Category Archives: Shopping

Win a Gift Set of Wonky Fruit and Veg Crisps from Spare Snacks

Spare Snacks is a start-up brand on a mission to turn wonky fruit and veg into tasty and nutritious crisps that are good for consumers, producers, and the planet. All Spare Snacks’ crisps are air dried, gluten-free, low calorie, high fibre, potassium rich, and vegan. Any one of the six different flavour packs counts as one of your five day. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #88

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.

Posted in Drink, Food, Good Stuff, Shopping, Travel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Food, London, Recipes, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Lir Collection Hamper of Chocolates

Who wants a hamper of chocolate valued at £50? I’ve team up with Irish chocolate maker, Lir Chocolates, to offer one lucky tikichris reader the chance to win a Lir Collection hamper and enjoy a taste of the complete range of treats offered by this beloved Irish brand. Continue reading

Posted in Chocolate, Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gumtree’s Tips to Selling Your Car Online

Selling your pre-owned car can be a confusing thought. Here are some useful tips and tricks to make buying and selling your car less of a chore. Continue reading

Posted in Cars, Money, Shopping | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Infographic | How Meaty is Your Sausage?

Not all sausages are created equal. Some are significantly meaty and made from quality cuts while others are pathetically puny and pumped full of less than desirable and flavourless ingredients. Continue reading

Posted in Food, infographic, Shopping | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Celebrities, Drink, Entertainment, Food, interview, London, Podcast, Shopping, TCTalks, Television, Travel, Wine, Women in the Food Industry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Bottle of Neptune Rum



Neptune Rum is the world’s most awarded rum of 2018 with more than 40 prestigious global awards to date. I’ve got a bottle of the golden rum from Barbados to share with one lucky tikichris reader. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #87



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

Posted in Design, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, Shopping, Travel, Video | Tagged | Leave a comment

Caffeo Solo & Milk | My Coffee with Melitta



Having a good morning? My mornings have been great since I started brewing my coffee with a fully automated Melitta Caffeo Solo & Milk E953-102 coffeemaker. Continue reading

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, My Coffee 2019, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Drink, Food, Good Stuff, Hotels, London, Luxury, Movies, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Video, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Mixed Box of 16 Trek Protein Energy Bars

Need a nourishing and filling snack to help get you to the next stage in your day? I’ve teamed up with Trek Protein Energy Bars for a special giveaway competition offering one lucky tikichris reader a chance win a box of 16 mixed flavour Trek bar so you can taste the complete range while upping your energy nest time you’re on the go and caught between meals. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 5 Vodka Exporting Countries in the World

Most people seem to assume vodka originated in Russia or Poland, and that is indeed the partial truth. What many people don’t realize is that nowadays, these countries are no longer regarded as the top producers of this popular ethanol-based distillate.  Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Shopping | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Chocolate, Food, interview, London, Luxury, Shopping, TCTalks, Travel, Valentine's Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #85

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down (which a bit of a Valentine’s Day spin) 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

Posted in Beer, Drink, Entertainment, Food, Good Stuff, Live Performance, London, Music, Shopping, Travel, Valentine's Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Bundle of Fruit Bowl Goodies

Are you certain the most important people in your life are getting their recommended five a day? Here’s a tasty way to be sure. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Roadkill’s Matthew Gregson-Jones | #TCTalks 64



For episode 64 of tikichris Talks, I chat with Roadkill founder Matthew Gregson-Jones about the back-to-basics dining concept how sourcing quality meat direct from British farmers can result in better tasting food, less wastage and lower prices for customers.
 Continue reading

Posted in Food, interview, London, Podcast, Restaurants, Shopping, Street Markets, TCTalks, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Explore the Isle of Islay with The Botanist Dry Gin

The first and only dry gin from the Isle of Islay, The Botanist features a unique combination of 22 hand-foraged local botanicals and offers a rare insight into the heritage and heart of this remote Scottish island. Continue reading

Posted in Bars, Drink, Hotels, Luxury, New York, Shopping, Travel, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Valentine, You *Readly* My Mind!



Stuck for Valentine’s Day ideas? Or maybe you’re looking to seal the deal with a little something extra to what you’ve already lined up? Be sure to keep Readly in mind for you and your better half, especially if you both love to read and to travel. Continue reading

Posted in Apps, Shopping, Travel, Valentine's Day | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment


Four Easy and Open Faced Crispbread Sandwich Recipes

Do you have an open mind when it comes to making Scandinavian style open faced sandwiches? Then see what you think about these four easy recipes I came up with using Leksands Original Rye Crispbread triangles as the base of … Continue reading

Posted in Food, London, Recipes, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Three-Bottle BAFTA Bundle from Champagne Taittinger and Villa Maria Wines



How would you like to drink and celebrate in the same way as your favourite stars of film and TV? Here’s a chance to win a BAFTA bundle of wine, including a special BAFTA-labelled bottle of Champagne Taittinger Brut Réserve NV, a bottle of Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Grigio and a bottle of Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon. 

 Continue reading

Posted in Celebrities, Competition, Drink, Entertainment, Freebies, Movies, Shopping, Television, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Unsung Cities | Köln, Germany

An ancient Roman enclave on the Rhine, Cologne is first and foremost a river town. That’s why the Romans set up shop here and why it grew to prosper during the Middle Ages as a significant hub of Catholicism. Roman ruins remain embedded in the cityscape and Cologne Cathedral towers over the town, celebrated as one of Europe’s best examples of Gothic grandeur. 

 Continue reading

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, Germany, Shopping, Travel, Unsung Cities | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Coffee with Melitta 2019

Good morning everybody. I’m back in black. Black coffee that is.As 2019 settles in, I carry on with another round of My Coffee blogging in collaboration with premium coffee machine maker, Melitta. Continue reading

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, My Coffee 2019, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why Has Veganism Gotten So Popular?

It wasn’t that long ago that “vegan” barely showed up in conversation, let alone the headlines. But now, it seems to be in the news to some degree every week, whether it’s a brand-new product or someone getting unusually offended by the ‘audacity’ of edible plant options being offered anywhere, despite having presumably eaten a salad before. But generally, the idea of veganism has had a positive response of late, with a record number of Brits estimated for this year’s Veganuary. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, Restaurants, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Copper Rivet Distillery | #TCTalks 61

Episode 61 of tikichris Talks is set on the shore of the Medway River at the Copper Rivet Distillery in Chatham, Kent. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, England, interview, Podcast, Shopping, TCTalks, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Valentine Variations



Flowers … chocolate … candlelit dinners … romantic getaways … you know the score! And you should well aware that the 14th of February 14th will be here soon. Yes, V-Day is coming. Are you ready? Continue reading

Posted in Shopping, Valentine's Day | Tagged | Leave a comment

In Pursuit of Office Happiness with Staples and Professor Sir Cary Cooper

Yesterday (Monday 21 January) was so called Blue Monday, purportedly the most depressing day of the year. How blue were you and to what extent did your workplace affect your mood? Continue reading

Posted in London, Money, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Bottle a Manchester Raspberry Infused Gin

Just in time for Valentine’s, I’ve got a beautiful bottle of Manchester Raspberry Infused Gin to give away. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Drink, England, Freebies, Shopping, Valentine's Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Roasting Plant Brings Javabot (and Great Tasting Coffee) to London Bridge

New York-based Roasting Plant Coffee opened its first roastery/cafe in London this week, bringing with it Javabot – an automated roasting system and sleek piece of cafe-theatre kit. Continue reading

Posted in Coffee, Design, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #84



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

Posted in Drink, Food, Good Stuff, London, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

10 Top Tempranillo Red Wines

It’s as Spanish as castanets and paella. Tempranillo (temp-ra-neo) makes some of Spain’s best red wines. The main red grape variety used in Rioja’s red wines, it has an unmistakeably savoury flavour, with hints of leather, tobacco leaves, and fruit … Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gorgias London’s O Range Combines Natural Beauty and Honest Luxury

Demi Perera drops by Petersham Nurseries in Covent Garden for the launch of new British beauty brand, Gorgias London, and its range of single-pressed facial oils and five shampoos and conditioners. Continue reading

Posted in London, Restaurants, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tom Gosnell at His South London Meadery | #TCTalks 60



Here’s a buzzing conversation with Tom Gosnell at his Gosnells of London meadery in Peckham Rye. For this 60th episode of tikichris Talks, I chat with Tom about mead, the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage, and his contemporary take on making … Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, interview, London, Podcast, Shopping, TCTalks, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 10 Wines to Drink with Curries

Wine and curry? It might sound unlikely. After all, it’s beer and curry for millions of us. Every week. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Detox Menu at Chucs Restaurant & Cafe



Chucs (the eatery) is the sister concept of Chucs (the swimwear and men’s fashion label). I had been before to the Dover Street flagship of Chucs and found it to be a quite cosy spot and the food and drink to be good quality. The idea of visiting another Chucs and having a look at how the concept sat inside Harrods appealed to me. Continue reading

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Shopping | Tagged , , | Leave a comment