Author: CircleMe

Kir Royale, champagne delight

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

kir_royale
The Kir Royale is a French cocktail that is made of crème de cassis or the juice of a blackcurrant and then topped with champagne. It is a deviation from the other cocktail Kir which is blackcurrant topped with white wine.

The cocktail is often had before a meal or snack as an aperitif. The drink was named after a Felix Kir who was a former mayor of the city of Burgundy in France.

Variations on the Kir Royale include the Cider Royale which is made with cider instead of wine, Communard which is made with red instead of white wine, the Hibiscus Royale which is made with sparkling wine and peach and raspberry liqueur and a hibiscus and Kir Pamplemousse which is made with red grapefruit juice instead of black currant.

To make the Kir Royal you will need 4 tablespoons of Chambord, ¼ cups fresh raspberries, and 1 bottle of French champagne, chilled.

Place the 4 champagne flutes in a freezer for 15 minutes and remove and add 1 tablespoon of Chambord to each flute. Add a few raspberries and top with champagne. Serve while chilled.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON FOOD&DRINKS: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

Capri, island in the sun

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

isle_of_capriThe isle of Capri is an island off the coast of Italy near the city of Naples.

The island has been around as a resort since the days of the Roman Republic and some of its outstanding features include the Marina Piccola, the Belvedere of Tragara, the Faraglioni, the town of Anacapri, the Blue Grotto, and the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas.

Other places to visit include the Punta Carena Lighthouse, Capri Philosophical Park, Torre Materita, and La Piazzetta. The island was once a haven for European artists who used its beauty as a backdrop for their artwork.

The island hosts several events annual such as the Capri Film Festival, and the Capri International Film Festival, the Capri Tango Festival, and the Capri Golf Marathon. Capri is a good place to visit for natural flora and fauna of the island.

Pasta and seafood are also an important part of the cuisine of the island and some places to try include the Add’o Riccio which serves seafood and fish, Buca di Bacco da Serafina, Dagemma, and Da Paolina.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON PLACES: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

Athens, home of histor

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

athens

Athens is the capital of Greece in southern Europe and is known as the birthplace of modern Europe. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

These are the Acropolis and the Daphni Monastery. Athens is the home of the original Olympians and was the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Athens is so full of history that there are numerous sites that are worthy of visiting. Some of the more prominent ones include the Acropolis, Hellenic Parliament, Acropolis Museum, andMonastiraki Square, the Temple of Hephaestus, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Agora, and theNational Archaeological Museum.

Athens has more theatrical stages than any other city in the world and the Athens Festival is staged there annually.

Greek food is very important to the culture of the city and seafood is special to the isles. Among the specialties are the Horiatiki Salad, Lamb, Yogurt, Capari Salata or caper salad, Olives, and eggplant salad.

Among the places to try Greek cuisine in Athens are the Makalo, Melilotos, To Kati Anno, and Klimatario.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON PLACES: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

British Institute Fellowship for Christopher Lee

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

christopher_lee

British acting legend Sir Christopher Lee has received a fellowship from the British Film Institute. The fellowship is the highest honour the BFI presents.

Lee, who is 91, was presented with the honour at the 57th BFI London Film Festival recently. Other actors who have received fellowships from BFI includeHelena Bonham Carter, Tim Burton, David Cronenberg and Ralph Fiennes. He said it was a privilege to be included in the group of actors who have won awards from the BFI.

Sir Christopher is one of the legends of film, starring in old horror films alongside Peter Cushing among others. He has been in more than 200 films as well as television and starred in his first film – 1948’s “Corridor of Mirrors”. He made his name starring as Dracula in the 1960’s series of films.

The tall actor has also played Lord Summerisle in the 1973 movie “The Wicker Man” and with Sir Roger Moore in the James Bond film “The Man With the Golden Gun”.

In recent times Sir Christopher enticed a new generation playing Saruman the White in the “The Lord ofthe Rings” and “The Hobbit” series. He received a knighthood in 2009. The actor has many talents as he recorded a metal album back in 2012.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON MOVIES: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

Secret Boyfriend prepares to release new album

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

secret_boyfriend

Secret Boyfriend is preparing to release its debut album later this year. The album, entitled “This is Always Where You’ve Lived” will be released in December on the label Blackest Ever Black.

Secret Boyfriend was started by Ryan Martin who founded the North Carolina-based Hot Releases and has been releasing tracks and cassettes as well as 12-inch rhythms since 2009.

This will be the first full-length release since the inception of Secret Boyfriend and the 12-track record will be the most high profile to date.

Among the track listing including the tunes Summer Wheels / Mysterious Fires; Silvering The Wing; Form Me; Flashback; Remarkable Fluids; Beyond The Darkness; Dream Scrape; Glint And Follow You; Have You Heard About This House?; Last Town; Deleted Hill, and the title track This Is Always Where You’ve Lived.
Ryan Martin has been making music for several years now. He staged a launch party for the sound back in 2010. He has studied communications at the University of North Carolina.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON MUSIC: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

Beef Bourgogne, Burgundy beef

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

beef_bourgogne

Beef Bourgogne is a specialty dish from the French region of Burgundy.

To make this meal you will need 3 cups dry red wine, 2 cups beef stock, 2 tablespoons brandy, plus 1/4 cup brandy, 1 large onion, peeled and cut in quarters, 2 carrots, peeled and cut in large chunks, 4garlic cloves, peeled and sliced, 12 parsley stems, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon driedrosemary, 10 black peppercorns, 4 whole cloves, 4 allspice berries, 1 bay leaf, 3 pounds well-marbled beef chuck, cut into 2-inch pieces, 1/2 pound slab bacon, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 1 tablespoon softened unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoons tomato paste.

In a large bowl combine the wine, stock, brandy, onion, carrots, garlic, parsley, thyme, rosemary, peppercorns, cloves, allspice, and bay leaf, stirring well. Add the beef and continue to sir. Refrigerate overnight.

Next day drain the beef and reserve the marinade and vegetables. Dry the beef with towels, and season with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Cut the bacon the long way into slices and then slice them 1/2-inch long. Cover with cold water and boil. Lower the heat and simmer. Remove the bacon.

In a large pot use butter and olive oil over a medium heat and fry the bacon until golden. In the same pot , over high flame brown the beef in the bacon fat. Once done pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat and return the browned beef to the pot. Add the vegetable and herbs and cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Add the marinade and tomato paste and boil. Cook in the oven covered for 3 hours. After 3 hours. Remove meat and strain the sauce and remove the fat.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON FOOD&DRINKS: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

Idris Elba hospitalised

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

idris_elba
British actor Idris Elba was hospitalised in the UK Saturday after he had an asthma attack while on his way to the premiere of his new movie “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom” in Johannesburg.

The star of the new film about the life of former South African president Nelson Mandela is recovering after suffering the attack on his way to the film’s premiere. The incident happened on a plane but he was taken off before the flight left the United Kingdom.

He was unable to attend a news conference surrounding the film in South Africa because of illness.

Elba stars in the movie alongside fellow British star Naomie Harris who will play Mandela’s former wife Winnie in the movie.

Harris has had roles in such movies as the James Bond flick “Skyfall” where she played Miss Moneypenny.

The film tells the story of Mandela’s imprisonment on Robben Island and his later release and election to the South African presidency. The movie premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

Elba moved to South Africa for three months during the filming to help him better understand the society. The film is set to be released in January next year.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON MOVIES: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

Irish coffee

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

irish_coffee

Irish coffee is a hot coffee beverage that includes liqueur and whipped cream. The cream can be whipped although some recipes do state that it should not be whipped.

The coffee is drunk through the cream in much the same way as a cappuccino.

The beverage was said to have been invented by an Irish chef known as Joe Sheridan while there are also German, Austrian, and Danish varieties.

There is also a tendency to name some other varieties of coffee beverages after the region in which it originated such as adding rum to make Jamaican coffee or Scotch whiskey to makingHighland Coffee.

To make Irish coffee you will need around 1.5 fluid ounces or a jigger of Irish cream liqueur,1 jigger ofIrish whiskey, 1 cuphot brewed coffee, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoonwhipped cream, and 1 dashground nutmeg.

To prepare first combine the Irish cream and Irish whiskey in a coffee mug and fill the mug with coffee. Add sugar to taste, then top with a dab of whipped cream and a pinch of nutmeg.

Whatever way you make it, enjoy!

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON FOOD&DRINKS: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

Visit Toulouse

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

toulouse
Toulouse is a city in southwestern France and is the fourth largest city in the European country. It is traditionally known as the Ville Rose or Pink City.

The city boasts a number of high-tech research bases and is also the base of the Airbus airplane manufacturers. The city boasts the third largest university in France.

The city has typical architecture of southern France and is the home of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Canal Du Midi and the Basilica of St. Sernin.

Places to visit in Toulouse include the Galerie du Chateau d’eau which is one of the world’s oldest sites dedicated to photography.

There is also the Hotel d’Assezat, cathedral de Notre Dame, Hotel de Pierre, Capitole de Toulouse which is a building of great architectural importance, the Pont Neuf bridge, Jardin des Plantes, Musee des Augustins, and Les Abattoirs museum which features many contemporary paintings and art.

Food is very important to the French culture and the Toulouse sausage is a specialty of the region. Other specialties include the cassoulet Toulousain which is a bean and pork stew, Garbure which is a cabbage and poultry soup and foie gras.

Places to enjoy Toulousain cuisine include Les Jardin de L’Opera, Le Restaurant Adresse, and le Velane.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON PLACES: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL

The Warehouse plans fewer projects for 2014

/ CircleMe / Leave a comment

sam_kandel
The Warehouse Project, that series of nightclubs in Greater Manchester that has been around for the last eight years has decided to cut back on some of its projects for the upcoming year 2014.

According to the organisers of the project, which has staged winter events regularly since 2005, 2014 will feature only a “handful of special events” but the line-up will go back to its full quota of events for the following year 2015.

The Warehouse Project will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2015.

The project, which runs from September through New Year’s Eve annually, has had difficulty in 2013. In September, a partygoer died after taking some bad drugs at one of the parties which prompted organizers to undertake new drug-testing plans that were also revealed in October.

This year’s New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events includes performances by Andy C, Tiga, Sasha, James Zabiela, Tensnake, Jamie Jones, Carl Craig, and Maceo Plex.

The New Year’s Day event will also feature several back-to-back sets with Dixon against Âme and Ben UFO against Joy Orbison in the line-up.

DISCOVER OTHER INTEREST ON MUSIC: SIGNUP IN CIRCLEME SOCIAL