Author Archives: Madison Salters

About Madison Salters

Inflicted with wanderlust from a young age, Maddie is a native New Yorker who has lived abroad for half of her life, from cities spanning Montreal to Osaka. While there's still a lot on her 'to trek' list, she has currently landed with both feet firmly in London. As a seasoned writer and cultural essayist, you can find her work in print and online across international publications. In her spare time, she works with UNESCO, jots in notebooks, and tempts dogs into letting her pet them. She is thrilled to have the chance to guest write for the indomitable tikichris blog.

WOMEN: New Portraits by Annie Leibovitz

WOMEN aims to look at the way the roles and notion of womanhood have changed over time. After a shoot with Caitlyn Jenner, Annie describes, “It was like creating a new person, around the idea of what a woman is… what is, who is this new person?” The concept first fascinated her decades past, after shooting Vegas showgirls inside and outside of their makeup. “They were so normal looking [out of costume]… my [showgirl] photos represented how women dressed up to be women.” But what happens when you dress the concept of womanhood down? Continue reading

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Actress Zoe Richards Introduces Us To Mr. Selfridge Season 4’s Vaudeville Royalty, Jenny Dolly

Maddie Salters interviews Zoe Richards about her role as Jenny Dolly in Mr Selfridge Season 4. Wealth, sensuality, shopping, and scandal: ITV’s Mr Selfridge has been gripping British viewers for three seasons now, and on Friday, January 8th at 9pm, the series’ … Continue reading

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Crete Eats: Agro-Adventuring – Is It For You?

Maddie Salters makes the case for having an agro-adventure in Greece. Let me take a moment to describe what the landscape of Greece is like. Mountains topped with sun-spattered clouds, expanding towards the shining armor of the sea, dotted with greenery, … Continue reading

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Crete Eats: A Michelin Day In The Kitchen

Maddie Salters has a Michelin day in a Cretan kitchen. On my final day in Crete, I was transported from the field to the inside of a kitchen at restaurant Kritamon in the Archanes village with Michelin starred Chef Dimitris Mavrakis. … Continue reading

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Crete Eats: Cheesemaking at a High-Altitude Goat Farm

Maddie Salters continues her agro-adventure on the island of Crete. In the high-altitude village of Krana in Mylopotamos, the baying of goats is a common sound. They are a shepherding people, in this part of Crete, and I had the honour … Continue reading

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Crete Eats: In The Olive Grove

Maddie Salters finds her visit to a Cretan olive grove to be both exhausting and meditative. Continue reading

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Crete Eats: Fantastic Mastic!

Maddie Salters discovers fantastic mastic! Continue reading

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Crete Eats: A Grecian Agro-Adventure

With winter tightening its chilly grip over the UK, I escaped to sunny Crete for an Agro-Adventure. Continue reading

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The New Christmas Game Menu at Brasserie Blanc Has Some Pheasant Surprises

Christmas has arrived early at Brasserie Blanc, where a menu of festive game courses threatens to overturn turkey as the holiday pièce de résistance – much to my own pheasant surprise! Continue reading

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From Field to Mouth: The British Museum of Food opens in Borough Market

Recently opened to the public, the British Museum of Food is an interesting take on British culture from the perspective of what we eat. For the first time in world history, a stunning set of exhibits has been curated to introduce the evolution of how people understand and relate to their food, what part it plays in daily life, and how it is made. Part science museum, part art gallery, and part history tour, it gives guests an interactive seat at the table, inviting them to listen, touch, and yes – taste the exhibits. Continue reading

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Grosvenor House Apartments: View From The Penthouse

“There’s luxury, and then there’s sophistication,” says Maddie Salters, and “The Penthouse at Grosvenor House Apartments embodies the latter: true elegance, presented with grace, not overstating itself.” Continue reading

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Bombay Masterclass: Profiling the Botanicals

Maddie Salters attends a gin masterclass at The Jam Tree in Clapham. If your prohibition-era proclivities have ever led you to yearn for a night in a private bar cleverly disguised by a bookshelf, you need look no further than … Continue reading

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Spitfire Ales: Why You’ll Be Drinking Mo’ Beer for Movember

November means Movember according to Maddie Salters who celebrated with Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale to kick off the month the raising money and awareness for sufferers of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental illnesses. It’s that time of year again. … Continue reading

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Cocoa Loco: Chocolate For Breakfast Never Looked So Good (Or Healthy!)

A photo posted by doisy & dam (@doisyanddam) on Sep 25, 2015 at 2:14am PDT Join Maddie Salters for a wholesome superfood breakfast. The scene outside of the 26 Grains Porridge Cafe could have been taken straight out of a … Continue reading

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The House of Peroni: Going Beyond Beer

For those of you who are missing the buzzy crowds and clinking rocks glasses of London Cocktail Week, there’s good news. The House of Peroni is all set to lift spirits as autumn rolls in and our desires turn to … Continue reading

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Rum Experience Week: 3, 2, 1 … Launch Party!

London’s Rum Experience Week kicked off last night at Voltaire, the elegant and edgy prison-come-champagne bar in Blackfriars. Global Rum Ambassador, Ian Burrel, was on hand to help merrymakers work their way through tasting notes and toast to the upcoming festivities. Continue reading

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Coverture Launches Emma Greenhill: A Winning Way to Wrap Up!

Maddie Salters pays a visit to Coverture & The Garbstore in Notting Hill for the launch of Emma Greenhill’s Matchmaker line of scarves. A colourful, pop-art window greets guests at Coverture & The Garbstore, a Notting Hill transplant that has … Continue reading

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Living Lech: Auf Wiedersehen!

Four days in Lech am Arlberg was a rejuvenating experience. Though it’s known as ski country, the relatively uncharted summer territory was just as charming and far less crowded, with enough recreational activities available to keep me constantly on my toes. High-altitude fun in the stunning Alps meant that I was out daily hiking, fishing, and enjoying the early July heat spell. Continue reading

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Living Lech: A Taste of Austria’s Gourmand Side

Austria, like any culture-rich nation, has a consummate tradition of food: timeless recipes, fresh ingredients, and local preferences. That’s given. What I didn’t expect from my four-day trip to Lech, a traditional valley town nestled into the sprightly Alps, was for my farm-fresh experience to cross-over with world-renown couture gastronomy. And here’s the thing about couture: it always fits. (Not sure if I could say the same for my jeans afterwards.) Continue reading

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Living Lech: An Unrivaled Experience at Aurelio’s Lush Spa

Winner of a Relax Guide SPA Award in 2015, the state-of-the-art spa at Hotel Aurelio includes a 23-meter swimming pool, experience baths, saunas, treatment rooms, and more while offering a wide array of rare amenities and tailored services. Continue reading

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Living Lech: Sporting and Recreation in the Athletic Alps

It was my first introduction to the world of summer sport and outdoor recreation in the resort town of Lech, and it was a blast. After four days in Lech, my running shoes were dusty with exertion, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling I wanted more time to appreciate everything on offer. Luckily, Hotel Aurelio put together a programme that allowed me to dabble in a wide array of Lech’s summer options. Fishing, llama trekking, cooking classes, and marathon shopping (it may as well be a sport,) were all highlights for me. Continue reading

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Living Lech: Summer at the Magnificent Hotel Aurelio

During her three night visit to the “fairytale landscape” of Lech, Maddie Salters stayed at Hotel Aurelio, where her “every impulse and need was catered to in a decadent manner indicative of the finest five-star hotels.” According to Maddie, “to say the Hotel Aurelio spoils you would be an understatement: choices seem boundless, from cuisine to entertainment, and bespoke itineraries are par for the course.” Continue reading

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Living Lech: Where Luxury and Adventure Await

Lech am Arlberg is a linchpin in European ski culture, known for its flawless slopes and prim luxury hotels, which offer privacy and comfort to winter holidaymakers. But Lech blooms into a little-known treasure in the summer, when its rolling green hills and burbling rivers become the ideal location for hiking, biking, and sport. Michelin-starred plates are served out on sunny terraces and relaxation becomes synonymous with indulgence. Continue reading

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Much To Do About Table 9: 108 Brasserie’s Stunning New Chef’s Table

Maddie Salters shares that “certain feeling” from her recent dining experience at 108 Brasserie’s Table 9. Like a flash of forethought, there’s a certain feeling one gets right before sitting down to an incredible meal. I don’t just mean the … Continue reading

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Art for a Cause: Artists Team Up with Rolls-Royce to Battle Breast Cancer

At the Rolls-Royce Showroom in Berkeley Square, passion, support, and community were affectionately curated for the benefit of breast cancer patients. The Breast Cancer Care Art Auction, brought together by Breast Cancer Care and supported by Rolls-Royce, invited twelve stunning contemporary artists to create an impactful piece that would push the boundaries o modern sculpture while showing great respect and care of the theme. I was honoured to attend the preview of the auction on May 19th, and deeply touched by the philanthropic efforts of all involved. Continue reading

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Seven Dials: Bi-Annual Shopping Event Take Over

Londoners who enjoy the charm of boutique shopping and the excellence of world-renown brands will appreciate Seven Dials in Covent Garden. At its bi-annual shopping event this May, over two-hundred stores came out in force to offer discounts, freebies, tasters, … Continue reading

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Godiva Ice Cream: Summer Indulgence

With summer fast approaching, we all have frozen treats on the brain. If you’re looking for something that packs a more flavourful punch than off-the-truck lollies, with more glam than you’ll find in typical soft serve, then Godiva has you covered. Maddie Salters visited Godiva’s Regent Street location for the re-launch of its ice cream trio, to get the low down on what’s a must-try. Continue reading

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Choccywoccydoodah: Enter a Chocolate Wonderland with their New Book

Maddie Salters pays a visit to ChoccyWoccydoodah, Carnaby Street’s infamous chocolatier, for a look at its long-awaited cookery book, Chocolate, Cake and Curses. Continue reading

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Finding Inspiration in Bonne Maman Desserts

Little angular jars of Bonne Maman jams, jellies, and compotes have sat on breakfast tables across the UK for decades, so imagine my surprise and delight to find that its brother branch, the brand’s lineup of fine cakes, biscuits, and tartlets, work as a great accompaniment to old favourites or as a tasty stand-alone treat. Continue reading

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Review of Moët Academy

Last week Maddie Salters embarked upon an adventure in London’s Southbank that would take her into the heart of France’s Champagne region. Celebrated brand Moët & Chandon re-created the vineyards and wine cellars of its lush estate at OXO along the … Continue reading

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Moët & Chandon: The Champagne Region Comes to Londontown

Moët & Chandon is perhaps the most recognisable name in Champagne. Its impressive estate, nestled into the heart of the Champagne Region of France, produces full-bodied sips, often with bold fruity notes and a gentle finish. As of 13 April, Moët & Chandon will bring the magic of its Épernay vineyards to Southbank in London, to delight the palates and imaginations of visitors. Continue reading

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A Myriad of Marks: Dragica Carlin at Lollipop Gallery

Bubbles and bulk white walls greeted me, as The Lollipop Gallery provided its typical minimalist space to showcase the art. Set across two floors of industrialist space with plank wooden floors and the smell of sawdust, the intimate gallery has the feel of wandering into a painter’s study, rather than an exhibition of work. That personal tone was further set by there being no plaquards asride any of Carlin’s pieces, no Titles or information on mediums, a rare treat that invited guests to use their senses to understand and analyse the abstract works. Continue reading

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Supreme Tweeter: A New Web Series That Has Us All Atwitter

In a satirically self-effacing look at the strange (and sometimes unsavoury) connectivity of Twitterverse, Harry Lloyd and Jayne Hong‘s new production, Supreme Tweeter, has hit the world wide web at a sprint. Boiling the internet down to its bones in twenty minutes of brisk and effortless humour, they’ve created an inside look at what celebrity means in the 21st century, crafting a tale both caustic and charming. I sat down with Jayne and Harry the night of Supreme Tweeter’s April 1st release to hear about their creative process, and the film’s eccentric milieu of London daily life, North Korean diplomacy, and Photoshop. Continue reading

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Alexander McQueen: Inferno

Stepping off the elevator into The Gallery on the fifth floor of Foyles booksellers at Charing Cross, a curiosity awaits. The usually timid space that shepherds people off to the uptempo cafe and wine bar beside it has grown into something remarkable. A landscape of gargantuan black and white photographs with irrepressible imagery that commands attention. Enter the Inferno. Continue reading

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Preview: Asia House Film Festival 2015 #AHFILM15

Celebrating its seventh year, the annual Asia House Film Festival will be showcasing a bevy of remarkable cinematic productions across London. Continue reading

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