomato Paté. All beautifully wrapped in a handmade vintage hat box, made with love in Prato, Tuscany. www.theredbeetle.com Maxi Italy food hamper £78 including delivery.

As Maria Fina tells us, through history, gifts have been used to forge alliances, gain favour or declare love. Above all, food has been a central part of this ritual. We agree with Maria Fina that gorgeous food is still the closest thing to a perfect gift. Sourced from her home country of Portugal, neighbouring Spain and UK boutique producers, a culinary gift from Maria Fina Gourmet is one you’ll love to give as well as receive.

Including one of the finest sherry vinegars produced in Spain from Pedro Ximenez grapes (dessert type of grape). It is produced in strictly limited quantities and aged in oak for 25 years, allowing it time to develop remarkably complex flavours and aromas, such as dried figs, plums and raisins, finalised with smoky hints. It is the delightful result of a collaboration between the houses of Ximénez-Spínola and Oleum Flumen, both producers and distributors of goods for high-end gastronomy and winner of 3 stars at the Great Taste Awards 2018.

This quirky collection from Melhor do Ribatejo reflects both typical Portuguese bold flavours and traditional iconography and makes a wonderful gift to accompany a cheeseboard. Including fiery Melhor do Ribatejo Piri-Piri and Bayleaf Hot Sauce 90ml, wonderfully runny Melhor do Ribatejo Wild Lavender Honey 140g and a lush Melhor do Ribatejo Fig Jam 120g.

The vibrant packaging is a direct reference to the colours of the Portuguese flag while the cheerful characters on the boxes represent traditional locals of the Portuguese region of Ribatejo, known for breeding some of the best varieties of bulls in all the Iberian region. www.mariafinagourmet.com Melhor do Ribatejo collection £22.95

www.mariafinagourmet.com Paula Coll Pedro Ximenez Sherry Vinegar 375ml £18.99

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lifestyle edit

Super cool on the slopes!

Every time I update my ski gear, I’m amazed and delighted with how technology and style have improved the offering. I think back to my first neon blue C&A ski suit in the 80’s and remember how bulky it was – helpful in reducing the bruises but hardly stylish or aerodynamic. The Rare Brand Market has picked some of its favourite, rare brands to enable you to look super cool, and more importantly protected from the elements, on the slopes this winter.

Check out Hampshire-based Snow Finel which uses the finest materials here in the UK to make their men and women’s range of ski wear. High quality merino wool knit traps air but it naturally wicks moisture away from your skin thereby helping to keep your body temperature regulated during exercise. It feels soft so the high neck keeps you cosy rather than feeling itchy and because the designs are so stylish and merino wool doesn’t hold odour like synthetics or cotton, it’s also suitable for après ski.You know when a product has been designed by someone with ski experience when they’ve incorporated all those extras such as the fitted back welt so your top doesn’t ride up whilst skiing and integrated thumbholes to avoid losing heat through your wrists.www.snowfinel.co.uk Men’s red classic merino half-zip sweater available in XS to XXL £255.Ladies navy/pink merino and cashmere rainbow midlayer available in S to L £120 20

RARE brands enable you to look super cool!

S’No Queen have added a touch of sparkle to their high-performance technical fabrics to create a range of stylish and flattering ski thermals – ones which we think you won’t mind being seen in. This Classic Red Polo neck with sparkles contains silk which is naturally thermal adding warmth, uses Lenzing Fibre’s Micro Modal which is super soft and kind to sensitive skin, wicks away moisture from the body keeping you dry and fresh, avoids static cling due to moisture retention properties, traps air between outer layers with its special rib structure and even maintains its shape after machine washing due to the use of Lycra elastane. It can be paired with jeans or with the red leggings as shown here. www.sno-queen.com Classic Red Polo neck XS to XL £94 Be on trend with the latest block colours adorned with a little sparkle for extra stand out on the slopes. Headwear doesn’t need to look boring and practical – stay warm and stylish as you grace the slopes in this thermal headband. www.sno-queen.com Electric blu headband One-size £35

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lifestyle edit The Matador camera base layer gives any active photographer peace of mind that their camera is protected from scrapes, bumps and snow balls.

Made from durable, ultralight synthetic down, the roll top design adapts to different cameras and the integrated rain fly helps to protect cameras from water and dust. www.bearandbear. com Camera Base Layer by Matador £54

DC Shelter Ski/Snowboard heavy-duty mitts shown here in colour Incense DCU Camo are ideal for male skiers or boarders. Not only do they look stylish but are waterproof with up to 10,000mm protection against snow, wind and rain and the Weather Protection Insert draws away perspiration but retains warmth. With individual right and left embroidered designs and a rib cuff, this mitt is secure and durable for the park or piste. www.absolute-snow.co.uk DC Shelter Ski/Snowboard mittens S to XL £39.95 22

We love these 100% green sunglasses, well, in purple. Zeal ship 100% US-grown cotton to Italy’s renowned Mazzucchelli family whose skills, honed over generations, are used to convert cotton to a biodegradable acetate, and that’s the frame. Paired with the exclusive, plantbased e-llume injected polaroid lens, Zeal has created ACE sunglasses which are fun, stylish, durable and eco-friendly. Available in six different colour frames. www.absolute-snow.co.uk Zeal ACE Sunglasses Purple Frame, Copper Lens £103.95

wellness wednesdays speakers

We know Wellness and living as healthily and happily as possible is high on the agenda for our customers. Self care and wellness have never been more important for living in today’s modern world.

We are passionate about finding Rare Brands and businesses who are doing something unique, so we have applied this to the Wellness sector.

Welne

Wednesdays

So, one Wednesday a month come and enjoy an evening of Wellness Education and Inspiration! Each scheduled Wednesday we will have up to two great speakers and there will always be a splattering of retail from some newly discovered Rare Brands.

Tickets for each evening are ONLY £20. Invest in your health & self care, if you don’t who will!

New monthly event

26th September - The future of health screening & Boosting your mood 17th October - Tanya Borowski - Gut Health is Clever Health 14th November - staying Young over 40, the power of your mindset 12th December - nutrition putting the right things in your body We will be holding this new event at The Oxmarket Gallery which is a CHICHESTER CITY CENTRE LOCATION, PO19 1YH. All our Wellness Wednesday events start at 8pm with the doors opening at 7:30pm.

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Festive entertainment with the wow factor

Make a little effort with homeware accessories to make your Christmas table even more appealing.

Who knows, it may even take the focus off any culinary disasters. Shopping for tableware from good quality, independent brands helps your dining table stand out from the crowd.

Wolf and Apple bring you these contemporary and stylish mouth-blown, coloured glass tumblers. Each piece is handmade and unique in appearance. Made from recycled glass, these tumblers are also robust and dishwasher-proof for easier entertaining. Choose from a range of colours including cornflower blue, almond shell, malachite green, honeybird blue and more. ww.wolfandapple.co.uk Handmade bubble glass tumbler £7 each.

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Exclusive to Craft Editions in the UK, brighten up your dining table with Barrydale Table Runners. Named after the South African town of Barrydale where the runners are hand-woven from 100% cotton, these runners are 1.8m in length (40cm wide) and come in a range of colours. Matching placemats and napkins also available. All you’ve got to do is to decide who sits opposite. www.crafteditions.co.uk Barrydale Table Runner red stripe £32

Wow your festive guests this Christmas!

Are you a matchy-matchy or do you like to contrast? You can match with Barrydale Table Napkins, again exclusive to Craft Editions in the UK. These 100% cotton napkins are handwoven on vintage wooden looms by Barrydale Hand Weavers in South Africa. They are sold individually and come in a range of colours with matching place mats and table runners also available. Size 40cm square. As for the table runner, when the entertaining is over care for them with a cold wash and hang out or tumble dry. As per the table runner, the napkins are available in Red Stripe, Indigo or Teal colours. www.crafteditions.co.uk Barrydale Table Napkin red stripe £8

James Stuart John is a Hampshire-based workshop specialising in the design and manufacture of original, bespoke furniture as well as homeware items. Using both solid woods and veneers, James Stuart John mixes the best of the old and new techniques with an emphasis on quality and craftsmanship. The Rare Brand Market picks this pink edge walnut paddle board for serving canapés or cheese although red or blue and custom colours are also available. Length 54.5cm x width 34.5cm x 1.9cm depth and again custom sizes are also available. Each paddle board is unique due to different characteristics of the walnut. www. jamesstuartjohn.co.uk Pink-edge Walnut Paddle Board £85

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lifestyle edit Visit James Stuart John also for pretty as a picture but equally hard-wearing quality trays that will stand the test of time. Choose either individual or a set of these walnut trays in a range of sizes (small, medium, large) and colour veneers (navy, light green, light pink, red, light blue), helping you, or hopefully Santa’s little helper to lay the table or serve large numbers quickly. Small 40cm length x 20cm width x 3cm depth to Large 60cm length x 40cm width x 3cm depth. www.jamesstuartjohn.co.uk small tray £45 to set of three £180

Founded in 2015 by Janice Kalsi, Moo and the Magpie has grown into a unique destination for those seeking a curated mix of found object art, taxidermy, jewellery, gifts and home décor to reflect a more individual personal style.

The Rare Brand Market loved these handmade candles poured into vintage glass, and even this divine smelling Blueberry Muffin scented candle in a vintage copper jelly mould £30, on sale at our markets.

Visit www.mooandthemagpie.co.uk for home décor inspiration at a range of prices.

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events ‘19 Following the success of our previous Wellness Wednesdays events which have seen speakers talk on a wide variety of topical health and wellbeing issues, we are excited to let you know about another couple of dates.

Please visit www.therarebrandmarket.co.uk/wellness-wednesdays to find out more and to book your place.

26th September - The future of health screening & Boosting your mood 17th October - Tanya Borowski - Gut Health is Clever Health 14th November - staying Young over 40, the power of your mindset 12th December - nutrition putting the right things in your body

Very Stylish

Christmas Markets!

We are thrilled to be back for a second year at The Guildhall, Winchester. And, after listening to our customers, we are pleased to be able to offer extended opening hours until 8pm on the first date. 14th - 15th November It will be our 9th year at Goodwood! Spread over three days including Saturday shopping, you will be able to find unique gifts from a range of clothing, accessories, beauty, furniture, food, drink and lifestyle brands. 22nd - 23rd - 24th November

A Christmas Feastival

At Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester december 3rd - 21st inc -thursday, friday, saturday, sunday trading only. 9am - 6pm with thursday late night shopping.

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Thank you for reading

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