Category Archives: Food

SKREI – umptious Norwegian Cod

Skrei is a migratory cod that swims thousands of miles every winter from the Barents Sea to the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway to reproduce. Such a journey results in a lean, firm flesh rich in protein that’s a sustainably sourced, line-caught Norwegian delicacy only available from January to April. Continue reading

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Nicos & Philthy’s Three Nights of Reef ‘n’ Beef, 27-29 March at Cambridge Heath Railway Arches

I am so bummed that this grubalicious pop-up conflicts with dates I’ll be out of town. But just because I’ve gotta miss Nicos & Philthy’s Three Nights of Reef ‘n’ Beef in Bethnal Green doesn’t mean you have to! Check … Continue reading

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Win New Chocolate Drink Treats from Mars, Galaxy, Maltesers and Milky Way

COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME! Fancy receiving a bundle of the latest addition of goodies from the Mars, … Continue reading

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Proper Pies and Great Pub Grub at Punch Tavern, Fleet Street

In addition to the great food and drink, Punch Tavern has a singular air about it and is a lovely spot to find yourself. There’s gorgeous natural light streaming in from a glass ceiling in the main bar area, a working fireplace, and original features from 1897 such as marble bar, dark oak panelling, and a series of original Punch and Judy themed paintings. Continue reading

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MyCheck App Takes the Wait Out of Paying Your Restaurant Bill

A new (to London) restaurant bill payment app, MyCheck, that aims to do away with the hassle of waiting for someone else to process that payment and to put you in control of when can get up to go. I recently tried MyCheck and was impressed … and relieved that the answer to an elusive waiter might be only a click away. Continue reading

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7 Blogs You Should Read Before Traveling to London (OneTravel)

Narrowing down a list of the best blogs to read to help plan your trip to London is no easy task! There are some great London-centric blogs out there with excellent suggestions – and strong opinions – on what makes … 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 take a bite out of – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Elephant … Continue reading

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Ramen Fun at Shoryu Soho, Denman Street

So it’s been about a month since I visited Shoryu Soho ramen bar. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how much fun I had dining there. Besides, judging from the queue out-the-door I observed when I passed by the Soho outlet last night, I guess the restaurant hasn’t been in need of any positive press. Nevertheless, here’s mine up-thumbed input about the place. Continue reading

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4 French Quarter Shops for Fun and Funky NOLA Gifts (OneTravel)

In Nawlins for Mardi Gras and feeling guilty because certain friends, family members or colleagues couldn’t come with you to enjoy all the fun? Or maybe you’re hoping to rub it in about what a great time you had once … Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler!

Happy Mardi Gras! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my Dixie Detours miniseries featuring the highlights from my recent trip to Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida along with suggestions for planning your own sojourn to the Deep South. Continue reading

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Craft Beer Rising Review by @cathiasays

A couple of Sundays ago (while I was still bumbling round in America), London blogger Cathia Randrianarivo kindly  subbed for me accepting to attend on my behalf a beer-ific event I was unable to make. As Cathia puts it, “I … Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: Miami in a Minute

The final stop of our Dixie Detours visit to the US was Miami, where an overnight layover afforded Kemey and me the chance to check in on some friends who had recently moved there – big thanks to Tanya and Francesco for being such fantastic hosts and showing us around so much of your fine town – while soaking up some south Florida sunshine before heading back to Blighty. Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: Sweet Shoals Music

Before our visit to the Muscle Shoals area of Alabama, I never would have imagined the music of Aretha Franklin could resonate even more with me than it already did. Goosebumps on top of goosebumps – how’s that gonna happen? But there I was standing in Studio A of Fame Studios in humble little Florence, Alabama where the mighty diva recorded such classics as Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, and something clicked in a deep and soulful sort of way. In the few days since Kemey and I checked out the Shoals, listening to Aretha’s songs has been coupled with an even deeper and more satisfying feeling than before. Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: Chattanooga, Choo Choo City

Chattanooga is my old teenage stomping ground. Since I’ve moved away, every year or two when I’ve managed to make it back for a visit (usually around Christmastime), the area always seemed to have gotten better than I remembered it being. Same holds true this time round. Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: Tabasco Tourism on Avery Island

Louisiana’s most iconic brand, McIlhenny Company’s Tabasco brand Original Red Sauce packs a wallop of distinctively spicy flavour. For all its flavoursome punch, it’s comprised of only three natural ingredients: aged red peppers, vinegar and salt from Avery Island, which is also the home of all Tabasco production. In addition to the pepper sauce factory, the island (roughly two hours from New Orleans and 40 minutes from Lafayette) is also a botanical garden, bird sanctuary and wildlife refuge. Our last day in Louisiana, Kemey and I spent a fantastic morning on Avery Island before carrying on with our Dixie Detours road trip. Here are some highlights from the fun time we had there. Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: A Cajun Good Time in Lafayette

It’s a down home kind of place, Lafayette, where a koozie for your cold one is handy asset indeed. Continue reading

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Win a Free Afternoon Tea for Two at Harrods

Hey everybody, I’ve teamed up with the folks at Buyagift to offer one lucky reader the chance to actually win a gift! The prize in this case is an opportunity to indulge in a delicious afternoon tea for two at the world famous department store, Harrods. Keep reading to find out how to win this fantastic day out in London. Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: New Orleans School of Cooking

Wow. Our afternoon visit to the New Orleans School of Cooking on St Louis Street in the French Quarter was a lot of fun – and well worth its own write up among all the entries in my Dixie Detours miniseries. Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: NOLA!

New Orleans is a sultry dream. I can’t imagine anywhere else in America that’s even half as beguiling or idiosyncratic. Probably the most dynamic city in the US, it is without doubt the most spontaneous and freewheeling. When I think about other destinations across the planet that offer experiences comparable to what I’ve happened upon in NOLA, I find myself coming up with a list of my absolute favourites places. Put simply, NOLA rocks (it shucks, jives, slides, saunters, shimmies and rolls too). Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: Overnight Luxury in Mobile, Alabama

The rather underrated and often overlooked Gulf Coast town of Mobile proved to be an excellent choice and our time there an all too short and actually quite luxurious stay. Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: When in Rome … Georgia

The wedding of my old friend Jack and his lovely fiancée Beth was the main reason prompting my and Kemey’s visit back home and a big factor behind the design of our Dixie Detours itinerary. The wedding was held in Rome, Georgia where Jack had attended university. Yes, that’s right. I went to Athens one day and Rome the next – all without leaving the great state of Georgia! Continue reading

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Dixie Detours: Athens, Georgia

First stop on my Dixie Detours road trip was the quintessential college town of Athens, Georgia – the city which I had called home for most of the 90s during a rather scenic, circuitous and often hazy experience as an undergrad anthropology major at the University of Georgia. Much of the reason for my meandering approach to higher education and indeed life in general during my 20s was due to spending loads of time mingling with the musical set of this amazing little city famed for hosting more than its fair share of influential musicians and bands (REM, B52s, Vic Chestnut, Neutral Milk Hotel, Of Montreal, etc ad nauseam). Continue reading

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Coffee Break with Urban Pixxels (espressoCrazy)

EspressoCrazy’s Blogger in Residence Chris Osburn takes a break with a fellow blogger and foodie Jacintha Verdegaal to talk coffee and other matters. Jacintha Verdegaal is a Dutch expat living in London. Her blog, Urban Pixxels, is an account of her … Continue reading

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5 Great Cafes Near London’s Oxford Circus (CheapOair)

Yes, it’s invariable that I will leave at least a couple of great cafes off this list in my pursuit to share a few ideal places to have a quality coffee while keeping within striking distance of all on offer … Continue reading

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Recipe: Quick and Easy Tiramisu (espressoCrazy)

Here’s a super easy recipe for tiramisu. All in all it took me maybe 20 minutes to whip up. There’s no actual cooking or baking involved as long as you don’t mind using store bought wafer (I opted for ‘trifle … Continue reading

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Heathrow’s New Terminal 2 to Open This June (OneTravel)

After 54 years of service, Heathrow’s Terminal 2 closed in 2009. But come this June, a newly named “Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal” is set to reopen. Despite being built in the center of one of the world’s busiest airports, … Continue reading

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Vantra Vitao: Tasty Nutrition for All Dietary Needs on Oxford Street

Vegan food makes ya peppy! Or, at least, that’s the conclusion I was coming to as I watched a couple of extra-energetic vegan dancers poppin’ to some dub step at yesterday’s launch of the new Vantra Vitao restaurant on Oxford Street. I had a great time – and sampled some delicious food and drink at Vantra. I’m more than happy to recommend a visit to this relaxed and health conscious restaurant just down the street (but seemingly a world away) from the calamitous Tottenham Court Road Tube station. Continue reading

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La Giaconda Café Bar Restaurant on Denmark Street

Following a major refurbishment, Denmark Street’s landmark rock ‘n roll restaurant, La Giaconda Café Bar Restaurant brings together a quality caff experience and a fine dining options in the heart of Soho. Continue reading

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Daawat Indian Restaurant at the Strand Palace Hotel

Presenting tried and true South Asian comfort food on the Strand and just down the street from Covent Garden, Daawat Indian restaurant at the four star (and recently renovated) Strand Palace Hotel is a smart choice when you’re on the go and seeking a satisfying meal. Continue reading

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Alma de Cuba – Cuban Coffee Delivered to Your Door

Once the undisputed king of caffé , the status and availability of Cuban coffee has steadily waned over the past half century – just as demand for coffee has continued to expand. Enter: Alma de Cuba, on a mission to “restore Cuban coffee – once the world’s favourite – back to its rightful position”. Revolutionary or just revolting? Here’s my take on this Caribbean cuppa joe. Continue reading

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Win a Seven Dials Shopping Spree Worth £100 + Dinner for Two at Flesh & Buns

Wanna shop like a chic Brit and chow down like a Japanese rock star in one of London’s most stylish and centrally situated locations? And all for FREE?!? Check it out – I’ve got a £100 Seven Dials gift card plus dinner for two at Flesh & Buns to share with one lucky reader. Keep reading for your chance to win. Continue reading

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illy Regent Street

I don’t know about you and your line of work but as for me and mine, I run around all over town all day long. Often I find I’ve got time to kill between meetings and events. Sometimes it’s just 20 minutes, other times it might be a couple of hours. And just because I have time to kill doesn’t mean I have time to dawdle. I need to get in somewhere fast and park it during such spare moments – where I can tackle my inbox, draft my next blog post, maybe grab a bite to eat and (most importantly) have a cup of coffee. With the recently opened illy Regent Street, being able to do all this stuff in a seriously stylish and comfortable setting just became a real option for me. Continue reading

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Free Italian Cooking Class for Two at Cookery School This Saturday

Do you love Italian cooking but find that your version of al dente leaves you and your dinner guests feeling all disappointed? Here’s a chance for you and a friend to participant in an All Day Italian cooking class worth £300 in total this Saturday at Cookery School near Oxford Circus. Keen? Keep reading and buon appetito! Continue reading

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Does Your Sweetheart Have a Sweet Tooth? Then Paris is the Perfect Place! (CheapOair)

Sure, it’s probably the most romantic city in the world, and thus the ideal destination for any amorous couple. But Paris isn’t just for sweethearts. Any Francophile can tell you that Paris is one of the sweetest places anyone’s ever … Continue reading

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Sampling the “Thinwich” at Brick Lane’s Caboose

“Slow smoked grub” served from a “custom built railway cabin”? Sure, why not? I tagged along to a menu tasting at Brick Lane’s Caboose. Hosted by Warburtons – the UK’s leading independent baker – the event also provided an opportunity to have … Continue reading

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