La Chorza

Two weeks later and something blog-worthy has finally cropped up, huzzah! Today I finally visited La Chorza in the centre of Brighton's North Laine. I've been walking past this place for months, without fail smellgasming each time as that deep, flavoursome Mexican aroma so tickles my nose. 

Brighton has recently, debatably suffered, from the rise of the chain Mexican street food, with 'Tortilla's' and 'La Buritos' opening on every blooming street corner. So I was keen to try La Chorza purely due it's independence, and the fact it so blatantly fits in with Brighton's charm unlike these outsider chains. It is also by far the busiest of it's type around, which is always a good sign.

Luckily, we arrived at the perfect time as we were seated to the last free table, but by the time we left there was an hour wait list, so getting down there early on a sunny day (around 1pm) is definitely a good idea. When the sun decides to properly come out, they have a great outside seating area with quirky table clothes and long communal benches. 

Before the food had even arrived I felt very satisfied with my experience. The decor in there is so fabulous, I'd say it has a very Miami-fresco atmosphere, with bright colours, overside table pieces and floral patterns everywhere. There was tequila bottles everywhere you looked and real iced Margarita machines whirring in the corner. I agreed with this very much. Furthermore the staff were really great, attentive and full of life.

Then the food came, and I think the photos below say it all really. Their fillings are all slow cooked and incredible full of flavour. I opted for marinated free-range chicken, whereas my friend chose the slow cooked beef. The meat was perfect, no messing around with poor quality cuts, and cooked so well the flavour was embedded deep. The top dish, was a basket burrito, so basically all your classic burrito ingredients in a bowl, with some beautiful spicy rice. The second dish is of three beef tacos. Both came with a lovely shredded red cabbage garnish and a salsa of your choosing. I'd highly recommend the green salsa, which although was mild, it had an insane depth of flavour. 

Both these meals were a very fair £6.50. The price is dependant on your choice of meat filling rather than the base (whether burrito, tostado, taco or quesadilla). 

Another really great find in the centre of Brighton, 100% worth a visit. Lets all boycott these bloody chains and opt for the real authentic deal!

Find La Chorza at 36 Gloucester Road, Brighton. 

OSCAR FEVER

This week I made it my mission to watch as many of the Oscar Movies as possible before the big gong on Sunday. Disclaimer time, I most definitely did not watch these illegally online. So I eased myself in with Frozen, then watched Philomena, Blue Jasmine, Gravity, Dallas Buyers Club, Captain Philips, American Hustle and Wolf of Wall-Street. Fair to say, it was a great week. I'd already watched 12 Years A Slave in the cinema upon release, so I'm down with that. 

A bit like my Brit Awards blog, I now intend to give my predictions for who's going to win what on Sunday. I'm only going to focus on the acting/directing/music/costume awards, as I cant pretend to have knowledge of sound mixing and whatnot. 

Starting with the big award....

Best Picture

American Hustle

Captain Phillips

Dallas Buyers Club

Gravity

Her

Nebraska

Philomena

12 Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street

For me, this was an easy one. Although I loved Blue Jasmine and Gravity a lot, they don't compare to the awe-inspiring devastation created within me that 12 Years a Slave disposed. I think, had the Oscars been in January, American Hustle may have been in with a chance, but the momentum for Russell's picture has significantly slackened.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Christian Bale (American Hustle)

Bruce Dern (Nebraska)

Leonardo DiCaprio (Wolf of Wall Street)

Chiwetel Ejiofor  (12 Years a Slave)

Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Chiwetel came a very close second, but everyone loves a comeback-kid. And man McConaughey's comeback is almighty. Dallas Buyers Club is above anything he has ever done before. He managed to make me laugh, break my heart and make me despise him all within one film. P.s Leo still doesn't deserve that Oscar, he is continuing to lack that award-worthy performance!

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Amy Adams (American Hustle)

Cate Blanchet (Blue Jasmine)

Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Judi Dench (Philomena)

Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

Without meaning to be a sheep and completely follow every predictions blog out there, Cate Blanchet has to win this ward. Never has she been so poignant and perfect for a role. I loved Judi Dench in Philomena also, she was incredible, but Blanchet's modern day reprise of Duboise is faultless. 

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)

Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)

Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)

Jonah Hill (Wolf of Wall Street)

Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

I was sceptical of Leto's role in Dallas Buyers Club, but from the minute he sat down on McConaughey's hospital bed in that 80s silk dressing gown I knew he was going to be phenomenal. He truly deserves the Supporting Actor gong, although Fassbender and Abdi make this a very difficult category. 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)

Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)

June Squibb (Nebraska)

Again, another very tough category. Lupita deserves this award more than any of the others, her role was heartbreaking and played with such elegance, and I feel she should have made a clean sweep during this years award season. However, I did also LOVE Sally Hawkins in Blue Jasmine, she is a seriously underestimated actress, and she is just sublime as Ginger.

Best Animated Feature

Frozen

Despicable Me 2

The Croods

Ernest & Celestine

The Wind Rises

I may have only seen Frozen and The Croods out of this category, but that is irrelevant. Frozen is magnificent. That's all there is too it really. 

Best Costume Design

American Hustle (Michael Wilkinson)

The Grandmaster (William Chang Suk Ping)

The Great Gatsby (Catherine Martin)

The Invisible Woman (Michael O'Connor)

12 Years a Slave (Patricia Norris)

I want Gatsby to win this, because costume design was pretty much the only thing that was right about the film. Gatsby is my favourite book, but the film completely devastated me. The only accurate measurement was the incandescence of the era, and this was channeled through the costume design.

Best Original Song

Happy (Despicable Me 2)

Let It Go (Frozen)

The Moon Song (Her)

Ordinary Love (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom)

Move over Pharrell, the Queen of Musical Theatre has arrived to take her crown. I've always been an Idina Menzel fan but boy Let It Go is quite possible the catchiest song ever! I think theres quite possibly no way that Let It Go won't win this award, there will be a lot of upset children (and adults!) if it isn't recognised. 

Best Directing

American Hustle (David O. Russell)

Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)

Nebraska (Alexander Payne)

12 Years A Slave (Alexander McQueen)

The Wolf Of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)

There's no denying that Gravity has to be one of the most technically demanding films ever made, for the actors and directors alone. Cuaron creates an absolute masterpiece, which must have been a logistical nightmare from start to finish. Although all the nominated directors are award-worthy, Cuaron was daring, bold and incredibly intelligent with Gravity.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Before Midnight

Captain Phillips

12 Years A Slave

Philomena

The Wolf Of Wall Street

12 Years A Slave deserves every accolade it can nap at the Oscars this year. I believe that the fact UK schools are placing 12 Years A Slave on the curriculum says it all. The endorsement a blockbuster film can pay to a relatively unknown book and story, is unrivalled. 

Best Original Screenplay

American Hustle

Blue Jasmine

Dallas Buyers Club

Her

Nebraska

This category was a complete toss-up between Blue Jasmine and Dallas Buyers Club, but I chose to go with Blue Jasmine due to the sheer ingenuity of the writing. A film, where nothing really happens except the gradual, documented break down of the lead, with no real plot, yet still manages to keep me gripped and watching on the edge of my seat, truly deserves some recognition. Dallas Buyers Club, although being an incredible story, is very formulaic in it's writing. 

The Oscars are on Sunday 2nd March. Make sure to keep yourself updated, and watch these films, they don't get nominated for nothing, they really are bloody amazing!

SMuTS: Little Shop of Horrors

Firstly, sorry for the lack of blogging lately, I have had a mad week with deadlines slash absolutely nothing interesting has happened in my poor mundane life.

Secondly, a heads up. This review could end up being completely biased due to my amazingly talented best friend Amy Moore being in the chorus and 100% stealing the show for me. (And others but I'll come onto that...)

SMuTS is the Sussex University Musical Theatre Society, and for 23 years now they have been producing/directing/wowing with their adaptation of a well known musical on a shoestring budget as governed by the Sussex Student Union. And this is where I'd like to begin. The production quality of Little Shop of Horrors was perfect, I'm sure a multitude of favours had to be called in (where else would a production team have acquired so many plant pots and plastic flowers?!), yet it was pulled of phenomenally. 

I confess, that as an avid Musical Thespian-goer, Little Shop of Horrors has somehow escaped me my entire life, but it was surprisingly enjoyable to watch a show of which I had no idea how the story was going to go. Sass and camp. Those are my words of choice to describe the Howard Ashman penned musical. Sass and camp. Yes!

Now for the nitty gritty...

The cast. The cast were overall wonderful. That girl who opened 'Skid Row' was just incredible right? Can you tell who my friend was yet? Is my bias coming across yet? But in all fairness, Amy Moore really did open with a sensational front. And that isn't just from me. In the interval I could hear multiple complete strangers retelling how her voice was beautiful, and a stand-out from the first half. How Amy wasn't cast in the Crystal/Ronette/Chiffon trio really did escape me, and that was echoed by the paying public heavily during the interval.

The three girls playing Crystal, Ronette and Chiffon set the tone of sass, with their constant appearances as a three-piece chorus throughout the show. Although their sass was unreal, I felt at times that their chemistry needed to be worked on, as they were all fighting for the limelight. I must say though, Rebekah Thomas who played Chiffon had an incredible voice, and coming out of such a small body it was a very pleasant surprise. 

I simply cannot ignore Jacob Jackson's portrayal of Seymour, our dorky, love-shy protagonist turned villain. His voice and accent was perfect, and I feel like for me, Jackson will always be Seymour regardless of any other productions of Little Shop of Horrors I may see. My final accolade within the casting, obviously has to be Georgia Lewis in the role of Audrey. Her consistency of the acting, body language and belief in the role was astounding, you could really tell she had thrown herself into the part of Audrey. Although I have only mentioned a scattering of names, that's not to say that the rest of the cast weren't sublime.

A quick mention to Lewis Klein, the director. There were some really genius moments within the show, the use of lighting was used perfectly to hide some of the stage-uglies and the use of the theatre foreground added an extra dimension. Finally, the music, and their triumphant conductor, Cody Bamford Bridges. A sign of an amazing Musical is all down to the Musical Director, and the way Bamford Bridges was jiving and shaking his thang, whilst conducting the orchestra, showed the audience how much he obviously loved the music. And his love for the music sung laps around the Old Market Theatre.

Little Shop of Horrors, continues to run until Saturday (1st March). So if you are in need of something to do, get yourself down to The Old Market Theatre in Hove. Tickets are £10/£12 and available from here. 

My picks for the Brit Awards 2014

Award season is well underway for 2014, amongst Miley planning who to gyrate upon next and Gaga concocting her next outrageous 'outfit', the battle has truly begun for the Brit Awards this year.  For once, I think the nominees are actually a very good representation of the year 2014 in music, with a solid inclusion of commercial dance from Disclosure & Rudimental and the continuing rise of pop starlets Katy Perry and Ellie Goulding.

Critics Choice

Sam Smith

Chloe Howl

Ella Eyre 

I'll start with the Critics Choice award, which was announced back in January. Every year this accolade seems to give the recipient a superior boost into the music industry, with previous winners including Adele, Florence & The Machines and Emeli Sande. 

Although it was a tough run this year, I think it was always an obvious choice for Sam Smith to win this. After featuring on Naughty Boy & Disclosure tracks, 2013 was simply a prelude for his success. 2014 is iconically going to be Sam Smiths year, and with the upcoming release of his first single 'Money on my Mind', I have no doubt his solo work will dominate the charts.

British Male Solo Artist

John Newman
Jake Bugg
Tom Odell
David Bowie
James Blake

Unfortunately, I don't actually think James Blake is going to win this year, which is a travesty, but in my eyes he is the best British male artist on the scene right now. I think Blake needs a few more years to establish himself, and I can see him winning this for many years to come. Who I actually think is going to win is a tough call. I'd say the battle is between Bowie and Odell.

British Female Solo Artist

Ellie Goulding
Jessie J
Laura Marling
Laura Mvula
Birdy

Laura Mvula's album is one of the best I've bought this year, and she also boasts an incredible live show. I think she's in for a strong chance at the Brits, but also think that Ellie Goulding could nab it due to her being everywhere this year.

British Group

Disclosure
Rudimental
One Direction
Bastille
Arctic Monkeys

If the Arctic Monkeys don't win British Group, I will do something outlandish and post it on here (please, Lord, please...). What a year they've had, with the release of 'AM' and headlining Glastonbury, they are undeniably deserving of this award.

British Breakthrough Act

Disclosure
Bastille
London Grammar
Laura Mvula
Tom Odell

I think this is the toughest one to call this year. I genuinely love all five of these artists, and their albums are constantly playing on my iTunes. I think Bastille might just win this race, but don't quote me on that.

British Single

Bastille - 'Pompei'
Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding - 'I Need Your Love'
Disclosure feat. Aluna George - 'White Noise'
Ellie Goulding - 'Burn'
John Newman - 'Love Me Again'
Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith - 'La, La, La'
Olly Murs - 'Dear Darlin'
One Direction - 'One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks)'
Passenger - 'Let Her Go'
Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre - 'Waiting All Night'

Another really tough one, but I've gone with Rudimental as it was the song of my summer! I think any of the nominees could win this, bar The X Factor back catalogue (Murs & 1D). I'd also love for Passenger to win as 'Let Her Go' reigned in the UK charts for a whopping 43 weeks.

Mastercard British Album Of The Year

Rudimental - 'Home'
Disclosure - 'Settle'
Arctic Monkeys - 'AM'
Bastille - 'Bad Blood'
David Bowie - 'The Next Day'

Again, I'm pretty sure Arctic Monkeys have got this in the bag, but another category where anyone could win! I think Rudimental and Disclosure are cursed for being against each other, as they are equally good albums in my opinion, meaning neither can win as neither can be chosen superior.

International Male Solo Artist

Bruno Mars
Justin Timberlake
Eminem
Drake
John Grant

I think Mars really deserves to win this one. His second album really trumped his first, which is not easily done. No one can deny his talent after that cracking Superbowl performance

International Female Solo Artist

Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Pink
Lorde
Janelle Monae

Three worldwide dominatrixes, and two up and coming giants within this group. But I think, although her live performances lately have been embarrassing, this will probably go to K Pez. 'Roar' was everywhere this year, and I think it will be 'Roar' alone which crowns her champion.

International Group

Arcade Fire
Haim
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Kings of Leon
Arcade Fire

I don't quite know if Haim will take this, but I really really really want them too. I think Arcade Fire are in with a massive shot too, and their latest confirmation of Glastonbury 2014 places them as a public favourite for this coming year.

British Video

One Direction - 'Best Song Ever'
Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding - 'I Need Your Love'
John Newman - 'Love Me Again'
Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith - 'La La La'
Ellie Goulding - 'Burn'

*CONTROVERSIAL ALERT* One Direction's success is undeniable, and one of the things they do really well is a music video. Probably because they're having more money thrown at them than singing lessons, but who's to blame them? I think Naughty Boy could also be in with a chance here, that video still haunts me...

Well, if you've made it this far you've either got nothing to do with your life, or I'm actually managing to hook readers in well. Let's see what happens next Wednesday, I could actually have no idea what I'm talking about and everything above is completely void. If so, er, thanks.

The Signalman, Brighton

It made complete sense that after a wine-fuelled Saturday night a roast dinner would probably be the most sensible idea I could fathom. After a well recommended pub had no spaces, we decided to venture into the unknown and try somewhere completely new, The Signalman on Ditchling Rise.

This meal had the premise to be magical, after all there is nothing better than pub-grub on a hangover, yet I was left significantly ambivalent. The venue is great, a really traditional pub, housed in an old hotel opposite from London Road Station. The decor was unique, and the big windows induced a bright pub, contrary to that dingy stereotypical hovel often associated with pubs nowadays.

The main issue with the meal was in fact the service from both the front of house staff and the kitchen staff. Albeit it was an averagely busy Sunday, yet waiting 45 minutes for a roast beef at a pub solely serving roasts is somewhat extreme. When the meals arrived, they looked very visually pleasing, and I enjoyed my meal a lot. But my friends, who ordered the roast lamb, were bitterly disappointed with the poor cuts of meat they were provided with. Furthermore, about 5 minutes into eating our meals, my friend found a black curly hair nestled within her cabbage. Without being crudely sceptical, either the chef was sporting a raging afro, or this hair was not from their head at all. When we took the meal back to the bar to complain, we were told we had either a 30 minute wait, or could be refunded the cost. After already waiting 45 minutes, my friend decided a further half an hour was completely unnecessary so the latter option was taken. The staff were not at all apologetic, and made light that the hair looked like it was from their head chef, rather than the sous. Yes, hair in meals is a very easy mistake, but it was the resulting attitude which put a dampener on our experience.

All ranting aside, my roast beef was really enjoyable. And the main thing I took from it was that parsnip puree is a genius foodie invention, and I will definitely be trying it myself. The roast potatoes were crisp, the cabbage was seasoned well and the carrots had an enjoyable, sweet crunch. Incredibly, the yorkshire pudding was home-made, which is becoming a dying art-form in UK pubs.

The portion size was really satisfactory, and I came away wanting to fall into a food coma. For £10.95 it was a fair prize, even if I was stung £3 for a glass of coke. 

The Signalman definitely has the potential to be a great pub, a bit of an attitude tweak and an increase in attention to detail and it will be there. 

Find The Signalman at 76-78 Ditchling Rise.

The Year of the Vines

On the 27th of January it was a year since the blessed Vine app became viral, launching the 'careers' of many now certified Vine Celebrities. It's quite ridiculous to think how much attention these 6 second videos are acquiring, names such as Nash Grier, a simple 16 year old have now received more followers than Justin Bieber.

I'll be the first to confess I have a vine account with no videos uploaded, that I use daily to watch these Vine famous 'celebrities' making complete and utter tits of themselves. It's an odd new platform, because I'm starting to feel like I actually know these people. In America, people are paying top dollar to meet these internet phenomenon at arranged meet-ups. 

I have compiled a list of my favourite ten Viners and included my favourite uploads of theirs:

10. Jack & Jack 

Two American guys with the same name, what an original premise for a double act?! They're probably my favourite of the young Viners. 

9. Rudy Manusco

Oh goodie, someone who is not afraid to take the piss out of themselves. Rudy's ability to constantly mock his Mexican roots make him a hilarious follow

8.  Arthur

It's great to see the Brits finally getting some recognition for their Vining efforts. And anyone that mocks our nation's love of a cuppa is a winner in my books.

7. DRose

She is not afraid to speak her mind and has the most adorable little daughter. Both winning combinations, kids and bitch fights.

6. Simone Shepherd

Without coming across myself as exceedingly racist, the constant subtle racism Simone uses never gets tired. Plus she's black, she's allowed to be racist right? (cue racism arguments)

5. Nash Grier

Unfortunately, I think those American Teenage fangirls would start sending me death threats if I didn't feature Nash. Sometimes he is funny, but mainly when his sister is involved. I think fame has gone to his head...

4.  KC James

The 'This Makes No Sense' series are quite possibly the most disturbing yet priceless vines out there at the moment. The one below features a burning pineapple...

3.  Brittany Furlan

Probably the Queen of Vine, girls want to be here, boys want to collaborate with her. She must be one of the most featured Viners out there.

2. Alexander Holtti

This was a very close second place for me. I'm not sure why, but this kills me every time. I think it's his mastering of the comic timing.

1. Jordan Burt

I think mainly, I just want to be him. He is hysterical and everything he does is the perfect of balance of dorkily cool

 

Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow

I have been a massive Bombay Bicycle Club fan since the 2010 'Flaws' album, then after seeing them headline the Word Arena at Latitude in 2011, it was confirmed to me that they are one of my favourite UK bands.

When I heard that they had new material coming out in 2014, I got really excited about the possibility of another 'Ivy and Gold' summer anthem. They are truly the epitome of kicking back in the sun with a cold, crisp cider and good friends. 

Then I heard the first single from the album, 'Carry Me' and I thought "Woah, when did Bombay Bicycle Club grow up?!". The sound on the single, feels dark and trippy, with that prominent baseline creating sore-neck-from-head-banging syndrome. This was not what I expected from their new material, and I have to confess, it took me a few listens to really appreciate their new sound. But once I understood the vibe they were gunning for, it quickly became my favourite song of the end of 2013. 'Carry Me' really left me wandering what the rest of their album would sound like, so I didn't hesitate to put a cheeky pre-order on.

Next came 'Luna', which began to fall back to their older roots, leaving me totally confused as to what to expect. But before I had long enough to let my head implode, the album came and all my questions were answered. The opening track, 'Overdone', again sounds new and fresh, with strings sampling looping throughout, and then begins that grungy indie sound I come to associated with Bombay Bicycle Club. It's a really strong opening track and I can really see this being released as a single at some point during 2014.

I decided my next paragraph would be to discuss two/three other tracks which I really love. But when I came to decide upon these tracks I physically couldn't. 'Eyes off You' deserves a special mention, thanks to it's stripped back musicality, making it sound absolutely euphoric. It's gushy love-song lyrics ("I can't take my eyes off you") don't even bare impact, as the track is completely beautiful, and couldn't carry any other lyrical theme. I have linked a live version of this song below, performed at Maida Vale, it's truly spectacular, and probably my favourite track from the record. 

  The whole album really is a masterpiece and I can already tell it's going to be one of my favourite albums of this year.  The sound really is eclectic, with so many different styles and influences present. 

My advice: buy this album.

(Also, try and see them live this year, I think they're going to be dominating the festival circuits)