QUINTESSENTIALLY | Insider | Culture

The 29th of April 2011, is the day Prince William will break a thousand hearts as he marries his soon-to-be princess Miss Catherine Middleton. Wherever you are in the world there is no escaping the Royal Wedding, so instead of booking a one way flight to Necker Island, why not try out one of the fantastically royal treats we have found for your enjoyment. One is amused…

A Right Royal Treat
A fanfare selection of royally inspired treats complete with bejewelled his ‘n’ hers crowns, royal carriage, delicate wedding cake, and even a miniature Westminster Abbey – all packaged in a beautiful commemorative tin.
The Biscuiteers limited-edition Royal Wedding tin contains 16 biscuits and is priced at GBP38.50.
www.biscuiteers.com

A Country Affair
Why not escape the madness of London, and indulge your Royal Wedding obsession at Sanctum on the Green in the heart of rural Berkshire. Watch William and Kate walk down the aisle live on the big screen, take an afternoon dip in the pool, sip Pimms at the rustic vintage style bar and delight in the menu created by Michelin star chef John Burton-Race.
Room rates from GBP120
www.sanctumonthegreen.com

A Little Thank You
Thanks to the upcoming Royal nuptials, the humble British public have an extra day off from the office. So what better way to show your appreciation for the happy couple than with one of the commemorative ‘Thanks For The Free Day Off’ plates from John Lewis.
Priced at GBP12
www.johnlewis.com

The Crown Jewels
Indulge your taste buds and your royalist passion with the ‘Royal Bejeweled Afternoon Tea’ at Flemings Hotel in Mayfair. Sip a Queen Bee Champagne Cocktail a la Miss Middleton, and sample the glittering Victoria sponge, rose and honey Madeline’s and jeweled lavender cupcakes. Fit for a princess indeed.
The Royal Bejeweled Afternoon Tea is available at GBP32.50 per person
www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk

A Regal Feast
You are cordially invited to a Royal gala dinner, courtesy of Quaglino’s. A sumptuous 3 course dinner, a live swing band and a £10 donation to the happy couple’s Charitable Gift Fund make this a no brainer: celebrate in style with some British favourites – we’re talking smoked salmon, crab, asparagus and a delightful sounding lemon tart – and give Wills and Kate your own little wedding gift.
GBP60 pp, including a GBP10 donation to William and Kate’s Charitable Gift Fund.
www.quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk

‘It all started with a cup of tea’
Nothing screams British more than a good old cup of tea; these little beauties from Liberty of London are the perfect addition to any Royal Wedding breakfast. It’s not everyday that you can have Wills and Kate reclining in your cup, casually draping their arms over the rim and brewing you up a treat.
Liberty of London, GBP4.95
www.liberty.co.uk

I Heart Wills & Kate
Anya ‘I’m not a plastic bag’ Hindmarch may well have outdone herself with her Royal Wedding Kit. A special William and Kate Union Jack flag (to wave like mad), a pocket of red white and blue confetti (heart shaped to shower them with your love) and a Wills & Kate crest tattoo (just to confirm your devotion) all come lovingly packed into a specially designed Anya Hindmarch tote.
Anya Hindmarch, GBP30
www.anyahindmarch.com

Camp Royale
London’s biggest sleepover with a distinctly royal theme is coming to Clapham Common this weekend. Join fellow Wills & Kate fans at Camp Royale, for 3 days of camping and garden party delights fit for a King. There are giant screens to watch the wedding itself, and a village fete vibe with coconut shies and wet sponges, face-painting and balloon modelers. Acrobats, a silent disco and wedding reception tunes will keep the party going long into the evening.
Weekend camping tickets are priced at GBP75
www.camproyale.co.uk

Royalty Al Fresco
Who needs an invite to the palace when you can enjoy a veritable feast straight from a Fortnum’s wicker picnic basket? Start with some beef carpaccio and horseradish, or tuck into dressed lobster and garden salad. A slab of Cropwell Bishop Stilton might take your fancy – especially with walnut wafers – while a red fruit tart and Fortnum’s finest champagne truffles will make it the picnic to end all picnics, washed down smoothly with a bottle of Touraine Sauvignon.
Fortnum & Mason, GBP200,
www.fortnumandmason.com

“Then came the public-house, freshly painted in green and white, with tea-gardens and a bowling green… then, fields; and then, some houses, one by one, of goodly size with lawns, some even with a lodge where dwelt a porter and his wife.” Dickens, The Olde Curiosity Shop

Just a Herculean slings shot from Henley-On-Thames, Ye Olde Bell is best described as a five star boutique bed-and-breakfast. At first site it looks like any old Tudor pub, complete with leadlight windows and Sicilian orange roof tiles. The old lettering that adorns the 12th century facade reminds me of a French poem by French rebel poet Arthur Rimbaud – a haunt for gentlefolk and more adventurous travellers, a bonafide inn where all weary and in need of a good map, you can sit down to some good English beef and a pint of what all wise poets love most, and what old Albion still does best – crude Ale. Churchill and Eisenhower plotted world domination here once. Elizabeth Taylor came here too, swooning after her lost childhood, that misty-eyed England with its alfresco views of neo-gothic churches, barges, clipped lawns and inky English sunsets with cocker spaniels barking on the bridge.

I am shown to my suite, the Dickens Suite to be exact, by a very friendly chap whose range of expression is thoroughly Dickensian. He turns the key – this happy, sprightly, country chap – and I am surprised at how the low slung door frames give way to high-ceilinged, new-old-age aesthetics. Ilse Crawford, renowned designer of Grand Hotel Stockholm and Soho House New York, hasn’t tried too hard here, and it works brilliantly – trust me. Crisp greys and whites and dark literary oak; varnished woods and pure linen on the king size bed, copper kettle, DAB Roberts Radio, old penguin books and a massive LCD widescreen with rustic views out across the gardens where a small gathering of brightly clad individuals are celebrating something grand.

Now careful you don’t let the deep deep claw-footed bath foam over; it’s not in the deluxe bathroom, with its large walk-in-shower, monsoon power and stellar signs of five star love – gels and creams by botanical skincare range Aesop; no, the deep deep bath is out where room service wish it wasn’t, or was, depending on what the medieval chap was really thinking when he handed me the Cappuccino.

After that, I put on my hat, and I met a girl outside, and we walked and talked for hours, and by and by, inspired by the elegy of wind ruffling the water’s edge, I wrote a poem, and read it to her at the bar where a log fire blazed (although my enlivened romanticism may have just imagined it there, for the next day the inglenook was somewhere else). We left the long cocktail (she gave them a few tips with the fresh lime and cranberry juice) and the ale and went next door to the restaurant – very calming without the tailored tweed-pretentiousness of other country retreats.

Her eloquent stares hovered over the thick cut of beef, and especially over the bread and butter pudding, and they were really good, though she smirked indifferently as the smoked salmon came and went untouched. Some portions were small, the a la carte menu and wine list a little overpriced, but so what, really? I’ll also mention the night-cap in the rambling meadow where we danced, and the kiss of blue skies and pure ale the next morning, and… well, its more than worth the mark-up, isn’t it?

www.theoldebell.co.uk

Every Wednesday evening, at a very British institution strewn with cobbled streets and fudge shops and ladies in black gowns, I would slick my hair back gently and put on a reserved smile. I would then move into the traffic of black gowns that flowed into a large hall. On each table I distinctly remember a folded card with someone’s name written in gold pen, white cloth, polished silverware, and a sky of paintings and Latin prayers that no-one paid the slightest attention to. It used to be that you could choose who you sat with; and then the Dean or Master of Ceremonies said that this wasn’t ‘in the spirit of things’, and so you made do with awkward silences and shifty glances over your shoulder for the main and dessert. That is, until the wine came and you all got completely blathered.

This is supposed to be about a cool London restaurant, isn’t it? Give me a moment, please. Feelings are palpable things, rich with imagery and memories and worlds that you want to hold onto, or let go of. The places we go and see and like – it’s not all a matter of taste… or rather, taste is not coincidence… it’s no more than a development of your imagination.

I’ve got my hair gently quaffed up now, and I stroll into Penny Black, Chelsea; and, yes, the nostalgia greets me before the ballet of pretty penny’s do; It’s got a nice ring to it, this place, but all I’m seeing are those days when the Champagne flowed from gilded cups, those halcyon days when I thought myself something special; and the Champagne flows now. In Penny Black, it flows with the cool chrome at the lounge & bar, and the specially commissioned Simon Claridge paintings on the walls; it flows in the old British style with a surrealist twist (they have an original Salvador Dali on the far wall, for instance), and it flows in the precision of the menu, the dialectic of the bone-coloured wine list. It’s a full on British revival, and there’s the regal red and black of it everywhere now. Look at the columnists; they’re all giving inches back to this institution, built from toad’s in holes, roasted turbot, forerib of Longhorn beef, Paddington duck and sweet things your Mum’s mum used to bring in after tea; Arctic rolls, posh jelly and bread & butter puddin’.

Out with the international then, with pan-fusion and cutely-cut vegetables that they throw on the pan for a moment and call it ‘gourmet’. In with cool Britannia, unless we’re talking about the wine; a pretty good way to start the conversation, and to end it if need be. It comes by the glass, carafe and bottle, and there’s a personal bottle service for those with mean pairing skills (though the Sommelier is quite something, I tell you). She’s already pouring the light Argentinean red, and my fingers are twitching from starter to main to dessert; the music is classical, soothing, Beethovenish (every 21st century institution needs its theme tune); but the lights are too bright and so my date can’t see how my eyes dilate. ‘I know what I want’ I say; ’Roast root vegetable salad, then the Beef Wellington, potato and celeriac bake…finish it up with the Bread and butter pudding ’. She has the London Particular soup to start, Seared venison, Jerusalem artichokes, duck fat chips with a South African glass of 2008 lilac wine; Chocolate fondant & raspberry sorbet to finish.

Verdict: The signature Beef Wellington was the best I ever tasted, honestly; perfectly done medium-rare with the puff pastry layer so succulent that I’m calling the chef a genius. They say he worked with the legendary Oliver Peyton at Atlantic Bar and Grill. But this inspiration is all his own. The chocolate fondant, stolen signature dessert, drips off the spoon, tight grip as she tries to steal it back, lips-first. Hey, every institution needs its trademark dish, and these are theirs. You extrapolate between the two and what you get is a haze of sensory nostalgia.

People – British or not – if I told you this place does a magnanimous, stoic job of bringing hearty British food back to the faithless London gastro-scene, I’d be speaking figuratively, swayed by my own particular blend of reality and fiction. Still, you can’t help but go again; not after this.

www.thepennyblack.com/

212 Fulham Road
Chelsea, SW10 9PJ
0845 838 8998

There has long been an indivisible connection between fashion and art; both follow trends, pass comment on the state of society and speak ostensibly of riches and the high life.

Today, the line between these convergent worlds is more blurred than ever. Modern art edges towards belonging on the runway, while ambitious catwalk creations could equally jostle for position in the world’s finest galleries.

Shoe design undergoes experiencing revolution after revolution – none more so than at Alexander McQueen. Given the tragedy surrounding the unexpected death of Lee McQueen in February 2010, the eponymous designer’s final collection of outrageously ostentatious 10-inch platform creations, pushing the boundaries of footwear to the extreme, have almost paled into insignificance.

These wonders took fashion by storm; almost alien in appearance, they were bedecked in everything from rich jewels and animal hides and should have belonged to the mythical creatures and mermaids of the imagination. But that was the beauty of McQueen: unfalteringly ambitious and unfazed by the boundaries of normal logic.

Needless to say, McQueen’s successor and right-hand woman, Sarah Burton, had more than a lot to live up to with her Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Her latest footwear creations undoubtedly put her own spin on McQueen’s ambitious legacy.

Elegant spring foliage defies the need for heels; leaves gently intertwine as though they’ve just been plucked from a spring tree, seamlessly linking together and flowing as they wish. Handcrafted, life-size butterflies perch effortlessly on beautifully thin straps, recalling that precious moment when a delicate creature comes to rest for a moment, before flying onwards and upwards in the next. Other designs are covered by dense feathers, with contrasting colours that blend with a natural ease and demonstrate an unprecedented level of expert craftsmanship – each pair a work of art in their own right.

At £2,300 a pop, these wondrous creations have sculpture-like prices to match their status as paragons of design; that these are an once-in-a-lifetime investment is a given. What remains is a decision: to turn your toes into a work of art – for these are perfectly wearable – or to lovingly admire them from afar. Either way, there’s no way in hell these beauties will stay hidden in a dusty shoe-box for long.

www.alexandermcqueen.com

From organic clothing to local, seasonal foods, the interest in sustainable and socially-responsible products has grown immensely over the past few years. Insider sat down with Natalie Melville, founder of Melville Fine Jewellery, to discuss her new bespoke and ethical jewellery collection and find out if diamonds really are a girl’s best friend.

Q: Could you tell us a little about your background in the industry?

I received a BA (Hons) in Jewellery Design from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and have also worked alongside master craftsman and goldsmith Gerry Summers. Since setting up my bespoke fine jewellery business five years ago, I’ve designed everything from engagement rings through to gem set opera-style necklaces for clients out of my London showroom. The style of my work is very organic – I often use a lace-like carving technique.

Q: What gave you the idea to launch an ethical jewellery line?

I’d always been vigilant when it came to sourcing materials but despite increased transparency – the diamond trade has its own international regulations and standards – I felt I wasn’t able to fully reassure my clients about my supply chain.

Mining coloured gemstones, metal and diamonds requires the use of highly toxic chemicals – this is in addition to the risk of cave-ins at poorly constructed mines. This has been the driving force behind the pioneering work of the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International and the Alliance for Responsible Mining. In February this year, they launched the world’s first Fairmined Mark which aims to bring social, environmental and economic development to artisanal and small-scale mining communities.

Melville Fine Jewellery has been awarded the Fairmined Mark and we’ll be the only brand in the Far East carrying this distinction.

Q: Where does the inspiration for your jewellery designs come from?

I’ve always had a love of literature and many of my previous pieces have been inspired by a character in a novel – I see each piece having its own personality! One piece that springs to mind is Pierrot. Known as ‘The Crying Clown’, Pierrot was a sad figure often depicted in old children’s stories. The piece I created was a 30-carat black moonstone ‘crying’ teardrop aquamarines.

Q: Could you explain a bit more about the bespoke design process – how does it work between you and the client?

Every client is different so each bespoke experience varies depending on the client’s needs. However, a traditional commission starts with a consultation – this a lovely time as I’m often trusted with someone’s ideas. Then, I’ll pull together a series of images and a selection of design renderings that can be tweaked. After, the piece is cast into gold or platinum. If gems are involved, I’ll work with the gem dealers or mines directly to ensure the right stone is selected.

Q: What are some of the most trends you’re seeing in terms of jewellery design and materials?

There’s been a resurgence of yellow gold in more contemporary incarnations. Long since relegated to quite dated designs, it’s now making a strong comeback. Diamonds are a classic that will never go out of style, but I’m seeing a more enthusiastic use of coloured gems such as rubies and emeralds as well.

Since Wallis Simpson’s stunning Cartier panther bracelet was auctioned at the end of last year, the interest in the vintage combination of onyx and diamond is definitely on the up. And naturally, following the recent engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton with his mother’s famous sapphire ring, the popularity of sapphires has risen dramatically too.

Q: Can you tell us your plans for 2011 – and where can we expect to find Melville Fine Jewellery?

Melville Fine Jewellery will create one collection a year with the rest of the work coming through commissions. The launch date of our first exhibition is TBC but will comprise a press conference, a series of private events and a public exhibition at one of Hong Kong’s amazing galleries. At this stage, there are no plans to sell through any independent retail outlets as each piece is a one-off creation.

My studio will be by appointment only but I’m always available to see existing clients or welcome new ones at my workshop.

For more information on Melville Fine Jewellery, please contact Natalie Melville on nathalie@melvillejewellery.com.

Drowsy with the early morning Lao heat and with an unshakeable lethargy in my tired limbs, I happily clambered aboard a rusty minivan, destined for Laotian hill tribe villages south of Luang Prabang.

A bone-rattling journey ensued, swerving to avoid potholes and stray dogs, and quickly bumping me to my senses. Mountains, vegetable farms, pineapple and banana plantations whizzed past in quick succession, before we arrived, out of nowhere, at the traditional Khmu village of Ban Pa Noh.

Reputed in Laos for being highly superstitious and practising magic to ward off danger, the Khmu people have a rich history which is has been passed down through the generations for centuries. I didn’t visit late enough to witness families gathering around nightly fires to share their tales and pass on their culture, but a snapshot of Khmu life was enough to reveal the unique belief system at work here, where houses are holy and taboo reigns supreme.

Winding higher into the mountains, we reached Ban Tin Pha, home to the Hmong people, famed for fighting during the Laotian civil war. Friendly women busy with embroidery wowed in their bright coloured clothing while gurgling toddlers delighted at running circles around them and between the traditional thatched cottages.

I also visited Ban Long Lao, the biggest Hmong village in the area, which only enforced the rich cultural customs which make Laos so inimitably appealing: the Hmong people were extraordinarily welcoming, and eager to share their traditions.

Gratified and humbled by my experiences, we headed on in the minivan, destined for the organic farm in the remote Laotian hill village of Phongvan. Prepared by now for the winding, unpaved roads, and trusting my driver, I sat back to take in the countryside.

Through dusty windows I spied crouching figures, carefully tending rice crops. We hadn’t travelled far, but the air was cooler in Phongvan, and quiet as the choking engine cut out. My thirst was quenched on arrival by a sugary local ‘cocktail’ that slipped down quickly before the impressive 8-hectare paddy panorama that now revealed itself.

Next mission: food. A young chef with a toothy grin exuding irresistible charm was tasked with expertly guiding me through the preparation of a feast of Tam Mak Hoong and Moo Phak Sikai; spicy Papaya salad followed by an aromatic pork curry, and sticky Lao rice. While the rice bubbled, we readied the ingredients. Juicy papaya, crunchy vegetables and a colourful array of spices quickly sizzled into delectable dishes as day light faded.

We devoured our creations by candlelight: with hunger triumphing over conversation, croaking frogs and chirruping crickets provided a harmony for the soundtrack of evening village life. Appreciating my middle-of-nowhere location, I let out a contented sigh and helped myself to another spoonful of Tam Mak Hoong.

www.amanresorts.com

Mix the soul of Prince, the panache of Beyonce, the vocal capacity of Whitney and the courage of Gaga and the outcome is 22-year-old singer/songwriter, Jessie J. I intend the former to be taken as traits rather than direct comparisons, because Jessie J is ultimately her own person: a matchless talent. This year has scarcely begun and she has already managed to own it, having topped the BBC’s ‘Sound of 2011’ list and won the ‘Critic’s Choice’ Brit Award.

In her tender years, Jessie J featured in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical ‘Whistle Me Down,’ as well as attending the Brit School. These tastes of performance in her youth fuelled her ambition to work hard and get where she is today.

The singer’s ongoing heart problems have also made her more of a fighter and more appreciative of life than the average person, having seized every opportunity wholeheartedly. Since she is unable to drink, smoke or take drugs, Jessie admits she has no choice but to just be confident. She is a great inspiration for today’s low-morale youth and her encouragement is also evident in her music. She is a remarkable lyricist, but her songs stand out mostly because they’re jam packed with truth. “It’s okay not to be okay. Sometimes it’s hard, to follow your heart. But tears don’t mean you’re losing, everybody’s bruising. There’s nothing wrong with who you are.”

Jessie J has written hits for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus, Chris Brown and Alicia Keys. Her debut single ‘Do it Like a Dude’ was initially written for Rihanna, but she decided to keep it for herself. By doing so, she aptly reached number two in the UK charts, finally seizing the limelight she is more than worthy of.

She cracked America as a song-writer when she co-wrote global hit ‘Party In The USA’ for Miley Cyrus. She was then noticed on YouTube by Chris Brown’s manager and he was so impressed by her voice and charisma that he asked her to support Chris Brown on the Europe leg of his sold-out tour. Cyndi Lauper even asked Jessie J to support her and invited her on stage to duet ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ alongside her. Being thrown in at the deep end has allowed Jessie J to gain both the confidence and experience of an artist beyond her years. Her celebrity backing is growing by the day, receiving praise via twitter from the likes of Paloma Faith and Kylie, as well as Justin Timberlake, who declared her the best singer in the world right now.

Although this down-to-earth Essex girl has already reached and captivated so many people with her music and her personality, she is by no means generic like the average Pop Star today. Her music defines her – likeable, expressive and sweet with a ghetto edge. But most significantly, she is a born performer. After having flooded YouTube with her homemade videos, which verify her raw talent, the Pop Queen has finally received her rightful reign of the stage.

Jessie J’s personality oozes through on her new online series ‘Dare Jessie’ where both her fans and various celebrities set her challenges. B.o.B recently dared her to find James Brown’s Hollywood star and to do an impression of him. As soon as she found it, she leapt straight into air-guitar mode and did her best impersonation, without being fazed at all by the passers-by. Jessie J proves she is not afraid to be herself and this lack of pretence is also evident in her live performances.

Look out for Jessie J’s next single in March called ‘Price Tag’ which features B.o.B and her greatly anticipated debut album entitled ‘Who You Are,’ which is scheduled for release later this year.

Quintessentially Music

www.jessiejofficial.com