Le Bonbon - East London - March 2016

THE WORLD IS YOURS

EAST LONDON

March 2016 - n째 12 - www.lebonbon.co.uk

Photographe : Flavien Prioreau www.flavienprioreau.com flavienprioreau@hotmail.com Modèle : Zarina

EDITO

Founder Jacques de la Chaise Director Charles Guillet Editor Benjamin Harvey Business Development Vuk Levkovic Art director Margaux I Love You Graphic Designers Gabrielle Vila, Charlotte Duriez Contributors Lexi Rose, Elodie Hazelwood, Louise Dubuisson, Seki Lynch, Sonny Syah, Alicia Streijffert, Ana Haya Sauvage, Chloé Hunt, Margaux Décatoire, Alexandre Terry Photographers Romain Forquy www.romainforquy.com Zac Dimitrov www.zdravkodimitrov.com Ella Hermë www.ellaherme.com Contact us hello@lebonbon.co.uk Partnerships & Events margaux@lebonbon.co.uk Le Bonbon Limited 21 London Terrace Hackney Road E2 7SQ – LONDON

Advertising and enquiries Vuk@lebonbon.co.uk 079 8365 1644 Charles@lebonbon.co.uk 079 8365 1643

There is this troubling paradox that keeps cropping up, as my girlfriend and I lie supine and watch the mute clouds pass by our bedroom skylight. It concerns Hirmand our local shopkeeper who was named after a river in Iran. He is a very charitable man, so charitable in fact that it has become a kind of private flaw. The shop sits on the corner of an alleyway, which operates as a magnet for antisocial behaviour. Shards from broken beer bottles give it a decadent beauty. My girlfriend calls it the ‘mud mile’ because of its smell, a potent mix of sweet dope and sodden cardboard. The community that frequent the alley often come into Hirmand’s shop and ask customers for change or Hirmand himself to front them some juice, tobacco or ‘smalls’ – a name he gives to the small bottles of liquor as well as the confectionary. More often than not Hirmand will give it to them, smile and tell them “this is the last time now.” And on weekends he takes it upon himself to power hose the walls and ground of the alleyway, sweeping up the debris into a nearby drain. A homemade charity box sits atop the shops counter, which he shares out to those he has formed a close relationship with.

To what does his compassion serve? The shop itself is struggling, and in some ways Hirmand is only enabling those who he is charitable to.

As he, in his own small way, seeks to make the city a freer and more understanding place, with it he is slowly adding to its abstract selfdestruction.

We lie there and meditate on the puzzle.

March is an odd time of year, a time when the weather is either pathetically dull or optimistically bright. In this issue of Le Bonbon we have thought about scale and a sense of place. From a forty-five foot painting of Where’s Wally on the roof of a record store in Vancouver, to bespoke furniture tailored to specific interiors, Japanese textiles and a blend of Irish and Swede pop, as it turned out, we found ourselves thinking about where we are in the world and perhaps more so, what that means.

There is really no immediate consequence to what it is that we do here at Le Bonbon. Seeing the magazine displayed across east (and now central) London, it simply invites those that pass it by to pick it up and pass it on. Everybody that works on it does so with a view to the future, the people, the enterprises, the ‘community’ that we engage with. But it just sits there, like a kind of paradox. In turn, it is these little things that matter and if you pass us by, just know we are wishing you a pleasant March.

Benjamin Harvey

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CONTENTS

03

2016

6

8

Wringer & Mangle

Little White Things

12

14

26

The Restoration

LUREM

Melanie Coles

28

30

32

Le Bon Cocktail

Food Cycle

Lady Bonbon

3

IT'S BEEN A YEAR. IN YOUR FACE LONDON !

LET'S CELEBRATE. 8TH OF APRIL 2016.

LE BON TIMING Oval Space Music x Dial Records with Reagenz Live, Lawrence, Carsten Jost @ Oval Space Berlin label Dial Records, known for its rich and diversified house music scene, will be joining Oval Space Music with David Moufang and Jonah Sharp’s

End of Year - Class of 2016 - Final Exhibition @ Lewisham Art House

duo Reagenz, headlining for their first

End of Year is the final show of 17 students

comprises of two other German

from the School of the Damned, a free

acts: Dial co-founders Lawrence and

postgraduate art course run by, and for,

Carsten Jost will be making their third

the students themselves. It promotes

appearance at the Oval. It’s always

free education as a fundamental right as

a good time to shuffle your feet on

universities in the UK are getting more and

some Berlin vibes.

more unaffordable. This exhibition serves

Where? Oval Space, 29-32 The Oval, London E2 9DT When? 18th March, 10pm until 6am How much? £5 - £20

as proof that it is possible for a group of students to run a school and organise art events and exhibitions without any financial obligation.

London show in 5 years. The line-up

Where? Lewisham Art House, 140 Lewisham Way, London SE14 6PD When? 3rd March until 13th March (PV 4th March at 6.30-9pm + talk and discussion with SOTD and guests on 13th March at 7pm) How much? Free

ODESZA @ The Troxy Uni pals Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight are now far from dorm room music collaboration. Following the release of the deluxe edition of their latest album In Return, the American electronic duo from Seattle are currently touring the world with shows in South America, Australia and Europe - a good deal of which are sold out. Reminiscent of a warm summer night, their tracks will have you dance restlessly.

Where? The Troxy, 490 Commercial Rd, London E1 0HX. When? 31st March, doors at 7pm How much? £20.55

5

LE BON RESTO Text Benjamin Harvey Picture Hollie Kutchinsky

Spring Cleaning with a Collins…

Wringer & Mangle has it all Located directly opposite the infamous, yeasty spills of London Fields Brewery in the heart of East London’s most creatively vibrant district, Wringer + Mangle used to be an industrial Laundromat. Now Gerry Calabrese, the brains behind Hoxton Pony and Hoxton Gin, has reconditioned the space into an innovative 250 seater bar and restaurant.

now Wringer & Mangle presents

exposed brick walls with smart

all-day drinking and dining in

artistry. The kitchen serves

London Fields’ The Laundry

inspired pub grub classics

building. What inspired such an

realized in their own unique way

affectionate re imagination of

from lunch through dinner, and

the local launderettes? Martin

on Sunday’s a traditional roast.

Parr? Surely not. It is something

The food menu is complimented

to do with spring-cleaning? Does

by a thirty strong list of Collins-

London need to whiten up? Are

style cocktails: traditionally made

we afflicted by a dearth of Daz, a

from gin, lemon juice, sugar, and

paucity of Persil?

carbonated water.

The Laundry Building has

Behind the venture is Gerry

certainly scrubbed up well, the

Calabrese, owner of Hoxton Gin

London is awash with washing

white chalk paint, climbing vines

and party spot the Hoxton Pony

themed spaces. Coin Laundry

and laundry-themed bits and

and there is a lot of slick shapes

in Exmouth Market promises

bobs give Wringer & Mangle the

to be thrown and fun to be had

these smoky retro, prohibition

look of most chic-otherwise-

with all those Collins’ as they

inspired eats, Machine No 3,

abandoned spaces in around

offer a lively program of events.

Hackney, does cocktails in a

Hackney Wick, Stokey and

Every Sunday W + M presents The

former launderette, Chinese

London Fields. The neat touches

Smoking Guns a duo of impossibly

Laundry serves authentic home-

of graphic design blend into

beautiful ‘Spring Breakers’ type

style Chinese in Islington. And

the striped back furniture and

ladies who play an exciting array

6

of Northern Soul, Motown amidst

including The Groucho Club, Soho

old school Rock’n’Roll. They also

House, 5 Hertford St, Scotch of

international pop singers.

bring along some of their favorite

St James and Black Dice. When

This springtime in London

live acoustic acts, so there is

they’re away from the decks,

Fields should be in a spin over

really something for everyone.

Samantha is often on stage or

W + M. Featuring an expansive

Whether you love soul, rock’n’roll

on set; she recently starred in

all-weather terrace and an ever-

or acoustic guitar Wringer +

a fairly intense and provocative

evolving series of art exhibitions

Mangle Sunday Sessions will have

piece of new writing in the West

this is the next chapter for

it all.

End and is in the process of

Calabrese and Wringer + Mangle

filming her own first film as a

is already cleaning up in East

The Smoking Gun are - singer-

writer-director. Iraina has been

London.

songwriter Iraina Mancini and

touring with her own music for

—

actress Samantha Michelle who,

the last six years and is currently

since joining forces, have DJ’d at

recording her own debut album

a number of top London venues

alongside writing several hits for

Wringer and Mangle Sidworth St, London E8 3SD Phone: 020 3457 7285 7

LE BON ETOILE Text Elodie Hazelwood Picture Debbie Scanlan

Little White Things The size of something is, more often that not, relative to its scale. Feeling small tends to mean feeling insignificant. Because size is often considered in relation to something else- our workload versus pay, a grain of sand on a beach, a mouse fitting through the empty shell of a biro- it is difficult to place true value on certain things. Size in this respect, is a relative thing.

before they met, but when knit

‘Step Back’ did extraordinarily

together seemed controlled

well. The three of us talk for

and structured, complimenting

some time about some of the

a vision they both inadvertently

other bands on the label’s

shared. “I invited Max over the

roster and how there is this

day after the party. We’d had

youthful thrill to the music and

some beer and, you know one

a huge amount of excitement

thing led to another, we started

surrounding bands like Swim

talking about music as you do.

Deep, Sundara Karma and Billie

He played me some stuff he had

Marten; bands and singer-

been working on and I started

songwriters that are remarkably

twiddling melodies over the

talented musicians as well

top of it and something just

as down to earth people.

clicked. Just like that, whatever

Behan and Bergstrom play off

had stumped him before and

each other throughout the

When Irish born musician Dave

visa versa, we could work it out

conversation, which not only

Behan came to live in London a

together.”

helps to understand how they

couple of years ago, the sheer

are able to achieve such astute

size of the city was somewhat

I met Behan and Bergstrom

music but places them in relation

of an inspiration. He wanted to

in a pub off London Bridge.

to the other bands on Chess

make something big, something

Halfway through a Guinness,

Clubs roster, “we didn’t really

big enough perhaps, to reflect

they sat slumped, deep in some

have a plan in mind,” Bergstrom

the city itself. After meeting

conversation as the dulled late

explains, “the music always

Swede Max Bergstrom at a

February afternoon created

came first because that’s what

house party sometime in early

patterns on the pubs wooden

matters.”

2015, the two started splicing

floor. Chess Club Records signed

together passages of music

the duo towards the end of last

Behan does this thing with his

they had each been working on

year, and their debut release

hands. He places them out level

8

with one another as he describes

in conversation was as natural,

of the year will no doubt present

his height. He’s average height,

genuine and sharp as their sound.

a varied and controlled collection

around 5’8’/ 5’9” he claims, and

As we sat and talked, it was just

of whatever you choose to call

as he pushes one hand down the

three blokes in a pub discussing

it – ‘popular music?’ “We want to

other is forced up like a mimic

music, and why not? Though

make people move, dance, smile,

set of scales. “I want to make

‘Step Back’ channels certain

feel good you know? There are

big music. I think now the shorter

seismic influences from Big Star

big, uplifting, anthemic choruses

the front man,” he forces the

and early Elton John records to

alongside acoustic tracks. It

scales down and up, “the bigger

MGMT and The Shins, what Behan

doesn’t matter as long as it’s

and more epic the sound.” He’s

and Bergstrom do is distinct

good,” and it is. With a series

charming and funny and the odd

and matchless because they

of live shows coming up around

logic does seem to compute

construct a saturated sound so

London coinciding with their next

when you think of a band like

honest in production and musical

release, it is the perfect time to

Foals who are adding more

ability that their future can only

keep your finger on the pulse,

and more depth to their sound

be eagerly anticipated. With a

it’s going to make the world

with each of there releases.

second single called ‘Corner

seem like this little thing and that

It’s a terse logic though and

of’ set to be released by Chess

you’re a big, beautiful part of it.

thoroughly inconsequential. The

Club next month, the view to

—

point is that Little White Things

produce a full LP toward the end

littlewhitethings.com 9

10

LE BON CREATIVE Text Sonny Syah Picture Philippe Halsman

‘The Dreams Stuff Are Made Of ’ Why is it that for the life of me I can never manage to run in my dreams?

stages of what’s known as R.E.M,

we need to rectify the habits of

we are most likely to remember a

our waking lives.

dream if we are awakened within one. There are times I have

So too, the power of dreams is

It seems that whenever I

woken up aggravated, laughing,

such that it can trick the senses

feel the urge to make haste

even on the verge of tears. The

into hearing, seeing, smelling,

it's as if I am wading through

lingering emotion is opaque and

touching or tasting anything

the obstructive thickness of

thick like secondhand smoke;

remotely imaginable. I can recall

molasses. Somewhere within the

the threads of the dream on the

the scent of cheap deodorant

early hours of a restless winter

other hand, seem ambiguous and

on a high school crush, the taste

morning, swinging between

illusory.

of salt on a sea breeze, the

various vines of slumber, I

goosebumps from music heard

reflected on the curious nature

On occasion too, within dreams

on a phonograph. All conjured up

of dreams and the subconscious.

I find myself the comical victim

in that land of forty winks.

of my own adolescent fears.

Contrary to what may feel at

Schoolyard bullies, rough seas,

The great French filmmaker Jean

times like spelunking through

feral cats (I have a slight feline

Cocteau once said that, ‘One of

vast, cavernous depths within

phobia), all seem to make

the characteristics of the dream

our psyche, it’s particularly

frightful forays into my realm of

is that nothing surprises us in it.

sobering to learn that your

shuteye. One particular recurring

With no regret, we agree to live

average dream supposedly only

theme I can recall is never being

in it with strangers, completely

runs for the duration of seconds.

able to properly lock the windows

cut off from our habits and

In some instances dreams appear

or doors in the home I grew up

friends.’ More often than not I

to continue on in segmented

in.

have lay awake wondering why

intervals throughout our sleep

it is so, that I can commonly

like some bizarre Netflix series of

Of course there are also those

identify my difficulty in running

the trivial and tumultuous. I often

dreams that cruelly remind

through dreams, but I am

find dreams are as elusive as

us of the virulent monotony

unable to use that to trigger

slippery eels once awake, and if

of our daily lives. Dreaming of

lucid dreaming and therefore

we do manage to hold onto one

being rudely awakened by your

make myself run through my

they appear so abstract that we

morning alarm, punching keys at

dormancy. Perhaps the answer

almost want to tip them out of

the workplace, or simply going

lies in my willingness to accept

the bucket or throw them back.

through the motions of the day

the unfamiliarity of that which

It is said that during the various

ahead can be stark signals that

resides over the precipice.

11

LE BON DESIGN Text Benjamin Harvey Picture Romain Forquy

Sleek bespoke furniture, handmade

by The Restoration Tucked in a mews off Bouverie Road in Stoke Newington, the raw humming sound of a circular saw coursing through slabs of wood seems to draw from the surrounding cul-de-sac’s walls. Upon entering The Restoration, dipping below the low hanging doorframe and moving through a softly lit corridor, there is a hidden space - as if you were Alice traveling through wonderland - a bright, open showroom of ornate and bespoke design.

themselves, reclaiming long strips

a newly designed kitchen

of wood from salvage yards,

table and relative benches,

cutting, splicing and designing

that after experimenting with

their own furniture, shelves and

the up-cycled scaffold strips of

units. The activity gifted them not

wood, the new design sees the

only a new wealth of experience

strips cut lengthwise and bound

through trial and error, but

together to gift the collection

also an attention to detail and

extra strength and lifespan.

material that has since informed

The kitchen furniture, as with

both the style and process of The

a number of other bespoke

Restoration as an independent

pieces from bookshelves to

design collective. The showroom

sideboards in The Restoration’s

is a kind of curated space that

collection, can be calculated

constantly evolves as newly

and tailored specific to a clients

realised pieces are introduced

home, and the duo offer a free,

and others find a home.

no obligation consultation as

Composed of The Restoration’s

concerns the design model.

own handmade furniture, which Sophie and her partner Spud

sits beside vintage pieces and

In addition to presenting a new

opened The Restoration seven

home accessories from wall

collection, The Restoration now

years ago. After moving to Stoke

clocks, lighting to kitchenware

offers an upholstery service. In

Newington, the couple had

and textiles, Sophie tells me,

line with their ethos of tailoring

decided to furnish their home

as she directs me toward

design and costs to their client’s

12

limits, the service allows for select pieces to be upholstered in textiles selected by the clients who bring them to The Restoration team.

The interplay between bespoke and vintage furniture could be seen as an engagement with design that nods to the past whilst curating spaces in the future. As the city becomes increasingly design conscious people seem to be turning their backs from the likes of ubiquitous design houses, in order to shape more personalized interiors. From its humble and personal beginnings The Restoration brings together homegrown techniques with an ever-growing knowledge of material, binding a love of quality design with hand made products. A place to reside in the city slowly and modestly becomes your own, a little castle, a humble home. —

www.the-restoration.com Phone: 07990 573889 Unit 1 Bouverie Mews, 2 Bouverie Road, London, N16 0AJ

13

LE BON LIFESTYLE Text Benjamin Harvey Pictures Philippe Chambret

Bring on the splendid springtime with LUREM As the sun begins to beam through gaps in the sky and Kanye croons afresh about how it won’t shine in the shade, springtime at LUREM brings with it a gorgeous new SS collection that abides by their loose rules of simplicity and androgyny dotted with notes of clever detailing.

which, when brought together,

gendered garments and

summon a kind of intravenous

shaping them into androgynous

wave of holistic calm from the

forms. A more traditional male

dizzying busyness of outside. I

dinner jacket, for example, is

was introduced to Tokyo based

appropriated with a pair of

designer Miyuki Ushida, who was

office shorts, subtly subverting

in town to deliver the new SS

the typically male qualified

collection in store.

garment as it interplays with a more feminine shaped design.

It should be noted that LUREM

Another in the collection sees a

is an ‘international’ lifestyle

tailored female office jacket

brand in every sense of the word.

with complimentary lining offer a

It was nice to see Philippe

A tight knit team of in house

smart detail to an upturned cuff.

again. He rolled into the store,

designers working with a view to

With accompanying full-length

jumped from the side of his

bind the urban sophistication

trousers, the smart casual piece

pushbike into an unwittingly

of London and Tokyo together,

is suitable for a number of

comic, quickly decelerating

borrowing patterns, details and

occasions, from client meetings

walk and greeted me with an

colours from both cultures and

to evening dinner dates, and

outstretched hand and smile.

using them as a kind of trove

imbues the freshness of spring

LUREM sits on Bethnal Green

or pallet with which to design

with its lightly coloured textiles.

Road just opposite a fork where

beautiful contemporary urban

The stand out piece of the

the road spits into Redchurch

fashion.

new collection however is a

Street. The store draws in the

wonderful, light linin suit. The

natural, with hardwood flooring,

The new collection is an

jacket hangs slightly lower than

ornate furniture and, its principal

evolution of LUREM’s house

the other pieces in the collection

feature, a clothing range. All of

style playing with traditional

and holds the casual shape of an

14

art smock. Made from genuine

fabrics themselves. Designed

not help but feel comfortable,

Japanese woven fabric the piece

and manufactured in Japan, an

if not a little indulgent, and

inspires the coming summer

active adoration for material is

with the new SS collection they

nights, deep glasses of chilled

imbedded into LUREM’s

continue to inspire and empower

white wine and warm breezes.

philosophy. In store, the Lifestyle

the independent urban lady.

Balanced with a pair of flowing

brand draws in collaborations

linin trousers, the outfit is truly

with local jewellery designers

—

stunning.

who manufacture their

LUREM 138 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 6DG Phone :020 8127 8338

products in London, which sit Ushida told me that all of the

alongside select chocolates and

pieces are realised by the

accessories. In LUREM one can

15

LE BON ART Artwork Melanie Coles

16

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LE BON WALL

Welcome to the family baby Bonboners!

To my Lizzie Pickle.

I may be slightly autistic at times but I

Lukasz morda, come to Paris, Anton wants

am always fixated on you…

to catch up with you Come home please Austin, I miss you and your stupid fart blanket head thing…

Emma, Thank you for everything along the way. It couldn’t have been done without you.

TV

Baby we could be smooth as butter but you playing.

I AM INTO M&S S&M

A blowjob is better than no job

VIVA Frank Van Luigi Pele Harvey Sutton – you are so loved our little bunny.

We did it bro!

Jennifer

Benjamin Edwin Slinger - making omelettes with leftover KFC xxx

Justice for Dave #bringbackdave

Sweetheart, put down the damn phone –

£1200 in a week feels like we’re Eddy & Bacon in Lock, Stock.

Juliette & Stew, I'm feeling so lucky to be part of your family! Love you.

Cha

25

LE BON ART Text Benjamin Harvey Artwork Melanie Coles

Melanie Coles A Sense of Place In 2008 Melanie Coles painted a fifty-four foot Waldo on the roof of a record store in Vancouver, Canada. Calculated as part of a research project to be exhibited at that year’s Emily Carr School of Art & Design grad show, Coles reproduced an image of the famous cartoon figure notorious for being difficult to find as he travels through various environments. In doing so, and to such a scale, the project invited the world to play ‘Where’s Waldo?’ by searching through Google maps, a relatively new desktop web mapping service at the time.

concerned that, as the project

satellite mapping but the

entered the national and

historic mathematical methods

international mainstream media,

of analogue production

she was breaking some kind of

and scale. It has since been

copyright infringement. Coles

continued and reproduced

was living in Vancouver at the

across the world in places from

time, studying and producing

Antwerp to Brasilia, as open

posters and record sleeve

source instructions were offered

covers for local garage bands,

online via the project’s website

her work in line with a certain

(www. whereonearthiswaldo.

punk aesthetic that emanates

wordpress.com). Inadvertently,

from collage. On the day of the

Coles’ project became something

show, Coles received an email

more than a game, but an

from the creators of the Where’s

artwork absorbed in a sense of

Waldo (or Wally in the U.K). In

place.

A day before the exhibition,

The project not only plays with

heritage visa, she has since been

Coles grew increasingly

a well-known digital format of

developing her practice in the

it they expressed their love for her project. As a gesture of their

The project prefigured the

appreciation, Mark Handford,

recent logical dimensions of a

the British illustrator and

three-month residency at the

creator sent her a personalised

RA in London last year. After

illustration of the character.

discovering that she could return to the city through a

26

city. I met her in a packed café

produced. “For the RA I guess I

living and working in London once

on Redchurch Street, Shoreditch.

did want to make something

again, she intends to stay here

We got take-out coffee, sat and

epic” she says, because the

for some time to explore the city,

talked for a while on a bench in

resources were made available

and perhaps most poignantly,

Arnold Circus. She is generous,

to her. Using found material

what it means to be here. With

softly spoken and meditated

and collage, she looks to her

the School of the Damned end

on my questions with a kind of

immediate surroundings, be it an

of year show coming up in early

earnest beauty found only in deft

inkjet photocopier or a

March at Lewisham Art House,

artistic reasoning. She tells me

large-scale acetate printer.

Coles is exhibiting work that uses

about The School of The Damned,

She works to constraints and

architectural forms about the

a reactive, free postgraduate art

then expands their potential

city, and with her clean eye for

course she attends that is run by,

through intimate brushstrokes,

subtraction and collage, it will be

and for, its students.

colour and mixed media, turning

sure to arouse a unique sense of

subjects and formats in on

place.

Much of the work she makes,

themselves, subtly questioning

—

she tells me, is inadvertently

what they can do for - her, not

www.melanie-coles.com

appropriated by where it is

what she can do for them. Now

schoolofthedamned.tumblr.com

27

28

LE BON COCKTAIL Text Seki Lynch

Cor Blarney I’ve often heard my father tell his story about kissing the Blarney Stone at the top of Blarney Castle on a visit to Ireland.

seems Irish luck be with us as St.

lager, trying to create a cocktail

Paddy’s Day approaches.

version of a snakebite, I think you’ll agree it works just as

Despite having a very Irish

well with the Guinness. For a

surname, I’ve yet to make the trip

snakebite and black add a little

to the Emerald Isle, where, so

Chambord Liqueur.

Despite having a very Irish

they say, the Guinness is thicker,

surname, I’ve yet to make the trip

creamier, ‘better for you’. Until

to the Emerald Isle, where, so

that time, I’ll have to settle for a

they say, the Guinness is thicker,

pint of black back in the Smoke,

creamier, ‘better for you’. Until

though I don’t recall occasion

that time, I’ll have to settle for a

to ever grumble about the taste.

pint of black back in the Smoke,

The best place I know in this

though I don’t recall occasion

fair city would be Soho’s, The

to ever grumble about the taste.

Toucan, named after Guinness’

The best place I know in this fair

infamous mascot. Therein can

city would be Soho’s, The Toucan,

be found quenched pilgrims

named after Guinness’ infamous

with white mustaches chattering

mascot.

amongst a hoarders wet dream of memorabilia. Were good taps

Four Leaf Snakebite

20ml Zubrowka Vodka 20ml Calvados 20ml Cognac 25ml Guinness Syrup* 25ml Lemon Juice 15ml Egg White 2 Dash Peychaud Bitters Method: - Add all ingredients to a shaker tin.

- Dry Shake (Shake without ice to emulsify the egg).

- Add ice and shake.

- Double strain into a cocktail coupe.

- Enjoy

Therein can be found quenched

not enough for this basement

pilgrims with white mustaches

haunt, they also boast being

chattering amongst a hoarder’s

once graced by a Jimi Hendricks

wet dream of memorabilia. Were

performance. There’s rarely

good taps not enough for this

a time that ordering a pint of

basement haunt, they also boast

stout is a poor choice. Still, were

being once graced by a Jimi

excuse needed, it seems Irish

Hendricks performance. There’s

luck be with us as St. Paddy’s Day

* To make Guinness Syrup, reduce

rarely a time that ordering a

approaches.

Guinness to 1/4 of original amount

pint of stout is a poor choice.

Still, were excuse needed, it

by gently simmering, then add sugar

Initially I made this drink with

at a ratio of 1:1.

29

LE BON CHARITY Text Louise Dubuisson Pictures Chris King Photography

Food for common thought There is nothing quite like getting out of the city, when you can go home for a spot of your mum’s home cooking. When I find myself really scraping the barrel in those days leading up to payday, it’s the best thing in the world to hop on the first train home just to get some decent free grub. How blissful it is to enjoy a hot, hearty meal in a homely atmosphere. It can really warm the cockles of your heart. And that’s exactly what FoodCycle offers those people who can’t afford such a luxury.

Food Cycle started in May 2009

This includes those affected by

as an innovative community-

homelessness, a low income,

based project. And with 24

mental health difficulties, and

hubs across the UK, it is now

loneliness. These factors can

leading the country’s food

affect people from all walks of

waste movement. By combining

life, and one of the beautiful

dedicated volunteers with

niches of the charity is that no

surplus food and spare kitchen

one needs to ‘prove’ anything to

spaces, the national charity

be able to come and eat at the

provides tasty and nutritious

hubs. Their doors are open to

three-course meals for people

everyone, no questions asked.

at risk of food poverty and social isolation.

Clare recently took on the Breadline Challenge, an initiative

Did you know that about twenty

that raises awareness about the

million tonnes of food is wasted

harsh reality of food poverty.

each year in the UK, and 4 million

Think for a moment how easy it

people are affected by food

is to blow a tenner on a meal, or

poverty? By using all that squishy,

even more on just a round of

bruised, wrinkly, dented fruit

drinks in London. Well imagine

I went to chat to Clare Skelton

and veg that is perfectly edible

having to live on just £2.86 a day.

the Community Manager at Food

but that supermarkets can’t

She quickly realised that whilst it

Cycle about the organisation that

sell, volunteers can cook healthy

is possible, “you don’t appreciate

has touched so many lives.

meals for vulnerable people.

the freedom and flexibility that

30

a reasonable living budget allows

makes people feel more part of

of the world’s finest chefs are

you.” Serious planning ahead is

the community, and allows new

cooking up a seven-course feast

essential, and there’s no leeway

friendships to blossom.

in aid of FoodCycle. Featuring

for a pick-me-up coffee in the

the likes of Angela Hartnett and

morning, or a spontaneous dinner

With five new hubs having been

Giorgio Locatelli, ‘Green and

out with your mates. Not only is

opened already this year, and a

Pleasant Land’ is shaping up

this dull, but it also gets pretty

target of eight to be opened by

to be a magnificent evening of

lonely when you have to keep

the end of 2016, they’re well

exquisite food and fun. There will

turning down plans.

on their way to achieving their

also be a silent auction, and the

dream of eradicating food

chance to meet other supporters

poverty in the UK.

of FoodCycle.

and fed over 3800 people since

Fancy getting dolled up to

For all enquiries, contact Tess

they started, what is equally

support a brilliant cause? On 21st

Timothy on tess@foodcycle.org.

impressive is the way in which it

April, at London’s Guildhall, seven

uk or call 020 7729 2775.

Whilst FoodCycle has reclaimed over 146,000kg of surplus food

31

LADY BONBON Text Lexi Rose Artwork Jean Jullien

The Adventures of Lady Bonbon Eavesdropping Dear diary, I recently began working in a hotel. Like all jobs it has its ups and downs, but one of the particular perks of my current position is it gives me a great opportunity for my favourite past time people watching.

Last night at the hotel there was

I let them have a moment,

But then she said, "I just want

polishing the stack of knives

to kiss you one last time." "You

nearby. "This is wrong," said

want to kiss me? I want to kiss

the man. “I know," she sighed,

you more. I love my wife."

"I have a boyfriend." The

"I want to kiss you more than

gentleman sighed and nodded,

you want to kiss me because you

"And you have a wife," she

love your wife." This went on for

added. "I know and I love my

a bit. I was running out of things

wife," he added, "but you are a

to polish.

very cool, sexy girl." "And you.

I wandered off to do something

You are great," she replied, "we

else. I came back hoping they'd

are so right for each other."

kissed and gone their separate

a big party, where the alcohol

ways so I could set for breakfast

flowed freely and a fun time was

I had my back turned so I can't

and go home. Indeed, I returned

had by all the guests. As the

be sure what happened, but I

and they were gone. But as I

party drew to a close, I began

think she fell off her chair. I

got ready to close the hotel

to set the room for breakfast.

heard a big crash and when I

restaurant they reappeared.

The problem was, at one of the

turned round she was on the

tables sat a couple kissing. They

floor. I asked if she was okay, and

They asked me where they could

were really going for it. Limbs

she said yes and sat back down.

book a room. Together. I told

were flying everywhere and I

them we were fully booked and

understood then what those "no

Our forbidden lovers then

offered to book them (separate)

heavy petting" signs at swimming

attempted to part ways, agreeing

taxis to their homes. As they

pools are for.

this was a drunken mistake.

parted, the man said, "I'll always

The gentleman was particularly

remember this night.”

The man stopped kissing briefly

admirable by saying things such

and asked the lady, "How old are

as, "you're the sexiest woman I've

Yours,

you?"

ever seen, but I love my wife."

Lady Bonbon x

32

33

LE BON MYSTIC

Aries

Cancer

Indulging in a little retail therapy never did anybody

You have a trying month ahead, and the stars will

any harm, but don’t let your extravagant urges get

not always be in your favour. You will ask all the right

the better of you. You’re after the quick fixes this

questions but it will take time to find the answers

month but you need to dig a little deeper in to your

you are seeking. But it’s nothing a resourceful soul

mind, rather than your wallet, to find that long term

like you can’t handle! Avoid driving down narrow

satisfaction. A new dress or a cool car won’t prove

lanes, you could find yourself with nowhere to

anything to anybody, so don’t be such a try-hard.

turn. Always check the ‘reduced’ aisle of the

Your real friends love you for who you are inside, so

supermarket; you never know what you might

stop flashing the cash and

unearth. And remember, that permanence you seek

just learn to be happy with what you do have in life.

is not always all it’s cracked up to be.

Taurus

Leo

The most depressing month of the year is finally

Do you recall the story of the grasshopper

over and you can feel it in your bones. Shake off

and the ant? Well, they both ventured out of

a grim February by getting active. Try something

their respective environments and become

new like rock-climbing or an intensive self-defence

an amalgamated smudge on someone else's

class. You’ve got too much pent up energy and

windshield. But that shouldn't concern you one iota.

the only way to feel better is to harvest it into

This month is all about the rest of the astrological

something positive. Push yourself the extra mile

cosmos hearing you roar. That's right Leo. It's time

this month and you will be amply rewarded with

to dig in those claws and get back some of that

personal satisfaction and exterior gratification. Be

March mojo. With the mornings becoming lighter

a go-getter.

and the evenings milder comes more time to let that mane flow fierce and free.

Gemini

Virgo

Beware the ides of March, dear Gemini. You are

The great street poet and urban philosopher Ol'

fully aware of your duplicitous nature, using to your

Dirty Bastard once said: 'Off on a natural charge,

advantage your mastery of hot and cold. While

bon voyage…' For you, Virgo, the words couldn’t ring

you are mostly soft as a kitten, you also know that

more true. If indeed you want more pep in your step

sometimes, to get your way in luuurve, you got to

for the Spring then it would be wise to refrain from

be bad… Just make sure you don't sting so bad that

unnatural food colourings and additives through

your honey needs to swim in Tiger Balm to get over

the month of March. But that’s not to say you need

it.

to relinquish on those other insatiable delights. Be sure to keep an open mind for what may come your way midweek. It may have you looking at 2016 in a new light.

34

MARCH 2016

Libra

Capricorn

This month, take a step back from what you are

Fresh air is good for the body, and boy oh boy,

doing. The Universe has been in touch and let

don't you Leos know it this month. As the sun starts

us know that you’ve been too involved lately.

to stay out longer, the urge to flaunt your lion bod

Take some much needed time off and gain some

via London pavement runs gets stronger. Whether

perspective on just what it is you want to be

this sudden health kick is to work off winter flab or

doing. Reach out to people you might have been

increase your Happn hits, we won't tell… Just make

neglecting lately and invite them out for a pint or

sure you don't avoid cultural activities so much you

two, or three… You won’t regret it. Someone in your

start to think Pavarotti is a type of pasta.

entourage needs a little attention, give him or her some heart-felt advice– and mean it! It will make both of you feel better.

Scorpio

Aquarius

So it’s March and springtime has just begun so don’t

Don’t be disturbed by your lack of Valentines this

forget to loosen up. Despite a depressing February

year because love will find you in March. Maybe not

there are brighter times ahead. You’re probably the

love in the traditional sense, but you will have some

type to have given up something you truly love for

of the best sex in your entire life and you will LOVE

lent - chocolate, wine, meat, sugar… and fair play

it. But beware; just as life in the bedroom is working

to you, total respect for breaking through to the

well for you, the roads become a treacherous place.

other side, nothing perturbed your determination.

As you bungle across the road awash with sexual

Just make sure you really let loose this Easter, peel

healing through passing cars, buses and cyclists, you

back that silver foil, pop that cork, sizzle that bacon

may well find yourself in danger, so pay attention.

because you deserve it.

Sagittarius

Pisces

March is all about movement. So go on, move that

Ah, finally! March has arrived. You’ve been thinking

ass! Move house, move city, maybe even move

“I need to calm down” all February long after your

country. The world is your oyster so get your skates

mates have told you several times how wild you go

on, pick up the pace and stop wasting time; you’ve

when someone hands you a gin tonic, scaring every

got to do all the things that you’ve always wanted to

other person in the room with your half-slurred

do. Jump in at the deep end and start ticking a few

declarations of love. Fear no more, March is all

things off that bucket list. Kiss the people you love,

about embracing love and feelin’ yourself. Be fab

and move on from the people holding you back -

and glam and flush your dark thoughts down the loo

they’re only jealous of you anyway. Spring is in the

because they’re so last month. It’s time to realise

air and it should be in your step too! Life is good,

the world needs your energy - and envies it madly.

my friend!

35

LE BON SNAPSHOT

36

LE BON SNAPSHOT

Shot in Brick Lane on a rainy day… © Zak Dimitrov & Ella Hermë

37

LE BON AGENDA

Grimes Grimes is back. With 2012’s Visions, Grimes shot to fame and critical acclaim. With playful and imaginative production, hooks that come at you from every angle, lyrics bursting with imagery, and an undeniable but intelligent pop sensibility, tracks like Genesis and Oblivion were soon occupying every playlist under the sun. Add to that her stunning creative prolificity, her strong and independent voice online, and always incredible visuals, and Grimes is pop star perfected. Returning earlier this year with the banging Realiti, anticipation for this album is nearing desperation. Live, we have no idea where she’ll take the show. With Grimes, anything is possible. We just know that if you’re not in the room at Brixton Academy this March, you’re missing out.

Download DICE and check the app for the only tickets with No Booking Fees.

Adele Adele is the biggest artist in the world right now.

ICYMI - She smashed every record on YouTube with comeback single Hello, her third album 25 racked up record breaking sales into the millions in just one week, and has been bought by one in 80 Brits.

Announcing these extra shows due to demand, it’s the first time she’ll have performed on tour in over four years. With a voice that is simply flawless, an unchallenged talent for writing lyrics that echo with any listener, and songs that will last in your heart for an eternity, Adele is an exceptional artist who’s still just at the start of what we know will be a long career. Don’t miss the gigs of the decade.

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38

SPONSORED BY DICE

Wolf Alice Touring the UK this spring after a huge 2015, Mercury nominated Wolf Alice have become one of the nation's most important new bands. Releasing debut album My Love Is Cool in June, they stunned music fans with crush after crush of addictive, driving indie that aimed for your chest and echoed across your lips. Tracks like You're A Germ and Your Loves Whore were all consuming rushes of guitar that burst with ideas and ingenuity. Playing The Forum on three very special nights in March following this autumn's sold out Brixton Academy show, it's your chance to catch the band on a much smaller stage than you'd usually see them. But with so much promise in their repertoire, we get a feeling that this is still only the start !

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Bryson Tiller Bryson Tiller is one of hip-hop's most promising talents going into 2016. Proudly declaring to Rolling Stone "I got that trap and soul" after dropping his critically acclaimed TRAPSOUL LP through RCA, the Kentucky born rapper is seriously hot property, with everyone from Timbaland to Noah "40" Shebib quick to support. Sonically sitting halfway between a jumped up PATRYNEXTDOOR and a toned down Ty Dolla $ign, Tiller is without doubt one of the game's best kept secrets. But that's not gonna last long.

Get your tickets now.

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39

LE BON ADDRESSES

1. AIDA

7. LUREM

13. 40 COLORI

133 Shoreditch High Street

138 Bethnal Green

32 Cheshire Street,

Shoreditch | E1 6JE

Bricklane | E2 6DG

Bricklane | E2 6EH

Phone: 020 7739 2811

Phone: 020 8127 8338

Phone: 020 7059 9778

2. APPESTAT

8. OTHER CAFE GALLERY

14. RESIDENCE

102 Islington High Street

48 Balls Pond Road

130 Upper Clapton Road, Clapton | E5 9JY

Angel | N1 8EG

Dalston | N1 4AP

Phone: 020 7226 5457

Phone: 077 8726 9499

3. BOTTEGA PRELIBATO

9. QUARANTACINQUE

7 Victory Parade,

45 Rivington Street

45 Roman Road

East village | E20 1FS

Old Street | EC2A 3QB

Bethnal Green | E2 0HU

15. SIGNORELLI

Phone: 020 7739 4995

VINTERIOR 10. THE MERCANTILE LONDON

4. CHOI’S

www.vinterior.co

17, Spitalfields Arts Market,

226 Bethnal Green Road

Lamb Street

DICE

Bethnal Green | E2 0AA

Shoreditch | E1 6EA

www.dice.fm

Phone: 077 2052 4995

Phone: 020 7377 8926

Buy Tickets with no booking fees!

5. CONSERVATORY ARCHIVES

11. THE RESTORATION

JEAN JULLIEN

493-495 Hackney Road

2 Bouverie Road

www.jeanjullien.com

40

Cambridge Heath | E2 9ED

Stokey | N16 0AJ

Phone: 077 8552 2762

Phone: 079 9057 3889

6. MERO RETRO

12. THE STORE

2 Bradbury Street

65 Roman Road

Dalston | N16 8JN

Bethnal Green | E2 0QN

Phone: 020 7686 6807

Phone: 079 0356 9782