Category Archives: Drink

Spice Routes #wineNcanapes with …

I had a lot of fun at last night’s #wineNcanapes wine and Indian food pairing. It was one of those “get a bunch of bloggers in a room together” kind of nights. Really friendly, enthusiastic vibe and a good group of people. The food was absolutely gorgeous, the wine thoughtfully paired and the venue a fun and accommodating setting. Continue reading

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Luxury Sunday Brunch at the Blue Boar (CDCLifestyle)

Service was efficient and friendly … there was live music a la an acoustic guitarist … and just about everything pertaining to my brunch was pleasant and relaxing. The Blue Boar’s main dining room is especially comfortable. Beyond the dining area, an expansive bar and maze of cosy Chesterfield nooks await. Continue reading

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Sophisticated Indian Flavours at Zaika (CDCLifestyle)

Dishes are as attractively presented as the setting and taste just as gorgeous. Head chef Navin Prasad’s kitchen delivers refined and delicate dishes that nonetheless check the boxes for filling and yummy. Continue reading

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Argentina Meets East London at Cambalache (OneTravel)

Guests to Cambalache will get the chance to try up to 150 wines from 28 of Argentina’s top wineries. Everybody’s heard of – and rightly loves – the mighty Malbec. But Cambalache will feature wines from all of Argentine’s major producing regions, stretching over 2000 km from Salta in the North to Patagonia in the South, passing through La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza along the way. Continue reading

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PrimeTime at Palm London, Belgravia

I really enjoyed my visit to Palm London and found its newly launched PrimeTime discount menu of cocktails and “Prime Bites” to be an excellent way to get a taste of what makes this neighbourhood favourite so special. Continue reading

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Four of London’s Quirkiest DJ Booths (CheapOair)

Yes, of course, the sounds coming from a DJ booth are of utmost important. But assuming the music is to your liking, the look and feel of a venue can certainly add or distract from your time listening to what the DJ is spinning. Looking for a London venue that takes its tunes but not itself too seriously? Continue reading

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Luxury Brunch at the Blue Boar Smokehouse & Bar, Intercontinental Westminster

Chef Jon Ingram of the Blue Boar Smokehouse & Bar at the Intercontinental Westminster has done a bang up job taking a (barbe)cue from foodie trends around town and refining them to a five star standard while making sure keep his menu fun and yummy. Indulging in the Blue Boar’s Sunday only luxury brunch is an excellent way to taste what I’m talking about. Continue reading

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Wine and Music Pairing with Charles Spence and Barry Smith

Cambalache will feature 150 wines from 28 of Argentina’s top wineries. There’ll be street food from Borough Market’s Argentine specialists, Porteña; cocktails from Galante Bar; dulche de leche ice cream from The Ice Cream Union; live graffiti mural painting; tango performances and much more. Continue reading

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Run to the Hills! Iron Maiden Announces Trooper Ale.

Trooper is a premium British beer inspired by Iron Maiden and handcrafted at Robinsons Brewery. Being a real ale enthusiast, vocalist Bruce Dickinson has developed a beer which has true depth of character. Malt flavours and citric notes from a unique blend of Bobec, Goldings and Cascade hops dominate this deep golden ale with a subtle hint of lemon. Continue reading

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“Menu Relief” at MASH

Feeling a little second tier as a foodie and a London blogger, I finally made it to MASH for the first time last night. Definitely worth the wait, I enjoyed my special “Menu Relief” dinner of a three courses, including MASH’s signature steak and cheesecake, for £50 with £20 of the proceeds going direct to Comic Relief.  Continue reading

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Sophisticated Indian Flavours at Zaika Restaurant, London (OneTravel)

Head chef Navin Prasad’s kitchen delivers refined and delicate dishes that nonetheless check the boxes for filling and yummy. Case in point is the hearty yet dainty starter, pan-seared spiced scallops with sautéed cavolo nero and pumpkin sauce. Equally delicious, a main course of king prawns simmered in a rich coconut cream sauce flavoured with lime leaf proves curry prowess and gourmet subtly needn’t be mutually exclusive attributes. Continue reading

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A Beguiling Ode to Great Britain at Alvin Leung’s Bo London (CDCLifestyle)

It’s been a little over a month now, yet I still find myself carrying on about how lovely my dining experience at Bo London was. I’ve enjoyed a fair number of fine meals since but, still, something about my time there lingers. Odds are my dinner will go down as the best meal of the year. And if not, well then, the rest of 2013 promises to be one of exquisite culinary delight. Continue reading

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Wine of the Month: Soryu Koshu 2010

Japanese wine … yes, by “wine” as in fermented grape juice. Who knew? Not me until very recently when I attended the fourth annual Koshu of Japan UK Trade and Press Tasting late last month at the Westbury Hotel. Continue reading

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Meet London’s Top Bloggers (Guomon Blog)

What makes London such a great place to eat? Perhaps it’s the fact that it is such a global melting pot, or that its residents are so game to try new things — pushing our chefs to innovate. Whatever it is, London’s food scene is inspiring countless bloggers to chronicle their eating experiences online. Continue reading

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Four Fantastic London Brunches (CheapOair)

Starting west and heading east, here are four of London’s most fantastic and filling weekend brunches … Continue reading

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MASH Offers Special Menu Relief Fundraiser Monday 11 March

Combining its informal Danish style eating and drinking with plush and comfy experience of a “modern American steakhouse” for a noteworthy cause, MASH restaurant will host a special foodie fundraiser dinner this coming Monday (11 March) to celebrate Red Nose Day’s new Menu Relief initiative. Continue reading

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New Beach Shack Opens in the Heart of London (OneTravel)

Having a great time in London but still longing for a bit of tropical cheer? Soho’s iconic late night venue, Floridita, has recently unveiled its brand new Rum Shack, a downstairs bar offering guests a chance to enjoy a Cuban “beach shack” inspired drinking experience in the heart of London. Continue reading

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Sophisticated Indian Flavours at Zaika, Kensington High Street

Dishes are as attractively presented as the setting and taste just as gorgeous. Head chef Navin Prasad’s kitchen delivers refined and delicate dishes that nonetheless check the boxes for filling and yummy. Continue reading

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Good Stuff

Here’s a quick list of good stuff I’ve come across lately but for whatever reason didn’t make it to a post here, my tikichris-to-go Tumblr blog or one of my client blogs but are well worth me mentioning and you checking out! Continue reading

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High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction: March 20 – 23 (CheapOair)

Netting almost $2 million in 2012, the Wine Auction is Atlanta’s top charity fundraising event, the fifth largest charity wine auction in America and the number one charity wine auction to benefit the arts in the world. To date, the High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction has generated more than $20 million during the past two decades. Continue reading

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Weekend Brunch at Apero Restaurant & Bar, Ampersand Hotel, South Kensington

Sunlight streaming through high reaching windows and illuminating a stack of newspapers to be dove into at will from a lush leather snug – a delightful and relaxing scene was set for Sunday brunch perfection at Apero Restaurant & Bar. Continue reading

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Kopi Coffee Club

So, when the folks at Kopi – an “exclusive monthly subscription coffee club that is passionate about premium taste and ethical sourcing” – dropped me a line to ask if I’d like to sample their coffee in exchange for review, I was keen … and maybe a little suspicious too. Gourmet, fair trade, luxury … these days there are so many endowments attached to the front of too otherwise straightforward words like coffee that descriptions such as “exclusive” and “premium” don’t necessarily mean anything anymore. Continue reading

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Recipe: Michel Roux Jr’s Crushed Garlicky Rooster Potatoes in Their Skin

With only these six ingredients (okay, eight if you count the salt and pepper) and just a handful of basic steps to follow, I found this recipe offered especially tasty value for minimal effort. Not much clean up afterward either. As the name implies, this dish is a garlic lover’s treat. I reckon you could tone down the amount of garlic suggested and still be happy with the results. An additional splash or two of the pastis wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Continue reading

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Volare con Vino on Your Flight Back from Rome (CheapOair)

But what do you do when you want to take a bottle of the good stuff back home with you on your flight? Packing glass bottles containing liquid in your check in luggage can be messy – especially if the … Continue reading

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Wine of the Month: 2011 Monte delle Vigne Lambrusco 2011

It’s crimson and velvety. It sparkles. It even comes from the ancestral lands of St Valentine. So why Lambrusco isn’t the official wine for couples celebrating Valentine’s Day is a bit beyond me. Having recently tried Monte delle Vigne Lambrusco 2011 during a low key and rather romantic evening out, I thought this lightly frizzante vino rosso would make a fine choice for February’s Wine of the Month. Continue reading

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Rock ‘n’ Roll Photos at Quaglino’s Restaurant in London (CheapOair)

Adding to the rock ‘n’ roll glamour of the show, a special range of cocktails has been created by Quaglino’s bar manager, Michal Zawerbny. Priced at £15 (about $23) for two, you can choose a Rock ‘n’ Roll or a Jimi’s Choice to enjoy while viewing the photography. Continue reading

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London’s Chinatown Around the Edges (OneTravel)

London’s annual Chinese New Year parade will slither its way through Chinatown on Sunday the 10th of February. Obviously, going out for Chinese cuisine on that day would make a lot of sense … if you’re patient or have the luxury of planning ahead and making a reservation. However, if you find yourself burnt out on Chinese food or still wishing to enjoy the Chinatown festivities without having to endure the crowds, it’s worth noting there’s a lot more on offer in this area than dumplings and Peking duck. Continue reading

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Review: Fingers and Thumbs’ Seafood Shack

Last night I paid a repeat visit to a repeat opening of Fingers and Thumbs’ Seafood Shack. Yum. Following ye olde ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix’ methodology, I kept with what I knew I’d love: a big ole pot of lobster cooked with juicy prawns, mussels, clams, veggies and more. Complimented by n ample stack of rustic bread with home made cocktail sauce (which could have been a little better honestly), washed down with a few Kronenbourgs, and rounded off by a scoop of especially tasty vanilla fudge ice cream – it was a fun and filling meal. The damage? Around £55 total for two. Continue reading

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Bo London by Alvin Leung (Great British Chefs)

Yes of course, sex sells. We all know that. But what about the after effects of a completed romp? Surely, all that leftover stuff is best left unmentioned … and certainly not exalted as the inspiration of haute cuisine in some fancy schmancy Mayfair restaurant? Continue reading

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Fantastic Tapas at a Nice Price: Brixton’s Boqueria

During our visit, portion size for most dishes was more than ample; service was brisk and attentive; and the vibe was delightfully low key with a bit of a buzz in the air. The mostly local guests seemed to come in all ages and varieties – couples, families with small children, groups of friends catching up – and all appeared equally excited to be spending a lovley evening out at La Boqueria. Continue reading

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Fingers and Thumbs Seafood Shack Returns to Bethnal Green

I loved getting messy with a big ole bucket of lobster (and so much more) last time Fingers and Thumbs popped-up in Bethnal Green. So pleased to report they’re back this Thursday for three days of shellfish feasting. See you there? Continue reading

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Wine of the Month: Sophie’s Reserve Rouge 2011 – House Red at Sophie’s Steakhouse

One aspect to my lunch at Sophie’s still stands out as exceptional: the house red. Sophie’s Reserve Rouge 2011, IGP d’Oc is a great wine. At £4.75 for a 175ml glass and £16.95 for a bottle it’s great value too. A blend of Syrah and Grenache created by the restaurant’s “own team”, I liked it from the first sip and thought is was an especially smart and easy drinker to go with red meat. Good ‘n’ juicy with a medium body, it’d be a nice one to drink on its own if slipping into Sophie’s for an evening at the comfortable (and I hearing ridiculously popular) bar. Continue reading

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In Parma … in London

Just under a year old, Fitzrovia restaurant, In Parma, has been bleeping wildly on my foodie radar all this time. I finally got round to having a meal there earlier this week, and I’m happy to report that my visit was just as delightful, delicious and autentico as what I experienced in the actual city of Parma itself. Continue reading

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Craft Beer Festival at the Old Truman Brewery, London (CheapOair)

Craft Beer Rising is a new festival featuring an impressive lineup of great beer, street food and music that’s coming to East London the last weekend of February. Read my complete preview at the CheapOair blog.

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Mamounia Lounge in Knightsbridge Review (CDCLifestyle)

One part Aladdin’s Cave and one part Studio 54, Mamounia Lounge in Knightsbridge is an “idyllic and glamorous setting with traditional Arabic charm.” Of course, situated essentially just across the road from Harrods, perhaps guests shouldn’t expect anything less than … Continue reading

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