Fashion Voyeur

People will stare, make it worth their while.

Categories: The Glorious North East, The Lifestyle Edit

The Alchemist Launches Late Lab

The Alchemist launched in Newcastle earlier this year after what felt like the biggest hype of any new bar offering the city has ever seen.  Dark, gothic skull murals hid the space that was to be occupied by this curious new nightspot, only fuelling the anticipation.

When The Alchemist Newcastle finally opened its doors, I was lucky enough to bag a ticket to the VIP launch party and what struck me that night, was that despite the gorgeous copper and black decor and the bar theatrics, it not only takes a long time to get served but once you’ve ordered a drink it can take a good 20 minutes before it crosses your lips.  Bo and I found ourselves ordering four drinks at a time to beat the bar line and subsequent wait for drinks.

Initial social media feedback about the brand new venue and it’s darkly gothic interior was awesome with people travelling from all over the North East to grab a piece of that signature alchemy for themselves, but the length of time it took to get a drink in your hand was a sticking point.  Rather than sit back and do nothing, the team behind The Alchemist put their uber coiffed heads together and came up with a solution: Late Lab.  A suite of drinks packages that you order in advance of your arrival.  Sounds simple?  It really is.  The principle behind the idea is cutting out that wait time at the bar and those repeat visits that eat into your night out.

I was invited to the VIP Preview of Late Lab to get the skinny on what it’s all about and whether it really is worth checking out.  Our small group of four was greeted on arrival by our host for the evening and we were shown a specific Late Lab menu which ranges in price from £90 to £270.  Now don’t disappear just yet, yes it sounds pricey but consider what that gets you, each package varies dramatically, from party size to the selection of drinks included, we’re here to check out the Hip Flasks package, priced at £90.  For that we get a large booth reserved for our exclusive use all night (The Alchemist have, up to now, never allowed reservations on tables for drinks only), a host for the evening who will make sure we’re never without a drink until we’ve drunk our package dry, a ginormous Zombie Apocalypse sharing cocktail, and 4 smaller cocktails.  It might not sound like much but if you’re a cocktail drinker then you’ll know you can rack up a serious bill pretty quickly, especially when they average £10 each.

It’s a pretty neat package for four peeps, bundled up with a chrome hip flask bearing that Deathly Hallows-esque logo for each of your party.  A quick calculation tells us that if you were to rock up without Late Lab, £88 would buy you all of the drinks in the package, minus the table, add on the time taken for trips to the bar and the wait for drinks to be prepared, carry the one, you get my drift….  If you’ve visited The Alchemist before, then you’ll know that this is a nice and very necessary idea and if you do the math you’ll know that it’s super easy to spend way more than that on a night out in Newcastle.  There’s also a sneaky little secret you’ll definitely thank me for sharing; if you book online, you get a pretty sweet 25% off and if there are cocktails in the package that you and your squad aren’t keen on (step forward Little Miss Awkward Elle Blonde) then you can switch them out for something you prefer.  Princess equilibrium restored.

The Alchemist is famed for it’s exotic cocktails and attention to detail, you probably already know that the menu is pretty extensive.  The spectacle is a big part of a visit any branch of The Alchemist throughout the UK, with copper pans and bunsen burners in their arsenal these mighty mixologists know how to put on a show.  If you have your designated driver in tow then there’s a selection of non-alcoholic cocktails that are given just as much thought and flair as the alcoholic version, ‘Kaleing Me Softly’ and ‘Mango Shake’ are my personal favourites and they look pretty dramatic so you don’t feel left out.

Considering it?  In terms of monetary value, the cost of the cocktails with or without the package is very similar.  What you gain is time, and a table which comes with table service – something that’s hard to come by on an evening at The Alchemist.  If you’re intending on consuming multiple cocktails at The Alchemist then the benefit of cutting out the wait is worth it, add to that the discount you get for booking online and you’ve got yourself a tidy little saving whilst still looking like a total baller.

Pixie xo

Categories: The Archives, The Glorious North East, The Lifestyle Edit

Paul Amer Alternative Tasting Menu at Marco Pierre White Newcastle

With a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse on our doorstep in the centre of Newcastle, we’re pretty damn lucky.  If you’ve ever eaten in one you’ll know that the steak there is out of this world, in fact their Chateaubriand is to die for; soft and tender on the in side, with a little of that pan fired crust on the outside.  It’s a given that an Marco Pierre White Steakhouse is a beef steak lover’s dream.

But what about those times you just don’t fancy a steak?  Or you’re dining with someone who isn’t a fan?  Hey, those people do exist, believe me I know some of them and I’m as horrified as you.  Well, Head Chef Paul Amer at Marco Pierre White Newcastle has talents that span much further than the art of the perfect cooked to order steak.

When Marco Pierre White opened his Newcastle Steakhouse at Hotel Indigo, chef’s were given autonomy and personal discretion to prepare off-menu dishes according to customer tastes.  But things changed over the years as the venue became a victim of its own success, customers would arrive wanting nothing more than the perfect steak accompanied by that awesome creamed cabbage (seriously, try it) and that autonomy was buried deep in a pile of beef off cuts.

Fast forward to today and Paul Amer has created a Steak Alternative Menu and I was invited along to a tasting session to find out if it’s as good as it sounds.  Seated at a long table with a whole host of North East Influencers, we all agreed how unusual it was for us to be seated in such a civil way, and able to chat to each other rather than running from one place to the next.  We were greeted with a welcome cocktail followed by bread and olive table starters as we chatted and caught up.

Paul talked us through his alternative five course tasting menu which is exclusive to the Newcastle Marco Pierre White steakhouse and entirely his own creation, it’s something he feels is necessary for the brand in order to diversify and bring in new clientele.  We started with Rillette of Smoked Mackerel accompanied by Lightly Pickled Vegetables which I’ll admit, I didn’t like the sound of as I’m not a big fan of fish.  I was pleasantly surprised as this was actually delicious, in fact it tasted as good as it looked and was light enough to leave me not dreading the next course as I’d stupidly eaten seven pieces of bread before I’d even sat down.  This was followed by a slow Roasted Tomato Basil Soup (my favourite kind of soup) which was thick and rich in taste; the perfect palate cleanser to prepare us for the next course.

Surprisingly, the middle course of creamy Curried Haddock Risotto was the highlight of the whole meal for me, the rice was perfectly creamed as it should be in a risotto and the lightly curried haddock didn’t leave me with that ‘heavy’ feeling you sometimes get after eating rice dishes.  It’s not something I would have ever chosen for myself but it’s definitely something I’d have again, and that’s the beauty of these Taster Menus, they allow you to explore things you would have never considered.

Slow Cooked belly Pork, black Pudding and vegetables was next up from Paul Amer, something I usually steer away from because of just how filling belly pork can be.  Being a black pudding hater I glared at it on my plate for a little while, wondering which of the other foods it had come into contact with before picking up my flatware.  The vegetables and meat were cooked to perfection but with three courses prior, I was already pretty close to tears (if you don’t know me, I tend to have a hissy fit followed by a little cry when I get too full) so I only ate a little bit of this course.

I employed every child’s favourite tactic of claiming to be too full to finish the main course in order to skip straight to dessert which in this case was Raspberry and Passion Fruit Panna Cotta with Raspberry Sorbet and Mini Meringue.  Definitely worth ditching the main course for as panna cotta is one of my favourite desserts, and maybe even worth the tears that immediately ensued.  If you’re looking for an alternative to steak, but something that’s prepared with as much love and thought, then the alternative menu by Paul Amer at Marco Pierre White Newcastle is something to check out.  With large, semi private dining booths you can dine as a large party, or more informally at the area directly in front of the bar.  Marco Pierre White Newcastle also has an extensive cocktail menu and carries stock of some pretty rare gin brands.  Winner.

The restaurant is located in the same building as Hotel Indigo too so if like me, you’re prone to a ‘Too Full Freak Out’, you can sleep it off in privacy instead of having a meltdown in the parking lot like I did.  Kim Kardashian ain’t got nothing on this ugly crying face….

Pixie xo

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Fashion Closet, The Glorious North East

Mastering The Essentials, A Makeup Masterclass with Amanda Bell

Remember a little while back I told you about an event I went to to celebrate the launch of Amanda Bell Elite Makeup Studio?  Well, it’s been a few weeks since the grand opening of this insta-perfect makeup studio and I was invited back in to take part in The Essentials group masterclass with Amanda Bell herself.  The class promises to deliver the basic essential makeup techniques to get the best out of your complexion, eyes and lips, with a focus on achieving a naturally enhanced look.  Sounds promising.

I was asked to bring along my makeup, brushes and skincare, that’s right voyeurs, you use your own kit for this class so that you can master YOUR essentials, techniques and tricks that will work for you every time you come to apply your makeup.  I arrived with bags and bags of makeup, the associated paraphernalia and a bare face ready to hit the ground running.  You’ll remember from my previous post that the studio itself is on the attic floor of a building located on the super pretty high street in Norton, Teesside and it has some serious insta style credentials, from the silver and white decor to the illuminated mirrors, the scope for pictures to inspire envy in your followers is endless.

Back to class, we’re greeted by Amanda and her trademark laid back style, we’re allocated a dresser each with our own illuminated mirror and small pots of things like q-tips, cotton pads and spoolie brushes, it’s very well thought out, not surprising given Amanda’s 20 years in the industry.

Amanda takes us through some skin prep before we begin, we double cleanse, tone and moisturise before we talk primer.  After looking over our products and talking about the benefits of different types of primer, we get to work creating a flawless base for our makeup to sit on.  Once we’re clean and prepped we begin….

Foundation: we learn about the different types of coverage and what skin types they match with, I’m not a fan of anything heavy and usually stick with a light tinted moisturiser or BB cream.  My current favourite is one by Creme de la Mer and it blends seamlessly with my skin, Amanda tells me it’s a perfect match for my skin and I mentally assign myself one star.  The great thing about this class is that nobody is left behind, I’m pretty confident in applying my makeup but for anyone just starting out or looking to really hone their skills and increase their confidence, it’s a safe environment and you’re hand held through each stage.  At each change of product, Amanda uses one of us as a model and applies the product to half of the face whilst talking through why she adopts a particular technique, before we try it ourselves and the model matches the other side.  Amanda checks over everybody regularly offering tips and advice depending on your choice of product and chirps up with a “gorge” as her seal of approval.

Foundation
Brows
Contouring
Highlight

She talks about concealer and how she prefers to skip foundation over the eyelids and uses concealer instead as the perfect eye base.  Although I buy it, I never use concealer so I’m particularly interested in this part and luckily for me, I’m selected as the model.  Amanda blends an Armani concealer around my nose, under eyes and eyelids and when I look in the mirror it’s completely invisible but one side of my face looks fresher, where the other reflects my true tired state but I manage to match it up pretty well.

When we move on to contouring, she tells us that it’s a trick that can be used to create pretty much any visual effect as long as you go easy.  The rest of the class use a variety of powder contouring palettes whereas I favour the Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate kit and that’s the beauty of this class; there are no products dictated, nobody tries to sell you anything, but if you’re not entirely happy with your own products, then Amanda is happy to make suggestions to help you achieve the best finish.

We’re guided through every aspect of creating the every day face, one step at a time and when we cover eyes everyone had a slightly different preference.  Amanda maintains that the principles are the same; colour should be used sparingly and built up rather than slicked on in one heavy stroke and we’re reminded to always tap excess powder off our brushes before applying anything with colour to avoid a potential strobing disaster.  With the class at two and a half hours long, Amanda factors in time to work with everyone on an individual basis and offers advice on the shades that best suit a certain eye colour, it’s a completely relaxed environment and the class is made up of women of differing ages and backgrounds, there’s no one set person type that the class is aimed at.

The idea of mastering The Essentials is that you take away new techniques to add to your arsenal, new ways of using your products to get the best out of them for your skin type or tone.  It’s as perfect  for teenagers looking to learn how to get to grips with makeup as it is for someone of my age and beyond, there’s something that everyone can take away from this class and use time and time again.  I’ve used the concealer trick since I took the class and I’ve even worn mascara a few times, something I don’t usually do due to my insanely long eyelashes and the mess it creates on my eyelids.

If you feel you’ve got The Essentials down then there’s a full suite of classes available, from beginners to advanced and there are also bespoke packages for those who have a particular look they’d like to recreate.  With the studio also available for private hire, you have the potential to score some serious brownie points in the way of birthday and bachelorette parties, I have two younger sisters who would crawl over each other to host an insta-worthy makeup party here with their squad and they’d be the talk of their class the next day.  It’s well worth checking out Amanda Bell Elite Makeup Studio and Amanda’s credentials are extensive so you know you’re in good hands.

Pixie xo

To book a place on any of the group Masterclasses which start at £75 per person, or to book a party or private session with Amanda Bell, email amanda@amanda-bell.co.uk

 

Categories: The Archives, The Glorious North East, The Lifestyle Edit

Turtle Bay New Menu Launch

Turtle Bay, known as the ‘Caribbean Social’, is famed for its extensive cocktail menu, never ending Happy Hours and of course, its authentic taste of the Caribbean.  With branches all over the UK, the brand’s latest offering popped up in Teesside recently and has proven to be not just a great place to eat but also a real destination bar.  I went along to the VIP launch when it first landed and dined on a feast of menu favourites, and a few that were whipped up specially for the night, accompanied by enough rum cocktails to please a pirate.

Two months down the line and Turtle Bay have revamped their menus to reflect a Summer vibe, the old favourites are still there and there are some fresh new dishes in there too as well as a few that have been revamped.  When I was invited along to be one of the first to try it I jumped at the chance to sink another couple of those amazing ginger beers.  Bo and I arrived at Turtle Bay Middlesbrough to a warm welcome from staff and were shown to our window table right in front of the insta-perfect boombox wall.  If you’ve visited Turtle Bay before, you’ll know that their Happy Hours are legendary and we arrived right in the middle of the lunchtime Happy Hour which means 2-4-1 cocktails.

We chose the lunchtime sitting on a super hot day and it wasn’t just us who saw sunshine and thought about taking in a little Caribbean sunshine in the UK, by the time we’d made our menu choices the place was packed out with a wait for tables.  I opted for a Raspberry Reggae (make that 2) and Bo slurped Jamaican Shandy whilst we waited for our starters to arrive.  After scanning the menu, we went with our trusty favourite: Chilli Squid (a first for us at Turtle Bay but a firm favourite as a starter pretty much everywhere we go), Duck Rolls and a Garlic Flatbread because a wise man once said it’s the future.  Our food arrives quickly and it’s good, the garlic bread has an added zing that makes it stand out as a favourite for me and our server Gemma brings me a ginger beer because she’s heard that I love it – true story.

Looking around Turtle Bay it looks way bigger than its 231 capacity, the clever use of mirrors and seating on different levels makes it look double that and with this layout, it’s easy to see why it’s become a favourite on the Middlesbrough nightlife circuit.  The Tiki hut bar has dedicated seating with a bar zone surrounding it so if you came to REALLY drink, you’re separate from diners although it seems that everyone who visits Turtle Bay shares a love of the Caribbean spirit.  Plus, with a whole host of different rums on offer, the bar menu is as lengthy as the food menu.

Gemma recommends that we try the plantains as an accoutrement and we’re pleased we do, notoriously difficult to deal with, plantains are tricky to get right.  Levi Roots once said that only Caribbean women know how to peel plantains and that there’s a definite knack to it – he’s not wrong.  Ours arrive perfectly ripe and fried up to give a subtle crunch to the outside with sweet banana-y goodness on the inside.  I’ll be honest Voyeurs, these are the best thing on the Turtle Bay menu and something that’s largely overlooked because a lot of people still don’t know what plantains are.  Go there, try them, love them, thank me later.  I could have eaten six bowls of these quite happily as a main course and at £2.80 per portion, they’re cheaper than a beer.

When it comes to main courses at Turtle Bay, the menu is cleverly divided up into sub headers geared up for how hungry you are.  There’s a huge selection of over 50 dishes varying from street food through to their famous signature One Pots.  Everything is freshly prepared in the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant which is lit in a way so that you can see inside from wherever you are in the dining area, it’s a nice touch and something that’s typical in the Caribbean.

We opted for lamb Rump with a spiced sweet mash to die for and the Curry Shrimp and Mango One Pot with Jamaican style sticky rice.  Everything at Turtle Bay delivers a certain amount of spice, whether you like it subtle or full on, each dish is prepared to bring the heat.  Even the lamb was mildly spiced and the curry shrimp was laden with heat but with a coconut creaminess to take the edge off.  If the heat gets too much, Turtle Bay have a selection of creamy coolers perfect for quelling the heat, the elderflower cooler is the equivalent of turning the gas down a notch and servers are well equipped to advise which drink to have on stand by if things get too hot to handle.  The food is good.  Very good in fact.  If you’re a fan of spice then this is one for your list, the meat is slow cooked and tender and the flavour is palpable but not over bearing in everything that’s served.  Where some places pile on the spice, Turtle Bay maintains the flavours but gently warms them up with spice, and balances the spice with coconut.

The portions at Turtle Bay are pretty good too, we managed a starter and a main course but it all would have ended in tears if I’d attempted to squeeze in a dessert too – yes Voyeurs, I *sometimes* know my limits – although the dessert menu is packed with traditional Caribbean favourites that you’re unlikely to see on regular dining menus.  If you’re looking for a real taste of the Caribbean then you can’t go far wrong with Turtle Bay, with branches all over the UK you’re bound to find one close by and menus are updated regularly to reflect seasonal changes.  I’d highly recommend the Curry Shrimp One Pot with six sides of Plantains, oh, and grab yourself a cocktail and some sort of cooler before you even start eating, you’ll need it….

Pixie xo

Big thanks to Turtle Bay Middlesbrough who gifted us our lunch and to Gemma who helped me discover my new favourite side dish.

 

 

 

 

Categories: The Archives, The Beauty Cupboard, The Glorious North East

Sisley Black Rose Facial

Every now and again it pays to take stock and assess your skincare routine to see whether it really is addressing those ever changing needs.  Whether it’s anti-ageing, fatigue, dryness or dullness, the chances are, from one month to the next your skincare priorities will change.  One thing we do know, is that there is no universal skincare product.  No matter what manufacturers tell us, there is no one magic product to address and effectively treat everything we’d like to improve about the appearance of our skin and so layering is key.

You already know I’m a fan of Decleor skincare products, I adore the Neroli Night Balm when I’m on vacation, my skin changes when I’m in a sunny environment and Decleor’s botanicals pack the perfect punch to give it an overnight reset.  But what about when your regular product seem to have stopped being effective and you just want to reset your skin, give it a big moisture boost and a chance to normalise?  I visited Sisley at House of Fraser, Intu Metrocentre to find out all about the innovative skincare research behind the cult French brand, and to discover the latest release, Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream before its official launch.

 

Before you say it, yes, Sisley is a very expensive skincare brand, there’s no denying that.  It’s one of those cult skincare brands like Vintner’s Daughter or Creme de la Mer with a pretty eye-watering pricetag, however, Sisley has a raft of loyal followers who can’t get enough of those research backed benefits.  Whilst Sisley does also produce a makeup range, it’s skincare where the brand really shines, and with their own research laboratory and academy in Paris, years and years of research, development and scientific testing goes into each product before release.  Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream is no different, whilst the Black Rose range has been pivotal to Sisley’s success – one Black Rose mask is sold globally every three minutes – the consistency of the new Skin Infusion Cream is revolutionary and a whole new concept for the brand.

I was treated to a Black Rose Facial treatment, (yours for free with the purchase of any two Sisley products) in the House of Fraser Beauty Rooms with Milanese skincare expert, Michela.  Michela is the personification of perfect, conceptual in-brand advertising; her skin is line free, smooth and radiant and she gushes about how Sisley’s products have helped her achieve perfectly balanced skin.  She talks me through the thirteen steps to the Black Rose Facial and as always, the treatment begins with breathing exercises and fragranced oils to encourage tranquility and deep relaxation.  She begins the facial by cleansing and toning my skin before buffing with Gentle Buffing Cream and hot towels to create a clean base, after which, the Black Rose Cream Mask is applied.  Fun Fact Voyeurs, ask any French woman worth her Manolos what her favourite skincare product is and this mask is guaranteed to be up there.  The mask is similar to Decleor’s Phytopeel in that it’s rubbed off, encouraging resurfacing of the skin, only the botanicals and essential oils are ramped up to the max in Sisley’s must have product increasing the efficacy.  Once removed, skin feels softer and has that inimitable ‘bounce’.  Black Rose Facial Oil is then applied all over, this step is a treat in itself, the fragrance encourages relaxation and the texture is that of a non greasy, dry oil.

In the arena of skincare for the face and body, Sisley’s expertise is well known.  the brand’s complete line of products meets the needs of various different skin types and tackles the various stages of the average skincare routine: makeup removal, hydration, anti-ageing, sun protection, hair care, makeup and so on.  Sisley seems to favour selective distribution, it’s not something you can pick up in your local Boots or Superdrug and to that effect, it definitely feels more prescriptive and exclusive – certainly the price tag reflects that.

The Black Rose Facial is more than just a skin treatment, it’s a sensory experience.  From the warm, fragranced towels, to the heated gem stone facial massage, it’s a pleasure for the senses as well as the abundant skin benefits.  Before I’m done, Michela covers my face in Sisley’s Ecological Compound which protects skin from environmental factors including pollution and sun damage, a slick of Confort Extreme Nutritive Lip Balm (amazing stuff) and Double Tenseur for immediate radiance.  When I look in the mirror immediately after, I look fresh, like I just woke up from a ten hour sleep and pleasant dreams.

Phyto-cosmetology is the concept at the centre of Sisley’s creations and relates to using the best plant-based extracts in order to create what they consider to be the best cosmetics on the market.  Plants’ vital energy, their capacity for regeneration and adaptation, their protection systems, and their fragrances have all been put to use for the skin and obviously, materials and associated research cost money.  Sisley selects the best type of plant in its category, the most effective part of the plant for the problem being treated, the country or region where this plant is the best and, finally, harvests the plant at the very moment when it will provide the most effective active properties – none of which comes cheap.

So, reading about Sisley’s Black Rose Collection will either be the best or worst thing to happen to your skincare routine, best because, well we’ve covered that, and worst because the three Black Rose products in the range will set you back a whopping £370.  What you need to weigh up now Voyeurs, is whether you’re worth the investment, I know I am.

Pixie xo

If you want to take the plunge and try out any of the Sisley skincare and cosmetic range, you can nab yourself a free facial with the purchase of any two products on counter at House of Fraser.  To book your Sisley beauty treatment at Intu Metrocentre call 0191 4932424, service also available nationally.