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strvngemagics · 4 years ago

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❝ What, like it’s hard? ❞ huh, who’s REBECCA RITTENHOUSE? no, you’re mistaken, that’s actually SELENE BLISHWICK NEÉ ROWLE. she is a THIRTY-THREE year old PUREBLOOD witch who is VP OF TALENT AND PARTNERSHIPS AT A WIXEN TECH & MEDIA COMPANY. she is known for being SELF-ABSORBED, VAIN, APATHETIC, DECEITFUL, and CONTROLLING but also SAVVY, RESILIENT, CREATIVE, ENERGETIC, and ENTHUSIASTIC, so that must be why she always reminds me of the song OH NO! by MARINA and FRESHLY LIT SOY CANDLES, CRYSTAL PAPERWEIGHTS, THE PERFECT SELFIE LIGHTING, WHITE LINEN SHIRTS, AND BROKEN WINE GLASSES. i hear she is aligned with THE DEATH EATERS, so be sure to keep an eye on her.

character parallels: diana, princess of wales, gwenyth paltrow, goop (as in the brand), deelia deetz (beetlejuice), alexis rose (schitt’s creek), fiona goode (ahs coven), emily nelson (a simple favor)

A Q&A WITH SELENE BLISHWICK, MODERN WITCH AND BOSS B*TCH

Witch Weekly caught up with the Vice President of Talent and Partnerships at Blishwix (and new mom!) for some insight into her favourite things and tips on how to be your best #girlboss.

What’s your uniform?

Jumpsuits, flowy blouses and wide-legged pants, sunglasses that cover most of my face, and a sensible heel. A red lippie is also a must.

What was your first job?

Being Gryffindor Prefect feels like it should have qualified as a job, considering all the time I spent on patrol!

Your morning routine?

Well, my son is three months old and has just started to fall into a sleep routine (thank Merlin!) so he will gently rouse (read: scream) me awake around 5:30. I’ll usually breastfeed while checking my emails, texts, and DMs, because it’s all about multitasking! One perk of traveling as much as I have is that I have friends in almost every timezone — the notifs are constant. After Zephyr is fed, I’ll pass him off to my husband to play peek-a-boo while I shower, foam roll, and make a green juice or tea.

I’m working from home until we transition Zep to having a nanny, so I generally won’t get dressed unless I have lunch or a meeting to attend.

First celebrity crush?

Oh, this is so embarrassing — the drummer from Nine Inch Wands? I had a severe goth phase. It happens to the best of us.

Wouldn’t leave home without?

Moonflower moisturizer from UNICRN, a (fully-charged) laptop, a fresh orange.

Proudest moment?

When Wick changed a nappy for the first time — I knew then and there our marriage was sturdier than a mountain made of trolls.

Your bucket-list wellness experience?

I have seen so many kitschy Korean spa trips on WixPix. I want one of those treatments where they scrub you within an inch of your life. Then a nice soak in a seaweed bath and just like, a bucket of bibimbap.

Mentors?

Every woman who has ever worked at Blishwix. Getting to know so many interesting and inspiring witches at every age — it’s so wonderful. Witnessing their lives, their wins, and their woes has lead me to believe more in myself and trust that I am headed into the direction I am meant to go.

Perfect Sunday afternoon?

Shopping in Diagon or Sloane Street with my sister Vesta, then home to snuggle with my baby and enjoy something pasta-y and delicious with my husband that evening.

The things you buy in bulk?

Pepperup — I’m so susceptible to colds — cashmere-wool mid calf socks, and freeze-dried strawberries.

Drink of choice?

I’m obsessed with juices — anything that’s very kale-forward. If I’m being naughty, a dry martini or gillywater and gin.

Favourite movie?

The Woodstock documentary! It's so beautiful and inspiring that thousands of people came together for three wonderful days of peace and music.

How often do you recharge your crystals?

Every full moon!

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asndksjdfsd ANYWAY. some shit abt selene’s personality:

like her husband, selene blishwick is full of shit. if wick is the engineer and tech brain behind blishwix’s products, selene is the ‘natural’-product peddling, #influencerstatus, charming (read: bitchy White Feminist) face of the brand and responsible for seeking the up-and-coming entertainers and corporations who will take their company from impressive start-up to cultural mainstay. like wick, selene’s primary objective is to get blishwix products and apps into every wix’s hand to track and monitor their behavior — and her immediate second objective is to make a fuckton of money doing so.

don’t let her foolish, goop-esque ways fool you — selene is constantly scheming about how to utilize the latest trends to squeeze an unsuspecting public dry of both their money and their private info.

she and her husband do love each other and are clearly a work team/match made in hell, but there’s def some mutual cheating going on that they should probably address (but will they?!?! who knows)

selene’s relationship with her younger sister vesta is complicated. vesta knows how to push her buttons and strike at her insecurities, many of which stem from the fact that selene fears her sister can and will usurp her in terms of glamor, style, talent, etc. she loves ves but it’s hidden under a thick layer of backhanded compliments and petty betrayals.

selene is terrified of aging. catch her slathering on skin products every second of every day

[POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION TW] she loves her son zephyr (even more than she loves the number of likes he’ll get on her wixpix), but selene is suffering from postpartum depression hard and is yet to realize that she can’t reiki meditate her way out of it [end tw]

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STATS

name. selene blishwick (neé rowle)

nickname. none

birthdate. 7th june 1998

place of birth. st. mungo’s

family. vesta rowle (sister), extended rowle cousins, zephyr blishwick (son)

relationship status. married to jimbo blishwick vi.

occupation. vp of talent and partnerships at blishwix media; influencer

gender identity. cis-woman

romantic orientation. biromantic

sexuality. bisexual

blood status. pureblood

pets. tbd

HOGWARTS / MAGIC

house. formergryffindor

allegiance. the death eaters

n.e.w.t. grades. defense (a), charms (a), herbology (e), potions (e), history of magic (a), ancient runes (e), care of magical creatures (a)

wand. tbd

boggart. tbd

amortentia. tbd

magical strengths. tbd

magical weaknesses. tbd

PERSONALITY

zodiac.

sun - gemini

moon - scorpio

rising - leo

#potterintro #this is baaaaad #but r's beautiful intro inspired me to finish #* ' selene.#depression tw #food mentions throughout tw

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brideylee · 4 years ago

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Anti- Fan Fiction: James Woods and Robert Blake at Dan Tana’s

The air inside is hot, full of dust, and too many rotting mouths had ordered the lasagna. James Woods sits in his corner booth at Dan Tana’s in the main room with his eyes on the bar full of shouting men in suits. Some are West Hollywood slick fratties and others more smelly and introspective in itchy tweed from the land of 70s character actor city. Squeezed in between these men taking up more space than needed with either their narcissistic sadness or their loud, cologned bravado are some young women desperately trying to enjoy a martini at the historic restaurant, but instead are resigned to hear a bald someones life story and feeling many passing hands needlessly touch their bare backs as men hover and spill around them.

Woods watches disgustedly, he watches everything disgustedly: babies being born, the sunrise, an elderly woman saying “Hello, Deary”. It all makes him sick. His belly protrudes forward as he holds back a sudden burp and he releases some air through his famously skeezy lips as though exhaling cigarette smoke. He is repulsively sexy in his stony confidence. He checks his watch and decides to complain about something. Dead eyed with his arm stretched out, he points at a maitre de who is pushing 90 and is only meant to be looked at by tourists as a part of the ambiance. The command of Woods pointing hypnotizes the ancient man and he walks over in submission thinking this could hopefully be death itself beckoning him home.

Woods gives him his iconic half smile, where one side of his mouth stays in place while the other curls up his cheek as though being lifted by a fish hook, his head tips forward and his round dark eyes look up at him like an alcoholic father who “doesn’t want to have to discipline.” “Hey sarge, the bread is a little chewy, mind popping it in the microwave or something. I could break my teeth on it. And heat the butter up. It’s fresh, its just not soft.” Woods gets bored with himself half way through his criticism and winks at a woman at the bar whose glance regrettably fell on him. The maitre de with no capacity left to hear, nods and takes the bread away, disappointed to still be breathing.

Woods spots Tim Allen alone in a four person booth holding up a plate to his face, licking it feverishly. They lock eyes and give each other big, knowing smirks, like two people who both know where the body is. Allen gleefully goes back to lapping up the rest of the marinara, grease all over his chin, his napkin bib coming into good use. “Funniest man in America” Woods thinks to himself before being distracted by some plastic cleavage walking by.

Suddenly, the air in the restaurant cools as the door wafts open and a small shadowy figure enters with the silhouette of a miniature cowboy. “Finally.” James Woods says as Robert Blake plops down across from him “Are we angry?” Blake says defiantly with his headed tilted back, his lids hanging low and heavy across his beetle eyes. “There is this thing called time, Robert. I’ve been waiting here an hour.” Blake laughs with a childish grin crossing his face, and somehow in the smooth red lighting of Tana's, he looks twenty years younger, though still disturbingly gaunt, and getting more pale by the minute like a man whose only sustenance is the unease he inspires. He’s wearing a black velvet cowboy hat that looks too big for him, making him along with his small stature appear like an elderly child. “Time!” Blake regales with impish laughter as though hearing an old joke he hasn’t heard out loud in years. Woods stews, his eye twitches and he chews on the inside of his mouth. Blake’s laugher continues, even Tim Allen interrupts his slurping to peak at where this sinister chortling is coming from.

After a few minutes, Blake calms down and stares at Woods lovingly. “You were always funnier than me, Woods. Never give that up, you can fall back on it.” Blake was full of these little jabs, always insinuating that Woods acting career never amounted to anything. Rehearsing a hurtful father son dynamic was one of the only ways these men could show their love. “How’s the old lady?” Blake is referring to Woods’ twenty-two year old girlfriend. “Driving me nuts,” says Woods gazing off, then he leans in towards Robert. “In all the right ways.” He winks at Robert. “Pet a pussy cat on the head too much, and they go bald.” Blake warns. Woods blinks, confused. He had a love-hate relationship with Blakes morsels of wisdom. On one hand it’s why he enjoyed his company so much, on the other hand, Blake had a way of making him question everything, particularly Blake’s sanity. Woods decides to change the subject.

“Some shrimp cocktail I ordered us an hour ago. They might be too dead to eat.” He slides an ornate glass rimmed with withered shrimp in front of Blake. All the ice inside the glass is melted and the shrimp look like they know how pathetic their fate is. Blake knocks all the shrimp off the edge of the glass towards the center and gulps them down like he’s taking a shot of vodka before going bear hunting.

“So, what do you make of this 'Covid 19'” Woods puts Covid 19 in air quotes and his head bobbles with cocky indifference. “It’ll go away.” Blake states between sips of the shrimp water. “Everything goes away, James.” Blake studies the menu. “Not quite Vitello's…” James didn’t want to get into a Dan Tana's versus Vitellos fight tonight. For one, Blake hadn’t been there in decades since he took his wife there before having her killed and more than that Blake was just biased because Dan Tana's never named a pasta after him. Woods lets it slide, he understands the irrelevancy Blake feels to the modern world and the pain of being pushed farther and father back inside Hollywoods skeleton closet.

Yet, although Woods sees Blake as an oracle, his secret virus fears remain. There is a social distancing trend hyped in the media and a possible impending lock down for Los Angeles; a city full of the most insecure egos on the planet. A city that needed to love, use, and discard people so regularly that the notion of a lockdown seemed to go against its code of conduct. Furthermore, Woods cant stand being in his house with his girlfriend for more than three hours, two if there was no oral sex involved, but even worse is the idea of being alone.

His anxiety is spiking as Blake with half glasses on seemed completely engrossed in the menu, ignoring him just like his old man. Woods dips into the pocket of his blazer and dabs his pinkie into a tiny bag of coke, neatly putting it away and rubbing the gums of his front teeth expertly discreet. Blake raises his eye brows. “They’ve got a chicken named after Sidney Beckerman. Did you know him?” Woods shakes his head, and gestures to a waiter to bring more water with an agro snottiness only he could pull off. “He produced Kelly’s Heroes. Good guy, but I never liked him.” Blake starts singing “Que Sera Sera” by Doris Day under his breath, while perusing the menu like it’s a gun catalogue.

Woods patience runs out, he blows a long grey hair out of his eyes and grabs the menu from Blake. He smacks a passing waiter on the back with the menu. “We’re gonna split a plain cheese pizza with a side of spaghetti, and two Roy Rogers. And lots of grenadine for this one right here.” Blake smiles like a school boy brat, pleased.

“So listen, have you been following it at all?” “Following what?” Blake says with a gentle, Warhol deadpan. “The virus horse shit… Robert, they’re saying that we all need to go into isolation. That it’s airborne.” Blake whips the red napkin into his lap. “Get a hold of yourself. Will you? Fear is airborne. Do you know how many motherfuckers, here, still believe in Lincoln?” Blakes shifts were dramatic. Sometimes, he felt like you were talking to a screwy relative of Yoda and other times he had the grit of a dried up cowboy that had made love with Joe Pesci.

“FUCK YOU! NO!” The volume of Tim Allen shouting into his Motorolla razor silenced the place for a good twenty-seconds. “500 million dollars in CASH or you can take your Santa Clause 6 and…make Santa Clause piss!!” The manager started a clap to diffuse any tension. After a smattering of applause, the place went back to normal. “Can I get a big brownie?” Tim Allen screams towards the kitchen like a kid at his grandparents house.

Their Roy Rogers are placed on the table. Woods is sweating as the coke is hitting, and he can feel his phone vibrate with texts from his often pilled out girlfriend. Texts like “Can you remind me where the refrigerator is?”

Blake raises his glass, admiring the red flesh of the maraschino cherry and the slow dance of the grenadine syrup descending towards the bottom, surrendering to him like a wounded lover. “Cheers! May we remember to lock the doors and make the baby swallow the key.” They clink glasses. Blake does a long exaggerated gasp of refreshment, his tongue wagging out of his mouth for a long time.

“Woods, what do you think it was that got in the way of your success?” Triggered and high, Woods replies, coke speed with spit collecting at the corners of his mouth. “Well, I think it was a lot of things. Particularly, that I am a man who values his freedom of speech and I don’t like my rights trampled on by so called “progressives” and you know I thought I was pretty good in Ray Donovan, but I really wasn’t given much of a script, but, ah, fuck.” He wipes his forehead and collects himself. “Blake. I have a serious question.” They stare at each other. Blake has a gravelly distance between his soul and his eyes, but something in Woods reaches him. Their cheese pizza and spaghetti ruptures the eye contact, but Woods can’t give up.

“Say there is a lock down, and this virus is serious. I can’t be alone with the kiddo for that long, you know what I mean? I need a friend. Someone I can pal around with. Someone that gets it. Man to man. Blake, do you think we can live together? Either at the Ranch in Burbank or my place, wherever you feel the most like you can be you.” Woods heart is racing, this is the most vulnerable he’s felt since since the scene in The Virgin Suicides after his daughters die.

Blake stares at him coldly and takes a bite of pizza. “This virus frightens you.” Woods frustratedly digs into the pizza, his heart; a little more vacant, and confused. “Don’t worry.” Blake reaches into his pocket and takes out a vile of clear liquid and places it next to the spaghetti. “I got a cure for that.” Woods examines it. “Is this-“ “A vaccine” Blake says satisfied. “One sip and everything goes away.”

“CHANGE OF PANTS? PLEASE, CAN I GET A CHANGE OF PANTS” Tim Allen roars with a lap full of chocolate brownie. His face and khaki pants are covered in chocolate. But Woods stays transfixed on the vile. “Where the hell did you?…” “We had to make vaccines during breaks on Little Rascals. Bastards always put us to work any way they could. Learned a thing or two though and this one is special… everything goes away. “Have you used it?” Woods asks, his head cocked to the side, watching the liquid float like the clear lip gloss his girlfriend….Kelly? Katy? wears. “Used it plenty of times. Plenty of times.” Says Blake with the resigned faith of a Southern preacher.

“Well, even so, if there’s a lock down, can I bunk with you? Forgive me, you’re single now, right?” “I’m dating, but nothing to write home about," the eighty-six year old answers. Woods looks up from the vile, expectantly. “Listen, kid. My space is sacred. It’s between me and God. I don’t know if you think I can get you a bit part in something or…” “No, I just would like your company that’s all.” Woods assures him. “A man who can’t sleep alone, sleeps while awake. Take the vaccine. You’ll be free.” Woods leans back. Blake always cuts him open and leaves him smelling like the chicken broth that seemed to emanate from Blakes pores. But that’s often the medicine Woods needs. He uncorks the vile, holds it up dramatically,“Salud!”

Allen is standing in his boxers by his booth with his arms crossed waiting for the waiters to bring him pants while Woods finishes the last drop. The blood red walls moist from poor insulation seem to pulse around Woods as Blake stares at him. “Hows it feel?” “Like…uh..like nothing. I mean… like it was water, a placebo?” Blake giggles shaking his head.

Pants-less Tim Allen walks over to their table. “Hey Robert! I haven’t seen you in ages!” They high five. “You know me, keepin’ busy back at home.” Allen turns to Woods, “How ya doing, bud?” and then turn backs to Blake. “You know you’d be perfect for the next Santa Clause movie. You haven’t been in any of them yet, right? “Not yet!” “Well, right on,Cowboy!” Allen and Blake high five again. Woods gets dizzy and starts blinking slowly trying to steady himself. Perhaps taking a vaccine manufactured by Robert Blake was not smart, he didn’t know for sure. He barely knew anything. “Woods, isn’t it time we scroll through our imdb pages?” Blake baits him with their tradition. Woods nods and types his name into his phone. “I love this game! Can I play?” Tim sits down.

Woods can’t focus his eyes very well, but he has typed his name into imdb four times and nothing is coming up. Tim Allen can’t help himself “Ok, so this is a show I was on where I played like a handy man…” His mouth hangs open as he excitedly awaits the men to guess what show. “Garfield.” answers Blake without sarcasm. “It’s not working….” Woods interrupts. “Whats with your friend?” Tim Allen asks annoyed. Blakes eyes don’t leave Woods who is squinting at his phone. “Ok, I’m a dad and a handyman…” “My credits are all gone.” James’s voice seems to morph an octave lower the walls seem to run into the leather booths and booths seem to melt into the floors and drip into the basement where a drunk couple are fucking among cans of tomato sauce.

Woods psyche seeps further into the earths crust, mantle and then core where he watches his entire identity burned in the furnace of mother earths blazing kiln. Alone with himself. To Allen and Blake, his body sitting at the booth looks like a prosthetic suite empty of an actor inside. “The vaccine works.” Blake thinks to himself sipping his pink drink through a straw. Allen whips his head from Woods to Blake and in his classic broad Tim Allen way says “Uhh, am I missing something???”

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nazariolahela · 5 years ago

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Something Domestic: Chapter 1

A/N: Hey y'all! This is a new TRR AU I’ve been working on. This story is told in first-person narrative, from Riley’s (MC) POV. There will likely be smidges of canon in this, but not too much. Thanks for reading, and please leave feedback, and/or if you would like to be tagged.

Thanks to my guardian angel and internet best friend forever, @burnsoslow. I appreciate you, boo! 😘

Synopsis: When Riley Brooks takes a new job as a nanny for the affluent Rhys family in New York’s Upper East Side, she assumes she’s just going to care for the children of the couple who hired her. But instead of just school pick-ups and afternoon snacks, she also finds herself spending time with Liam, the handsome divorced dad. Can Riley control her feelings for Liam while still performing the job she was hired for?

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Riley meets her new employers.

The city zooms by as I stare out the tinted windows of the town car I’m riding in. I’m on my way to interview for the nanny position for one of the most upscale families in New York and my palms are damp. What if the kids don’t like me? What if I don’t like them? Or the parents for that matter. What if the father tries to seduce me? Will the mother have me fired because she thinks I’m sleeping with her husband? Thoughts invade my mind as I try to calm myself. I’ve never nannied for a family of this stature before and I don’t know much about them, other than who they are. Depending on how this job goes, it could make or break my career.

The car stops in front of a luxurious penthouse. I crane my neck to scale the height of the building. 60, maybe 70 floors. Who knows? The driver opens the door for me and I exit the vehicle, making my way to the entrance. I’m greeted by a well-dressed doorman.

“Good afternoon. Can I help you, miss?” he says, smiling.

“Riley Brooks. I’m here to see the Rhys family,” I reply, fumbling with the untucked hem of my blouse, quickly tucking it back in the waistband of my skirt. He nods and steps aside, holding the door open for me.

I walk through the magnificent entry vestibule and enter the double-height marble lobby. The view makes me stop in my tracks. This place is incredible. It rivals the lobby of a five-star hotel. A cream-colored banquette round settee sofa sits in the middle of the room, with two circular metal end tables on each side. A gold metal-framed coffee table with a clear beveled glass top sits next to two upholstered grain Italian leather high back chairs. Strewn across the surface are copies of Robb Report, The New Yorker, and DuPont Registry. A crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling, illuminating the room in a warm glow.

A single receptionist desk presides on the left side of the room, where a short, middle-aged woman with chestnut brown hair sits, thumbing through the latest issue of Trend Magazine. When she notices me, her head shoots up and she tucks the magazine under a stack of papers.

“Welcome. What can I do for you today, miss…?” she pauses, studying my face. “Are you a resident here?”

“I’m not. I have an 11 a.m. meeting with the Rhys family for their nanny position. My name is Riley Brooks.”

She eyes me incredulously. “You seem a little young to be a nanny,” she huffs, then flips through an appointment book. “Ah yes, Miss Brooks. The Rhys are expecting you. Take the elevator up to the Penthouse level. Someone will be there to let you in.” She nods her head toward the elevator on the right side of the room and returns to her magazine.

I make my way through the lobby and step onto the elevator. I take a deep breath and press “PH,” my hands trembling slightly. The car jolts and begins its ascent to the top floor. I pull out my phone and shoot off a quick text to my best friend and roommate Hana, filling her in.

I smile, tucking the phone back into my purse as the elevator car arrives at the top. The door glides open and I step out into the foyer. As I walk through to the main part of the penthouse, I’m immediately blown away by how elegant this place is. The main floor is a massive open cellar with impressive double-height ceilings. The interior has a fresh and modern style, flooded with natural sunlight coming in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. A set of heels clicking on the marble tile breaks me from my trance and I turn to see a stunning woman with a shoulder-length blonde bob coming in my direction. She’s around my height with a slim build. Her black polka dot blazer and red pants hug the curves of her body. Her emerald green eyes are piercing as they look me up and down.

“Ah. You must be the new nanny. I’m Madeleine Karlington,” she says, extending her manicured hand. I take it in mine and give her a hearty shake. “Come. Everyone else is in the living room,” she says, pulling back her hand before turning and heading back in the direction she came.

I follow behind her, taking in the penthouse. She leads me through the large eat-in kitchen with imported counters and top-of-the-line appliances, to the living room. A wood-burning fireplace adorns the only wall without windows. Three large floor-to-ceiling windows give me an unobstructed East, South, and West view showcasing the East River and every iconic landmark midtown building in the city. The sun casts a warm glow through the already bright room. There’s no way a family with children lives here. The room is all-white-everything.

I turn away from the windows to my left and see a tall man with sandy blonde hair rise from the plush white sofa. Good lord, he’s an Adonis. He’s at least six foot four, his thick blond hair is parted slightly on the left side of his head, his high cheekbones shape his beautiful face. His sapphire blue eyes glitter, making any woman who looks into them weak in the knees. His soft pink lips frame his straight white teeth, making his smile to-die-for. He’s wearing a maroon sweater over a white dress shirt, and dark denim jeans. Through his sweater, I can make out the outlines of his muscles. He definitely works out. I’m pulled from my daydream to see a young boy and girl both with platinum locks staring me down from their hiding place behind their father’s legs.

Before anyone can speak, Madeleine introduces me to her family. “This is Riley. She’s here to interview for your new nanny. Please be respectful.” She motions me to the center of the room where the sofa and a matching loveseat and chair are sitting in a semicircle with a glass-top coffee table in the center. Liam and the children take a seat on the sofa. I sit down in the chair and smile at the kids. Madeleine sits down on the loveseat and turns to me.

“So, Riley. Tell us a little bit about yourself,” she says, leaning forward to retrieve a martini from the coffee table. She then sits back and takes a long pull from her glass.

I take a deep breath. “Well, I’m 25. I’m originally from Brooklyn, I have a BS in Early Childhood Education from NYU Steinhardt. I was going to become a teacher, but I took a job with the nanny agency to pay for school and ended up falling in love with it. I’ve been a nanny full-time for two years now, and I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of you,” I smile, turning towards the kids, who are curled up next to their father on the sofa. My eyes travel up to his face, and his blue eyes sparkle as he smiles at me.

“Riley, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Liam, and this is Charlotte and Phillip. Charlotte is six, Phillip is four,” he says, wrapping an arm around each child, snuggling them close to his body.

As he speaks, I catch myself fantasizing about him. I imagine those blue eyes staring into mine as I rip off his sweater and run my hands down his broad chest. My pulse races as I think about kissing those lips. My eyes travel down the length of his torso to his hands as they rest on each child’s shoulder. His hands are just as perfect as the rest of him, long fingers ending in short, clean nails. I pause at how big they are. He’s a tall guy, so I’m not surprised by their size, but I’m shocked at just how big they are. My mind reverts to that old saying, “Big Hands, Big Feet…” and I feel a blush creep up my face. Stop it. He’s your potential boss.

Shaking the thoughts from my mind, I focus my attention on the kids. Charlotte, the six-year-old, has her mother’s stunning emerald green eyes and a head of platinum blonde hair pulled into two pigtail braids that rest on her shoulders. Her pudgy cheeks are tinted a rosy pink and her nose curves up at a slight point. She’s wearing a light green dress with a blue bow and white sandals. Judging by how her mom looks, she’s going to be a knockout when she grows up. Phillip, the four-year-old, has a mess of sandy blonde hair atop his head, and the same sapphire blues as his dad. His pert nose sits on his face, nostrils caked with a thin-layer of snot.

I straighten up and turn my attention back to Liam and then Madeleine. “So, tell me more about yourselves,” I say. Madeleine looks to me, then Liam, then back to me. “Well, I work in PR for Fydoria Communications and Liam is CEO of Cordonia Enterprises. We’ve lived in this penthouse for about seven years. Liam spends about 50/50 time between the office and here, so occasionally, you’ll see him around the house, but he’ll be working, so you’ll need to tend to the children full-time. I work from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., so I’m usually here around six to relieve you of your duties. We won’t require you to work on weekends unless something comes up where both of us are unavailable, and we’ll try to give you twelve hours notice.”

“Okay,” I reply. “Can you tell me about what my duties with the kids will be?”

Liam chimes in. “Charlotte is starting first grade at Stormholt Elementary in a few weeks, and Phillip stays home so you’ll be with him full-time while Charlotte’s in school. We’ll need you to drop her off at 8 a.m. and pick her up at 3:30 p.m., as well as help her with her homework and handle snacks,” he says.

I nod. “Do you have a vehicle I can use for pick-ups and drop-offs? I don’t drive.”

Madeleine answers, “We have a town car and a driver at your disposal. You can use them any time you have the children. The driver lives in an apartment here in the building and he’s on-call during work hours, so you can just call him and he’ll take you where you need to go.”

I listen intently, absorbing every bit of information about the job. Take the kids to school, pick them up, feed and tend to them until their parents get home. Seems easy enough. “Will I be required to cook or clean anything while I’m here?” I ask.

Liam chuckles and shakes his head. “No. We have a cleaning service that comes on Saturdays, and our personal chef Mira comes on Sundays. The only cooking and cleaning you’ll need to do is to prepare snacks for the kids and pick up any mess you or they make.”

Charlotte starts tugging on his Liam’s shirt, “Daddy. I’m bored,” she whines, while Phillip rubs his eyes and stifles a yawn. He looks down at the children, then across to Madeleine, whose expression is unreadable. “The kids are getting fidgety which means it’s almost naptime. Do you have any questions for Riley?” he asks her.

She downs the rest of her martini and sets the glass on the table. “We’ve already done an extensive background check on her through the agency, so I know she’s not a criminal. I also have copies of her resume and college transcript, so I know her credentials are legitimate. If you don’t have any other questions, I think we’re finished here.”

Liam’s lips curl into a grin and he turns his attention to me, “I have just one more question. When can you start?”

#trr au #trr fanfic #liam rhys #madeleine karlington #riley brooks #the royal romance #playchoices fanfic #something domestic #nanny au #nazariolahela fanfic

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tvmoviechristmas · 5 years ago

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Christmas at the Plaza (Hallmark, 2019)

There is nothing going on between Nick and me except Christmas.

Starring: Elizabeth Henstridge, Ryan Paevey (he’s hot!), Bruce Davison, Julia Duffy

Plot Synopsis: With Christmas approaching in New York City, Jessica, an archival historian enmeshed in a declining romantic relationship, is hired to create an exhibition honoring the history of Christmas at The Plaza Hotel. There, she meets Nick, a handsome decorator who’s been commissioned to deck out the iconic landmark. When they’re paired together to prepare the exhibition, they wind up enjoying a host of holiday traditions together and find themselves falling for each other. Tensions soon rise as Jessica must figure out her romantic priorities and decide with whom she’ll ultimately spend Christmas at The Plaza. (x)

In My Humble Opinion: There’s this new sect of Hallmark movies that I like to call, “We were able to get this movie made because it’s a tourism advertisement!” These movies primarily involve our heroine visiting a place and then learning various facts about it while falling in love. The falling in love part is secondary to the facts though.

The Christmas at Graceland movies are the primary example of this trend, but in the coming weeks, it will be more of a thing. Christmas in Dollywood is coming up in December. Christmas in Rome is happening on Saturday. And last night? Last night there was Christmas at the Plaza.

Considering it has been over a decade since Eloise stomped around there with Julie Andrews during the Christmas season, it was time for a new made-for-TV Christmas movie advertisement for the location. And boy is Christmas at the Plaza an advertisement. I have never learned so many random facts about a place in my life. Did I remember any of these facts? No. But that did not stop the facts from coming at me fast and furious! So many facts, so many very boring facts.

When the facts weren’t being thrown in my face, I had to suffer through an incredibly boring romance. Hallmark movies are known for telling you two characters have chemistry instead of showing you they do, but this really takes the cake. At no point was I looking forward to seeing these two characters interact again, which was a real accomplishment because when they weren’t interacting we were just being told more Plaza fun facts. Can you imagine how boring your romance is when being told history facts about the Plaza is more appealing? Can you imagine?????

They say all throughout the movie that nothing unimportant ever happens at the Plaza, but this movie just might be that. A very easy movie to skip during your holiday season. You can just look at a picture of Ryan Paevey instead and you’ll get all the highlights.

Watch If: You’re using your PhD to study Christmas trees, you prefer your ice in a martini glass or if you are an almost famous musical theater actress.

Skip If: You aren’t punctual, if you think tons of history has been made up, or if you would never mess with the karaoke order.

Final Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

If you like this blog, consider donating on my Ko-fi page!

#christmas at the plaza #review #hallmark #2 stars

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oh-my-otome · 8 years ago

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Midnight Cinderella Suitor’s Fashions

@aquisces-arts wanted to see what the suitors would look like in modern clothes, so I did my best conceptualizing what each would wear and why.

Let’s start with King Byron:

Byron dresses very monochromatically-- wearing different shades of black head to toe, and choosing gold accents that catch the light.

If you look at his hair, you can see that his wisps are very controlled. Even his cowlick is styled neatly. He would probably use a light pomade. The details on the jeans give texture without distraction, like his black casual shirt in the game.

The gold zipper on the knees also satisfies his love of gold hardware. If you notice, Byron does not wear jewelry aside from his earring, which he shares with Nico, so I think a planetary key chain would be a good choice for him, as it combines his star-gazing hobby with an outlet for an accessory.

Of course, a Rolex is a must, and I think he would always give himself a chaste spritz of cologne before stepping out of the door. This scent is unisex and has a dry-down that smells of vanilla, woods and leather.

I don’t think he would shy away from stylish shoes-- he may even be a subtle trend-setter. Because Byron can hold his liquor with the best of them, and because he doesn’t tend to let himself get too casual out in the open, I thought martini glass novelty socks would be a fun twist. It would be his own little secret. While it may not be that wild of a thing for the rest of us, considering Byron’s aloof personality, he may feel that it really is daring indeed.

Let’s keep going with another king, Robert:

Robert’s overcoat may be green, but he actually wears a lot of brown and beige. I feel like Robert would want to keep a low profile-- he’s not into drawing attention to himself.

Robert seems like he would be at home in comfortable clothes that are no-fuss, and extra-comfy. He may purposefully fly coach, but his fancy schmancy luggage would be designer first class-- the better to spot it on the carousel in the airport.

I think he would splurge on some plush headphones to pass the time on the plane, as he country-hops. Since he likes rather long necklaces, I kept the length, but changed the style, so that it wouldn’t compete with his favorite tee.

Because he likes to switch up his hair-do, flexible shaping spray is a must; and you just know he’s the type to carry a pocket comb. I also added some scrub because he just seems like the type to exfoliate at least once a week.

In his bag, he probably has a small journal for jotting down whatever corner bistros catch his fancy. Maybe he even has a small sketch pad and colored pencils, too, for when inspiration strikes.

As for footwear, he would need something super comfortable to carry him from museum to museum. The paint splatter on these are a callback to his profession.

Here’s what I think Nico would wear:

Because Nico’s hair is already dyed pink, I think he wouldn’t try to be too matchy with his clothing. One item that matches and that’s it, so I tied in the color of his locks with a button-down. The pants give him ease of movement, since he does all types of ninja stuff when you’re not looking. Plus it has lots of pocket space; you just know he’s got all types of short swords, poison darts, tea cups and whatever else. As one does.

As Nico is the only suitor who canonically conceal-carries, I thought having him carry a large pocket knife, with other accessories, would suit his tastes. Nico also tends to wear suspenders, both on his butler uniform and his casual clothes, so I gave him a pair here as well.

He seems, to me, to be the type who just sticks their hand in the closet and puts on whatever comes out, so I gave him items which are both black and brown to maximize his styling options for whatever he throws on that day.

He has a comfortable pair of shoes for quick escapes. Nico likes wearing scarves and neckties. Here, I’ve given him a bandana instead, which he can wear for fashion or use as a bandage. In keeping up with his big bro, they have the same headphones, only Nico’s are silver.

Here, Nico’s overall look reflects his character: completely unassuming badass.

I feel like Alyn would be a sneaker head:

He tends to make his shoes the focal point. He would be the type to have a whole closet section just for his shoes. He needs style and function-- something that would suit his tastes and also allow him to defend the princess even when off-duty. I feel like he would choose hard-toe boots and sneakers with a lot of cushioning.

Alyn keeps his shirts plain, almost always choosing raglan shirts and henleys in baby soft modal cotton. He goes with a basic feel-good pair of jeans in a deep color, every time.

He almost always chooses to wear red and navy together. Playing up the red in his eyes, and his auburn hair, you can find that color in everything from his tees, to his shoes, to his phone case.

As he is technically always on duty to guard the princess, Alyn, like Nico, would carry a small knife. Since he wears a necklace with almost every outfit as it is, I chose to give him a ring instead.

Alyn trains hard everyday as part of his job, so I feel like he would be concerned about smelling like it, too. This exfoliating soap smells of cedar wood and oak moss, and would keep him smelling so fresh and so clean.

Leo, like his twin, also accessorizes with red a lot:

I didn’t want to make them too matchy, though. Unlike Alyn, Leo tends to roll his sleeves up, so I gave him a tee, plus a flannel shirt that has tabs to hold up the sleeves. Leo calls more attention to himself, so he would like louder jeans than Alyn, who doesn’t go in for distressing.

Leo wears a lot of hardware every day, so I simplified it to just a bracelet and a necklace. The dog tag has a cross on it, just like Leo’s brooch. Because he is afraid to sleep, I imagine Leo drinks a lot of coffee to keep himself awake. Since he’s always encouraging the princess, I chose a coffee mug that encouraged him instead.

If you look at his sprites, Leo wears a lot of different materials, so to visualize that, I went with different textures. The stars on his sneakers are raised, the tee is textured jersey for softness, and the jeans have mock rips. To pull in the reds that he goes for, I thought he would like this phone case with a colorful snake.

Let’s do Giles:

I feel like Giles would be the type of person who would be chucking deuces on the way out of the office door, on a Friday, like “lmao, see you suckers!”

He would be as dressed down as possible. He wears so many hats, so I think he would be the most likely to sleep in. Rather than drinking coffee, he would probably have a hot chocolate overflowing with marshmallows to satisfy his sweet tooth.

I gave him a feather soft twin set with flocking so that he could cozy up with his kitty and get some shut eye. But, should the princess suggest it, Giles would throw on some smart duds and hang out at the local coffee shop, no matter how pooped he felt. Here, he’s drinking a mocha cookie crumble frappacino. His second one that evening. And don’t touch his vanilla scones! Okay, maybe a bite-- a small one.

Albert has no chill, so I think that this is as dressed down as you’ll ever see him:

The jeans are quilted and paneled for a biker inspired look, and they are flexible enough that he can take down any attackers without a wardrobe malfunction. I didn’t give him a knife, because I thought he would probably go for hand-to-hand combat.

If Albert was going to make a statement, I think he would do it with actual words. So you can not only feel his disdain, you can read it, too. He’d definitely have a snarky coffee mug and his phone case reflects his work ethic.

Because Albert canonically works until he drops, his version of casual clothes are simply whatever is under his uniform that day. He just takes his coat off, but it probably feels like heaven to him at the end of the day. It looks so heavy!

While Alyn and Nico would have shoes with traction so they can do knight stuff, Albert would choose oxfords because he is also the king’s adviser. He has to do two jobs at once, so he needs to be able to look the part as he transitions between supporting the crown and actually defending it.

I gave him a sturdy watch and kept his glasses mostly the same. Since this is modern Albert, I imagine that he would wear contacts for the most part and switch to glasses after hours.

Albert often wears ties, but I gave him a dog tag made with black sapphire stones instead.

Louis wears almost all blue, so I added in some brown accents to switch it up:

I gave him some dressy-casual oxfords to take him from the ball room to the chic café in town. He has a patterned scarf since, like Nico, he can’t go without something covering his neck. Instead of gloves, I thought he might like a thick cuff bracelet. Louis looks so delicate, so I wanted to choose different materials and textures.

I get the feeling that, no matter what, his sense of style is always semi-formal, but he tries to use at least one piece of clothing to make it a little casual. Even though he complains about the formalities of his social rank, he can’t quite bring himself to dress down like a townie, but he doesn’t feel like himself all dolled up in a tux either.

Louis’ hair is always on point-- and it looks so fluffy! But I bet if you touched it, it would be full of hair gunk to keep those tresses right where he wants them.

I wanted to give Sid something he could run to the store or hang out in:

I think Sid is very meticulous about his skincare and always buys the full product line. He would always have a pair of sunglasses in his pocket. His faux leather jacket has an attached hoodie, providing not only warmth-- but he can also use it to disguise himself.

I think this look will help him blend in, since he tends to go to more casual places to do his work. Similar to the hood, the sunglasses also give him an incognito look. Since Sid works all over in different countries, he would listen to music during his commute.

I didn’t pair Sid with any fragrance, because I thought that would make him stand out more-- which is bad for the type of work that he does. He doesn’t need people remembering specific details about him, and the sense of smell is the strongest.

I don’t know much about Rayvis, but I wanted to style him anyway. He’s another one that wears a lot of one color, so I pulled out his accent color here:

He looks like a rather stiff person at first, so I imagined him as someone who has a really cute secret weakness, like indulging in decadent desserts at the end of the day. Chocolate strawberry cheesecake seems like it would do the trick, and it fit with the colors of his formal clothes.

For texture and mixed materials, his wool coat has leather sleeves, the maroon sneakers have plush velvet and the cable knit cap provides interest.

I added a color-blocked button down and his black skinny jeans have distressing that you’d have to get up close and personal to see.

His sunglasses also have a subtle hint of color. I don’t know what it is with MidCin guys and scarves, but I couldn’t let Rayvis be chilly, so I added something for him to cover himself with.

@astridapples, @widzzicles

#midnight cinderella #fashion #amalthea

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samanthasroberts · 7 years ago

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This Bartending Legend Wants You to Drink Less

In the mid-aughts, America was on the tail end of its obsession with the Cosmopolitan and on the cusp of a classic cocktail renaissance. The country was reacquainting itself with the gin martini and the Old-Fashioned, drinks in heavy rotation on the hit TV series , which premiered in 2007.

That same year, I opened a speak-easy-style bar in the East Village called PDT (short for “Please Don’t Tell”). And then the global financial markets crashed. As the glut of capital that fueled sprawling clubs and lavish restaurants in Manhattan dried up, customers’ focus shifted from decadent décor to the quality of what was on their plates and in their glasses.

Looking back, PDT’s early success was surely due in part to the crisis, as New Yorkers sought more intimate spaces to ride out the recession. In turbulent times, people also tend to drink to calm their nerves. (Much as they do during the holidays.) The problem is that even after the markets rebounded, people kept drinking. About 12.6 percent of adults reported “high-risk” drinking in 2012 and 2013, compared with 9.7 percent in 2001 and 2002, according to a study in .

As the shelves at cocktail bars and liquor shops get more crowded, what’s been lost is the idea of moderation that, ironically, brought many of these places and drinks back into fashion. People couldn’t afford to overindulge in $12 cocktails every night of the week in 2007. But having spent the past 15 years bartending and trying to establish drinks’ position among the high culinary arts, I’ve come to accept the hard truth that they should serve a role similar to pastries: a delight more than a nourishment. Imagine dining at a restaurant renowned for its desserts. You don’t order three of them.

Jim Meehan.

Photographer: Doron Gild

One big issue is we’re drinking. As the country rediscovered classic cocktails, alcohol itself got stronger. Today, cask-strength bourbons and Scotches (around 125 proof), navy-strength gins and rums (around 114 proof), and mezcal straight off the still (around 100 proof) are all the rage. And that’s when we’re not drinking heady wines that commonly come in at 17 percent alcohol by volume, or double IPAs.

Once we went to high-proof Flavortown—a term coined by Jack Daniel’s-swilling TV chef Guy Fieri—many imbibers decided they didn’t want to leave. After years of chugging light beer six-packs or saccharine Alabama Slammers, drinkers began putting complex, boozy cocktails such as the Negroni on a pedestal.

People assume that overindulgence is good for me as a bar operator. That’s not true. My primary responsibility is to look after the well-being of my guests. On behalf of the ones who suffer the next day and into the future, as well as guests affected in real time by the behavior of nearby out-of-control drinkers, I’m alarmed at the amount some of my customers consume.

I’m not saying alcohol is bad for you. I love the character of the cocktails, beer, and wine I serve, along with their palliative effect as a social lubricant. Yet I’m astonished to see cocktail bars—which were once civilized escapes from noisy dives and clubs—start to resemble the vulgar venues they originally positioned themselves against.

And that doesn’t even take into account the sugar in our drinks: That ounce of Campari and sweet vermouth in a Negroni is just as deleterious to your health as the high alcohol content of the gin that mitigates the sweetness. Then there are the effects of alcohol itself; you won’t find a study that advocates for anything more than moderate drinking.

I know that in these roller-coaster times, it’s easy to feel out of control. The stock market might be surging, but it’s an anxiety-provoking ride. And paying attention to daily politics is a white-knuckle endeavor. But for those exact reasons, now is a time for vigilance and poise.

The moral of my story isn’t that you should never drink alcohol. The widespread availability of high-quality spirits, and cocktails served by passionate professionals, makes this one of history’s most exciting times to drink. Just do it a little less. Seek out drinks prepared with top-notch liquor and have two instead of five. When you return to the bar, help us out and bring someone who’s never tried a great cocktail and share the craft. Instead of the troubling binge-drinking trends we’re seeing today, I’d love to see more people respect alcohol as the rare treat it is. Now that would be icing on the cake.

Meehan’s Bartender Manual

Source: http://allofbeer.com/this-bartending-legend-wants-you-to-drink-less/

from All of Beer https://allofbeer.wordpress.com/2018/03/15/this-bartending-legend-wants-you-to-drink-less/

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adambstingus · 7 years ago

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This Bartending Legend Wants You to Drink Less

Jim Meehan.

Photographer: Doron Gild

Meehan’s Bartender Manual

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/this-bartending-legend-wants-you-to-drink-less/ from All of Beer https://allofbeercom.tumblr.com/post/171881744712

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allofbeercom · 7 years ago

Text

This Bartending Legend Wants You to Drink Less

Jim Meehan.

Photographer: Doron Gild

Meehan’s Bartender Manual

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/this-bartending-legend-wants-you-to-drink-less/

0 notes

greatdrams · 8 years ago

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DIAGEO RESERVE’S WORLD CLASS PREMIERES NEW TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY SERIES

WORLD CLASS LIST – ON AMAZON PRIME

It’s a tough job, but someone had to do it.

A new travel series, World Class List, follows the adventures of aspiring musician and drinks enthusiast Carey Watkins, 27, as he journeys to some of the world’s most dynamic cities where he is guided by the world’s best bartenders to learn about each city’s cocktail culture and to curate his ultimate drinks list.

The series champions the rise of global cocktail culture and seeks to inspire people to drink better and create unforgettable experiences in the process and is created by World Class, the organisers of the world’s biggest bartending competition. World Class is an initiative created by leading spirits company Diageo, the makers of Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky, Tanqueray no. TEN Gin and Ketel One Vodka amongst others.

Carey, who lives in LA, was selected from hundreds to become the host of the new travel series, to be released on Amazon Prime in selected markets from next week and available to watch now on http://ift.tt/2q4lGxn.

During the five-part series, Carey explores the best of what to see, do, eat and drink in five of the world’s most exciting cities - Sydney, Taipei, Barcelona, San Francisco and Mexico. Led on his journey by the world’s best bartenders, the result is a travel series with a twist - and the creation of the ultimate drinks list.

The five renowned World Class bartenders share their inside knowledge of their city and passion for better drinking and the craft of bartending with Carey, presenting their cocktail inspired by their experiences to feature on the World Class List.

2012 World Class Bartender of the Year Tim Philips of Australia appears on the show, as well as four national champions from the World Class Bartender of the Year 2016 Global Final: Andrew Meltzer of the USA, Nick Wu of Taiwan, Spanish bartender Adriana Chia and Nica Rousseau of Mexico.

Among the drinks that Carey experiences is a smooth digestif from Tim Philips made with Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky and freshly brewed coffee with notes of heather, honey and vanilla, and a brunch-time alternative to the Bloody Mary using Ketel One Vodka, carrot juice and notes of fennel from Andrew Meltzer.

In his search, Carey experiences some unforgettable moments, including an energetic introduction to Mexican wrestling, spearfishing his own seafood to pair with Tanqueray gin and grapefruit in Sydney and celebrating New Year’s Eve drinking cocktails under fireworks on a boat in San Francisco Bay.

World Class Global Director Johanna Dalley said: “We’re delighted to launch our new digital travel series which celebrates incredible bartender talent around the world. World Class List is a reflection of the growing demand by inquisitive consumers eager to step up their drinking and move with the trend of rising cocktail culture. Carey’s journey is that of the viewer - learning more about drinking culture around the world at the same time as picking up some really simple tips on how to make great cocktails himself. We want to inspire consumers to get out into the industry and try the amazing drinks on offer in bars all over the world, or to up their game and have a go at making them at home.”

Carey Watkins said: “When I found out I’d be the host, I was just really overwhelmed. I definitely didn’t comprehend the fact that I was about to travel around the world for six weeks, and by no means did I realise just how good this job was. The whole thing was incredible, and I got to do things I would never normally do.

“The trip very quickly became unbelievable, and nine times out of ten I was doing something I hadn’t done before – and would never have done. I do love to travel, but more than anything I love to meet people, to talk to people and form relationships. To combine that with travelling around the world – and learning how these bartenders hone their craft while tasting their unbelievable drinks – literally is the dream job .I was truly blown away by all five of those drinks – everything from the colours, to the smells, to the taste – they were unbelievably good.”

Click here to view the World Class List trailer

‘THE ULTIMATE DRINKS’ FROM WORLD CLASS LIST

Dead End

Created by Tim Philips @ Bulletin Place, Sydney, Australia

“The Dead End summarises everything that makes Sydney special – from the smoky taste of hazy summer nights to a coffee kick, pulled together with local ingredients. If an Espresso Martini is your drink of choice, or a twist on the Old Fashioned takes your fancy, this is the drink for you.”

Ingredients:

20ml Artificer cold brew coffee

20ml Regal Rogue Rosso Vermouth

20ml Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Scotch Whisky

5ml vanilla cardamom syrup

5ml Italian aperitif

Grapefruit peel to garnish

Method:

1. Add the cold brew coffee, vermouth, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Scotch Whisky, vanilla cardamom syrup and Italian aperitif to an ice-filled mixing glass

2. Stir to dilute and chill, and then strain into a chilled, rocks glass over a single large lump of ice

3. Garnish with a slice of fresh grapefruit peel, spritzing over the glass to release the oils.

Formosa

Created by Nick Wu @ East End Bar, Taipei, Taiwan

“Taipei is an experience for all the senses, and it’s the aromatic additions that help this drink capture the spirit of the city. Taiwanese tea syrup, local honey and farm-grown marigold leaves represent the fragrance of Taipei’s countryside, and work together to create a one-of-a-kind drink.”

Ingredients:

50ml Cîroc Vodka

20ml fresh lemon juice

25ml Tieguanyin tea syrup

5ml Taiwan honey

2 lemon-mint marigold leaves

Crystal pear

Method:

1. Chill a coupe glass

2. Add the Cîroc Vodka, Tieguanyin tea syrup, Taiwan honey, crystal pear juice, fresh lemon juice and lemon-mint marigold leaves to a shaker (smack the leaves first to release the flavour) with ice

3. Shake until chilled and double strain into the chilled coupe glass

4. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and lemon-mint marigold leaves.

Ciudad Condal

Created by Adriana Chia @ Solange, Barcelona, Spain

“From sunrise to sunset, Barcelona is an ever-changing cultural hub, and this evolving drink really captures the essence of the city. With delicate flavours of local sherry, fresh tangerine and olive oil, its changing tones make it a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.”

Ingredients:

50ml Tanqueray no. Ten Gin

30ml Fino sherry wine

30ml chamomila syrup

15ml fresh tangerine juice

4 drops of olive oil

Saffron ice ball

Method:

1. Add the Tanqueray No. Ten gin, sherry wine, chamomila syrup, and fresh tangerine juice to a shaker with ice

2. Double strain into a coupe glass

3. Add a saffron ice ball, and top with four drops of olive oil and a few strands of saffron.

Queen Anne’s Lace

Created by Andrew Meltzer @ 15 Romolo, San Francisco, USA

“Created with San Francisco’s local produce and creative spirit in mind, Queen Anne’s Lace is an eccentric mix of ingredients inspired by Northern Californian cuisine. The clean, crisp taste and understated sweetness make this delicious drink a great brunch-time swap for a standard Bloody Mary.”

Ingredients:

45ml Ketel One Vodka

22ml carrot juice

7.5ml lemon juice

7.5ml fennel syrup

7.5ml floral liqueur (Iris or St Germain)

Dash of absinthe

Fennel frond (or thyme sprig, edible flowers) to garnish

Method:

1. Chill a stemmed glass

2. Add the lemon juice, absinthe, fennel syrup, carrot juice, floral liqueur and Ketel One Vodka to a shaker and stir

3. Add ice, and then shake until chilled

4. Double strain into the chilled glass

5. Spritz with lemon oil from a slice of fresh peel

6. Garnish with lion peel and a fennel frond.

Hot Primavera

Created by Mica Rousseau @ Four Seasons Hotel, Mexico City

“The Hot Primavera is a complex cocktail that reflects the unique character of Mexico city perfectly. A base of tequila is mixed with an assortment of syrups, and marinated slices of fresh guava to create a flavourful nod to Mexico’s customs. And while most drinks are served over ice, the Hot Primavera bucks the trend by being served over heated stones for a comforting, warming drink.”

Ingredients:

50ml Don Julio Reposado tequila

15ml vanilla syrup

15ml nutmeg syrup

15ml Chile ancho licor

40ml hot chamomile and rooibos tea

4 guava slices, caramelised in sugar, bitters and Don Julio Reposado

2 slices of orange peel

4 dashes of avocado leaf bitters

Method:

1. Add the Don Julio Reposado tequila, Chile ancho licor, vanilla syrup, nutmeg syrup and guava slices to an earthenware cup

2. Spritz the orange peel over the drink, and then add to the cup along with the hot chamomile and rooibos tea

3. Add hot river stones and stir to combine

[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" ids="24273,24272,24274"]

The post DIAGEO RESERVE’S WORLD CLASS PREMIERES NEW TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY SERIES appeared first on GreatDrams.

from GreatDrams http://ift.tt/2qznmyO Greg

#whisky #GreatDrams

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