Category Archives: Food

Win the Summer Collection from Hotel Chocolat

Ah summer! Just another excuse for enjoying chocolate, right? Well, with Hotel Chocolat’s 2014 range of summertime treats, it’s certainly a delicious option. Fusing together the heady colours and flavours of summer, this delectably seasonal assortment of fine chocolates is just right for sultry afternoons and long summer nights. Keep reading for your chance to win a Hotel Chocolat Summer Collection. Continue reading

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The Pear Tree Pub in Hammersmith, W6

Today (Thursday 24 July), The Pear Tree pub in Hammersmith is offering free BBQ pulled pork finger rolls at two locations. From 12.45 folks from the pub will be outside the main entrance to Charing Cross Hospital, and then from 17.45 they’ll be outside Barons Court Tube. Yum! Continue reading

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BOGOF Bubble Tea at Yao Yao Cha, Earlham Street WC2

From now until the end of August 2014, when you purchase any regular drink at Yao Yao Cha simply mention “tikichris” and you can get another one of equal or lesser value for free. Continue reading

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Get it Fast and Fresh at Vapiano Soho

Not the first (and probably not the last) Vapiano outlet to open in London, but the new Wardour Street location of this global restaurant group with its fast casual take on serving freshly made Italian cuisine was worthy of a visit and my recommendation. Continue reading

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Recipe: Spaghetti Puttanesca

An opportunity to sample a selection of especially delicious olives led to an opportunity to cook one of my favourite dishes: spaghetti puttanesca. As the name suggests, this dish is quick, easy and cheap … and oh so satisfying. Continue reading

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Good Stuff

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. Continue reading

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5 Sensational Blogs about Los Angeles (OneTravel)

Los Angeles is a fantastic city but unless you know it well can prove a heck of a tough one to explore. Why just stick to the beach and major attractions when there’s so much more to see and do? … Continue reading

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New Restaurant Review: INK, Bethnal Green

Definitely one of the most inventive and satisfying meals of the year, my dinner at newly opened INK was a sheer delight. Continue reading

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Kopparberg Urban Forest by @cathiasays

Stepping up for me yet again while I’m off doing something else, the intrepid Cathia Randrianarivo kindly filled in to cover the Kopparberg Urban Forest pop-up festival in Dalston. Cheers Cathia for the ace account of the event and for all the fun photos you took. It looks like you had a blast Continue reading

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Good Stuff and a New Place to Puff

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. Continue reading

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Win Dinner for Two and an Overnight Stay at The Tommyfield London Pub

Located just five minutes from London’s Waterloo and owned by Renaissance Pubs, The Tommyfield now fully embraces its coaching inn roots by becoming a luxurious city crash pad as well as a cracking London local. Tempted? Keep reading to find out how to win a free night’s stay plus dinner for two at this ace Kennington pub! Continue reading

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Restaurant Review: Granger & Co Clerkenwell

I had a lot of fun during my recent visit to Granger & Co Clerkenwell. Aussie restauranteur Bill Granger’s latest restaurant in a selective global portfolio – which includes a well established eatery in Notting Hill along with outlets in Sydney, Tokyo, and Hawaii – features a playfully palate pleasing menu served in a comfortable and lavishly spacious dining room. Here are a few highlights from my dinner. Continue reading

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Breakfast Recipe: Red Eye Gravy with illy Espresso

Red eye gravy is a classic comfort food sauce from my home in the American Deep South. Usually served with ham or bacon, it’s about as easy and affordable to make as it is delicious. The main ingredients are grease … Continue reading

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Tour de France: Cambridge to London with Bonne Maman

I would like to say a massive merci beaucoup to the friendly folks from Bonne Maman for offering me the amazing opportunity to ride along with the Tour de France in the Bonne Maman procession vehicle yesterday from Cambridge to London. It was super cool checking out the Tour’s Village at Parker’s Piece in Cambridge and taking a behind the scenes snoop of all the goings-on and preparations before the race began. And riding in the procession to encounter the tens of thousands of Tour supporters along the way was an absolute thrill. Continue reading

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26 Grains Pop-Up at Old Street Station for the Whole Month of July 2014

Passing through Old Street Station in the morning? Get a free breakfast this Wednesday and Thursday (9 and 10 July) from the 26 Grains porridge pop-up when you mention this blog. Continue reading

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Good Stuff – Imbibe Live Edition

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 … and in this case mostly to sip all from my meander round this year’s Imbibe Live – the “innovative and interactive annual exhibition for anyone who sources, buys or serves drinks in the licensed on-trade.” Enjoy. Continue reading

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Norwegian Salmon + a Scandilicious Freebie

This July and August when you purchase four promotional stickered packs of Morrisons “M” Norwegian salmon at Morrisons supermarkets, you’ll get a free copy of Signe Johansen’s cookbook, Scandilicious, Secrets of Scandinavian Cooking. Just look for the NORGE logo on pre-packed Norwegian salmon when shopping and choose between 440g salmon fillets, 240g salmon fillets and 240g lightly smoked salmon fillets. Continue reading

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4 Foodie Festivals in Italy This Summer (OneTravel)

Anytime is a good time to visit Italy, especially if you are a foodie! And this summer promises a delicious array of events for folks keen to have as many gourmet experiences as possible during their Italian vacation. Here’s a … Continue reading

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Eat Basel: A Tale of Two Surprise Menus

Luckily for me, eating well in Basel is a straightforward matter. Eating well and cheaply is another story all together. But affordable options can be found. Here’s the scoop on two “surprise” dinners I had while in Basel: one a rather upscale affair, the other decidedly low brow and mercifully low priced. I’ve also listed a few other quality venues for food and drink that I came across during my Basel city break. Continue reading

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Rachel Khoo and the Patisserie of Steam at Miele Gallery, Regent Street

Open now until 4 July at the Miele Gallery, Regent Street is a “Steam Patisserie” pop-up featuring treats by TV pastry chef Rachel Khoo made using Miele Combination Steam Appliance including the world’s first ever Doreo, an “exciting dessert hybrid of a doughnut and “the crumbly classic American cookie.” Continue reading

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My Basel: Taking the Make My Switzerland App for a Spin

Obviously you’ve heard about Switzerland’s stunning panoramas of and from its mighty Alps. But for my first of hopefully many more visits to this friendly little Alpine nation, I found the views shared via a handy Swiss app to be a real wonder to behold as well. The free to download app, called Make My Switzerland, is available via Google Play and Apple’s App Store and offers a wealth of insider knowledge about the things that savvy locals love best in seven Swiss cities – Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, and Zurich. I gave the app a whirl over an especially fun weekend in Basel, and I’m more than happy to recommend the city and the app to anybody keen to explore a delightful and compact destination that’s big on culture. Continue reading

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Win a Discover the Origin Hamper Worth £60 Filled with Quality Food and Wine from Across Europe

Over the past few years I’ve been “discovering the origin” of five of Europe’s yummiest creations: Bourgogne Wines, Parma Ham, Douro Wines, Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, and Port, five fine foods and wines with Protected Designation of Origin status. It’s been a lot of fun and definitely one of the most delicious topics I’ve ever written about. To celebrate the arrival of summer, a time for picnics and dining alfresco, I’ve teamed up with Discover the Origin to share more than just my words and offer one lucky reader a hamper full of exquisite products for free. Keep reading to find out how to play for a chance to win. Continue reading

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A Delicious June with Genesis Crafty

The six brothers behind decades old Northern Ireland bakery Genesis Crafty (Adrian, Brian, John, Paul, Seamus, and Damian McErlain) recently presented me with an opportunity to become one of the family so to speak … but only for a few weeks. I was their blogger of the month for June. And as such, I took to the kitchen to see what I could cook up to go with their range of handmade small batch baked goods. Continue reading

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Having a Spicy Time on Avery Island: Home of Tabasco Sauce (OneTravel)

In February, my girlfriend and I had a grand ole time road tripping across the Deep South. The definite highlight of our time was in Louisiana, where we enjoyed a range of Dixie delights in dynamic New Orleans as well … Continue reading

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4 Freshly Brewed Blogs about Coffee (espressoCrazy)

Wake up, smell the coffee, and read something stimulating. Here’s a quartet of blogs I’ve been perusing recently and thought might be worth highlighting here with the espressoCrazy community. All four blogs are dedicated to that most inspiring of topics: coffee. Continue reading

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4 Fun Bars in Athens (OneTravel)

Like a lot of sunny Mediterranean destinations, the nightlife in Athens goes late and is, of course, a load of fun. From what I could tell during my recent visit to the Greek capital, Athenians are as friendly as anyone … Continue reading

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Good Stuff

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. Continue reading

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Win an Assortment of Handcrafted Baked Goods from Genesis Crafty

As Genesis Crafty’s Blogger of the Month, I’ve been having a blast sharing my ideas for recipes to pair with the handcrafted baked goods made by this family run Northern Ireland bakery. Now here’s a chance for you to have a go at whipping up your own tasty creations to enjoy with yummy Genesis Crafty scones, pancakes and more! Keep reading to find out how to win a generous assortment of treats from Genesis Crafty. Continue reading

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Experiencing the World Cup in London (OneTravel)

Okay. The World Cup is on! And, save a vacation in Brasil, every sporty London is as excellent a place to experience the footie action as anywhere. It’s also a city that likes to take the spirit of these global … Continue reading

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#CookBrazil Feast with Tilda Limited Edition Brazilian Samba Rice

Talk about a foodie dream team! London based Brazilian food blogger Rosana McPhee and 2010 MasterChef winner Dhruv Baker collaborated last night on a Brazil themed feast hosted by supper club extraordinaire Luiz Hara and in celebration of the launch of Tilda brand’s Limited Edition Brazilian Samba Rice. Continue reading

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Recipe: Wee Soda Sliders

So who says you need buns to make a burger? See what you think about this version for sliders (mini-burgers) using Genesis Crafty’s Wee Sodas instead of the typical bun. Continue reading

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8 Great Gin Bars in London (OneTravel)

Gin. It’s a London thing. So it’s no surprise that this city has some of the best bars to drink it. Here’s a look at eight great places to enjoy an elbow bender with the infamous Mother’s Ruin. Read my … Continue reading

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Check Out Mikael Jonsson’s New Tartine Menu at Antidote Wine Bar

Under the guidance of Hedone’s Head Chef Mikael Jonsson (who’s been overseeing the menu at Antidote since it reopened earlier this year), the bar has introduced a new tartine menu available from noon to 5pm. Items are priced between £5 and £7.50 and can be had alongside a glass of house wine for an added three quid. Continue reading

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Recipe: Red Grape and Sage Mascarpone

Inspiration comes when you least expect it sometimes. As I mentioned in my last recipe post for this Genesis Crafty series, I was recently in Athens, Greece. While going through the toiletries in my hotel room bath, I was particularly impressed by the moisturiser and its main ingredients of red grape and sage. It smelled great and to me the unusual mix of grapes and sage seemed like something to eat more than lather on your body. So, when I got home I started playing around with the combo and came up with this creamy spread that’s ideal when served alongside Genesis Crafty scones. Continue reading

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Good Stuff

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. Continue reading

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