By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
‘Tis the season to book your flights for a Christmas break under a golden sun, basking in the rays, paddling in the sea and enjoying a cocktail (or two) in a fabulous hotel bar. The pacing of a ‘winter sun’ holiday spent in one of the world’s finest winter sun destinations is one of life’s greatest balms; rising with the sun, enjoying a long, lazy morning with fresh fruit and coffee for breakfast, and wiling by the pool or the sea with a page-turner without even a glance at your inbox, and venturing to the spa or a local restaurant for lunch. As evening approaches, perhaps you don something special, silky or colourful, and wander down to the bar for a cocktail in the warm breeze before your dinner reservation. In fact, it is this very cocktail that will set the tone for the evening – the bite of the spirit, the twist of the citrus and the unexpected yet welcome sweetness from mango or passionfruit, characteristic of your chosen winter sun holiday destination.
This month, we have rallied the troops of some of the very best hotels and restaurants in top winter sun holiday destinations to share their favourite cocktail recipes for summoning the splendour of the sunshine over your forthcoming Christmas break. So, here’s a snapshot of what to look out for, and look forward to, as you saunter down to the hotel bar or the beachside restaurant…
The Gagaito
Tall and refreshing, the Gagaito cocktail has been developed by Dalibor Mujovic, the Mixologist and Bar Manager at Parrot Bay by COMO in Turks and Caicos. Mujovic has managed exquisite bars all over the world, and before joining the West Indies COMO outpost, he worked in Montenegro and Phuket, Thailand with the AMAN group. His recipe for the Gagaito combines the fresh, light flavours of basil and cucumber with the clean astringency of Sake, and the spicy kick of Bombay Saphire gun. For length and mellowness, the ingredients are topped up with club soda and garnished with cucumber and basil, a nod to the flavours the Majovic shakes over ice.
Gagaito
2 oz Bombay Saphire gin
1 oz Dassai 45 Sake
½ oz Agave Syrup
Basil & Cucumber
Club Soda (top up)
Method: Build all ingredients in a shaker with ice & shake vigorously. Strain cocktail into high ball glass with ice.
Garnish: Cucumber slice & Basil leaf
The Amazonia
Visitors to the luxurious, exclusive and decadent island of Ibiza will find the Amazonia cocktail amongst the self-proclaimed laid-back, barefoot-chic ambience of Aiyanna, a restaurant on the fashionable east coast of the island. Last year, Aiyanna was listed and recommended by Conde Nast Traveller as one of the best beach clubs in the world, and it’s not a stretch to see why. This year, its cocktail menu is inspired by the fifth centenary of global travel, drawing on the flavours we associate with different cities and countries to inform the palette of each delectable drink. For example, Aiyanna’s Hanami cocktail is named for the Japanese word meaning, ‘the pleasure of looking at a flower.’ The Amazonia represents Africa in the sprawling list of geographical influences with flavours including mango, coconut, and amaretto.
The Amazonia
Add ice to a blender and then add the following ingredients:
5 cl. of cahaça
3 cl. coconut milk
2 cl. lemon juice
3 cl. amaretto liqueur
10 cl. mango juice
Blend well and serve in a glass with fruit to decorate and finish with cocoa powder on top
The Parrot Cay Smoker
Back to Mujovic at Parrot Bay with an eponymous cocktail that combines some of the most archetypal Caribbean flavours to bring hotel guests a punchy, indulgent, spiced beverage that will forever remind them of their stay. The Parrot Cay Smoker is a vanilla-infused rum cocktail with ginger wine, lime juice and homemade island coconut syrup served with a dried orange wheel and smoked with a smoke gun. The adventurous, theatrical cocktail is a feast for the eyes, unforgettably fragrant and light but substantial on the tongue.
Parrot Cay Smoker
1 ½ oz Bambarra reserve rum infused with Vanilla sticks
¾ oz Ginger wine
¾ oz Lime juice
¼ oz Homemade island coconut syrup
Build all ingredients in a shaker with ice & shake vigorously. Strain cocktail into rock glass with ice
Garnish with dried orange wheel and vanilla stick
Use a smoke gun to smoke the cocktail
Ibiza Affair
Amante Ibiza is perched, rather idyllically, on a dramatic cliff overlooking the stunning Sol D’en Serra Bay on Ibiza’s untouched north-eastern coast. Arrive for sunset and browse the extensive cocktail menu, keeping a special eye out for the Ibiza Affair, which comes recommended by the bar team for its nuanced palette. The tongue-tingling tartness of passionfruit is fused with the innocent sweetness of strawberry, which is then cut through with pungent ginger juice and a kick of Bombay Sapphire gin.
Ibiza Affair
Add ice to a blender and then add the following ingredients:
50ml Bombay sapphire
20ml passion fruit
70 ml fresh strawberry
20 ml ginger juice
Blend well and serve in a glass with fruit to decorate
Genealogy: A Journey Into the Past
By Anya Cooklin-Lofting
The job of a genealogist is to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, the distinct, frequently remarkable, often unpredictable history of a family. Using family lore, genetic analysis, redacted files, historical documents and medical records, genealogists connect the dots to create a more rounded picture of how their clients have come to exist. They give individuals and their families a unique historical framework to understand how and why their ancestors made the decisions, entered into the marriages, moved to the countries or even committed the crimes that they did. Beginning your journey into genealogy is much like sitting for a portrait without the generous artistic license many painters afford to their subjects. A genealogist will present you with new data, strange new narratives and sometimes grim realisations, warts and all, that can change not only your self-perception but that of your entire family, living or dead. In the ultimate endeavour in separating fact from fiction, a great genealogist will conjure real voices from the past, scratching the very human itch that we each harbour to understand where (and who…) we come from.
Using the Past to Inform the Future
Genealogica is a unique firm that its clients instruct to undertake extensive ancestral research, delivering extraordinary findings by working with intentional government agencies and a global network of the most notable historians. Once a client’s family history has been unearthed to its fullest extent, Genealogica’s Emmy award-winning storytellers, published authors and academic historians craft a narrative to bring this unique history to life. The fun doesn’t stop there, though: Genealogica also commissions skilled artisans to design and bind these stories into future heirlooms, creating priceless works of art in the form of Ancestral Encyclopedias. The team can also plan and guide ancestral journeys, produce documentary-quality films of each project, locate and acquire lost family heirlooms, and build legacy collections.
The company’s co-Founder and CEO, Al Edgington, is no stranger to the intricacies of family history or the level of research that goes into unearthing such stories. He was nominated for Primetime Emmys in 2012 and 2014 for his work as the Executive Producer on NBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?, producing 35 episodes of the celebrity-led genealogical travel series over a five-year period. Since co-Founding Genealogica in 2013, Edgington has reunited families, shed light on the personal connections we bear to our pasts, and delivered exquisite works of art to express his researchers’ findings.
“All we have is human,” says Edgington, “and the information we’re able to uncover is valuable only for families. It’s human capital.” The work that the Genealogica team carries out goes beyond the performance of a service that its clients pay for. It abstracts itself from anything transactional when one considers the way it can help families understand one another, their pasts and their futures more clearly. “Clients who have all the luxuries in the world have told me that the best money they’ve ever spent is with Genealogica,” he says. So with this in mind, here are some of the top tips I took away from my conversation with Edgington, perfect for anyone about to embark on a journey into the past…
Prepare to Question the Perceived Identity of Your Family
During the filming of a 2012 episode of Who Do You Think You Are with Rita Wilson, the American Actress known for her appearances in Volunteers and Sleepless in Seattle, Edgington recalls her observation that “you can’t explain it. There’s something a little bit different about your life afterwards.” The existential quality that new, poignant information can carry is something you should absolutely prepare yourself for. For many families, enduring narratives about their cultural, religious or geographical history go unquestioned, and histories are fabricated for survival or out of shame. When the real story is uncovered, it can trigger feelings of loss of these very familiar stories and can cause families to reassess their sense of collective identity. “One client approached us for a 50th birthday present for a loved one,” Edgington tells me, “believing that the giftee’s family had always been Catholic. She grew up Catholic and felt a strong connection to her heritage in the religion. However, we discovered that her family, having suffered many losses in the Holocaust, were Jewish refugees. Even just this very objective information can completely change the identity of a family.”
History is Messy Business and Context is King
“History is mucky,” says Edgington, “and the past is complicated.” Genealogica’s clients and anyone approaching ancestral research should expect to shoulder the burden of objectivity as they begin to discover their family’s past, some of which could be unsavoury. “The truth is,” he says, “I have yet to meet a family without something hidden up its sleeve,” so it makes sense to manage your expectations. As Edgington advises, “don’t expect you’ll be from a bunch of heroes!”
“The important thing to remember is that there are so many reasons people choose to do the things they do,” says Edgington. Even if you disagree or are morally opposed to the actions of your ancestors, the likelihood is that they were only trying to do their best in the context in which they were surviving. The key is to keep a level head and understand that although your ancestors’ actions feel inextricably linked with your own, they do not define you. “Although we work with our clients to tell their stories in the context of historic world events,” says Edgington, “they appreciate that some of this stuff will be ugly, but also that the process is incredibly grounding.”
London’s Most Exquisite Secret Events Spaces
By Amira Hashish
Seeking a glamorous spot for a special occasion? There are the more obvious choices but there is something particularly fabulous about discovering an under the radar hideaway. From intimate restaurant takeovers to spaces that are as big on personality as size, here are some of London’s most exquisite settings you may never have heard of…
Peggy Jean
Master boat builder Mark Edwards MBE has lovingly restored the former Jesus College Oxford barge which has happily pitched up on Richmond Riverside with views of the Thames and Richmond Bridge. The historical features have been given a new lease of life with pops of pastel-coloured interior decor. Part of Australian restaurant group Daisy Green, the Peggy Jean seats 120 and makes for a pretty, quirky party space.
Book: daisygreenfood.com
The Pelican
Perched above Notting Hill’s most popular new pub and dining room is this low-key grand events space with vast ceilings and sash windows peering onto Tavistock Gardens. Ideal for a family feast by the open fire, or canapés and cocktails if you are seeking something more formal, The Pelican Room is brimming with character. A hand-crafted, private bar will keep everyone well-watered and there is integrated AV equipment. Capacity is 30 seated or 45 standing.
Book: thepelicanw11.com
KOL
Nobu trained Chef Patron Santiago Lastra quickly made his mark on the London restaurant scene by opening the first Mexican restaurant in the UK to scoop a Michelin star. For an even more special way to experience what all the fuss is about, you can book the KOL Chef’s Table and Mezcaleria for private dining and events. The culture and theatre of the restaurant is celebrated in the lower ground space with its own kitchen. Inspired by a traditional Oaxacan home, it makes for a wonderfully intimate dining moment.
Book: kolrestaurant.com
Brunswick House
The Grade II listed Georgian mansion in Vauxhall is an antique-filled haven that makes for the most exquisite events backdrop. A collaboration between architectural antiques company Lassco alongside brothers Jackson Boxer (Orasay, Notting Hill) and Frank Boxer (Frank’s Café, Peckham), there is a wealth of substance behind the style. Dining rooms of varying sizes are available to book for lunch or dinner. For an altogether bigger gathering you can hire the entire house.
Book: brunswickhouse.london
Curious Kudu
Peckham’s finest private dining room and events space accommodates up to 14 guests seated, and 25 for drinks and snacks. The food is provided by the neighbouring Kudu kitchen and is served feasting style. There is no room hire charge, but there is a minimum overall spend of £400. During the day the space doubles as a gallery so it is splendidly kitted out.
Book: kuducollective.com
Henry’s Townhouse
Named after Jane Austen’s brother, who once called this elegant Marylebone townhouse home, Henry’s is a boutique hotel that doubles as a private hire venue. Russell Stage Studio are behind the sumptuous interiors which blend Georgian glamour with curated artworks, antiques and contemporary amenities. As well as six intricately designed bedrooms, there is Monsieur Halavant’s Pantry which acts as a multifunctional dining space with discreet AV equipment. Events can be catered for up to 24 guests for standing receptions with formal dining in the pantry for up to 14 guests. The ideal central London party venue if you would like to include a sleepover.
Book: henrystownhouse.co.uk
104 Restaurant
The smallest fine dining restaurant in London, 104 is a sweetly exquisite affair tucked away next to a cobbled mews in Notting Hill. The whole restaurant can be hired for a bespoke private dining experience between Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner with a maximum party size of 18 for a sit down meal, canapes and drinks. Prices start from £100 per head for three courses. This feels like stepping into your favourite new chef’s home with a stellar wine list to boot.
Book: 104restaurant.com
Pantechnicon
With six floors and eight spaces, Belgravia hotspot Pantechnicon has beautifully set tables, hidden nooks and private rooms that can be hired for different occasions. Whether you are seeking a smart setting for an important lunch or keen to host a party in the leafy, glass-covered roof garden and terrace, there are options for up to 160 people.
Book: pantechnicon.com
Luca
Overlooking the open kitchen, The Garden Room is a lovely indoor space which retains the stunning exterior features of the Grade II listed building in the style of a southern Italian garden. It is available for lunch or dinner bookings and can seat up to eight guests. Alternatively, The Pasta Room is where the chefs make pasta each day. Designed to look and feel like a traditional Italian home kitchen, it can seat up to 10. Then there is the bright and airy conservatory with floor to ceiling windows that overlook the Tuscan terrace and walled garden. This room is suitable for a party of up to 48 guests.
Book: luca.restaurant
Lisboeta
The Adega is the private dining room at Lisboeta; on the lower ground floor of acclaimed chef Nuno Mendes’ Fitzrovia restaurant, adjoining the wine cellar. Underpinned by a passion for Portuguese food and drink, the space hosts up to ten guests who are served an ever-evolving, sharing-style menu crafted by Mendes and head chef Rodrigo Alves. It opens up for group dining on Thursday and Friday evenings, with alternative dates available upon request.
Book: lisboeta.co.uk
Bocca Di Lupo
The Remus Room is a warm setting for any party. It can accommodate up to 32 people seated or 45 standing, and is always served by its own chef in a dedicated, adjacent kitchen. A reclaimed teak table by Martino Gamper is at the heart of each gathering whilst feasting menus are changed monthly. Individual menus can be created on special request.
Book: boccadilupo.com
Spring
This elegant events space is set in the New Wing of the iconic Somerset House. A dedicated event coordinator is at hand to take care of all the details. The Salon, a garden dining room, sits up to 36 guests in an enclosed interior atrium, allowing for dining throughout the year. Alternatively, the entire stylishly relaxed restaurant is available for hire and can accommodate 116 for a sit down dinner or up to 150 for a standing reception.
Book: springrestaurant.co.uk