14 minute read
FOODIE ADVENTURES
DINNER date
Visit Essex suggests where to go to treat yourself to a foodie weekend
BRAXTED PARK'S COOKERY SCHOOL PRESTED HALL
PONTLANDS PARK
Thinking about a weekend away, but not sure where to go or what to do? Why not try a foodie weekend where you can brush up on your culinary skills? It’s currently ‘the thing to do’, where you can meet-up with like-minded people and become a top chef too. Here are our picks of the best cookery schools across Essex.
Experience a world of food
Sign-up to the cookery school in the stunning grounds of Braxted Park (braxtedpark. co.uk) and, under the supervision of a top chef, you’ll soon be able to create an Asian feast. On the menu are pork and vegetable dumplings, salmon red curry with crispy skin, chicken green curry, Asian style meatballs, Thai spicy salad and Thai Jasmine rice, plus plenty more.
The day begins at 9.30am and the chef will take keen students step-by-step
GO FORAGING FOR WILD GARLIC through how to make these tasty authentic dishes. The learning style is relaxed, fun and easy to follow and at the end of the day everyone joins together for a wellearned sit-down meal and a glass of wine. The Asian cookery course takes place on 19 March and is priced £145 per person.
The Mistley Kitchen (mistleykitchen. com), set alongside the river Stour near Manningtree, also o ers one-day cookery workshops for up to six participants and has courses taking place throughout the year. Seafood lovers will be wowed by their ‘Fish Basics’ class, which promises to take the ‘daunting’ out of cooking with fish. On the course you’ll learn easy tips for buying, storing and preparing fresh fish. You’ll also become a master at boning, steaking, scaling and filleting, as well as di erent techniques for cooking each fish. Delegates will be treated to the best catch of fresh fish on the day, such as sea bass, monkfish, skate, mackerel, or hake. The workshop will finish with a fishy lunch with a glass or two of wine. The ‘Fish Basics’ course takes place on 7 March and costs £135 per person.
Get smart in the kitchen with past BBC Masterchef contestant, Ann Smart, who set-up the Ann’s Smart School of Cookery (annsmartschool.com). Smart’s school has a raft of di erent courses on o er and, if you have a sweet tooth, you should opt for the macaroon class. French macaroons have become uber trendy in recent years, and on this course you’ll learn to avoid all the pitfalls to ensure you cook to perfection every time. The course is based at Smart’s well-equipped kitchens in Danbury and is priced £99 per person and runs on the 2, 14 and 28 March between 11am-1pm.
WHERE TO STAY?
Prested Hall
Prested Hall (prested.co.uk) is a beautiful Grade II listed manor house nestled in 75 acres of tranquil Essex parkland, situated just a few miles from Braxted Park. The hotel offers comfortable beds, fine Egyptian cotton bed linen, fresh flowers as well as lots of personal touches to ensure a relaxing break. Rooms start from £150 for two adults and include breakfast.
Mistley Thorn
The Mistley Thorn (mistleythorn.co.uk) is located in the centre of the historic coastal village of Mistley and is a short stroll from The Mistley Kitchen. Built as a coaching inn circa 1723, The Mistley Thorn offers award-winning dining and accommodation in tastefully designed surroundings opposite the River Stour. Rooms are priced from £135 for two adults and include a full breakfast.
Pontlands Park
Pontlands Park (pontlandsparkhotel. co.uk) is a short drive from the Ann’s Smart School of Cookery, and is a familyrun hotel providing a unique combination of homely comfort and exceptional service. Built in 1879, Pontlands Park features Victorian period architecture perfectly balanced with luxurious and contemporary design. Rooms are priced from £103.50 for two adults sharing an executive double room.
WHAT’S FRESH IN MARCH?
Lots of locally grown vegetables are in season, such as artichoke, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, chicory, cucumber, leeks, parsnips, purple sprouting broccoli, radishes, sorrel, spring greens, spring onions and watercress. Rhubarb is also in season and a lovely fruit to make crumbles and pies. If you’re foraging for fresh foods, check out wild garlic, which can be found in dense clusters on the floor of damp woodland and along shaded hedgerows, but only pick sparingly.
TREND SETTER
Carnaby has long been ahead of its time and, in 2022, it remains one of London’s top destinations
For over three centuries, Carnaby has never been far from the zeitgeist. Ever since it was first built in 1682 – taking its name from Karnaby House – there has always been a story to tell. The 20th century, in particular, saw
Carnaby synonymous with music and fashion, with some of the hottest – and controversial – names from the industries inextricably linked to this part of London. Today Carnaby, which is made up of 14 streets, still has a story to tell, o ering over 100 retailers and more than 70 bars and restaurants.
Moving with the times, Carnaby is one of
London’s most Instagrammable destinations.
Every corner is an opportunity for the perfect picture with rainbow shimmer disk arches and the iconic black and white arches along Carnaby Street. Head over to the west side of Ganton Street and be dazzled by 51 oversized light bulbs suspended from the sky.
Enjoy the pink festoon lights along Kingly
Street whilst deciding on where to dine.
Brand new openings to the area include
Zahter, which specialises in Istanbulite cuisine, and Kanada-Ya, which focuses on authentic
Japanese ramen. Tapas Brindisa, Jinjuu,
Pastaio and Mamma Pastrama are among the popular eateries in the area. Three floor foodie hub Kingly Court is home to Korean
Dinner Party, Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, Club
Mexicana and The Good Egg alongside Le
Bab, Shoryu, Pizza Pilgrims and Dirty Bones.
The bars of Carnaby o er a similarly eclectic choice. Enjoy a 150-strong wine list at Bar Crispin, be immersed in a 1940s experience at Cahoots or hidden gem
Disrepute, or head over to the Newburgh
Quarter and enjoy Antidote Wine Bar. Fashion remains at the heart of the area. With over 100 international brands alongside independent retailers, Carnaby is the goto central London shopping destination. Shops like Mallet London, Astrid & Miyu, Nobody’s Child, and the Rolling Stones flagship store RS No.9 Carnaby are all hugely popular. Shop in the Newburgh Quarter and enjoy Metal Morphosis, Annie’s Ibiza, Soho Home, The Great Frog, Mor London, Aubin and Fred Perry.
Carnaby’s beauty o ering goes from strength to strength with vegan beauty brand Freshly Cosmetics alongside stores Benefit, Too Faced, M.A.C, Pixi and not forgetting the first men’s makeup store, War Paint For Men, which emphasises how Carnaby remains a game changer. There’s never been a better time to experience a little bit of history.
For more information visit carnaby.co.uk and follow @CarnabyLondon on social media
LET'S PLAY The Courtauld Polo Trophy, presented by Prestige & Village, is back and this year it’s bigger than ever. The prestigious event takes place at Silver Leys Polo Club on BALL Sunday 22 May for an action-packed day of polo as BBC Radio 5 Live’s very own Johnny Barran commentates the highs and lows of Felsted vs Bishop’s Stortford, Queenswood vs St Edmunds and the big one, Essex vs Hertfordshire. In addition to the great sport itself, there will be a huge range of locally produced food and drink for guests to enjoy, plus entertainment that includes marching bands, a race between a
Looking at how the annual Courtauld Polo horse and a Lamborghini (yes, really), traditional divot stomping, crazy
Trophy is making the sport accessible to all golf and luxury shopping outlets. With a VIP Player’s Tent ticket and standard ticket to choose from, there
By NATALIE LI is something for everyone at this year’s
Courtauld Polo Trophy. Over the next few pages, we dig a little deeper into the thinking behind the event, find out why Felsted are well set for success in their school showdown and pick out some of the essential gear you need to buy if interested in taking part in the sport. Game on…
SPORT FOR ALL
It’s billed as the sport of kings and it’s no wonder: polo is not a cheap game to take up. But organisers of the annual Courtauld Polo Trophy in Bishop’s Stortford want to show that there is much more to this seemingly elitist sport than meets the eye.
“Polo gets a makeover! We’re bringing together the best elements of polo with something for the whole family,” explains Alex Rayner, event organiser of this year’s showcase.
“Whether you’re a polo aficionado or eager to learn about the sport, there is plenty of high-octane equine action and much more to keep everyone entertained. We want to make the sport accessible for the whole family. Of course, there’s plenty of traditional elements such as divot stomping, in which the crowds charge across the churned grass to reduce the risk of falls during play and allow the ball to travel further.”
Rayner, a former polo player himself who launched the event in 2018, and whose Argentine mother introduced him
FELSTED SCHOOL
Polo at Felsted
Why the Essex school is well set for the big event
Felsted is a leading independent, coeducational, boarding and day school for pupils aged 4-18, based in North Essex. Riding is a strong discipline at Felsted across all ages with riding lessons offered as a co-curricular activity option for Prep School pupils and pupils of all ages may be selected to compete in school competitions. Felsted is a member of the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA). Pupils who have their own ponies may be selected to compete for the school in NSEA shows in Show Jumping, Arena Eventing, Dressage or Eventer's Challenge. Recent achievements include qualifying for the National Finals for Show Jumping, Jumping with Style and Eventer's Challenge. Felsted Senior School pupils have the fantastic opportunity to learn and play polo at Silver Leys Polo Club as a cocurricular activity option and compete at national competitions for the school’s polo team. Several pupils have continued playing at university and beyond. Felstedians past and present regularly compete in the annual Courtauld Polo Trophy. It is always wonderful to have teams competing and in 2019 the Felsted team were crowned champions. In 2018 Felsted’s Sam Wisbey represented Great Britain in a Schools and Universities Polo Association U18 match against India.
Quick guide to polo
Tempted to play? Here's what you need to know
Polo, like football, has two teams trying to get a ball into the opposing goal. Some players are strikers, and some are in defence, but you won’t see a goalie. Instead of kicking a ball the players ride on horses and hit the ball with mallets. Each game is split into ‘chukkas’ (usually six) so that the horses can be replaced before they get too tired. A chukka is a period of play in polo, lasting seven minutes.
THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF REFRESHMENTS AND FOOD ON OFFER
to the world of polo, is deeply passionate about promoting the sport and making it accessible for everyone. “Winston Churchill once eloquently said that a ‘polo handicap is the passport to the world’ and we want to show how thrilling the game is and we are reinventing this year’s event so it’s bigger and better.
“There’ll be free polo lessons and the chance to learn about this gladiatorial sport – it’s a bit like football. There’s four players and two goals, but there’s so much more than this,” he adds. “Yes, polo has a reputation as a luxury sport, but it was originally played by British troops in India to hone their cavalry skills. It would be amazing to see more people taking up the sport.”
General entrance tickets cost £20 for the whole day, and for those seeking a
luxury VIP experience tickets are £100 and include a champagne reception, a two-course lunch, afternoon tea and plenty of Pimm’s. Rayner says: “It’s been a roaring success in previous years and we’re expecting 1,500 general admission guests and 400 for the luxury VIP experience. It’s a high-quality event with incredible hospitality and a big nod to fresh, seasonal, local produce.”
Visitors to the event can expect plenty
The IT list
Some must-have kit from the experts at Polo Splice the experts at Polo Splice
HANDMADE ENGLISH LEATHER POLO SADDLE, £1,050
PREMIUM QUALITY KNEE PADS MADE BY THE BOOT MAKER CARLOS ARIEL LASCANO, £210
HANDMADE ARGENTINE LEATHER ZIPPED POLO BOOTS BY CARLOS ARIEL LASCANO, £595
Polo history: in brief
The first recorded polo tournament was in 600 B.C between the Turkomans and the Persians. •
Polo as we know it today was brought back to Britain in the mid-19th Century by the officers of the British army. •
Great Britain won gold in the polo tournament at the 1908 London Olympics. Polo’s last appearance as an Olympic sport was in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. of action from the country’s top polo players in the Prestige County Challenge Trophy as Essex and Hertfordshire polo players fight it out. The annual Courtauld Schools Trophy, named after Rayner’s philanthropic grandmother Elizabeth Courtauld, will see Felsted vs Bishop’s Stortford and Queenswood vs St Edmunds galloping head-to-head in another series of fast-paced matches. The evening will feature all female teams battling it out to take home the Ladies Trophy.
BBC Radio 5 Live’s Johnny Barran will commentate on the live action, while DJs, bands, bouncy castles, slides, and crazy golf, plus a live performance from pop pianist Zoe Alexandria, will keep guests enthralled.
“It will be an incredible day out with a twist,” Rayner adds. “The RAF skydiving team are parachuting in to drop the Prestige trophy into the venue along with the match ball – both will be presented to our chief umpire. There’ll be a race between a horse and a Lamborghini
– will four wheels beat four legs? “It’s a day out for anyone who loves the outdoors, it’s designed before the end of term craziness and the start of summer celebrations. It's a real chance to enjoy what we do best in Britain and enjoy watching the finest polo players we have in the land.”
For more information and to book tickets visit courtauldpolo.com
FASHION
TALL TALE
APUJAN Apujan presented its AW22 collection at London Fashion Week with the theme “The Ballad of a Story Keeper”. The designs are renowned for integrating patterns and knitwear techniques to illustrate themes inspired by fantasy and literature. apujan.com
