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.
The ninth celebration to mark my decade of blogging was a boozy little get together with a few other writers and friendly freelancer folk – a kind of yearend office party for those without offices – at one of my favourite bars in London: Artesian. Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Christmas, Drink, Hotels, London, Luxury, TC10, Travel
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Tagged 10 Years of tikichris, BARS, christmas, cocktails, Drink, Food, hotels, London, luxury, TC10, TC10Artesian, TC10X10, Travel
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Oh man! This nice lil yearend surprise almost rolled right past without me taking notice! But I’m glad I did, and I want to take a moment to thank the people behind Trips100 for including me in their top 10 list of UK Travel blogs of 2016. Continue reading →
Want a taste of flavourful intrigue for your New Year’s Eve toast? Try Cruxland Gin. Infused with Kalahari truffles, this rich new quaff from South Africa is the perfect gin for conversation inspiring cocktails. Continue reading →
Posted in Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping
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Tagged #CruxlandGinWin, competition, Cruxland, Cruxland Gin, Drink, free, freebies, gin, Kalahari Truffle, KWV, RT to win, Shopping, South African Gin, Truffle-Infused Gin, twitter competition
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Here’s a fun list of destinations where you might see where the real Saint Nicolas actually lived and maybe even get to meet the jolly old man. Continue reading →
I hope you enjoyed reading my Best of 2016 series and that the posts may assist you in having more fun, saving more money and making more of your time than you would have otherwise. Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Money, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
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Tagged BARS, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, CHEAP EATS, Drink, Food, hotels, London, luxury, money, POP UPS, restaurants, street food, supper clubs, Travel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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This year, many of my favourite London meals didn’t occur at a traditional restaurant or via a kitchen with a permanent address. Keeping with current dining trends and continuing with my Best of 2016 series, here’s my list of Best London Pop-Ups, Takeovers, Supper Clubs etc of the year. Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping, Street Markets, Travel
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Tagged A Little Lusciousness, A Taste of Jersey in London, Alexander & Björck, BARS, BBQ, Best London Pop-Ups, Best London Pop-Ups of 2016, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, BLUES KITCHEN, Blues Kitchen Brixton, borough, borough market, brixton, Catering, cheesesteak, Chef Mark Jordan, Chef Pascal Provart, CLAPHAM, Drink, east london, Food, Fowl Mouths Food, french food, Gourmet Goat, Home Team BBQ, japanese food, Kitchen Takeover, liberty cheesesteak company, London, Mark Jordan, old spitalfields market, One-O-One, Pascal Proyart, Peppe's Pizza, philly cheesesteak, pizza, POP UPS, pubs, restaurants, Rib Fest, Rosie Llewellyn, Scandina, seafood, Shopping, south london, southwark, spitalfields, street food, street markets, supper clubs, Travel, WALTHAMSTOW
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No joke. It is still possible (if slightly less likely than this time last year) to eat well with only a fiver to spend. And not only in the hinterland! Three of the six establishments listed below as my preferred cheap eats are in Zone 1 and extremely easy to access. The other three? Hello Waltham Forest, you big gorgeous borough full of yummy East London treats of reasonable price and generous proportion. Continue reading →
Posted in Best of 2016, Best of the Best, Coffee, Food, London, Money, Pizza, Restaurants, Street Markets
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Tagged Best Cheap Eats, Best Cheap Eats of 2016, Best London Cheap Eats, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, british food, city of london, coffee, Deeney's Cafe, Doric Way, E10, E10 5PW, E17, E17 7DB, east london, euston, falafel, fitzrovia, FLEET STREET, Food, Fresh Nan Bakery, goodge street, haggis, High Road Leyton, high street, Icco, kebabs, king's cross, leyton, lunch, malaysian food, money, NW1, NW1 1LH, Pilpel, pizza, Roti, Roti canai, Roti King, sandwiches, Seth's Spice Hut, spitalfields, st paul's, street food, street markets, the macbeth, Toastie, W1, W1T 4LU, WALTHAMSTOW, Walthamstow Market
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There’s a whole lot of New Orleans in this list – which makes sense given the focus of my September foodie safari spent there. Indeed, some of these NOLA restaurants are remarkably close neighbours; two are just across Magazine Street from each other. But this year wasn’t only about luscious Louisiana cooking. I had great dining experiences in other corners of America too, and across Europe. Continue reading →
Posted in Austria, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, California, Drink, Food, Jerez, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, Restaurants, Spain, Travel, USA, Vienna
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Tagged Alon Shaya, american food, austria, Austrian food, Bar & Restaurante Albores, Best of the Best, Bourbon Street, Brennan's, california, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Chartres Street, Commander's Palace, Dominikanerbastei, Emanuele Bartolini, french quarter, Galatoire's, greek food, Haute Creole, Israeli food, italian food, JoAnn Clevenger, Julian Olivares, Junipero Street, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, Konstantin Filippou, La Balena, La Petite Grocery, louisiana, Magazine Street, new orleans, O Boufés, Paul Prudhomme, Royal Street, spanish food, tapas, Tory McPhail, Upperline Restaurant, Upperline Street, USA, vienna, Washington Avenue
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The year is now coming to a close. How was it for you? My mind’s still reeling trying to figure out that question for myself. To say the least, 2016 was intense, with plenty of ups and downs. Allow me a chance to look at some of the ups in a little more detail and to celebrate the year by highlighting some of my favourite food, drink and travel experiences. Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Beer, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, Coffee, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Pizza, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
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Tagged BARS, beer, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, burgers, CHEAP EATS, coffee, Drink, Food, hotels, London, luxury, pizza, pubs, restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Hoping to end the year on a beautiful buon Natale note? Here’s a delicious and bubbly competition to help! I’ve teamed up with Carluccio’s to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a panettone filled with a prosecco flavoured cream plus a bottle of prosecco. Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, Competition, Drink, Food, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine
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Tagged #CarlucciosChristmasWin, carluccio's, christmas, Christmas at Carluccio's, competition, Drink, Food, italian food, italian wine, panettone, prosecco, RT to win, Shopping, sparkling wine, twitter competition, wine
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For many, Christmas is a time to set off on the open road and see the family we haven’t seen all year. This might include travelling by plane, train or automobile and if you do have to jump behind the wheel, it’s important you are prepared for the extreme weather that can accompany the festive period. Continue reading →
International award-winning magicians Tony “Sonic” Middleton ‘Sonic’ and Dominick Zwolinski bring their up close style of conjuring to a small audience in a private room at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand for one night only this month with their show Sleight of Hand on the Strand. Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Entertainment, Live Performance, London, Restaurants
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Tagged BARS, Close-Up Magic, Dominick Zwolinski, Entertainment, illusionist, live performance, London, magic, magician, Previews, restaurants, Simpson's, Simpson's in the Strand, Sonic, the strand, Tony Middleton, Tony Middleton Sonic, WC2, WC2R 0EW, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has teamed up with some of London’s top bars to create From Still to Bar: a series of immersive experiences with each session focused on a different spirit. Kemey and I dropped by Shotgun … Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping
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Tagged BARS, carnaby, carnaby street, From Still to Bar, KINGLY STREET, Shotgun, Shotgun BBQ, soho, W1, W1B 5QD, whiskey, Wine & Spirit Education Trust, WSET
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Michelin starred chef Shaun Rankin’s upscale restaurant attractively set downstairs at Flemings Mayfair Hotel – Ormer Mayfair – brings a refined and rich taste of Jersey to London. Seafood lovers and fans of dining with formal flair take note! Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
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Tagged BARS, Chef Shaun Rankin, cocktails, Drink, Flemings Mayfair Hotel, Food, Half Moon Street, hotels, Jersey lobster, lobster, London, luxury, Manetta’s Bar, mayfair, restaurants, reviews, seafood, shaun rankin, W1, W1J 7BH, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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One of my all time favourite destinations, San Francisco was a beautiful and welcoming as I remembered, and maybe even a little tastier this time around … or at least my coffee was. Continue reading →
Posted in California, Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
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Tagged breakfast, california, coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, hotels, illy, luxury, restaurants, san francisco, Shopping, The Fairmount San Francisco, Travel, USA
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Skiing, snowboarding and enjoying the idyllic winter scenery in the mountains or a spring-like temperature in warmer areas? No matter what the choice is the winter holiday will always be an unforgettable experience. Continue reading →
Open now and running at Hauser & Wirth London until the 4th of February, Ken Price: A Survey of Sculptures and Drawings, 1959 – 2006 is the first exhibition of American artist Ken Price’s work in London since 1976. Continue reading →
Posted in Art, London
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Tagged Art, ceramics, contemporary art, drawings, EXHIBITIONS, gallery, hauser & wirth, hauser & wirth london, Ken Price, Ken Price: A Survey of Sculptures and Drawings, Ken Price: A Survey of Sculptures and Drawings 1959-2006, London, low brow, mayfair, reviews, savile row, sculpture, Sculture, W1, W1S 2ET, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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We all have people in our lives who love to travel just as much as we do. Whether it’s family or friends, we know you’ll be thinking about what to gift these savvy travelers this holiday season.
To make your life easier, here are five considerations to keep in mind as you make your lists. Continue reading →
Lord have mercy! It’s a good thing this blog came equipped with an elastic waistband. Otherwise, I might not have been able to finish my 18-stop tour of America’s culinary capital on a streetcar named delicious. Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Hotels, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, USA
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Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, BARS, Drink, Follow Your NOLA, Food, french quarter, hotels, louisiana, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, Shopping, Travel, USA
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Last but by no means least among my list of 18 New Orleans Eats is the great Willie Mae’s Scotch House which has been serving exceptionally satisfying fried chicken and soul food fixings in a modest home setting since 1957. Continue reading →
Posted in Food, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel
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Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70115, cocktails, Drink, Food, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, JoAnn Clevenger, louisiana, luxury, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, seafood, shrimp remoulade, Soul food, Travel, Upperline Restaurant, Willie Mae's, Willie Mae's Scotch House
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Are you a budding street food entrepreneur hoping to make the most of the street food revolution? Check out this fun infographic from Van Monster. Continue reading →
Posted in Cars, Food, infographic, London, Restaurants
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Tagged Food, Food Truck, food van, infographic, street food, street food van, Van Monster
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Moving back uptown for another phenomenal feast among my 18 New Orleans Eats, I’m sitting down for a most sublime supper at the accommodating and gentile Upperline Restaurant, where the very definition of Southern hospitality may be enjoyed to its fullest and most delectable extent. Continue reading →
Posted in Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel
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Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70115, cocktails, Drink, Food, fried green tomatoes, fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, JoAnn Clevenger, louisiana, luxury, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, seafood, shrimp remoulade, Travel, Upperline Restaurant, Upperline Street
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Daunted by the task of Christmas shopping? Hoping to avoid the same old big box retailers this year and find prezzies that are as special and distinctive as your friends and family whom you’re buying for? Have I got a gift for you! I’ve teamed up with the folks at PocketHighStreet.com to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a £150 gift card to spend at the best independent shops in London. Continue reading →
Posted in Christmas, Competition, Design, Fashion, Food, Freebies, London, Shopping, Travel
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Tagged #feelgoodshoplocal, £150 gift card, £150 giftcard, christmas, competition, design, fashion, feel good shop local, Food, free, freebies, Independent business, London, Pocket High Street, PocketHighStreet, PocketHighStreet.com, RT to win, Shopping, Travel, twitter competition, win £150 gift card
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Trinity restaurant on Decatur Street in the French Quarter had only been open for about three months when I paid a visit. Nevertheless, Executive Chef Michael Isolani’s 21st century take on Haute Creole cuisine more than met the standards for fine dining in NOLA, seemed to fit in with the local scene as if it had always been there, and certainly proved suitable as a choice for one of my 18 New Orleans Eats. Continue reading →
Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel
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Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70116, BARS, Chef Michael Isolani, cocktails, Decatur Street, Drink, Eric Orzechowski, Follow Your NOLA, Food, french quarter, louisiana, luxury, Michael Isolani, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, Travel, trinity, trinity decatur, trinity restaurant
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One of the first eateries I reviewed this year was Beiriso near Holborn Station. The takeaway café with a menu focused on reasonably priced, freshly made and quickly served sushi and pasta invited me back recently for another taste after rearranging the dining area and giving it a refurb and honing in on the best aspects of their kitchen. Continue reading →
Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
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Tagged Beiriso, coffee, Drink, Food, holborn, italian food, japanese food, London, pasta, Procter Street, restaurants, review, sushi, WC1, WC1V 6NX, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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When I first started to come up with my wish list for New Orleans in 18 Easts, I wasn’t thinking about falafel and hummus, neither was I expecting Israeli cuisine made almost exclusively with locally grown Louisiana ingredients to top my list of all-time favourite restaurant meals. Then I found out about Shaya and wisely took a chance on eating there. Continue reading →
Posted in Food, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel
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Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70115, Alon Shaya, Chef Alon Shaya, Chef Justin Devillier, Drink, Israeli food, louisiana, luxury, Magazine Street, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, okra, restaurants, reviews, Shaya, Travel, wood fired oven
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Coffee Island new café near Leicester Square aims to provide customers with sustainably sourced coffee brewed in a variety of methods and offered as customised blends. Continue reading →
Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Shopping
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Tagged cafe, coffee, Coffee Island, covent garden, Drink, Food, leicester square, London, restaurants, reviews, Shopping, upper st martin's lane, WC2, WC2H 9NY, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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