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.

Falling for Scotland in Autumn

Falling for Scotland is easy to do this time of year, especially when seeing the country by car. Continue reading

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Bingeing on the Best Bites in Baltimore – All the Best Places to Eat in the US City (Metro)

Big on flavour but not convention, Baltimore is just the sort of foodie destination WORTH writing about. Edgar Allen Poe, John Waters, David Simon, Ira Glass: Baltimore, Maryland has spawned and inspired some of America’s greatest storytellers. Even the country’s … Continue reading

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Shake Shack Cambridge Circus

The Shack continues to shake the London burger scene with a new outlet opened at Cambridge Circus. Continue reading

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Recipe: Smokey Sweet BBQ Baked Beans

Growing up in Georgia, BBQ flavoured baked beans were an obligatory side at nearly any cookout or family gathering. I replicate the rich Southern dish of my childhood with this easy recipe using Jack Daniel’s Sweet Smokey BBQ Glaze. Continue reading

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Homemade Versus Heinz-Made in the #SouperFreshTaste Test

Which tastes better, soup made from scratch in your own home kitchen or soup from a carton pulled off the supermarket shelf? My participation in a recent Souper Fresh Taste Test sponsored by Heinz had me questioning presumptions about such a query. Continue reading

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Win the Complete Range of Granola + Almond Milk from The Paleo Foods Co

Go paleo for free with this chance to win the complete range of granolas from The Paleo Food Co along with a carton of its newly launched almond milk. Continue reading

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4 Airline Services You Never Knew About (Going Places)

It may seem that airlines are cutting back on amenities and services but maybe you’re just not aware of all that’s available or which ones you should be asking for. We did some digging around to discover a few of the better (if lesser known) services that many airlines provide their passengers. Continue reading

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The Magic Hour Halloween Special

Magician Tony Middleton is bringing his show, The Magic Hour, to the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel on the 31st for a spooky Halloween special. Continue reading

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The 10 Best Destinations for First Time International Travelers (Miles Away)

If you’re pondering the possibilities of putting your passport to good use with a first time trip beyond the borders of the USA, then this list is for you. Continue reading

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Home Is Where the Heart Is: Art Exhibition and Auction for Arms Around the Child Charity

Arms Around the Child is to host an art exhibition and auction to raise funds to build a home for HIV+ orphans in Jaipur, India. Continue reading

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What to Do If You Miss Your Connecting Flight! (Going Places)

Missing a flight can add layers of trouble and delays to your schedule. But if you can keep a level head, in most cases you should be able to board a suitable alternative flight and start heading in the right direction ASAP. Continue reading

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What to Do with Leftover Foreign Currency After Your Trip (Going Places)

Back from your big trip with some leftover foreign currency? Don’t worry. You’ve got options. Let’s explore a few of the smarter ways save, change or spend it. Continue reading

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Top 7 Foods that Help Grow Your Baby’s Brain

Here’s a list of the top seven foods that can help you to grow your baby’s brain. Continue reading

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9 of America’s Most Haunted Hotels … That You Can Stay in! (Miles Away)

If you’re looking for a place to stay on your next spooktacular adventure, why not turn your booking… into a BOO!-king? Continue reading

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

Grown and hand cooked on a family farm in East Anglia, award-winning Corkers crisps are a cut above the standard British crisp. And I’ve got a big box full of them to give away so one lucky tikichris reader can taste the difference for free. Continue reading

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Waka: Nikkei Take Away Takes Off in the City

Waka is a newly opened eatery located near Monument specialising in Nikkei cuisine that’s ready for take away and offered at super competitive price points. Continue reading

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The Eerie Side of New England: Is Massachusetts the Spookiest State in the Union? (Miles Away)

If you’re looking to get spooked in the Bay State then check out our guide to Massachusetts’ historic haunted places you can actually visit. Continue reading

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El Tigre Tacos and Pink Flamingos at Nine Lives

For London Cocktail Week, recently launched yet already smooth sailing London Bridge bar, Nine Lives, shipped in bartender/luchador EL Tigre from his family restaurant, Los Barcos, in Mexico for limited run tacos paired with tequila cocktails. Continue reading

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Graeme of Thrones

Spoiler alert! Graeme of Thrones (a live theatre parody of … well, I’ll let you guess) is a guaranteed guffaw inducing hoot with loads of loving comedy pointed in the direction of its inspiration. Continue reading

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Cook Islands Idyll | I Didn’t Want to Leave

I can’t think of a warmer, friendlier destination than the Cook Islands nor one where I felt so relaxed and at ease. Continue reading

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Hot Pot Restaurant on Wardour Street

A fun and spicy time was had during a recent dinner at Hot Pot on Wardour Street. Continue reading

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Cook Islands Idyll | Aitutaki

For a couple of nights during my Cook Islands Idyll I enjoyed the chilled out serenity of the tiny atoll of Aitutaki. Continue reading

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National Curry Week at Darbaar

National Curry Week is on from 9 to 15 October and among the restaurants celebrating it in London is Darbaar, with Chef Abdul Yaseen creating a range of limited run curry dishes especially for the occasion. Continue reading

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Cook Islands Idyll | Rarotonga

Most of my Cook Islands Idyll was spent splendidly on the “main island” of Rarotonga: an idyllic base indeed for enjoying all the warmth and wonder that a trip to the South Seas should involve. Continue reading

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Can You Say That in Faroese Please?

Can you say please in Faroese? With fewer than 80,000 people speaking Faroese worldwide, and a growing tourism market, folks from the Faroe Islands realise that not having their language included on Google Translate can be frustrating for visitors keen … Continue reading

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Cook Islands Idyll

The Cook Islands is a nation comprised of 15 small islands in the middle of the South Pacific, roughly (or at least most easily described as being) halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. I spent an ideal week discovering this … Continue reading

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Win a Free Copy of 1001 Photographs You Must See Before You Die

Octopus has set aside two copies of 1001 Photographs to share with a couple of tikichris readers for free. It’s a brilliant book for the coffee table and (dare I say it) an excellent idea for a Christmas present. Continue reading

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Cognac: Spirit of Place | Epilogue

Cognac (the place) and Cognac (the drink) both represent the best that southwestern France have to offer in terms of dedication to craft and tradition, impeccable taste and a desire to produce the highest quality spirit possible. Continue reading

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More Ways to Stave off Writer’s Block

More Ways to Stave off Writer’s Block Continue reading

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Cognac: Spirit of Place | Restaurants

Cognac isn’t just a great place for drink. The town has some amazing restaurants as well. Continue reading

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1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair + Hassan Hajjaj: La Caravane

Returning to London for a fifth year and opening 5 October is 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House. Opening alongside the fair is La Caravane exhibition by British-Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj. Both are definitely worth a looksee. Continue reading

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Cognac: Spirit of Place | Bar Luciole

Coolest bar in Cognac? It’s Bar Luciole, a relaxing and pared down venue set near the banks of the Charente River and recently co-launched by drinks industry superstar Tony Conigliaro (Bar Termini, Bar with No Name, and Untitled) and bartending wunderkind Guillaume Le Dorner. Continue reading

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Cognac: Spirit of Place | Remy Martin

Over the centuries, Remy Martin has been able to hone its craft, its image and its processes to become one of the biggest producers of Cognac. Continue reading

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Mister Lasagna Opens Across from Victoria Station

Mister Lasagna has launched its fourth outlet, conveniently across the street from Victoria Station. Continue reading

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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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