Fabian Hamilton MP spoke to JLife’s Katherine Howard about rediscovering his Jewish roots, community achievements and his work at home and abroad.

Stephen Fry missed out when he politely declined to have tea with Fabian Hamilton. If he’d had enough time in his diary, he would have heard about a fascinating family history retold in an array of spot-on accents, not to mention engaging anecdotes about world leaders and faraway regimes. “I wrote to Stephen Fry and invited him to tea at the House of Commons after I saw him on the family history programme, Who Do You Think You Are? recalls Fabian. “There seemed to be huge similarities between our backgrounds, namely a Viennese and Sephardic connection.”

JLife takes you to the city to discover the best of fine dining that Leeds has to offer.

From fish and chips to Michelin-starred chefs, Leeds has carved out a winning reputation for its thriving restaurant scene. The Which? Good Food Guide 2007 named Leeds as one of the UK’s top cities for restaurants and this year saw the launch of the Leeds Loves Food festival, which showcased the city’s food offering with a range of special events. Cllr Carter, Leader of Leeds City Council, stated: “In recent years we have seen massive developments in the food and drink sector, both in terms of quality and variety.” Testament to the city’s lure as a foodie haven, the festival garnered masses of press coverage and, thanks to its success, is set to return in July 2010.

Event Manager extraordinaire Jane Clynes speaks to JLife’s Katherine Howard about planning some of the community’s biggest events, dreaming up creative ideas and keeping her cool.