Meet Vincent van Gogh in London - Experience a journey through his life

There is always something new and exciting to do in London, and at The Amazing Blog, we're looking forward to seeing the much talked about Meet Vincent van Gogh, which is an immersive art experience that has just made its debut here in London. The interactive exhibition is open now and will be on display until 21 May on London’s South Bank at 99 Upper Ground, London SE1.

Created by experts from the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the exhibit will take visitors on an experience where they can get up close and personal with large recreations of some of van Gogh’s most famous works, as his original works are too fragile to travel outside of Amsterdam. Guests are encouraged to touch all the installations to get a feel of Van Gogh’s brush strokes and the details of his artwork. Graphics blend seamlessly with projections with audio and lighting that create a multisensory experience. The exhibit facilitates engagement and interactivity, with video effects and lighting and other multi-sensory effects (such as the smell of hay when entering one of his most famous works). See the video link here.

Often referred to as the 'misunderstood genius,' Meet Vincent van Gogh will educate guests on everything there is to know about the famous painter's life, from his upbringing to his struggles with mental illness and poverty later in his life. The exhibit also features interactive stations and beautiful light projections. Previously on tour in Beijing, Barcelona and Seoul the Meet Vincent van Gogh won a Thea Award from the Themed Entertainment Association for Immersive Touring Exhibit in 2017. It shows how modern tools and techniques can transform the way we view and experience the Post-Impressionism movement.

Tickets to the experience include a free audio guide featuring Van Gogh’s voice as he guides visitors through the inspirations and the despair that influenced his life’s works. Tickets for the experience costs from £16.50 ea. and can be purchased ahead of time here. Be sure to check out this interactive experience before it disappears off to Lisbon later this year! Thank you to Pelham Communications for giving us permission to use these photographs - all images are courtesy of Meet Vincent van Gogh.

Friday Favourites: Cookbooks

Regular readers of The Amazing Blog will know that when it comes to cooking, we’re almost a perfect split. Half of us are foodies, while the rest would rather exhaust a basic recipe, than slave away in the kitchen. That said, it is universally agreed that a good cookbook can make all the difference, encouraging even the most unenthusiastic amongst us to don an apron and wooden spoon. Luckily for you, we’ve taken one for the team, correlating four new recipe books worth a try. We’re sure you’ll find one just for you!

Firstly, many of us are trying to introduce meat-free meals into our weekly diets, meaning a good cookbook can prevent the need to exist solely on a nut roast or vegetable curry. Our cookbook of choice is The Modern Vegetarian, designed to inspire even the most uninspired, encouraging delicious vegetable-based meals packed full of exotic flavours and textures.

Written by world-renowned chef, Maria Elia, this cookbook aims to prove that cutting meat out of a meal doesn’t cut out the flavour; instead, it is a gateway to try new flavour combinations and techniques. Elia’s experience is reputable; she has a Michelin recommendation and has earned 2 AA rosettes. Viewers of Sunday Brunch and Saturday Kitchen may also recognise her, having appeared as a guest chef on both. We don’t know about you, but we feel at ease knowing that recipes have been tried and tested by an expert – because whether an avid chef or not, few have the patience for a disastrous result! The book itself covers everything from ‘Sophisticated Starters’ to ‘Sofa Suppers’, but we were most pleased by the ‘Stylish Sides’ section. All too often, we’re faced with plain boiled rice or pasta to accompany dishes – something Elia has challenged and avoided. Instead, you can transport yourself to India with a Red Lentil Dhal (page 114) or try your hand at an Aubergine Houmous (page 113). Whichever recipe takes your fancy most, you’ll be sure to enjoy the conversational element of the book, with personal notes written by Elia, substantiating the authenticity of the dishes and making for an enjoyable evening read.

To explore innovative vegetable based dishes for yourself, then The Modern Vegetarian can be purchased here for £16.99.

There's no doubt that the smell of food entices you into the kitchen, but what about our other senses? This is something we hadn't contemplated, so we were intrigued by Sybil Kapoor's Sight, Smell, Touch, Taste, Sound cookbook. This book recognises the combined importance of all five senses, dedicating a chapter to each, filled with delicious recipes, and reliable advice, from layering flavours, to using temperature and sound.

Kapoor has a wealth of knowledge in the realms of cooking; as the author of eight books, she is one of the most respected food writers in Britain and continues to propel her knowledge through a variety of publications. Each chapter is based around one of the five senses: Taste, Flavour (smell), Texture (touch and sound), Temperature (touch) and Appearance; however, our favourie part of the book, is the integrated feel. Each chapter is intertwined, with theory and advice allowing the reader to establish the links between senses. Kapoor aims to prove that by using a little theory and practical testing, you will be able to produce simple, yet delicious dishes. Now this all may sound a little complex to a less than enthusiastic chef, however, even ready meal lovers in the office were taken by the carefully designed recipes, especially the Stir-fried Squid with Chilli and Black Bean Sauce (page 144) and the Sticky Asian Beef Kebab with Cucumber Dip (page 92). For those with a sweet tooth, the Sticky Spiced Lemon Gin Cake (page 75) also proved to be a big hit - so whether you're interested in the links between the senses or not, you'll be sure to learn new tips and tricks to create delicious dinner party worthy meals.

To tempt your own senses, Sight, Smell, Touch, Taste, Sound is available here for £24.00.

If you're looking to be transported to more exotic lands this Friday, then Baladi Palestine - A Celebration of Food from Land and Sea by Joudie Kalla is just the cookbook for you! Taking equal inspiration from her historical background and personal experience of Palestine, we were struck by how little we knew about this exotic and varying landscapes. These conditions create diverse and new flavours, all of which are included in Kalla's recipes. With twists on traditional dishes, this book has an authentic yet innovative feel to it. Better still, it is jam-packed with stunning photography, from food images to landscapes and the people of Palestine. We were sold before even trying the recipes - quite an accolade!

With over 250 pages, this visually interesting book is equally colourful in terms of culinary delights. Flicking through the pages, you're met with everything from spiced lamb, to filled speciality pastries and watermelon juice. One of our favourite elements of this book is the splitting of chapters, not merely by dish, but by the areas in which the ingredients are sourced. Varying from Markets and Village Life to The Bakery and The Farm, a quick flick through this cookbook tempts the senses, but equally gives a quick snapshot of the Palestine lifestyle. We recommend the chapter: From The River To The Sea, in particular, the Saffron Monkfish and Vegetable Skewers (page 177), delicious as the weather picks up.

To inject a little bit of culture into your cooking, you can purchase Baladi Palestine - A Celebration of Food from Land and Sea here for £26.

Last but by no means least, we discovered The RAF 100 Cookbook. Created to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Air Force, this cookbook contains 100 recipes from 100 countries, split by chapter, into monumental moments of RAF history. We love the concept behind this cookbook, drawing inspiration from the saying that "an army marches on its stomach" and taking the research from acting and former servicemen and servicewomen to create authentic and delicious recipes from around the world. Additionally, this cookbook contains the recipes of top household chefs such as James Martin, Tom Kerridge and Cyprus Todiwala, emerging a plethora of knowledge to inspire your weekly menu.

We often find that cookbooks are very niche in their flavour combinations, and while this is certainly no bad thing, we like the variety of this cookbook. Each of the 100 countries are covered in a sensitive and informative manner, with a detailed explanation of the RAF's involvement alongside each recipe. It is clear just how much time and effort has gone into this book, spreading as far as to include eye-catching photographs of the dishes, alongside black and white images of the RAF in past years. The way in which the chapters are segregated stays true to the inspiration behind the book, from The Early Years to The Modern Age, conflicts are addressed through the medium of cultural dishes. Additionally, a percentage of each sale is donated to one of five RAF charities, directly supporting the inspiration of the cookbook. It is very difficult to pinpoint certain dishes here; however, the likes of the Ascension Island's Saint Helenian Fishcakes (page 300) and Maldivian Fish Curry (page 288) stand out for their exotic nature. The point here though, is that this is a cookbook for all occasions - whether you're looking for a local dish or one from further afield, you need only flick through to the country of your choice for an authentic and delicious recipe.

To inject 100 new recipes into your repertoire, you can purchase The RAF 100 Cookbook here for £25.

Friday Favourites - The Rosé Festival

Now, The Amazing Blog has a real treat for all you rosé fans out there. A brand new festival celebrating the beautiful pink drink is coming to London’s stunning Geffrye Museum in Shoreditch this summer. We guarantee that the inaugural launch of The Rosé Festival is not something you’ll want to miss. In fact, this is the UK's first and only festival dedicated to this beloved drink.

The event is expecting to welcome over 3,000 visitors and is taking place from Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd of July. This unique and wonderful festival will offer visitors the chance to not only sample different varieties of rosé from expert producers in all of its forms, both fizzy and still, but also learn from the producers who will share their knowledge and experience with guests. If you have always wanted to know what makes an excellent rosé, and how to distinguish between the variations of the drink then you must attend this event. We cannot stress the abundance of rosé that you’ll be surrounded by, which for many of us will be a dream come true.

However, if rosé is not your drink of choice then never fear as producers will also display a range of their other products including Ciders, Vermouths, Prosecco and other Sparkling Wines. Alongside all of this will be a vast array of carefully selected British food vendors for you to enjoy and discover. What’s more is that between every sip and bite you’ll be entertained. The festival will be hosting a mix of Shakespeare recitals, jazz bands and Opera and DJ sets, as the festival plans to welcome young, up and coming British talent. 

So if enjoying some wine, food and culture sound like your kind of day then you can purchase tickets here for £15.00. £1 of every purchase will be donated to the Geffrye Museum.

Alfred Hitchcock - Friday Favourites

The Amazing Blog has a major treat for all you film buffs! This June, the South Bank Centre in London is hosting a tribute to the one and only Alfred Hitchcock. We could not be more excited for the events on offer, which include special and once in a lifetime opportunities.

On the 23rd of June as part of their Classical Season, The South Bank Centre will be screening the cinematic masterpiece that has ruined hotel showers for people around the world, Psycho. Alongside the screening, Robert Ziegler will be conducting Bernard Herrmann’s spine-tingling score with the London Philharmonic. We can’t think of a better way to bring Psycho alive than to watch it on screen and have the iconic score played by one of the world's best orchestras. This is a  truly unique evening, and one we think is worth far more than the £20 a ticket costs. 

If this piques your film and music interests and you want to delve deeper and acquaint yourself with the process of the famous aquiline director, then on the 24th of June, for only £25, the South Bank Centre will also be screening a special documentary called What You Need to Know: Alfred Hitchcock. The documentary will look at how Hitchcock’s films use music as an essential tool to create the unbearable tension they are famed for. It will specifically focus on his collaboration with composer Bernard Herrmann, who he worked with to create the scores for the previously mentioned Psycho as well as Vertigo.  

We certainly cannot think of a better way to spend the weekend, perfect to go to either alone, with friends or on a date. These events encapsulate everything that makes London life fabulous; entertainment, culture and fun. You can purchase tickets to the screening of Psycho here for £20 and for What You Need To Know: Alfred Hitchcock here for £25. 

Outdoor Cinema at Southbank this September

Coming from a suburb of Minneapolis, MN, I have been excited to discover how simple it is to find something to do in London. Unfortunately with that realization, I have found that finding something to do in London that goes with my student budget, is very difficult. Thankfully, on my quest to find an exciting activity, I have come across an outdoor film event that doesn’t cost a thing! The Scoop at More London is hosting FREE films on at 7.30pm Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays starting on September 14^th and running until the end of the month. Whether you want to be transported to another world in Alice in Wonderland or learn how Facebook was started in The Social Network, there is a movie for everyone to enjoy. So instead of spending money on a new film, go enjoy an old favourite next to the picturesque view of the river Thames with your friends and family.

The Scoop at More London is located between London Bridge and Tower of London on the Southbank. It is an outdoor sunken amphitheatre with seating for 800 open to everyone.

There is no need to get a ticket or reserve a seat, just go get out a blanket, grab a bottle of wine and head down to the Southbank for a night outside at the cinema!

Schedule of Films:

Alice in Wonderland - Wednesday 14 September

The Kings Speech - Thursday 15 September

Dirty Dancing - Friday 16 September

The Illusionist - Wednesday 21 September

The Social Network - Thursday 22 September

The African Queen - Friday 23 September

The Manchurian Candidate - Wednesday 28 September

Grease - Thursday 29 September

True Grit - Friday 30 September