Latest news with #Dusk
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
This white bedding set is £85 less than The White Company
"Not only does the sheets look good on, but they help aid a good night's sleep" The right bedding can completely transform your space, whether you're aiming to create a tranquil haven to retreat to at night or freshen up your bedroom without needing a paintbrush. When in doubt, white bedding can be a timeless choice. It matches everything, always appears clean and crisp, and exudes that dreamy boutique-hotel vibe. I'm currently on the hunt for new luxury white bedding sets to spruce up my sleep space, and The White Company is a great place to start. I'm particularly fond of its Emmerson bedding set, with its woven jacquard stripes and soft sateen finish - but with a £110 price tag for a double duvet and £28 per pillowcase, it was beginning to feel more like a payday indulgence than a spontaneous buy. Which is where I spotted one for much less at the affordable bedding brand, Dusk. Its Hotel Stripe bedding set looks strikingly similar, featuring the same soft white finish and subtle striped detail, but comes at a fraction of the cost. A double duvet cover is priced at £41, while a pair of matching pillowcases will set you back £10. That means shoppers can save over £85 compared to The White Company's version, reports Yorkshire Live. The Hotel Stripe set, crafted from 200-thread-count combed cotton, is the perfect blend of softness, crispness, and breathability. Just what you need for those warmer nights to keep things fresh all year round. It's available in three sizes: double, king and super king. Shoppers might also like this similar style from Soak & Sleep, made from luxurious Egyptian cotton, with prices starting from £19.20. Alternatively, Christy's scalloped set oozes luxury and wouldn't look out of place in a posh hotel. Dusk customers are raving about the Hotel Stripe set, which boasts an impressive 4.83-star rating. One satisfied customer said: "Possibly the softest, most comfortable pillowcases I have ever slept on. Not only do they look good on the bed, but they also help aid a good night's sleep. I would highly recommend it to anyone." A second added their praise: "Excellent quality and will be back for more." While another piped up: "I bought these pillowcases for the extra pillows on my bed to match my existing duvet set. Matches perfectly. "It arrived quickly, too. Happy with my purchase." However, there was a minor niggle regarding size, as one customer pointed out: "Looks quite nice and feels soft, good value for money, but I wish the pillowcases were sold with duvet." Meanwhile, another satisfied Dusk customer chimed in, saying: "Perfect feel, smooth, great quality. Ordered for our guest bedroom, and it's perfect."
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
After dark in the Stellenbosch restaurant the world is noticing
Dusk, in central old Stellenbosch, has made a considerable mark in a few short years. The space is suitably dark and elegant. The food is inventive and playful. The wine is perfectly matched to the exemplary food. Is this not enough? The first course arrives and suddenly you're a contestant on MasterChef Australia. Two slim spoons on a plate contain little coloured rounds that look like boiled sweets. The waiter looks at us like he's a MasterChef judge, eyebrow raised. Choose one each and guess what the flavour is. Your time starts now. Eek. One is orange, the other yellow. Intern Naomi Campbell is with me for dinner and I must have said something disparaging about orange at some point, because she says, with typical courtesy: 'Tony, I know you don't like orange so how about I take that one and you take the red?' I must have muttered something about some or other orange garment earlier while browsing high street boutiques, but I love orange and even have a great big orange wall at home. But no orange shirts. I take the red one in deference to Naomi's thoughtfulness. It's strawberry or maybe raspberry, but when the waiter returns I say the former and it's correct. It's an easy one, as strawberry's flavour is distinctive and hard to confuse with anything else. The orange flavour, less so: is it peach, or is it apricot? Naomi vacillates between the two and says apricot. But it's peach. I wouldn't have been sure either. It's a fun way to get the palate paying attention to the many flavours that lie ahead. Our palates did need a refresher. We'd been to VUUR for a very long lunch. I got back to Bonne Esperance Boutique Guest House at 5.30pm, climbed into bed and set my alarm for 7.15pm. Woke up, had a refreshing shower, and met Naomi at Dusk — or actually at 8pm, some time after dusk. The menu says dusk was at 18.10. I was expecting it to be dark inside, and it is. That kind of dark that works because it makes everything else disappear into the background except for the food and wine on your table. And you need focus here, because this is a restaurant with a philosophy. With a vision. Oh, and a mission. Contemporary fine-fining buzzwords abound on the Dusk website. Immersive. Bold. Disruptive. An experience. Quality local produce. Bold. Fresh. Did I mention Bold? Bold is a good food word. Disruptive? Well, if a dozen or so restaurants in your region are also doing food that is bold, fresh and creative, how disruptive is disruptive? This is not to diss the food, wine and the Dusk 'experience' in any way — I'm talking about the use of words, and how they cancel each other out if everyone uses the same ones. It would be more disruptive not to say anything. Of all the Cape restaurants doing this kind of thing, does Dusk more than hold its own? It does. Does it do more than that? Well, I don't know but they also say that Dusk is 'unlike anything else on the South African dining scene'. That sure is a bold claim. I'm not sure why it needs to be stated at all. Hear verbatim how they view their approach: 'Chef Callan Austin leads with a bold and creative culinary vision. His menus are built around storytelling, nostalgic memories from his childhood, subtle social and political commentary, and a sense of mischief that adds charm and depth. While inventive, the food is always rooted in bold, expressive flavour.' The place is refreshingly in neither the La Colombe nor Luke Dale Roberts stables, yet is clearly in competition with them (and others such as FYN and The LivingRoom) and more than holding its own. Three stars (Eat Out) for two years in a row says a few things. Not only that, the Eat Out judges are paying attention. At a cosy table, TGIFood intern Naomi Campbell and I are game for another long meal. And here comes the food, to paraphrase what she said earlier at VUUR about the wine. Duck and citrus. That's a marriage made to last. Duck l'orange is not a classic for nothing. This is the 'snack' course: duck liver (and poultry liver is also a perfect match for citrus) is prepared with yuzu, an Asian citrus fruit that looks like a lemon but — like a lemon — is too sour to enjoy as it is. Even more so than lemon. They look like chocolate truffles on tiny round biscuits. Dark and intense, a luxurious pâté that sings to the Boland night. Alongside, a crunchy pretzel-like biscuit concoction seemingly from the cuisine of another planet. It looks like a lot of trouble for a bit of fun. Tastes nice, very crunchy. Pairing the wines is sommelier George Young, a bodybuilder with an apparent shyness that seems at odds with his physique. Anna Trapido wrote about him last October when he was based at Vergenoegd Löw not far away — we were to go there the following morning for an indigenous food and wine pairing. We were hosted by the ever-smiling Le Roux Malan and Billiard Rasai, known as Billy. On a sunny Boland morning we tasted bokkoms, amasi, roosterkoek and biltong, paired with their own stupendously good chenin, chardonnay, merlot, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon blanc. Indian Runner Ducks do their thing in the vineyard on cue, munching anything that moves, then stroll around the lawns. I can't wait to explore more of this breezy estate. What a grand and pleasant alternative to the more formal wine tasting everywhere. Back to those little rounds of duck liver: George Young's chosen wine for this impeccable pâté is De Wetshof Lilya rosé 2024, and even the colour of the wine seems to like this dish. Next: Scottish salmon gravalax in a course called Freshness. Maybe this was from that salmon that eyed me at Wild Peacock Fine Foods earlier. This is what I wrote down: 'Salt, sugar, herbs and lemon powder. Horseradish panna cotta with curry leaf extraction gel. Finished with trout roe. Carrot and tamarind broth infused with smoked kombu oil to finish dish.' The menu calls it 'Freshness: salmon gravlax, horseradish, curry extraction, tamarind broth.' I loved every morsel and was intrigued by the savoury panna cotta. Fresh it is, it sings of it, revels in it. But there is a question… Is it unreasonable to ask, given the stated commitment to quality local produce, whether it has to be Scottish salmon? Would a play on local salmon trout (yes, I know it's not salmon as such though it is in the same family) not be worth exploring? And a bolder choice? Dare one suggest this would bring the menu price down too, while making it more 'of Stellenbosch'? George Young matched the salmon with DeMorgenzon Maestro 2021 white blend, redolent of fresh apricots and orange zest; perhaps my palate has been influenced by thoughts of that apricot puzzle earlier on, and its colour. It's a blend of as many as six cultivars, predominantly Roussanne. Somebody must have got pretty drunk in the blending of this. How's this for pretentiousness, from the back label: 'At DeMorgenzon, Baroque music is continuously played, which is believed to have a beneficial effect on the wines produced.' I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The next course is called 'Modesty': we're promised sweetbreads, gnocchi, wild allium and smoked cream. My notes also mention amadumbe; I don't remember why; I blame George Young. I explain quickly to the pescatarian that a sweetbread is usually the thymus gland, sometimes the pancreas. She goes a bit quiet. But she is being brought alternatives, which she may write about separately. The sweetbreads are surrounded by a generous pool of smoked cream, perhaps sensible as a counterpoint to the dark richness of the focal point. A red wine, Rainbow's End Cabernet Franc, is meant to be paired with this, according to the menu, but George brings us the fabulous Raats Family cabernet franc 2021. I see online that it retails for R800; excuse me while I grab the sal volatile and get up from the floor. Next: 'Culture: cold-fired sea bass, dhania, cashew and coconut curry.' A Catherine Marshall riesling, vintage 2024, accompanies this delightful dish. It's fruity, honeyed and citrusy, an ingenious match for that pool of saffron-hued sauce on my plate alongside the moist, soft fish. The fish is Moroccan sea bass. I was too tired to ask why, but if a fish can please a palate at this stage, who's complaining? It was fired in the Diablo oven, we're told. The fish was sublime, wherever it came from. A dhania relish. Apricot emulsion. My notes tell me that we were told it was a 'cashew and almond Thai curry sauce'. It was delicious, but why Thai? We're at the Cape, right? Are Cape curry traditions so dull that we have to look East? Still, my palate was delirious. On the side, a tangle of 'slangetjies', slimmer versions of the shop-corner snack beloved of generations at the Cape. This sort of thing is great, especially when your table companion is not from around here. So I explained what it is, that the real deal is somewhat thicker, that they're made of chickpea/gram flour, that the name means little snakes, and that dhania is our Cape name for cilantro/coriander leaves. None of which involved any profanity, but we're told to wash our mouths out with soap anyway. This phrase, which I remember from my boyhood (Mrs Belelie across the road in Oranjemund was always yelling at one of her seven children: 'Daniel/Michael/Cathy, I am going to wash your mouth out with soap!') We lost touch so long ago. I heard along the way that Danny died young. This is — let me see — the seventh course of the evening, or 13th of the day, if you count that MasterChef taste-off. A lidded soap dish is placed in front of you. It's removed to reveal a rather rude bar of soap (when did a 'bar' of it stop being called a 'cake' of soap?) draped with white foam. In ironic gold capitals, the bar/cake screams FUCK. There's a mound of what could be soap gratings at the other end. It's a sweetly delicious palate cleanser and tastes nothing like it looks. Things get meaty, so Naomi is getting very different food now. On my side of the table, there's a venison loin that we watch being plated on the pass. As perfectly medium rare as could be. Cremonzola with pink peppercorn dust, fired cabbage, and with it a Shultz Family Wines 'Dungeons' cabernet sauvignon. Then, 'Breakfast for Dinner': sheep's yoghurt, granola, and an almond financier, with Graham Beck Bliss Nectar, flying me back to the launch of Beck's MCCs in 1991 after having bought the farm near Robertson in 1983. They've been a beacon of fine Cape 'Cap Classiques' ever since. I've never liked the name Cap Classique; why does it have to sound pretentiously faux French? I'd still go with Vonkelwyn, but what do I know? Talking of which, next up is 'Nostalgia: banana, peanut butter, cardamom cake, rum & raisin'. I confess: with almost zero exceptions, desserts at this level of Cape dining are always excellent, moreish, etc etc etc, and this one was too, but where is the one that lands you on the floor and has your eyes popping out, while you scream for more? That's the dessert I'm waiting for. Oh wait: Donkieskloof Hooiwyn accompanied this. That will do very nicely thank you. *** Is this food 'unlike anything else on the South African dining scene'? No South African restaurant can lay claim to such an impossibly rare standard, and why should they? This is exemplary cuisine at a level that can be found in at least a dozen other restaurants at the Cape. Does it need to be more than that, or is it about garnering awards more than about feeding people food you're proud to serve them? Remove such hyperbole from the picture, and you undoubtedly have one of the finest restaurants in the country. That's enough for some of us. Oh, a note about the service: just so friendly and expert, an absolute treat. Everyone was a gem, and every single one of them appreciated. DM
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
The Habitat swivel chair that went viral is finally back in stock
Add a pop of colour to any room with this bestselling chair, available in cobalt blue and silver A new piece of furniture is always a great way to refresh a room, whether it's a statement armchair or a sleek coffee table. Homeware fans may be excited to hear that a popular swivel chair from Habitat is finally back in stock after selling out earlier this year, thanks to a shoutout on This Morning. The Dawson Swivel Chair (£200) has become a bestseller for good reason, with its bold cobalt blue hue and curved silhouette. Designed in-house by Habitat, the chair is a modern nod to the expressive Memphis design movement, best known for its playful shapes and vibrant colours. If the electric blue feels too daring, the Dawson is also available in a more muted silver. However, we must admit that the blue version has completely won us over. More than just a pretty face, the chair features wide, cushioned arms for lounging and a sturdy metal base that allows it to swivel smoothly (ideal for lazy Sundays or dramatic spins during Zoom calls). To style it, place it in a sunny corner with a sculptural floor lamp and a colourful throw for a relaxed yet curated look. Or go full maximalist with clashing patterns and punchy prints. For more colourful furniture pieces, Dunelm is a great shout. The brand's velvet tub chair is gorgeous in a warm orange hue, and it's currently on sale for £79.50, down from £159. Otherwise, Dusk is another winner for affordable, statement homeware. The brand offers a range of armchairs, including this navy loveseat, now £247 (was £399). Back to Habitat, the Dawson has had some great feedback from shoppers. One person said: "The chair looks amazing and is comfortable. Great value. It is everything I had expected. It was delivered on time, and I was kept informed about the delivery. "It was surprisingly easy to assemble, requiring no tools that the allen key provided. This is only one of several items I have purchased from Habitat over the last few months, and I will be making another shortly." But someone else piped up: "I bought this chair about three weeks ago, I love the design, just disappointed in the height, not particularly of the seat, but of the back as it is not very high. "I did check the measurements, so I was aware of it, but I thought it may have gas in it to make it higher. I kept it, though, as I love the design and colour." However, a third person said: "Had this chair for a few weeks. I haven't been able to sit in it very much because it's my cat's new favourite spot. But it was easy to assemble and looks great in our reading nook."
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
This top-rated mattress is like ‘sleeping like a marshmallow' - and it's on sale
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more We don't know about you, but we are struggling to sleep. Whether it's the heat, stress, and an overactive mind, or a stiff and lacklustre mattress, maybe all of the above, we don't know. In our bid to find a sleep solution to help us get a full eight hours slumber, we stumbled across Erin May's TikTok video in which she likened Dusk's top-rated mattress to 'sleeping on a marshmallow', and that's exactly what we need. Speaking in the clip, which has racked up over 375,000 views, she quipped: 'This is your warning to anybody wanting to buy a bed from Dusk. Do not do it because you simply will not be able to get up in the morning. I have never wanted to stay in bed so much since getting this. We got the mattress and the bed, and it is genuinely like sleeping on a marshmallow. It's so comfy. I've not got up once in the morning to walk the dog. It's like sinking sand. Once you're in, you're not getting out until it's the very last minute to go to work. So, if you don't want to be a lazy b***h, avoid this brand.' It boasts four layers, which includes a memory foam layer, a layer of individually wrapped heat-tempered pocket springs, another supportive foam, as well as a knitted outer layer and breathable fabric border. The mattress is encased in a gentle exterior, which can be unzipped and washed. This hybrid mattress offers medium to firm support for optimum comfort. Available in small, double, king size and super king size. BUY NOW FROM £307 (WAS £489) The mattress has been crafted by sleep experts, which is a telltale sign this mattress is going to be good. This hybrid mattress combines four premium layers, which includes a memory foam layer on top of individually wrapped heat-tempered pocket springs in the centre and a supportive foam. This multi-layered system provides a medium to firm layer to support your body when you sleep. The design is sandwiched by a soft knitted outer top layer, as well as a breathable grey fabric border on the bottom, which aids air flow and creates a comfortable mattress. The mattress is encased in a hidden zip, which allows customers to remove and wash the outer layer in the washing machine (up to 30 degrees). This comfortable and supportive design has also been crafted from hypoallergenic materials for optimum comfort. So, it's safe to say this mattress covers all bases. Dusk's creation comes in four sizes, including single, double, king size and super king, though the price varies depending on the style. It is important to note that this popular bedding arrives vacuum packed for easy delivery. So, when it arrives simply unroll, lay it flat and let it expand for a few hours before you sleep on it. Trust us, it will be worth the wait. Erin is not the only fan of this mattress, and the Madison Ottoman Storage Bed, which is also on sale, but multiple customers have praised this design. Dusk shopper, Carrie, shared: 'I am so happy with our new king size mattress. So pleased we did, it is so comfortable, much better than the branded one I had before. I was getting back aches every morning which have now gone.' While Stephanie added: 'I struggle with a spinal issue and I was very skeptical buying a memory foam bed as sometimes it can make it worse but this medium/firm mattress has been an absolute god send. It's soft enough that it's very easy to get super comfortable in, however it's firm enough that it gives great support. My only struggle now is having to get out of it to go to work.' More Trending A third shopper, named Tamzin, gushed: 'The mattress is amazing! It is the best night sleep I have had in months. You need to leave it for a few hours to inflate properly and be warned it is very heavy. Delivery was fast and it was great you get the option to choose your delivery date.' Dusk currently has a huge sale on, which makes this mattress and bed frame all the more affordable. The 50% sale is sitewide, plus Dusk is offering shoppers an extra 20% off using the discount code 'EXTRA20'. It's unknown how long the sale will run for, so we urge you to shop quickly. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: 'Like sleeping on a cloud' hail shoppers as £12 mattress protector scores glowing reviews MORE: I tested the hotel pillows users say gives them the 'best night's sleep' MORE: Best duvet for hot sleepers? This one feels like it was 'fluffed by angels'
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Epic collab to bring favourite childhood movie to life
A much-loved Australian candle brand has teamed up with Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products to bring customers a limited-edition collection inspired by a famous children's movie. Dusk is inviting customers to step into a world of pure imagination with its new Willy Wonky & The Chocolate Factory bath and body collection. The collection — which includes lip balms, candles, room spray, body lotion, shower gel, bubble bath and fragrance oil — will be released in store and online on June 30. Bubble bath. Credit: Dusk The products comes in seven scents featuring sweet and fruity notes and are set to transport customers straight to the inside of the iconic chocolate factory. The most expensive product from the collaboration will set you back $59.99, but Wonka fans who enjoy a touch of nostalgia can also get their hands on one of the lip balms for just $12.99 Warner Bros. discovery global consumer products ANZ vice president Andrew Bromell said the collection would bring to life a world that so many people fantasised about as kids. Lip balm. Credit: Dusk 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a film that has captured the imaginations of generations and we're thrilled to bring that whimsical world to life in a completely new way — through scent,' he said. 'Who hasn't wondered what a chocolate river or a lickable wallpaper might smell like? With this collection, fans can finally experience those fantastical fragrances. 'It's like taking a journey through Willy Wonka's factory with your eyes closed — a truly sweet adventure for the senses!' Body lotion. Credit: Dusk Dusk CMO Jeremy Taylor said the collaboration allowed everyone to become a Golden Ticket winner. 'One moment you're at home and the next you're a kid in Willy Wonka's candy garden — surrounded by the scent of chocolate fudge, ripe snozzberries and rainbow-drops,' he said. 'It's whimsical, it's nostalgic and it's just so much fun.' Candles from $19.99 Wax melts from $19.99 Decor from $29.99 Room spray $24.99 Fragrance oil $24.99 Candle discovery set $59.99 Shower steamers $19.99 Bath gift set $39.99 Bath bomb $12.99 Body mist $24.99 Shower gel $19.99 Body lotion $24.99 Body butter $24.99 Lip balm $12.99 Bubble bath $16.99
