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.

London Daily Photo: Lines

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Breakfast at Fish & Chips by Des McDonald, Old Broad Street

One of the better breakfasts I’ve had recently was at Fish & Chips by Des McDonald (the newer location near Liverpool Street, not the one nearer Angel). I loved the look and feel of the place – a sort of idealised and spiffed up caff with a gorgeous centrepiece bar, rather austere but not at the sake of comfort. The food was delish. And the top ups for my cuppa – a filter brew a la Ozone Coffee – never ceased flowing until I was ready to leave. Win? Big time. I hope to be back soon (if only for a cup of joe to go) and am happy to recommend the place to anybody seeking somewhere in the City for a quick brekkie bite or early morning meeting. Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Strange Light

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Wine for Your Event

Planning a special event such as a wedding, family reunion, or birthday party, or even something business related for clients or colleagues? Running out of money, time and energy? Not sure how to make all the loose ends come together … Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Steps

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Sunday Lunch at the Crown and Two Chairmen, Soho

My lunch at the Crown was ace, and I loved the upstairs dining space, which was all but empty at 1.30pm (things picked up considerably by 2.30 though with hardly a free seat in the house). Highlights? To begin with service was efficient and friendly, seating was comfy, and I got a kick out of spotting a couple of celebrities out the window walking down street (if making a reservation, ask for a table by the window looking down on Dean Street). Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Chapel End Sky

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4 Tips for Staying Sane at the Airport (OneTravel)

On your way to the airport? Keep cool with this quartet of tips for a smooth flight – before you even leave the ground. Do you know which terminal? What time does your gate close? What’s your airline’s baggage allowance … Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Shop Display

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London Daily Photo: City Dollop

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“Women Fashion Power” Menu at Blueprint Café, Design Museum

Blueprint Café at the Design Museum is worth consideration for its lofty views of the Thames alone (ask for a seat by the windows when you book and then duke it out with your date over who gets the view of Tower Bridge and the City and who gets the view of Canary Wharf). However, Head Chef Martyn Moody’s not-so-fussy but still very fine food is the real draw. To celebrate London Fashion Week, Moody has come up with a Women Fashion Power set menu for February. Yet another stylish reason to pay this restaurant a visit? It sure looked and tasted that way to me when I gave the menu a try last night. Continue reading

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Visit Hawaii … for the History! (OneTravel)

Granted the Hawaiian Islands are home to some of the world’s most stunning landscapes with plenty of world-class beaches and all sorts of opportunities to lounge around mindlessly by a pool in the sun with a frilly drink at hand. … Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Bricks

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What a Mess! And Where’s My Coffee! (espressoCrazy)

My partner and I moved into a new residence recently. A major accomplishment for sure, but the move was only phase one of a much greater plan. Since the move, we’ve been essentially camping out in a building site for … Continue reading

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Win a Trio of Delicious and Nutritious Nut Butters from Pip & Nut

The Pip & Nut range includes a perfectly yummy back-to-basics peanut butter, an awesome almond butter, and an indulgent almond and coconut butter. Each is high in nutrition and low on ingredients. As Pip & Nut’s inaugural Blogger of the Month, I’ve been having fun nibbling and playing around with the P&N product. I’ve been given a few extra jars of butters to share with one lucky reader as well. Would you like to have some really tasty and healthy natural nut butters sent your way for free? Keep reading. Continue reading

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Good Stuff #38

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Bread Street Sessions with Dub … Continue reading

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UK Cigar Scene Magazine Issue Two Out Now

Issue number two of the new monthly UK Cigar Scene Magazine is now online and ready for download. Each issue of UK Cigar Scene is free to download and includes a video interview with a key cigar personality along with … Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Walthamstow Central

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Le Menar: Modern Approach to North African and Middle Eastern Cuisine

It’s nice being pleasantly surprised, right? And that’s just what I was during a recent dinner at newly relaunched Le Menar restaurant in Fitzrovia. It wasn’t that I had been expecting any sort of substandard meal; I just didn’t realise Head Chef Vernon Samuels’ “modern approach” to North African and Middle Eastern cuisine was going to be so inspired, thoughtfully prepared and intriguingly tasteful. Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: John Trundle Highwalk

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Preview: Mark Little #SecretMeetings

Olivier award winning Mark Little brings his anarchistic form of stand-up to the Museum of Comedy for a series of six fiercely funny and politically uncompromising #SecretMeetings, starting 19 February. Mark is probably best known for his role as Joe … Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Cross Bones Graveyard

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The Whitworth Reopens: It’s a Happy Valentine’s Day for Manchester’s Art Lovers

Following a £15 million development that doubled its size and created new spaces for celebrating art and “embracing the park it calls home,” The Whitworth in Manchester will reopen its doors to the public on February the 14th. After checking out the gallery’s new digs and all the ace art on view there earlier this week at a press preview, I reckon Mancunian art lovers should prepare for a very happy Valentine’s weekend! Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Hackney Wick

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8 Ways to Celebrate Singapore’s 50th Anniversary (Going Places)

Celebrate Singapore’s 50th Anniversary Continue reading

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Big Night Out at Balans, Westfield London

Balans is on a mission to revamp its eateries with its Westfield London outlet being the first to receive a spruce up. An invitation to drop by for a look and meal at its updated “Soho Society” digs resulted in a tasty night out for Kemey and me – made all the more pleasant by outstandingly prompt service. Continue reading

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Gourmet Burger Kitchen Presents the St Morish

Off piste with your current burger options? Gourmet Burger Kitchen has recently introduced a new ski season inspired limited edition cheeseburger which might prove to be the summit of your winter noshing. For Alpine delights in mountainous bites, go for the St Morish next time you’re craving a burger. Continue reading

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Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge Added to National Geographic’s Top List of Lodges (OneTravel)

I’m just back from a few days of luxury safari at Earth Lodge in the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in South Africa. Yes, I was only there for a four nights. To be sure, I would have been delighted … Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Darwin

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London Daily Photo: St Pancras

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Sabi Sabi Safari

Making eye contact with a lion metres away from my seat in a topless Land Cruiser … lounging in a private plunge pool in the buff while smoking a Cuban and staring off into the unfenced and utterly vast savannah … losing track of how many rhinos and elephants I’d seen in the span of a couple of hours … having a multi course feast prepared by a Michelin starred chef and paired with some of the best South African wines available … getting one to most relaxing massages I’ve had in too long awhile … Sabi Sabi turned me into a blathering mess of wow. Continue reading

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Recipe: Elvis Oats

As “blogger of the month” for Pip & Nut, I thought I’d come up with a few recipes using its creamy peanut butter. Here’s one for a hearty breakfast that I like to call Elvis Oats. You know about those peanut butter, banana, honey, and bacon sandwiches that Elvis Presley loved so much to eat, right? And I’m sure you’re aware of the sad tale of how the King of Rock ‘n Roll, died “on his throne”. If only Elvis had been a more regular guy, he might still have been rocking with us today. What if there had been a way for the king to have enjoyed his preferred royal dish while adding some much needed fibre to his diet? That’s where my recipe for Elvis Oats comes in. It’s a fibre-filled homage to Elvis’ favourite treat that’s delicious, a little bit indulgent and especially filling. Continue reading

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London Daily Photo: Go Home

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Support The Sick Children’s Trust by throwing a Big Chocolate Tea Party (Great British Chefs)

When he’s not busy making some of Britain’s best chocolate, Master Chocolatier Paul A Young volunteers his time as Vice President of The Sick Children’s Trust. The trust provides free, high quality accommodation, as well as emotional and practical support, … Continue reading

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Give Me Space: Does Urban Storage Have to be a Complicated Hassle?

Most Londoners I know are sharing a residence with housemates or managing the best they can on their own or with a partner or family … and in the vast majority of cases they have little or no storage space. And it seems that the more convenient the location or newer the property, the less likely they are to have even the most basic of facilities for putting things away and keeping them safe.
Continue reading

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