know how to brine a chicken.

While a theme here is that every gentleman should be apt and able in the kitchen, not every dish needs to be complicated.



One simple way to make the ordinary extraordinary is brining. Working with poultry, brine can add all sorts of flavour and moisture to the meat. There is something very alluring and sophisticated about serving up a familiar dish like roast chicken, and having people experience it in an entirely new way.

A good start is simply brining in salted water, as often when cooked poultry looses moisture, and the salt adds flavour throughout.

The beautiful thing about brine is that more or less any flavours can be added to the meat simply and easily, the flavours you start with will be the flavours you end with.

Two Yolks has an excellent and easy to prepare brine recipe:

Brine:
1 gallon (7 litres) water
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 bunch fresh thyme
1 bunch fresh rosemary
1 bunch fresh parsley
2 bay leaves
1 head garlic, cut in half horizontally
1 onion, sliced
3 tbsp black peppercorns, crushed
2 lemons, halved

1 whole chicken

1. Combine all the brine ingredients in a large pot; squeeze the lemons as they are added. Bring to a simmer over high heat to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from the heat. Allow to cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until chilled.
2. Add the chicken to the brine and weigh it down with a plate to keep it submerged. Allow to brine for 8 to 12 hours.
3. Remove the chicken from the brine, rinse well, and dry with paper towels. Let it rest in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
4. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator an hour before cooking.
5. Preheat the oven to 450ºF. (230ºC)
6. Roast the chicken in a roasting tray until it reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF(82ºC). Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes.
7. Serve immediately.

Serves 3 to 4.

smell good.

For a real gentleman, it's not enough to just not smell bad, active steps should be taken towards the other end of the spectrum.

Quoting Rodney Cutler from Esquire: 'Personal space is a space too often ignored by men. It contains you and, if you're lucky, another person of your choosing.' To this end it's important to not only smell your best but also to smell distinctive.

A cologne isn't the sort of thing to just by the latest release of, you need to find a scent that suits your own personality and your own natural fragrance. To that end my recommendations are suggestions only, but there are a few helpful rules that you can apply:

1. Liking the smell of something isn't automatically the same as something smelling good on you. Ask the store assistants for help, they tend to be honest about what works and what doesn't.

2. Wear light, citrus tones during the day, and more complex, warm tones at night. Going into the evening however, never mix without first washing.

3. Use a deodorant that compliments your cologne, if this sounds a bit complicated, use the same brand of deodorant as your cologne.


Some Particular favourites of mine:


Lacoste 'Red'
Very light and crisp while also deceptively complex. Not for everyone, but on the right person very evocative of youth and boyishness.







Burberry 'Brit'
Dark, complex and woody while still remaining bold. This is the cologne for winter nights out in the cold.






Caswell - Massey 'Number 6'
Something a bit different, this company has been in business since 1792, and their Number 6 can claim George Washington, a seminal gentleman, as a convert.
Notes of Orange Blossom and Rosemary. To be worn while defending liberty.

have decorating instincts.

It's rarely possible to keep an area completely true to one particular aesthetic. Mess and life tends to creep in. I always feel ones best bet is to celebrate the jumble- and explain is as being ironic!

Via The Selvedge Yard comes some mid-century modernism. Straight from a period Playboy article avaliable at Lushpad, some of the masters of this crisp, sophisticated style.

I also love the spectacular collection of grey suits these gentlemen are wearing!

be in touch with his inner boy

A good children's film is good film for anyone. A children's film by Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) doubly so. Men who are frank about their childishness tend to do well in all sorts of company, so be sure to keep on top of this one, not that a gentleman shouldn't be on top of everything.

The music in this trailer is a version of 'Wake Up' by the Arcade Fire, recorded especially for the film. As a big fan, I couldn't be more pleased with this matching and I think it fits the mood perfectly.

know what he is about.

People owe it to themselves to be the best that they can be. To me this has always meant tangible steps towards self-improvement.
This wont be about fashion, though there will be fashion.
Nor will it be purely lifestyle, though there will be this.
There will also be opinions, which everyone should hold, though they may differ from my own.

I don't pretend to be an expert, but I will seek to bring you things that I think are important or useful.