Category Archives: Bars
Sherry, Wine and Tapas Pairing at El Pirata, Mayfair
My most recent visit to El Pirata tapas bar and Spanish restaurant was not my first (and I hope is wasn’t my last). I love this Mayfair institution for its buzzing atmosphere and overload of Spanish art on the walls – and most importantly, of course for the food and drink. Continue reading →
Holi Celebrations Return to Cinnamon Kitchen
Now in its fourth year, House of Holi at Cinnamon Kitchen is now open to the public with a purpose-built pod set up outside the restaurant in Devonshire Square where willing participants can let loose with paint throwing festivities that mark Holi, the Indian festival of colour. Continue reading →
#CityStories | Index
I hope you enjoyed my City Stories posts and videos highlighting some of the best food and drink in and around Shoreditch – all within a short stroll of the newly opened Point A hotel on Paul Street. Continue reading →
#CityStories: Bars and Pubs
Thirsty in Shoreditch? You are so in the right place. Check out the second video instalment for my City Stories collaboration with Point A Hotels. Continue reading →
#CityStories: Exploring #Shoreditch with #PointAHotels
Get ready for City Stories: a new series of video posts I’ve cooked up with Point A Hotels to highlight some of my favourite food and drink in and around Shoreditch. Continue reading →
Raw Wine Week 2017
Raw Wine Week will make a splash this month across London with tastings, dinners, wine list takeovers, meet the producer events, parties and of course the Raw Wine Fair. Continue reading →
Surf & Turf Wars at The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch
For three days only, The Blues Kitchen’s Shoreditch outpost is hosting Brooklyn restaurant Extra Fancy for a one-off collaboration and friendly “surf vs turf” competition. Last night (Monday 30 January) was the first of three nights of Surf & Turf … Continue reading →
A Decade Down | Ten Years of tikichris
Before 2016 comes to a close, I thought I’d take a moment to recap the 10 team ups I co-hosted over the year in celebration of my blog’s tenth anniversary and – more importantly – to thank the folks involved in helping me make each of those 10X10 events happen! Continue reading →
Cheers from Artesian | 10X10 with tikchris
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 →
Best of the Best of 2016
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 →
Best London Pop-Ups, Supper Clubs, Street Food, etc in 2016
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 →
Best London Bars and Pubs of 2016
London! You know how to quench a thirst. My Best of 2016 series continues with a taste of my favourite bars and pubs in London. Continue reading →
Best Bars of 2016 (Excluding London)
What a year! Ready for a drink? Might I recommend having it in style at one of these fabulous bars? They’re the best I came across in 2016. Continue reading →
Best London Restaurants of 2016
The London Dining scene of 2016 seemed markedly better that that of the past couple of years before it. But maybe that’s more reflective of me and my reasons and opportunities to eat out. Continue reading →
Best of 2016
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 →
Preview: Sleight of Hand on the Strand
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 →
WSET’s From Still to Bar: Whiskey Flight at Shotgun
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 →
Ormer Mayfair
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 →
New Orleans in 18 Eats | Index | #TCEatsNOLA
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 →
Trinity | #TCEatsNOLA
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 →
Parkway Bakery & Tavern | #TCEatsNOLA
The folks at Parkway Bakery & Tavern reckon they do the best po-boy/po’ boy/poor boy in Louisiana. Maybe. Although some fans of this famous sandwich of New Orleans origin would suggest you need only go about five miles uptown for a taste of a worthy contender. Whatever the case, Parkway has been making authentically delicious and massive po-boys since 1911 – and you’d be a fool to fault ‘em for it. Continue reading →
Dinner at Beagle, Hoxton
I love the space (and smart use of it). What’s doing at the bar is very much in line with how I prefer to imbibe. Service is friendly and helpful. And the food’s great. Based on my recent visit, I’ve no bone to pick with Beagle and can only bark about how smart a choice this Hoxton restaurant is for a quality meal. Continue reading →
Compère Lapin | #TCEatsNOLA
Situated in the lobby of The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, my hotel for the first half of my NOLA dining adventure, Compère Lapin was only few month’s old, all the rage, and absolutely hopping (jeu de mots) during my stay. Not to try it as one of my 18 Eats, would have been remiss. Beside every time I passed the restaurant on my way in or out of the hotel, the lure of the aromas wafting out of its kitchen grew more irresistible. Continue reading →
Cochon Butcher | #TCEatsNOLA
Warehouse District “swine bar” and butcher shop with sandwich counter and deli – Cochon Butcher finds inspiration in “old world meat markets” and in Louisiana heritage foods such as Cajun specialties boudin, andouille, and tasso. Continue reading →
Adam Rawson Kitchen Residency at The George & Dragon, Fitzrovia
Globetrotting chef, Adam Rawson, has set up temporary residence in the kitchen of Fitzrovia pub, The George & Dragon, and is cooking up his own tasty take on pub grub inspired by his travels. Continue reading →
Broussard’s | #TCEatsNOLA
Established in 1920, Broussard’s is an elegant setting for fine dining with a menu focused on elevating down home dishes through culinary refinement. There’s a pretty courtyard for intimate al fresco dining and a most magnificent bar for exploring an inspired range of cocktails that are as historic as they are tasty. Continue reading →
Ray’s Bar, Dalston
Pizza and cocktails – does it get much better? Yeah, probably but it’s still a winning combo for casual night out as I found when I stopped by the recently opened Ray’s Bar in Dalston. Continue reading →
Festive Cocktail Menu at Artesian
London’s most lauded and luxurious bar – Artesian – is the place for tipples this festive season with a limited run drinks menu making spirits bright until the new year. Continue reading →
Arnaud’s & French 75 | #TCEatsNOLA
First up in my series of New Orleans in 18 Eats is the French Quarter’s 98 year old Grande Dame of creole cuisine: Arnaud’s. A quick note before we dig in … To be sure, I had clear favourite meals … Continue reading →
San Diego Serenade | #TCTikiTour
Sadly, Kemey and I only had one night to enjoy San Diego – a standalone destination worthy of a far longer visit. But I’d say we packed as much into our overnight as possible. And our whistle stop tour was a conch shell blowout as far as the tiki seeking was concerned. Continue reading →
Tapas Brindisa Shoreditch
After extensive renovations Spanish restaurant group, Brindisa Kitchens, has relaunched its Shoreditch restaurant, Tramontana, as Tapas Brindisa. Continue reading →
A Good Time in Huntington Beach? It’s a Shore Thing | #TCTikiTour
From Disneyland, Kemey and I continued our tiki tour to Huntington Beach, where we parked our car for a few days of fun in Surf City USA. Continue reading →
Enchanted Day at Disneyland | #TCTikiTour
Next up on our California tiki tour was a visit to Anaheim for an especially tiki day out at Disneyland. Continue reading →
LA Daze | #TCTikiTour
Resuming the more tiki-riffic goals of our California road trip, Kemey and I said farvel to Solvang and hit the highway for LA. Continue reading →
Ant Beer Cocktails at Sager + Wilde Paradise Row | Happy Halloween!
Sager + Wilde Paradise Row and Wychwood Brewery have teamed up for a creepy crawly Halloween special: beer-based cocktails featuring Wychwood’s flagship beer, Hobgoblin, and ants (yes, actual ants). – Excuse me waiter. There’s an ant in my drink! – … Continue reading →