Old Fashioned Charity
I don’t know about you, but I love rummaging in a charity shop. This hobby of mine started way back in my very early years when charity shops didn’t exist, but jumble sales did. They were rough tough times where handbags were drawn, and elbows sharpened and I had to be protected by my mother. Nowadays many charity shops resemble boutiques with a fragrant and calm browsing atmosphere rather than a church hall geared up for a fight at the Okay Corral.
There are so many ways to find fantastic charity bargains; in the many high street shops, online shops and by recommendations by thrift loving influencers such as our local Norwich gal, Caroline Tik Tok Butler who shares her charity shop finds and gives the charities a big-up.
On my many charity shop visits I have found some unexpected finds; my best was a pair of Chanel shoes unworn and bagged. I checked authenticity and I’d hit the jackpot. Unfortunately, the shoes weren’t my size, but they sold for a good price on Ebay. I have also found many great pieces including designer clothes, handbags and collectable china.
It’s not always valuable items I’m lucky to come across, I do like a book and love interesting reference books. When browsing the many bookshelves in a charity shop on the Suffolk/Norfolk border I came across an edition of Hollywood Cocktails by Tobias Steed and Ben Reed. I was immediately drawn by the book dust cover picturing the beautiful Audrey Hepburn in a Breakfast at Tiffany’s pose. I opened it and I was delighted to see a book filled with old Hollywood stars, films and cocktail recipes.
The book describes cocktail etiquette, cocktails associated with old Hollywood movies and reference to lines from those films. The book summarises the films, highlights the quotes, features the cocktail and then explains what you need to make it. Flicking through the book I’m drawn to the beautiful scenes from films with super Hollywood stars such as Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Munroe, Joan Crawford and heartthrobs, Gregory Peck, Paul Newman, Frank Sinatra.
When I look through this book I can envisage how a themed party could be organised around a film
and cocktail. Decide on the film (possibly watch the film), set the scene, dress the part, organise the cocktails, book a themed dinner and hey presto you’ve got yourself a themed evening event.
As a big Bette Davis fan, I have selected my themed evening based around All About Eve rather than the ‘Old Fashioned’ and very sad film Now, Voyager, as I like Margo and her sharp one-liners. As for the cocktail; I’m a Dirty Martini kind of girl, so a Gibson cocktail would suit me just fine.
Twelve Oscar nominations and six awards, including best picture All About Eve portrays a great Broadway actress Margo Channing (Bette Davis) who takes a starstruck fan Eve Harrington (Anne Bancroft) under her wing. Eve Harrington uses her mentor calculatingly as a step up to her stardom. Although the film had nominations for both Bette Davis and Anne Baxter the Best Actress award went to Judy Holliday for Born Yesterday. However, George Sanders won Best Actor.
Margo Channing quote from the film:
“I admit I may have seen better days, but I’m still not to be had for a price of a cocktail like a salted peanut”
Cocktail: Gibson
50ml gin or vodka, dry vermouth (Noilly Prat), 1 pearl onion.
The book finalises with a chapter on ‘after the party’ hangover cures including, a Corpse Reviver;
Includes 30ml brandy, 29ml sweet vermouth 20ml calvados and orange zest. I’m not sure if this is a hangover cure or a start of another party. For me it would be a day of rest and a week to get over a hard night
If you’d like a themed evening based on a Hollywood film let me see what I can mix up for you!