new tastes in home design - home - the … exhibition features the centrality of the female form to...
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FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
Things to do this weekend
PAGES 2-3
WEEKEND EDITION
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NEW TASTES IN NEW TASTES IN HOME DESIGNHOME DESIGN
EVENTSTHINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND
02 FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
Qajar Women: Images Of
Women In 19th Century Iran
This exhibition features the centrality of the
female form to the artwork of the Qajar
period in Iran (1785-1925).
Through a variety of historical objects from
MIA’s collection, in juxtaposition with photo-
graphs and contemporary artworks inspired by
the Qajar period, they explore the meaning of
the image of women at the onset of modernity.
Where: The Museum of Islamic ArtWhen: Until June 11Ticket: Free admissionCheck http://www.mia.org.qa for details
The exhibition features an exhibition of conceptual Emirati artist Has-san Sharif, titled: “Hassan Sharif: Objects and Files”. The exhibition includes a selection of artist archives and object installations from be-
tween 1981-1987, during which time Sharif established new, self-imposed systems of repetition, duration and chance in the execution of his work.
Sharif’s works are showcased alongside four significant and influential artists from across the Arab world, including Faraj Daham (Qatar), Saloua Raouda Choucair (Lebanon), Inji Efflatoun (Egypt) and Farid Belkahia (Morocco).
Where: Ground floor of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in DohaWhen: Until September 4Time: 11am-6pm, Fri: 3pm-8pm, Monday closed Ticket: Free entry
Works from Mathaf Collection, vol. 2
An exhibition from 15 contemporary Chinese artists curated by internationally acclaimed New York-based Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang, presented in the context of Qatar China 2016 Year
of Culture. After his solo exhibition at Mathaf in 2011, Cai Guo-Qiang returns to Qatar to present an exhibition featuring 15 contemporary Chinese artists and collectives working in a variety of media.
Where: QM Gallery Al Riwaq When: Until July 16Time: Sunday to Wednesday 10.30am to 5.30pmThursday and Saturday noon to 8pmFriday 2pm to 8pmTuesdays holidayTickets: Free entry
What About The Art?
Contemporary Art From China
Finals for the
FIVB World Tour
events to deter-
mine the final spots for
each gender in the Rio
2016 Olympic Games.
The live event will be
at the Beach Volleyball
Arena at Al Gharafa
Sports Complex.
Where: Al Gharafa Sports Club When: April 8Time: 4pm to 9pm Admission: Free
FIVB Beach Volleyball
Qatar Open 2016
Let’s Celebrate Womanhood 2016
Friends Cultural Center will be organising an exhibition, food fest-cum-competition for woman and children at FCC Auditorium in Hilal. There will be exhibition of accessories, handcrafted jewellery, paintings,
home linen and home made food. For the younger ones, the group will host a talent show across three categories; Chatting parrots (presentation and self-introduction), Smiling buds (presentation and beautiful smile) and Rocking kids (self-introduction and talent show).
Where: FCC Auditorium in HilalWhen: April 8, 8am to 8pmTickets: Free event
03
EVENTS
FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
Scan Watch&
Some events mentioned here are for next week. We are giv-
ing you headstart so that you book your tickets in advance.
The on-going Souq Waqif festival seems like a must-visit event this week-end, provided the predicted thunderstorms don’t play a spoilsport. Ride games like swing, airplane, crazy fire, dragon, crazy frog and family train
have been set up along with an art exhibition for the art lovers at the Souq Waqif Art Centre. Apart from this, the usual entertainers and stilt walkers will also be seen at the festival. Where: Souq WaqifWhen: Till April 18Time: 4pm to 10pmImfo: http://www.souq-waqif.qa
Souq Waqif Festival The Westin Doha Hotel and SPA opening
Scan the QR code to watch videos from The Peninsula newspaper
Shams Generation Solar Art Exhibition
Following the popularity of its shows among Doha locals, JALC Doha decided to have more live perform-ances of world-class artists hitting the stage. It’s not
just about what the musicians play at the late night set; it’s about how it makes you feel. The resident band and new artists keep it fresh and mix up the mood until late with a more relaxed approach to their music.
Where: Beside the Qatar Sport Club in West Bay When: April 8; 10:30pm onwards Ticket: For reservation www.jalcdoha.com
The Late Show at Jazz at
Lincoln Center (JALC) Doha
TRAVELA meal at the early 20th century Parsi eatery, Britannia and Co in South Bombay is a fascinating culinary expedition.
04 FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
By Isabella Rauter IANS
My entry point to India was Mumbai and, aptly enough, it began with a magnifi-cent view of the Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea from the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The Taj, of course, is a fairy
tale, opulent abode, full of old world charm. The historic hotel reminded me of home, and our own enchanting places to stay in Vienna, especially the suite in Schön-brunn Palace overlooking the splendid baroque park with the Gloriette.
My stay in Mumbai was a gastronomic journey of taste and discovery. At the Taj Palace’s iconic Masala Art restaurant, I sampled their signature dish — the unique local Bombay Tiffin meal, inspired by the famed Dabbawalas whose six-sigma quality delivery system story amazes me.
Meeting them is definitely on the list for my next visit
to India. The meal is served off a tiffin — the server opens it, and three sparkling stainless steel dabbas emerge packed with a dal, a sabzi, rice and roti.
The meal pays tribute to the bustling culture of Mum-bai, a city that is busy and teeming with little nuances. You round it off with Masala Chai served in a copper Katori.
If the Bombay Tiffin meal opened up the local fla-vors and wonderful aromas of the city, then my meal at the early 20th century Parsi eatery, Britannia and Co. in South Bombay with Beri Beri Rice Pulav; Raspberry Soda was another fascinating culinary expedition.
Baklava made me recall Viennese signature pasty— the famous Sacher Torte. I was served by the elderly owner Boman Kohinoor, who showed me his impressive correspondence with a range of well-known personali-ties, including Zubin Mehta, the famous conductor of Indian origin who often performs in Vienna.
Just a few days in India were enough for me to fall in love with the ubiquitous local brew flavoured with ginger and cardamom — the Masala Chai. While I relished the
spicy Indian food, some desserts like carrot fudge (Gajar Ka Halwa) and Gulab Jamun were cherry on the cake.
I could not get over the variety of Indian breads — from watching a roomali roti being rolled out in the Gymkhana Club in Delhi, to photographing an entire family dig into a huge bread, the naan, at the table next to mine at the Mughal Sheraton’s Peshawar restaurant in Agra.
But food was just one part of my journey of discov-ery. Between all the business meetings there was some time to soak in Indian culture and see some impressive monuments.
My next stop, Delhi, brought me face to face with 1,000 elephants — not in a Jungle Safari, but in the im-pressively carved Akshardham temple. In the evening I witnessed an exceptional sound and light show. But the content was hard to understand for someone not familiar with Hinduism. A drive past the biggest Presi-dential Palace in the world, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the impressive India Gate brought home the grandly classical architecture of Lutyens Delhi.
India: Journey of discoveryIndia: Journey of discoveryfrom culinary to monumental from culinary to monumental
The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai. (Photo: Taj)
05FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
The story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal makes Taj Mahal undoubtedly the most romantic wonder of the world.
On my last day I visited the Taj Mahal, which was an undeniably breathtaking experience. I got up very early in the morning and had a comfortable drive on the Yamuna Expressway from Delhi to Agra, only stopping for a quick cup of Chai en route.
At the Taj, we were welcomed by guides who helped us with the tickets and enter the complex quickly. When approaching the main entrance, I could feel the excite-ment rising — in a few seconds, I was going to take my first look at one of the most famous buildings in the world. I was curious if it would live up to expectations.
And then, I caught my first glimpse of the shining white Taj framed, picturesquely within the shadowy arch of the main gate. I must say it was truly overwhelming and I fell in love at first sight.
While the Taj is incredibly beautiful, what makes the monument really special is the story behind its construc-tion, as explained to us by our Sherpa: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had this remarkable ivory white mausoleum built for his dearly beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
But immediately after its construction he was im-prisoned by his son, and could only see it from his jail window in the Red Fort. Here, Shah Jahan gazed at the Taj for the rest of his life. This makes it undoubtedly the most romantic wonder of the world.
It’s an ode to love like nothing else and no wonder tourists throng to the Taj. The love story of Mumtaz Mahal reminded me of our own Empress Elisabeth “Sisi”. To-day, the Volksgarten around the monument of Empress Elisabeth is one of the most romantic spots in Vienna with 400 types of roses blooming here in spring.
Indeed, much of Vienna is enchantingly romantic and a favourite destination for Honeymooners. The nar-row cobblestoned lanes, arcade — lined courtyards and time-honoured palaces enable a brush with the past. The suites at the Schönbrunn Palace where the nobil-ity once resided are now open to honeymooners. Of course, Vienna is particularly romantic in spring when the chestnut trees blossom in the vast Prater Park.
Perhaps it is this sense of romance that has inspired
Indian filmmaker Karan Johar -- famed for his love sto-ries like “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham” -- to choose Vienna as the setting for his upcoming movie, “Ae Dil Hai Mush-kil”, starring Aishwarya Rai, Anushka Sharma and Ranbir
Kapoor. The heart always finds a way to make connec-tions. Vienna and India certainly did!
(Isabella Rauter is team manager for public rela-
tions with Vienna Tourist Board.)
TRAVEL
While the Taj is incredibly beautiful, what makes the monument really special is the story behind its construction: It’s an ode to love like nothing else and no wonder tourists throng to the Taj.
Britannia & Company Restaurant, Mumbai
A university professor uses chip grafting to create a tree that bears as many as 40 fruits and blossoms in multiple hues.
06 FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
YOUNG EDITORS
By Abby McGanney Nolan The Washington Post
Two years after The Crossover made him a star in the world of children’s books, Kwame Alexander is back with “Booked, another nov-el-in-verse about a 12-year-old boy who loves playing a team sport.
Alexander knew he had to make his next protago-nist quite different from Josh Bell, super-confident basketball player and narrator of The Crossover. He says it wasn’t until he met two boys during a school presentation in Bethesda that he figured out which sport the hero of Booked would play.
“These twin brothers who loved The Crossover were really adamant that I should do a book about soccer,” he says. “They invited me to their soccer tournament, and then I went to their futsal [five-a-side soccer] tour-nament indoors.” Alexander was won over by their enthusiasm. He also remembered the excitement of watching one of his own best friends play professional soccer.
He says the pace of soccer influenced “the rhythm and energy” of the new novel’s poems and narrative: “There are a lot of starts and stops and a lot of things going on at the same time.”
When he chooses titles for his books, Alexander looks hard for a word or phrase that has several layers of meaning. He has been pleased when kids he meets tell him of the many ways they interpret the phrase The Crossover after reading that novel.
In Booked, which is a soccer term for when a player’s foul is serious enough to be recorded by the referee, narrator Nick Hall is a talented soccer player who is pressured by his parents to read books, including the dictionary his father wrote. He has other obligations, too, so his schedule is always full, or “booked.”
Growing up, Alexander played tennis, not soccer, but he thinks Booked is “the most autobiographical of the novels that I have written.
“I was that kid. I had to read the encyclopedia every day. I was immersed in language and literature, but friends in my neighborhood and on my tennis team were
not avid readers. People would say, ‘Oh, Kwame’s got book smarts. He doesn’t have street smarts, but he’s got book smarts.’ That was embarrassing to me, and Nick also tries to hide from it. It was still going to find his way into his life, though. Poetry is how Nick begins to love books again, and that’s sort of what happened to me.”
Both before and after winning the 2015 Newbery
Medal, the highest honor in children’s books, Alexander has kept busy visiting schools all over the world to talk to students about poetry. He has witnessed how writing and reading concise and powerful poems “can affect us all on such an emotional level.”
These days, he says, “poetry is the building block of my writing, my school visits and even my life.”
In Booked, athlete gets his kicks from poetry
Scan to watch video
The tree of 40 fruit created using chip
grafting by Sam Van Aken
An artist and professor at
Syracuse University Sam
Van Aken uses chip grafting
to create a tree that bear 40 varie-
ties of fruits with pits. Over several
years he adds slices of branches
from other varieties to the working
tree ‘Tree of 40 Fruit’.
Grafting involves slicing a bit
of a branch with a bud from a tree
of one variety and inserting it into
a slit in a branch on the “working
tree”, then wrapping the wound
with tape until it heals and the bud
starts to grow into a new branch.
Over the years Van Aken has
created more than a dozen of such
trees planted at various locations
across the US. In the spring the
tree blossoms in various hues and
in summer it bears many fruits.
Scan the code and watch the
video to see the beauty of the ‘Tree
of 40 Fruit’.
In Booked, which is a soccer term for when a player’s foul is serious enough to be recorded by the referee, narrator Nick Hall is a talented soccer player who is pressured by his parents to read books, including the dictionary his father wrote.
Author Kwame Alexander with students in Alexandria, Virginia. (Katherine Frey / The Washington Post)
Heard of a crazy tree with 40 kinds of fruit?
Three amazing ‘EYE’ facts
07
YOUNG EDITORS
FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
Researchers are studying the orbital movements of these stars and planet to better understand the science behind planet formation and evolution.
By Rachel Feltman The Washington Post
Scientists have found a rare three-star system 685 light years away. Instead of the more typical single star, or even a pair, it boasts a trio
of suns that coexist in a complex dance. And the system is rare even among the triple-threat crowd: It hosts a stable plan-et, which is something scientists have seen only three times before.
The jupiter sized gas planet called KELT-4Ab along with its largest star Kelt-4A was discovered much earlier. But according to recent research published in the Astronomical Journal, one of those original stars is instead a binary pair.
The planet orbits only one of the stars - KELT-4A - so technically that star is its only sun. KELT-4A is relatively close to us and bright, making it a better can-didate for study than any of the stars in previously discovered triple systems. KELT-4Ab orbits it in just three days.
To someone standing on the edge of the planet (though it would be im-possible to stand on, as it’s mostly gas),
researchers estimate that the star would appear 40 times larger than our own sun.
The other two stars would appear much dimmer - about as bright as our planet’s moon and not much larger than many of the stars we see in our own sky. KELT-4B and -4C, the pair of stars previously mistaken for a singleton, are caught in an orbit around KELT-4A, mak-ing them part of the system as well. But they’re so distant from the larger star - eight times farther than Pluto is from our own sun -- that it takes them 4,000 years to make the trip around KELT-4A; KELT-4B and -4C orbit each other every 30 years.
One thing that makes the system particularly interesting is the fact that its planet is what scientists call a hot Jupiter. These are Jupiter-like gas giants that sit close to their suns.
Scientists believe, based on mod-els of planetary evolution, that gas giants should form farther out - so the prevailing theory is that hot Jupiters are planets that have somehow been roped into a closer orbit than the one they were born in.
In this case, there’s a tantalizingly
obvious suspect for this orbital upheaval - or rather a pair of suspects.
“The binary system KELT-4BC may be what ultimately drove the planet KELT-4Ab so close to its star,” lead au-thor Jason Eastman, a research associate at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics, told Space.com. Eastman and his colleagues plan on using the Eu-ropean Space Agency’s Gaia satellite to study the orbital movements of these stars. They may be able to puzzle out how their gravity pushed KELT-4Ab into such a hot spot.
It turns out this planet has three suns in its sky
1. Eye contains 107 million cells of which 7 million-help you see colour and details; while 100 million help to see better in dark.
2. On an average, you blink 17 times per minute, you blink less while reading and you blink more when talking.
3. The phrase ‘in the blink of an eye’ is said as it is the fastest muscle in your body.
COLOUR ME
An artist’s concept of another triple-star system. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
WHEELSWhat Tesla is doing is bringing the cost down on the battery, making it affordable, putting pressure on other companies.
08 FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
By Chris Mooney The washington Post
It’s being hailed as simply extraordinary. Since
introducing the Model 3 sedan — a far cheaper
electric vehicle, aimed for broader consumption,
than the Model S - Tesla saw a stunning 276,000
orders in just two days.
Tesla aims to sell 500,000 electric vehicles per
year by 2020 - an ambitious goal but one that, based
on these numbers, doesn’t sound so unachievable.
(That number presumably includes sales of all Tesla
models, not just the new Model 3. Deliveries in 2015
were around 50,000 of all Tesla vehicles, according to
Bloomberg New Energy Finance.)
Clearly, part of the appeal of the new vehicle is not
just its sleekness or new range, but rather, its environ-
mental promise and symbolism. One key question,
though, is what this surge in Tesla sales means for a
critical parameter that will determine the planet’s fu-
ture: By electrifying transportation (and thus, powering
cars not with petrol derived from oil, but rather, with
an electricity supply that itself is getting greener), how
fast can we start to bring down the United States’, and
the planet’s, emissions?
Current transportation emissions, on a global scale,
were 6.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalents in
2010, or about 23 percent of all global greenhouse gas
emissions related to the use of energy, according to the
UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The
number rises to 7 billion tons of carbon dioxide equiva-
lents when other greenhouse gases are included. The
majority of that was for road-based transportation,
though the figure also includes shipping, aircraft, rail,
and other sources. (In the United States, transportation
makes up about 25 percent of emissions.)
Decarbonizing the transportation sector has long
been regarded as a fairly difficult endeavor, since these
are mobile rather than stationary sources of emissions,
and since emissions from cars and other transportation
sources are expected to grow so much in the future.
Thus, the 7 billion tons in 2010 are projected to be 12
billion per year in 2050, barring major policy shifts.
Several experts this week said that booming Tesla
sales don’t make enough of a dent in transportation -
at least not immediately - to shift this in a substantial
way. The problem is that the global auto industry is
massive, and even a half-million Tesla sales per year
isn’t all that much in that context.
“Even if Tesla manages to scale up and hit its very
aggressive target of 500,000 vehicles a year by 2020,
that would still represent only about .5 percent of glo-
bal light-duty vehicle sales,” said Colin McKerracher,
head of advanced transport at Bloomberg New Energy
Finance. “So it’s hard to have an overall impact from
them alone.”
However, if what we’re seeing marks a broader
shift, in which Tesla ends up driving the rest of the auto
industry to change and make more electric cars, that’s
another matter. “It’s obviously important for Tesla, but
I think it’s going to push other automakers to match
what Tesla’s doing, and also get other people to think
about switching to electric,” said David Reichmuth, a
senior engineer in the clean vehicles program at the
Union of Concerned Scientists.
Margo Oge, former director of the EPA’s Office of
Transportation and Air Quality and author of the book
“Driving the Future: Combating Climate Change with
Cleaner, Smarter Cars,” concurred. “What it’s doing is
bringing the cost down on the battery, making it af-
fordable, putting pressure on other companies,” said
Oge of Tesla’s success. These are important impacts,
even if there still may not be enough electric vehicles
on the road to cut down emissions a lot - at least not
immediately.
To see why it’s so hard to quickly move the needle in
this arena, just consider some numbers. Currently, light-
duty vehicles sold around the world annually number
(get ready to gasp) 88.5 million in 2015, according to
Navigant Research. And they’re expected to grow, and
grow, and grow.
Out of that annual total, according to the U.S. De-
partment of Energy, there were some 565,000 sales
of plug-in light electric vehicles in 2015. So you see
the small percentages that we’re dealing with (even
though sales are also rising quite rapidly).
Current forecasts expect electric vehicles to be-
come more prominent in the mix, but few expect any
sort of really rapid transition. Bloomberg New Energy
Finance, for instance, thinks electric vehicles sales will
be less than 5 percent of total vehicle sales globally
until about 2022, when battery technology becomes
cheap enough to really, really compete. This means that
it’s around 2040 that the numbers really get impres-
sive - in that year, 35 percent of new cars sold could be
EVs, the group thinks, and they could comprise about
25 percent of the global auto fleet.
“Battery cost has come down 70 percent the last
four to five years,” said Oge. “Now it’s $145 per kilowatt
hour, it’s been reduced 70 percent, and by 2022, we’re
talking about $100 or $120 per kilowatt hour. And all
the experts are telling us that at that level of battery
cost, electric cars are going to be at cost parity with
the combustion engine.”
When it comes to how fast electric cars can drive
down emissions, a key issue is exactly what kind of
electricity they’re getting - which fossil fuels are being
burned to power them, or, whether they’ll be charged
using a mix of electricity that is heavily sourced from
renewables. “By and large, EVs still compare favorably
in all but the most dirty grids. But the grid gets cleaner
over time,” said McKerracher.
Thus, the growth of clean electricity and the reduc-
tion of vehicle emissions turn out to be closely linked.
EVs are also, according to the Department of Energy,
already a lot cheaper to operate in most places, even
with the very low gas prices out there now. As of April 2,
the average price of gas in the United States was $2.07,
but an “electric eGallon” was $1.09, the agency said.
The prices are also potentially more stable. “I would
much rather make you a bet on what the electricity
price will be five years from now, than what the gaso-
line price will be five years from now,” said the Union
of Concerned Scientists’ Reichmuth. “And when you
buy a car, that’s what you’re doing.”
Other factors that could reduce vehicle emissions
in the future include the automation of cars and more
ride sharing, and also global city planning - design
decisions can have a big impact on how many people
opt for cars in the first place, and how much they think
they need to drive them.
The upshot therefore remains that given the
massive scale of the emissions problem in the trans-
portation sector alone, Tesla can’t change the world
fast or on its own. But then, it probably won’t be alone.
“Tesla also puts pressure on traditional car manufactur-
ers to invest” in electric vehicles, said Oge, “something
[it was] not doing seriously few years ago.”
Thus, much like what’s already happened with wind
and solar, it looks like we’re at the beginning of a major
boom in electric vehicles. But just like with wind and
solar, these vehicles are starting out as a very small
percentage of the total global fleet. They can therefore
enjoy very rapid growth, but that’s not the same as
rapidly fixing our carbon problem.
Here’s what Tesla’s Model 3 means for the planet
09FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
Most old age-related issues can be tackled by leading healthy lifestyle, which involves a balanced diet and adequate physical activity with meditation for mental health.WOMEN
By Anisha Bijukumar The Peninsula
Women traditionally dread getting
older and seem to worry more
about it as compared to men.
And most of the worries involve
poor physical or mental health.
These issues can be tackled by
leading a healthy lifestyle, which involves a balanced
diet and adequate physical activity with meditation
for mental health.
Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy as
you age:
1. Include as many different colour vegetables and
fruits as possible in your diet.
2. Prepare soups and juices at home and make it
a part of your daily intake.
3. Substitute dessert with fruits for those who have
a sweet-tooth.
4. Drink plenty of plain water as it helps flush out
the toxins in body and stay hydrated. Dehydration
is common and yet many people do not realise that
they are dehydrated, which is the primary cause for
most cases of tiredness, low energy and headaches.
5. Instead of three large meals a day, start with a
healthy breakfast to kickstart your metabolism and
then continue with small healthy meals to keep your
energy level high.
6. Cut down on sugar and salt slowly; meanwhile
sugary or aerated drinks are a strict no-no.
7. Make fibre your best buddy and increase its daily
intake. Fibre rich food include whole grains, barley,
oatmeal, beans, nuts, vegetables such as carrots, celery
and fruits such as apples, berries, citrus fruits and pears.
8. Add calcium for bone health and dairy products
such as milk and cheese, vegetables such as cabbage,
broccoli, asparagus and all forms of beans such as black
beans, kidney beans, white beans, etc are all rich in
calcium. It is important for your bones and cuts risk of
osteoporosis later in life.
9. Consume low fat dairy products or cottage
cheese, legumes, etc to get vitamin D. Primarily sun
is the source for Vitamin D but as one ages the skin’s
ability to manufacture it becomes less effective.
10. Ensure that your routine includes a walk or some
form of physical activity everyday as that keeps our
heart and brain healthy and also helps prevent that
waistline from growing.
11. Last but not the least, conduct regular medical
check-up so as to not just alert you of any health issue
but also to boost your confidence of being healthy on
seeing a positive report from the doctor.
Nearly two-thirds of those who do not report daily mental health problems eat fresh fruit or fruit juice daily.
Did you know?
tips to stay tips to stay healthy as healthy as
you age you age
1111
A balanced diet forms top most priority for women as they lead multiple roles in today’s fast paced life.
DESIGN
10 FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
Pops of colour are turning up in the kitchen with small household appliances and pots and pans manufactured in a wide range of colours.
By Michele Lerner The Washington Post
LED lights in the shower that bathe a user in
colour, and a reclaimed wood accent wall
near the fireplace. Artisan hand-baked clay
tiles as a kitchen backsplash, and a bathroom
exhaust fan that turns on and off through a
sensor.
A barn door on the master bedroom closet and up-
per kitchen cabinets that lower to the counter with the
touch of a button, eliminating the need for a step stool.
Rustic-tech chic is hot, particularly with millen-
nials who like the yin and yang approach to home
decorating.
Every year, interior designers, architects, real estate
professionals and home builders pour into Las Vegas
to view the latest trends at the International Build-
ers Show, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the
Consumer Electronics Show.
While they’re checking out ideas for the future,
these industry pros attempt to match what they see to
the personality of their local market and to upcoming
home buyers, particularly millennials.
Some of the design trends seen around the country
that particularly resonate with millennials may seem
contradictory: These buyers want modern, sleek lines
in their homes, yet they also love rustic looks. Millenni-
als love natural materials such as wood and stone but
are also drawn to colored lights that can turn a shower
into purple rain. Smart-home technology is revered,
but so are artisanal items that can add a curated look
to their homes.
Barn doors seem to crop up more and more often
in new or remodeled homes, sometimes as sliding
doors to define spaces but allowing them to be entirely
open and other times in smaller iterations such as a
closet or pantry door.
“Farmhouse sinks and mix-and-match faucet han-
dles were everywhere at the Kitchen & Bath show,” said
Stacy DeBroff, a brand strategist and chief executive
of Influence Central in Boston. “One company at the
intersection of rustic style and innovation is Stikwood,
which takes recycled wood and turns it into peel-and-
stick natural wood siding.”
Susan Matus, director of project development at
Case Design/Remodeling in Bethesda, Maryland, said
Stikwood could be used on one wall as a focal point
or in a mudroom or laundry room.
“That kind of rustic look is turning up unexpect-
edly in places where you want to mix textures such
as natural wood next to something shiny and sleek,”
Matus said.
Julia Walter, showroom manager at Boffi Geor-
getown, an Italian luxury kitchen and bath designer,
said Boffi displays a rustic wood shelf with a modern
shape, a metal sink below and a big mirror above it.
“It’s definitely a trend to combine reclaimed wood
with a contemporary steel frame,” Walter said. “It’s
an interesting play between old and new. People like
contemporary lines, but they want the warmth of bring-
ing in an older element into their home, especially the
kitchen where people have an emotional connection
with their childhood kitchen.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum from natural
wood are colored LED lights, which are turning up in
gas fireplaces, kitchens and even bathrooms.
“Coloured lights that you can control with an app
were everywhere at the Vegas shows from gas fire-
places to above-kitchen cabinets to around the rim of
a shower,” DeBroff said. “They had shower heads with
lights so that you can take a purple shower or a red
shower on a whim. Essentially, you can make a space
really cool that isn’t otherwise all that interesting.”
While shower heads with coloured lights are al-
ready available on Amazon, DeBroff said that high-end
toilets are being designed with a built-in night light
that illuminates the water in the bowl. She anticipates
that in a year or so consumers will be able to find an
attachment that adds that feature to regular toilets.
Pops of colour are turning up in the kitchen, too,
with small household appliances and pots and pans
manufactured in a wide range of colours. Larger kitchen
appliances in bright colours and pastels are available
from manufacturers, said Danielle Procopio, a real es-
tate agent and certified home staging consultant. But
she doesn’t see that as much of a trend yet, in part
because they are much costlier than appliances with
standard finishes.
“The most popular colour schemes in the kitchen
right now are dark cabinets with a light counter top,”
Procopio said. “At the Kitchen and Bath show, they
were showing bright green and blue cabinets, but
most people are sticking with standard colour palettes.”
“One client has a house with a very simple, clean
white kitchen but with a bright yellow oven, but that’s
very unusual,” Walter said. She said she’s seeing more
use of warm colours in the kitchen such as olive green
and different shades of beige in combination with
wood.
Handmade items or artistic features bring in an
element of personalization that appeals to many mil-
lennials, DeBroff said.
Introducing a unique piece of art to your home
decor can be costly, but DeBroff found affordable tem-
pered glass bowls from MR Direct that can transform
an ordinary bathroom into a museum-quality space.
“These hand-blown glass bowls cost $79 or $119
if you buy a faucet with them, but they look far more
expensive and are a budget-friendly way to personalize
your space,” DeBroff said.
Matus said manufacturers are making more mul-
tidimensional tiles with a pyramid-type shape or with
a wave pattern for visual interest.
“There are lots of interesting ways to use tile now,
including making a rustic wall in your kitchen from
artisan hand-baked clay tiles that have kind of ancient
character but can look very modern,” Walter said. “You
can also find mosaic tiles that can be installed by the
sheet.”
Colourful and artistic touches can be used to relieve
the sea of gray and white in new homes, but millenni-
als still want most of their homes to have clean lines
and modern style.
Large tiles for your floors and walls allow you to
have a cleaner look with less grout, Walter said. In some
cases, the tiles are so large and can be seamlessly
installed to look like one monolithic floor.
Matus said younger buyers still like crown mold-
ings, but they prefer simple streamlined styles near
the ceiling and opt not to include chair rail moldings
or wainscoting.
Millennial tastes in design:
Wood, stone and purple rain
Stikwood, which looks like planks of wood, could be used on one wall as a focal point or in a mudroom or laundry room. (Stikwood)
11
DESIGN
FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
Most millennials don’t want an old-school mudroom. They want a more organised space for the entire family.
“In homes with an open floor plan, a lot of buyers
want an extremely clean-looking kitchen with less vis-
ible sinks, faucets and appliances,” Walter said. “Most
appliances in these homes are fully integrated and
look built-in. Part of having an open kitchen is treat-
ing that area like furniture so that you have an overall
connection with the living area.”
“Millennials definitely like a clean look that’s more
transitional or modern than traditional,” said Michael
Merschat, design studio manager and architect. “If
you show them a cabinet with moldings on it they’ll
ask how to clean it and then choose something with
a cleaner, sleeker look.”
While stainless-steel appliances continue to be
popular, new variations with a matte finish or slightly
darker tone make them easier to keep clean and free
of fingerprints, Procopio said. The good news is that
the new stainless-steel appliances blend with older
stainless finishes so you don’t have to replace every-
thing at once.
Another innovation that keeps your kitchen looking
less cluttered is the installation of an electrical outlet
strip hidden under your cabinets that includes USB
ports as well as standard outlets, Judy said.
“Technology can be used to simplify the way your
home functions and looks,” Matus said. “Even the new
door locks that can be operated remotely from your
phone are starting to look more beautiful instead of like
a big clunky keypad. Things like Sonos wireless speakers
can be used to keep your rooms clear of clutter, and
they’re portable for entertaining outside.”
Technology can simplify your life, too, Matus said,
with items such as new bathroom exhaust fans from
Panasonic that are controlled by a sensor that turns
them off and on according to the steam in the room.
The Nest thermostat, which “learns” your pattern
of using heat and air conditioning, is at the intersec-
tion of technology and sustainability that appeals to
millennials, Judy said.
“Millennials are looking for highly efficient appli-
ances to reduce their energy use and want to use
sustainable and natural materials everywhere they
can,” he said.
Counters made of engineered stone or recycled
materials such as quartz and Caesarstone are environ-
mentally friendly and yet also easy to maintain, both
aspects of which appeal to millennials.
“Millennials consider sustainability in every sense
of the word,” Merschat said. “Environmental impact
is driving the selection of materials, but they are also
concerned about durability and functionality of the
things they buy. For example, a lot of people love the
way Cararra marble counters look, but they realize that
it stains easily, so they are willing to turn to manmade
materials that are similarly beautiful but are a better
fit for their lifestyle.”
One home priority that transcends generations is
the desire for an organized home with efficient and
abundant storage space.
“Millennials are likely to be intrigued by the new
kitchen designs that come with a complete built-in
organization system so there’s a place for knives, spices
and every specialty kitchen gadget,” DeBroff said. “An-
other cool innovation are cupboards that lower down
to the counter with the push of a button so you don’t
need a step stool to reach everything.”
DeBroff said that with the advent of Pinterest and
Instagram, millennials have high expectations for their
organized spaces to be visually beautiful.
Procopio said automated shelving and stacked
drawers that slide back to reveal a second layer are
particularly appealing to young people who may be
buying a smaller home in the city or inner suburbs.
Newly built homes, particularly small but costly
condos, feature built-in closet organizers and extra
storage in unexpected spaces such as a handful of
built-in drawers next to a laundry closet.
“A lot of city homes have smaller bathrooms, so
we offer solutions like integrated or hidden cabinets
that have storage space but don’t interrupt the clean
lines of the room,” Walter said. “In the kitchen, we have
three- or four-feet-wide cabinets with pocket doors
as a designated breakfast prep area so you can close
it off and not see the coffeemaker, toaster and juicer
out on the counter.”
The open floor plan popular with many buyers
today leads some to want a more organized kitchen,
since that space is frequently on display to guests and
to the family when they are eating or relaxing in the
adjacent living and dining area.
“A lot of families want a family command center or
tech space near the kitchen but a little separate since
those spaces can be messy,” Matus said. “If there’s
space, they want a highly organized mudroom or laun-
dry room on the first floor. If you live in a smaller place,
the key is to have extremely well-organized closets
with shelves and cubbies in your bedrooms, your bath-
rooms, your home office and your kitchen.”
In larger homes, millennials opt for personalized
storage solutions when remodeling a home. For exam-
ple, Merschat recently built a wall of cabinets, including
an L-shaped bench for storage and seating and a spe-
cial cabinet for riding boots for a family that enjoys
equestrian activities.
“Most millennials don’t want an old-school mud-
room with a washer and dryer,” Merschat said. “They
want a more organized space for the entire family,
including lower hooks for their kids to hang up their
own jackets and backpacks.”
One home priority that transcends generations is the desire for an organized home with efficient and abundant storage space. (Photo: Stacy DeBroff)
FILMS
12 FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
AL KHOR
ASIAN TOWN
NOVO
MALL
ROYAL PLAZA
THE BOSS
BABY BLUES
ZITS
A titan of industry is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.
VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER
List of movies running in Qatar cinemas. Get your friends or families together, grab a bucket of popcorn and enjoy a weekend flick.
Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice.
Mr. Right (2D/Comedy) 10:00am, 11:00, 12:00noon, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 10:00, 11:00pm & 12:00midnightBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action) 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pmThe Boss (2D/Comedy) 11:30am, 1:00, 1:30, 3:30, 5:00, 5:30, 7:30, 9:00, 9:30 & 11:30pm The Boy And The Beast (2D/Animation) 10:00am, 12:20, 2:40 & 5:00pmThe Dead Room (2D/Horror) 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30pmZootropolis(2D/Animation)11:00am, 1:10, 3:20 & 5:30pmEddie The Eagle (2D/Comedy) 7:40, 9:45 & 11:50pmKung Fu Panda 3 (2D/Animatin) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00 & 6:00pmLondon Has Fallen (2D/Action) 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnight 10 Cloverfield Lane (2D/Horror) 10:00am, 12:10, 2:20, 4:30, 6:40, 8:20 & 11:00pmBefore I Wake (2D/Thriller) 11:45am, 1:45, 3:45, 5:45, 7:45, 9:45 & 11:45pmBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (3D IMAX/Action) 12:00noon, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00pm & 12:00midnight
Mr. Right (2D/Comedy) 2:30 & 8:45pm The Boss (2D/Comedy) 4:30pmThe Boy & The Beast (2D/Animation) 2:45 & 6:30pmDarvinte Parinamam (2D/Malayalam) 2:15 & 10:45pmKung Fu Panda 3 (2D/Animation) 5:00pmSardaar Gabbar Singh (Telugu) 5:00pmBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice(2D/Action)6:30 & 9:00pmBefore I Wake (2D/Thriller) 11:30pm
Ki & Ka (2D/Hindi) 8:00pm Shaket Dabous (2D/Arabic) 10:15pmBefore I Wake (2D/Thriller) 11:30pm
The Dead Room (2D/Horror) 11:45pm
Darvinte Parinamam (Malayalam) 12:30, 2:30, 3:30, 5:30, 6:30,
8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30pm, 12:30 & 01:15am
Thozha (Tamil) 12:30pm Vettah (Malayalam) 12:30 & 8:15pm
Sardaar Gabbar Singh (Telugu) 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30pm Maheshinte Prathikaram (Malayalam) 6:00pm
Special Show 2:30pmThe Boy & The Beast (2D/Animation) 3:00pmKung Fu Panda 3 (2D/Animation) 5:00pmBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action) 6:30, 9:00 & 11:00pm Ki & Ka (2D/Hindi) 5:15pmThe Boss (2D/Comedy) 4:00pm Mr. Right (2D/Comedy) 6:00pmThe Dead Room (2D/Horror) 2:30 & 11:15pm Shaket Dabous (2D/Arabic) 9:45pmBefore I Wake (2D/Thriller) 8:00 & 11:30pm
Kung Fu Panda 3 (Animation) 10:30, 11:30am, 1:30& 3:30pm The Boss(Comedy) 10:30am, 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30&11:45pmSardaar Gabbar Singh (Telugu) 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pmBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action) 12:30, 6:00 & 11:30pm Ki & Ka (2D/Hindi) 3:30 & 9:00pm
13
PUZZLES
FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
EASY SUDOKU
Yesterday’s answer
Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1
to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every
column and every 3x3 box contains all the
digits 1 to 9.
Yesterday’s answer
MEDIUM SUDOKU A. Justify (7)
A. Jelly based on stock (5) A. Insist (6)
C. Tapers (7)
C. Small boat (5)
E. Tripod (5)
E. Long fish (3)
E. Signs up (7) E. Perpetual (7)
G. Gizmos (7) G. Ambit (5)
G. Fuel (3)
I. Topping (5)
I. Notions (5)
K. Small falcon (7)
L. Pamphlet (7)
M. Enlarge (7)
M. Wonder (6)
M. Fruit (5)
P. Go before (7)
R. Detection device (5)
R. Rating (7)
R. Uncover (6)
S. Twilled fabric (5)
S. Elementary (6)
S. Ophidian (5)
T. Topics (6)
Y. Annually (6)
CROSSWORD
Feeling lazy to go out? Stay inside with a hot karak, some healthy chips and start solving these puzzles. We have some number crunching ones and also the traditional crossword.
ALL IN THE MIND
Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal,vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.
ALBENIZ, BACH, BARTOK,
BEETHOVEN, BELLINI,
BERLIOZ, BIZET, BORODIN,
BRAHMS, BRITTEN,
BRUCKNER, BYRD,
CHOPIN, COUPERIN,
DEBUSSY, DELIUS, DVORAK,
ELGAR, FAURE, GRIEG,
HANDEL, HAYDN, HOLST,
LISZT, MAHLER,
MENDELSSOHN,
MONTEVERDI, MOZART,
PAGANINI, PROKOFIEV,
PUCCINI, PURCELL, RAVEL,
ROSSINI, RUBINSTEIN,
SCARLATTI, SATIE,
SCHUBERT, SCRIABIN,
SIBELIUS, VERDI,
VIVALDI, WAGNER.
14:10 Eco-Tech
14:57 Invent It Rich
15:44 Space Pioneer
16:31 Building The
Biggest
17:18 Eco-Tech
18:05 Mythbusters
18:50 Da Vinci’s
Machines
19:40 Space Pioneer
21:15 Eco-Tech
22:00 Da Vinci’s
Machines
22:45 Space Pioneer
12:00 UHF
14:00 Planet 51
16:00 Charlie And
The Chocolate
Factory
18:00 Cas & Dylan
20:00 John Tucker
Must Die
22:00 The Five Year
Engagement
13:45 Gator Boys
14:40 Treehouse
Masters
15:35 Tanked
16:30 Animal Cops
South Africa
18:20 River Monsters
19:15 Tanked
20:40 Shamwari: A
Wild Life
21:05 Treehouse
Masters
22:00 River Monsters
22:55 Gator Boys
11:00 The Two Faces
Of January
13:00 Seventh Son
14:45 50 To 1
16:45 Barely Lethal
18:30 Unbroken
21:00 The Rewrite
23:00 The
Expendables 3
08:00 News
08:30 Viewfinder
Latin America
09:00 Al Jazeera
World
10:00 News
10:30 Inside Story
11:00 News
11:30 The Stream
12:00 News
12:30 101 East
13:00 NEWSHOUR
14:00 News
14:30 Inside Story
15:00 Marco Polo: A
Very Modern
Journey
16:00 NEWSHOUR
17:00 News
17:30 The Stream
19:00 News
19:30 Fault Lines
20:00 News
20:30 Inside Story
21:00 NEWSHOUR
22:00 News
22:30 Rebel Geeks
23:00 Drone
13:10 Austin & Ally
14:00 Liv And
Maddie
15:20 Dog With A
Blog
15:45 Miraculous
Tales Of
Ladybug
And Cat
Noir
16:10 Violetta
17:25 I Love
Violetta
17:35 Full Out
19:10 I Love
Violetta
19:30 Violetta
20:45 Go Figure
22:00 Binny And
The Ghost
22:25 Sabrina
Secrets Of
A Teenage
Witch
23:10 Hank Zipzer
23:35 Binny And
The Ghost
TV LISTINGS
The first letter of each answer is written next to its clue in
alphabetical order. One letter has already been entered. Can
you find the words then fit them correctly into the grid?
14 FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
PARENTINGIn Italy, there is indoor playground everywhere, just like outside parks. The concept is called a “ludoteca,” which translates into English as “toy library.”
By Vicky Hallett The Washington Post
The other morning, my baby announced that
she was awake by clapping her hands. As I
picked her up out of her crib, I drowsily joined
her in a round of applause. When I peeked
out the window, I realized we indeed had
an excellent reason to cheer. It was a gloomy scene,
dominated by gray clouds and a constant drizzle. A
quick check of my phone confirmed that yep, the rain
would be sticking around all day long.
In other words, it was absolutely perfect weather
for our scheduled playground play date.
That’s because here in Florence - like all over Ita-
ly - you’re never far from an indoor playground. The
concept is called a “ludoteca,” which translates into
English as “toy library.” Like outdoor playgrounds, the
city operates these free for families. Florence has 10
scattered in various neighbourhoods. Each one offers
slightly different amenities and activities, but basically
they’re places for kids under the age of 11 or so to
scamper around.
Since my family moved here six months ago, I’ve
stood in front of (and in awe of) Michelangelo’s David,
Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Brunelleschi’s famed
dome. So it’s weird to admit that the sight that’s really
left me speechless was my first look inside Gianbur-
rasca, the ludoteca closest to where we’re living. It’s
three rooms: One’s got books. One boasts a playhouse
along with assorted goodies - blocks, fake produce, doll
strollers, etc. Then there’s the no-shoes room packed
with colorful mats and other squishy stuff.
I don’t know the name of the genius who deserves
the credit for this masterpiece, but he or she should
be celebrated in sculpture. Perhaps one made of
Play-doh?
Soon after we arrived in Italy, I heard other moms
speak of these “ludoteche” around town. I was skep-
tical. We’d spent quality time in several government
buildings while acquiring all of our necessary legal
documents, and they were some of my least favourite
places on earth. Even the Italian consulate in Wash-
ington sticks visa seekers in a cheerless subterranean
room without air conditioning.
Plus, toys require a fair amount upkeep. And Ital-
ians tend to be sweet and welcoming — and a tad
too easygoing. Fact: If you are engrossed in admiring
a fresco while strolling down the street, you will step
in dog poop. During Carnevale season — which lasted
well over a month -- kids tossed confetti and stream-
ers everywhere. It made standing at the bus stop feel
weirdly festive. But as the paper bits turned brown and
muddy, I asked some other parents about who cleans
all this up. They looked at me like I was crazy. (I guess
that’s another reason to root for rain.)
So my expectations were not grandissimo when
a friend and I decided to visit Gianburrasca. But we
brought our pair of tykes inside, and were immediately
greeted by a friendly woman who gave us the tour,
registration paperwork and a set of printed guidelines.
And because the kids were distracted by their discovery
of a xylophone, we were actually able to read them.
Enrollment really is free. There’s no catch! Each
child, however, must be accompanied by an adult.
(Grownups can be responsible for up to four kids each.)
To prevent the toys from resembling broken antiquities,
folks are asked to treat items with care and put them
back in their proper spots. If anything is damaged
“intentionally” it’s up to the kid — and caregiver — to
replace it.
And with that, we played. We donned firefighter
and construction worker hats, answered a plastic tel-
ephone, and built a, um, something out of interlocking
cubes. Another infant and his mom showed up, and
they seamlessly joined in on our fun. That’s another
benefit of a ludoteca: There’s something intimate about
being indoors that I’ve never felt chit-chatting by the
swing set.
After another hour of rolling on beanbags, flipping
pages of books and staring at a group of older kids
hiding out in a fort, we sat down at a squat table to
pretend to drink a coffee. Did I mention this is Italy?
The fact that the ludoteca concept has taken hold
here is maybe one of the most interesting things about
it. It would make sense for indoor playgrounds to be a
thing in Iceland, or Canada, or somewhere else where
just reading the forecast makes me want to seek out
a fireplace. But here, they think it’s cold. They think
this even when it’s 60 degrees and sunny out. At my
daughter’s international day care center, there’s con-
stant tension between the foreign and Italian parents.
The expats, particularly the Scandinavians, want their
kids playing outside even when it’s slightly chilly. The
locals pretty much consider that child abuse.
Over the past few months, I’ll admit, I’ve started
to come around to the Italian point of view. How do
you argue with the kid-raising know-how of country
where virtually every restaurant serves pizza, pasta
and ice cream?
There’s definitely nowhere I’d rather be living with
my daughter — especially on rainy days.
Genius: Italy’s toy libraries
All over Italy you’re never far from an indoor playground. Like outdoor playgrounds, the city operates these free for families. Each one offers slightly different amenities and activities, but basically they’re places for kids under the age of 11 or so to scamper around.
The author's daughter, Celeste, at the ludoteca. (Photo: Vicky Hallett)
15
POTPOURRI
FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2016
If you would like to see a photograph clicked by you published here, mail it to us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to mention your name and where the photo was taken.
Photo of the week Photographer: Unni Lenin
A swarm of bees seen near Losail.
By Bonnie Benwick
A good roast beef sandwich is not so easy to come
by these days - and this one really spoke to us,
with an exterior crisped in golden chive butter;
an interior with gooey cheese and thinly sliced, tender
potatoes; and a creamy sauce (the “dip”) with the zing
of horseradish.
We recommend using the optional garlic powder
on the potatoes. Serve with a salad of peppery greens.
Adapted from “Grilled Cheese Kitchen,” by Heidi Gib-
son with Nate Pollak (Chronicle, 2016).
Ingredients: (2 servings)2 small Yukon Gold potatoes
1 teaspoon olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Granulated garlic powder (optional)
8 fresh chive stems
2 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared white horseradish
4 slices rustic artisan bread, such as levain or
sourdough
4 slices Colby Jack or Monterey Jack cheese
6 ounces thinly sliced roast beef
Method:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet
with aluminum foil.
Scrub the potatoes well, then cut them into 1/4-inch
slices, letting them fall into a bowl as you work. Add
the oil, and season lightly with salt and pepper and the
garlic powder, if using; toss to coat evenly, then spread
the potato slices on the baking sheet. Roast for about
15 minutes, until they are browned in spots and cooked
through.
Meanwhile, mince the chives and combine half of
them in a small bowl with the butter; stir until well blend-
ed. Combine the remaining chives, the crème fraiche or
sour cream and the horseradish in a separate small bowl;
whisk together until fairly smooth.
Heat a cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Spread the chive butter on one side of each bread slice.
Place two of the slices buttered side down on a clean cut-
ting board. Top each of the two slices with ingredients in
this order: one slice of cheese, half of the roast beef, half
of the roasted potato slices, then another slice of cheese.
Finish by topping both sandwiches with the remaining
slices of bread, buttered side up. Use a wide spatula to
transfer both sandwiches to the skillet. Cover and cook for
about 4 minutes or until they’re browned on the bottom,
adjusting the heat to avoid burning them, and pressing
on them as needed to help compact the sandwiches a
bit. Then carefully turn the sandwiches over and cook
for 4 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the
sandwiches hold together top to bottom.
Transfer to the cutting board; cut each sandwich in
half, on the diagonal if you like. Serve warm, with the
horseradish cream for dipping.
25American Dip Grilled Cheese
