♪ captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- ♪ >> "euromaxx highlights" -- coming up on the show, oquestrada presents a new take on fado. all the world is a stage. the costumes for a wagner offer. germany's youngest varieties of wine. "euromaxx highlights," here is

your host. >> greetings from berlin. we start off with a tasty tribute to one of the great british institutions -- fish and chips. 2010 marks the 150th anniversary of the famous combination. the first shop opened its doors back in 1860. today there are more than 11,000 shops around the u.k. that sell millions of portions every year. we went to see why the dish has kept its place in the nation's hearts. >> many things are associated with britain. few are as popular as fish and chips. this is london's oldest surviving fish and chips shop. he was founded in 1871. it makes it almost as old as the dish itself. >> they are really amazing. >> when you look at chips in mcdonald's, the american french

fries, they are very thin. they are not chips. i would not eat them. >> it is quite comforting. >> they are very british. >> fish and chips is traditionally something you buy to take out and eat. a portion here costs about 10 euros. the way they are made has not changed much over the years. >> the way we do it is very much like the traditional way. is very simple. the fish has to be the freshest. the batter has to be the best. when you have not got to many ingredients, you have to make sure each one is the best. >> the fish is coded and deep fried at 185 degrees celsius for for five minutes. the fried ship potatoes are

sprinkled with vinegar and salt. for takeout, they are traditionally wrapped in newspaper. >> they recycled the newspaper. they found out that the team was not good -- the ink was not good in transferred to the food. about 20 years, the bandit. we still have to pay for the newspaper, but there is no print on it. >> fish and chips was long considered working-class food. they were often sold in the stalls or from carts. the first shop opened in london in 1860. back then, as today, many people bought the fish at this market, britain's biggest wholesale fish market with around 25,000 tons of fish changing hands each year. this man has written a history of fish and chips to explain its success. >> it was affordable food for

the masses. it was not rationed during the wars. it was readily available. as an island, we grew our own potatoes. we caught our own fish. we had coal in the hills. to produce the fish and chips is a country, it was a very easy thing for us to do. >> different types to be served in different regions. nowadays, three species dominate the markets. >> this is the most popular fish sold. this is cod. the second most popular habis haddock. >> 200 million portions of fish and chips are sold each year in britain. 1/4 of the tate is grown in the country in the best chips.

there's even a national federation of fish fryers. >> the industry employs 60,000 people just selling fish and chips. you look at the fishermen, the farmers, and everything else that goes into the industry. it is a very important part of our economy. >> fish and chips is no longer the food of poor people. it is not only served as takeout. this is an up market fish and chips restaurant where celebrities come to eat. fish and chips is one of the most popular meals there. >> fish and chips is a nostalgic trip for a lot of people. it takes them back to their jobs and. people generally love fish and chips, especially if it is done very well. ♪ >> whether fancy or plain, even

on the run or in a fancy restaurant, fish and chips remain a pillar of british cuisine. >> designer piero lissoni from italy designs elegant yachts, furniture, kitchen utensils leves, and bathroom fixtures. lately, he has wandered back to his professional roots as an architect he has added villas, hotels, and company buildings to his repertoire. >> the milan office block was built in 2010. it is the company headquarters in milan, italy. there's also a luxury home completed in 2006. all of them are the work of piero lissoni. in his milan studio, the 53-

year-old is looking for a new book featuring his architectural work. -- looking through a new book featuring his architectural work. ♪ it also has a picture of the offices completed in 2007, after five years of construction. >> the element that optically stretches the building is the facade. it has a double skin of glass and glass plates. they break the light and save almost 40% of the building's energy. >> piero lissoni has been creative director of the company since 1988. most of the furniture in the show room was designed by him. when the new offices were being planned, the owner of the company was sure that she wanted her chief designer for the job. >> unlike his absolute elegance

and clean lines -- i like his absolute elegance and clean lines. everything he does has of the jury's field. it is discreet rather than ostentatious. >> he has 70 designers, architects, and graphic artists working for him across three different stories. his golden retriever dogs are a permanent fixture. immediately after completing his degree in architecture, he set up his first studio in 1986. he became an extremely successful product designer. his first building was constructed between 2002 and 2006. he is now involved in architectural projects on three different continents. he does not regard himself as a star architect.

>> for me personally, architecture is a means of contemplation and await to add accents and not exaggerate. i do the same thing in design. when i can, and is needed as possible -- i am as needed to -- muted as possible. >> this sofa is from 2008. he made a name for himself with these pieces. there is a simple reason why he now designs buildings. more and more clients wanted him to create their homes. >> you have to be able to design small objects but also much larger ones. they are just like the little ones but on a larger scale. the only important thing is the human scale. a person wearing a watch, sitting on a chair, or entering

a room. >> this year, he completely remodeled an old building in the long -- in milan for a renowned fashion company. the architect was the guest of honor at the dedication in september. he also helped to design the interior rooms. >> for example, we redesigned the showcase windows. we made the inner courtyard and accessible garden. we opened the windows. they had been bricked up before. i wanted to connect the colors with the light on the street. >> the furniture factory is near milan. he announced these onto the concrete wall to give the people inside light and a view. >> our job is like that of an

artisan. i wanted to become that again. and artists and is about being as honest as possible. -- and partisan -- artisan is about being as honest as possible. >> piero lissoni has already been immortalized in one book. not included in the book is this planned tower in a city in northern italy. after it is completed in 2013, visitors will be able to look out over the factory grounds of a woman sports car manufacturer. >> the traditional music of portugal is called fado. the word means state or destiny in portuguese. typically, the lyrics are melancholic. one band banks to differ. they give it a cheerier touch. they have added some hip-hop, ska, and other music styles as

well. ♪ >> oquestrada is planning to a packed house in lisbon. this song features on the group's first album came in portuguese, it refers to traditional watering holes where the working class to to eat, chat, and was into music. >> we come from a country that has been forgotten all little in europe. we hope to change that with our music. we want to play cheery fado music that people can dance to. in portugal, there are many immigrants and many languages. our music is about portugal as

we know it today. ♪ >> it is the music of a port town like lisbon were lots of people come and go. we sing about this in our music. >> oquestrada was founded in the portuguese capital eight years ago. the group started out playing in restaurants and bars. it comes as little surprise that they chose the name oquestrada that essentially means "what the st.." these days, they did not play in trendy bars to often anymore. they usually pack much larger venues. ♪

>> when we are abroad or even in portugal itself, people say something very nice. they say our music reminds them of portugal, but not the usual image of portugal. portugal is no longer just a country with classical fado. for many years, we have been a part of modern europe. ♪ but the musicians rehearse before every performance. one of the most frequently played songs in their repertoire is the what's happening" from their new album. ♪

>> and our music is a modern fado that speaks to the different cultures and suburbs. we are giving a voice to the millions of people that live there. >> people also say that our music is like the sound track of a change in portugal. some of the milanese -- melodies are taken from traditional fado songs. the melancholy of fado also finds expression in their music. >> it is music that makes you want to cry and dance at the same time. that is why we call it dancing it is the melancholy and the energy to keep on going to get to know the world. ♪

>> oquestrada and the lead singer our regular fixtures on portuguese radio and television. now they hope to win over the rest of europe. ♪ >> fabulous stuff. tim van steenbergen is winning over audiences in berlin. he created the opulent costumes for a new production of

wagner's opera in the german capital. the plan to stage all four parts of the opera. ♪ >> rich colors and textures gleam as the story of power and love unfold around the rhine river. the intricate costumes are themselves works of art created by the belgian fashion designer tim van steenbergen. they were seen for the first time in the new production. >> there is something really nice that i would like to wear sometimes for a party. >> i am a belgian costa maker. i am very proud of them.

>> we have been in production for more than a year now. there is every detail. everybody is right behind you and supporting you. it is a wonderful thing to be here. >> tim van steenbergen came up with his designs in antwerp. there were shown in berlin at the state opera. he drew information from the austrian artists. the designer created a different costume for each of the 27 singers in the production. >> meeting with the singer's for me as very important. it is very important that it stays natural, that you believe what you see, that you do not disguise people. >> the central theme was water because of the rivers central role in the opera. >> we want the movement for the

feeling of water from the body. >> how it flows on the body is very important. rhine is very important in the story, set, and custom design. >> been shown in the first part of the epic "bring up cycle." -- of the "ring cylcle." >> tim van steenbergen was there for all the rehearsals in berlin. the director is also from belgium. ♪ >> what is happening in fashion influences the theater or the opera.

i think is so important that artists can meet and find symbiosis, the connection between the arts. >> today, it has become a trend for opera houses and teachers to work with famous designers. last year, a designer created the costumes for this production. ♪ >> the german designer as out to the dancers in a news show running in berlin. ♪ >> while working on the costumes, tim van steenbergen also designed four collections. >> you create an image. you think about like when you design fashion. you also have to think about the

product you are selling. the basis is how will look on the stage and how you can make people believe what they see. >> beyond fashion store will also designed costumes for the three other operas. the second part will premiere next year in berlin. >> we're off to rheinhessen to see about the newest type of grapes in cultivation. it is a hybrid of european and american vines. it was created back in 1967. after years of experimental planting, it was finally released in germany in 1996. in a short time, it has found favor. it now ranks 12th in the top 20 of modern varieties. ♪ >> and modern grape variety in the vineyard within 12 centuries old. the grapes have been growing here since 1997.

he was one of the first one makers in germany to plant a variety. he says it has advantages over older strains. >> the regions grape has a loose bunch and a dark color. it is bred to be highly resistant to fund is. it needs little other protection. it is now fully ripe. this is a variety that should be harvested now and put into barrels. ♪ >> it is most spread in the rheinhessen region. the sandy soil offers optimal growing conditions. ♪ >> if you try the young wine now, this vintage is shaping up to be superb.

♪ >> the grapes are processed immediately. ♪ >> the winery has been in the family for nine generations. he and his wife have managed it for the past eight years. ♪ in 2000, the winery won an award for its very first regent harvest. since then, the winds have been recognized at home and abroad. the new variety has also convinced his long-term customers. >> i have seen a lot of conversions with this wine. through the regent, we discovered that the german red wine could match the quality from southern europe.

regent fix well into our region and program. >> he holds regular wine tastings. he says most guests are surprised at the fullness and intensity. it reminds many of mediterranean windes. it is not what people expect from a german red. ♪ >> what is special about this is its fruitiness and the dreamy flavor. i am not a specialist, just a simple consumer. for me, this is one of the top brass ones that i can get anywhere in the region. -- this is one of the top red wines that i can get anywhere in the region. >> they age in the cellar for up to two years. the best wines often end up in

international restaurants. he developed a taste for the wine quite early. >> i got to know the regent during my apprenticeships. back then, it only had a number. it was not given a name until later. it fascinated me back then because of its body and intense color. it is unique throughout the world. >> a change for the new just made good old-fashioned sense for them. >> that is all for our "highlights." visit our web site if you like to find out more about the program. until we meet again, all of the best. ♪