“Guilty” pleasures at Six By Nico

Liz Nicholls

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Oxfordshire

Liz Nicholls

We try a sneaky preview of the new menu at Six by Nico on Oxford’s Westgate Roof Terrace, launching on 11th August and available for diners until 1st September.

What’s your ‘guilty pleasure’, foodwise? You know, that sweet taste of childhood that you might turn to when you need a bit of comfort… Your go-to fast food when you’ve got a hangover… Maybe your choice of takeaway when you’re happy to indulge your inner slob and chomp in bed (I call this a ‘bed picnic’ and don’t knock it till you’ve tried it).

The third menu at the buzzing new Six By Nico in Oxford takes this lusciously indulgent concept and runs with it. But, as you’d expect from the team headed up by foodie star and restaurateur Nico Simeone (see our takes on the first two menus, The Chippie and the Amalfi Coast) this is food that’s incredibly easy to enjoy but with made with big helpings of complexity and skill.

Here’s another carefully curated menu that stokes and strokes your memory, starting with the ‘snacks’ including the salty Cheesy Beano Croquettes that had everyone at my table of foodies smitten. As with all the six-course tasting menus (changed up every six weeks) each treat is accompanied by its own drinks menu, starting with a cocktail (in my case a delicious chocolate espresso martini; the strawberry cheesecake spritz is also a stand-out star) curated by the in-house bartenders.

And then, appetite sharpened, you’re off. If you’ve wisely chosen the wine pairing option, there will be a glass of vino that really helps each course sing.

Just as well as that the flavours pack a punch: the Breakfast Muffin is a spicy salsiccia bon bon, aged cheddar, truffle emulsion & egg yolk jam that’s like a party in your mouth. This is not the sort of fare you’d grab at a McDonald’s Drive-Thru on a walk of shame.

The Loaded Potato Skins are the perfect guilty pleasure too, with an amazing smoked bacon jam, chive emulsion & whipped creme fraiche, with a perfectly crisp Sicilian tipple.

Cheeseburger & Chips (aged beef tartare, house burger sauce, dill pickle, parmesan & beer battered cornichon) held up well with another pickly punch. But my stand-out fave was the veggie alternative Mac & Cheese with cauliflower couscous, jalapeno gherkin ketchup & pickled golden raisins. Deeeelicious!

The still-surprising element of the Six By Nico experience is how the different courses play with your levels of hunger. You feel ravenous at the start and think the portions aren’t going to satisfy but courses four and five, the Fish Finger Butty (coalfish, salt & vinegar hash brown, smoked tomato caviar, toasted brioche polonaise) and Nico Fried Chicken (crispy chicken, NFC crumb, baked celeriac, charred corn and a sublime black garlic emulsion & chicken jus gras) fill not just your eyes but your belly, in just the right way. And if not, you can add on the Buffalo Fried Chicken (“Franks” hot sauce, gorgonzola royale & pickled celery).

Food memories always have to end with some serious sweetness, and it’s amazing how Warm Cookie Dough tucks you back into that sleepy satisfied feeling with different textures of hazelnut & chocolate cookie, summer raspberry, praline cremeux, vanilla espuma.

Summer is short, and so is life, so make sure to grab a booking and treat your tastebuds to a trip back in time to your happy place.

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Join the Garden Party in Didcot

Karen Neville

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Oxfordshire

Celebrate events & activities in open community spaces at Didcot Garden Party this month

Didcot Garden Party is returning throughout the summer holidays to bring exciting events and sports activities to Cornerstone Arts Centre and local parks in the town.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are bringing lots of free activities for families and young people until August 31st. Head to the courtyard at Cornerstone for the launch of this year’s party from 10am to meet the ‘naughty flock of sheep’, join The Crew on a voyage into the unknown and dance the day away to live music with DJ Strange.

All the events at Cornerstone will be taking place outside in the centre’s decorated courtyard during the six-week period. Enjoy music from the acoustic Funkinsteins (2nd), the Flamenco Thief on 23rd, theatre with Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage on Wheels, 3rd and find out more about your community at the Communities Come Together Day on 17th.

Try a free badminton taster session on 10th and 31st at Didcot Leisure Centre, join Fusion Fest on the 10th and celebrate the global cultures in our communities and tuck into a special foodie event at Cornerstone on 30th.

If you fancy getting active then there are a variety of ways to get involved all for free. Whether you fancy junior bootcamp, giving skating and scooting a go, family yoga or badminton, just turn up and give it a go. Aged 4-12 and want to join a dancing session? Pre-booking essential.

Full details of all these events and more, dates and venues on the downloadable brochure at Didcot Garden Town.

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Cowley road eatery launches breakfast menu

Ellie Cox

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Oxfordshire

Ellie Cox

An Oxford restaurant is launching a new South Indian breakfast menu as it continues to expand its offerings after a successful launch earlier this year.

On Saturday, Dosa Darlings, located on Cowley Road, served traditional South Indian breakfast options from its brand new menu for the first time.

The restaurant will continue to offer breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 12 noon going forward. The menu features breakfast dosas, including Masala Dosa, Ghee Dosa, and Egg Dosa, alongside Idly, a savoury rice cake, and Pongal, a dish made of rice and lentils. Also on the menu is an Uttapam, a thicker type of dosa served with toppings, a Chennai Omelette, and Egg Podimas.

Breakfast goers at Dosa Darlings will also be able to order from a selection of breads, such as Poori Masala or Stuffed Paratha, as well as Goodness Bowls including overnight oats and Kesari, and a variety of hot drinks, smoothies, and fresh juices of the day.

Michael Raphel, owner of Dosa Darlings, which recently also extended its opening hours to seven days a week, said: “South Indian breakfast is truly delicious and we’re very excited to give the people of Oxford the chance to enjoy it and perhaps sample some dishes for the first time.

“We’ve been embraced by the community and are delighted that the success of Dosa Darlings is continuing.”

The breakfast menu launch comes just a few months after the restaurant first opened its doors in February. In June, the business opened a new alfresco dining area. Dosa Darlings, part of the JM Socials restaurant group, offers guests a flavourful adventure that seamlessly marries authentic Kerala cuisine with a contemporary twist.

Its eclectic main menu offers everything from traditional curries and biryani dishes to authentic Indian desserts such as Rasmalai, Halwa, and Pongal. The main highlight is the dosa, with flavour combinations including masala, dates and almond, and even blue cheese and truffle. The cocktail list is also diverse, featuring signature drinks like the Old Fashioned Connoisseur (whisky, galliano, brown cacao, the bitter truth wood, aged in coffee barrels), the Spice Me Up (Earl Grey tea, cinnamon, star anise, lemon zest, orange zest infused tequila, clarified using milk punch technique), and the Eternal Secret (gin, malibu, homemade curry leaf syrup, lemon, coconut soda). Additionally, there are delicious mocktails, including the Mirchi Madness (pineapple juice, fresh red chillies, lemon and coconut syrup).

To encourage customers to try a South Indian breakfast this summer, Dosa Darlings is offering guests a 25% discount of breakfast throughout July. To make a booking, email [email protected] or call 01865 602040. For more information on Dosa Darlings, visit Dosa Darling.

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Dench and Blumenthal support OxTrail

Karen Neville

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Oxfordshire

OxTrail host Sobell House Hospice has collaborated with famous names to create a very special sculpture as part of the trail

The herd of more than 130 oxen have taken over Oxfordshire on the OxTrail and one of those attracting attention is Postb-ox.

The very special calf-sized sculpture features signatures and messages from celebrities, musicians, actors and authors.

The incredible art collection, made up of 31 large oxen sculptures and 107 mini oxen, has been unveiled. Each of the large oxen is uniquely decorated and place in key locations in the city, with the smaller oxen in mini herds throughout the county.

The large oxen have been designed by international and UK artists – including children’s illustrator Korky Paul and author David Melling. One of the community-lead mini-herd is causing quite a stir.

Decorated with the doodles, scribbling and signatures, the oxen are patterned in postcards from some of Oxfordshire’s famous residents and friends including notes from Dame Judi Dench, Heston Blumenthal, Mel Geidroyc, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead and Prue Leith.

Families can explore the city and spot the oxen in and around the county, following the trail using the app or map. For those hunting for Postb-ox, it can be found in the out-patients window at Sobell House Hospice on the site of the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Around 85 schools and community groups are taking part in OxTrail as part of the mini oxen sculptures too, which will be displayed libraries, hotels and community spaces.

And keep your eyes peeled for the ‘mini-mini oxen’ which can be found in the windows of the Oxford Story Museum, and other specially designed mini oxen including two from noted interior designer Annie Sloan CBE.

The OxTrail art will be on display until the end of August. On Friday 13th September the sculptures will be auctioned off to raise money for the hospice. Postb-ox will be up for auction too, along with a scrapbook containing all the original notes and drawings from the celebrities.

For more information on OxTrail head to https://oxtrail2024.co.uk/

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Artist RAWZ & his inspiring ox

Round & About

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We asked multidisciplinary artist Rawz to tell us a bit about what inspired his wonderful ox, part of the Sobell House OxTrail…

Among the large oxen grazing in Oxford’s beautiful buildings and streets you will find Dreams of the Spires (also gracing our July cover), outside Saïd Business School, designed by RAWZ.

An established poet and musician from Greater Leys, RAWZ represents a less acknowledged side of Oxford with his intricate design which beautifully reinterprets Oxford’s iconic skyline, symbolising unique stories, influences and people of the city.

He says: “For countless hours, years, centuries, Oxford’s famous spires have stood in silence, witnessing the city’s dreams as the world changes around them. This work re-interprets the iconic skyline’s shapes, weaving an abstract narrative through patterns. The forms interlock like puzzle pieces; a visual metaphor for the lives that inhabit the city, the unique co-existing stories and ideas that constantly influence each other, and the world around them, in an interconnected, interdependent exchange, creating a perpetual state of transformation and evolution.

“It’s been a great experience working with the team at OxTrail and it’s such a good opportunity to share what I do with lots of people. Sobell House’s work is so important, and it means a lot to be able to support it in this way. There are so many talented artists involved in this trail, I hope everyone enjoys exploring the city to find the whole herd. I’m sure a lot of good memories will be made while doing it!”

Ox-plore the trail and collect the sculptures using the official OxTrail 2024 app or through the beautifully-decorated OxTrail map, which is available at all Sobell House shops and some of the mini herd locations. What’s more, there is a range of ox-clusive merch and fun activities for children to get involved in available at the Westgate Hub Shop.

All the proceeds raised through OxTrail will help to fund Sobell House Hospice, who provide expert care to people facing life-limiting illness and support to their loved ones. The hospice relies upon the support of its community to raise over £3million each year.

Join the moo-vement to explore Oxfordshire’s iconic attractions, uncover some hidden gems, and have lots of fun along the way!

To find out more or donate to this worthy cause please visit OxTrail – Sobell House.

To work with Rawz, The Urban Music Foundation or Inner Peace Records email [email protected]

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Amalfi Experience at Six by Nico

Round & About

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Image by: Andrew Oglivy

Six by Nico in Oxford is a culinary gem that brings a refreshing and innovative dining experience to Oxford’s vibrant food scene. Ellie Cox went along to try out their new six-course tasting menu, embracing La Dolce Vita.

Located in the heart of Oxford, this restaurant offers a unique concept of themed six-course tasting menus that change every six weeks, ensuring that every visit is a new adventure for your taste buds.

From 1st July – 11th August, the tasting menu inspired by the Amalfi Coast promises to take guests on a culinary journey to the sun-kissed shores of its menu namesake through contemporary spins on the traditional flavours of Southern Italy.

The whole dining experience delivered just that. Despite a gloomy evening in Oxfordshire, as soon as you step into Six by Nico you’re taken on a unique journey to explore a taste of Southern Italy. From sipping on Aperol Spritz, to drinking wines that perfectly match each course; it’s an experience to remember.

The restaurant itself offers a sleek, contemporary design of the interior which, combined with warm lighting and comfortable seating, creates a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. The open kitchen adds a touch of excitement as diners can watch the chefs meticulously prepare each course.

However, the star of the show at Six by Nico is undoubtedly the food. The flavours are bold and inventive, with a beautiful presentation that is most definitelt Instagram-worthy. The use of fresh, high-quality ingredients is evident in every bite.

The six-course tasting menu is priced at £50, with an option to add matching wines to each course at £38 (highly recommend adding this).

The menu offers the following:

Course one – Parmesan Polenta
Espuma, Truffle, Mushroom Ragout

Course two – Heirloom Tomato
Green Olive Tapenade, Salted Lemon, Lovage Emulsion & Whipped Ricotta

Course three – Spaghetti Nero
Toasted Sourdough, Chilli, Confit Garlic & Scamorza Foam

Course four – Black Pollock
Bagna Cauda, Zucchini, Braised Fennel, Basil Dressing

Course five – Trio Of Pork
Belly Of Pork, Pancetta Ham Jam, Nduja Cannelloni, Smoked Onion, Pickled Summer Squash

Add-On (highly recommend that you try these!)
Crispy King Prawn, Peperoncino Verde Emulsion & Lemon Gel – £9

Course six – Delizia Al Limone
Lemon Mousseline, Polenta Cake, Caramelised White Chocolate, Yoghurt Sorbet

The ever-changing menus mean that there is always something new to look forward to, making it a great spot for special occasions and regular visits. The combination of exceptional food, outstanding service, and a stylish setting makes Six by Nico a must-visit.

Whether you’re local to Oxford or just visiting, make sure to be first in the queue (spaces get nabbed really quickly thanks to the buzz!) to book a table at Six by Nico for a dining experience that is both unique and unforgettable.

Amalfi Coast six-course tasting menu available from July 1st – 11th August, visit Amalfi Coast – Oxford – Six By Nico

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Make a date for Calendar Girls

Round & About

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Kevin Thomson invites us to laugh, cry, be elated, despair, feel uplifted (pun intended), and shout, “put ’em back on!” at Abingdon Drama Club’s new production of Calendar Girls

Middle aged Chris Harper and Annie Clarke are best friends. They spend much of their time at their local WI, whose motto is “enlightenment, fun, and friendship”.

Although they like most of the women at the Knapely group and in particular the flaky Chris, they think the way the local President, Marie runs the chapter, a tad dull. They find much of what goes on banal and devoid of fun.

After Annie’s husband John dies from cancer, Chris wants the WI to provide a memorial in his memory: a new sofa for the family room at the hospital. The one she wants is expensive and so she proposes to raise the money with a fundraising calendar featuring tasteful photographs of nude Knapely WI members. Annie likes the idea. But will the rest of the WI members? What about Marie? What about the husbands? Who will be the photographer?

The new of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on Knapely. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the strain of their new-found fame.

ADC is never frightened when it comes to performing controversial material… even when it is such great fun!

Director Alex Jenkins’ deft handling of Tim Firth’s hilarious play, ably assisted by, what we have to call, a stand-out cast, is nothing short of brilliant. She explains: “I like to direct plays that have lots of layers and emotion. Calendar Girls takes you on a rollercoaster of emotion, from laughing out loud to ugly crying on the same page. It has a strong female cast and is empowering.”

Based on the true story of 11 WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund, since Calendar Girls opened, it has become the fastest selling play in British theatre history!

A fabulous evening’s entertainment awaits us.

Tickets: £12, £10 concessions (60+, Under 12s, students, ADC members). Group bookings: Groups of 10 and over – All tickets £10 (£10.60 when booked online – just select the concession rate ticket and choose the number you require). Please let us know if you have any problems with your booking.

Tickets available from: The Bookstore, The Abingdon Precinct (15 Bury Street), Abingdon or online at abingdon-drama-club.com

Email: [email protected]

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Drive against cancer for Sobell House

Round & About

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Jay, Paul and Reg are travelling from Oxford to Barcelona in a ‘spacious diesel with a a large boot for beers’ all to raise funds for Sobell House Hospice

Driving a £400 Ford Mondeo more than 1,400 miles may sound like madness but for friends Jay, Paul and Reg there’s method to their madness.

The trio are fulfilling a bucket list dream to compete in a TwoBall Rally and have decided to take on the challenge from July 18th to 22nd to raise funds for Sobell House Hospice.

The Beach Rally will take them from Saint Quentin in France through the French Alps to Annecy, on to the Italian coast, the glitz of Monaco, onwards to the French Riviera to Nice, Cannes and Saint Tropez topping up the tan before heading off towards Spain and the final destination of Barcelona.

The Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI was purchased for £400 without MOT and has spent the last few weeks being repaired, welded and having a new MOT – with a lot of thanks to team mechanic Reg from Oxford.

Jay, who, along with fellow rallier Paul lives in Abingdon, says: “We will be taking a small tool box as we do expect some issues but myself and Reg both have mechanical knowledge so if we do break down we hope it’s somewhere nice along the way, like the French Alps or the Italian coast.”

Their trusty steed has now been lovingly given a new lease of life and decked out to look like a US police car for their epic adventure and with the three friends ready to go in their costumes, it’s almost time to saddle up and set off. All they need now is your help in their fundraising.

“This charity sits close to my heart as I’ve personally had friends spend their remaining few months at Sobell House and after visiting a good friend’s little brother there it blew me away emotionally,” said Jay. “I saw first hand how amazing the staff took care of the kids and adults, how they worked so hard to make the place look amazing and how kind they were even under the extreme pressures of caring for such very ill people.

“I can’t imagine how it must feel working closely with end of life patients so I feel very passionate about trying to achieve as much money as possible to support them.”

Businesses are invited to get involved and sponsor the car with their logo on a sticker.

The Just Giving page will be updated with pictures and stories of their exploits along their 1,443-mile journey and look out for Jay’s footage of the expedition on TikTok – JayDogUK. You can follow and donate at tinyurl.com/ys5djkkp

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Uncover Oxford with a tour guide

Round & About

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After deciding 30 years behind a desk was enough, Joanna Hamilton trained to become an accredited member of the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides. What will you discover on a tour of the famous city?

Do you know your own backyard? Oxford residents are bracing themselves for the summer arrival of visitors who flock to the city to find out more about the dreaming spires and their surrounds, but how much do you know?

Many of these visitors take a tour to learn about the city, it’s famous university, the great (and not so great) who have studied and worked here – and, of course, our literature and film locations from C.S. Lewis to Harry Potter!

But it’s often more local visitors, old and young, who discover the most and enjoy seeing familiar sites with fresh eyes. Members of the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides are all trained and accredited and offer a more personal experience for curious local as well as overseas guests. We also have exclusive visiting arrangements to some of our famous colleges.

No two tours are ever the same. All guides cater for people’s individual interests – be that history, architecture, famous books (from the Oxford English Dictionary, Alice in Wonderland and our own Inspector Morse, film locations (you can see me in the opening sequence of Mama Mia 2 which was filmed in New College’s stunning hall with Bjorn from Abba!) to the story of the City and the University from Saxon times, through the beginnings of the University (lots of violence as well as study and religion) through to the current day, the turbulence of the 16th and 17th Century when Charles I set up court here and what is going on in Oxford now…

And the stories can be told while wandering our lovely medieval streets. Even in the busy summer, you can organise a tour for early morning or later afternoon to avoid the crowds. Or wrap up warm and take a tour during the quieter winter months.

People often book tours as gifts for family and friends (I did a funeral party once and also a wedding group) or local businesses looking to treat their staff or VIP customers.

You’re sure to find out so much more about places that we all know – but do not always know much about.

Every day I learn something new, not just about Oxford, but about the history of our country and the rest of the world. I also get to meet such interesting people and have an excuse to immerse myself in the work of notable characters and scientific innovations connected with our beautiful City.

You can find a Guide (you may know some of us!) at www.oxfordguildoftourguides.co.uk 

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Peter Adamson’s tribute to Wallingford book

Round & About

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In his latest book, A Town Called Wallingford, local author Peter Adamson shares the stories that made the town

Many thanks to the many readers of Round & About who bought my previous book Landmark in Time – the World of the Wittenham Clumps. The response was so encouraging that I have now written a follow-up – A Town Called Wallingford.

Once again, I have tried to make each chapter into a story that starts in our local town but doesn’t necessarily end there – and I hope there will be a few surprises along the way.

There are stories of Alfred the Great and William the Conqueror… but also stories of internationally important, state-of-the-art enterprises in the town’s business parks. There is the story of the Wallingford blacksmith’s son who rose to be the greatest mathematician of the age… and of the small-town lawyer who became one of the most influential figures ever born in these islands. There are stories of thousand-year-old Saxon defences… but also of the ‘great coffee shop invasion’ of our town centres. Stories of the great castle that gave England the Plantagenets and the Tudors… and of an act of heroism and that averted a 20th-century disaster.

From the world of the arts, there are chapters on the four sisters who overcame Victorian prejudice to be acclaimed as Royal Academy artists… and on why Wallingford’s most famous resident and the world’s best-selling novelist is scorned by the literary critics. Plus the first in-depth investigation into an extraordinary rumour that has lingered on in the town for the last two hundred years.

A Town Called Wallingford is a tribute to small towns in general and to Wallingford in particular. And just as Landmark in Time set out to add to the pleasure of those who know and walk the Wittenham Clumps, I hope that this book will add to the interest and enjoyment of those who have grown to love Wallingford as I have over the years.

A Town Called Wallingford is available from Wallingford Bookshop and from Peter Adamson (peteradamsonwriting.com)

Peter Adamson is a winner of the Royal Society of Literature V.S.Pritchett Memorial Prize and in addition to non-fiction writing has published three novels and a collection of short stories. 

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