Notes from Underground: A New Memoir Settles Scores in the Restaurant Industry
Review
Hannah Selinger's 'Cellar Rat' is full of fascinating intel on the business of selling wine, plus petty grievances against the hospitality world.
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'Chassagne Montrachet.'
The pursuit of good wine often requires the ability to pronounce magic passwords to enter enchanted caves. And a lot of them are in French, which never sounds the way it looks to English speakers.
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Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dawn French apologises for ‘Oct 7 attacks' video
Dawn French has apologised 'unreservedly' after she posted a 'one-sided' video in which she appeared to dismiss the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 2023. The 67-year-old comedian and actress was accused of belittling the attacks in a clip she posted on social media in which she said the murder of 1,200 people was 'a bad thing'. In the video, posted on X on May 5, she mimicked apparent defences of Israel's huge military campaign in Gaza and was accused of appearing to belittle the Hamas-led murders of 1,200 people and adopting a 'mocking' tone. On Saturday, she removed that video and issued an apology, adding that she was 'sorry' her 'disgust at Hamas didn't figure'. The message, also on X, said: 'Ok, it's important to address this. I posted a video in the style I've been using for social media in an effort to convey an important point. I clumsily used a mocking tone. 'My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on Oct 7 2023 and what continues to unfold from that brutal, unthinkable, unforgivable, savage attack.' She said her 'heart broke' for the innocent people 'killed, tortured, r@aped [sic] and kidnapped', adding that it was 'appalling' that hostages were still being held. She insisted that her 'intention was to mock and point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leaders on ALL sides of this attricious [sic] war, who have continued to behave like the worst, dangerous, sickening bullies and seem to relish the tyrannical and childish one-upmanship of violence.' She added she was 'feeling increasingly helpless and hopeless as we witness the carnage and destruction worsen', adding that she was 'haunted … day and night ' by 'images of starving children.' The Vicar of Dibley actress wrote: 'History has taught us never to stand by and allow this kind of inhumane violence to be wrought on anyone, especially innocent children. 'I have felt my silence is complicit or even somehow sanctioning. So in my small way, I wanted to voice my desire to say NO – to both sides – to any further violence. 'I hope you will understand my intention was not to offend, but clearly I have. For which I am sorry and I have removed the video.' She was accused of adopting a baby-like face in the original 40-second video, in which she filmed herself saying: 'Complicated, no, but nuanced. But [the] bottom line is no.' She went on, imitating someone defending Israel's actions in Gaza, then replying to them: ''Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us...' Yeah, but no. 'But we want that land and there's a lot of history…' No. 'These people are not even people, are they really?' No.' The video was viewed more than half a million times in the 24 hours after it was posted. Credit: X/@Dawn_French Tracy-Ann Oberman, an actress who has appeared in numerous West End shows, accused the comedian of adopting a 'mocking' tone. Lee Kern, a comedy writer and self-described 'champion of Jewish rights', wrote: 'What you sneeringly mock as a 'bad thing' included the grieving children I met in hospital whose friends and family had been murdered, kidnapped and raped and who themselves were coming to terms with their own life-altering injuries. 'It also includes the 1,200 people murdered and tortured on October 7… You proactively broadcast – with misplaced pride – a wicked glee in your mockery and dismissal of Jewish suffering, pain and death.' Israel began its ground offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas's terrorist attack, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. There are 56 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel was criticised by Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, for its recent 'appalling' military action. He described the conduct of Benjamin Netanyahu's government as 'intolerable' following claims that more than 50,000 people, including many women and children, had been killed by Israeli forces. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dawn French says sorry for posting 'one-sided' Gaza video
Dawn French has taken down a video she posted on Instagram about the war in Gaza, saying she apologised "unreservedly" for it. The video sparked a backlash, with critics accusing the actress and comedian of appearing to "mock" the 7 October 2023 attack. On Saturday, French acknowledged on Instagram that the video "appeared one-sided", and said she never meant to "mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror" of that day. "I hope you will understand my intention was not to offend, but I clearly have. For which I am sorry and I have removed the video," she added. In the 40-second video, posted earlier this week, the Vicar of Dibley star shared her views on the ongoing war, saying: "Complicated, no, but nuanced. But [the] bottom line is no." Switching into a high-pitched voice, she went on to say: "Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us, yeah but no. But we want that land... and we have history… No. Those people aren't really even people, are they really? No." On social media, people were quick to criticise her, with actress Tracy-Ann Oberman saying she was "so saddened" by the post. "This mocking voice 'bad thing' of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears [to] be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack involving rape, sexual violence, burning alive, child mutilation and taking of civilian hostages," she wrote. "Why would Dawn seem to deny that which has affected so many of us personally in the most painful way possible." MP Rosie Duffield commented on Oberman's post, writing: "One can, and should hate what is happening in Gaza and also condemn the hideous events of October 7th. "It is agonising to see events unfold, and requires extremely careful, measured and well-considered comments and actions. This is not that." Meanwhile, screenwriter and activist Lee Kern called her video "sneering mockery". Responding to the backlash, French said that she had posted a video in the style that she has been using for social media "in an effort to convey an important point". She added that she had "clumsily used a mocking tone". "My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023 and what continues to unfold from that brutal unthinkable, unforgiveable, savage attack," she said. She said her intention had been "to mock and point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leaders on all sides of this atrocious war". "THEY were my target, but clearly I failed to do that, and that's on me. I apologise unreservedly, and I'm particularly sorry that my disgust at Hamas didn't figure. It appeared one-sided and that is wrong." Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led cross-border attack almost 20 months ago, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Some 54 of those captured during the attack remain in captivity, including 31 the Israeli military says are dead. At least 54,607 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 4,335 since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Rescue Dog Who Loves Playing With Water Wins Pet of the Week
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. From the adorable moment a puppy "picked" his owner to the heartbreaking reason a pug was hiding in a closet, we love viral pet videos, but we also love seeing our readers' pets. Every week, as part of the Newsweek Pet of the Week, we share a selection of readers' adorable videos and pictures of their pets. If you want your pet to be featured, follow the instructions at the end of this story to get involved. Winner Rebel the dog playing with the hose. Rebel the dog playing with the hose. Leiha Boyer This week's Pet of the Week winner is Rebel, a rescue dog who loves to play. In a heartwarming video, he was caught on camera playing with water—just one part of his new happy life. But things weren't always that way for Rebel, as his early life was marked by neglect. Abandoned at a trailer and confined to a kennel, he was forgotten. "There was no power or water so they kept a blanket over the kennel," owner Leiha Boyer told Newsweek. When she first met him, he had been under that blanket, "I guess since yesterday," she was told. Rebel's sad, soulful eyes silently pleaded, "please help me," and Boyer did just that. "From the moment I opened that kennel door, he has never had to be in one again," Boyer said. Now, Rebel is a cherished companion who is always with his owner and is "absolutely ROTTEN from how much I have spoiled in a good way," she said. Though he's a big dog who may appear intimidating, Boyer insists "he just wants to be loved to sing Chris Stapleton's 'Tennessee Whiskey,' and play in a water hose." Finalists Pictures of Casper the cream golden retriever who loves mud. Pictures of Casper the cream golden retriever who loves mud. David Wilmoth Our first finalist this week is an English cream golden retriever named Casper. The English cream is a variation of the standard and much-loved golden retriever, characterized by a coat that ranges in color from light cream to almost white. But Casper doesn't seem to have gotten the memo about his light coat and spends much of his time covered in mud. "I've never had a dog so in love with mud and dirt," joked owner David Wilmoth. Bitty Boo Boo, the 10-year-old cat who loves to dress up. Bitty Boo Boo, the 10-year-old cat who loves to dress up. Phoebe Donald Next up this week is Bitty Boo Boo, a 10-year-old cat with a diva personality. "Since I first adopted her she has allowed me to dress her up," owner Phoebe Donald told Newsweek. Bitty loves lounging in the warmest spots, especially "directly in front of or on a heater vent." Though she's not fond of other cats, she greets humans with a friendly "bunt" on the leg. Surprisingly, she also enjoys car rides and even looks forward to vet visits. "She is one awesome cat," Donald said. Expressive Loki the cat hanging out on the bed. Expressive Loki the cat hanging out on the bed. David Hokey Last but not least is Loki, an expressive cat whose owner, David Hokey, said: "has to be the happiest cat I've ever met." Abandoned as a kitten on a second-floor balcony, Loki was rescued by friends and brought to Hokey, who had lost his cat a year and a half earlier. Since then, Loki has become "one of the most amazing cats I've owned," Hokey said, describing him as intelligent, talkative, and considerate, especially to his other cat. "You can easily tell what's on his mind because of his facial expressions," Hokey said. "Love this little guy." If you think your pet could be next week's Newsweek "Pet of the Week," send us your funny and heartwarming videos and pictures of your pet, along with a bit about them to life@ and they could appear in our "Pet of the Week" lineup.
