Monthly Archives: August 2016

Taking a Break with Magician Tony “Sonic” Middleton | 10X10 with tikichris

Posted on 2016-08-27 by tikichris

For my next 10X10 episode to celebrate ten years of blogging, I’m going to disappear, and I’ve got my magician friend Tony “Sonic” Middleton in on the act to help out. Continue reading →

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They Started It: Where to Enjoy Public Food Fights! (Going Places)

Posted on 2016-08-26 by tikichris

Check out these fun, sticky, and messy food festivals from across the globe (but, really, they’re mostly in Spain for some reason). All are open to locals and visitors alike, but remember to bring a change of clothes, a healthy appetite, and an easygoing attitude to endure a proper basting of your senses. Continue reading →

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Win a Case of Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Posted on 2016-08-25 by tikichris

Graham Norton and the folks at Invivo Wine have kindly set aside a case of Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc 2016 to share with one lucky tikichris reader. Continue reading →

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Feeling Fino | Outro

Posted on 2016-08-25 by tikichris

As I wrote in my introduction to this series of posts, visiting Jerez felt like a dream. Being able to experience the city with hometown hero Tio Pepe made it one of the tastier dreams to come true for me as a writer since I started this blog. Continue reading →

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The Best Foreign Cities for Every Kind of Shopper (Miles Away)

Posted on 2016-08-25 by tikichris

For your next vacation, why not merge your shopping list with your bucket list? Plan your next trip abroad to one of the world’s best cities for shopping. Continue reading →

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Graffigna Gran Asado

Posted on 2016-08-24 by tikichris

Argentine winemaker, Graffigna, threw the meatiest of parties recently at Dinerama in Shoreditch. Continue reading →

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Woodford Reserve Lounge at Sager + Wilde Paradise Row

Posted on 2016-08-24 by tikichris

The Woodford Reserve Lounge at Sager + Wilde (at Paradise Row restaurant/bar/terrace not the Hackney Road wine bar) offers a subdued earth tone retreat from the world with a lofty perch above the Bethnal Green bustle. Continue reading →

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Recipe: San Daniele Wings with Grana Padano Sauce | #WingingIt

Posted on 2016-08-24 by tikichris

Love ham and cheese? Love chicken wings? D’ever consider combining these two awesome foods into one dish? I did. It works. Continue reading →

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The Admiral Codrington

Posted on 2016-08-23 by tikichris

Chelsea mainstay, The Admiral Codrington, is a smart pub to keep in mind for a low-key rendezvous in an upscale atmosphere. Continue reading →

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Badolina Brings Big Flavour to Bishopsgate

Posted on 2016-08-23 by tikichris

Juicy marinated meats full of moreish Mediterranean flavours and grilled over charcoal for a quick-serve, healthy and delicious takeaway? Badda bing! Badda boom! Badolina brings it to Bishopsgate. Continue reading →

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How to Use a Kitchen Blowtorch

Posted on 2016-08-23 by tikichris

For a finishing touch and a final flourish, nothing makes an impact quite like the kitchen blowtorch. Using a handheld blowtorch takes a little bit of know-how to make sure you’re doing it safely and effectively, but once you’ve mastered it you will be able to add a professional edge to your cooking. Continue reading →

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Get Stoked! Great Cocktails at Victory Mansion

Posted on 2016-08-22 by tikichris

Stoke Newington bar, Victory Mansion, serves ambitious cocktails in a cozy setting. Continue reading →

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Great Day Out + Great Wines Too | Hush Heath Estate & Winery

Posted on 2016-08-22 by tikichris

Hardly an hour out of London by train (via Charing Cross to Staplehurst) is Hush Heath, a 400 acre estate in the heart of Kent with vineyards, orchards, grasslands and ancient oak forests. The estate also owns a few pubs. Two are within earshot of the Hush Heath vineyards, in the villages of Goudhurst and West Farleigh. Both offer overnight accommodation. The others are in London, near Liverpool Street Station and Smithfield Market. Continue reading →

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Recipe: Walnut Chicken Tacos

Posted on 2016-08-21 by tikichris

Old El Paso’s invitation for me to attend the media preview of its “mini cantina” pop-up at the South Bank a few days back was coupled with an offer to try the newly launched Mini Stand N Stuff tortillas for myself and come up with my own recipe of stuff to put in them. Continue reading →

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Difference Coffee Company

Posted on 2016-08-20 by tikichris

Entrepreneur Amir Gehl is on a mission to create the “ultimate terroir-led coffee collection” not to mention what’s got to the be the world’s most expensive collection of coffee capsules, with his new venture Difference Coffee Company. Continue reading →

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Buckling Up Abroad: Tips for Taking a European Road Trip (Going Places)

Posted on 2016-08-19 by tikichris

Sit back as we take you on a scenic drive to look at a few tips and itinerary ideas to help you arrive at your desired European driving destination safe, sound, and satisfied. Continue reading →

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Feeling Fino: Win a Bottle of Sherry, Retro Poster and More from Tio Pepe

Posted on 2016-08-19 by tikichris

Hola! I hope you’ve been enjoying my series of posts about visiting Jerez de la Frontera in the sunny south of Spain to discover what makes Tio Pepe such a flavoursome and refreshing drink. Would you like to discover the taste for yourself? Keep reading? Continue reading →

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Free Tacos | Old El Paso #MiniMexican Pop-Up at Gabriel’s Wharf

Posted on 2016-08-19 by tikichris

To celebrate the launch of Mini Stand N Stuff Tortillas, Old El Paso is giving away free tacos at a two-day pop-up on the Thames near Gabriel’s Wharf. Continue reading →

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Voyage de Fromage: One Last Wedge

Posted on 2016-08-19 by tikichris

Here’s one last wedge of Comté to consideration before I bid adieu to this series of posts about this distinctive cheese and the beautiful mountains where it’s produced. Continue reading →

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Recipe: Karma Cola Wings | #WingingIt

Posted on 2016-08-17 by tikichris

Pretty much any cola can be used for this recipe, but I recommend Karma Cola. It’s tastier than others in my opinion. It actually has cola nut as one of few minimal ingredients while not having any science-y preservatives or additives that are in some of the more widely recognised sodas on the market. Continue reading →

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Good Stuff #59

Posted on 2016-08-16 by tikichris

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.

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Feeling Fino: Bars and Restaurants in Jerez

Posted on 2016-08-16 by tikichris

I ate, drank and propped up bars with such pleasure during my short stay in Jerez. For a town of hardly more than 200,000 residents and not an overwhelming lot of tourists passing through, there’s an awesome lineup of dynamic restaurants and bars. With memories of authentic Spanish food and drink, served with warmth and pride in evocative settings, my heart (and appetite) remains in Jerez. Continue reading →

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Pure Chablis? Merci!

Posted on 2016-08-15 by tikichris

An expertly curated drinking session featuring Chablis wines paired with a dynamic range of dishes created by a trio of locally celebrated supper club hosts and presented at the swank digs of Studio by Andaz proved a delightful and delicious … Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Shopping, Wine | 1 Comment

How to Plan an Affordable Destination Wedding (Going Places)

Posted on 2016-08-15 by tikichris

When it comes down to tying the knot, cost is always a major factor. Throw in the fantasy of having a destination wedding, and couples may have to face a bloated wedding budget. But does saying “I do” in a beautiful locale have to be out of reach? Continue reading →

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Feeling Fino: Montesierra Jamon Iberico

Posted on 2016-08-13 by tikichris

Since the late 1800s, family-owned Montesierra has been sourcing free range, acorn munching Iberian pigs from the dehesas (wooded scrublands) of the Sierra Morena mountains and curing them without additives or preservatives (just salt and mountain air) in the village of Jabugo and the city of Jerez. Continue reading →

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The Ultimate List of All the Best Filet Mignon Spots in America (Going Places)

Posted on 2016-08-13 by tikichris

August 13th is National Filet Mignon Day, a day to indulge and to savor the most tender cut of beef. Here’s a rundown of a few of America’s best steakhouses known for their filet mignon. Continue reading →

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Voyage de Fromage: Win a Comté Hamper Worth £50

Posted on 2016-08-11 by tikichris

I had a delectable time on my Voyage de Fromage in the Jura Mountains of Eastern France. But in case you can’t getaway to enjoy your own cheesy Jura jaunt, here’s an opportunity to experience the great taste of Comté without even leaving your home. Continue reading →

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Feeling Fino in the Viñedos and the Bodegas of Jerez

Posted on 2016-08-10 by tikichris

Key to understanding what makes a great wine so distinctive is discovering where it’s grown, produced and aged. In the case of Tio Pepe – that means discovering the wonders of Jerez, from the vineyards on its outskirts to its cellars in the heart of town. Continue reading →

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Jim Beam “Tastes of Kentucky” Menu at Joe’s Southern Table & Bar

Posted on 2016-08-09 by tikichris

Jim Beam and Covent Garden restaurant, Joe’s Southern Table & Bar, have teamed up to create a Tastes of Kentucky menu pairing Jim Bourbon cocktails with classic American comfort food favourites. Continue reading →

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Eat Ethical Chicken at H.en, Upper Street

Posted on 2016-08-08 by tikichris

Now that H.en has opened in Islington, the next time you’re schlepping down Upper Street hankering for some chicken, you won’t need to fly the coop. Continue reading →

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Voyage de Fromage: Jura Food and Drink

Posted on 2016-08-08 by tikichris

Every meal of Voyage de Fromage was an extremely enjoyable experience of saveur locale presented with regional pride and kind hospitality. I can highly recommend the Jura as a delicious destination for even the most finicky of gourmet travellers. Continue reading →

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Cane to Cocktail: Cheers

Posted on 2016-08-07 by tikichris

Does having firsthand knowledge of what goes into a product and what’s behind its story enhance how we enjoy it? I certainly savour more fully every sip of one of my favourite rums with an increased understanding its origins and the fond memories made touring Jamaica with Appleton Estate and seeing how and where this top shelf spirit is produced. Continue reading →

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Gourmet Goat Re-Veals New Menu Item

Posted on 2016-08-05 by tikichris

Borough Market traders, Gourmet Goat, just got a more gourmet and less goaty with the introduction of a new meat on the menu: rose veal. Continue reading →

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Voyage de Fromage: Discovering the Comté Difference

Posted on 2016-08-05 by tikichris

Chief aim of my Voyage de Fromage (aside from eating lots of yummy cheese while checking out a part of France I’d not been to previously … oh and drinking gorgeous local wines) was discovering what sets Comté apart from the many other wonderful cheeses of France. Continue reading →

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BBQ Hacks Video Series

Posted on 2016-08-05 by tikichris

Here we are at the height of summer. So far so good, right? As much as we might love to complain about the weather here in Britain, we must admit there have be some pretty decent stretches of absolutely wonderful … Continue reading →

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