by Jenny | 7 May, 2023 | Cecil B Demille, Dinner and a Movie, Gloria Swanson, William Holden
Greetings to those dropping by from Dinner and a Movie for some extra recipes suitable for serving alongside a screening of Sunset Blvd. First up, possibly the maddest thing I have ever made William Holden’s Lime Gelatine with Carrots, Nuts and Olives. Yes, this...
by Jenny | 14 Jul, 2020 | Gloria Swanson
The pubs are open, and I have been in TWO. Yes, I have left my eyrie and gone out into the big wide world, leaving North London for the first time in 17 weeks. I went on a train and everything! Here is me having my first pint of beer out in the real world. As I...
by Jenny | 3 Feb, 2018 | Gloria Swanson
I love Haggis with a passion, so I adore Burns Night. This year, I didn’t make my traditional Haggis pizza, I went to Battenburgbelle’s place where we had an amazing Scottish feast. Cathy cooked a delicious chicken stuffed with Haggis a la Nigel Slater, it...
by Jenny | 7 Aug, 2015 | Florence Vidor, Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo, Janet Gaynor, Joan Crawford, June Knight, Marion Davies, Mary Pickford, Norma Shearer
Cripes. This party took place in September 2014, so my memories are now pretty dim, but this has just got to come off my “to do” list… The first part of my report was written soon after the party (sensible) and is here… My...
by Jenny | 29 Mar, 2015 | Dorothy Sebastian, Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford
In the queue for the closing screening at the Silent Cinema Festival in Bo’ness, Mr Rathbone said: “Hippfest is everything I like about the world.” I knew exactly what he meant and heartily agree. We had an absolutely wonderful time at the...
by Jenny | 8 Jan, 2013 | Gloria Swanson
It’s taken me a while to put away the sequined jumpsuit and get back to normal life. The festive season rolled over into the first week of January with an old skool rock and roll night out to Rock of Ages with James, a fabulous birthday dinner at Bonnie...
by Jenny | 20 Jun, 2012 | Gloria Swanson
Oh goodness, I am on a panel – I am bricking it. 3 July 2012 – 6.30pm – tickets are £10 Looking In, Looking Out Festival, Conway Hall London Bidisha leads a high-kicking whirl through Hollywood history and a celebration of the brilliant women who...
by Jenny | 5 Feb, 2012 | Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford
I was thrilled to be invited to contribute a recipe to the Guild of Food Writers’ Treasury, and it’s gone live today on their website – GFW Recipe of the Month – I snuck in two as they are for little film star nibbles. Gloria Swanson’s...
by Jenny | 12 Oct, 2011 | Gloria Swanson
I am thrilled to announce that our Gloria Swanson Bar-Le-Duc won SECOND PRIZE in its class at the Women’s Institute Real Jam Festival this weekend. And as my mum put it, “those WI Judges are VERY picky!” Indeed they are, and as you know, we were...
by Jenny | 4 Sep, 2011 | Gloria Swanson
September’s recipe is for Gloria’s gorgeous canapes. Really easy, really cute and will make you feel like the most generous hostess ever. CAVIAR. It’s not as crazy expensive as you might think. I got a cute little pot for £4 and I can get two...
by Jenny | 24 Aug, 2011 | Cecil B Demille, Gloria Swanson, William Holden
Oh what a fabulous lunch! Jane, Trix, Sophie and Joshua came all dolled up in their Sunset Boulevard finery and I wore the leopard print housecoat I bought in Miami. On the menu: Gloria Swanson’s Champagne Cocktail Gloria Swanson’s Caviar Canapes William...
by Jenny | 18 Jun, 2011 | Gloria Swanson
Today I spent about 5 hours picking the seeds out of redcurrants with a goose quill. I kid you not. This is the traditional way of preparing the fruit for the most expensive jam in the world. No wonder! My Shellac Sister Veronica’s dad had a wonderful crop of...
by Jenny | 3 Oct, 2010 | Anna May Wong, Gloria Swanson
Just back from the wedding of the century, Grace and Douglas are now HITCHED and what a wonderful day it was! Great to spend time with lots of the Walthamstow posse, there was much crazy dancing – especially from Cary who was doing his “Rock...
by Jenny | 29 Jun, 2010 | Gloria Swanson
The wonderful portrait painter Brian Dennis won this dress – designed by Gloria Swanson – in our recent competition. He is now spreading the love and running his own contest for one lucky lady (or indeed a slender man) to have their portrait painted in...
by Jenny | 5 Apr, 2010 | Gloria Swanson
Oh my goodness! It is with much excitement that I report that the first edition of Vintage Life magazine is out and it has my article on GLORIA in it. Oh how very lovely! I am going to try and link to it here…...
by Jenny | 14 Mar, 2010 | Gloria Swanson, Oliver Hardy
Ah, Sunday afternoon and Columbo on the tele. Heavenly. Again, I have a humdinger of a hangover and red wine lips. Temperance month is not really happening is it? I’m cooking some of Ollie’s Spaghetti Sauce in an attempt to feel better. It was a wonderful...
by Jenny | 1 Mar, 2010 | Gloria Swanson
This month I have decided to run a competition. This dress – designed by Gloria Swanson for her “Forever Young” label is the prize. It still has the original tag and so presumably has never been worn. Very stylish with a lovely bow detail on the...
by Jenny | 27 Feb, 2010 | Gloria Swanson
“They took the idols and smashed them, the Fairbankses, the Gilberts, the Valentinos! And who’ve we got now? Some nobodies!” Oh Lord, I have an almighty hangover. The ladies of the book group came round last night and I think I drank 5 times as much...
by Jenny | 7 Feb, 2010 | Cecil B Demille, Gloria Swanson, William Holden
“Creation is a drug I can’t do without.” I am feeling the same myself this week Cecil – I am ON FIRE! Had a fabulous, fabulous day today pottering around in the kitchen making the Sunset Boulevard Luncheon. There is definitely a new calm...
by Jenny | 7 Feb, 2010 | Gloria Swanson
The cake is made but there is much more to do before everyone arrives at 1 o’clock for the Sunset Boulevard extravaganza. I should be getting on with it but I MUST report on my date last night with the New Yorker. He took me to dinner at Nobu. A place I...
by Jenny | 20 Dec, 2009 | Gloria Swanson
“I feel sure that unborn babies pick their parents.” Well if that is true Gloria, I have very good taste! Today I went up to Suffolk for a surprise 80th birthday party for my lovely mum. Miraculously all 5 of us kids made it – despite the snow, plus...
by Jenny | 7 Dec, 2009 | Gloria Swanson
“Because I take care of my body, it doesn’t look like the body of a woman of my years.” Same here Gloria, honestly! Wow, I have had such a great reaction from work colleagues to Gloria’s cake. Admittedly it did contain over a bar of Green &...
by Jenny | 27 Aug, 2007 | Gloria Swanson
“Hollywood abounded with driven creatures endlessly looking for solace or compensation in alcohol, drugs, and sex.” Well after the weekend I’ve just had the same could be said of North London Gloria. I am still reeling from Nazimova’s party, I...
