We've Got The Stories

One sultry summer evening while the light still blazed through the clear blue skies and the scent of meadow grass filled the air, I headed into the deepest depths of the beautiful Kentish countryside for a wonderful evening in an old cow shed.

Not just any cow shed though.  This is the new home of Wise Words, and I was there for the launch of their kickstarter campaign for a new yurt for the festival.

It sounds so simplistic when you put it like that - a new yurt, but the reality is that a new yurt will enable Wise Words to grow, develop and continue to enrich the lives of people in Canterbury and Kent through the celebration of the written and spoken word.  It will ensure that everyone has the stories, shares the stories and creates new stories.  It will bring people and communities together who will create new concepts, new ideas and new philosophies.

It will allow for writing retreats, slam poetry, live music, literature, theatre, debate,  discussion and exploration.  It will bring people to nature, sleeping under the stars, huddled in blankets and at peace with the world around them, away from the hustle and bustle and stress of today's modern world.  A place to unplug, to grow and to challenge.  A place to rewrite your own story surrounded with the lyrical backdrop of birdsong and humming bees deep within the orchards that the garden of England is so famed for.  A place where you can dare to dream

The kickstarter launch party was a chance for Wise Words to showcase what it was all about.  There was poetry and music, theatrical food and one of a kind cocktails, all in the cowshed with the book birds floating gracefully over your head and jam jars tied with fresh flowers and candles glowing in all the nooks and crannies, surrounded by the whimsy that the Wise Words Festival has become renowned for.

The first thing to catch my eye were the Gastro Guys and their giant, bronze liquid nitrogen tube and slightly mad scientist look in their eyes as they played havoc with people's tastebuds. 

Gastro Guys play with food the way I used to play with flowers in the back garden trying to create perfume.  Only their results are rather more successful.  I was treated to Mango Bubbles, little morsels of tropical explosions created using a techniques of reverse spherisfication.  In layman's terms that means that these genius' can take any liquid and wrap it inside itself! Their mango bubble with edible flowers is a fantastic combination that explodes with flavour in your mouth

Then there are the Nitrogen Meringues, poached at minus 196C with the subtle flavours of lemon, beetroot, apple and blackberry which melt on the tongue, leaving you you exhaling a vapour trail and releasing your true inner dragon and best Smaug impersonation!

Curiosity temporarily sated, I went in search of a more liquid form of refreshment, and found it with Wide Eyed Theatre's cocktail bar, run by the amazingly talented Paul Oliver and Latham Dent, previously responsible for the cocktails in one of my favourite bars, Bramleys (no wonder I love their creations!)  In honour of the occassion, Wide Eyed Theatre (who are one of the three partners in the Yurt kickstarter campaign) had created some original cocktails to celebrate, which they were handing out in return for a small donation to the fund. 

First up was The Gin Hedge, a cardinal concoction of gin, elderflower, cassis and berries all shaken over ice.  It was everything I loved served with a straw. 

Next was the Herby Honey, a sultry blend of lavender honey, vodka and drambuie served tall over ice with mint.  Not something I would choose to be honest, much preferring my berry and gin mix.  If experimentation with your cocktails was not something you were in the mood for, you could choose the classic perfection of a G&T.

Drink in hand, I settled on the cushion covered stools by the upturned cable spools that served as tables whilst others drifted onto rug covered pallets in front of the handcrafted stage to listen to Emrys Plant and Luke Jackson perform their specially crafted tribute to the kickstarter, a haunting mix of poetry and music.

Luke then took the stage, performing roots and folk classics.  A young and rising Kentish star, his vocals provided the perfect husky counterpoint to heat of the evening. So it wore on, to the soundtrack of the guitar and the hum of conversation against the backdrop of the rolling fields and setting sun low and gold in the dusky sky.

This was an evening of enchantment, filled with creativity and hope for a future that is filled with stories. 

If you would like to donate to the Kickstarter campaign to help Wise Words realise their dream of owning their own yurt, you can do so here

Gin and Grapefruit Salty Dogs

Let me introduce you to my new favourite summer drink.  This, ladies and gentleman, is the sour perfection of a Salty Dog.  Gin and Grapefruit juice mixed with fresh lime, poured over flakes of ice and sipped through a salt rim.

Summer cocktail?  Nailed it.

As for the summer statement, well, we can live in gleeful anticipation can't we!  I was reliably assured last night by Steve that our summers start AFTER longest day, something to do with Gulf Streams, but I am taking that to mean that I can go paddling in the sea down at Broadstairs from this weekend onwards. 

Now, I love a margarita - the salty sour tang is just perfection in a glass, but I am not a big tequila drinker.  If you love the idea of a margarita but don't like tequila, then this will most definitely tick the box.

It was also National Gin Day last Saturday, which means it is officially Gin Week so, basically, you have to drink one - it's the law.

You may recognise gin and grapefruit juice as a Greyhound and in all honesty it is only the presence of a salted rim which turns this dog into its peg leg cousin who likes to sail the high seas.  Either way it is seriously delicious.  It just exudes summertime and is a major step up from an Orange Blossom, which in my opinion is just harsh on the palate

All you need is some gin (I used Gordon's Cucumber for that extra fresh hit, but any good quality gin would work), some good grapefruit juice (golden, not pink if possible, pink is a little too sweet) and a fresh lime.

Add 200ml of grapefruit juice to 50ml of gin and squeeze some lime juice in.  Mix well.  That's it!  No mixology courses required here!

Salt the rim of a highball or martini glass by moistening it (the leftover lime is good for this) and rolling it in salt and add some crushed or flaked ice to the bottom of the glass.  Pour the cocktail over the ice and garnish with a slice of lime.

Enjoy whilst lounging indolently in the summer sun.

You could even freeze this and crush it for a very grown up, very refreshing slushy! 

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The Black Lion and The Mesmerist, Brighton

Fully dolled up, made up and wrapped up, the time came for Sinead and I to hit the Laines of Brighton in search of whatever the night would offer us.

We had a plan, a route of attack to wind our way through the narrow curving streets, heading for a mecca of Mexicana we had heard whisper of (that also didn't take bookings as I had found out two hours earlier when on the phone to them).  Our Mexican destination was located at the top of the North Laines, which was a long way to walk for two thirsty Canterbarians.  It was only fair and right that we wet our whistle along the way.

First stop; a recommendation just around the corner from our hotel - The Black Lion.

From the outside, nothing too special.  A little bit grungy, a little bit olde worlde for the tourists - we have the same in Canterbury in the form of a wonderful little rock / indie place called The Black Griffin (what is it about these places and being named after ebony critters?)

Inside though was a cavernous haven of ska heaven.  

The crowd was eclectic and cool, a mixture of students and just-clocked-off-for-the-weekend young professionals crowding around large heavy wooden tables under giant LED stage lights.  Archways framed in street art and up and coming band photos provided private-ish nooks and crannies for groups to crowd into whilst couple cannodled over the more public tables near the fairy light lit bar.

The drinks menu was huge, the gin selection very good so I started off with a Boodles Gin (never had it before, will definitely have it again) whilst Shay dove into a pint of ale.  No idea which one but she approved.  Had she known it at the time, they even have an extensive espresso martini menu with six different varieties.  If you have read her latest offering (and if you haven't, shame on you) you will remember she does have a penchant for a good espresso martini.    Had I realised it they also have an entire menu of Bloody Mary's.  Damn you retrospect!

The music was amazing - a mix of ska, reggae, soul and funk that just got you bopping along as you waited to be served.  Despite the crowds, the bar staff are fast as well and we waited no more than a couple of minutes before we were seated, drinks in hand to enjoy the ambiance.

One drink down and more to explore, we left, reluctantly to continue on our journey.  The board behind the bar advertised a ska battle later that evening, and we promised to return on our way back to the hotel.

Around the corner we found our next stop, a long building with too many doors to try and get into known as The Mesmerist. Another bar with character, this one is inspired by the 1930's gin palaces, steampunk and burlesque.  

I must confess; I didn't pick up on this when I was there, and I'm a rather large fan of both steampunk and burlesque.  The art work was funky and I did approve of that, the gin menu was large and I also approved of that, I just didn't get the whole steampunk/ burlesque vibe they were going for.  

In all honesty, if anything, I got more of a Mexican Day of the Dead feeling.  I genuinely don't remember what music they were playing when we were there, but they have a resident DJ who spins 'boutique classics and vintage rarities'.  Probably the Dresden Dolls then (whom I happen to be a rather swooning fan of).  Have a look at the music mash ups on the website!

This place is huge - it just keeps going.  There is a long bar downstairs and upstairs another bar (that was closed off for a private party) and huge American style diner booths done up in mahogany stained wood and mock chesterfield leather banquette seats.  Downstairs there is a black and white photobooth you can play in to your hearts content.

It had the feeling of somewhere that would get very, very busy later in the evening and turn into more of a club venue (open until 2am).  The bar staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and occasionally get rid of the annoying man pestering you by helpfully (accidentally) pinging the cap off your bottle of tonic water at his face and bouncing it off his nose as they prepare you a Sipsmith's and tonic.  I'm not sure this is a regular service, but ask nicely.....

They do have a Saturday night extravaganza at midnight, but alas we were hours away from that time at the moment and would soon need to go in search of our Mexican sustenance.  As it was though, the first couple of recommendations on our Brighton tour had proven to be remarkably good finds.  Onwards and upwards!

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