Published on The Sun digital on 15th July 2021
CAN’T decide whether to go for a gas or a charcoal barbecue? The Char-Broil Gas2Coal 2.0 could provide the solution: this hybrid grill is capable of using both fuels for cooking.
We put this second generation dual-fuel barbecue to the test to see whether it’s any good…
American brand Char-Broil was one of the first companies to make charcoal barbecue grills for the home cook.
Published on The Sun digital on 15th July 2021
BRIGGS and Riley suitcases are known for being durable and stylish but they’re also extremely pricey.
We put the brand’s new ZDX expandable spinner to the test to see whether it’s worth the money.
ZDX is part of Briggs and Riley’s business leisure range, meaning it’s smart enough to take on business trips but also roomy and durable enough for holidays.
Published on The Independent on 8th July 2021
When the first drops of warm massage oil made contact with my back, it should have been a cue for my body to instantly relax. But after months hunched over my laptop in the confines of a studio flat, the dark circles under my eyes echoing its soulless blue light, those muscles had apparently forgotten how.
Exasperated, I sank my cheeks further into the cushioned face-cradle, hoping it would accelerate the process. Any minute now, I thought, relaxation will wash over me. But it never did.
That’s not to say the massage at Laurea Spa, the wellness centre inside the newish Savoy Palace Hotel in Madeira, wasn’t any good. Quite the opposite, in fact; I’m convinced that I would have melted into a puddle had I experienced another hour of it. But I was only in for a 30-minute taster as part of a wellness weekend on the Portuguese island and, well, there were only so many knots my poor masseuse could untangle in that time.
Published on The Independent on 7th July 2021
Most of us are familiar with the traditional chef’s knife, with its piercingly sharp tip, straight spine and a distinctly curved cutting edge. Its shape makes it incredibly versatile in the kitchen and you can use it for everything from carving meat to finely slicing herbs in that classic rocking motion chefs love to demonstrate.
But hot on its heels in recent years has been the santoku knife – a style of chef’s knife that has its roots in Japan, although many models you get now are made in other parts of the world.
Santoku translates to “three virtues” in Japanese, which signify the three uses this style of blade is best known for: slicing, dicing and mincing. Visually, it looks just like a reflection of the traditional chef’s knife – the spine curves downwards into a point resembling a sheep’s foot while the cutting edge of the blade is almost completely straight.
Published on The Independent on 6th July 2021
When Dyson launched its first bladeless fan a little over a decade ago, it was something of a revelation. For the first time, you didn’t need to worry about your kids accidentally sticking their hands into the blades, or even your hair or clothes getting caught in the revolving parts if you happen to stand too close or in just the wrong spot.
Since then, the brand has come out with newer and smaller models, and each more capable – and more expensive – than the last. The Dyson pure cool me (£299.99, Dyson.co.uk) made its debut in 2019, a decade after that first bladeless fan, and it turned out to be quite divisive. While it’s much smaller and cheaper – one of the most affordable Dyson fans actually – the fact that it’s only designed to cool the person sitting in front of it rather than the whole room has sparked some ire.
But its size and price certainly aren’t the only attractive features. It comes equipped with a high-efficiency particulate absorbing (Hepa) filter, meaning all manner of pesky pollen and bad bacteria are taken out of the circulation while a second activated charcoal filter removes odours like cooking smells and smoke. We’ve put this high end gadget to the test to see whether you can justify the still hefty price tag or whether you should leave it on the shelf.