february 2010 the face of chelmsford magazine

www.thefaceofchelmsford.com page 3

2010 A New Decade We’re moving forward into 2010 - and it’s a new year, a new decade. Traditionally this is the time for reflection and taking stock and we look forward to an improvement on everything from finance to health and fitness and what 2010 has in store for us. Many of us will have written New Year’s Resolutions or goals for the year ahead, joined a gym or started a new, and different, regime. Whatever you are doing, Chelmsford has many things to offer. Over the next year we will be visiting as many different areas as we can and letting you know what is available. The second issue of The Face of Chelmsford is packed with some fantastic articles. Look out for the quick blow-dry feature and read the tasty restaurant review this month - with mustard for great British food! Also don’t forget both St Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year fall on the same day this year. We have received excellent feedback from our readers, including many local companies, about some of the great services, events and places to go in Chelmsford, the county town of Essex. So thank you for all your emails, calls and letters, and please do keep sending them in. Visit our website where you can view the latest and previous issues so that you can refer back to some of the articles that you may have missed or simply want to re-read. The edition is also available online 7 days before the printed magazine comes out. So sit back and enjoy the read!

Jane Holloway Editor

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Some of the best skin care remedies are derived from pure natural sources. One of my favourite skin soothing treatments is oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeal is extracted from the oat and is excellent for treating many skin conditions. It has super soothing and calming properties making it a perfect product for easing irritation, redness, rosacea and eczema. It has long been recommended by doctors for eczema sufferers to have an oatmeal bath. For this, simply run the bath, adding the colloidal oatmeal for a soothing soak. This is also perfect for babies with sensitive, dry or irritated skin. Colloidal oatmeal is an effective way to treat any problem areas, including irritated or sensitive skin, by making the product into a masque. Just mix a tablespoon of colloidal oatmeal with a little warm water and stir to a creamy consistency. Apply directly to the area and leave for 5 – 20 minutes. Apply a little water to the now dried masque to soften, then wipe away with a sponge or a warm flannel. The skin is often visibly less red straight away. Regular use is recommended for treating long term conditions like eczema. Colloidal oatmeal smells amazing, but unfortunately is inedible, unlike normal porridge oats. Although porridge oats are very tasty, sadly they do not have the same great effect on the skin as colloidal oatmeal!

Colloidal oatmeal is available from Face @ 7-9 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1SY; Tel: 01245 496578 or shop online at www.shopatface.com For a completely soothing and repairing skin treatment visit Face for a ‘Skin Restore’ treatment which takes just 30 minutes and costs £26.00.

By Sarah Perry

Natural Skincare is a regular fea-ture in The Face of Chelmsford that gives an opportunity to familiarise our readers with nature’s best natu-ral skincare and remedies.

In each issue I will feature a differ-ent ingredient that you could easily use to improve the condition of the skin and body. In this issue I want to share with you the benefits of Colloidal Oatmeal.


http://www.shopatface.com

The Rejuvenation Revolution by Jane Holloway

Aging and how to reverse it is always a hot topic. Having worked within the skincare industry for over 14 years, from originally training as a skincare therapist, to developing products, treatments and equipment, I’ve seen major changes within the industry, and in particular, the anti-aging section. Naturally, we are an aging population. Everybody ages. Within this field of work, I have found that reducing the signs of aging: fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness under the eyes, age spots and losing firmness in the skin on the face and body, have always been in the top 3 con-cerns, if not the main concern for many individuals. From a young age we start no-ticing the decline of our skin and body and hope that we will grow old very gracefully indeed! Depending on factors like lifestyle, health and exercise, the signs of aging can start at a time when we should really be looking our best. Unfortunately for women, there is a generalised pattern that as men grow older they tend to look better with age. One of the prime examples is George Clooney who, most likely has more women falling at his feet now than when he was younger, as his looks are more rugged and sexier, because the crow’s feet and the laughter lines gives him an appealing air of maturity. There is a perception that women tend to look worse as they get older because, according to many psychologists, it is innate in us to feel that a more youthful face and body is much more appealing. That is why many products and treatments out in the market still focus much more on attracting women than men.

As always the eyes, neck and hands are the first tell tale signs of everyone’s age and how well they look after the skin and body. Women tend to notice the signs of their skin ageing from as soon as they hit their 30’s: fine lines start to appear, the skin looks dull and dehydrated, fluid and puffiness builds up around the eyes, dark circles emerge and the eyelids begin to become crepey. Another common sign of aging is around the mouth area. This can be a particular concern for women. As the corners of the mouth and the jowls begin to droop, it tends to make people look miserable even when they are not frowning. Despite the fact that our skin and hair are the only 24 hours accessories that we have, they are quite often the most neglected. For many years we neglect our skin, and prioritise jewellery, clothes and cars, but our skin is something that we don’t go anywhere without. Yet, quite often it is simply forgotten. Our face is the first thing that people notice about us and when people compliment on our complexion it makes a real difference to how we feel. Having the right treatments and products for you, is essential for keeping a healthy skin.


As times change, many individuals are moving away from the more traditional style massage facials that may be relaxing, but as far as results go the skin only looks a brighter for a day or two. Instead the trend now is to go more for treatments that actually give results and make a real difference to the skin condition, texture and elasticity, but in a way that is healthy and non-aggressive. There are many times where anti-aging treatments that are commonly known as ‘quick fixes’ have a detrimental effect on the skin. I work with many procedures like microdermabrasion, oxygen skin therapy, IPL, skin tightening and sculpting systems and muscle lifting. I have always seen the best results and firmly believe in systems that make a real difference in a non-invasive way. Now I am not saying start spending hours having treatments and ages standing in front of the bathroom mirror. Just using the right products, the right way and having the right treatments that give your skin the results that it needs, will literally transform your skin in a matter of weeks. Whatever age you are, the younger you start looking after your skin, the better your skin will maintain. It’s better to maintain a healthy skin than to repair one. But even with skin that’s damaged, with fine lines, acne scarring, pigmentation and sun damage, most skin problems can be effectively treated with the right advice. Always book for a consultation to discuss your skin and the results you are looking to achieve. Many skin centres offer these consultations free of charge, where you are open to discuss all your skin concerns in a private and confidential area. Services such as patch testing are available so you can see how the treatment will feel before you have a session.

Every skin is as individual as every person, so the therapist would treat your skin according to its needs. For example, if your main worry is aging around the eyes, the therapist will recommend treat-ments and products that target that concern, or when doing a skin treatment, will focus more on that area, making the treatment individual to you. Making a positive change with the skin is the best possible advice I can give, after all, it will be here as long as you are! For more advice, please contact [email protected] 01245 496578 www.faceskincare.co.uk



http://www.faceskincare.co.uk

Dermalogica products available from Face 7-9 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex. CM1 1SY 01245 496578 www.shopatface.com [email protected]

Multivitamin Power Firm

One of Dermalogica’s best selling products, the Multivitamin Power Firm, is an eye cream that is used to combat visible lines around the eye area.

As part of the AGE smart range Multivitamin Power Firm helps repair signs of premature ageing with an infusion of Vitamins A, C and E. This accelerates the skin’s natural repair process and strengthens elasticity by stimulating collagen syn-thesis (production) and rein-forcing the bonds between cells. Red Seaweed Extract helps firm the skin whilst silicones gently melt into the skin to help prevent moisture loss. This minimises the fine lines associated with dehydration. Notice a difference the first time you use it! Price: £31.30 - 15ml

Available at: Face 7-9 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1SY 01245 496578 www.SHOPatFACE.com

Dermalogica products available from Face 7-9 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex. CM1 1SY 01245 496578 www.shopatface.com [email protected]

Multivitamin Power Firm


http://www.SHOPatFACE.com

IPL


HAVE YOUR

SAY!

If you got something

to say... .

...then say it!

We want your comments on our reviews, our recommendations, our columns,

our site, other peoples feedback—anything you like.

If you know of a new restaurant, venue or business or have had a good experi-

ence in Chelmsford that you want to share, let us know.

If you know of any upcoming events, or if you have something that you think our readers should know then let us know!

Please email us at: [email protected]

WAVE GOODBYE

TO THE STING

FOR GOOD!

OF WAX

To book your FREE and confidential consultation, & trial session

please call 01245-496578, or visit

www. facesk incare.co.uk face | 7-9 Broomfield Road | Chelmsford | CM1 1SY

PERMANENT

HAIR REDUCTION

The ART of a Quick Blow-Dry Washing and drying your hair can be one of the most tedious jobs and one that has to be done so regularly, it sometimes seems ridiculous. Unlike men, who can just ‘wash and go’, we females have to spend time drying our hair so that we look as if we have some kind of control over it, rather than it controlling us. Many hair procedures such as colouring, perming and extensions are lengthy and we can spend hours, sitting in a chair, just having our hair maintained. Yet most men just arrive for a hair-cut and 15 minutes later they are done.

This feature, ‘The Art of a quick blow dry’, is about getting those ‘hair salon’ results that always seem to last longer and look far better than when you do your hair yourself. Not only that, they can be done in minimal time. I visited three Chelmsford hair salons that were all recommended to me for their great quality, service and speed. I can definitely recommend each of them to you!


Zen Hair Carmen 01245 254466 Nuffield Health & Wellness, River-side Retail Park, Victoria Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1AN Under 45 minutes Blow Dry from £15.00 to £24.00

Opening Hours

Monday 8AM to 7PM Tuesday 8AM to 9PM

Wednesday 8AM to 7PM Thursday 8AM to 9PM

Friday 8AM to 7PM Saturday 9AM to 5pm Sunday 10AM to 4PM

Zen Hair has a different approach to the normal hustle and bustle of salon life. With their smartly groomed staff in black uniforms, you instantly get the feeling of being in a ‘spa’ type environment, but for your hair instead. The shop has a minimalistic theme, with an uncluttered atmosphere and the music is soft and relaxing. On the walls, pictures of art, rather than the usual hair styles, make a refreshing change. Many women and men can feel intimidated by loud busy salons and feel self conscious about their hair; they prefer a service that is a little bit more discreet and for this, Zen Hair is the perfect place. The salon was opened in June 2009 by owners Carmen and Lisa and is just inside the entrance of the popular health club, Nuffield Health, previously known as Cannons. Zen Hair is available to non-members as well as members of the health club. Situated in Riverside Retail Park there is easy parking which is free for 2 hours, making it ideal for when you want to just drop in for a quick service. They offer extended hours, including early morning, late evening and Sundays, making it more accessible to a wider range of clientele. My hair was treated with S-factor products, made by TIGI. They used a high cleansing shampoo followed by a smoothing shampoo and then it was lightly conditioned. The girls advised me about the prod-ucts they were using and explained the benefits they would have to my hair. Carmen was quick and efficient; she listened to what I wanted and gave me advice and ideas for my hair. My hair looked and smelt fantastic and kept well for days afterwards. They offer an ‘early bird’ morning blow dry for the excellent value of £10.00 available Monday to Friday 8.00 am -10.00 am and are definitely worth a visit.


Zen Hair

The Hair Shop Amanda Lucia 01245 258899 14 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex. CM2 0SW Under 40 minutes Blow Dry from £19.00 to £25.00 Opening Hours Monday, 10AM to 6PM Tuesday 9AM to 8PM Wednesday 9AM to 5PM Thursday 9AM to 8PM Friday 9AM to 7PM Saturday 8.30AM to 5PM

Speedy Amanda is well known for her hair services and has worked in Chelmsford for over 15 years. She is a great addition to the team, enhancing the excellent reputation of the Hair Shop, both in Chelmsford and in London. The Chelmsford based salon expands over 2 floors with expert staff offering some great hair services, using kerastase products for maximum results. As part of the High Chelmer shopping centre, The Hair Shop is situated in the centre of the town, behind Marks and Spencer’s – a perfect location for popping in for a quick treatment.

After a consultation about my hair and what I was looking for, I headed straight for the washbasins for my shampoo. Andrew, the director of The Hair Shop, had recommended that I tried one of their kerastase Hair Rituals. This is an instant treatment designed for people on the run, which completely rejuvenates the condition of your hair in literally 2 minutes. There is also an indulgent version for when you have more time on your hands and you want maximum results.Then I was straight off for the blow dry with Amanda, who explained that the treatment would be very smoothing, improve the shine of my hair and the overall condition. Amanda, who actually did my hair several years ago for my wedding day, works extremely quickly, in transforming your hair to perfection in under 40 minutes. With the combined treatment and blow dry my hair felt, and looked, amazing - and stayed in great condition after the treatment for days.

www.TheHairShop.co.uk


Silhouette Du Barry Nathan Jasztal 01245 257137 8 Moulsham Street (high Street), Chelmsford, Essex. CM2 0HR Under 50 minutes Blow Dry from £14.00 to £30.00

Silhouette Du Barry, run by directors Barry Tarling and husband and wife team Zoe and Nathan Jasztal, have an extensive team of 30 staff. They each specialise in many different areas to offer a large range of complete hair solutions. Their spacious hair salon runs over 3 floors and is at the end of the High street, opposite Pizza Express.

My hair was washed with a smoothing combination of Matrix Biolage products at their state-of-the-art wash basin where, with a neck rest and a leg rest, you feel completely relaxed. The products made my hair feel super-clean, without feeling stripped. Nathan, part owner of Silhouette Du Barry, blow dried my hair, just before he jetted off to Milan for his next fashion show.

Zoe and Nathan travel extensively between London, New York, Paris and Milan for the major fashion and professional trade shows, showcasing their creative talents and expertise. Zoe and Nathan feature their creative work on the walls of Silhouette Du Barry, demonstrating their artistic flare and passion for hair. Nathan used products by L’Oreal Techniart – pronounced tech-ni-art - for styling. My hair looked per-fect, with plenty of shine, just the right amount of body and looked full of life. I discovered they offer a luxury blow dry, where they can add on extra finishing touches such as using tongs or putting a section of your hair up for a special occasion.

Opening Hours Monday, 9AM to 5PM Tuesday 9AM to 6PM

Wednesday 9AM to 9PM Thursday 9AM to 9PM

Friday 9AM to 5PM Saturday 8.30AM to 5PM

Whilst doing my hair, Nathan explained step by step how to best dry my hair to get salon results at home. I do most of what he recommended and I’m sure, with more practice, I will improve. I was also given tickets to a hair workshop at Silhouette Du Barry on the 2nd February where they teach you ‘the tricks of the trade’ from the professionals, so hopefully, even though you can’t beat a professional treatment, after a bit more training I will do better myself.


7-9 broomf ie ld road | chelmsford | essex | cm1 1sy

[email protected] | www.faceskincare.co.uk | 01245 496578

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HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

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http://www.faceskincare.co.uk/

Inspired by last month’s ‘Art for All’ article featuring local artist, Lynne Timmington. Aaron Joseph, age 12, got to work on a relaxing scene , just using watercolour paints and a simple canvas purchased from The Works in town. “I have always struggled to concentrate on art and making

anything creative, but after seeing the awesome pictures in

the magazine before Christmas. I decided to sit down and

give it a go and I made this picture for my mum for a

Christmas gift. She was really pleased!”

Aaron Joseph

A FEW THINGS ABOUT MUSTARD... Locally Sourced Some of Mustard’s best suppliers are listed on their website and Richard regularly visits

them personally to see just how far the food travels that ends up on your plate.

Pie Night Fancy a pie? Offering the best great British pies, with a two course meal for £14.00 and three courses for £17.50, it is definitely worth trying their next Pie Nights on 17th February, 17th March and 14th April.

Bar & DJ - Situated Downstairs Every Friday and Saturday night you can enjoy a great range of music by DJ Darryl Butcher or Faux Pas’s DJ Hilly.

Anti-Valentines Day As sometimes stated, Valentine’s Day can often be the worst time for going out for a

meal. However Mustard offer a haven from the normal Valentine’s evening on February

13th and then a more traditional romantic meal on the 14th February. The choice is yours!

Vegetarians Mustard have a wide variety of fantastic vegetarian food on the menu. They even offer vegetarian nights, which are definitely worth a try! 24th Feb, 31st Mar and 28th Apr .

The Non-Desserts Sometimes, sweet things don’t quite hit the spot, but just ‘cheese and biscuits’ do not enthral you with excitement either! With mustards great way of offering you the choice of 4 different cheeses and a great selection of biscuits and crackers means you can order a dish, perfect for you, or great to share. They also offer dessert wine and port to go along with the dishes, making it the perfect end to your meal.

Drinks In line with the ethos of this superb restaurant the bar serves some great British classics, along

with great local bottles and cask ales, refreshing cocktails and well chosen wines.

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RESTAURANT REVIEW OF MUSTARD Having never been a fan of the ‘good old English mustard’ I was keen to try out the restaurant that won the ‘Best Newcomer Restaurant’ of the Essex Food & Drink Awards 2009, to see if it is as much of a hit as everyone is talking about!

Situated in the Town Centre side of New London Road, Mustard opened it’s doors in September

2008. If you enjoy delicious food that is the Best of British, then head down to this fine Restaurant& Bistro. It seats 40 guests and is an ideal place for a relaxed lunch or dinner, a party or an intimate meal for two.

I spent what seemed like a lifetime pondering the menu and had to send the waiter away twice as I was still deciding what dish I just could not do without. From the ham hock that has been raved about to the monkfish wrapped in thin sliced cured ham, it was almost impossible not to order several starters and mains at the same time. Luckily for me though, some of the courses were recommended and I got to sample some amazing dishes and I literally cleaned every plate! The food is exquisite, cooked to perfection and although the portions are plenty big enough, the food is not heavy so you leave feeling completely satisfied.

The service from the staff is excellent, they make every effort to help you enjoy your evening rather than just robotically taking your order and serving your food. You are well looked after in a friendly manner with no pretence. So next time you are going out for a meal, book yourself a table at Mustard!


DETAILS Owner: Richard Adams Head Chef: Gaetano Serano Cuisine: British Our Ratings: Food 10/10 Décor 9.5/10 Service 9/10 Value 9/10

FACTS & STATS Opening Hours: Lunch - Mon–Sun 12:00PM - 3:00PM Dinner - Tues–Sat 6:00PM - 10:00PM Reservations: Advisable and welcomed. Call 01245 266612 Parking: In the evening there is free parking just on the other side of the road, but do not park in the dis-abled bays, they are not very clearly marked! Meals Served: Lunch, dinner and drinks Dress Code: None

Website: www.mustardbistro.co.uk

Address: 32 London Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0ND

Date Opened: Sept 2008 Good For: All business and social lunches, family and friend celebrations, romantic meals and pretty much any occasion! Special requests can also be catered for i.e. champagne & flowers on tables, birth-day cakes etc. Special Features: Intimate and cozy surroundings in a converted Victorian town house. Atmosphere: Relaxed and approachable, good music with a diverse playlist which makes a difference. Non pretentious and down to earth.

A LITTLE HISTORY Mustard bar & bistro is one of Chelmsford best owner-run restaurants, with a great reputation for locally sourced Great Britain produce for both food and drinks. As an independent restaurant Mustard provides classic British dishes, served by staff that are friendly and professional, in comfortable and stylish surroundings and with a modern bar on the lower ground floor is the perfect way to begin or end the evening, or just simply visit for drinks.


http://www.mustardbistro.co.uk

Celebrity Skin

by Sarah Perry Celebrities go for the best skincare and cosmetics available. With expert advice and party bag giveaways, they’re always ‘in the know’ when it comes to looking their best. And it’s no surprise they look so flawless…it’s often mineral make-up.

Mineral make-up has been breaking through to the beauty market gradually over the last ten or more years, although it’s been around for about 30 years. It has often been used by makeup artists to the stars for giving a flawless fresh faced complexion. Nowadays, it is much more widely available.

Mineral make-up can vary in price and different ranges include various formulations. These vary from the most pure (100% mineral) to cheap, talc based powders which have some mineral content but do not deliver the same results, and will still clog the pores.

It is easy to mistake minerals for ‘powders’, whereby a normal face ‘powder’ is coloured talc, dusted over the skin after foundation to set the liquid base. Face powder is also used by those with oily skin to blot out shine. The formulation can contain other ingredients like paraffinium liquidium which can cause breakouts. The artificial colours often used in these powders can also have detrimental effects to the face and cause sensitivity, skin irritation and congestion. So what is mineral make up? 100% mineral bases contain natural ingredients and oxide pigments. They do not clog pores and are safe for concealing all imperfections including around the eyes and on the body. They have anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce redness and calm the skin. Having worked with developing our own range of cosmetics called ‘Face Minerals’ I recommend using these mineral based products which contain no artificial ingredients or pore clogging oils. Face Minerals are completely natural and simply packaged so you know you are paying for the product and not its fancy packaging.


We offer a free colour matching service and application tuition, to teach individuals the correct application techniques to achieve the right level of coverage for you. One of the best benefits of using this product is that it has the ability to provide a very light coverage, right up to concealing acne and uneven skin tone. Stars who swear by mineral make-up:

Hilary Duff

Jessica Alba

Penelope Cruz The Benefits

It can be used after IPL, laser and chemical peels

It will not enhance lines and pores like traditional make-up does

You can sleep in pure mineral make-up

It means healthy cosmetics for the skin that don’t clog the pores For more information and to try a free application or free consultation visit Face 7-9 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1SY; Tel: 01245 496578; www.face-minerals.com

http://www.face-minerals.com

Skin Hydration WITH JANE HOLLOWAY

It’s an obvious one,

but….drink more water! Approximately 8 glasses of

plain water everyday will help to maintain the moisture

levels of the body and skin.

Avoid skin care products

that focus on stripping the skin. Many toning products are

alcohol based with artificial colours and fragrances that will definitely strip away your skin’s

natural moisture, leaving it feeling thirsty!

Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages

dramatically dehydrate your skin so try to avoid or cut down

on what you drink. For every beverage that you have drink at

least one glass of water afterwards.

For more information email [email protected] or visit

www.faceskincare.co.uk


Just launched in the Face range, Nourish Body Spritz is a quick and easy way of moisturising the body and in particular, getting to those hard to reach areas, like the back. Simply spritz onto the entire body and your skin will be completely moisturised in seconds. Nourish Body Spritz contains sweet al-mond oil that has a high content of fatty acids and vitamins A and E to keep the skin soft and supple. Essential oils of rose, lavender and lemon help renew, tone and hydrate the skin. Price: £10.95 - 125ml Available at: Face 7-9 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1SY 01245 496578 www.SHOPatFACE.com

Receive 20% off Nourish Body Spritz

until the end of February 2010!

Nourish Body Spritz


http://www.SHOPatFACE.com

Zeera. A Contemporary Indian Restaurant, that is located in Rainsford Road,

just at the start of Duke Street. The restaurant interior and decor is modern and contemporary with soft lighting, creating a peaceful retreat from the busy town just a short walk away. The open plan restaurant has comfortable seating for 80 people and even a few ‘booth’ tables which prove to be very popular with customers. The environment is perfect for small or large groups, both for lunch and dinner. Regular customers may be rewarded with the Zeera V.I.P card for priority service and some complementary drinks. We were greeted with a friendly welcome upon arrival were shown straight to our table, the V.I.P booth- we were off to a good start! The service is good and very quick, which is perfect for a lunch service where people can be short on time. At £7.95 the set menu is very reasonable The staff are happy to advise and recommend dishes from the menu and you are welcome to ask for more or little spice on the dish, as everything is cooked fresh as you order it. If you are vegetarian, the meat can be substituted for vegetables. Zeera had a selection of dishes for us to try, focusing more on flavour than spice. The food does not leave you returning to the office with any ‘burning-mouth-syndrome’ that some people find with Indian style cooking. Our three favourite dishes? Number 1, Butter chicken - delicately spiced chicken topped with a delicious rich, thick creamy butter sauce. Number 2, Chicken Makhani - a rich sweet sauce cooked with almonds, coconut butter, cream and condensed milk. And Number 3, Lamb korma - a sweet coconut cream sauce with lamb that was very delicate. The restaurant is owned and managed by Max Mustafa who has invited us back to meet the chef, where he will be sharing one of his amazing recipes and teaching us how to cook an authentic Indian dish. With their slogan of ‘’tasting is believing’’ I will admit - I’m definitely a believer! If you have idea of what we should cook, email us! [email protected]

The Lunch Date

The Meal: Set lunchtime menu, everyday @ £7.95 Includes main course side dish, pilau rice, plain naan and bottle of beer or glass of wine. Lunch Mon–Sun 12PM-2.30PM Dinner Mon–Sun 5.30PM-12.00PM Reservations and Take-away: Call 01245 352990 / 353097 Parking: On street-metered parking. Zeera - 30 Rainsford road, Chelmsford, essex, CM1 2QD


Nourish Body Spritz


Top Gallery in Essex

Local Art Gallery, Interior Angle is a beacon for local artists.

Established for 16 years, it is now representing its artists in high places, having secured positions in the Affordable Art fair last October in Battersea and looking forward to the Affordable Art

Fairs in Glasgow and New York in March and May. Proprietors, Soo and Richard Turner have worked relentlessly to

create a unique Gallery exhibiting innovative works of art from jewellery to sculpture, textiles to photography, illustrators to fine art.

With their dynamic team, Sarah Scotchman and Amy Mountney, they have forged a path for Chelmsford on the Arts Trail, now in its 3rd year. This event has been steadily growing in its success, raising the profile of the arts in the area.


Resident artist Lynne Timmington has much to thank the gallery for. Her paintings are

now sold, in Selfridges, having been represented by Soo who works closely with two major Interior Design companies, Bo Concept and Loft Living. Furnishings from both these companies can be found at the Gallery too.

Since showing her paintings at Hussey and Greaves as part of the

Arts trail, Lynne added a wintery scene to the Christmas window ,designed by Denise Austin and Lyn Welsman who run the art department.

Hussey and Greaves won the best dressed window in this year’s Moulsham Traders Christmas display.

Lynne’s work is exhibited for sale at Interior Angle, art design gallery in Wells Street, Chelmsford.


Chinese New Year Food - The Year of the Tiger

by Henry Fong Chinese New Year food is a big part of any new year celebration. In fact, the food is nothing less than central to the festivities. The Chinese New Year is similar to the Western one, but the differences are key. It is considered to be one of the most important holidays in the Chinese culture. Alternative names for it include the Spring Festival and the Lunar New Year. According to the Chinese calendar, the New Year takes place not on the first day of the first month of the year, as in the Western culture, but of the first lunar month. It lasts for about two weeks. Now, back to the subject of food - it is indeed hugely important during this celebration. Foods which are considered lucky and fortuitous are served throughout the entire fifteen days. The qualifications for lucky or symbolic foods vary.

Sometimes, certain foods are served based on how they look. Entire chickens are popular because they symbolize togetherness among the family unit. When you serve an entire chicken during the celebration, it is assurance that the family will be together and stay together. This is something that all families want for the coming new year. Noodles are another food traditionally found during Chinese New Year's celebrations. In fact, they are practically required. In the Chinese culture, noodles symbolize a long, long life. For that reason, certain superstitions say they should not be cut. To do so would bring bad luck or worse. The inclusion of clams and Spring rolls are used to bring luck in matters of wealth. Clams are said to look a lot like bouillon. Spring rolls represent wealth because they look a bit like bars of gold.

Sometimes, foods are used because of the way the Chinese words for them sound. For example, the Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like the word for fortune, so lettuce is served. Tangerines and oranges are served because the Chinese words for them sound like the words for luck and wealth. So, a food itself does not necessarily have to be lucky. If it is somehow associated with luck, that is just as beneficial. Fish is also frequently served. It has several symbols attached to it. The Chinese word for fish is "yu." It sounds like the words for terms of good fortune. As well, the fish itself is considered indicative of good luck. When it is served whole with both the head and tail intact, it is indicative of the year's good beginning and ending.


Travel Journal

by Jane & John Holloway

Every New Year for the last 5 years, we go somewhere different and experience a new way of celebrating the New Year. Every coun-try, every city, every place has their own kind of tradition and custom. In the UK, New Years can sometimes be a bit of a letdown, feeling just like ‘just any other night’, except way more expensive! Seeing somewhere different keeps the excitement going as everything is fresh and new. This year we decided to spend New Years in the Spanish mountain village of Benahavis, which is located 7 KM from the coast be-tween Marbella, Estapona and Ronda. To many Andalusians, native and expatriate alike, the village is synonymous with good friend and friendly faces. With the highest concentration of high class restaurants in the region an at 500 metres above the sea level, with incredi-ble mountain and sea views, Benahavis is of-ten referred to as the dining room of the Costa del Sol! There are some amazing place to stay, includ-ing some large villas that can be rented pri-vately and luxury apartments and hotels. If you like to go off and explore, then there is plenty to do, sights to see and plenty of golf to play. The Costa Del Sol has over 70 golf courses, and 15 of those are in the Benahavis region, alone! For those that simply want to chill out and relax, there are always the wonderful beaches, a nearby pool and many good spa’s and health retreats. ―I’ll tell you about those another time…‖

For many in Spain, the New Year festivi-ties start at home, with family and a ban-quet type feast. Only after midnight is struck and best wishes are made, do they venture out onto the town to celebrate with friends and raise a glass or two. It’s not unusual therefore for many restau-rants, especially authentic Spanish ones, to be closed over the festive period as they opt to spend the time with family and friends. In Benahavis, though, there were still many places open ready to bring in the New Year. On New Year’s Eve we went to ‘La Cocina’ a restaurant that opened in May 2009, by a native Andalucian, Csaba and one of Gordon Ramsey’s old chefs, David. The restaurant offers an international menu, using only the finest ingredients sourced locally and always cooked fresh. The food was fantastic, it looked good and it tasted even better! Even dishes that I thought I wouldn’t like, I really enjoyed. We enjoyed a simple white wine with our meal and fin-ished off with a baileys in the old stone bar. As is the custom in Spain, we had our 12 grapes with each bellow of the local church bells, making a wish with each one for the New Year.


By 12.30, however, the evening just seemed to settle. We decided to leave and literally took 5 steps up the road and bumped into a 78 year old Spanish man, who wished us ‘Feliz Ano!’ ―Happy New Year!‖. He asked us if we were going to the festival that the village eld-ers host every year. He explained that it was an authentic Spanish fiesta, with an orchestra and dancing and that it started at 12.30. The timing was just about perfect. We wanted to celebrate an authentic Spanish New Year, and without hesitation, accept his invitation and walked with him up the winding cobblestone streets to the village hall. If we hadn’t of bumped into ‘Martine’ we would have never known about the fiesta or where to find it. Because of the Spanish siestas, people tend to go out for a night, much later than in the UK, and then tend to party much later as well! From 12.30 onwards the locals of the village arrived having brought the New Year in at home or one of the restaurants. By 1AM the place was packed! The fiesta went on till 5am, with great music from three different Spanish bands playing on a large stage in front of a very large dance floor that was quickly filled. The music was all in Spanish, and I don’t think I recognized any of it, but literally every Spanish person there was up dancing and singing every word, so we just joined the crowd! Being the only English people there and with my improving ability to speak Spanish, we seemed to blend in quite well and loved every minute of it! People watching was great fun with people of all ages turned up to celebrate, from the very young to the very old and those in between! Having adapted to the extra sleep in the day we remained dancing till 4am. Women arrived in their luxurious fur coats and some in traditional style Spanish dresses. Most of the men were smartly and causally suited and booted. Everyone was in high spirits and the atmosphere was great!

All in all, the celebration of the New Year was what we had been looking for, good food, good music, all in a great atmosphere without any headaches or trouble of any sort. If you find celebrating New Years to be a bit of a bore or even a chore, then try looking further afield. You don’t have to spend a fortune and you don’t have to go far. New Years Eve or not, Benahavis is certainly worth a visit, especially if you like good food, good hospitality and friendly faces! FACTS Benahavis - Spain Language – Spanish Currency – Euro Nearest airport – Malaga Drive – 40-45 minutes

THINGS TO DO Day trip to Gibraltar Day trip to Morocco Bull fights Golf – Los Aqueros RESTURANTS Las Esclararas – (the stairs) LA Cocina (the kitchen)



Snack Attack by Meghan Mari


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