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YM Liverpool January 2024

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EE www.ymliverpool.com JANUARY 2024

Rick Stein

Top TV chef & restaurateur speaks ahead of Liverpool show

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Creating a sleep sanctuary Kate Humble interview Jon Atkinson on wine Growing winter herbs


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January

ISSUE #521

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Happy New Year, and welcome to YM Liverpool’s first issue of 2024.

Kicking things off this month is our in-depth chat with one of Britain’s best-loved TV chefs as he prepares to head out on a nationwide theatre tour this spring. Rick Stein arrives at The Auditorium Liverpool on 16 March to dish up his favourite memories from nearly 50 years of gastronomic experience. The Cornish culinary legend talks about how he first “fell into cooking” and recalls some of his Padstow restaurant’s most famous diners. Sticking with well-known BBC presenters, we recently caught up with Kate Humble ahead of her appearance at Heswall’s Linghams Booksellers to discuss her latest book, ‘Where the Hearth Is: Stories of Home’. Elsewhere, we have positive updates on two major city centre apartment schemes and John Lewis presents its simple guide to creating a sleep sanctuary in your own home. Meanwhile, our gardening guru Heather Marsh encourages us to grow some delicious winter herbs and Annie S shares the key pieces you need in your wardrobe to pull off the varsity chic look. Plus on the food and drink front, Will Carr gives his verdict on the recently launched La Musa Neapolitan Pizzeria and WineTime Liverpool’s Jon Atkinson invites you to explore some unfamiliar options with his latest selections. Enjoy!

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LAWRENCE SAUNDERS Editor

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Creating a sleep sanctuary Development Kate Humble interview in Focus YM Liverpool Property on wine Jon Atkinson & Business Awards herbs Growing winter Festive wine guide Mamasan review

Top TV chef & restaurateur speaks ahead of Liverpool show

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King of Kernow The

We sat down with multi-award-winning chef, restaurateur, writer and presenter Rick Stein as he prepares to head out on a nationwide tour this spring. An Evening with Rick Stein arrives in Liverpool on 16 March and will see the Cornish culinary legend dish-up his favourite memories from nearly 50 years of gastronomic experience

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ooking has only ever been part of the story for Rick Stein, so with a mouthful of bones. He complained that I should learn how to while a UK tour is a new challenge, it is something that makes fillet a fish before I started cooking one. It was a fair point!” him very excited. Since then, that little restaurant has become the internationally “When I first met my wife and she watched me on television, she renowned The Seafood Restaurant (albeit in a different venue, nearby) told me ‘When you do the cooking I fast forward – it’s the bits in and Rick, aged 76, has become a household name and one of the between that I am most interested in’,” he says. best loved faces in British food. With over 25 cookery books, 30 TV “I seem to have an ability to communicate well with people. I know programmes – including 12 cookery series – 10 restaurants and several some performers who say the best thing about being on stage is that hotels, he says he could never have envisaged his story would have led feeling of connection with an audience and that is what I am most to this point. looking forward to.” “One of the things that is great about owning a restaurant is getting The tour, An Evening with Rick Stein, sees Rick visiting 14 cities to really know people and we have had The Seafood Restaurant for around the country, kicking off in Buxton on 15 March before visiting nearly 50 years now so I have known whole families, through the Liverpool the following night and ending in Torquay on 30 March. generations and that is amazing,” he says. “For me it is a new, fun challenge and a bit like going on the road “I have also had so many famous customers like David Bowie who with a rock band,” he says. came a couple of times and Kate Winslet who was just lovely when she “It’s that thing of ‘Oh, today’s Tuesday, it must came just after she had made Titanic, before she be Liverpool’ but we have just 14 venues and I was really famous. There was also David Cameron am going with my wife, Sass and my friend Tim who was just an ordinary regular and then was It was the ’70s and Etchells who is organising it all, so it’s not really suddenly Prime Minister! Trevor Nunn and his restaurants were new that rock ‘n’ roll! wife Imogen Stubbs used to come in every “I think people will really enjoy the live shows. couple of weeks and I would see them regularly. and customers were People love food and they’re going to hear some I went to see a play called The Score he was great stories about what goes on behind the directing in Bath recently starring Brian Cox quite unsophisticated scenes and about people I have met over the years from Succession and afterwards he said ‘Oh Rick, so I cooked a bit and got it is such an honour that you came’ and I which will make it good fun.” After 50 years in the business, he certainly has thought, no it’s not – the real honour is that you away with a lot more many stories with which to entertain audiences know who I am from coming to the restaurant’.” during the shows – not least the one that started He laughs as he tells a hilarious story about than I would now. it all, when he first went into the restaurant how one incredibly famous film star was turned business, almost by accident. away from the restaurant without him knowing. “I fell into cooking really,” he says. “I wanted to run a really “One of the funniest things – though not that funny at the time – glamorous nightclub in Padstow, Cornwall, for what I suppose you was when Ian McKellen was filming a movie called Swept from the Sea would have called ‘the beautiful people’, back in the ’70s. I don’t know with Rachel Weisz in Port Isaac and the whole crew was booked in for why I thought there would be any of those in a tiny, Cornish, coastal dinner,” he says. village. Instead, our clientele was a load of drunk fishermen, who liked “I was in Italy on holiday at the time so wasn’t around but the fact I had a late licence, and they could still get a beer at 3am. We apparently they were late arriving, as film crews always are. We had a ended up getting closed down. particularly stroppy pastry chef at the time called Tex, who decided it “So, I opened a restaurant in the building, literally just to pay the was outrageous they were so late and told the chef to refuse to cook bills. I could cook a bit – my mum was a good cook and I had worked for them and close the kitchen! Can you imagine turning down Sir Ian in a hotel kitchen in London, so I knew how it worked. I also hired McKellen because he turned up a bit late? I am not sure if he has ever some great chefs I could learn from. The truth is, it was the ’70s forgiven me.” and restaurants were new and customers were quite unsophisticated There are endless stories that he will be telling on the tour, he so I cooked a bit and got away with a lot more than I would now. I explains, and an interviewer with him to make sure he gets through as remember once serving a mackerel dish to a customer who ended up many as possible.

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INTERVIEW

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Simple Suppers, and all she wanted to talk about was Norwich City!” These days Rick does not cook in the restaurants, and is based for around a quarter of the year in Australia, where his wife Sass is from, and splits his UK time between London, where they have a house in Chiswick and a cottage in Cornwall. “I am still very involved with the business,” he says. “I liaise with the chefs, discuss the menus endlessly and do come up with new ideas sometimes – though I try to encourage them to do that. My son, Jack, does a lot of that too, as chef-director of the restaurants. “It is exciting when new things happen and we can put new species on the menu, particularly as people’s knowledge of food is so good now and customers are willing to try new things. The latest arrival is Cornish Blue Fin Tuna which is brilliant as we couldn’t get it for years. Now it is no longer endangered and there are very strict regulations to stop overfishing, so we can have it on the menu in small quantities. “It won’t just be me talking,” he says. “There will be an interviewer “It is imperative we find ways to catch and eat fish without depleting and we will be mixing it up with film clips, some that nobody has seen the stocks. My brother is a neurophysiologist and says omega 3, which before. We will have some fun sketches of the crew and clips of my is found in oily fish, is essential for brain health. So we need to be old Jack Russell, Chalky, and some of the music I am passionate about eating fish for nutrition as well as because it is delicious. We just have to along with poetry. I like quoting poetry that is pertinent to what I am do it in the right way.” talking about. I guess it will be a bit like making a TV show. A food hero of so many, who are the chefs that Rick Stein looks up “The late David Pritchard, my television series to? He says he admires chefs who love good producer for many years, was very skillful and food, who are passionate about ingredients and It is exciting when understood that you had to keep pointing the like to talk excitedly about food – rather than camera in different directions – you couldn’t just the type who ‘like to win awards’. new things happen focus on one thing. Food was the real star but He says: “My kind of chefs are people like the shows were about more than that. He was Rowley Leigh, Simon Hopkinson, Sean Hill, and we can put new the one who noticed that Chalky was sitting on Mark Hix, Henry Harris, the late Alistair Little species on the menu, the sofa, trying to eat the microphone and that and Anthony Bourdain, who I knew quite well.” we should have more of him in there! You need a As for his last meal, he laughs as he answers. particularly as people’s diversion to keep people interested.” “Over the years I have been asked this many Filming the television shows has given him a times and it never changes,’ he says. ‘It would be knowledge of food is huge amount of material for the tour, as he turbot – the best fish in the sea in my opinion so good now. has many amusing anecdotes from years of – with a classic hollandaise sauce and a glass of travelling around the world with what he calls white burgundy.” his ‘filming family’. Asked about his ultimate comfort food, he takes a little longer to He says: “When I did a series called French Odyssey on the Canal consider, before answering with absolute conviction. Midi in France, I lived with the crew on a narrow boat for two months, “It’s crab,” he says. “I think British brown crab is the best anywhere with just one week off in the middle. A director came on to take some in the world and I want it with my homemade mayonnaise. I make candid shots of us not getting on with each other. He made a film it like you get in Brittany, heavy on the mustard, how I remember it called Cabin Fever that had me swearing at the director and shouting from when I used to go on holidays and there were fish restaurants that I was getting fat from all the food. People think I am nice but that everywhere. I make my own sourdough bread at home but is not always the case! when you go to France you realise how good a “I have been filming for 25 years with the same people. Occasionally simple French baguette is and that’s what I want we have tiffs and fall out but it never lasts long. We do keep in touch with my crab. in between filming, mostly to have a joke at the expense of Pete “So that’s it – a crusty baguette spread with Underwood, who is in charge of sound, who is a massive fan of Brittany butter with the salt crystals in it, British Plymouth Argyle. crab, and mustardy mayonnaise. Heaven.” “I am not a huge football fan but funnily enough I met Delia Smith the other day and was talking to her about How to Cheat at Cooking An Evening with Rick Stein comes to The because it was a big inspiration when I was writing my latest book, Auditorium Liverpool on Saturday 16 March

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SAM HARRIS

INTERVIEW


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MUSIC

This month in H

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O R Y

From the opening of a legendary Liverpool venue to the most famous final concert in music history – January has featured a string of significant moments for our Fab Four down the years

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he legendary Cavern Club opened its doors for the first time in January 1957, with the wonderfully named Merseysippi Jazz Band topping the bill and a total of 600 punters inside. The Quarrymen’s first performance at the famous Mathew Street venue with Paul McCartney took place a year later on 24 January 1958. Billed as The Quarry Men Skiffle Group, they supported the aforementioned Merseysippi Jazz Band. Exactly four years after that gig, The Beatles met with Brian Epstein at his NEMS Whitechapel office to sign a management contract. Paul, John, George, and then drummer Pete Best gave Epstein sole responsibility for managing their schedule and publicity. Staying in Liverpool, and after playing in Hamburg and touring Scotland, the band returned home to headline the Grafton Rooms on the evening of 10 January 1963. It was a resounding success, with a record-breaking attendance – one enterprising local stole 100 tickets only to find that they were numbered and declared invalid! The following day The Beatles released their first chart-topping UK single ‘Please Please Me’ and two days later travelled to Birmingham to record a performance of the same track for Thank Your Lucky Stars – appearing at the bottom of the bill. Crossing the pond briefly now and on 10 January 1964, Introducing... The Beatles became the band’s first studio album to go on sale in the United States. In January 1965 promoter Sid Bernstein called Brian Epstein to propose a Beatles’ concert at New York’s famous Shea Stadium. At the end of January 1967, while shooting a ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ film clip of

8 YM Liverpool

Paul jumping backwards up into a tree at Knole Park, John visited an antique shop in Sevenoaks and bought a Victorian poster announcing a circus near Rochdale. The artwork provided him with almost all of the names and phrases for ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!’ on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. On 26 January 1969 at The Beatles’ Apple Corps headquarters, the idea for the band’s final live performance was conceived and four days later on 30 January, the Fab Four climbed five storeys to the roof and began their last concert together. The Beatles performed several tracks before the police arrived to bring proceedings to a premature conclusion. Road manager Mal Evans intervened, and undeterred by their presence, the band continued to play, there were no arrests and the performance lasted for 42 minutes. Ringo said: “It was a memorable day for me, we were doin’ what we did best – making music. But I am still disappointed the policemen didn’t drag me off me drums!”. Mal, The Beatles’ driver, bodyguard, and confidant was tragically shot dead by police in Los Angeles on 5 January 1969. His manuscripts, diaries, and vast collection of Beatles’ memorabilia went missing, seemingly lost forever until they were discovered languishing in a storage basement by a publishing temp. With the help of Yoko Ono they were returned to Mal’s family. Epstein’s associate, Alistair Taylor, once asked Mal why he was driving an Austin Princess, rather than a Daimler, a Bentley, or a Rolls-Royce. Mal explained that they chose the Austin because its doors would open the widest out of every one they tested – which was important as The Beatles would often have to literally dive into the car to escape overzealous fans!

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words and pictures leslie priestley


Amy Yarker and Sam Watson, Liverpool The Fermentation Station UK

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Straight felt texture skirt Zara £29.99

Nike P-6000 chunky-sole low-top trainers Selfridges £110

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ADV ERTORIA L

A guide to wills and probate – Consult the legal experts

The process of grieving a loved one is always difficult, this can be made even worse by uncertainty if the deceased person has failed to make a will and the consequences of what can happen to their estate if they pass without one. Paul Crowley & Co’s expert Wills and Probate team are here to guide you through the legal process of making a will When do you need a will?

A will is a legal document which lets you direct how your belongings will be distributed after your death. If you pass away without a will, your belongings will be distributed according to ‘intestacy law’, which could mean that your property does not pass to the people you would want to inherit it. Most people would benefit from having a will, as no matter how small your estate, a will makes it so that you can appoint an ‘executor’ to manage your assets and distribute your property according to your wishes.

How are wills executed?

The law sets out formalities for making a valid will, which must be: • In writing • Signed by the ‘testator’ (the person making a will), and • Signed by and in the presence of at least two witnesses The witnesses who sign your will must not be ‘beneficiaries’, or the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary.

Can I write my own will?

There are potential risks associated with writing your own will, the consequences of which can be long-reaching, disruptive, costly and distressing. If your will becomes a source of conflict in your family or there are issues with its validity, it can end up being time consuming and cost you far more than if you had taken advice from Paul Crowley & Co to draft your will.

What is a trust?

When making a will, you may wish to put some of your property into a ‘trust’. Trusts are a way of managing wealth including

money, investments, land or property. When you put assets into a trust, they are under the control of an appointed person or persons called ‘trustees’, who manage the trust according to your instructions after your death. Trusts are often a good way of leaving property to your children, as the trustees will manage their inheritance until they are old enough to receive it.

What is probate?

Probate is the legal right to deal with a deceased person’s estate. If a person dies with a will, the executor needs to apply for a ‘Grant of Probate’, as proof of their right to manage the deceased person’s estate. If a person dies without a will, their estate will be dealt with by an ‘administrator’, who will need to apply for a ‘Grant of Letters of Administration’. Who can apply for this is determined by rules of ‘intestacy’, under which the responsibility will fall in the following order of priority: • Spouse or civil partner • Children • Grandchildren • Parents • Siblings • Grandparents • Aunts and Uncles

death certificate. Then, you can apply for a Grant of Probate. This usually takes around 16 weeks, but can take longer if additional information is required.

When is probate required?

The beneficiaries of the deceased person are not allowed to sell the property or access any of the deceased persons bank accounts until probate has been granted. Generally, banks and building societies will ask to see proof of probate before allowing you deal with property belonging to someone who has passed away. Probate will be required in most cases, but it may not be needed if: • The estate is small (usually below £5,000) and banks or building societies have confirmed they will release funds without sight of a Grant of Probate. • All property was held jointly with someone who is still living, who will automatically inherit through survivorship. If you would like to make a will or apply for probate, our friendly team of Wills and Probate solicitors at Paul Crowley & Co are here to help.

If you need to apply for probate, Paul Crowley & Co’s dedicated team of legal experts will guide you through the process of dealing with your loved one’s estate.

How long does probate take?

The entire process usually takes at least six months, but can take longer depending on the complexity. The first step is to register the person’s death within five days in order to receive a

For a free, no obligation chat with one of our experienced Wills and Probate Solicitors, call us on 0151 264 7363. www.paulcrowley.co.uk 14 YM Liverpool


FOOD

Restaurant review

La Musa Neapolitan Pizzeria By Will Carr |

Italian |

££ |

By the time I made it to Garston, I looked like I’d just hauled myself out of the Mersey. The subarctic storm slowly removing my face did not want me to reach La Musa but I was determined to experience this recently opened pizzeria, even if I did look like a frozen swamp monster by the time I got there. Arriving early, wet and miserable, I opened the door and was awash in warm smiles and handshakes. Diogo, the owner and the very picture of a classic pizza chef, guided me to a chair and asked what he could make for me. I chose the Parma Rossa Pizza (£12) and reclined at one of the pizzeria’s two tables as Diogo worked his magic. La Musa had only been open for three days and the family-run pizzeria, from the amount of deliveries and customers walking in and out, was already making a name for itself. I was starving and the sight of the glorious steaming disc nearly brought me to tears. The Parma Rossa was brilliantly presented, each ingredient evenly spread and the edges of the thin base were crisp but not overdone. As I lifted my first slice, savouring the aroma of the fresh parmesan and rocket, Diogo eagerly

The Parmesan Reggiano added a slightly sharp dimension with a hint of nuttiness.

1 Speke Road, Garston, L19 2JX

awaited my verdict. It’s difficult to describe the experience. The complex interplay of flavours. Each was blended perfectly and yet was fighting to get to the fore of my palate. The pepperiness of the rocket was lively and united with the tang of the mozzarella. The Parmesan Reggiano added a slightly sharp dimension with a hint of nuttiness. The paper-thin slices of prosciutto crudo were sweet and intense. Even the base had a unique savoury taste. The friendly atmosphere was so inviting that I chatted with Diogo and his wife Amanda about food, travel and the architecture of the pizzeria for so long that my pizza went cold. Even then it still tasted delicious. It made such a difference knowing the people making the food were not only masters of their craft but also the loveliest people I’ve met in a long time. I was then given a Panna Cotta (£5). Homemade by relatives, you could taste the care and pride that went into its creation. The fruit was zesty and tart and the base was soft and creamy – a Fruit Corner made for a king! The only negative for me is that Garston is quite a distance from home, but thankfully Diogo and Amanda mentioned they’re going to be on the main food delivery apps soon – I know where I’ll be getting my pizza from now on. My overall thoughts on La Musa can be summed up perfectly by the sign on the chalkboard behind the counter: ‘If you like pizza you’ve come to the right place’.

VIEW FOOD PHOTOS @YM_LIVERPOOL

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WINE

‘Try’January

Jon Atkinson invites you to explore some unfamiliar options with his latest selections LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, I suspect, I’m wondering just where 2023 went? However, 2024 is definitely here and it’s January – in my humble opinion a godforsaken month, that some people opt to make even more cheerless by giving up drinking alcohol for its duration! Each to their own etc. but those of us in the trade could be forgiven for being slightly paranoid; ‘Dry January’, ‘Stoptober’… has somebody out there got it in for us? How about ditching caffeine for a month instead? Thought not… So, how about a little moderation instead? Drink less, but better and take the opportunity to explore the incredibly diverse world of wine a little more deeply by trying the odd bottle from outside

of your comfort zone. In truth, nobody knows for sure how many different grape varieties exist. Estimates vary but there are thought to be in excess of 8,000, all of which could, in theory, be used to make wine in any combination! In practice, there are maybe 200 that are commercially ‘significant’ but even that figure gives us plenty to go at. Of course, the choice of grape variety(ies) is just one factor that determines what a wine tastes like. There is also (sub) soil, climate, viticulture and vinification, quite aside from the luck of the draw (vintage), but the grape variety is probably the easiest to understand and most convenient to ‘label’ so for the purposes of this month’s recommendations, this will be our main criterion.

Lugana Cantina del Garda 2022 Turbiana is the grape in question here; a close relative of Verdicchio which grows predominantly on the Adriatic coast, and until as recently as 2021, they were thought to be one and the same. This example also benefits from the proximity of a large body of water, namely Lake Garda with the Lugana vineyards being situated literally along the southern shore. The DOC was granted in 1967 and is unusual in so far as it traverses two regions; it is mostly within Lombardy but some 300ha fall under the jurisdiction of Veneto. This lovely example from the Cantina del Garda Cooperative has an attractively fruity nose with peach and lemon sherbet aromas with a hint of lilac. It is dry with a pleasant tang of acidity but quite rich in texture with a vibrant tangerine and apricot fruit with just a hint of spiciness on the finish. £12.95

Valduero Ribera del Duero Blanco de Albillo 2020 Prior to the 2019 vintage, white Ribera del Duero didn’t exist! White wines were produced, but were not recognised/approved by the DO, so had to be de-classified to Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León. There are a few producers who always believed in and championed the native Albillo Mayor variety, and their perseverance was finally rewarded when the Consejo Regulador approved Ribera del Duero Blanco on the proviso that it was made from a minimum of 75% Albillo Mayor. Our heroine here is Yolanda Garcia-Viadero, founder and winemaker at Bodegas Valduero since 1984 and the only woman sitting on the regulatory council (Consejo Regulador) who has always been a fierce advocate for this variety. Her wine offers a rich nose with candied peach and toasted pineapple with a hint of lemon zest. Richly textured with a tangy acidity providing a foil to the citrus, stonefruit and green apple fruit. £23.95

*EXCLUDES BIN ENDS / PROMOTIONAL LINES, SPIRITS, LIQUEURS, CHAMPAGNE & BEERS

La Forge Estate IGP Pays d’Oc Carignan 2022 Carignan is widely planted in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of south-western France where historically it was exclusively a variety to be blended with others. These days, it has become better understood that the key to ‘taming’ this prolific variety is to use the fruit of old vines which is less vigorous with better concentration. La Forge Estate is part of the Domaines Paul Mas ‘Empire’ with its focus on producing a diverse range of varieties grown in the Languedoc but offering ‘New World attitude’. The Carignan is one of my favourites in their range – a rich, full-bodied red with dark fruit character coupled with tobacco and herbs with a hint of oak. £12.25

Viña Las Perdices ‘Ala Colorada’ Mendoza Ancellotta 2017 Las Perdices was founded in the highly regarded Agrelo region of Mendoza by brothers Juan Carlos and Nicolás Muñoz in 2004. Las Perdices (the Partridges) is so called because the land where their winery is situated is swarming with them! As for Ancellotta, I must confess that it was a new one to me at first! It originates from Emilia Romagna in Central Italy where it is one of the varieties used to make traditional, dry, red Lambrusco. As is often the case, it appears to have made itself quite at home in South America. Aged for 15 months in a 50/50 split of new French and American oak barriques, this deep, blueish purple, brooding, inky red has aromas of summer fruit, figs, tobacco and dark chocolate. For me, this is everything that you would hope to get from a top Malbec, but all too often don’t! £17.50

TO CLICK & COLLECT ANY OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS OR TO VIEW THE REST OF OUR RANGE PLEASE VISIT WWW.WINETIMEWINES.CO.UK SPECIAL OFFER: QUOTE “YM LIVERPOOL 10” IN OUR SHOP TO GET A 10% DISCOUNT OFF YOUR WINE PURCHASE*

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FOOD

RECIPE

of the month

COOK’S TIP If you have a can of chickpeas to hand, drain and add along with the cauliflower in step 3. They’ll make the curry go further and add extra protein.

Vegan cauliflower korma

PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 20 minutes SERVES 4

METHOD

INGREDIENTS • 1 large cauliflower (about 1.2kg) • 3 tbsp Essential Olive Oil • 1 Essential Onion, sliced • ½ x 290g jar Patak’s Mild Korma Paste • 250ml pot Elmlea Plant Double cream alternative • ¼ x 25g pack coriander, leaves picked

1 Preheat the grill to high. Cut the cauliflower into medium florets, reserving any tender leaves. Toss the florets and leaves with 1½ tbsp oil, season with salt and spread over a large baking tray. Grill for 5-6 minutes, turning halfway, until just charred in places; set aside. 2 Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1½ tbsp oil in a large frying pan over a mediumhigh heat. Add the onion and fry for 8-10 minutes until turning golden. Stir in

the korma paste and fry for 2 minutes, stirring regularly. 3 Add the cauliflower and leaves to the pan and fry for 1 minute more, then stir in the Elmlea Plant. Half fill the Elmlea pot with water, add to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Scatter with coriander and serve with steamed rice or naan breads, if liked. A dollop of non-dairy yoghurt alternative and a scattering of toasted cashews would go nicely, too.

THOUSANDS OF RECIPES CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.WAITROSE.COM/RECIPES

YM Liverpool 19


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20 YM Liverpool


NEWS

The Learning Foundry secures £1.6m to deliver Skills Bootcamps Courses offered by Liverpool-based training provider include live music production THE LEARNING FOUNDRY has been awarded funding by the Department for Education to deliver Government-backed Skills Bootcamps across the North West. Skills Bootcamps are funded, flexible courses for anyone aged 19 or over. The training provides individuals and businesses with the opportunity to upskill, reskill or retrain – giving access to sectorspecific skills and careers in high-demand sectors. Through the £1.6 million secured in funding, The Learning Foundry will deliver programmes in Green Skills, Telecomms and Civils, as well as live music production. The Learning Foundry’s programme in Green Skills is already active within the Liverpool City Region and has been designed in collaboration with employers to provide much-needed skills to support sustainable construction and energy-efficient retrofit works. The Telecomms and Civils programme will be delivered in collaboration with Inside Connections and will equip individuals

to gain employment and commence a career in either Telecomms or Civils. Meanwhile, building on the success of The Learning Foundry’s existing partnership with Future Yard, the Skills Bootcamp in Sound Check will provide an opportunity to work with an extended network of key music venues throughout the North West. Skills Bootcamp programmes via the Learning Foundry will start from February 2024, find out more about all the programmes at: https://ow.ly/6b8f50QoFOu

PC&Co reflects on year of charitable success £2.5m Daffodil Ferry attraction to open this year Entrepreneurs Philip Olivier and Joshua Boyd say the former Mersey Ferry will offer “first-rate food, drink and entertainment” A £2.5 MILLION PROJECT to transform the former Mersey Ferry MV Royal Daffodil into a major destination is set for completion in 2024. Reborn as Daffodil, the vessel will find a permanent home on Liverpool’s waterfront with planning granted for a berth at Canning Dock, next to Royal Albert Dock. Entrepreneurs Philip Olivier and Joshua Boyd have spent several years working on the venture which they say will become a valuable addition to the city – offering “first-rate food, drink and entertainment” and creating almost 100 local jobs. It will include three outside sun decks across two levels – Promenade Deck, Daffodil Garden and Funnel Deck – totalling more than 66 covers. Her Upper Deck will feature a multifaceted space for a café, cocktail and wine bar with all-day dining for 63 seated covers. On the Main Deck, there will be an 84-cover restaurant and the Lower Deck will feature the Engine Room event space which will host live music and events for up to 240 people. For six years, MV Royal Daffodil lay in Birkenhead’s East Float Dock. Philip and Joshua began their rescue mission in 2019 when they towed her to Bromborough to undergo an extensive rip-out, later continuing her full restoration in Liverpool at Garston Dock from 2020. The vessel will soon be towed to Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, where it will be fully repainted before some final tweaks are carried out. From there, restored to its former glory, it will be taken to its final destination in Liverpool.

Liverpool law firm supported a range of local and national causes during 2023 A YEAR OF FUNDRAISING began in February in support of the Turkey earthquake disaster. Members of staff walked the equivalent distance from Anfield to Istanbul, some 1,710 miles, raising £1,398 for the Red Cross appeal. In June, a team of 15 abseiled down from the top of the Main Stand at Anfield Stadium. As terrifying as this was, £7,267 was raised in support of ‘Cash For Kids’ to help disadvantaged children living in the local community. In August, PC&Co faced its biggest challenge – hiking to the top of Mount Snowdon in memory of the firm’s founder Mr Paul Crowley. The team successfully reached the summit, raising £2,996, a figure which continues to grow in support of the brain injury charity Headway. PC&Co has supported Merseyside Domestic Violence Services (MDVS) on many occasions, but the big one for MDVS during 2023 was the success of the Big Give Challenge – raising over £6,000 in pledges and donations. To help kickstart the challenge, the law firm donated many items for a fundraising event held at The Netherton pub in Litherland. Meanwhile, director Edwina Harkin and marketing executive Alison Priestley raised funds individually for Cancer Research last year – each walking 100 miles. On top of this, PC&Co helped out its local L6 community with donations of food and clothing as well as fundraising with dress-down days and a children’s pumpkin painting competition. To end the year, PC&Co supported Radio City’s Mission Christmas, raising in the region of £30,000 altogether. Julie Jones from the law firm says: “It is great for team building and demonstrates the generosity of all within Paul Crowley & Co.” YM Liverpool 21


How to create a

sleep sanctuary in your Lucy Scott discovers the secret to those elusive eight hours

22 YM Liverpool

own home


INTERIORS

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SLEEP IS SUCH AN EMOTIVE ISSUE and from a recent poll of my friends and family, no one is getting enough. We all know the benefits of a good night’s kip – from thinking more clearly to reducing stress, improving your mood and boosting your immune system. However, whether you’re kept awake by the dog, the kids or the menopause, actually getting the recommended seven to nine hours’ sleep can seem pretty unachievable. In a bid to kick-start 2024 in the right way, we’re investing in choice items to create a sleep sanctuary at home. Transform the bedroom from somewhere you might watch TV or scroll on your phone into a tranquil space where you can properly switch off, unwind and relax. With a temperature-controlling mattress, pillow mist, relaxing candles, silk bedding and clever tech, we’ve got you.

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YM Liverpool 23


ADVERTORIA L

Prescot-based energy retrofit firm secures £40m in contract deals

Next Energy will work with some of Merseyside’s most prominent social landlords including Plus Dane Housing and Livv Housing Group

E

nergy retrofitting firm Next Energy has secured £40 million in contract deals as part of the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave (SHDF) and Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) initiatives. The business, which is headquartered in Prescot, has agreed deals to work with some of Merseyside’s most prominent social landlords including Plus Dane Housing and Livv Housing Group - as well as two local authorities, Cheshire East Council and Manchester City Council. The contracts, which will see the company install a range of energyefficient home improvements across the North West and North East, will be delivered on behalf of several national social housing providers – servicing over 4,000 homes across a two-year period. The SHDF and HUG2 initiatives are part of the government’s pledge to improve the energy performance of homes as

the UK continues on its pathway to Net Zero, helping social housing providers and eligible private homeowners tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. Next Energy, which specialises in making homes more energy efficient, will be installing solar PV panels and air source heat pumps (ASHP), plus cavity wall, external wall and loft insulations, as well as floor, roof and internal wall retrofits. The firm will also provide window and door replacements. Retrofitted households could save up to an average of £567 per year whilst also protecting their homes against rising energy costs. Next Energy was established in 2016 in response to the government’s Net Zero ambitions. Since its inception, the company has gone on to become one of the UK’s leading renewable insulation heating specialists, providing energy solutions for over 18,000 domestic and commercial customers.

“We can continue to help make homes more energy efficient, bring down household bills and do our bit to tackle the climate crisis.” 24 YM Liverpool

The company has worked with providers such as British Gas, E.ON, NPower and OVO Energy to help meet the targets set under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme. It has more recently worked with rural councils across England and Wales to further tackle the fuel poverty crisis for residents in off-gas areas. Lee McNally, director at Next Energy, says: “We are delighted with the string of recent contract wins. Our partnerships with Combined Authorities and housing associations means we can continue to help make homes more energy efficient, bring down household bills and do our bit to tackle the climate crisis. “As it stands today, over 3 million UK households are currently living in fuel poverty. Pair this with the growing number of harmful carbon emissions damaging our planet, and the need for properly insulated homes has never been more important. “Through the work that we do to make homes properly insulated and well heated, we can not only save the average household hundreds of pounds but can also accelerate the UK on its journey towards net zero.”


NEWS

PROPERTY NEWS Nexus Residential starts work on £35m Baltic Triangle apartment scheme Central Park will feature 174 units and a private roof terrace with views of Liverpool Cathedral THE £35 MILLION Central Park scheme, due for completion in the first quarter of 2025, includes a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with a hotel-style reception and concierge, as well as a private roof terrace with views of Liverpool Cathedral. The development will also include cycle storage, secure underground car parking and a gymnasium for residents, while £1m has been invested into an adjoining public piazza inspired by the Royal Albert Dock, which will be home to sculptures, floral arches, trees, benches, alcoves and artwork. Central Park will also include state-ofthe-art eco-friendly features such as solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, heat recovery systems, LED lighting and air source heat pumps, with Nexus set to deliver a centralised residential island in its New York City and Central Park-inspired creation. Nexus has also pledged to plant 100 trees for every apartment purchased at the scheme. Legacie is the main construction company behind Central Park and has previously led on

several eco-installations at sites such as Marco Pierre White Restaurants and Element – The Quarter and Reliance House in Liverpool. The scheme is promoted by international sales agent RW Invest, which was named Best Real Estate Agency at the 2023 UK Property Awards in London. Michael Gledhill, director of Nexus Residential, says: “Central Park is bringing luxury, first-rate living to the Baltic Triangle with world-class, eco-friendly facilities. “Nexus Residential is proud to create a centralised residential island within the Baltic

Triangle, which is quickly becoming one of the most desirable places to live in the UK. “The residential island, including the £1 million piazza, offers professional surroundings with refined amenities covering work, leisure, and everything in between. “We are also delighted to continue our pledge to develop eco-friendly sites which bring the Baltic Triangle and Liverpool city centre to life while putting the environment first. “We are looking forward to working with our partners to bring another luxury scheme to a city so close to our heart.”

Livv Homes expands affordable housing portfolio at Canterbury Park The new collection of properties comprises a mix of semi-detached and detached two, three and four-bedroom homes LIVV HOMES HAS ACQUIRED an additional 21 affordable homes at Canterbury Park in Huyton – opening up greater opportunities for aspiring homeowners to get onto the property ladder. The new collection of properties comprises a mix of semi-detached and detached two, three and four-bedroom houses – 17 are available for Rent to Buy and four are on the market for Shared Ownership. The £3.7 million investment into the addition of new homes strengthens Livv’s affordable housing portfolio at Canterbury Park, where it already owns 94 properties – including 29 for Rent to Buy and 38 for Shared Ownership. Howard Roberts, executive director of finance, risk & performance at Livv Housing Group, says: “Canterbury Park is a popular development that’s creating a vibrant community in North Huyton. “After the success of our initial launch of homes last year, we’re proud to be able to increase access to affordable homes there and allow more future homeowners the opportunity to join this thriving community.

“Rent to Buy is proving to be very popular as customers benefit from paying discounted rent which enables them to save towards a mortgage deposit. Shared Ownership on the other hand is a great way to buy a home in stages – with the initial percentage based on what you can afford and paying rent on the remainder. “The addition of 21 more homes marks another step forward in our growth strategy. It reinforces our commitment to meet the growing demand for affordable housing in Knowsley and the wider Liverpool City Region as we strive towards providing over 300 new homes for the next five years.” The affordable homes at Canterbury Park are available now, with final completions expected by spring 2024. YM Liverpool 25


Humble home The

Broadcaster and author Kate Humble is best known for presenting a string of popular BBC wildlife programmes including Springwatch, Animal Park and Lambing Live. We caught up with Kate ahead of her recent appearance at Heswall’s Linghams Booksellers to promote her latest book ‘Where the Hearth Is: Stories of Home’ words leah collins

The book features people with quite unique and extraordinary living situations; were there any encounters that particularly resonated with you when writing? In a way, all of them. These are very human stories, they are relatable. The biggest fear for all of us, even if we’ve never had to contemplate it ourselves, is not having a home. I interviewed a lady from Ukraine – what she experienced could happen to any of us. That idea that suddenly your home country could be invaded seems like a preposterous idea. And yet for Ukrainian residents, it did happen. The danger presented a whole new perspective of what home meant and having to face the reality of not having a home at all. How is one meant to start again when they’ve lost not just their possessions, but everything that roots you to a place? For me, these were the building blocks of the book. You’ve had a very successful television career on several highprofile science and wildlife programmes. Did you always want to work in TV? I wanted to work in television because it’s such a wonderful way of telling people’s stories. I began as a runner; you see what everybody does and their specific roles. It’s a great place to begin learning about the industry and where you would like to be. Eventually, I got my first job as a researcher at the BBC on a programme about animals. I’d always been interested in animals and wildlife, having grown up in the countryside and spending my childhood working on farm sites. Production asked me to come back to work on the second series in four months. In the meantime, they had found me a similar role on ‘The Holiday Programme’. Whilst working on that, I got called into the office of the overall editor and she asked me to come in for a screen test. I reluctantly agreed because I had never done anything like this before, I had total imposter syndrome. I thought it’d been disastrous. But about three weeks later my boss came back and asked me to go to France the next day to film as a presenter. I had no idea what I was doing. Luckily, the crew was so supportive; they helped me so much. I recognised that presenting wasn’t much different from researching; I was telling stories and finding

26 YM Liverpool

out about various subjects. That was how I got my head around being on camera. I thought of it that way; I’m not a presenter, I’m just a researcher who’s standing in a different place! It’s never changed; that’s always how I’ve felt about the job that I’ve done. One of the programmes you’re best known for is BBC One’s Animal Park – the latest series which aired last summer. How did it feel to return to Longleat? Funnily enough, it felt like returning home. Longleat is a fascinating place. There are still people working there now who I filmed with that first series. There’s an extraordinary continuity. A lot of us have really grown up together – that makes it a very special place because I’ve been part of the park’s history and journey over the last 23 years. I feel like Longleat, the animals and the keepers are all a part of my extended family. There are now even keepers there who grew up watching Animal Park – it’s inspired them to make the career choices that they’ve made. I feel extremely proud of that. In 2007, you moved with your husband, Ludo, to a smallholding in Wales which you share with a variety of feathered and furry animals. Tell me more about the events that inspired you to relocate from London. I moved to the city as a young professional; I felt it was something I had to do to obtain a successful role in television. After saving for some years, Ludo and I were able to buy a small cottage in Shepherd’s Bush; it was our first home and we lived there for seven years. But I was restless. I thought it would be great to live somewhere different. Growing up in the Berkshire countryside, animals and nature were the fabric of my upbringing. I dreamt of living in nature again, I wanted to wake up and hear birds, not traffic. This is partly the reason that I wrote the book, even though I was living with someone I loved, we had great friends and family around us – yet it wasn’t where I felt I belonged. This weird thing happened; my husband was offered a job in Cardiff. It was as though it was meant to be. I said, ‘You’ve got to take it’. Since then, every time we have crossed over the Severn Bridge into Wales, I have thought to myself ‘I’m coming home’. I can’t explain why, but I just felt I finally belonged, as though my heart had lifted. We found a house that was only accessible through a dirt track. You came out from under the trees to an amazing view of fields and trees. When we first visited, I didn’t even look at the house – I just stood staring at this beautiful view. I instantly knew. I said to my husband ‘Why would we live anywhere else? This is our home’. I now start every day like I started my childhood; outside, with animals and in the mud. This is where I belong. This is where I have to be. ‘Where the Hearth is: Stories of Home’ is available now

ANDREW MONTGOMERY

What was it about your own experiences with the idea of ‘home’ that inspired you to write Where the Hearth Is: Stories of Home? The inspiration came because I have this long-held dream to build my own house. I have it all mapped out in my head. I started thinking about if I were to build this house, where would I build it? Where is the place that I feel most at home? I became fascinated by this idea of belonging, of what makes us feel ‘at home’. It’s a very unique feeling and particular to the human experience. I thought, I’m going to talk to people about what makes a home for them. What is it that has enabled them to find a special place and what are the components of that?


INTERVIEW

I became fascinated by this idea of belonging, of what makes us feel ‘at home’. It’s a very unique feeling and particular to the human experience.

YM Liverpool 27


ADVERTORIA L

Unique pair of city centre homes sell for combined £1 million EW Developments led on design and construction of the two Pilgrim Street properties

A

pair of newly built homes located on one of Liverpool’s few remaining cobbled streets have sold for £500,000 each. The Pilgrim Street properties each boast four bedrooms, three bathrooms and modern living and kitchen space. Situated directly adjacent to The Pilgrim pub, the detached homes have been built on a previously vacant plot. Liverpool firm EW Developments, formed by James Winters and Rob Edwards, led on the design and construction of the properties on behalf of Intuita Property Group. EW opened luxury boutique hotel The Phoenix in 2019, followed by the Phoenix Pods in 2022. The company has since been enlisted to work on several notable developments, including the transformation of the 136-year-old Our Lady of Good Help Church in Wavertree into luxury apartments. EW is owned by long-time best friends James Winters, founder of electrical engineering firm M-Tech, and R&R Design owner and architect Rob Edwards, who drew up the plans for the Pilgrim Street homes.

“We have a huge 2024 ahead of us and the Pilgrim Street project has was perfect end to a brilliant year.” 28 YM Liverpool

James Winters, co-owner of EW Developments, says: “This is a unique development in a historic part of Liverpool city centre. We are incredibly proud of what EW has delivered on Pilgrim Street. “It is a testament to the work of the team how quickly we delivered a luxury finish in what will always be a challenging site logistically due to its centrality. “The history of Pilgrim Street is amazing and I am excited for the new houses to help bring new memories to the area with a modern finish. “We have a huge 2024 ahead of us and the Pilgrim Street project was the perfect end to a brilliant year.”


YM Liverpool 29


Thyme for

winter

This month Heather Marsh encourages us to grow some winter herbs and reap their culinary and medicinal benefits WHETHER YOU CONSIDER January to be the bleakest month or not, we are now officially in the depths of winter. A daunting prospect for many I know, but one where a little gardening can provide us with a positive and cheery attitude that I guarantee will help you through. With few plants that remain hardy during these coldest months of the year, winter herbs are amongst those that I just wouldn’t be without. Whether it’s on your kitchen doorstep or an inside windowsill, these reliable plants certainly earn their keep right now. Besides their culinary uses being at hand to add flavour and aromatic seasoning, their medicinal properties can be a bonus too. But more on that later...

One-pot Herb Gardens

Herbs are amongst the easiest of all plants to grow and throughout the summer months, I grow an extensive selection of them in a designated area of my garden. However, during winter when the weather is often at its coldest and wettest, I prefer to grow a much smaller selection essentially in pots and keep them close at hand. Like one-pot cooking that reduces time and effort, growing herbs together in one container works in exactly the same way. Positioning your pot on the kitchen doorstep for example means you can easily tend to your plants but when you need a quick snip, you don’t have to venture far

30 YM Liverpool

or get your slippers wet. Don’t worry about these plants surviving the cold weather either, they are amongst the toughest of plants and once established will happily look after themselves. However, one thing is key, and that’s good drainage. Choosing a sunny sheltered position helps, and using pot feet or bricks to keep containers off the ground avoids root rot. Always line the bottom of your pot with broken crocks and use a gritty compost. Few herbs continue to grow in winter and those that do, like rosemary and thyme, will not take kindly to harsh cropping. So go easy when cutting herbs in the winter months.

Tried and tested favourites

n Rosemary This evergreen fragrant perennial looks good all year round and is one of a few herbs which continue growing throughout the winter months. Native to the Mediterranean in springtime, this herb is covered in tiny blue flowers, which bees absolutely love – making your garden extra fertile. As I use so much rosemary, I have several plants dotted around the garden – with the nearest supply being on my kitchen doorstep. I also have some planted by my dustbins – as it is known for its anti-bacterial oils. After putting the rubbish out, I simply rub a sprig into my hands. I like to infuse a stem of fresh rosemary into a bottle of extra virgin olive oil – this flavoursome oil is delicious on salads, tomatoes, and olives, or simply with some


GARDENING

good homemade bread. Rosemary is also a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are thought to help the immune system and improve blood circulation. n Parsley This lush classic herb is probably best known as a garnish and it won’t give up its good looks – even in the depths of winter. Its light aromatic scent is used to enhance soups and sauces alike. The parsley most of us are familiar with, curly parsley, is easily grown and once established will happily flourish outside or on a windowsill inside. Rich in antioxidants and iron, parsley is an indispensable winter herb. n Thyme This evergreen aromatic herb is so small-leaved and delicate, that to look at it’s hard to believe it is actually very tough – prevailing even in the harshest of winters. For that reason alone, this perennial deserves a place in my garden and is well suited to grow alongside other winter herbs in a single container or pot. Thyme is a classic culinary herb used both fresh and dried in soups, stews, and stuffing for meats and fish. A good source of vitamin C, thyme is also an excellent antiseptic and disinfectant. Thymol, which is found in thyme, is still used in the manufacture of mouthwash due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties. n Mint There are so many species of mint grown that at this time of year but it’s usually traditional English mint that you will see out in the garden. Not growing but still hardy even under snow, as long as it’s established, mint can be picked and used throughout the winter months. Grown in a pot indoors it will be quite happy in a sunny porch or on a windowsill. n Bay The bay tree, or bay laurel, is my favourite on this list. This aromatic evergreen tree or shrub, depending on how you want to grow it, is most often grown formally in containers, but also does well as a hedge. I grow bay successfully both as a hedge and in pots. The dark foliage of those kept in containers is usually trained to grow and clipped into the familiar lollipop shape often seen in pairs outside front doors, while hedges are grown and cut like laurels. They are tough, hardy plants and as long as they don’t get waterlogged in the winter months, will last for decades. One potted bay tree we have, my mother gave to us as a housewarming present almost 40 years ago and is still going strong. Besides its hardiness and good looks, the aromatic leaves of the bay tree have been used for centuries in cooking. I cannot remember ever seeing a recipe for a winter stew or casserole that didn’t include a bay leaf. n Sage This shrubby evergreen perennial has many varieties – all able to withstand the winter weather. Attractive in any cottage garden, with purple flowers covering the plant in summer, sage is ideal for one-pot winter herb growing. Usually distinctive with its greyishgreen woolly leaves, sage of course is a culinary must for the Christmas dinner favourite – roast turkey stuffing. Prized for its strong aromatic attributes, it has a long history of medicinal uses, helping with inflammatory ailments and boasts a high antioxidant capacity. n Garlic Although strictly speaking garlic belongs to the genus Allium, which is the onion family, garlic deserves dual status both as a winter vegetable and a herb. For thousands of years, garlic has been valued for both its health benefits as well as its culinary properties. Salt is certainly not good for us and garlic is a great substitute for it – especially if you must give it up completely. In many countries, garlic is still used for a whole range of health reasons, both in its raw and cooked form. Commonly known as Russian Penicillin, I can remember my father, who was Ukrainian, chewing whole cloves of raw garlic as a remedy whenever he had a cold. Thankfully, that wasn’t very often.

One pot roast chicken with winter herbs and garlic For the ultimate in comfort food, give this recipe a go. Don’t be put off by the number of garlic cloves! Slow roasting mellows the garlic, giving it a sweet nuttiness that together with the winter herbs makes this dish absolutely delicious. INGREDIENTS 1 oven ready chicken (size depending on the number you are serving)

15 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled

4 tbsp olive oil

400gms banana shallots (peeled and split in two, length wise)

Sprigs of fresh parsley, rosemary, sage & thyme

1 packet of dried sage and onion stuffing

METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 160°c 2. Make up the dried sage and onion stuffing and stir through a couple of sprigs of finely chopped parsley, sage and thyme and two cloves of garlic. Stuff this into the cavity of the chicken and place in a roasting tin 3. Arrange the shallots and remaining garlic cloves around the chicken and push a sprig of rosemary into the cavity as well. Drizzle with olive oil and season well with sea salt and ground pepper. 4. Place in the oven uncovered for the first hour. After that, check it’s not over brown. If needs be, cover with foil for the remaining time, continue cooking until juices run clear. 5. Take out of the oven and leave to rest before carving and serving with sautéed or roasted potatoes.

Herbal mint tea The ideal drink to sip before bed. Mint contains no caffeine, so won’t keep you awake and helps with relaxation, indigestion and tummy upsets. METHOD Simply steep about 10 freshly picked mint leaves in a mug of boiling water for about five minutes. Strain all but a couple of leaves and serve with a little honey to taste.

The smell of our house would have warded off Count Dracula himself! Whilst keeping vampires at bay is one of garlic’s debatable attributes, it does certainly contain allicin, which reduces blood pressure and improves circulation. It can also be used as a diuretic remedy for rheumatism, arthritis, gout, fluid retention and obesity.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY GARDENING. HEATHERMARSHYM@GMAIL.COM

YM Liverpool 31


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NEWS

Legacie reveals new images of One Park Lane as construction nears highest point

Designed by Falconer Chester Hall, the development will include 90 ‘Manhattanstyle’ apartments LIVERPOOL-BASED PROPERTY FIRM Legacie has unveiled new CGI of its One Park Lane development as it nears the highest point of construction. One Park Lane, which has a gross development value of £25 million, will see the transformation of a key Liverpool dockland site on the corner of Park Lane and Liver Street into 90 ‘Manhattanstyle’ apartments. Designed by Falconer Chester Hall and promoted by international sales agent RWinvest, the 16-storey building will include a mix of studio and one, two and three-bedroom units. Legacie is also building 620 units on the historic Heap’s Rice Mill site surrounding One Park Lane, with a total gross development value of £140m. The Liverpool property firm, which has delivered a string of developments across the city including its flagship £90m Parliament Square scheme, is on track to reach the 16th storey at One Park Lane imminently.

John Morley, CEO of Legacie, says: “This is another flagship site for Legacie which continues to reinvigorate areas of Liverpool left vacant for too long. “Our track record of successful developments, completed on time, is second to none across the North West, and One Park Lane is no exception. “This site will bring luxury living to an iconic area of Liverpool city centre and I am proud of the quality we are delivering. “One Park Lane combines beautifully with the modern surrounds of the historic Albert Dock and adds further elegance to Liverpool’s skyline.”

One Park Lane will bring luxury living to an iconic area of Liverpool city centre and I am proud of the quality we are delivering. YM Liverpool 33


EVENTS

What’s on... Events not to be missed over the next four weeks

Pretty Woman: The Musical, Liverpool Empire 23 January–3 February

After a record-breaking run on Broadway, Audience Choice Award Winner Pretty Woman: The Musical comes to Liverpool featuring direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Hairspray) and an original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (‘Summer of ’69’, ‘Heaven’).

22 January

An Evening with Jeff Stelling, Philharmonic Hall

24 January

The Libertines, Cavern Club

27 January Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge 2023 Showcase Final, LEAF On Bold St 30-31 January

Strictly Come Dancing Live, M&S Bank Arena

2-4 February

Southport Jazz Festival, The Grand

3 February

The Zutons, Future Yard

9 February

Chinese New Year Gala, St. George’s Hall

Mean Girls, Everyman Cinema From 17 January

From the comedic mind of Tina Fey comes a new twist on a modern classic. Cady Heron is a hit with the Plastics, an A-list girl clique at her new school, when she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.

Something About George – The George Harrison Story, Floral Pavilion 3 February From the creators of Something About Simon – The Paul Simon Story, this musical biopic tribute to the so-called ‘quiet’ Beatle will answer the question ‘where does life take you after being in the greatest band in the history of the world?’

34 YM Liverpool

An Evening with Ella Mills, Oh Me Oh My 17 January

Join inspirational and bestselling food writer Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella, for a special event to celebrate the release of her new book ‘Healthy Made Simple’.


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YM Liverpool January 2024 by YM Liverpool - Issuu