FOOD Cook or Go Out To Eat? Trish Deseine weighs the options for Valentines Day I ts a tricky one, Saint Valentines Day, for the over-16s. Restaurants can quickly become theatres of self-consciousness, particularly those deemed romantic all year round and expected to hard deliver on February 14. Thankfully in France, we also have plenty of brisk, noisy, quite impersonal, yet formal, brasseries, with cosy banquettes, where you can be as demonstrative as you like and no one will notice. Friends Fred and Elliott take themselves to Lipp on Boulevard Saint Germain, as they would on any other evening they fancied a treat. My friend Sophie has a passion (which I fully share) for luxury hotel bars on a date. The atmosphere is feutré (soft), the service like a ballet, snacks are refined and cocktails often exciting. Its fun to people watch with a piano gently playing in the background. Without going full goblin mode and depending, probably, on what stage of the romance you are at, why not skip the dining table altogether and eat in bed? At the very least, it ups your chances of seven hours shut-eye, a rare gift for so many of us, be it because of babies, children, jobs or hormones. A quick poll amongst my wise French girlfriends harvests varying degrees of energy for hitting the kitchen. For celebrity cook and entrepreneuse, Luana, for example, its the one day of the year where she doesnt cook! Most of the others, shrugging Gallically, simply advise spoiling your loved one with his or her favourite dish. Bestselling French cookbook author, Keda Black, swears by quick-to-cook, luxurious, scallops. I do Saint-Jacques. Either super-fancy: chopped leeks and shallots cooked in butter with white wine, lemon and cream, scallops cooked in the shells topped with brown buttered breadcrumbs, grilled in a hot oven ten minutes and served with piped duchesse potatoes. Or the simplest sliced raw with a tiny drop of bergamot olive oil, lemon juice and zest, fleur de sel and a citrussy black pepper or pink peppers. This is all fine and dandy if you are far enough into the relationship to know your dining companions tastes, and if you are not confronted with a picky eater with dictatorial table manners, who will seriously cramp your style and curb your enthusiasm. I once dated probably the only Frenchman who didnt eat garlic, policed my knife handling, despised all fresh herbs and any type of leaf or flower garnish. But I still believe in love, and that Saint Valentines is the one night where you really can take your time to gracefully decorate or plate a dish, or entirely cover it in flowers if you feel like it. Roses after all (with a quick rinse) are an edible flower, and in February you will find pansies and violets for decoration and nibbling. They look perfectly gorgeous on individual chocolate tarts or covering a larger cake. Cooking more formally for just two also means you can attempt dishes with more luxurious ingredients but simple to cook a touch of black truffle over steak, or a teeny touch of caviar mixed through cream whipped with a wine reduction, served with, say, steamed potatoes and turbot or sole. Or you could try my lobster linguine, which is more laborious, but worth it. The power and romance of a shared love of food is undeniable, and I always take heart from other friends romantic rituals. Mona and José, now together for over 30 years, would book a table at their local Portuguese bistro in Paris every year, and always ordered Porco Alentejana pork and clams cooked in a cataplana, a traditional copper pan, shaped like a plump flying saucer. Their love long outlived the restaurant, however, and now Mona cooks the dish at home come February 14. @TrishDeseine @trishdeseineencore THE POWER AND ROMANCE OF A SHARED LOVE OF FOOD IS UNDENIABLE, AND I ALWAYS TAKE HEART FROM OTHER FRIENDS ROMANTIC RITUALS. 36 February 2023 THE GLOSS MAGAZINE LOBSTER LINGUINE A labour of love if ever there was one! You can use ready-cooked lobster meat, but the flavour just wont be the same. Note there are two batches of cherry tomatoes! For 2 40 minutes preparation 5060 minutes cooking 1 live lobster, about 450/500g 23 tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, peeled 12/15 cherry tomatoes, cut in half 250g-300g dried linguine or 400g-500g fresh 1/2 bunch of flat-leafed parsley, for decoration Salt and pepper For the bisque 1 carrot, peeled 2 stalks of celery about 10cm long 1 large yellow onion peeled 1 tbsp olive oil 50ml whiskey 12 or so cherry tomatoes, cut in half 2 tsps tomato purée Salt Prepare the lobster 1. Using a knife, make a cut through the back of the head, in the crack slightly behind the eyes, to kill it swiftly. Separate the head and claws from the body. 2. Empty the heads and set them aside. Break the claws at the base. Cook the bodies and claws in a large pot of salted boiling water for 3 or 4 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge them into a large container of cold water to stop the cooking. 3. By hand or using a knife, remove the flesh from inside the carcasses of the bodies and the claws, avoiding tearing it. Cut the flesh of the claws into large pieces. Reserve the flesh and the carcasses separately. Prepare the bisque 1. Cut the carrot, celery and onion into 2cm or so thick pieces. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and sauté gently for about 5 minutes. Set aside and use the pan for the next step. 2. Cook the carcasses of the head, claws and body with a tablespoon of olive oil for 5 minutes over high heat. When they are lightly toasted, add the carrots, onion and celery, and sauté for a further 5 minutes over medium heat. Turn up the heat and deglaze the pan by pouring in the brandy or whiskey and flambéeing the contents carefully. 3. Reduce heat to low, add the tomatoes and tomato purée. Mix, cover with water, and simmer for 20 minutes over low heat. Strain this through a fine sieve, keeping only the liquid. This is your bisque. Pull it together and serve! 1. In a big, heavy-based frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat and sauté the garlic cloves for 5 minutes. Add 12/15 cherry tomatoes and half the bisque. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Season. 2. Cook the pasta al dente in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain it with a slotted spoon, then put it in the pan. Add the rest of the bisque, bring to a boil, mixing well, until the liquid is almost absorbed but taking care that the mixture is not too dry. 3. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over low heat and fry the flesh of the bodies and the pieces of claws for 5 or 6 minutes. 10. Arrange the pasta in two large, shallow pasta bowls, add the panfried lobster pieces and sprinkle with parsley leaves. Serve immediately. NEW SEASON FASHION / WINES WITH ALTITUDE / FASCINATING NOVELS / A LONDON LOWDOWN / THE HIDDEN ROLES OF WOMEN AT WORK MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2023 with THE IRISH TIMES ww gloss.ie the w. DUSTING FOR DOLLARS THE RISE OF THE CLEAN~FLUENCER + PERFECTIONISTS A fancy penthouse ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS Erot CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE THE GLOSS MONTHLY REMINDER SIGN UP to receive a monthly reminder by email when THE GLOSS is out so that you never miss an issue. Simply register your details on WWW.THEGLOSS.IE. PU B LI S H E R JANE MC DONNELL EDITOR SARAH MC DONNELL 12 D E PU T Y E D I TO R PENNY MC C 60 SECONDS TO PLUMPER SKIN: with vegetable squalane CLARINS.COM a duo of hyaluronic acids + organic leaf of life extract New Hydra-Essentiel [HA2] Triple action to plump and hydrate with a duo of hyaluronic acids + organic leaf of life extract. Our duo of hyaluronic acids instantly plumps and hydrates skin. Clarins exclusive organic leaf of life extract boosts GLOSSIP TWO UP Gloss~ip Sweet on these! R #ROMCOMCORE Make time for things you love in February TON Channel the new #romcomcore aesthetic inspired by favourite 1990s and 2000s movies (Clueless, My Best Friends Wedding, 16 Candles). Wear Mom jeans, velour pieces and baby doll dresses ... STA Photos by Flavien Carlod, Baptiste Le Quiniou, for advertising purposes only. TASCHEN. French Art de Vivre Bubble 2. Curved 3-4 seat sofa, designed by Sacha Lakic. £5,390 reduced from £6,340. Upholstered in Orsetto Flex fabric. Fully tufted. L. 248 x H. 80 x D. 132 cm. Price valid until 30/06/2023 MOODBOARD 7 February Mood 1. IM GIVING as good as I get with Wexford chocolatiers www.beanandgoose.ie Totally Love Collection. 2. IM LOVING The Louvre for giving house room to Antonio Canovas Psyche Revived by Cupids Kiss. 3. IM A WILLING slave to love in a Síne Vasquez Pillar T-bar pendant in F-PACE Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the F-PACE 23MY R dynamic HSE in mpg (I/100km): Combined 11.4 l/100km 2.4 l/100km. CO2 Emissions 275g/km- 49g/km. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturers tests in accordance with EU legislation. For comparison purposes only. Real FASHION 2 Spot The Trend 3 Transition to spring in low-key looks, says Aislinn Coffey 1 5 4 8 BOTTEGA VENETA 7 6 9 DELIGHT IN THE EVERYDAY One of the biggest highlights of the SS23 shows was model Kate Moss sashaying down Matthieu Blazys Bottega Veneta catwalk in a casual, logo-less che Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the 23MY Range Rover Sport in mpg (I/100km): Combined 19.4 l/100km 0.9 l/100km. CO2 emissions 266g/km- 20g/km. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturers tests in accordance with EU legislation. For comparison purposes only. Real world figur FASHION COBALT BLUE RALPH LAUREN TRENDS WE L O V E LONG SKIRTS ALEXANDER MCQUEEN JASON WU Prepare to see Yves Kleins highly pigmented blue everywhere. A spike in cyan reflects fashions inclination towards more vibrant palettes this year. HOW TO WEAR Head to toe or paired with neutrals like cam Extra Space. Effortless Organisation. Discover the new Siemens XXL American Style Multi Door fridge freezers. Need help choosing your kitchen appliances? Let our Siemens appliances experts guide you. Visit our Siemens Appliances Showroom. BSH Home Appliances Ltd, M50 Business Park, Ballymount, Dub TORY BURCH FASHION SEQUINS TIN EN SHEER JOY Each designer put their own spin on this sheer, sultry, lingerie-inspired trend. HOW TO WEAR Its about showing a little, not a lot. Wear a crisp T-shirt under a sheer slip dress or with a sheer-panelled skirt. For a more daring look, show off abs and a NEW ARRIVALS www.newbridgesilverware.com Newbridge - Athgarvan Road Blanchardstown - Shopping Centre Tallaght - The Square SC Limerick - The Crescent SC Dublin - Arnotts Kilkenny - High Street Cork - Mahon Point & Merchants Quay SAINT LAURENT S FASHION SH E CARGO PANTS DRIES VAN NOTEN M A K E -U P U P D A TE C H O Were opening our eyes to a lighter way to wear mascara brown is a somewhat softer and more relaxed option than black for defined lashes with less drama. Try Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes TRAVEL ADVERTORIAL CELEBRATING 20 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS OF FASHION Thank you to our valued and loyal customers for your support since 2003 Sara Roka Sportmax Fabiana Filippi Rosso 35 Hayley Menzies High Castanea Soru Tissa Fonteneda Provincial House, Bishop Street, Newcastle West, Co Lim RABIH KAYKROUZ MO NIQ UE LH UIL LIE R HELEN CODY MONIQUE LHUILLIER FASHION FASHION Olivia Uniacke Gene vieve Mora no Cam pori NUPTIAL NOTES O Hot pink, pockets, pants suits and pjs are trending for weddings this year, says Penny McCormick NADINE MERABI ne of the most Instaworthy INVESTMENT CLUB Cally Beaton Laura DeVoy THE GLOSS GOODBODY INVESTMENT CLUB The Fantasy Trading Competition For every woman who wants to know more about building a financial plan, developing investment knowledge is a key ingredient. Starting this month, our Fantasy Trading Competition comprises MENS STYLE Menswear Notes STYLE CV 1 Pack light and smart for a weekend away HARTFORD 2 3 4 I f youre escaping for the bank holiday and booking somewhere snug (try newly spruced Liss Ard Estate in West Cork; www.lissardestate.ie or Longueville House in Mallow; www.longuevillehouse.ie), ma ADVERTORIAL Port House Ibericos FOR THE HAPPY GRAZER PORT HOUSE IBERICOS is a supremely atmospheric and cosy restaurant with flickering candles and exposed brick walls. The rear terrace is perfect for summer dining and the menu is all-encompassing in its range of tapas and pintxos. The selection HEALTH SexyYOGA Kate OBrien investigates how yoga can enhance and improve sexual health and relationships I n 1990, Sting, a yoga devotee, made a throwaway comment (which has haunted him for life) about the seven-hour tantric sex sessions he enjoyed with his wife Trudi Styler. At the time, he sai Our masterpieces, require a master. The difference is Gaggenau. Create your masterpiece with ours. The new combi-steam ovens and oven range open up a world that is waiting to be mastered. Every Gaggenau piece is distinctively designed and crafted from exceptional materials to offer professional per bespoke hand crafted living FOR EVERY ROOM EVERY DETAIL BES PO KE M ADE AND FITTED SHOWROOM BY APPOINTMENT D RUMLECK, CAST L EBEL L ING HAM , C O LOUTH T: 0 4 2 9 3 7 26 25 I N FO @ O C O N N O R S O FD R U ML EC K . I E OCONNORSOFDRUMLECK.IE CU STOM DES IGNED AND FITTED FOR EACH LIVING S PAC E C USTO MI SED C O LO UR A ND DESI G N NO SPECK LEFT BEHIND Clean-fluencers like Mrs Hinch are making millions demonstrating their highly evolved cleaning skills on Instagram. Sam Johnson-Schlee wonders at their appeal S ophie Hinchcliffe set up an Instagram account to document her approach to cleaning in March 2018, and her account r LIFESTYLE CLEAN-FLUENCERS Search CleanTok on TikTok and youll instantly be presented with all manner of cleaning hacks, from stop-start videos filling aesthetically pleasing colour-coordinated fridges, to tips on how to clean your sofa (one method involves a microfibre cloth, dishwasher tablet, and WORKING LIFE Hello, Im here to help Women assume all sorts of unpaid roles in the workplace, from cleaning (literally) to emotional cleaning (read on to find out what that is). Gabriella Braun explores the toll this kind of micro gender inequality takes ... S unlight bounced off the sleek, glass- WORKING LIFE WE ALL NEED TO ACT BY LOOKING OUT FOR THE MICRO GENDER INEQUALITY GOING ON AROUND US ALL THE TIME AND THE INSIDIOUS AS WELL AS OVERT WAYS WOMEN ASSUME THE ROLES OF CARER AND CLEANER, AND MEN LEARN TO EXPECT THIS. Mary told me that the thought of networking filled her with dread; she 0404 65000 info@newcastledesign.ie WELLBEING Perfectionists Identify Yourselves! T Therapist Katherine Morgan Schaflers research reveals perfectionism is a phenomenon, not a disorder The night before our wedding, my husband and I decided to sleep separately, so that each of us could spend the evening in the most relaxing way possi WELLBEING Highly self-disciplined, classic perfectionists are adept at presenting in a uniform way, making it difficult to take their emotional temperature. Are they thrilled? Enraged? Having the best orgasm of their life? Who knows. Theyre either stoic or smiling as if theyre about to have their pi BEAUTY Beauty Notes RIXO A FRED MEYLAN spa treatment is truly welcome in February even better when its right on our doorstep. Were excited to visit Irelands first Clarins Boutique and Skin Spa, just opened on Wicklow Street in Dublin 2. Ive experienced Clarins facials elsewhere (most notably at Get closer to whats important Special Offers Take time to rejuvenate at Killeavy Castle Estate Relax your body and mind with a luxurious stay at Killeavy Castle Estate. One of Irelands most unique getaway locations, Killeavy Castle Estate provides the perfect setting for guests to truly switch off FOOD Cook or Go Out To Eat? Trish Deseine weighs the options for Valentines Day I ts a tricky one, Saint Valentines Day, for the over-16s. Restaurants can quickly become theatres of self-consciousness, particularly those deemed romantic all year round and expected to hard deliver on February 14. WINE WINE A Higher Calling Julie Dupouy finds wines with altitude Douro Valley, Portugal A s many of you dig out your thermal layers and head to the ski slopes for your first break of the new year, Dry January will be a fading memory. The idea of a refreshing aperitif or a giddy lunch to break DINING TROCADERO, DUBLIN 2 THE ROOM Dublins self-proclaimed theatre restaurant, Trocaderos lilting jazz, vintage light fittings, plush red velvet and signed portraits of actors who have dined there add to its clublike allure. ON THE PLATE The nostalgic theme continues on the menu with retro favourit BOOKS BOOKS Reading Notes Orna Mulcahy finds fascinating books for February T HE LAST TALE OF THE FLOWER BRIDE (Hodder & Stoughton, €19) is the first adult novel from best-selling American YA author Roshani Chokshi and its very good. A dark love story with a Gothic feel, it recalls the best, mos TRAVEL Glossy Stays Plenty of hyped openings this spring mean the London hotel scene is thriving, says Penny McCormick One of the Terrace Suites CHECKING IN: THE MARYLEBONE VIBE A fashionable five-star townhouse in the heart of Marylebone village. ROOMS 252 I The Peninsula London is in a prime TRAVEL ADVERTORIAL EVA BERGS TRAVEL DIARIES The seasoned traveller and Pilates pro finds much to love about Kolanaki, Athens The Lobby area Stavros NiarchosCultural Centre CHECKING IN: THE OTHER HOUSE, SOUTH KENSINGTON THE VIBE Pied-à-terre meets private club this is guests other house for as l INTERIORS The living room Home Suite Home W Years in the planning, the interior of this elegant Dublin penthouse has all the features of a luxury hotel suite PHOTOGRAPHS BY HELEN CATHCART hen a London-based Irish developer bought the famous Oscar Taylors restaurant and Island View Hotel on the Co INTERIORS The hallway of the apartment was inspired by the elegant retail spaces of luxury brands. A stairway lined with mirrors, like those at the Chanel boutique at 31 rue Cambon, and hand-painted silk wallcoverings, is a glamorous introduction to this very luxurious space. The scalloped pendant INTERIORS EVERY INCH OF THIS ELEGANT PENTHOUSE WAS DESIGNED AND FINISHED WITH EXCEPTIONAL ATTENTION TO DETAIL. ABOVE In the bedroom, with its art deco feel, every piece of furniture was designed to fit perfectly, while the pink marble en suite bathroom is pretty and luxurious. BELOW LEFT The guest This Glossy Life ALEX BRAMELL Step inside the playful London home of artist couple Charlotte and Philip Colbert S The Colberts in their double-height living room. The sofa and armchairs are by Oliver Gustav. The coffee table is by Buchanan Studio x Charlotte Colbert. urrealist artists Charlotte a 46 February 2023 THE GLOSS MAGAZINE CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD (from four townhouses), with additional help from Buchanan Studio, former set designers known for their cool aesthetic. La Colombe dOr art hotel in St Paul de Vence in the South of France, where magnificent art is coolly and casually displa ALEX BRAMELL CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD CHRISTOPHER HORWOOD ALEX BRAMELL THIS GLOSSY LIFE THE GLOSS MAGAZINE February 2023 47 THE GLOSS MAGAZINE February 2023 47 ENVIRONMENT A Drop in The Ocean Holly Hughes discovers a community of composters Virginia OGara of the Cork Urban Soil Project (CUSP). F ood waste is not a pollutant, its a treasured resource, Virginia OGara, one of the founders of the Cork Urban Soil Project (CUSP), tells me. We are speaking i Book a design consultation and discover a new way of living. mcnallyliving.ie Book a design consultation today +353 1 660 4856 46 Serpentine Avenue Ballsbridge Dublin 4