Latest news with #Cut
Time Out
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Four Singapore steakhouses make it to the list of the world's best steak restaurants for 2025
These days, plenty of steak lovers will tell you they'd rather fire up a ribeye at home – it's cheaper, faster, and (they swear) just as tasty. But while home-cooked steaks have their place for fuss-free nights in, several steakhouses in Singapore are making a case for why some experiences are simply worth leaving the house for. In fact, four Singapore steakhouses have just been named among the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants for 2025. From prime cuts seared to smoky perfection, to luxe dining rooms that make you want to linger, these steakhouses prove that sometimes, the pros really do it best. Coming in at the highest spot among other Singapore restaurants on the list is Burnt Ends at #5, an award-winning Australian barbecue joint by chef Dave Pynt, located in Dempsey Hill. The heart of the kitchen is the four-tonne dual cavity wood-fired oven that heats up to 700 degrees celsius, imparting a splendid sear on whatever goes in – a feat you won't achieve in a home kitchen. The restaurant is no stranger to other global lists of equal prestige, claiming spots in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, La Liste's Top 1000 Restaurants 2025, and so on. What's surprising is that it's Burnt Ends' first time on this list despite having been around since 2013. In any case, the fact that it's the highest new entry on the ranking makes up for it. Sitting at #53 is Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse, which is a returning entry on the list, and in fact, the only steakhouse in Singapore that made it on the ranking last year. It also clinched the title of the best steakhouse in Asia in 2024. A must-order here is the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a 1.1 kilogramme behemoth of pure-bred F1 Australian wagyu – great for sharing on special occasions. Not too far at #59 is a recognised name in Singapore's F&B scene. Cut by Wolfgang Puck is the first Asian outpost of the celebrity-owned brand, set in the cushy environment of Marina Bay Sands. If Bistecca oozes the vibe of a cosy Italian trattoria, Cut's modern dining room is where to go if you're truly looking to impress. Beyond branding, its claim to fame is an extensive meat selection, ranging from Hokkaido snow beef to Snake River Farms American 'Kobe-style' beef. Everything is seared over charcoal and apple wood, before meeting its maker under a 1200-degree broiler. Last but not least, an unlikely new entry to the list is Shatoburian, a yakiniku restaurant tucked in Palais Renaissance at Orchard Road. The joint wet ages its premium A5 wagyu from Japan, which are all sourced from credible auction houses. Here's where to savour everything from tender chateaubriand (the cut the restaurant is named after) to misuji (oyster blade) coaxed over flames at sleek tableside grills. Here's the top 20 list of the 101 best steakhouses in the world for 2025: 1. Parrilla Don Julio from Buenos Aires, Argentina 2. Margaret from Sydney, Australia 3. Laia Erretegia from Hondarribia, Spain 4. I Due Cippi from Sasturnia, Italy 5. Burnt Ends from Singapore 6. Bodega El Capricho from Jiménez de Jamuz, Spain 7. Casa Julián from Tolosa, Spain 8. Lana from Madrid, Spain 9. AG from Stockholm 10. Cote from New York, USA 11. Ibai from London 12. Rockpool Bar & Grill from Sydney, Australia 13. Asador Bastian from Chicago, USA 14. The International from Sydney, Australia 15. Born & Bred from Seoul, South Korea 16. Firedoor from Sydney, Australia 17. La Tête d'Or from New York, USA 18. Victor Churchill from Melbourne, Australia 19. Carcasse from Koksijde, Belgium 20. Porteño from Sydney, Australia
Irish Daily Star
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Monica Lewinsky asks Halle Berry to 'trade' as pair discover their unexpected similarity
Monica Lewinsky didn't lose her sense of humor , despite the horrors she's faced in the public eye . The former White House employee keeps up with internet conversations, and a specific post by Halle Berry caught her eye . A fan posted, "Halle Berry may be the most rapped about woman in history. Imagine being that fine." Halle replied, "and I appreciate each rap song reference. what are you guys' favorite?" However, Monica was quick to chirp back, considering she also tends to star in rap song references. "wanna trade?!?" she asked, tacking on a winky face to the reply. Her cheeky comment elicited excitement from fans. Read More Related Articles Donald Trump and Melania slammed as they're caught chatting and smiling at Pope Francis' funeral Read More Related Articles Jenna Bush Hager left in tears over emotional dedication involving career move They were thrilled to see Monica, who's profile bio lists that she's a "rap song muse," was a "good sport" about the pop culture references made about her. "This has to be one the the best tweets of all time," wrote one fan on X, formerly known as Twitter. Another said, "Happy to see you doing well and joking about it. You have taken so much, and you still have a sense of humor. Very impressive. Have a great week Monica." Halle is aware that she's been in many rap songs and doesn't mind (Image: Getty Images) "Don't sell yourself short, you are far more than a punchline. You are a symbol of overcoming the bullying and vitriol," a third chimed in. Rapper Mark Random wrote, "Monica im gonna write a positive song about you, im being sincere, i know what its like for the world around you to judge your entire life by one moment, where can i learn about you, what podcast or body of work(books) best represent your life and ill record the love letter." In a 2015 Ted Talk, Monica claimed she was referenced in almost 40 rap songs, including tracks from Eminem and Nicki Minaj. However, the Cut analyzed data from Genius, discovering Monica is referenced in over 128 songs. Of those songs, one of the most popular is G-eazy's track which uses her namesake. In the tune, G-Eazy follows "Molly and that Whisky" with Monica's name, making a play on how the two phrases sound similar. He adds in the lyric, "It'll make her work." He also throws in some more sexual lyrics like "squirt" and "twerk." Ironically, G-Eazy previously confessed to E! News in 2022 to crushing on Halle Berry big time. He explained what he likes in a women, declining to choose between blondes and brunettes and, instead, saying he's into "beautiful women." Monica is known for her affair with President Bill Clinton while he was acting president. While, at first, he denied the accusation, claiming he "did not have sexual relations with that woman," the truth eventually prevailed. Clinton, under oath, insisted they were not ensnared in a sexual relationship. Later, he claimed he did not commit perjury due to some debatable definitions of words he used. Thereafter, she faced harsh public ridicule with her life being dissected by the general public. For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Washington Post
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
The new Sun King
Warning: This graphic requires JavaScript. for the best experience. When President Donald Trump gave Fox News host Laura Ingraham a tour of the Oval Office last month, he showed off a copy of the Declaration of Independence stashed behind a pair of navy blue curtains, as well as prominently placed portraits of George Washington and Ronald Reagan. The camera panned the room to also reveal a row of gilded vases and baskets on the mantel, golden floral moldings adhered to the fireplace and walls, and golden angels tucked into neoclassical pediments above the doors. Ingraham noted the golden accents, along with the fact that another media organization had said the president wanted to 'Trumpify' the Oval Office. Trump responded: 'It needed a little life.' Story continues below advertisement Advertisement Every U.S. president has adapted the Oval Office to suit his taste. Franklin Delano Roosevelt placed an animal hide rug on the floor. John F. Kennedy, a World War II naval officer, hung seascapes on the walls. And Barack Obama featured indigenous ceramics on the shelves. But Trump has gone golden, taking the office into baroque and rococo realms typical of 17th- and 18th-century French monarchs. An analysis in the Cut called the decoration 'An Interior Designer's Nightmare.' But the sparkle conveys something more insidious about how Trump views himself. Behold the new Sun King, a wannabe emperor who views his powers as absolute — who governs by executive order, and has been recorded giggling in his gilded chamber with Salvadoran autocrat Nayib Bukele as his administration defies a unanimous Supreme Court ruling that he facilitate the return of a Salvadoran immigrant who was wrongly deported. God save us from the king. President Donald Trump and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office on April 14. (Al Drago/For The Washington Post; iStock) President John F. Kennedy, a Navy veteran, had seascapes in the Oval Office. (AP/WOA; iStock) The White House decor might seem inconsequential, but its aesthetics were important to the Founding Fathers, who were conscientious about what the decor might telegraph about the nascent republic. George Washington, who presently surveys the Oval Office from his position above the mantel in an 18th-century portrait by Charles Willson Peale, was wary of designs that smacked of royal ostentation — the country, after all, had just extracted itself from a monarchy via a bloody revolution. Before the construction of the White House, Washington inhabited a taxpayer-funded home in Philadelphia where he demanded that any additions and alterations be done in 'a plain and neat manner, not by any means in an extravagant style.' As historian Betty C. Monkman writes in 'The White House: Its Historic Furnishings and First Families,' Washington 'rejected the use of tapestries or rich and costly papers.' I can only imagine what the republic's first leader would make of the golden paperweight that now sits on the Oval Office coffee table, embossed with Trump's name in screaming ALL CAPS. A golden paperweight inscribed with Trump's name in the Oval Office in March. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post; iStock) The FIFA Club World Cup was displayed in the Oval Office. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post; iStock) A New York Post front page featuring the mug shot of President Donald Trump hangs outside the Oval Office. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post; iStock) When it came time to choose a design for a presidential residence in the late 18th century, Washington likewise picked one of the more restrained concepts. Conceived by Irish-born architect James Hoban, the White House, as it originally stood, combined the tidy symmetries and boxy practicality of Georgian architecture, a neoclassical style that had been popular in the British Isles during the 18th century. The White House was inspired, in part, by Leinster House in Dublin, which dates to the 1740s and now houses the Irish Parliament — a Georgian structure that is grand in scale but subdued in its surface decoration. Dublin's Leinster House inspired James Hoban's design of the first White House. (Peter Muhly/AFP/Getty Images; iStock) In keeping with the modest tone, the White House's earliest inhabitants avoided referring to the building as a 'presidential palace,' describing it instead as the 'executive mansion' or the 'President's House,' the latter of which appears engraved on silver serving objects from the 19th century. It was Theodore Roosevelt who made the informal expression 'the White House' the building's official designation. The U.S. republic's representative democracy, however imperfect and incomplete, has historically been symbolized by a 'house' — not a palace. This doesn't mean the White House hasn't experienced moments of exuberant ornamentation. Chester A. Arthur added a Gilded Age vibe by installing in the entrance hall a glass screen by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Andrew Jackson adorned the East Room with an exploding aureole of gold stars above a doorway. (Neither of these flourishes survived subsequent renovations.) And there was James Monroe, who had an abiding fondness for French decorative objects, and acquired a surtout de table for the White House — a gilded ornamental centerpiece intended for elegant dinners. Story continues below advertisement Advertisement The surtout remains in the White House's collection to this day. In fact, elements of the centerpiece, namely the gilded bronze baskets held aloft by the Three Graces that were crafted by the 19th-century French firm of Deniére et Matelin, now appear on a table behind Trump's desk and on the mantel of the Oval Office. Some of the other golden objects on the mantel, according to a report by The Post's Jura Koncius, were gifts to President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. Where exactly the gilded floral wall trim comes from, along with the golden angels that are stuffed into the Oval Office's pediments, is uncertain. The White House did not respond to my query regarding their origin or fabrication, nor did the president respond to Ingraham's question about the source of the angels during her tour (though he did state they 'bring good luck'). Enterprising tech reporter John Keegan of Sherwood News, however, may have tracked down the source of the trim, which bears an uncanny resemblance to decorative pieces sold on Alibaba for $1 to $5 apiece — made in China. Gold decorations on a fireplace mantel in the Oval Office. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post; iStock) Whatever the design evolution of the White House, the president's office has generally been a more low-key affair — principally because an office isn't the place to bust out the glitzy state dinnerware. In 1909, when President William Howard Taft built the first Oval Office, it was designed in the Federal style, which is the form of Georgian neoclassicism favored by the Founding Fathers. An early photograph upon its completion shows a room with almost no decoration — just a wooden desk, green burlap walls and a green carpet. The most prominent adornments are the Grecian-style pediments over the doors. It conveyed authority with no unnecessary flash. For the most part, U.S. presidents have adhered to the broad contours of the Federal style when decorating the office (though FDR was partial to clutter). But Trump is the only one who seems intent on transforming it into one of those rococo period rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Where previous leaders have featured a small selection of paintings, Trump has stuffed the room with a salon-style hang of canvases that includes an array of U.S. presidents, along with Benjamin Franklin. In between, he has added military flags and ornate, baroque-style mirrors in gilded frames. Modern bronze busts of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Winston Churchill sit incongruously on console tables supported by gilded eagles. On the central coffee table rests a stack of bright golden coasters. With each passing news conference, the Oval Office increasingly resembles the highly ornamented Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles — a space that will make you dizzy with decoration. A portrait of Ronald Reagan and a poster showing the 'Gulf of America' in the Oval Office on Feb. 11. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post; iStock) A marker used by President Trump to sign an executive order closing the Education Department was left in the East Room on March 20. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post; iStock) President Trump's image is reflected in a mirror as he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 7. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post; iStock) Trump likes to refer to his presidency as 'a golden age' — a phrase that kicked off his inauguration speech in January and that, as Ben Jacobs of Politico notes, he has since repeated ad nauseam. Among the various merchandise in the Trump online store is a collection called 'Golden Age of America' that includes a giant chocolate bar wrapped in golden foil, a golden serving tray, golden playing cards and a 'gold' headband that looks suspiciously beige. What exactly makes our era golden Trump never explicitly says. (It's certainly not the value of your 401(k).) But the golden age he hearkens to in his office decor is 'Le Grand Siècle' (The Great Century) of the French monarchy under King Louis XIV, a.k.a. the guy who built Versailles. Story continues below advertisement Advertisement For this so-called Sun King, life was golden. For his subjects, not so much. Monarchical power was absolute, with no checks or balances. Dissidents could be dispatched to prison with an order signed by the king, known as a lettre de cachet. These had to be obeyed. If the king sent you off to the Bastille, off you went; there was no due process, no appeal, no explanation. Punishments such as banishment — being deported to another territory — for a limited period or for life, were also a part of French criminal practice. A bust of Louis XIV at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris. (Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images; iStock) A depiction of France's King Louis XIV known as 'The Sun King' at Versailles. (Ian Langsdon/AFP/Getty Images; iStock) At Versailles, Louis XIV built for himself an opulent home, but he also created an important symbol. The baroque and the rococo are forms that dwell in spectacle: gilded and mirrored surfaces, ornate floral designs, sumptuous fabrics, and paintings and sculptures imbued with intense drama. Baroque buildings like Versailles were constructed in the service of displaying the glory and the authority of the state. (Versailles, incidentally, was also a bit of a prison: located at a remove from Paris, it isolated Louis XIV's courtiers from the rest of the aristocracy, so they wouldn't get in the way of the king's political plans — which largely consisted of starting wars.) Story continues below advertisement Advertisement The world of King Louis XIV is the world that Trump is building for himself both aesthetically and politically. The White House media apparatus has actively promoted the idea of Trump as a king — even releasing an illustration that shows him wearing a crown. In his Oval Office surroundings, Trump offers aesthetic spectacle. In the way his administration has carried out its deportations, he provides political spectacle: masked ICE agents smashing immigrants out of their cars, a university student cuffed at a citizenship interview, the deportation of hundreds to an inhumane megaprison in El Salvador — no due process, no appeal, no explanation. Trump's gilded gewgaws and our growing authoritarian state are intimately connected. In the United States in 2025, l'etat c'est Trump. In the presidential memorandum on 'Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture,' the Trump administration describes the need to honor the 'traditional' architectural heritage of the United States. But in his taste for the gloss of French kings, Trump does no such thing — instead, he rejects the traditions of the Founding Fathers in favor an aesthetic that connotes absolute rule. If history is a lesson, Trump shouldn't get too comfortable with his royal trappings. After the French Revolution, overwrought styles such as rococo went out of fashion, as the country's monarchs quite literally lost their heads at the hands of the peasantry. And the Hall of Mirrors? It's now a tourist attraction.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aussie rock icons Hoodoo Gurus left heartbroken as founding member dies - just days after their former manager: 'We're reeling from shock'
Aussie rock icons Hoodoo Gurus have been left heartbroken after founding member Kimble Rendall died - just days after the death of their former manager. The ARIA Hall of Fame recipients took to Facebook to confirm the passing of their original guitarist Kimble, who died on Saturday aged 71. 'RIP Kimble. Very sad news. Just announced overnight,' the band wrote alongside a heartwarming throwback picture of him playing the guitar in a studio. 'Two losses we have had in the Gurus family this past week. We're still reeling from the shock.' The Sydney-born musician was the band's original guitarist from 1981 - 1982 but left them as they were just breaking out, in order to become a filmmaker. He went on to become on of Australia's most renowned filmmakers, with his directing credits including the 2000 horror movie Cut, starring Kylie Minogue and Molly Ringwald. Kimble also directed Julian McMahon and Lincoln Lewis in the 2012 shark horror movie Bait. His final directing credit was the 2018 Australian-Chinese co-production Guardians of the Tomb, starring Kelsey Grammer and Li Bingbing. Kimble also directed music videos for his former band, as well as for several Aussie rock icons, including Cold Chisel, Mental As Anything and Diesel. He was also second-unit director for many acclaimed Hollywood productions filmed in Australia, including The Matrix Reloaded, Ghost Rider and I, Robot. His death was announced by media personality Melissa Hoyer on social media. 'Vale Kimble Rendall... Musician, advertising guru, film director, husband, devoted dad and a very good friend to many,' she began. 'Thank you for being in our lives. You were compassionate, constantly creative, funny, clever and perennially entertaining.' He was married to veteran Australian TV presenter Basia Bonkowski from 1982 until her passing in 2022 from lymphoma. The Sydney-born musician was the band's original guitarist from 1981 - 1982 but left them as they were just breaking out, in order to become a filmmaker Kimble is survived by their children William and Camille. His death comes just days after the passing of former Hoodoo Gurus manager Dominic 'Mick' Mazzone, who died after battling an illness. The band took to social media last week to share a heartfelt tribute to Mick, remembering the industry veteran as a 'dear friend'. 'We in the Hoodoo Gurus are utterly devastated at the sudden loss of our dear friend, Mick (Dominic) Mazzone,' they wrote in a statement. 'It is impossible to convey the shock and grief we are feeling right now. We have already shed many tears, and there will be many more to come. 'Our loss is nothing compared to the one that has been dealt to Mick's close family and friends and, in particular, to his beloved kids, Frank, Antonia and Alex.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aimee Lou Wood Says She Didn't Meet Walter Goggins Before The White Lotus
Aimee Lou Wood, who stars in The White Lotus season 3, has unveiled Mike White's unconventional casting method. The acclaimed director seemingly relies on intuition when selecting actors. Wood revealed that she had never met co-star Walton Goggins before filming began. Aimee Lou Wood, whose brilliant portrayal of Chelsea in The White Lotus season 3 has garnered praise, revealed a secret about Mike White's casting tactics. The Sex Education star appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers on April 3 to talk about the show before its grand finale next week. Wood shared that there was no 'chemistry test' involved for Mike White's casting of her and Walton Goggins. She explained, 'Well, I think they've been looking for Chelsea for a while. And Mike's very instinctive with his casting. He is just kind of all intuition. We don't do chemistry tests. Like me and Walton had never met.' (via Daily Mail) The 31-year-old actress further shared that 'the ladies,' probably hinting at the close-knit group—Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), Kate (Leslie Bibb), and Laurie (Carrie Coon)—had also not met before the cameras started rolling. Gushing over Mike White's method of casting, she noted that the director requested her to do one take in an American accent and another in her own voice. The character Chelsea, as viewers know, is obsessed with astrology. So, Wood explained that her 'Manchester accent' added 'more individual' characteristics to the role. Every season of The White Lotus comes with its own bag of mysteries, and Wood shares that she is 'relieved' all secrets will be out by next Sunday. The Toxic Town star shared, 'I found out when I was 29 years old. I'm 31 now. That's how long I've been holding that secret, so I need it to be over now.' Previously, in an interview with the Cut, Wood talked about how Chelsea in The White Lotus has a 'warmth' to her character. Discussing her character study, she stated, 'I think Aimee was a bit of a storm cloud.' She added, 'But when I was Chelsea, I was so up that I needed someone to bring me back down.' She also talked about her Manchester accent and how it grounded her. Wood gushed over Manchester locals, 'There's a front-footedness to us and a warmth.' Originally reported by Arpita Adhya on ComingSoon. The post Aimee Lou Wood Says She Didn't Meet Walter Goggins Before The White Lotus appeared first on Mandatory.
