Category Archives: London

Two Keys: Mixing it Up for Summer

After much flavourful experimenting, gin enthusiasts James Simpson and Jack Herlihy discovered that tea paired brilliantly with certain spirits. So, Two Keys’ first two mixers were born. Black Tea Mixer is a dark, smoky blend of premium Indian and Sri Lankan teas while Gree Continue reading

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Win a Bottle of Gin Lane 1751’s Victoria Pink



ndon-based distiller Gin Lane 1751 has added an authentically made pink gin to its line up of classic Victorian style gins. Handcrafted in small batches and distilled by eighth generation gin-maker, Charles Maxwell of Thames Distillers, Victoria Pink is full bodied and aromatic, with a floral flavour and a hint of spice. Continue reading

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Look for Melitta’s Coffee Bike! | My Coffee with Melitta

My friends at Melitta are hitting the road this summer and taking their coffee bike to events in London and beyond to demonstrate why they are the true pioneers of coffee enjoyment. For the latest post in the My Coffee … Continue reading

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Becky Kean, Cofounder of Nirvana Brewery

In this episode, Neil thought I had arranged to visit East London’s Nirvana Brewery …  and I thought Neil had arranged to visit East London’s Nirvana Brewery. In any case, we both turned up there and, fortunately, director and cofounder Becky Kean was gracious enough to let us stay and tell us all about her excellent alcohol-free beers. Continue reading

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Chez Maiss Restaurant and Wine Bar, Hammersmith



Newly opened Chez Maiss inside the Broadway Shopping Centre at Hammersmith Station was everything I had hoped to encounter when reviewing a restaurant. It’s a hidden gem in plain sight offering delicious food and drink in a convenient location. Continue reading

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Good Stuff #90

Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip, savour and more which contributor Judith Schrut discovered at this year’s Natural and Organic Products Europe show and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading

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Unmissable Stage Premiere | Small Island at the NT

Leah Harvey & Shiloh Coke in Small Island, photo credit Brinkhoff Moegenburg, courtesy NT Press Office Andrea Levy’s novel about the postwar Caribbean-to-Britain migrant experience has been adapted for the stage. Judith Schrut reviews this powerful, unmissable show, which opened … Continue reading

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Viet Hoa Cafe & Mess | Lucky 13



Among the bevy of Vietnamese eateries clustered along the Hoxton stretch of Kingsland Road is one that always has pleased my palate nightly every time I’ve visited: Viet Hoa Cafe & Mess. I’ve been dining there since 2006. Opened by two refugees, Viet Hoa was just a couple of years old at that time but still one of the first restaurants – if not actually the very first – to start out on what is now called “Pho Mile.” Continue reading

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Neil Interviews Chris (and Visa Versa) at Calcutta Canteen (All Consumed)

In this episode of All Consumed, Neil and I catch up for lunch at Asma Khan’s Calcutta Canteen and talk about our backgrounds as food and travel writers and why we’ve decided to start this podcast. Continue reading

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Dancing Dogs, Flying Plates, Giant Pillows: Sadler’s Wells Family Weekend

Aracaladanza Dance Company, ©Pedro Arnay, photo courtesy Sadlers Wells Media Library Dancing dogs, flying plates and giant pillows took centre stage this Easter at Sadler’s Wells Family Weekend. Judith Schrut and her young companion went to see what it was … Continue reading

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Win a Pair of Tickets to the First Ever LondonCats International Show and Cat Extravaganza

Join thousands of cat enthusiasts at the LondonCats’ Cat Extravaganza! For the first time ever, an international show about all things feline is coming to Central London – and I’ve got a free pair of tickets to it to share with one lucky tikichris reader. Continue reading

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Mary Quant at the V&A

“I don’t have time to wait for Women’s Lib,” declared Mary Quant. Judith Schrut’s been to the V&A to see why Quant became a role model for a generation of women. Continue reading

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Full Steam Ahead with the Royal Windsor Steam Express

The Royal Windsor Steam Express will provide excursions to the historic city of Windsor by steam train three times daily on Tuesdays, while the Sunset Steam Express offers fabulous evening trips from London to the scenic hills, villages and downs of rural Surrey. Continue reading

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Cocktail Class at TT Liquor with Parmigiano Reggiano

How’s this for the ultimate cheesy cocktail event: a Parmigiano Reggiano tasting experience pairing dishes featuring Italy’s most famous cheese with drinks at celebrated Shoreditch watering hole, TT Liquor? Continue reading

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Becoming All Consumed | #TCTalks 69



Hey gang, I’m back with a new episode of tikichris Talks, episode 69 in fact. Sorry for the long hiatus. I’ve been really busy. Continue reading

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Flexing Vegan | Temple of Seitan

Hail Seitan! I’m back with Flexing Vegan, a miniseries featuring reviews of eateries around London with vegan only menus. For my third flex, I’m having lunch in Hackney at Temple of Seitan. Continue reading

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Spanish Olives Recipes from Jose Pizarro



London’s favourite Spanish chef, Jose Pizzaro, has teamed up with Olives from Spain to create a a series of traditional Spanish recipes. Continue reading

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Soho Wala



Soho’s Carnaby corridor lately has become a smart area for grabbing a quality curry, with an excellent assortment of South Asian inspired eateries clustered around the street. New to the scene is Soho Wala with a menu of “fresh Indian street food” served in a relaxed atmosphere. Continue reading

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Save a Crust and Keep on Saving

My Save a Crust collaboration with the North London Waste Authority is done. But before you pack up and go please allow me one last chance to butter you up with a cheap and cheerful conclusion to this miniseries. Continue reading

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Helena Nicklin | Women in the Food Industry | #TCTalks 68



Episode 68 of tikichris Talks continues with my Women in the Food Industry podcast miniseries and features a discussion with Helena Nicklin, an award-winning wine and spirits writer and one-third of The Three Drinkers on Amazon Prime. Continue reading

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Anita Kerai | Women in the Food Industry | #TCTalks 67 



Continuing with my Women in the Food Industry miniseries, episode 67 of tikichris Talks features a discussion with chef, author and television presenter, Anita Kerai. Continue reading

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Stick & Bowl | Lucky 13

Stick & Bowl is a sliver of a restaurant set on the Kensington Gardens end of Kensington High Street for convenient eats during shopping expeditions, a meal after a walk in the park, or for a quick bite pre or post a show at Royal Albert Hall it can’t be beat. But there’s no need to drum up an excuse to visit this classic Chinese food takeaway. Continue reading

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Flexing Vegan | Sutton and Sons Vegan Chip Shop



Sutton and Sons Vegan Chip Shop near Hackney Central Station does proper East End eats but with a vegan bend. Here “fish” is code for batter fried banana blossom, but chips are definitely still of the potato variety and done up right to please the palate of any Brit.  Continue reading

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Win a House of Holi Dinner for Two with a Bottle of Wine at Cinnamon Kitchen City

House of Holi returns to Cinnamon Kitchen at Devonshire Square for a fifth colour-filled year. I’ve teamed up with the restaurant to offer the chance for one tikichris reader to win a House of Holi dinner for two with a bottle of wine. Continue reading

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Liquor Lanes Private Bowling at Queens Skate Dine Bowl

Queens Skate Dine Bowl and Meatliquor have launched Liquor Lanes, a private bowling experience replete with its own bar and bartender and bowling lanes. Continue reading

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Good Stuff #86



Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip, savour and more – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading

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Poptata Street Fries at Boxpark Shoreditch

Purveyors of premium street fries, Poptata has been frying hand-cut British potatoes in sunflower oil and smothering them in a range of toppings and homemade sauces since 2015 at festivals across the country and a small but growing number of permanent locations throughout London. Continue reading

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Save a Crust and Bake a Scrumptious Bread and Butter Pudding



Okay folks, here’s my attempt at baking bread and butter pudding based on lessons taught by Chef Mark Borrell during the NLWA’s free cookery workshop last week at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School near Archway Station. Continue reading

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The Coal Shed, One Tower Bridge

With a “meat, fish, fire” mantra, The Coal Shed at One Tower Bridge aims to source native British breeds from small family run farms for its beef as well as sustainably and ethically caught fish and seafood from England’s south coast to fill its menu of big flavour, big portion dishes. Continue reading

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Save a Crust and be a Better Cook in North London for Free

I’m wising up to waste and helping get the word out about the North London Waste Authority’s Save a Crust campaign. It’s a fun and yummy way to reduce waste and be a better cook! Continue reading

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Benjamin Figarède, Cocoa Sourcing Ambassador for Valrhona Chocolate | #TCTalks 65

Travelling the globe in search of the world’s best cocoa, Benjamin Figarède works in the sourcing department for French premium chocolate manufacturer Valrhona. He sees himself as an ambassador, creating bonds between small holder cocoa farmers and the craft chocolate … Continue reading

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Bearing Witness: Don McCullin Retrospective at Tate Britain

As a major retrospective of Sir Donald McCullin’s work opens at Tate Britain, Judith Schrut looks at what his 60 years of photography have given us. Continue reading

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Flexing Vegan | Mooshies London Vegan Burger Bar

Here’s my first Flexing Vegan review. It’s about the burger and fries at Mooshies, a vegan burger joint on Brick Lane. It’s a glowing review too. I really enjoyed my meal! Passing through Spitalfields recently, I was hankering a burger … Continue reading

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Shimmer, Dazzle, Sparkle | Christian Dior at the V&A

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams is the Victoria and Albert Museum’s latest blockbuster show. Judith Schrut has been to view. Continue reading

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The Good, the Bad and the Skinny Kitchen

I had lunch at The Skinny Kitchen in Islington recently. My experience mixed but overall positive. Here’s the skinny on my lunch at The Skinny Kitchen. 

 Continue reading

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