It is said that Marie Antoinette once exclaimed ‘Let them eat cake’. Unfortunately not everyone is lucky enough to be able to scoff to excess. We all know someone who says they have a food intolerance or suffers from food allergies. And as many of us who do not possess that spangly 21st century Nigella-I’ll just whip that up for you in a matter of seconds and would you like cream on the side of that too-gene, we need a little culinary help. Step forward Cinnamon Clove. This company has been set up by two young entrepreneurs who decided that the greedy public, us, shouldn’t have to compromise on taste or glamorous packaging despite the fact that these cakes are free from wheat, gluten and dairy as well as being low on sugar.

I took a box of these sumptuous delights round to a friend’s house for a girl’s night-in.  My unwitting friends were shocked when they discovered that these beautifully decorated parcels were in fact devoid of the usual nasties we so often associate with indulgence. Cinnamon Clove has succeeded where supermarkets offering the same alternatives have failed. Their cakes actually look inviting, taste sublime and if you have to satisfy that sweet craving, they are a fantastically guilt-free option.  Choose from a selection of cupcakes, brownies, loaf breads and seasonal baking. The Christmas cake is divine.

Cupcakes and Brownies from £1.75 each
Loaf cakes from £3.75 and Seasonal cakes from £4.75
www.cinnamonclovecakes.com

Vital bag news for 2009. Frida Giannini, the designer for Gucci, has created an up-sized, slouchier, hand-stitched “New Jackie,” reinterpreting the iconic shoulder bag made famous by Jacqueline Onassis when she was the wife of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Giannini has steered the Gucci label in a more chic business like direction and for her spring/summer collection she has produced the “New Jackie” in every possible material from the GG logo to exotics like crocodile and snakeskin. Gucci’s roots are in accessories, as are those of its designer, and it shows in this classy new addition to the range.

Gucci handbags are well known for their high quality material and the updated “New Jackie” is no exception. Bigger, softer with giant whipstitching, this is a must-have bag for next year. So my advice is to stay clear of Gucci’s new utilitarian backpack that transforms into a carryall and instead head straight for this timeless classic.

Martin Brudnizki, the Stockholm-born designer behind Richard Corrigan’s new restaurant, has created such a stir that ES food critic Fay Maschier claims, “I’m thinking of moving in with him.”

In keeping with the menu, which is filled with game and other gutsy Irish food, Brudnizki has created a hunting lodge inspired interior which aims to “bring the outdoors in” with the key being “to bring the city and the countryside together.” With its warm and comfortable atmosphere, Brudnizki has skilfully combined glamour and elegance while still keeping the feel modern.

The country-like style is heightened not only by the row of long windows which allows an abundance of light to shine through, but also his use of British Oak which is heavily present throughout the restaurant. Apart from the floor there are woodland motif carved panels littered about the room which again nods to Brudnizki’s steer towards the countryside.

However, it is not just Brudnizki’s textures which include “sumptuous materials such as timbers, heavy metals, leather and corduroy,” that combine to give playful references to Corrigan’s “outdoor” theme but also the antlers, hand woven carpets with a feather pattern and feather trimmed lampshades with duck leg bases which are used to create witty detailing.

Brudnizki is one of the hottest names on the restaurant scene at the moment with recent projects such as The Club at The Ivy, Scott’s and St Pancras Grand to his name and Corrigan’s is guaranteed to enhance his reputation even further.

Corrigan’s
28 Upper Grosvenor Street
London W1

www.corrigansmayfair.com

The world of Hypnosis can seem terrifying before you’ve even begun.  Maybe it’s the thought of being in a trance and not being in control. Yet, in reality hypnotherapy is far removed from this preconceived idea, especially with Helen Craven.  Trained in clinical hypnotherapy, Craven has a reassuring approach and deals as much in your past and present life consciously, as she does in the relaxation or hypnosis period after.  Following a lengthy talk, with Craven looking at diet and your everyday life, the relaxation process begins. 

What’s so novel about Craven is that she shows hypnosis is something scientific and understandable as opposed to its slightly daunting reputation.  Yet Craven’s sharp mind draws out accurate representations of your subconscious and conscious and illustrates why you revert to a habit as a default or distraction instead of reducing the memory.  Although the memory can never be removed it can certainly be diminished, with a retraining of the mind to focus on achievements instead of failures,

As one of a handful of certified Five Path Practitioners in the UK, Helen Craven takes great pains to illustrate “you are always in control and the wonderful thing about the subconscious mind is that it will always look after you.” 

The session itself lasts an hour and a twenty minutes and it is definitely advisable to take a course, rather than trying one session.  Yet, even after the first session the process will put you into a heavy relaxation, allowing you to listen to Craven’s calming voice, which helps you reshape your negative thoughts. 

Although, this was merely a relaxation session, putting my body into a state of calm, Craven is adept at dealing with every situation and her fantastic CDs, which the client is advised to listen to, are not only for relaxation, but for boosting self esteem and confidence as well as also dealing with the many other common hindrances in our daily lives.

With not just hypnotherapy but also past life regression and hypno-birthing available, Craven aims to cover all aspects of your life which might need extra nurturing.

Helen Craven
The Lifecentre
15 Edge Street
W8 7PN

0207 221 4602

Daisy Lowe is the latest model and society darling to succomb to the charms of the glamourous Paradis magazine, following in the footsteps of model Lily Cole who dared to bare for a nude shoot in an earlier edition. The upmarket publication, which markets itself to contemporary men who require “an international mix of thought, beauty, culture, sex and style”, is released only biannually to chic audiences in both London and Paris, and speaks volumes of the young model’s growing influence and popularity.

With her trademark dark bangs casually dishevelled, cigarette in hand, Daisy shows exactly why she is a hot commodity, and definitely shows ex Mark Ronson what he is missing in her atmospheric shoot. Paradis clearly flexes its fashion credentials in using photographers like Juergen Teller for its elegant portfolios, carefully combining style, art and culture – although we can only hope it does not go the same way as Mens Vogue, which is reportedly taking a hit from the current economic climate.

Indeed, with the team recently announced for Katie Grand’s newest venture, a magazine under Conde Nast entitled Love due for release in February, only time will tell whether glossy pages and realms of artful advertising will weather the financial storm…