All posts tagged: Dining

Dining across the divide: ‘We both agreed Brexit was a disaster – but disagreed about who was responsible for that’ | Life and style

Dining across the divide: ‘We both agreed Brexit was a disaster – but disagreed about who was responsible for that’ | Life and style

Published by Sam Flores

Graham, 76, Pangbourne Occupation Property manager Voting record Always Conservative Amuse bouche Cycled from Land’s End to John o’Groats, taking five days to get to the Scottish border – then another four days to get to the end. Scotland is much bigger than you think Katherine, 53, Bath Occupation University researcher Voting record Historically, Labour but Lib Dem now due to the Lib Dem/Tory face-off in Bath Amuse bouche Spent a week walking about 75 miles of the Camino way in Spain with friends. Did not carry bags or stay in traditional hostels For starters Graham She was younger than I was expecting. When you meet someone you’ve never met before and you know you’re going to discuss things that can be contentious, there’s always going to be a frisson. But she was good company, very good. Katherine He seemed very lovely and friendly. We both had mussels and sea bream, and then I had blackcurrant sorbet, and he had a very nice blood orange pudding. The big beef Graham I definitely am a Europhile – my only reservation was …

Dining across the divide: ‘I knew he was a Reform voter and I had this Nigel-Farage-angry-face image’ | Life and style

Dining across the divide: ‘I knew he was a Reform voter and I had this Nigel-Farage-angry-face image’ | Life and style

Published by Sam Flores

Julian, 64, Hayling Island, Hampshire Occupation Engineer Voting record Conservative in 2019, “specifically on the Get Brexit Done ticket – I will never vote Conservative again.” Last time, Reform Amuse bouche Julian is doing a beekeeping course. He plans to do that once he retires Lawal, 40, Bournemouth Occupation IT professional Voting record Lawal came to the UK from Nigeria in 2022. Has voted Labour and Green in local elections. He describes himself as a liberal in conservative Nigerian society Amuse bouche Lawal can memorise numbers: he has up to 100 phone numbers in his head For starters Julian Lawal is from Nigeria, and also a Muslim. I felt relaxed enough to be able to discuss stuff like Islam with him; I had a girlfriend of Pakistani extraction in London before I met my wife. We both had squid, then I had trout and Lawal had lamb. Lawal I knew Julian was a Reform voter and I had this Nigel-Farage-angry-face image, but he was a really nice chap. The big beef Julian I think we need zero …

A fresh mix of retail and dining at City Square Mall

A fresh mix of retail and dining at City Square Mall

Published by Sam Flores

SPACES TO GATHER AND CONNECT Across the mall, new shared spaces are woven into the redesigned layout. Gastro Square on Level 4 spans 24,000 sq ft, bringing together dining options with areas for workshops and live performances. Green Square on Basement 1 remains a popular gathering point for students and youths, hosting community pop-ups, school-led programmes and outdoor movie screenings, while also serving as a space for seasonal fairs. Connect @ City Square Mall, located on Level 4 and Basement 2, is home to five social service agencies supporting children and families through counselling, mental health talks and early childhood programmes. MORE WAYS TO SHOP, DINE AND PLAY The reconfiguration introduces a refreshed tenant mix, organised into clusters for kids, home and living, athleisure and lifestyle. With more room to explore, visitors can try a wider range of experiences. Families can bake and decorate their own treats at Home Baking Day, browse Umistrong for art supplies and inspiration, or take studio-style portraits at Photoism. Younger visitors can head to Giggle Jungle by Yooland and Airzone …

Dining across the divide: ‘He kept saying, “Bring them all in, borders are just a line in the sand.” I didn’t agree’ | Life and style

Dining across the divide: ‘He kept saying, “Bring them all in, borders are just a line in the sand.” I didn’t agree’ | Life and style

Published by Sam Flores

Abdal-Jabbar, 56, Manchester Occupation Monitors offenders on electronic tags Voting record So far Labour, now looking at options between Corbyn’s Your Party and the Greens Amuse bouche Is an extra in film and TV productions. He recently played a paparazzo in the new Batman movie Will, 28, Manchester Occupation Works in operations and admin at Manchester University Voting record Labour under Corbyn, and was a party member. Voted Green in 2024 Amuse bouche Volunteers at a heritage railway in Wales, a full-sized, preserved old slate railway, the first in the world. His dad is very train oriented For starters Abdal-Jabbar Lovely, presentable, polite chap. Very educated – he’s got a degree in history. I think he knew a bit more about contemporary politics than I did. Will He seemed very well put-together, well-spoken. We chatted about interviews and jobs and things – he seemed like he’d been all round the shop doing all sorts of things. Abdal-Jabbar He had impeccable table manners. I was eating the starter with my hands and he went in with a …

Would you like to take part in Dining across the divide? | Life and style

Would you like to take part in Dining across the divide? | Life and style

Published by Sam Flores

Are flags hung from lamp-posts intimidating? Do we need to spend more on defence? Should we legalise drugs? Where do you stand on these or other issues – and could you persuade someone with a different view? For the Guardian series Dining across the divide, we would like to hear from people living in the UK who have differing viewpoints about some of the most divisive issues that affect us now. Our aim is to find out whether encountering someone with the opposite point of view can make a difference. We’re interested in hearing from adults from every part of the UK with an interest in meeting and discussing opposing views with another reader. Take part If you’re interested in taking part, or finding out more about the project, please answer the questions on the form below. Your responses are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. One of our journalists will be in touch if we plan to follow up with you, so please do leave …

Vanity Fair Oscar Party Serves up Domino’s and In-N-Out

Vanity Fair Oscar Party Serves up Domino’s and In-N-Out

Published by Daniella Wilson

It may have been a party for Hollywood’s most glamorous — but some decidedly déclassé food still managed to make an appearance. At the Vanity Fair Oscars bash, where this year’s guest list was whittled down to the most famous and powerful and members of the press weren’t allowed in, A-listers like Nicole Kidman, Mick Jagger and (an Oscar-less) Timothée Chalamet with main squeeze Kylie Jenner on his arm were spotted grazing at a gourmet spread from chef Evan Funke. The Mother Wolf restaurateur served an Italian feast that included Lasagna alla Cantonese, sea bass and grilled prime ribeye alongside an array of his signature homemade pastas. If that was too highfalutin’, slices of Domino’s pizza circulated in custom slice boxes emblazoned with the all-too-familiar red-and-blue logo. And keeping the high-low tradition alive, guests could also snack on In-N-Out burgers. The L.A. favorite fast-food chain has popped up at the VF party since the reign of longtime editor Graydon Carter, who launched the party in 1994 shortly after taking over the magazine. Carter was absent from …

Dining across the divide: ‘If I were queen, I’d abolish the monarchy’ | Life and style

Dining across the divide: ‘If I were queen, I’d abolish the monarchy’ | Life and style

Published by Sam Flores

Matilda, 19, Oxfordshire Occupation Starts a history degree in September Voting record Conservative at the last election, but is considering the Greens Amuse bouche Plays the accordion – her mum’s family are Scottish, so it felt like a natural thing to do. Her grandma bought her a gorgeous, glittery accordion to learn on Tamsin, 36, Oxford Occupation University researcher, working on food sustainability Voting record Normally Green, but has voted Labour strategically Amuse bouche Has four pet rats, all very different: Benvolio is the alpha; Cobweb is into nuts; Orlando is the calmest; and Peaseblossom is just a funny little man For starters Matilda Tamsin was so lovely. We were both quite nervous, but within about five minutes I thought, “We’re going to get on really well.” Tamsin She was friendly and smiley. We were both probably a bit awkward. But she had clearly been thinking about what kind of things she wanted to say. Matilda Tamsin ordered padron peppers – I’d never had them before, they were really scrummy. Then I had a steak. Tamsin I just looked for the vegan option and had …

Commentary: Noma L.A. controversy is a turning point. Why this critic won’t be dining there

Commentary: Noma L.A. controversy is a turning point. Why this critic won’t be dining there

Published by Sam Flores

Somewhere along the path to chefs becoming celebrities, we lost the plot entirely. In recent weeks, allegations of assault and harassment against Noma chef René Redzepi, arguably the most famous chef in the world, resurfaced online. On Wednesday, the chef and his team are slated to begin a 16-week residency in Los Angeles of $1,500 a seat dinners, a documentary film, a Noma Projects shop in Silver Lake and collaborations with chefs around the city. Multiple sponsors and partners have already pulled out. Normally, an event of this scale would warrant coverage. Instead, I found myself making no plans to attend, and even rethinking how I approach my job. The pop-up reservations sold out in minutes. I was invited to one of the dinners, but declined. We don’t accept comped meals. And there’s something about supporting a chef who multiple former employees claimed punched a colleague in the ribs (and berated him until he admitted that he liked giving DJs oral sex), among other abhorrent behaviors, that makes me lose my appetite. I have worked …

What Noma’s Rene Redzepi Has in Common With a Cult Leader

What Noma’s Rene Redzepi Has in Common With a Cult Leader

Published by Daniella Wilson

On the eve of its $1,500-per-person Los Angeles pop-up, which starts Mar. 11, Noma — often ranked the world’s top restaurant — has been exposed as a creative institution that built and sustained its reputation on physical and psychological workplace abuse. The New York Times investigation, published Mar. 7, came as no surprise to the fine dining world. Star chef Rene Redzepi’s misconduct had long been an open secret. In fact, he’d himself disclosed more than a decade ago in an essay that he’d “yelled and pushed people” at Noma, explaining, “I’ve been a bully for a large part of my career.” The revelations detail how Redzepi would assault and degrade employees in the pursuit of his exacting standards. This included punching underlings, striking them with kitchen implements and slamming them against walls — as well as threatening, according to the Times, “to use his influence to get them blacklisted from restaurants around the world, to have their families deported, or to get their wives fired from their jobs at other businesses.” The chef has …

Inside the Automats Where Coin-Operated Machines Created a Modern, Democratic Dining Experience

Inside the Automats Where Coin-Operated Machines Created a Modern, Democratic Dining Experience

Published by José Betancourt

“Good evening,” said Alfred Hitch­cock to the tele­vi­sion view­ers of Amer­i­ca on March 25, 1959. “Tonight I’m din­ing at my favorite club. There are many advan­tages here. As you can see, infor­mal­i­ty is the rule. There is also the stim­u­la­tion of intel­lec­tu­al com­pan­ion­ship with­out the deaf­en­ing qui­et that per­vades most clubs. Best of all, I like its pri­va­cy: only four per­sons are allowed at a table, and, of course, no one pays any atten­tion to you.” This was an exam­ple of the dead­pan irony with which the film­mak­er intro­duced each broad­cast of Alfred Hitch­cock Presents, for the “club” of which he spoke was clear­ly an automat. Today, many read­ers under about 50 will nev­er have heard the word, but at the time, it referred to a seem­ing­ly per­ma­nent insti­tu­tion in Amer­i­can life. Or rather, an insti­tu­tion of urban Amer­i­can life, and above all in two cities, Philadel­phia and New York. There, no one could think of automats with­out think­ing of Horn & Hardart, in its hey­day the largest restau­rant chain in the world. The con­cept, which co-founder …