Tag Archives: discover the origin

Win a Discover the Origin Hamper Worth £60 Filled with Quality Food and Wine from Across Europe

Posted on 2014-06-30 by tikichris

Over the past few years I’ve been “discovering the origin” of five of Europe’s yummiest creations: Bourgogne Wines, Parma Ham, Douro Wines, Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, and Port, five fine foods and wines with Protected Designation of Origin status. It’s been a lot of fun and definitely one of the most delicious topics I’ve ever written about. To celebrate the arrival of summer, a time for picnics and dining alfresco, I’ve teamed up with Discover the Origin to share more than just my words and offer one lucky reader a hamper full of exquisite products for free. Keep reading to find out how to play for a chance to win. Continue reading →

Posted in Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, Shopping, Wine | Tagged competition, contest, discover the origin, Discover the Origin hamper, Drink, Food, free, freebies, hamper, RT to win, Shopping, twitter competition, win a free hamper, wine | Leave a comment

Discover The Douro (Great British Chefs)

Posted on 2014-05-08 by tikichris

Chris Osburn takes us on his journey of discovery in the Portuguese regions of Porto and the Douro Valley. The trip has clearly changed his views on Port as well as all wines from those areas he visited. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Great British Chefs, Portugal, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged Denomination of Origin, discover the origin, DOC, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Drink, Food, fortified wine, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto, Manuel Cabral, Manuel De Novaes Cabral, o porto, PDO, port, porto, portugal, portuguese wine, Shopping, Travel, travel blog, vineyards, wine | Leave a comment

Portugal Please: Amarante Quickie

Posted on 2014-04-17 by tikichris

Halfway between Provesende and Porto (or at least that’s how it seemed riding around in the press trip van), is Amarante. Like so many of the places I visited in Portugal, Amarante was sweet, cosy and somewhat kitsch without ever crossing over into being twee or cloying. With the others in my party needing to catch and flight (and me with a tight road trip itinerary of my own), I was really only in Amarante long enough for a short walk and (of course) a tasty snack. However, I saw enough to know I would love to return and reckon if you’re thinking about visiting Porto or the Douro Valley, you’d be wise to consider a stop in Amarante too. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged Adega Kilowatt, amarante, bar, Confeitaria da Ponte, discover the origin, doçaria conventual, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Food, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, romanesque, Shopping, Tâmega River, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, wine | 1 Comment

Portugal Please: Morgadio da Calçada

Posted on 2014-04-16 by tikichris

Situated atop a plateau yielding (yet more) beautiful panoramic views of the Douro River and its undulant valley, the tiny ancient village of Provesende was my final stop in the area. Here I took a quick wander round the village and a proper snoop inside 17th century mansion (with contemporary accommodations) Morgadio da Calçada. Continue reading →

Posted in Design, Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Travel, Wine | Tagged discover the origin, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Food, hotel, hotels, Morgadio da Calçada, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, provesende, Quinta, red wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, village, vineyard, vintage port, white wine, wine, wine cellar, wine maker, winery | 2 Comments

Portugal Please: Even More Douro Valley Quintas

Posted on 2014-04-16 by tikichris

No, I didn’t just lounge around at a couple of scenically situated hotels while in the Douro (although, that would be a terrifically recuperative way to spend one’s time). When I wasn’t enjoying my stay in the luxury laps of Quinta do Vallado and Quinta Nova, I was bopping all over the rest of the valley trying to visit as many different vineyards as possible – and loving every minute of it. Here are a few brief notes about the rest of the Douro Valley quintas I visited, including Quinta do Crasto, Quinta da Pacheca, Quinta do Panascal and Quinta do Seixo. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged 30 Year Old Tawny, discover the origin, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Fonseca, Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port, Fonseca Port, Food, hotel, hotels, Late Bottle Vintage, LBV Port, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, Quinta, Quinta da Pacheca, quinta da pacheca 30 Year Old Tawny, Quinta do Crasto, Quinta do Panascal, Quinta do Seixo, Quinta do Seixo Wine Centre, red wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, sandeman, Shopping, Tavora River, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, vineyard, vintage port, white wine, wine, wine cellar, wine maker, winecaching, winery | 1 Comment

Portugal Please: Quinta Novo de Nossa Senhora do Carmo

Posted on 2014-04-16 by tikichris

A lovingly restored 18th century manor cum 21st century four star hotel and the centrepiece of a lofty patchwork of vineyards rolling down to the Douro River: Quinta Novo de Nossa Senhora do Carmo was my home for a night. Leaving Vallado for a full-on day of winery visits around the Douro, my second evening in this idyllic valley wound down in equal parts elegance and comfort. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged Chef Jose Pinta, Clã Special Reserve Port, discover the origin, douro, douro river boat rides, douro valley, douro wines, Food, geocaching, Grainha Reserve, Grainha Reserve 2012, hotel, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, Quinta, Quinta Nova, Quinta Nova Reserva 2012, Quinta Novo de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, red wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, vineyard, vintage port, white wine, wine, wine caching, wine cellar, wine maker, winecaching, winery | 1 Comment

Portugal Please: Sniffing Around Quinta do Vallado

Posted on 2014-04-15 by tikichris

After a quick sightseeing jaunt and overnight stay in Porto, I was off to the Douro Valley for a few days of scenic sipping. My first night there, I had the ultra-luxe pleasure of spending some time – and a very restful night – at Quinta do Vallado. To put it plainly, I loved everything about this place. It hurt a little to have to leave and I’m aching to return for another chance to admire in situ this wine hotel’s blend of tradition with modern design; savour more of its homey food; and, of course, enjoy its fabulous wines. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged Adelaide Vintage Port, Antónia Ferreira, discover the origin, Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Food, Francisco Ferreira, hotel, Muscatel Galeg, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, Quinta, Quinta do Vallado, red wine, Reserva Branco, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, Sausa, Shopping, tawny port, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, Vallado, vineyard, vintage port, white wine, wine, wine cellar, wine maker, winery | 3 Comments

Portugal Please: Porto

Posted on 2014-04-15 by tikichris

My Portugal Please tour commenced in the compact and cosy city of Porto, which proved to be an excellent gateway to the Douro Valley and a fine place to visit in and of itself. If you’re looking for somewhere to visit for a city break, Porto is only a two hour flight away from London with plenty to see and do and eat and drink and browse and buy. Here are some highlight from my all too brief time there. Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged 1969 Single Harvest Tawny, beer, cheese, discover the origin, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Food, Gaia, Graham's Port, Graham’s, Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny, hotel, Hotel Teatro, Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto, IVDP, Mercearia das Flores, o porto, port, port cellar, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, Shopping, sovina, sovina beer, Sovina Cerveja Artesanal, tawny port, trael, Travel, travel blog, Vila Novo de Gaia, vinum, Vinum at Graham’s, wine, wine cellar, wine maker, winery | 4 Comments

Wine of the Month: Lamoretti, Colli di Parma, Malvasia 2011

Posted on 2012-09-29 by tikichris

A lightly fizzy bargain of a delicate and fresh white from the hills outside of Parma, Lamoretti’s sparkling Malvasia is nowhere near as famous as the region’s two most popular exports, Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano. Nevertheless, it’s a mouthwateringly … Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Italy, Shopping, Travel, Wine, Wine of the Month | Tagged Colli di Parma, discover the origin, emilia romagna, italian wine, Lamoretti, Malvasia 2011, parma, parma ham, parmesan, parmigiano-reggiano, review, sparkling wine, white wine, wine, Wine of the Month, wine review, wotm | 1 Comment

Journey to the Land of Ham and Cheese

Posted on 2012-09-13 by tikichris

Over the next few weeks, I hope to serve a generous portion of stories and pictures from my recent visit to Parma, Italy. I’ll try not to ham it up or say anything too cheesy while sharing the best bits … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Italy, Parma, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged cheese, chris oburn, cured meat, dairy, discover the origin, emilia romagna, ham, italian food, italian wine, Italy, parma, parma ham, parmesan, parmesan cheese, parmigiano, parmigiano-reggiano, PDO, pork, prosciutto, Protected Designation of Origin, reggio emilia, wine | 5 Comments

The Lucky Duck Does Burgundy (Great British Chefs)

Posted on 2012-05-27 by tikichris

Writing about the yummy things in life, I get a lot of ‘lucky Chris’ this and ‘lucky Chris that’. Maybe. But to quote Ernest Hemingway (somebody who lived a much more interesting life than I probably ever will), ‘You make … Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, France, Great British Chefs, Restaurants, Travel, Wine | Tagged burgundy, discover the origin, france, french wine, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, vineyards, wine, wine tasting | Leave a comment

Wine Tasting in Burgundy: Day Four

Posted on 2012-05-17 by tikichris

I spent most of last week as a guest of the Burgundy Wine Board visiting vineyards and wine makers in the region, dining at some of the area’s best restaurants and generally having a fantastic time learning about all things … Continue reading →

Posted in Cars, Drink, Food, France, Restaurants, Travel, Wine, Wine Tasting in Burgundy 2012 | Tagged 2cv citroen, au coeur du vin, burgundy, burgundy wine board, chablis, discover the origin, Domaine Nathalie et Gilles Fevre, Eric Szablowski, france, french wine, vineyards, wine, Wine Tasting in Burgundy 2012 | Leave a comment

Wine Tasting in Burgundy: Day Three

Posted on 2012-05-16 by tikichris

Posted in Drink, Food, France, Restaurants, Wine, Wine Tasting in Burgundy 2012 | Tagged beaune, biodynamic wine, burgundy, burgundy wine board, chablis, cote d'or, discover the origin, domaine de bellene, domaine rapet, france, french wine, l'ecusson, la feuillette 132, louis jadot, maison louis jadot, saint romain, wine, Wine Tasting in Burgundy 2012 | 2 Comments

Wine Tasting in Burgundy: Day Two

Posted on 2012-05-15 by tikichris

Posted in Drink, Food, France, Restaurants, Travel, Wine, Wine Tasting in Burgundy 2012 | Tagged beaune, bourgogne gold tour, bourzeron, burgundy, burgundy wine board, burgundy wine school, Chateau de Beaune, Corton, discover the origin, Ecole des Vins de Bourgogne, france, french wine, Jane Eyre-Renard, l'escargot, la ciboulette, le bistrot bourguignon, Maison Bouchard Aine et Fils, Maison Bouchard Pere et Fils, snails, vineyards, wine, Wine Tasting in Burgundy 2012, youri lebault | 1 Comment

Wine Tasting in Burgundy: Day One

Posted on 2012-05-14 by tikichris

Posted in Drink, Food, France, Hotels, Restaurants, Travel, Wine, Wine Tasting in Burgundy 2012 | Tagged beaune, best western hotel henry II, burgundy, burgundy wine board, discover the origin, france, french wine, loiseau des vignes, mark anstead, rob crossan, wine, Wine Tasting in Burgundy 2012 | Leave a comment

These are a Few of My Favourite PDO Things (Great British Chefs)

Posted on 2012-04-05 by tikichris

Parma ham should be from Parma and made to certain specifications. Otherwise, it’s just Parma-like or Parma-style. Same goes for Parmigiano-Reggiano, Burgundy, Douro and Port. Fair enough. These are a Few of My Favourite PDO Things Great British Chefs, 5 … Continue reading →