Latest news with #Thea
Eater
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Wood-Fired Fish Makes Theodora One of the Hottest Reservations in Brooklyn
Open fire is at the heart of one-year-old Theodora, a Brooklyn restaurant where the showmanship of cooking over a live fire and Mediterranean dishes with smoke-filled flavor draw in hopeful diners that wait in line for the chance to sample owner and executive chef Tomer Blechman's menu. 'There's so much we can achieve with caramelization and umami, and the creation of what it makes is amazing,' he says. Related Theodora, the New Restaurant from Miss Ada, Opens in Fort Greene The menu itself is split into five sections: crudo, breads from sister bakery Thea, wood-fired vegetables, and mains like chicken and dry-aged fish cooked on the grill and in a high-heat oven. Prep begins with marinating a spatchcocked chicken that stands out on the fish-heavy menu. The chicken sits in a marinade of lemons, olive oil, Serrano peppers, thyme, and rosemary for three days, instilling a deep flavor. The chefs cook lima beans overnight in a sealed oven with two burning logs of woods and then combine them with chicken broth to make the perfect accompaniment for the grilled chicken. Jumping over to the bakery, only two doors down, Blechman checks in on the sourdough that is used for his ever-popular brown butter toast with whipped ricotta. Dry-aged fish turns into crispy roasted branzino and red snapper ceviche with grilled pineapple, basil, and a lime vinaigrette. The entirety of fish are used throughout the restaurant, with the gelatin from cooked down fish heads turned into a creamy sauce and dried out fish bones combining with dry seaweed to make a slowly simmered dashi broth. As the line begins to fill up outside, Blechman prepares a Moroccan fish stew with peppers, onions, tomatoes, and the more untraditional ingredient of gochujang (Korean red chili paste). Everyone gets amped up for service as the fish stew is finished with a quickly seared tilefish that is placed on the slow-cooked vegetables and topped off with toasted cassava flour. More mains fly out of the oven: butterflied trout covered in harissa and chermoula, bone-in branzino that is dry-aged for four days with rosemary, and the slow-roasted chicken tossed with charred carrots in an anchovy sauce. 'When guests come here, I think that our hope is just like for them to really be together, enjoying their company of each other, enjoying the food, exploring their palates,' Blechman says. Watch the latest episode of Mise en Place to see how Blechman and his team thoughtfully prep every incredible sauce, dry-aged piece of fish, and fresh slice of sourdough at one of the hottest restaurants in Brooklyn. The freshest news from the food world every day
Press and Journal
17-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Ballogie Nursery: 'Little Thea will be in tears at having to start elsewhere... It's a lot for a four-year-old'
Hannah Park only recently got her four-year-old daughter Thea settled at Ballogie Nursery. After months of tears, the timid tot finally built up her confidence and now loves meeting up with her wee pals there. But Hannah fears that her daughter is in for some emotional upheaval as Aberdeenshire Council mothballs the Deeside facility. Parents like Hannah are now banding together in a desperate crusade to keep Ballogie Nursery open. The village lies south of the River Dee, nestled between Aboyne and Banchory. And its beloved nursery is one of four rural buildings set to be mothballed in July. As well as Ballogie, Crossroads, Glass and Sandhaven are are all on the chopping block. Just before the Easter holidays, parents were hit with the 'devastating' news that its 13 children would have to go somewhere else. The Save Ballogie Nursery campaign was set up to stop the nursery from being permanently closed. I returned to Ballogie Nursery for the first time since I left it at the age of five, almost 20 years ago, to speak with these families. Little Thea was meant to return to Ballogie Nursery in August for one more year. However, the youngster is one of many who will be forced to start completely afresh this summer. And for many kids, this will be a tough change to go through. Mum Hannah tells me that it took time for Thea to build up her confidence and settle into nursery. And now it seems she will have no choice but to go through it all again. 'Its horrible when your child is crying and you walk away from them,' Hannah confides. 'She is doing brilliantly, and I feel really really sad about the fact that she now has to go through that whole process of resettling again. 'It's a complete unknown for her. You are asking her to walk into a completely new building, with completely new staff and with completely new children. 'It's a lot for a four-year-old.' Just like dozens of parents, Hannah tells me that she faces the uncertainty of not knowing how long it will Thea to resettle into her new nursery when she starts at Banchory in a few months. 'It's still going to require an adjustment period, there will still be those tears… How long it lasts I don't know, the degree of it I don't know. 'The email dropped right before Easter holidays, there was no discussion of the impact on families. 'The council knew in February but still allowed parents to choose Ballogie as their preferred nursery in March, it's dreadful.' Worried about the youngsters being dispersed, she adds: 'Some may transition well and some may really struggle. We won't know how Thea will be until we get there. 'I am sure she will build those connections eventually, but how long will that take?' Mum Olivia Akkerman has been left feeling 'nervous' for next year. She tells me that she specifically chose the nursery because 'the education has such a good reputation'. Olivia says her son Philip loves the nursery, with the youngster even asking her what day of the week it is and 'what day he will be going back to Ballogie'. Dad Duncan Caird feels 'really disappointed' with the news. 'It's a great little community here and just the opportunity to play and just be children without any stress is brilliant,' he tells me. Duncan's eldest son Magnus is currently at the nursery, but due to start at Finzean Primary School after the summer holidays. However, Duncan tells me that the plan was for younger sister Evelyn and baby George to follow in the footsteps of their big brother. And younger sister Evelyn likes it there already… 'Evelyn loves it, she comes and helps to pick Magnus up,' Duncan smiles. 'Unfortunately, she won't get that opportunity to come to Ballogie Nursery now.' Katie Rankin, who is from Aboyne, said she specifically chose the nursery because of the small size – the very factor council moneymen are now using to shutter it. Her son Ruben is another youngster who loves the nursery. She tells me: 'One size does not fit all, it's the individual kids needs. Some need smaller settings and can thrive a lot better. That's the main reason we chose Ballogie. 'The teachers here are brilliant, they're so caring for the kids and you have that individual feedback every time you pick them up… They know your kid.' It was at the nursery that Ruben found out he needed glasses. While the lad was daunted by a trip to the hospital, Ballogie staff decided to help him embrace the change. They made it a 'big theme for the week', making him much less nervous. And they even gave him a book as a reward for being so brave. Abby Nicol tells me her concerns about the impact closing Ballogie Nursery will have on this tightknit rural community. 'How are you going to get younger people into rural communities if you don't have childcare provision? It's just fundamental,' she tells me in the busy playground. Abby tells me that her 30-year-old brother came to the nursery as a child, and made his best friend there. She continued: 'If there's not a school or primary school here, families won't be moving here. 'To close something so integral to our community, literally the heart of the community, is horrendous.' Wendy Milne, is from Finzean and Mum to Isla and Harry. Isla will start at Finzean Primary School after the summer holidays, but younger brother Harry was due to start at Ballogie Nursery in January. 'I cried so much when I heard the news, it was just such a shock,' Wendy tells me. 'Ballogie feels like a second home for the kids rather than putting them to a nursery. 'It just feels like you are getting crucified for living rural. 'Financially we had planned for me to go back to work more next year and that might not be possible now.' A spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council said the authority 'appreciated' closing a nursery could be 'a shock to parents and carers, as well as the wider community'. But they added: 'Our decision to mothball/deactivate Ballogie has been thoroughly considered to ensure the quality and sustainability of services and the most efficient use of public money. 'Mothballing/deactivating is a temporary closure… At this stage there is no proposal to permanently close these settings.' We explained the process in mothballing schools and nurseries, which has to follow certain rules.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Peter Andre shares emotional moment he says farewell to his mother who's battling Parkinson's and Alzheimer's in Australia as he prepares to fly back to the UK
Peter Andre posted an emotional moment he said farewell to his mother, Thea, in Australia on Wednesday as he prepared to fly back to the UK. The Mysterious Girl star, 52, has been open about the health struggles his mum, 89, who lives Down Under, has faced in the last few years after being diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. And now he's shared a video on Instagram as he visited her care home before his flight back to see his 'babies' back in the UK. In the clip, Peter can be seen with his mother caressing his face with her hands as she attempts to communicate with him. Alongside the post, he penned: 'Spending time with mum is always the most important part of my trip. Not exactly sure what mum is saying here but words are not always needed. I will be back very soon. 'I Love her so much, I pray she knows that. I also love Australia. But back to my babies now.' And now he's shared a video on Instagram as he visited her care home before his flight back to see his 'babies' back in the UK Peter jetted to Australia to promote his new movie Jafaican. The singer stars as Gary Buckle in the crime-comedy, a con artist pretending to be a Jamaican gangster. Gary, also known as Gazza, must master Jamaican culture in 21 days in order to execute a fraud in London and Jamaica and earn the £35,000 he needs to pay for his grandmother's care. With the film set to release later this year, its trailer showed Peter wearing dreadlocks and putting on a Jamaican accent - something which fans have called 'profoundly disrespectful '. The trailer made fans question: 'Did I wake up in 1998?!' Meanwhile, it comes after Peter opened up about his 'anxious' feelings when visiting his mother in Australia. The star travelled there for work commitments and took the opportunity to spend time with his ailing mother. But despite the joy of seeing his parents, the star admitted that leaving his family in the UK causes him anxiety. Peter shares two teenagers, Junior and Princess, with his ex-wife and former glamour model Katie Price. He also has three younger children, Amelia, Theo, and Arabella, with his current wife, Emily MacDonagh. In his column for OK! magazine, Peter shared: 'It's always so hard leaving the children when I travel. I get quite anxious before I leave. 'But I also feel anxious because I'm going to see my mum for a very limited amount of time in Australia. I've seen Mum and Dad everyday in between work, so it's bittersweet.' He concluded: 'I'm so happy to see them, but also happy that I'll get to go back and be with the children.' In January, Peter gave an update on his mental health struggles he has experienced after having a 'tough' year. The pop star explained that his struggles have largely resulted from his mother's health woes. While the singer touched on the amazing parts of the year, such as welcoming his youngest daughter, Arabella, he confessed that he has 'found parts of the year quite hard.' He told The Mirror: 'Although I've had a lot of highs in 2024, I did experience feelings of anxiety that I haven't had for a long time, especially to do with my mum's health. 'I think that's why I spoke a lot more about mental health, because I wanted to be open and admit that things aren't always great. 'I like to think of myself as a positive person but, truthfully, I have found parts of this year quite hard.' Peter also touched on the sensitive subject in his column for New! Magazine at the start of last year. He said: 'I can't believe I'm nearly 51. I was worried as I approached 50, but I'm over that and I feel great. 'I'm loving life and age is just a number. You can live life to the fullest at any age. 'I will be honest, though, the only thing that makes me sad about getting older is that my parents are too.' Peter continued: 'Although I thank God my parents are still here, I am seeing the rapid decline, especially in Mum. I find that part hard to deal with. 'Like most people, l'm so close to my parents that it is really difficult to come to terms with.' WHAT IS PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website. What are the symptoms? The NHS says there are three major symptoms, including tremors or shaking, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness. Other symptoms include problems with balance, loss of smell, nerve pain, excessive sweating and dizziness. Some people can also experience lack of sleep, excessive production of saliva and problems swallowing, causing malnutrition and dehydration. What are the early signs? Symptoms can start gradually, sometimes beginning with a barely noticeable tremor in just one part of the body. In the early stages, people may show little or no expression, and their arms may not swing when they walk. Speech can also become soft or slurred, with the condition worsening over time. What are the causes? Some scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are the cause of Parkinson's disease. It occurs after a person experiences loss of nerve cells in a part of their brain. However, it is not known why the loss of nerve cells associated with the condition takes place but research is ongoing to identify potential causes. Scientists say genetics factor can increase a person's risk of developing the disease, and can therefore run in families. Other factors attributed to causing the condition include environmental problems such as pollution, though such links are inconclusive, the NHS says. How is it diagnosed? No tests can conclusively show if a person has the disease, but doctors can make a diagnosis based on symptoms, medical history and a physical examination. A specialist will ask the person to write or draw, walk or speak to check for any common signs of the condition. They may even check for difficulty making facial expressions and slowness of limb movement. How many people are affected? Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson's disease in the UK, according to the charity Parkinson's UK. What happens if someone is diagnosed? According to the charity, it is a legal requirement to contact the DVLA, as a diagnosed person will need to have a medical or driving assessment. The organisation also advises people to contact any insurance providers and find out about financial support available. People are also encouraged to partake in more exercise. Can it be treated? Although there is no cure, a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms. The main remedies include medication, exercise, therapy and surgery, which can help people in different ways. What medication is available and what are the side effects? Medication can be helpful in improving the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as shaking and movement problems. There are three main types which are commonly used, levodopa, dopamine agonist or a MAO-B inhibitor. Each can affect people in different ways. The drugs do have some side effects, including impulsive and compulsive behaviour, hallucinations, sleep issues and blood pressure changes. What therapy is available? There are several therapies available to those with Parkinson's through the NHS. Among them are physiotherapy to reduce muscle stiffness, occupational therapy to help with completing day-to-day tasks and speech and language coaching. Does this change the way you live? Most people's life expectancy will not change a great deal, though more advanced symptoms can lead to increased disability and poor health. It can also cause some cognitive issues and changes to mood and mental health.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I hid my baby's unique name from my friends so they wouldn't steal it
Anyone who's recently named their child Leo may be experiencing buyer's remorse right now: given the appointment of the new Pope, it's set to become even more popular. As The Telegraph recently reported, the business of baby naming has never been more controversial: one in five grandparents baulks at the name bestowed upon their grandchild, as the trend for giving children increasingly unusual names continues. Children are far more likely to find themselves friends with a Jaxx or an Artemis than a Michael or Sarah as parents turn to more unusual names in order to avoid the horror of your child sharing the same name as someone in their classroom. But what's it really like to grow up with a name that stands out from the crowd? Is it really the key to being memorable in a modern world where promoting yourself as a brand is increasingly important – or a burden? Here, we meet a new mum who is determined that the unique name she has picked for her daughter will help her stand out in life – and one woman who knows all too well the potential pitfalls of growing up with a unique name. Catherine Lamb, 36, hated growing up with a name shared by others in her class, and was determined the same fate would not befall her own children. She and her husband, Nathaniel, 35, from Westerham, Kent, named their 14-month-old daughter Theia (pronounced Thay-ah), after the Greek titan goddess. Catherine, a writer, says: 'When I was a child, I hated having the same name as everyone else. There was nothing particular about the name that I disliked, other than it was very popular. 'There were three Catherines in my class at school, and more in other year groups. I ended up being known as Cathy, to differentiate me from my classmates Kate and Catherine. 'When I met my husband, Nathaniel, I was envious that he had been the only Nathaniel not only in his class, but his entire school – although it's a name I think has since grown in popularity.' Catherine's experience of growing up with a popular name meant she had already spent years considering names for her own offspring. 'I was always determined to give my own children a unique name. Not something completely made up, but something they weren't likely to share with anyone else in their class at school,' she explains. 'I thought it would be nice to have a name that is memorable. 'About two years before I had Theia, I fell in love with the name Thea after hearing it on a TV show, and earmarked it for my future daughter.' But by the time Catherine had got pregnant, she realised the name was more popular than they had thought. 'I overheard a mother talking to her daughter, called Thea, when we were out one day,' Catherine says, 'and immediately, it put me off. In 2023, the name Thea was the 63rd-most popular girls' name in the UK, according to Office for National Statistics data, and was given to 716 baby girls. 'Then, some distant relatives in New Zealand also had a daughter named Thea, and I felt it was just too popular to use.' 'I immediately started Googling similar names, and found that the origin of the name Thea is actually from Theia, pronounced slightly differently, the Greek goddess of light. I loved that it was a strong and elegant name that had some history and mythology behind it. 'We both loved the name, but we kept it a closely guarded secret from friends and family. I didn't want anyone to try to put us off the name, or worse still, use it themselves.' When their daughter was born, the couple received a lot of compliments on their choice, even though many friends and even family members struggled to pronounce it at first. 'When Nathaniel called my mum to tell her Theia had arrived, she initially repeated the name as Thea – he had to correct her. 'Everyone has said they love the name, but people do forget how to say it. I've still only met two people who have known how to pronounce her name from seeing it written down. They usually plump for Thea, or sometimes 'Thee-ay-ah', or 'Thigh-ah'. 'It is a bit frustrating having to constantly correct people, especially after you've told them multiple times, and I suppose Theia might feel the same once she's older. 'But ultimately, I hope she grows to love her unique and memorable name.' Dayna Clarke, 37, was named after her mother's favourite character in the American soap opera Dynasty, Dana Waring – although the unusual spelling is down to her dyslexic father registering her birth. 'My mum loved watching Dynasty while pregnant with me,' Dayna, a therapist, explains. 'Dana Waring was American; glamorous and feisty in a way that probably felt impossibly far from our rural corner of east Devon. 'My dad added the 'Y' to the name when he registered my birth. He was highly dyslexic, so I suspect it was a genuine mistake rather than a deliberate decision – although sadly, he's no longer around to ask. 'Growing up, having a name like Dayna in a rural community was perpetually awkward. I used to long to be a Laura or an Emily, to have the kind of name that you could find on a personalised keyring. 'My schooldays were difficult. The only other Dana anyone had heard of was Dana Scully, from The X-Files. I had the theme tune hummed at me a lot.' But the unusual spelling of Dayna's name meant that even having a famous namesake didn't help people pronounce her name correctly. 'I absolutely dreaded having a new teacher. I'd brace myself during registration for them to hesitate when they got to my name, before attempting Diana, Danya, or even Diner. There was always a lot of laughter. 'I don't have a middle name, but when I was a teenager, I gave myself the middle name Alicia, in the hope people might use that instead. It wasn't very successful. 'As an adult, I've missed appointments while waiting for my name to be called and it being mispronounced so badly I didn't even realise I was being called. There's a special kind of loneliness from having to explain yourself before you've even said hello.' Dayna was an adult before she had met anyone who shared her unusual name. 'It was only two years ago when I met someone else called Dana, at a party. When she introduced herself, I genuinely thought she was mocking me. 'It felt surreal and quite disorientating to say the name out loud to someone else who responded to it.' But Dayna has eventually grown to love her unusual name. 'When I was younger, unfamiliar names stood out, and I was desperate to fit in,' she explains. 'But as I travelled more, my perception of my name shifted. I met people from other cultures, and everyone's name seemed to have a story. 'People still struggled to pronounce it, but then, people started telling me it was a beautiful name, rather than laughing about it, and I really began to embrace it.' 'I started to see the charm in being the only Dayna on the email thread or the office whiteboard. 'Recently, a good friend told me her sister had named her daughter Dayna. I was stunned – it felt strange but quite beautiful to hear it chosen.' But despite the moniker being chosen by others, Dayna insists that if she has children herself, she'll opt for a more traditional name. 'I don't think I'd bestow a name as unique as Dayna on my own children,' she says. 'I love it now, but it's been a long process, and I think as a child I'd have preferred something slightly more mainstream. 'I still feel a flush of embarrassment when someone stumbles over my name, or consistently mispronounces it wrong, but I no longer dislike it. 'I've come to accept it's part of who I am.' 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.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Peter Andre anxious as he jets off to see mum amid horror heath battle
Mysterious Girl singer Peter Andre has shared his anxiety when he travels Down Under to see his ailing mum, Thea, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Peter Andre has admitted he is "anxious" about going to see his mum in Australia. The pop star, 52, headed Down Under for work and revealed he regularly visited his ailing mother, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. However, he said doing so left him feeling anxious as he was leaving his family at home. The Mysterious Girl singer shares teenagers Junior and Princess with ex-wife and former glamour model Katie Price, while he has Amelia, Theo and Arabella with his current wife Emily MacDonagh. He admitted travelling to Australia is always bittersweet and said it's hard having his close family separated by so much distance. Speaking to OK! after his latest trip to Oz, Peter said: "It's always so hard leaving the children when I travel. I get quite anxious before I leave. "But I also feel anxious because I'm going to see my mum for a very limited amount of time in Australia. I've seen Mum and Dad everyday in between work, so it's bittersweet." He added: "I'm so happy to see them, but also happy that I'll get to go back and be with the children." In January, Peter said he and his brother had headed to Australia to spend quality time with his parents Thea and Savvas. In 2023, he revealed that his 88-year-old mother, Thea, had been diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Thea lives in Australia with Peter's father, Savvas, as she faces her declining health. Last year, Peter celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary and paid tribute to them, at the time acknowledging how "really tough it is to see your parents age or become ill." Speaking to OK! in his column, at the time, he said: 'Being with my mum and dad in Australia was incredible, but understandably also very emotional. I went with my brother, Michael, and we got to spend quality time with my sister as well. "The hardest bit for me is leaving them. Both Mum and Dad are on the decline, unfortunately, especially my mum." He added: "Every moment was incredible. Thank you to everyone for all the lovely messages I received when I was there. Even though I know it's part of life, I can assure you it doesn't make it any easier to deal with." Peter recently divided fans as he s howed off his family's trip to SeaWorld in Abu Dhabi. Peter took to social media to share an array of sweet snaps from the recent family holiday with his entire clan. But some fans weren't happy with his choice of locations and let him know in the comments section of his post. He initially wrote: "We had the best time at @yasisland exploring all the parks. So special to have the whole family together, there truly is something for everyone. We'll definitely be back!" One user pleaded: "Looks like an amazing trip but can we all agree SeaWorld is hell for animals and not go there? Thank you please. Especially our favourite celebrities with huge followings."
