Author Archives: tikichris

About tikichris

Chris Osburn is the founder, administrator and editor of tikichris. In addition to blogging, he works as a freelance journalist, photographer, consultant and curator.

5 Splendidly Inexpensive Weekend Beach Breaks for the Family (Going Places)

Is your family begging for a beach break but your bank account is begging for a break from big spending? Not to worry! It’s definitely possible to take the family to the beach on a budget.
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Joanna’s in Crystal Palace Celebrates 40 Years with Vintage Specials Menu

40 years running and still going strong, Joanna’s in Crystal Palace is celebrating its four decades of delicious dining by showcasing some of its original and locally preferred dishes. Continue reading

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The 8 Places for the Best Burritos in San Francisco (Going Places)

On a mission to experience the biggest, baddest, and most bodacious burritos in the world? San Francisco is top choice for most chowhounds seeking to call it a wrap on where to enjoy this most delicious of Mexican dishes. Continue reading

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Win a Taster Box of Award-Winning Hand Cooked Corkers Crisps

Who wants a free batch of Corkers’ extra crispy pan fried crisps made from potatoes grown on a hundreds-of-years-old family farm in the rich Fenland soil of Cambridgeshire? Keep reading. Continue reading

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P.F. Chang’s Asian Table, Great Newport Street

If you’re on the hunt for a fun place to eat where flavour and efficiency matter more to the occasion than finesse and fuss, P.F. Chang’s should fit the bill. Continue reading

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Kinky Ping Pong

Dinner and a show with a one-minute stroll? Here’s a great date night idea: dim sum and drinks at Ping Pong Covent Garden followed by catching a performance of Kinky Boots just round the corner at the Adelphi Theatre. Continue reading

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Mahiki Kensington

I hadn’t been to a tiki bar in ages (a sad thought for a fella going by the online moniker of tikichris). So the invite to take a tipple and nibble at Mahiki’s new(ish) Kensington outpost was welcomed with a readily returned response. Continue reading

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The Ins and Outs of Flying Standby (Going Places)

Your bags are all packed and you’re itching to get on the plane for your vacation to begin. Wouldn’t an earlier flight be nice? Or even an upgrade to a better class? Or perhaps you’re looking for a shorter journey than the one you booked. Continue reading

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Brunch with Bea Vo | #TCTalks Episode 16

For the 16th episode of tikichris Talks, I catch up over brunch with Bea Vo – the Managing and Creative Director of Stax Diner, Boondocks Restaurant, The Famous Flames and the newly opened Butterscotch Bakery. During our meal, we chat about business, baking and Bodak Yellow. Continue reading

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The Best 3-Day Getaway Ideas for the Easter Weekend (Going Places)

The appearance of chocolate bunnies on store shelves can only mean one thing: it’s almost Easter. For those with a bit of wanderlust, it’s also a great time to take a day off work and make it a long weekend of adventure. Continue reading

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3 Destinations for a Sizzling Hot Pre-Summer Vacation (Going Places)

If you absolutely cannot wait for balmy, lazy days, consider hopping on a plane to one of these perennially warm destinations.  Continue reading

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Good Stuff #74

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

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Win a Craft Cider Taster Box from Crafty Nectar

I’ve teamed up with Crafty Nectar – the UK’s number one craft cider destination and subscription box – to offer one tikichris reader the chance to discover a range of award-winning ciders delivered direct to your door! Continue reading

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Kanada-Ya | #TCTalks Episode 15

Japan’s legendary Kanada-Ya has just launched its third ramen bar in London. This one’s on Upper Street near Angel Station. I think the generous bowls of ramen served at Kanada-Ya’s St Giles High Street and Panton Street branches are some of the yummiest things to slurp in town – and are well worth braving the sometimes rather lengthy queues to have. I love the classic tonkotsu (pork bone broth, chashu pork belly, wood ear fungus, seaweed and spring onion) with my noodles served “hard” (there’s a choice of soft, regular, hard and extra hard) with loads of grated sesame seeds sprinkled on top. Continue reading

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Considerations for Home Renovations

Thinking about doing some home reno. I’ve done my share, am pleased with the results and definitely love my home, but I did find the experience rather daunting at times. In retrospect, I probably wouldn’t have been quite so overwhelmed if I had kept a few basic factors in mind. Continue reading

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Three Food & Wine Matches Made in Heaven (31 Dover)

For your most quaff-able of considerations, here’s a trio of food and wine pairings that definitely do the trick for me. Two might not come across as terribly revolutionary but many a wine lover might find my third suggestion rather novel. Continue reading

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Staying Sober on St. Paddy’s? Here’s How to Do It & Where to Go! (Going Places)

Let’s take a look at a few alcohol-free ideas for doing up St. Patrick’s Day that won’t leave you suffering from a hangover the next day or wondering where you parked your shillelagh. Continue reading

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Win a 2-in-1 Egg-Shaped Bottle filled with Chocolate Cream and Calvados from Il Gusto

Who says Easter eggs are only for kids? Il Gusto’s got something oval for the grownups to hunt as well: a 2-in-1 egg-shaped bottle filled with chocolate cream and aged calvados. Continue reading

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Dream Destinations for Lovers of Irish Literature (Miles Away)

If you find inspiration for your travels in the pages of great literature you’ll love this list of cities rich in sights to see and contextual meaning for some of Ireland’s most accomplished writers. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin | Index

I hope found some savoury insight or at least some sweet recommendations in my series about dining in Dublin. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin | The Pepper Pot Cafe

I had a phenomenal breakfast at The Pepper Pot Cafe and can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t find The Pepper Pot’s offer a delicious one. Continue reading

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5 Common Healthy Diet Misconceptions

There are certain diet myths that might be making it more difficult for you to reach your fitness goals and live a healthier lifestyle. In recent years, some of these myths have been brought to the public’s attention by experts who’ve conducted extensive research to debunk the misconceptions. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin | The Rolling Donut

So donuts in Dublin are definitely a thing! And The Rolling Donut does them deliciously well.In particular, two of the more decadent creations from its menu made my taste buds swoon: the salted caramel pistachio and the maple bacon. Both cost about €3 and one with a cup of pretty damn good coffee (for €5) made an excellent breakfast. Continue reading

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Creating Your Own Campaign

Whether it is a charity fundraiser, a movement to social awareness about important topics, or if you are promoting a personal cause, creating your own campaign can be a great way to get your message out there. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin | Piglet Wine Bar

Piglet Wine Bar, a laidback little eatery on the edge of Temple Bar was a last minute idea for dinner – but one that turned out to be brilliant. I loved the concept and the food and left wishing there was something similar in my hood back home in London. Continue reading

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Jude S Walko’s Incantation | #TCTalks Episode 14

I’ve known Jude S. Walko since I was 12 years old. We grew up in the same area of North Georgia and went to school together for a few years and even to the same university for a while. So with the release of indie horror film The Incantation – Jude’s directorial debut – I thought it would be fun to catch up with my old friend and interview about the movie, his work in show business and more. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin | Fish Shop, Benburb Street

Fish Shop, Benburb Street is a supremely simple chip shop and wine bar about a block away on Benburb Street – was. So I went there – and had what I reckon will go down as one the very best meals of my year. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin | The Winding Stair

Given its prominence in guide books and listicles as well as its tourist-accessible location near the Ha’penny Bridge, my instinct was to stay clear of The Winding Stair. Then I read the menu. Continue reading

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Win Chocolate Easter Pen Pals from Hotel Chocolat

Hotel Chocolat has some really cute new treats for its 2018 Easter collection. I’ve got some particularly fun new items stashed away in a basket and I’m on the hunt to share them with one lucky tikichris reader. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin | Oxmantown

Oxmantown’s Black Pudding breakfast sandwich was a morning meal worth waking up for – particularly with its rather kindly price of €5.90. An assemblage of Jack McCarthy’s “Queens” black pudding with tomato relish, pickles, aioli, and rocket on supremely spongy sourdough, it hit the spot and kept any inkling of hunger at bay well past my usual lunchtime. Continue reading

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Raw Wine with Isabelle Legeron | #TCTalks Episode 13

Isabelle Legeron is France’s only female Master of Wine, the leading advocate for the natural wine movement, and the driving force behind Raw Wine – the UK’s biggest fair for natural, organic and biodynamic wine with satellite events now in New York, Los Angeles, and Berlin. Anything but a wine snob, Isabelle is someone I’ve learned a great deal from about how to enjoy and better appreciate wine. It was a pleasure getting to interview her for this 13th episode of tikichris Talks. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin | Bunsen

Before my trip I’d done some preliminary Googling for “best restaurants” in town and in the area where I was staying (Temple Bar). Bunsen kept coming up. I certainly wasn’t against having a good burger and couldn’t argue with it being just a couple of minutes away from my room. Continue reading

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Affordable European Destinations You Should Visit This Year (Going Places)

Here’s a look at three particularly fine and affordable European cities that thrifty travelers will want to visit this year. Continue reading

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Where to Dine in Dublin

Wondering where to dine in Dublin? You’re in luck! As good of a question as it might be, the answers are all the more excellent and delectable. Continue reading

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Tejo Wines

A recent tasting of wines from Tejo held at Taberna do Mercado (one of favourite places to eat in London) provided the perfect inspiration to get moving on a visit to this little celebrated part of Portugal producing some beautiful wines well worth seeking out. Continue reading

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