History | Signature Hotel Dishes and Drinks

Famous for their striking architecture and sophisticated ambience, many hotels are also famed for the dishes and cocktails invented in their kitchens and at their bars.

Grand Hotels are known for their signature dishes and drinks. The Bloody Mary is said to have been invented by a St Regis bartender. And, in 1915 at Raffles, Singapore, Ngiam Tong Boon supposedly invented the Singapore Sling. Let’s meet a few more Grand Hotel inventions. 

Beef Carpaccio, invented at Harry’s Bar, Venice

Created for a Countess who had been advised by her doctor to avoid cooked meats, this raw beef dish was just the ticket. It was invented by the owner of Harry’s Bar, Guiseppe Cipriani, and named after the artist Vittore Carpaccio who had an exhibition in Venice at the time and was famed for using bright reds, the colour of Beef Carpaccio.

Chocolate Brownies, invented at the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago

In 1893 Bertha Palmer, the wife of the Palmer Hotel’s owner, asked the chef to create a pudding to go into the lunchboxes of female guests who would be going to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The hotel still bakes them to the original recipe, which includes walnuts and an apricot glaze. 

Peach Melba, The Savoy Hotel, London

When Australian Soprano singer, Nellie Melba, was in London performing in Lohengrin, a dinner was thrown for her at the Savoy by the Duke of Orleans. The Savoy’s head chef, August Escoffier served her fresh peaches and vanilla ice cream on top of an ice sculpture of a swan (a reference to the opera). Due to the swan, it was originally called Peche au Cygnet, but Escoffier later added raspberry puree when he took the idea to the Ritz, and called it Peach Melba. 

The Ritz Sidecar, The Ritz, Paris

Surely one of the world’s priciest cocktails (a mere snip at £1,500), this Parisian tipple is made with Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice (though apparently The Hemingway Bar at The Ritz, where it was invented has secret ingredients that it does not divulge). We can only imagine at that price that the secret ingredient is gold bullion…

The Martini, The Knickerbocker Hotel, New York

Invented at the Knickerbocker, NYC, the first martini is said to have been mixed by a bartender by the name Martini di Arma di Taggia, for John D Rockefeller, who was strong, dry and smooth, just like a martini… It’s made with gin, Vermouth and orange and citrus bitters. 

If you’re feeling inspired to live more of the Grand Hotel lifestyle yourself, don’t miss out feature, ‘In Grand Style’ in our June issue, where you can learn all about the history of some rather posh hotels. 

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Adventures | Stay in a Bothy

Don’t get in a bothy bother. Here’s all you need to know about staying in a simple shelter

Bothies are simple shelters, scattered across Scotland, Wales and Northern England. They often amount to little more than four walls and a roof, usually with a fire or stove and sometimes a platform on which to sleep. They were originally built for workers on estates - shepherds, farmers, gamekeepers and the like. As they weren’t originally designed to house groups of hikers, respecting the Bothy Code will help everything go smoothly. But if you’ve never stayed in a bothy before, here are a few questions you might want answered.

What do I need to take to a bothy?

Pack as though you’re camping, just without the tent. Or sometimes the toilet block. Don’t forget matches and fuel for the fire or rubbish bags so you can take everything away and leave it exactly as you left it. Drinking water and food will be needed and a camping stove if you want to cook.

What? No loo?

Nope. Usually no loo. This is a ‘long walk with a spade’ situation. If you don’t like the thought of spiky leaves, bring your own (biodegradable) loo roll. Okay, okay, some bothies do have a squat toilet available, but only the ‘five star’ ones. 

What about sleeping arrangements?

Some bothies have a sleeping platform but it really will just be a slab of wood each so bring sleeping bag, camping mat etc and a pillow if you want one. 

What if it’s occupied when I arrive?

Then you’re about to make a new friend! You can’t ‘book’ a bothy so if you turn up and there’s someone already in residence you’ll have to cosy up or move on. It’s not really a case of first-come-first-served either; if an extra person turns up the expectation is that you will make room for them (and hopefully make them a brew, too). The Bothy Code asks guests to stay no longer than two nights maximum and each bothy may have its own rules about size of group and length of stay so check that first. Groups of more than five usually need permission. If the bothy really is packed to the rafters, it’s handy to have a pop-up tent with you so you can camp just outside for the night and hope someone moves on in the morning. 

Is it ok to leave things behind?

Thoughts differ, but useful things like tinned food, matches, loo roll and the like are usually welcomed. Fresh food or anything that rodents might eat, such as rice or dried pasta less so. Rubbish, absolutely not. 

If you’d like to learn more about bothies, you might like to read The Enduring Appeal of Simple Shelters in our June issue.

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Tipple | Lavender & Raspberry Cocktails

A fruity thirst-quencher that’s bursting with summer flavours

Serves 6

You will need

100g honey
Juice of 1 large lemon
100g raspberries
1 tsp lavender flowers
6 shots of vodka (optional)
2ltr sparkling water
6 sprigs of mint, to garnish
6 sprigs of lavender, to garnish
18 fresh raspberries, to garnish

To make

1 In a small pan, gently heat the honey, 100ml of water, the lemon juice, raspberries and lavender flowers over a medium heat, stirring frequently until the honey melts.

2 Simmer for a further 5 mins, stirring constantly to avoid it catching, until it starts to thicken. Leave to cool then blitz to a smooth consistency with a handheld blender.

3 Fill tall glasses with ice and pour in a shot of vodka if using, then fill each glass halfway with sparkling water.

4 Add the lavender and raspberry syrup until the glass is three-quarters full. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint, a sprig of lavender and three fresh raspberries to serve.

These cocktails are just one of the recipes from our June ‘gathering’ pages, a menu for a picnic by the water, which we’ve called ‘A Shore Thing’. It includes recipes for homemade Dips & Chips, Asparagus, Ricotta & Smoked Pea Tarts, Roast Pepper, Onion & Halloumi Wraps and Berry Crumble Cake. The recipes are by Kay Prestney and the photography is by Rebecca Lewis.

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Wellbeing | Glimmer Hunting

This is a wonderful exercise for tuning in and noticing the good stuff happening around us – the joy, the beauty, and the sparks. It builds curiosity and helps us to slow down.

• Practise this anywhere, but it’s best done outside if you can.

• Take time to look around you and then look a little longer and deeper. Notice what you see, hear, and how you feel. Look left, right, up, down and all around. Then linger and just watch what is happening. If you see something that catches your eye, pause and notice. It can take several minutes for something to reveal itself but there will be a small glimmer waiting to be harvested.

• Write down what you found in a notebook. Over time, if you practise this, you’ll build a list of glimmers that you can return to when you need them. Or just enjoy your glimmer and move on, knowing that such moments can be fleeting.

Finding Glimmers is just one of the exercises in using creativity to soothe mind and body taken from the book Creative First Aid by Caitlin Marshall and Lizzie Rose (Murdoch Books), which we have an extract from in our June issue.

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Recipe | Cherry Gazpacho with Tarragon Oil & Borage Flowers

Cherries and tarragon are a magical combination you might not have tried. You can try whizzing in other herbs, too – fennel, lemon balm and mint are all great with tarragon

SERVES 4

500g cherries, pitted
1 large (or 2 small) cucumber, peeled and sliced
1-2 garlic cloves, peeled
Handful of fresh tarragon
200-300ml cold herbal tea (lemon verbena and/or mint works a treat)
1-2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (alternatively, use kombucha)
Light rapeseed or olive oil, to serve
Tarragon and borage flowers, to garnish

1 Blend the cherries with the cucumber, garlic (start with 1 clove), tarragon, tea and vinegar (or kombucha). Taste and add more garlic and herbs, if needed. Season with a good hit of black pepper.

2 Serve with a good trickle of oil (or blend the oil in if you’d prefer, before serving) – I garnish the soup with oil but I’m generous with it! Finish with a scattering of tarragon and borage. Cook’s note: This will keep nicely in the fridge for a week.

This is one of the recipes from our June issue’s Home Economics feature, which focuses on herbs this month. Pick up a copy of the issue to read the other recipes, which include Herby Tzatziki, Mackerel, Gooseberry & Coriander Ceviche, Courgette & Dill Babaganoush, Tomato Salad with Sage Butter, Za’atar Flatbreads, Herb Shortbread and an Oxymel Herbal Tonic. The recipes are by Rachel de Thample and the photography is by Ali Allen.

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How to | Move a swarm of bees (don't try this at home)

If you’ve ever seen honey bees swarm they’re an impressive sight. Even more impressive are the beekeepers that come to collect them. Here’s how the magic is done

Why do honey bees swarm?

Swarming occurs when things are getting tight for space in the hive and some of the bees decide to move on. Occasionally bees swarm and move out in order to reproduce.

When does swarming occur?

On hot days, usually between May and July. Beekeepers call this ‘swarm season’. The bees won’t swarm if rain is due as they don’t like to be caught out of their hives in bad weather, so if you see bees swarming you can be pretty sure it’s safe to hang out your washing before going out.

What happens when they swarm? 

Essentially, the colony splits in two but it’s not a one-day event. First, cells are created to hatch a new queen in the hive, meanwhile the worker bees put the old queen on a diet to enable her to fly better when she leaves the hive. The bees then stock up on honey themselves to see them through until they’re settled in their new home. 

Here comes the swarming bit…

The bees that are packing up leave together and buzz around in a cloud before parking themselves on a solid object nearby, with their queen protected in the middle. Could be a tree, could be a lamp post, could be your garden furniture. Scout bees then head out looking for a new home. This process can take up to a few days and actually begins even before they leave the hive. After plenty of negotiation, a new nest is chosen and the bees move in together. 

How do beekeepers take a swarm away?

Beekeepers love free bees so they’re often happy to be called out to a swarm. They’ll place a large container underneath the swarm, raised up so that as much of the swarm as possible is contained within. They’ll then gently shake the tree or scrape the bees off the solid object into the container. The container is then placed upside down on the ground, with a sheet beneath it and one side of the container is lifted to allow more bees to get in. Any bees that leave the box will home back inside again towards the queen. As long as you’re sure the queen is inside, the box can then be left where it is until the whole swarm is inside. The sheet is then tied up at the top and the whole swarm can be relocated to an empty hive. 

What should you do if you spot a swarm?

Give them plenty of space. They don’t generally sting you but it’s best not to take the risk. The next step is to identify the type of bee. Not all swarms will be honey bees. The British Bee Keepers’ Association will collect honey bees for you but they also have an identifier on their website along with numbers of who to call for each type of bee. Call out a beekeeper and then you can stand back and helpfully read out the instructions above while he or she does all the hard work and you look rather clever.

If you’d like to know more about the care of bees, read our feature How Hard Can it Be… To Become a Beekeeper in our June issue, which is in shops now.

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Fun | Games for Picnics

A picnic isn’t complete without a run about and a bit of competition after your sausage rolls and strawberries. We’ve rounded up a few of our favourite games for a picnic

Tug of War

Best for: A gang of mates at the beach.

You’ll need: A long, thick rope.

How to play: You (literally) know the ropes. Mark a line in the sand or chuck a jumper down to be ‘the line’. Split into two equal teams, taking into account size, strength etc (you may need one extra person on one side to even it up). Line up on either side of the rope with the middle of the rope over the line. On the count of three, both teams should pull on the rope. The winning team is the first to pull one of the other team over the line. 

Capture the Flag

Best for: Family groups in the woods.

You’ll need: Two ‘flags’ (they can be t-shirts, napkins, toys or anything else).

How to play: Divide the space into two ‘territories’ (an invisible line between two trees will do) and nominate a space to be a ‘jail’. Split into two teams. Each team should hide the other team’s flag somewhere on their territory. Both teams then compete to find their flag and get it back to their own territory without being tagged and thrown in jail. You can only be tagged on the other team’s territory. A member of your team can release you from ‘jail’ by running to the jail to ‘untag’ you. 

French Cricket

Best for: Neighbours in the park.

You’ll need: A cricket bat and a tennis ball.

How to play: One person is the batter. Everyone else fields in a circle around them, taking turns to be bowler. The batter’s legs are the stumps. The bowler bowls at the ‘stumps’ and the batter must hit the ball away with the bat. If the ball is caught the batter is out and replaced by whoever caught them out. If the batter has hit the ball they may then turn to face the next bowler. If they didn’t hit it they must play the next bowl facing the same way, twisting to defend their stumps from whichever direction they choose to bowl. 

Cats or Dogs

Best for: Couples or anyone getting to know each other

You’ll need: Nothing!

How to play: You don’t even need to get up for this one. Simply sit back over a glass of something chilled and take it in turns to fire ‘choice’ questions at each other. Start with ‘cats or dogs?’ and move on to ‘sweets or chocolates?’, ‘oranges or lemons?’, ‘Piers Brosnan or Daniel Craig?’ and wherever your fancy takes you. 

This blog was inspired by our feature ‘Delicious, Fictitious Picnics’ in our June issue, in which we take a look at picnics from novels. Buy a copy of our June issue in shops or from our online store and join us on the picnic blanket.

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Cakes to Keep | Nussecken (nut corners)

In our June issue we asked you to share your recipes for cakes that are ‘keepers’ - the tried and tested ones, passed on by friends or family. Here’s one to whet your appetite.

‘Nussecken are common in Germany, but this recipe is a hand me-down that reached my family when I was a child. The grandmother of my best friend in nursery was a proper farmer granny: solid body, solid character, solid baking! I was always in awe (and a little bit scared) of her. Baking was her love language – there were always baked goods in her little kitchen, which smelled of coffee, butter biscuits and somehow, burnt onions. She gave my mum this nussecken recipe – or rather, a brief ingredients list, handwritten on a ripped-out notebook page – and when I moved to the UK in 2016, this bit of my German home came with me in the recipe folder that my mum made for me. It’s well loved and ever-growing, and now the nussecken are my boyfriend’s favourite treat, too.’ Mareike Wehner, Prenton, Merseyside

Makes around 30

300g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
150g sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 medium eggs
130g margarine
3-4 tbsp jam (such as apricot or plum)

For the topping:
220g margarine
200g sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
300-400g mixed chopped nuts (use your favourites, but definitely use almonds and hazelnuts!)

To finish:
200g dark chocolate 

1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan 160C/ Gas 4. Make the base by mixing all of the ingredients, except for the jam, together and spread out on a large, buttered baking tray. Spread the jam on top using the back of a spoon.

2 For the topping, melt the margarine and sugar slowly in a pan. Add the vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of water. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat and add the nuts, then stir to mix gently.

3 Pour the nut mix onto the base and bake everything for 25 mins, or until set and starting to brown.

4 Leave to cool, then cut into triangles that fit nicely into your palm (the equivalent of 3-4 large bites). Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a bain-marie and dip two corners of the triangles into the molten chocolate and leave to harden on baking paper.

Cook’s note: If bits break off, not to worry – but eat the evidence as quickly as possible! Also, if there’s any chocolate left, use a spoon and release your inner Jackson Pollock over the drying nussecken.

We shared four more recipes for your hand-me-down cakes in our June issue. It’s on sale now or available to order to your door from our online store.

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Competition | Win one of two Gudrun Sjödén vouchers worth £200

We’ve teamed up with iconic Swedish brand, Gudrun Sjödén, to offer two lucky readers the chance to win a voucher to update their wardrobes

Summer is here and with it, a chance to refresh your wardrobe thanks to Gudrun Sjödén’s colourful summer offerings. Fusing artistic expressions with Nordic simplicity, Gudrun’s latest collections flirt with luscious nature from around the world and lets natural and recycled fibres shine through its different design chapters. If this sounds like your cup of tea, then enter our competition for your chance to win one of two vouchers, worth £200 each, to spend at Gudrun Sjödén.

Gudrun’s linen capsule takes its cue from the colours and handicrafts of Gujurat, while the Mediterranean gardens of Villa San Michele, abundant with lemons, evoke the bold, zesty prints and botanical patterns of several of this season’s pieces. Swedish painter, Bror Hjorth, lends inspiration to a collection with vivid prints and palettes and a 1950s retro feel, creating wardrobe staples that cry out to make an appearance at any summer party.

The stunning colours, prints and designs aside, the real beauty of Gudrun Sjödén pieces is their timelessness. Always designing responsibly for both people and the planet, with sustainability at its core, the clothes are made to stand out, whatever the season. Their longevity and versatility makes them instant classics and pieces that can be worn, loved, and passed down from generation to generation.

For more, visit gudrunsjoden.com or follow on Instagram: @gudrunsjoden.ldn. You can also visit its London store at 65-67 Monmouth Street, W2H 9DG.

How to enter

For your chance to win one of two Gudrun Sjödén vouchers*, each worth £200, press the button below and answer the following question by the closing date of 10 July 2024. 
Q: Which Swedish painter inspired some of this season’s designs by Gudrun Sjödén?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 10 July 2024. Two winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. *Vouchers are not valid for carpets or rugs. The winners cannot transfer their prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Win | A Weekend in Whitstable worth £715

You could win a two-night stay in Whitstable, famed for its breathtaking beaches, independent shops and tasty local seafood

With its tranquil beach walks, independent shops and galleries and an enviable offering of eateries, the charming coastal town of Whitstable in Kent is an idyllic weekend away destination at any time of year. But with hazy summer days and longer, lighter evenings, there’s never been a better time to visit. If Whitstable has caught your attention, then enter our competition to win a seaside escape with Whitstable Holiday Homes.

Up for grabs is a two-night stay – worth £715 – at Seaside House, a stylish cottage in the heart of Whitstable’s conservation area. Here, you and up to five guests, plus one four-legged friend, can relax and explore the local charm and foodie delights of the area. Bright and contemporary, Seaside House has three comfortable bedrooms, a lounge with a wood-burning stove and plenty of books and games, plus, dependent on weather, you could enjoy any local delicacies picked up on your travels in either the cottage’s dining room or eaten al fresco in the south-facing courtyard.

To ensure that you get the most out of your stay, Whitstable Holiday Homes’ owner Gail is on hand to offer personalised recommendations on the best places to explore, dine and unwind for a fully restorative couple of nights away.

Whether you’re after a beachfront retreat, a family home-from-home or a dog-friendly stay, Whitstable Holiday Homes has over 25 stunning properties to choose from, meaning you’ll be spoilt for choice. For more information, visit whitstableholidayhomes.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @whitstableholidayhomes

For more information on Seaside House, visit whitstableholidayhomes.co.uk/seaside-house

How to enter 

For your chance to win a two-night stay in Seaside House (for up to six people and one dog), click the button and answer the question below by the closing date of 10 July 2024.
Q: What is the name of the cottage you could win a weekend in?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 10 July 2024. One winner selected at random from all correct entries. Prize must be taken before 31 March 2025 and excludes school or Bank Holidays. Subject to availability. The winner is responsible for transport to and from Seaside House. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. The winner may be required to participate in publicity. Details of our full T&Cs are on p125 and online at: icebergpress.co.uk/comprules

Science | Christmas Eve Explained

Concerned about Santa’s travelling plans this year? Fear not. We’ve uncovered the science behind the annual delivery of Santa’s sacks

Anyone who’s battled with Post Office queues during Advent will have at some point spent some time pondering upon how Santa makes it to 700 million odd children in different time zones around the globe. To save you wondering any further, we’ve followed the science and explained the Father Christmas Facts for you here. 

Santa Science Lesson 1: breaking the speed of light

Einstein showed that a very fast-moving object actually slows down time. Santa has around 31 hours (due to the rotation of the Earth) in which to deliver gifts to all time zones. To do this, he must travel at a speed of around 6 million miles per hour. However, as he speeds up, time would slow down, meaning he could take it a little easier on the sleigh pedals. 

Santa Science Lesson: fitting down chimneys

You’d think all the chimneys might slow Santa down but, assuming he goes down them himself rather than simply hurling the presents out of the sleigh and hoping for the best, the Theory of Relativity again helps him out. Travelling at 6 million miles per hour would make Santa thinner (in the direction he is travelling in). So as he whizzes down the chimney, his body becomes longer and thinner, allowing him to squeeze through the most awkward of spaces. 

Santa Science Lesson: space travel

The sleigh travels faster than the speed at which NASA spacecraft return to Earth. To prevent the sleight incinerating itself, we conclude that Santa must have used the sort of heat shield that NASA employ to prevent rockets burning up as they reenter the atmosphere. The technology was only developed during the Cold War so we can only assume that before then, the Arctic temperatures the reindeer and sleigh bring with them from the North Pole are enough to cool the sleigh as it travels. 

Santa Science Lesson: fitting all the presents on the sleigh

The question of how the sleigh holds all the presents, both in terms of mass and volume is an interesting one. Scientists estimate the sleigh, once fully loaded, would weigh approximately 1.2 million tonnes. The number of reindeer required to pull that would be around 5.6 million. We can therefore conclude that either Santa has a lot more reindeer than we know about, or that he is using newly developed nanotechnology to somehow shrink the presents on the sleigh and return them to their usual stature on solid ground. We can’t think of any other explanation.

We hope that’s answered all your gift delivery queries. If all that has got you excited for stockings, turn to page 116 of our December issue where we’ve gathered some snaps of our favrourite mantelpiece stockings, like the ones above by @drs.wife.

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