Category Archives: Wine

Cognac: Spirit of Place | Les Freres Moine

A father and son business spanning more than 30 years, Les Freres Moine is run from an age-old farmhouse with a small distillery and cellar and vineyards across the countryside of Jarnac, an area about 10k from the city of Cognac that’s renowned for its vineyards and quality of wines and spirits produced there. Continue reading

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The Greek Larder + London Greek Wine Festival

Returning to London for its third consecutive year is the London Greek Wine Festival. Organised by Theodore Kyriakou and the team behind The Greek Larder Restaurant, the celebration will run 13 and 14 October at West Handyside Canopy near King’s Cross Station and maybe a minute’s walk from The Greek Larder. Continue reading

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BLADE: A Unique Experience in Hairdressing

Blade has perfectly captured its surrounding energy and moulded it in it’s unique “hair clubbing” experience. The brainchild of Julia Olofsson and D.T. Stroo it’s a salon that combines a well stocked bar, an espresso bar and a great haircut. Continue reading

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Yodel for Valais | Alpine Eats!

Before wrapping up my series about all the fun I had in the Valais, I thought I should take a moment to talk about how well I ate and drank while there. Here’s a taste of the best bites and sips from trip. Continue reading

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Christmas Menus at The Bull & The Hide

The Bull & The Hide pub has launched its A Very London Christmas festive season menus for 2017. I tagged along for a tasting of the Grazing menu, one of the pub’s four festive season packages offered. It featured heart … Continue reading

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Wine Explorers at Carluccio’s

On now and running until 1 October, Italian restaurant group Carluccio’s is sharing its passion for top quality but perhaps less celebrated Italian wines with its Wine Explorers special. Continue reading

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Trieste: Cafes and Buffets | #FVGFlavour

My Flavours of Friuli Venezia Giulia tour wrapped up in the stunning and dignified little port city of Trieste – where fantastic regional flavours flourish with flair. For a city of only around 200,000 residents, Trieste has an impressive number … Continue reading

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Friuli Veneza Giulia Food and Drink Producers | #FVGFlavour

With its unique mix of cultures, varied topography, rich soil and access to both the fresh water of the Alps and the bounty of the Adriatic Sea, Fruili Venezia Giulia is home to exceptional food and drink. Continue reading

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Trattoria da Ivana & Secondo | #FVGFlavour

One of the more delectable moments of my visit to Friuli Veneza Giulia (not to mention one of the best meals I’ve had this year) was my lunch at Trattoria da Ivana & Secondo. Continue reading

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Flavours of Friuli Venezia Giulia | #FVGFlavour

Located in the far northeast corner of Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia borders Austria to its north, Slovenia to its east and the Italian autonomous region of Veneto to the west. It has a long stretch of Adriatic shoreline, is home to the mighty Dolomite Mountains, and boasts a fascinating and culturally complex history. Continue reading

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Jazzgir, Canary Wharf

Jazzgir near South Quay brings Mediterranean cuisine with jazzy flair to the Docklands. Continue reading

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Free Wine Pop-Up in Soho: The Grand Cork Experiment

Multi-sensory experience designers, Bompas & Parr, have teamed up with the Portuguese Cork Association to launch a corker of a pop-up running today and tomorrow in Soho. Continue reading

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Fiz Sparkling Wine Bar

Fiz is a 10-week pop-up and London’s first sparkling wine bar. Continue reading

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Graze Across Galicia: O Gato Negro

Similar in feel to other Spanish cities renowned for their tapas such as San Sebastian and Madrid, Santiago de Compostela has its own classic collection of old school bars and taverns serving small plates of regional dishes. Continue reading

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Graze Across Galicia: La Bodeguilla de San Roque

For classic Galego fare, San Roque in Santiago de Compostela is a safe and savoury bet. Continue reading

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You Don’t Have to Pay a High Price for Great Wine

As much as I’ve been loving the wines I’ve been drinking this summer I haven’t had to splash out a fortune for them. Continue reading

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Michael Thompson’s Fodder at Borough Wines & Beer

If you’re like me and find yourself channelling your inner child in a candy store upon entering a wine shop, Borough Wines & Beers won’t disappoint. After shaking off the rain droplets and calming my breath post my mad dash into their Islington shop, I warmed in the rather intimate store. Perusing the shelves lined with British red and whites, I indulged my current natural wine obsession whose flavour ever evolves once the cork has been unscrewed. I’d describe it as a luxurious walk-in closet, which simply adds to the charm and intrigue of what lies below … Continue reading

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The Table Café, Southwark Street

A casual air and a commitment to seasonal and sustainable food made my meal at The Table Café a pleasant night out. Continue reading

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Dinner at Benares with Les Vignobles Foncalieu

An invitation to indulge in an intriguing assortment of Les Vignobles Foncalieu wines at one of London’s haut-est Indian restaurants turned out to be a memorably delicious dining (and drinking) experience. Continue reading

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Summer Food and Wine Q&A | #AskBordeauxWines

Save the date! From 1 to 3pm on Monday 12 June, I’ll be on Twitter engaging in an afternoon Q&A about summer food and wine pairings with the folks from Bordeaux Wines UK. Continue reading

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Trawler Trash

Trawler Trash is a new Highbury restaurant that wants to bring the “trash” from the trawler to its patrons’ plates with a menu focused on lesser known fish and seafood. Continue reading

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Visiting Borough Market with Le Cordon Bleu’s Chef Emil Minev

Experiencing Borough Market with Le Cordon Bleu’s Culinary Arts Director, Chef Emil Minev, was a real eye opener – and a definite palate pleaser! Continue reading

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New BBQ Menu at St Bart’s Brewery

St Bart’s Brewery has launched a meaty new “barbecue soul food” menu (not such a bad idea for a pub situated across the street from Smithfield Market). Part of the Hush Heath Estate group, the pub uses apple wood from its Kent estate to smoke and cook a range of fresh and sustainably sourced British meat, fish and vegetables. Continue reading

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Pulp – Fun New Way to Learn about Wine

Pulp is a new startup for budding wine enthusiasts that wants to make you a wine expert at-home and at-ease … and at 50% off for tikichris readers. Continue reading

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Free Cheese and Wine Festival at East Village, Stratford

East Village will host a free cheese and wine festival the weekend of 1 April. No fooling. Continue reading

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Sakura: Adam Rawson Japanese Pop-Up at Borough Wines & Beers

Sakura refers to the celebration of cherry blossoms in Japan. It’s also the name of a pop-up at the Essex Road outlet of Borough Wines & Beers featuring an outstanding assortment of dishes by Chef Adam Rawson paired with sake, beer, wine and cocktails – and like Japan’s famous cherry blossoms, this beautiful opportunity will be gone before you know it. Continue reading

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Calçotada at Boqueria

Like the sound of some especially savoury if rather sloppy Spanish foodie fun on a Sunday afternoon in South London? Celebrate Calçotada at Boqueria. Continue reading

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Sherry, Wine and Tapas Pairing at El Pirata, Mayfair

My most recent visit to El Pirata tapas bar and Spanish restaurant was not my first (and I hope is wasn’t my last). I love this Mayfair institution for its buzzing atmosphere and overload of Spanish art on the walls – and most importantly, of course for the food and drink. Continue reading

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Darkhorse, East Village, Stratford

Set at the base of one of the East Village towers (former Olympic Athletes Village) in Stratford, Darkhorse is a seemingly aptly named contender for one of the best places to eat in London I’ve come across in quite a while. Kemey and I certainly loved our leisurely Saturday lunch. Continue reading

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Raw Wine Week 2017

Raw Wine Week will make a splash this month across London with tastings, dinners, wine list takeovers, meet the producer events, parties and of course the Raw Wine Fair. Continue reading

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New Chef at Bird of Smithfield

Bird of Smithfield is the same great restaurant set in a five-storey townhouse with rooftop bar across from Smithfield Market as it has been since launching in 2013 – just now with a new Head Chef, Tommy Boland. Continue reading

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Tio Pepe Challenge 2017

The Tío Pepe Challenge is an international cocktail competition offering bartenders and mixologists around the world a chance to demonstrate their knowledge and creativity preparing a signature drink with sherry. Continue reading

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Best Dressed Irish Oyster

Last week, Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) hosted a Best Dressed Irish Oyster competition at Hix Oyster and Chop House in Farringdon. I tagged along for the chance to slurp down some especially delicious oysters and while having a look at how participating chefs went about dressing them up. Continue reading

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Basque Brunch at Eneko at One Aldwych

Basque Chef Eneko Atxa’s eponymous One Aldwych restaurant launched a new brunch menu over the weekend. I was glad to have a first taste on Saturday. Continue reading

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Bar + Block Steakhouse, King’s Cross

A good steak in a smart place, that’s the gist of what’s on offer at new King’s Cross steakhouse, Bar + Block. Continue reading

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