Le Bonbon - London - January 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

January 2016 - n° 10 - www.lebonbon.co.uk

Photographe : Flavien Prioreau www.flavienprioreau.com flavienprioreau@hotmail.com Modèle : Rachel Thomas rachel@lebonbon.fr

EDITO

Chairman

January 2016, the dawn of a new year, of new beginnings, new

Jacques de la Chaise

resolutions, plans, projects and people. With it a cool winter draught

Director

sweeps about the city, feeling through the cobbled Georgian terraces of

Charles Guillet

Islington, Camden, Kensington and Shoreditch, pushing up and around

Editor

Piano’s Shard, Vinoly’s Walkie Talkie, Foster’s Gherkin and forcing, like

Benjamin Harvey

a gust against a windmill, the carriages of our London Eye to make its

Art director

movements. There are many developments and structures popping up

Tom Gordon

and around the capital this year - the east to west super-cycle highway,

Sales director

the Cross Rail, the New Tate Modern, Nine Elms, etc. - all of which pose

Vuk Levkovic

the immediate question of what London will look and feel like this time

Contributors

next year.

Carla Salber, Valentin Vignaud,

There are, of course, more global concerns that the New Year brings

Sonny Syah, Neus Serena Rius,

with it. The pressing humanitarian crisis in Syria, Sudan and Indonesia,

Chloe Hunt, Karina Stridh,

the U.S presidential election, the important (at times dangerous)

Anissa Boumachouene,

movements of various hacktivist groups and still, the local housing and

Alix Piermont, Pauline Daron,

employment crises continues. It seems that 2016 will carry some of the

Photographers

most important moments of global political and social change since the

Arielle Tapper

start of the Millennium.

ariellelucettephotography.com

Here at Le Bonbon, we like to celebrate the little things. The

Neus Serena Rius

entrepreneurial essence of east London is a truly beautiful thing. By

Contact us

engaging with local creative thinking and various individuals, enterprises

hello@lebonbon.co.uk

and initiatives, we hope to harness a community spirit that in its own

Le Bonbon Limited

small way makes the city a great place to live in and experience.

3 Stanford Mews

In this issue of Le Bonbon we visit The Common E2, a space that is

Dalston Lane

part architectural office part café. We engage with London’s premier

London - E8 1JA

French-speaking nanny agency. We hear the slamming beats of Fritz Helder. We look at Davey Stone, east-London’s ‘human-size’ estate agency. We travel across east London to an industrial estate in Clapton where we meet surrealist mixed-media artist Joseph Alexander Goode and back into the heart of Shoreditch to a natural and serene hair salon where we meet the multifaceted hair stylist Francesco Picardi.

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

This issue of the magazine marks the beginning of a New Year. We hope you enjoy it and we wish you a Le Bonbon year.

Benjamin Harvey

1

The east end has changed

So should your estate agent

daveystone.com Estate Agents for the East End

CONTENTS

01

2016

6

8

Signorelli

Joseph-Alexander Goode

10

14

16

Pizzeria Apollo

Resolutions

Oui Maman

26

32

38

Fritz Helder

Lady Bonbon

Le Bon Agenda

3

LE BON TIMING BUGGED Out Weekender 2016 Now in its 5th year, the annual Bugged Out Weekender is descending once again on British holiday institution Butlins, Bognor Regis for a super-healthy dose of hedonism in the otherwise sober month of January. Announcing the first wave of an all star line up featuring a mix of old school regulars like DJ EZ, Erol Alkan, Skream, Jackmaster, Eats Everything and Heidi

The Winter Social Festival

plus the soon to be initiated Paranoid London and

Following on from the sell out summer Social,

The Black Madonna, the BUGGED Out! crew will

Nic Fanciulli's Social brand returns with

be leading its mass of wayward disciples into 2016

an all star line up for its Winter Edition on

for some seriously riotous fun, leaving all notions

the 6th February 2016! Expect the highest

of sense and frugality at the door. A unique

level of production and atmosphere, as the

Weekender wonderland of custom built dance

social step things up once again and move

floors with lasers, smoke and unbeatable sound

the Winter Social to its new home, the Kent

quality, as well as secret parties, arcades, rave

County Show ground. The venue captures

karaoke, pub quizzes, and POOL PARTIES, there is

the great outdoors, but delivers an intimacy

no other event like it in the festival calendar.

we all crave through it’s many external

15, 16, 17 January - Butlins Bognor Regis, West

acres, to its raw Warehouse space that will

Sussex - buggedoutweekender.net/tickets/

set an atmosphere for what is coming to be renowned as one of the biggest house & Techno festivals in the UK!

Who? Adam Beyer, Art Department, Ame, Eats Everything, Guy Gerber, Maya Jane Coles, & Many more…

6 February - Kent Show Ground www.thesocialfestival.com/tickets

Lilly’s Birdcage The promising French artist Aurelie Lagouette is about to unveil her debut collection. With a unique take on feminine nudes, the work strives to provide a sense of freedom to the subjects without stirring overt sexual fantasy.

Aurelie’s presenting a complete set of arousing shots, while fighting against clichés.

How much? For free, fortunately!

Where? Unit G Gallery, East London

5

LE BON BAKERY Text Karina Stridh Photos DR

Signorelli

E20’s Gold Medal Brunch Just two-and-a-half years ago, London's E20 was host to the premiere athletes of our time. While it has since been rebranded from Olympic Village to East Village, it boasts a venue worthy of a gold medal in that glorious event most dear to a Londoner's heart: brunch.

dig into. You might also meet

history that means he can tell

Rebecca, the other half of the

you the precise seed to mill story

Signorelli management, in the

of his flour, and enthusiastically

front next to jars full of tempting

explain the simple tricks to

cookies and Italian treats.

testing the health and ripeness

Many a Londoner hankers for the

of fruits and veg. It's the same

brunch classics of scrambled

passion for food that leads all

eggs and mashed avocado on

their goods to be preservative

a weekend morning--and the

and additive free, relying rather

Signorelli staff do indeed cook

on the freshness and quality

up a notably fresh version of

of the foods to pack a flavour

those staples--but if you are

punch.

Despite opening less than six

anything like yours truly, there

months ago, Signorelli Bakery

is nothing quite like a cheesy

Should you be interested in

and Pasticceria is already a

start to the day after a proper

learning some of the tricks of

favourite of locals in the area.

night out. For these occasions,

great baking yourself, stay tuned:

And for good reason--before

Signorelli's mozzarella stuffed

early 2016, Signorelli will be

you even open the door to the

focaccia bread is an experience

hosting a number of classes in

modernly decorated bakery, you

so divine as to help you forgive all

their large kitchen. Currently,

are hit with an incredible smell

the decisions you made after that

they have announced lessons on

of freshly baked bread. Take a

pivotal 2am tequila shot.

the art of making Italian bread and Italian pizza. A further two

step inside, and the first thing you might notice in the light-flooded

The foundation of Signorelli's

classes on how to host a dinner

venue is the large, open kitchen,

main dishes is their impeccable

party and the elements of

where co-owner Alberto works

bread. Naturally, any baker

healthy baking are also planned.

alongside a specialist baker, a

would tell you that the key to

Signorelli is open from 7:30am

chef, and a « patissiere ». The

fantastic bread lies in sourcing

on weekdays and 9:30am on

three work side by side to create

great ingredients. But not every

weekends, and serves breakfast,

the gourmet sandwiches, loaves

baker has a background as an

brunch, lunch, Italian high tea

of bread and delectable pastries

agricultural consultant, like

and aperitifs. Take note, desk-

that their customers happily

Alberto does. It’s this unique

less denizens: Signorelli also

6

has free wifi and serves lovely bean-to-cup coffees. Whether you are looking for a fresh weekend brunch, a nice venue to type away on your laptop with a latte, or a place to daydream about your Olympic chances if Instagraming was a sport, Signorelli has got you covered.

7 Victory Parade, London E20 1FS — www.signorelli.co.uk — Tuesday to Friday 8:30am-7:30pm Saturday and Sunday 9:30am-5:30pm Closed Mondays

Follow them: — Instagram: @signorelli_london — Twitter: @Signorelli_LDN — Facebook: facebook.com/ SignorelliLondon

7

LE BON ART Text Elodie Hazelwood Photo Cygnus Papilio

Joseph Alexander Goode

Opulent worlds in alternate realities Having procured a dense archive of Victorian imagery, from fauna to bed frames through tree branches and canes, Joseph Alexander Goode’s brilliant imagination and patient attention to detail gifts you the opportunity to enter a world otherwise unknown.

A drum kit is stacked in the

create creatures, objects and

centre of the front room. There

landscapes that will, at one time

is a foosball table, a stack of art

or another, be brought together

supplies, a row of four fridges

to construct wondrous imaginary

and a DIY corner unit on which sit

worlds. He plays God.

a number of desktop computers.

It is colourful and busy and like

“I think it mostly comes from

the front room of a large British

wanting to make something

suburban home turned artist

beautiful.”

commune. Within a moment, the boring, misty grey industrial

Sat around his computer screen,

Through a housing plot walking

estate outside was all but

he shows me some pieces that

east from Clapton Overground

forgotten. I was in a space fit for

he has recently been working

Station before you hit the

happenings.

on. He drags, with his cursor, the butterfly wings he has stuck

River Lea, there is a terrace of numbered warehouse units that

Such subtle incongruous oddities,

about a griffin’s eye. The griffin

from the outside appear jaded

it would seem, are commonplace

proudly stands on the edge of

and ubiquitous. When I meet

in the world Goode inhabits and

a cliff at the bottom of which,

Joseph Alexander Goode, he has

offer, perhaps, a clue toward

a river runs through a valley

just come back from delivering

understanding the inspiration

bursting with fish wearing top

a print in town. He invites me

behind his art. His craft is simple

hats and holding canes. On the

inside the unit he shares with a

but painfully time-consuming.

other side of the bank, there is a

group of other creative types,

That is, through a process of

tree studded with owl’s eyes.

a space almost impossible to

collecting daguerreotype images

imagine from the outside. There

and other Victorian illustrations

Surrey-born Goode had, until

is a square of worn leather

from various, often forgotten,

recently, been working as a

sofas lazing on a carpeted floor

publications, Goode scans,

freelance graphic designer and

and through a dividing wall to

splices and collages together

artist. His work has been used to

the kitchen there are a bunch

a mass of separated elements

promote various music festivals,

of people talking about music.

and then uses digital tools to

on event posters and has since

8

been developed into a brand,

As a practicing artist, though,

criticism.

his creations used to produce

having amassed a large collection

“I’m looking forward to hearing

decorative products: printed

of work, Goode’s interests are

what people say about it. I’ve

textiles, bed sheets and pillows.

focused on entering the art world

never really done anything like

This commercial practice of

as a gallery artist. In December

this before so I am ready for any

his work seems set to continue

last year, his exhibition at the

criticism that comes my way. I

in the New Year as the brand

Gaia Pulses Café in the Cr8

also hope that my style is not just

expands into a more luxurious

Studios, demonstrated that he

in vogue, but I’m pretty confident

high-end dimension and as an

is in the process of departing

that butterfly wings will never

enterprise, the intriguing and

from the decorative into a more

stop being beautiful.”

undoubtedly beautiful work lends

considered artistic mode. I ask

We couldn't agree more.

itself easily to fashion.

him whether he is worried about entering a world so dense with

www.josephalexandergoode.com

9

LE BON RESTO Text Benjamin Harvey Photo Pizzeria Apollo

Pizzeria Apollo

Outstanding pizza spat from a mouth of fire Producing the finest pizza in London is no mean feat. The delightfully simple Italian staple has gone through somewhat of a renaissance in recent years with chains like Franca Manca, Polpo and Pizza East each respectfully packed to the rafters night after night after night.

There is no question about it though Pizzeria Apollo is simply the best.

clearly hand built as with, it turns

of Coca-cola. One orders the

out, all the fittings in Apollo. In

Diavola (tomato, spicy calabrian

the back of the restaurant, there

sausage, chili, mozzarella), the

is a mammoth, fiery-mouthed

other the Radicchio (radicchio,

pizza oven.

blue cheese and walnuts). Oli leads me to the back of the

“We had it brought over as a

small, intimate restaurant and

whole from Naples in Italy,” Oli

shows me the setup. He opens a

tells me.

wooden tray of pizza dough balls,

“It was transported over on a

supple mounds of sourdough

big shipping container because

resting in impeccably straight

it weighs something like three

lines.

tons. When it arrived it was

“It is all in the dough,” he tells

still pretty early in the morning

me. “This batch, we made up” –

The white lines of rapidly dashed

but we couldn’t push it up the

he looks up, shuts his eyes and

brush strokes, which slot

pavement. We spent all day

counts on his fingers – “thirty-

together to form the name on the

with it in the street pushing it a

two hours ago. It rests like this

signage of Pizzeria Apollo gives

meter an hour. We had to remove

at room temperature during the

the restaurant an immediate

the shop front to get it inside

day.”

modesty. When I enter I am met

and we had to deal with traffic

This slow process, he goes on

with a handshake offered from

police hassling us all day because

to explain, allows the dough to

the owner Oli. I am invited to sit

one side of the road had to be

settle. Rather than speeding up

down on one of the reclaimed

blocked off for that thing.”

the process, which makes the dough elastic and filling to eat,

benches that make up the restaurant's seating area. The bar

Two local ladies are sat down to

the mound is easily fashioned

lines one side of the space and is

lunch, drinking from glass bottles

into a base and the fresh

10

ingredients added on top. He

London and set up their own

design, Pizzeria Apollo is the

feeds the raw pizzas into the

enterprise with a view to

real deal: a pizzeria offering the

month of the oven burning at

keeping things simple. With an

best pizza in London, not an

500ºc and within 90 seconds

unpretentious menu of superior

experience... that follows the

they are perfectly cooked, lightly

pizzas and effortlessly modest

first bite.

charred at the edges, the cheese

cocktails, the restaurant oozes

bubbling in the fresh heat.

with authenticity. It is not a packaged version of something

Pizzeria Apollo opened in the

foreign, reimagined and retrofit

summer of 2015. Oli and his

into the London restaurant

brother had both done the

scene, rather with an unassuming

rounds working in some of

eye for quality and a distinctly

the busiest restaurants across

hands-on approach toward

160 Stoke Newington High St London, N16 7JL Phone 02072411914 Mon –Thurs: 6-11pm Fri – Sat: noon-11pm Sun: noon-10pm 11

LE BON CREATIVE CAFÉ

The Common E2 A space for creative

© Seb Kelly

thinking

With a mind to design and create whilst offering simple, artisan products, The Common E2 is like a generous opening line to damn good conversation.

The location of The Common

his own words, ‘building projects

E2 perhaps helps to define

and ideas with people at its

the enterprise itself, which is

heart’.

not simply a café but a shared architectural workspace set up

There is fluidity between the

by the architect Mark Sciberras

café’s select offering of rich

nearly a year ago.The building – a

pastries, various juices and

The Common E2 café bulges

large late Victorian block made

coffee, the labour to provide

with the smell of freshly ground

of smoky dark bricks just off

wonderful culinary products,

coffee. Architectural blueprints

the Old Bethnal Green Road –

as well as engage and make

adorn the walls. There is a long

is also home to various other

unsteady the division between

table in the centre of the space

creative initiatives including The

a ‘public’ space and a ‘private’

where the many guests, elbow

Supplement Gallery and the

creative practice. The Common

to elbow, clack at laptops. It is

graphic design studio A Practice

E2 forebodes perhaps, the future

quiet, but for the sound of light

for Everyday Life. The Common

of the workspace, a beautiful

music coming from the speakers

E2, on the street level, is an

café inside a flowing, creative

and conversation.

office space shared between

engine.

Collective Works, a design studio From the moment you enter the

that operates off centre from

café there is a sense that this

traditional models of practice

is a working space, an office

as an evolving collaborator, and

for the nomadic freelancer, a

Common Ground, Mark’s own

workspace for the administration

design and architectural practice

of everyday life.

which works toward, to borrow

12

— Text Benjamin Harvey

53 Old Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 6QA thecommone2.com

LE BON ESTATE

Davey Stone The East London estate agency with their fingers on the pulse With shop front offices dotted around east London, offering spaces in some of the most desirable locations around the area, Davey Stone is an Estate Agency that puts people first.

Over the past decade, London’s

frustrating thing people face

approach is honest and simple,

swelling housing crisis has

when looking for a place to

that east London is not simply

become the focus for countless

rent in the city, though, is that

about the area itself but the

political and architectural

in order to move into most

people who inhabit it. By bridging

discussions, the onset of which

properties you are required to

the gap between buyers, sellers,

is arguably due to a shifting

pay a deposit so pricey you end

landlords and tenants, they

consciousness surrounding how

up considering whether or not to

cultivate a sense of community

our society measures the value of

donate your organs.

for people either currently living

a property. Where once a home

Amidst the wicked confusion

in, or hoping to move to the area,

was considered just that, a place

though there does sparkle a

relieving the stress of finding or

to live, today they are seen as an

glistening hope in the form of

selling a place.

investment.

human-centric estate agency

— Text Benjamin Harvey

Davey Stone. The partners Simon

— Photo Arielle Tapper

Last month I moved north of the river into east London after

Stone and Lewis McKale who

half a decade down in Peckham.

have over 30 years of experience

As a result, I have fresh wounds

combined, established the

when it comes to discussing the

agency based in and around

physical and emotional hardship

Shoreditch, a couple of years

of finding a new place to live.

ago. Their love and knowledge of

‘Affordable’ spaces, it seems,

the area does not simply end at

are either pathetically small in

the properties themselves, rather

size or more than an hour away

they develop close relationships

from anywhere worth spending

with their clients. Through

your time. The most immediately

rigorous consultation, their

Broadway Market braodwaymarket@ daveystone.com Shoreditch shoreditch@daveystone.com www.daveystone.com (Check Bon addresses p. 40 for full contact) 13

LE BON CREATIVE Text Benjamin Harvey Photo DR

Resolutions Buzzfeed, dining out, sitting

electronic banking, Come Dine

‘the committee of reptilian

on problems, snacking, siestas,

With Me, illegally downloading

overlords monitoring and

Miley Cryus, soda, sandwiches,

music, the cinema, speeding,

controlling your every move and

jackets, coats, caps, capes,

shouting, scowling, trolling,

every thought and every feeling’,

crêpes, crying, coffee, looking for

self-scan, almond milk, 2 for

thinking about the good old

love, looking for jobs, Facebook,

1, short sleeve shirts, piles of

days, Fellini films, custard filled

smoking, red meats, drinking,

dirty laundry, weekends away,

sugar coated doughnuts, woollen

venting, online shopping, e

arguments, Serial podcast,

mittens, pizza crusts, tea stains,

venting, ice cream, driving,

Muzak, running red lights, top

spring time, blossoming trees,

frowning, reading amazon

10 things to do in London this

urban foxes, gym shorts, piano

reviews, day-dreaming, fried

weekend, thinking inside the

lessons, androgynous hair cuts,

chicken, MDMA, judging others

box, acting nonchalant when

unapologetic late night drunken

upon their appearance, dairy

really you are either completely

conversations about work, falling

products, Tinder, wearing a

and resolutely enthused by or

in love twice a day on the tube to

watch, biros, house music,

feel a deep sense of unease

and from work, taking extended

Birthdays, football, porn, poker,

about the vista or tonality of

toilet breaks at work to text

beer, ignoring the homeless,

what others are saying to you,

your friend about the way the

thinking outside of the box,

Domino’s pizza, waiting in line,

fat guy with eczema sat on the

taking long walks along the canal,

jewellery, Brita filtered water,

desk opposite you smells today,

emjoi aubergine, Prosecco,

private views, Nespresso, fail

dreaming of summer, the hot

bananas, Daft Punk, women,

video compilations, EDM, ATM,

weather, peeling back items of

men, pancakes, credit-debt,

PMT, CV, BRB, NP, RT, cold feet,

clothes, laying in bed with the

gallery openings, giving 110%,

tapas, toga parties, Soho, Fantasy

windows open, listening to Etta

Instagram, saying ‘um’, saying

football, glazed doughnuts,

James and Billie Holiday and Otis

‘whatever’, waffles, ethanol

cancelling plans, believing

Redding and Bill Evans, letting

or denatured alcohol or ethyl

anything Donald Trump says,

the cool air wash over you as you

alcohol or methanol based

4/20, lazy grammatical mistakes,

drift off to sleep, dreaming of

cosmetic products, Netflix,

sombre premonitions, setting

anything, the sea, the patterns

tea-lights, international best-

improbable life time ambitions,

made by the mute flight of

selling Anglo-American literature,

Oscar award acceptance

birds in the early evening, the

foosball, pubs, fights, nights out,

speeches in the shower, karaoke,

purple and orange sky, flying

vaping, Tfl, emails, forgetting to

seldom texting back, thinking

somewhere, anywhere, to a place

call home, cups of tea, reddit,

about ‘the one’, thinking about

some people call ‘home’...

14

15

LE BON NANNY

Oui Maman

French-speaking nannies to allay childcare worries

When it comes to childcare, it would be naïve to suggest that the practice comes without stress.

I’ve watched Mrs Doubtfire approximately 184 times. I’ve laughed and I’ve cried, but I’ve also wondered what I’d do if I were to find myself in a situation where I needed a helping hand

nanny agency offering a range

is all about: Providing you with

to take care of my children?

of premier services, providing

experienced and kind nannies

Many parents raising little ones

French-speaking nannying aids

who will help your child grow and

can lose themselves amidst the

for working parents.

speak perfect French and English in a comfortable environment.

chaos of everyday life. The City is stressful, and so is being a

In a move to develop French-

It is an agency with both a heart

parent.

centric nannying, they offer

and a brain and definitely helps

live-out and live-in services

you take the pain away from

Parisian-born Estelle, a mother

(whether it be full-time or part-

finding the perfect nanny.

of two who initially found it

time / after-school) as well as

hard to balance parenthood

baby-sitting services, striving to

with her professional life in the

find the best fit for both nannies

city, struggled to find a French-

and families.

speaking nanny to help her raise her children. In one of those

Branded as France’s sixth biggest

filmic *snap* moments, Estelle

city (debatable, I believe),

decided to take matters into her

London nevertheless counts up

own hands... Oui Maman was

thousands of Francophiles. More

born.

and more parents want their children to be exposed to both

London-based Oui Maman is

English and French from an early

a bespoke French-speaking

age, and this is what Oui Maman

16

Phone: 020 7313 6582 contact@ouimaman.co.uk www.ouimaman.co.uk Lighterman House, 26-36 Wharfdale Rd, London N1 9RY

BOTTEGA PRELIBATO

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

Free glass of house wine*

CMY

K

Authentic Italian Food Phone: 020 7739 4995 info@bottegaprelibato.com 45 Rivington St. – London | EC2A 3QB www.bottegaprelibato.com *with any main course ordered

APPESTAT

Enjoy a FREE coffee or tea with your BRUNCH

OUI MAMAN

Subscribe to a 13-week baby-sitting membership (including 8 bookings)

Get 1 EXTRA BOOKING FREE*

Coffee – Delicatessen – Gallery

The best French-speaking nannies in London

Phone: 020 7226 5457

Phone: 020 7313 6582 - contact@ouimaman.co.uk

102 Islington High Street London | N1 8EG

www.ouimaman.co.uk

*baby-sitting membership does not include baby-sitter’s remuneration

AIDA

SIGNORELLI

We are on sale!

Use this voucher and get an EXTRA 10% OFF

Special prosecco brunch

FREE Signorelli bread to take home!*

Bakery - Pasticceria - Catering Menswear. Womenswear. Homeware. Café

Phone: 020 8534 4972

Phone: 020 7739 2811

ciao@signorelli.co.uk

133 Shoreditch High St - London | E1 6JE

7 Victory Parade, East village – London | E20 1FS

www.aidashoreditch.co.uk

OTHER CAFE GALLERY

www.signorelli.co.uk

* for any brunch ordered during the week days

CHOI’S

20% off the food menu Including full english breakfast

FREE Lesson*

Workshops – Bespoke Jewellery Vintage design & Sophisticated food

Phone: 077 2052 5199 – @ChoiCHois

Phone: 077 8726 9499

226 Bethnal Green Road – London | E2 0AA

otherinvoices@gmail.com

*Prebook needed – Class available on Weds &

48 Balls Pond Rd – London | N1 4AP

Thurs every week from Jan – Limited to 1/pers.

FRANCESCO PICARDI

Special New Year 20% OFF*

HAUNT

Free glass of Prosecco* Hairdressing Salon Phone: 020 7033 9319

Eat, sip, dance off the beaten track

bookings@francescopicardi.com

Phone: 020 7249 1203

43 Pitfield Street – London | N1 6DA

182 Stoke Newington Rd – London | N16 7UY

www.francescopicardi.com

*with any sharing platter or main course ordered

*Any salon services including Gents & Ladies haircut, also hair colouring services.

LUREM

QUARANTACINQUE

1 Free organic chocolate*

Sandwich & Coffee ONLY 5£!

Happy Sweet Year

London style – Japanese twist

Serious Italian Coffee

Phone: 020 8127 8338

Phone: 020 89816765

138 Bethnal Green Road – London | E2 6DG

45 Romand Road – London | E2 0HU

* for any purchase at LUREM shop

www.quarantacinque.co.uk

within limited availability

FB: /cafequarantacinque - @cafequaranta5

STRONGROOM BAR & KITCHEN

THE MERCANTILE

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RESIDENCE

2 for 1 on house wine*

Coffee - Wine - Design Phone: 020 3538 7887 130 Upper Clapton Rd - London | E5 9JY claptonresidence.com *just step in with your voucher

LE BON WALL

95 years ago Harold Searles Thornton invented table football. To him we owe our

Carla, thanks for Charlie, your laughter,

first and only serious argument to date. I hope one of your New Years resolutions was to

of all, your great

your liver, your joke, your back, but most work.

develop decent sportsmanship.

Here’s hoping Reb – Ben

Sister, could you once and for all give me back my favourite smart shirt? I’M WORKING NOW

My sweet Mongolian flower, I’ll miss you like the sun

Neeksy, we love you!

2016, year of the baise, year of the pèze

Duxidor I love you even more when I see you around my door

best Christmas gift ever. Love

Well hello sun, glad you’re coming back.

Agathe, This one is for you, no specific reason. Merry Christmas my lovely friend

My dear Guillaume, please harass someone else when you’re drunk. Would be the

Força Botafogoooo !

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the Le Bonbon team. And a warm welcome to Alix the newbie, I'll miss you guys!!! - Carla Banana

25

LE BON ETOILE Text Elodie Hazelwood Photos Liam Cushing

Catching up with Fritz Helder “I write songs that way, seeing the visual end of it.

I see how a song may be performed and what it looks like and then I work my way backwards, deconstructing it into all of its parts. I usually start with a finished image in my head.”

III as a kind of currency, having

dance music audience, but also

‘hits’ to play for fans, but doing

people that will have discovered

it alone motivates me so much.

it and have said ‘I like this, it

I can depart from that kind of

makes me feel good’. The one

music and explore something

thing I’m really confident about

completely different.”

with this work is my ability as a performer. I just want that

The new music is certainly a

opportunity to perform and

departure from the cool, sleek

anyone that has any questions

dance tracks of Helder’s past.

about what this project is,

Fritz Helder and I met in the

Where beats were perhaps once

once they see it, they'll almost

packed Appestat café on

used to invite an audience to

immediately get it.”

Camden Passage in Angel.

reimagine a relative musical past,

Throughout the two days leading

this novel independent attitude

Helder entered the music scene

up to the interview, I had been

arrests the listener from the very

having studied contemporary

listening to Force Of Nature, the

beginning; Force of Nature is like

dance and performance art.

debut EP from Helder’s first solo

the result of a drunken late night

After a stint arresting audiences

venture. Since moving to London

three-way between Grace Jones,

with spontaneous art-dance

from Toronto two years ago, the

Wiley and Sadé - aesthetic,

shows with Fritz Helder & the

former member of Azari & III has

dangerous and smooth. In this

Phantoms (wearing next to

been in the process of finding

way, I wonder if he is concerned

nothing whilst beating at paper

his own sound in the wake of the

about how the new material will

guitars during various Fashion

band's sudden split in 2013. “It

be interpreted,

weeks), the time he has spent reigning in the fantastic, yet

is nice,” he tells me, “that I can use having come from Azari &

26

“Azari & III did have that purist

perhaps overly ambitious styling’s

amidst a departure from Azari

we show up and play, but luckily

tangible, it’s so subjective. So I

& III, with Force of Nature there

there are enough interesting

need to balance what I consider

emerges an artist in every sense

places that are way more open to

the purpose of my music against

of the word. He is softly spoken,

new ideas. They have to become

how it can sit in the world.”

generous and effortlessly

more creative to get an audience

fashionable to meet, but jagged

so I think if my team and I can

The single, Force of Nature is due

and dark, shifting into something

figure out ways of supplementing

to be released on January 8th

else when you listen to ‘Like a

interesting things with others. I

and the EP will follow on April

Jaguar’ the second track on the

do think that music should be a

8th. In the meantime, Helder is

EP, for instance, Helder becomes

soundtrack to a life, especially

set to play a number of intimate

this chic predator, sizing up its

now when it’s essentially free.

sets across the city so watch this

prey.

It is just what you wrap it with,

space.

that is the future of the digital “I’m not sure how this project will

age, people hold onto the music

work in the traditional way where

as the tangible thing, but it isn’t

Have a look at his website : fritzpop.tv 27

LE BON HAIRDRESSER

Francesco Picardi Bespoke expert hair styling in the heart of Shoreditch

It would be difficult, perhaps, to describe what you could expect to get from having your hair styled at Francesco Picardi, because it depends almost entirely on you, on how you feel.

by Italian-born Francesco

a personal relationship with

Picardi who established the

their model, they are able to do

salon in the early noughties.

anything and everything.

Over a delectable cappuccino, I spend an hour or so talking to

Through using a diverse,

him. He describes how there is

handpicked selection of natural

not a book of template styles,

and luxurious products in the

colourings, cuts and shapes to

salon, their approach to hair

Situated on Pitfield Street in

which his team of artists must

styling is a kind of personable

the centre of Shoreditch, the

adhere. Rather, Picardi’s name

artistic mode. Whether it

salon has an airy and natural feel

is offered simply as one for the

be the creation of supine

to it. Thick slabs of dark grain

salon, the ‘brand’, and each

architectural shapes for fashion

wood line the light, ashen walls

artist has their own individual and

shoots or more subtle forms

as a soundtrack of calm music

distinct style amidst a wealth of

for the everyday, it is through

plays lightly in the background.

expert skills and experience. It is

creative thought and intimate

Separate from the bright white

through conversation, a personal

conversation that makes having

tiled setting one would perhaps

consultancy between the client

your hair styled at Francesco

more commonly associate with

and the artist, that supports

Picardi a distinct experience,

being in a hair salon, the space

the production of impeccably

which we here at Le Bonbon

has a natural, serene and relaxed

tailored styles. That is, instead

believe really is a beautiful thing.

feel to it.

of a client being moved from

— Text Elodie Hazelwood

one team member to another

— Photo Neus Serena Rius

The environment though is not

- one for shampooing and head

the only thing that distinguishes

massaging, another to cut,

the philosophy of the salon that

another to blow-dry etc. – each

has been carefully developed

stylist at Picardi strives to build

28

43 Pitfield St, London N1 6DA Bookings: 020 7033 9319

LE BON PARTY Photos David Phos

The weather was dry and cool. It was dark. It was late at night. A flash of bloodred lip shapes flew at you.

The multi-coloured light bulbs shone. The drinks were sweet. It was a gathering of people so beautiful you fell in love every second. The music beat, Beat, BEAT. Weaving in and out of conversation, dipping, dodging like a boxer.

It was a party. It was a Le Bonbon party...

29

LE BON CHARITY Text Sonny Syah

Spitalfields Crypt Trust

Looking back on 50 inspirational years of providing hope As we head optimistically into 2016, we take a moment to reflect on 50 inspirational years that the Spitalfields Crypt Trust has been reinvigorating the hopes of those down on their luck throughout East London.

then many of these people have

housing, personal development

overcome their addiction, have

and training, work-experience,

been reunited with their family

drop-in services and the ongoing

and friends, are now employed or

assistance to prevent relapse.

have their own business. In fact,

It seems a primary objective

the penultimate ideology and

of the SCT to continue their

goal, according to its organisers,

support for individuals who

is to assess each individual

have reclaimed their lives and

condition with a long term scope.

become valuable citizens to the

Indeed, the Spitalfields Crypt

“We are in it for the long haul.

wider community. In the coming

Trust (SCT) has come a long

Recovery takes time involving

months, for example, they plan to

way from its humble beginnings

healing, change and maturity

raise £50,000 to not only to keep

in 1966, when one of the first

in the inner person” says CEO

people in recovery, in homes or

residential rehabs for alcoholic

Graham Marshall.

in work, but they hope to raise

men in the UK was set up

Over the decades, the SCT has

the necessary finds to further

at the Christ Church in East

had to constantly evolve in order

progress the work they have put

London. Within this period the

to facilitate those confronted

into providing jobs, training or

humanitarian trust has no doubt

with the hardships that may

education to individuals.

seen countless individuals with

obstruct their path to a positive

The more recent months

substance and alcohol addiction

future. These services include

coinciding with their 50-year

walk through its doors. Since

residential recovery, supported

milestone has seen some of

30

the SCT’s biggest charitable

hand to those trying to find their

that it has grown and evolved

achievements take place across

feet again.

to the needs and wants of

East London. Events such as the

March 2016 will see the SCT

an ever-changing city. Their

‘The Bard’s Yard Garden Party’,

Photography Exhibition take

residential institutions, charity

the SCT Choir ‘flashmob’ at

place; capturing a collection

shops, numerous events and

Spitalfields Market, a fundraising

of images and people’s stories

services have provided the

walk through seven of their East

in their recovery community in

bricks to complete a pathway

London charity shops headed

Shoreditch, alongside pictures of

for rehabilitation and recovery

by Barbara Windsor, an SCT-

local personalities and celebrities

in East London. Who knows

sponsored sleep-in at the Crypt,

whose lives have been touched

where the next 50 years will take

a Thanksgiving service and a

by addiction.

them... and how many lives they

special drop-in for the homeless,

It’s no secret that much of the

will touch.

have each galvanized the local

SCT’s success and longevity

community and lent a helping

can be attributed to the fact

www.st.org.uk 31

LADY BONBON Text Lexi Rose Photo DR

Street Life Dear Diary,

to me. He was gesturing with

way. I felt utterly helpless,

his hands for me to take the

trapped by a man with a leaflet

Today I thought about walking

headphones from my ears and

and no one was going to rescue

down the street in London. I

mouthing words. Eventually, I

me.

thought about how some people

had to stop to find out what he

“You’re funny.” he said,

skip from the pavement to

wanted. I stopped and turned to

“Oh, can I please go now?”

overtake the others that idyll by.

face him taking the buds from

“Open the leaflet then you can

I thought about how you never

my ears. He took my hands. He

go.” He replied.

know what might hold you up.

pushed a leaflet into them.

I opened the leaflet. It was

From a person trying to raise

“Alright babe.”

covered in photos of girls posing

money for food to a modeling

“I’m sorry but I’m already late,

with before and after photos.

scout wanting your time, your

thank you but I’m very busy/”

“I work at a salon just around the

hair or your face. There is always

“/no you’re not” he replied. “Why

corner from here. All sorts of

someone with something trying

don’t you smile?”

celebrities stay there and I want

somehow to talk to you, to eat

“Smile?” I both laughed and

to make you smile. I want to offer

away at your precious time.

frowned, “did you just tell me to

you the chance to be treated to

As a Londoner though, I feel

smile?”

a makeover and photo shoot at

like I have an expert ability to

“I bet you look gorgeous when

half price."

dodge people on the street. But

you smile. Go on. Give me your

“Makeovers are not my thing,” I

occasionally there’ll be those

best smile.” He grinned.

took a step forward. He stepped

extreme-flyer-carrying-pests

“Don’t tell me what to do, I don’t

across me.

who manage to corner me, an

smile unless I want to. I don’t

“But, it’s good to try new things,”

advance-level-leaflet-dodger.

want to smile for you.”

he urged, trying to hand me back

I clocked him whilst I was walking

He ignored me and gestured to

the leaflet. “You should always try

down Commercial Road. He

the leaflet in my hands.

new things. Like anal sex… have

was looking at me. Immediately,

“Open the leaflet,”

you ever tried anal sex?”

knowing I was under threat, I

“Stop telling me what to do!”

And with that I totally fucking

assumed the position. My eyes

A light breeze stole a strand from

lost my cool. I shoved him hard

darted to the floor; I slammed

my hair and fell over my face. He

across the pavement. He went

my headphones over my ears and

took his finger and brushed it

flying into a group of people, the

shoved my hands in pockets as

from my face.

leaflets scattered everywhere.

my feet quickened their pace.

“DON’T TOUCH ME.”

Sometimes I think about bike

As he sped up and began to walk

Some shoppers turned their

rides.

by my side, he started to talk

heads but continued on their

Yours, Lady Bonbon x

32

33

LE BON MYSTIC

Aries

Cancer

George Perec

James Frey

Having burst into the New Year with decadent

There was a moment, late in the dying embers of

panache, the rest of 2016 may seem like an

a winter’s night, during a lazy heart-to-heart you

expansive void to you. After promised yourself

shared with an old friend. It was a moment in which

that this year you will do anything and everything

a brilliant idea that was quickly over looked at the

to create a structured routine, for the first time

time but has since been stuck with you, frequenting

since your school days, the gaping whole left by

your daydreams. The birth of a new year is the

hedonistic festive celebrations will see you turn

perfect pretext for you to explore this brilliant idea.

your back on those resolutions. Be strong, force yourself into a routine and soon the void will swallow itself whole.

Taurus

Leo Marcel Proust After rooting around your childhood home over Christmas, you will discover something, say - a

Ali Smith

bunch of old CD’s - that you barely gave time to in

Work will get to you this month. It’s a sad thing.

your youth. In doing so you did not simply discover

Those mundane busy-body emails clogging your

something physical from your past, but a part of you

inbox, the curt and unnecessary outbursts by

that has always been there but has never been fully

colleges offered to you as soon as you sit down at

studied or established. The dawn of the New Year

your desk on Monday morning, the mendacity of

will see you rediscover yourself, which will in term

‘important’ staff meetings will leave you looking out

help you negotiate novel circumstance, moulding it

the window at the mute flight of pigeons with all

to suit best who you really are.

their freedom and seeming happiness.

Gemini

Virgo Helen Fielding

Joan Didion

You are starting something new this month, a

2015 was a good year for you. You worked hard and

‘thing’ that you worked hard toward attaining in the

played even harder, you experienced new things and

backend of last year – a new job, a new relationship,

saw a great many wonders; most of all you found

a new hobby... As a distinctly unique character, you

something (or perhaps someone) that has since

have always danced to the beat of your own drum

empowered you to discover just how beautiful you

and as such, you keep your cards pretty close to

are. January is an important month for you because,

your chest. This is a very attractive quality – playing

as you enter the New Year, you will be faced with

a good game without talking one. In fact, it is so

big decisions that will serve to either strengthen of

attractive that your allure will soon become a kind

destroy the positive upstrokes you experienced in

of weapon that you can use to manipulate those

life last year.

around you.

34

JANUARY 2016

Libra

Capricorn

Anaïs Nin

Lauren Weisberger

The year starts with romantic mixed messages and

Working with another person, especially in a

let’s faces it you are gorgeous so it’s your game to

creative context, will be very rewarding for you this

play. The January retrograde will slow things down

month. You will almost be able to read their mind.

and may moderate how comfortable you feel about

If you are ready to make a big change in your life,

doing the outrageous. Your tastes in dates may

this person could be the one to help you make it,

surprise you and your friends will no doubt frown

although they might not realise it. You are more

and laugh at you. Window shop rather than say yes

connected to other people than you realize (even

to every possibility, give some of yourself away but

people you don't like). Make an effort to reach out

never it all. The month is all about thinking, feeling

to someone you never quite hit if off with before.

and talking and a number of dreamy prospects

Aquarius

flourish late on in the month. Be patient though, they may not stir your blood in the end.

Scorpio

Truman Capote Have you have been living beyond your means lately, charging up a storm, opting for the upgrade

Sylvia Plath

and just buying without thinking. Sooner or later,

Certain members of your family were sad when you

indiscriminate spending will catch up to you. Rein it

left home after Christmas. Their sadness was not

in this month and don't overspend - put the brakes

due solely to your departure but a concern for your

on luxury living until you have paid for everything

happiness. They felt you were notably down and

you purchased in the past. Debt will only hold you

that nothing they could do could pick you up. Smile,

back and so think, do you really need those things?

it’s free and it might never happen. Your negative

Pisces

outlook on life is starting to have an effect on the people around you.

Sagittarius

C.S Lewis This month, you will want to help lots of people, but in order to do that you have to be efficient

Tao Lin

and fast. Leave out irrelevant topics when you're

In the process of trying to do everything at once

talking to people-you will need to have focused

this month you make silly mistakes. Incomplete

communication if you want to get anything

emails are sent to your boss, you wear odd socks;

accomplished. It's wonderful that you are in such

you use old strands of dental floss and light the

a giving mood right now, because that friend who

filtered end of cigarettes. Though these small errors

always needs your help needs your help in a very

are independently understandable, when compiled

big way. But this time there will be something in it

they reflect badly on your capabilities. Everything

for you and you will reap the benefit of your selfless

you need to do can be realised with time. Slow and

ways.

steady always wins the race.

35

LE BON SNAPSHOT

36

BEST WISHES FOR 2016

Photos Alejandra Carles Tolra

37

LE BON AGENDA

Little Simz Once again, stellar selector and BBC 6 Music stalwart Gilles Peterson will be hosting a special night celebrating the music made by some of the world's greatest artists, in addition to newcomers from across the globe. As usual, the night will feature an array of performances from musicians that have caught Peterson's eye over the last year. With Little Simz, Henry Wu presents Yussef Kamaal and Josey Rebelle on the bill, plus with jazz inuencers Kamasi Washington, Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchesta, Leron Thomas and Deft joining them and more, this night is a must.

Lttle Simz is playing on the 16th of January at KOKO

Dilly Dally Stealing the attention of everyone with a pair of ears and a taste for straight to the gut, sucker punching indie rock, Dilly Dally are the band you need in your life. With a throat scratching delivery and a talent for riffs that would make J Mascis jealous, the Toronto quartet caused Pitchfork to compare lead singer Katie Monks to Kurt Cobain on new single Purple Rage, a rush of aggressive guitars that brims with the kind of teen angst you never grow out of. After releasing their debut album Sore this October, make sure you're at The Lexington when they bring the walls down.

Dilly Dally is playing on the 28th of January at The Lexington

38

LE BON AGENDA

SG Lewis SG Lewis is a super star in the making. Releasing his debut EP Shivers through the ever-on-point tastemakers PMR, the electro-pop craftsman creates soothing sounds that will wrap around your ears like a sonic electric blanket. Having already received support from the likes of Zane Lowe and Annie Mac, and with a number of high profile remixes under his belt, the Reading-born producer looks set to be one of the breakout stars of 2016. Catch him before he's selling out stadiums.

SG Lewis is playing on the 4th of February at Oslo

Frances With immediate support from Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1 and with Clash calling track Grow ‘Simply gorgeous’, Frances is certainly a new talent to pay heed to. Demonstrating honest, devastating lyrics and instrumentation that expands to breaking, the young singer songwriter displays a maturity beyond her young years. Releasing her second EP Let It Out in October, Frances is one in a million.

Frances is playing on the 18th of February at Union Chapel

39

LE BON ADDRESSES

16 — STRONGROOM BAR &

1 — AIDA

8 — HAUNT

133 Shoreditch High Street

182 Stoke Newington Road

KITCHEN

London | E1 6JE

London | N16 7UY

120-124 Curtain Road

Phone: 020 7739 2811

Phone: 020 7249 1203

London | EC2A 3SQ Phone: 020 7426 5103

2 — APPESTAT

9 — LUREM

102 Islington High Street

138 Bethnal Green Rd

17 — THE COMMON E2

London | N1 8EG

London | E2 6DG

53 Old Bethnal Green Road

Phone: 020 7226 5457

Phone: 020 8127 8338

London | E2 6QA Phone: 077 6525 7123

3 — BOTTEGA PRELIBATO

10 — MERO RETRO

45 Rivington Street

2 Bradbury Street

18 — THE MERCANTILE LONDON

London | EC2A 3QB

London | N16 8JN

17, Spitalfields Arts Market,

Phone: 020 7739 4995

Phone: 020 7686 6807

Lamb Street London | E1 6EA

4 — CHOI’S

11 — OTHER CAFE GALLERY

226 Bethnal Green Road

48 Balls Pond Road

London | E2 0AA

London | N1 4AP

Phone: 077 2052 5199

Phone: 077 8726 9499

Phone: 020 7377 8926 19 — THE RESTORATION 2 Bouverie Road London | N16 0AJ

5 — DAVEY STONE - SHOREDITCH

12 — PIZZERIA APOLLO

60 Charlotte Road

160 Stoke Newington High Street

Phone: 079 9057 3889

London | EC2A 3QT

London | N16 7JL

20 — 40 COLORI

020 7729 2476

Phone: 020 7241 1914

32 Cheshire Street

13 — QUARANTACINQUE

Phone: 020 7059 9778

London | E2 6EH

020 7729 6103 6 — DAVEY STONE – BROADWAY

45 Roman Road

MARKET

London | E2 0HU

—

10 Broadway Market London | E8 4QJ

14 — RESIDENCE

DICE

020 7275 7505

130 Upper Clapton Road

https://www.dice.fm/

London | E5 9JY

Phone: 015 6738 0000

7 — FRANCESCO PICARDI

Phone: 020 3538 7887 OUI MAMAN

43 Pitfields Street London | N1 6DA Phone: 020 7033 9319

15 — SIGNORELLI 7 Victory Parade

Phone: 020 7313 6582

London | E20 1FS

http://ouimaman.co.uk

Phone: 020 8534 4972

40

London | N1 9RY