Category Archives: Luxury

Southern Pride (Foodism)

The Louisiana city of New Orleans is a melting pot of great restaurants. In a city where food options abound, Chris Osburn gives us his hot takes. Continue reading

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Ember London, Monument EC3

Fancy cocktails and bar food are the hallmark at Ember London, a sleek and slightly secretive basement bar recently opened just steps away from Monument Station. Continue reading

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Appleton Estate Joy Anniversary Blend

Appleton Estate marks Joy Spence’s 20th anniversary as Master Blender, Joy Spence – the world’s first female master blender – with a limited edition 25-year-old rum named in her honour. And it is a Joy indeed to drink. Continue reading

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Southern Italian Taste on Tour: Le Strade della Mozzarella

Le Strade della Mozzarella (“the streets of mozzarella” – LSDM for short) is an international tour showcasing Italian PDO Buffalo Mozzarella alongside other Southern Italian foods such tomatoes, pasta and extra-virgin olive oil. Continue reading

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Basque Brunch at Eneko at One Aldwych

Basque Chef Eneko Atxa’s eponymous One Aldwych restaurant launched a new brunch menu over the weekend. I was glad to have a first taste on Saturday. Continue reading

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Surreal in South London? Check the Plum Guide

Love street art, high ceilings and lots and lots of space? You’re going to go ga-ga over this giant two bed/three bath loft conversion in Battersea. Continue reading

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Beyond the Reef | #TCTalofa

Talofa! Thanks for joining me in remembering the amazing time I had in Samoa. Continue reading

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Savai’i | #TCTalofa

Midway during my week in Samoa I spent two full-on days of fun in the sun on the island of Savai’i. Continue reading

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Exploring Upolu | #TCTalofa

My Samoan adventure continued as I headed out to explore the island of Upolu. Continue reading

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Around Apia | #TCTalofa

Samoa’s only actual town, Apia is a small but bustling port with a population of around 36,000 people. It served as a great base for me to revive and acclimate myself to island life after my long haul journey from the UK. Here’s a look at the best bits from my time there. Continue reading

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Talofa from Samoa | #TCTalofa

Hey y’all, listen up. I think I might have discovered paradise or, at least, a super close approximation of the ideal tropical island getaway. I’m talking about Samoa, where I spent a magical, wet and wild week back at the beginning of November. Continue reading

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Eneko at One Aldwych

I could taste with each bite how Chef Eneko Atxa earned his three Michelin stars at his Bilbao restaurant, Azurmendi, with intriguingly flavourful and beautifully plated food and how his London restaurant’s Head Chef, Edurne Martín Delgado, executed Atxa’s vision with craft and precision. Continue reading

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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

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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

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Best Hotels and Resorts of 2016

Nicest digs on the planet? Here are a few of ‘em! 2016 was one of the best years of travel for me yet. What made the year such an amazing time to ramble was, in large part, where I got to lay my head at night. Continue reading

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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

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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

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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

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Best Restaurants of 2016 (Excluding London)

There’s a whole lot of New Orleans in this list – which makes sense given the focus of my September foodie safari spent there. Indeed, some of these NOLA restaurants are remarkably close neighbours; two are just across Magazine Street from each other. But this year wasn’t only about luscious Louisiana cooking. I had great dining experiences in other corners of America too, and across Europe. Continue reading

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Upperline Restaurant | #TCEatsNOLA

Moving back uptown for another phenomenal feast among my 18 New Orleans Eats, I’m sitting down for a most sublime supper at the accommodating and gentile Upperline Restaurant, where the very definition of Southern hospitality may be enjoyed to its fullest and most delectable extent. Continue reading

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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

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La Petite Grocery | #TCEatsNOLA

Elegant and indulgent, novel and authentic, worldly and homespun, fine and funky: my uptown lunch at La Petite Grocery was a gourmet dream of gourmand extravagance. Had I ever been presented with a richer, more inventive meal – even among … Continue reading

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K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen | #TCEatsNOLA

Legendary Louisiana chef, Paul Prudhomme, is widely recognised as the man who brought Cajun and Creole cooking to the masses through his fame as a chef and restaurateur and the popularity of his Magic Seasoning Blends sold throughout the US. Sadly, Chef Prudhomme passed away in 2015, but his legacy lives on in scrumptious glory at his French Quarter restaurant K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen. Continue reading

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GW Fins | #TCEatsNOLA

Love seafood? Crave innovative cuisine? Seeking an upscale setting with a casual air? GW Fins is the place for you. Continue reading

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Galatoire’s | #TCEatsNOLA

Blame it on the cocktails (and might I recommend a potent and creamy Brandy Milk Punch) or on the burst of relief upon getting in the door (there’s a no reservation policy but always a lengthy queue out front) … or maybe on notoriously naughty setting on Bourbon Street … whatever the case, Galatoire’s was one the most raucous and rowdy restaurants I’ve ever entered. It was also one of the most rarefied and refined. Maybe all the revelry was simply because folks were feeling understandably jubilant to be eating such great food in such an amazing establishment. I know I was over the moon to be there. Continue reading

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Commander’s Palace | #TCEatsNOLA

Family owned Commander’s Palace has been wowing palates with inventive Haute Creole cuisine and utterly genteel service since 1880, making it the third oldest restaurant in New Orleans. With chefs such as Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse, Jamie Shannon, and now Tory McPhail among its kitchen alumni, this revered Garden District restaurant dripping with awards and accolades is arguably the city’s most popular and historically significant place to eat. Continue reading

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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

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Brennan’s | #TCEatsNOLA

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And if by important, they (whomever ‘they’ are) mean utterly scrumptious and overwhelmingly substantial, then there’s no finer example of this rule than breakfast at Brennan’s. Indeed, the morning I visited this family run French Quarter institution of haute Creole cuisine was without doubt the tastiest a.m. of the year for me, resulting in one of the more delicious meals I had during my time in New Orleans, and perhaps the best breakfast I’ve ever eaten in my life. Continue reading

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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

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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

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Sideways Detour to Solvang | #TCTikiTour

Continuing with the More part of our California Tiki Tour & More, Kemey and I made our way to sunny central coast city of Solvang – just up the road from Santa Barbara and about a 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Continue reading

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QP LDN

Fine Southern Italian cuisine – and exceptional wine – is on impeccable display in Mayfair’s luxurious QP LDN. Continue reading

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Chocolate Week Afternoon Tea at The Langham London

The Langham London’s Executive Pastry Chef, Cherish Finden, has done it again, this time round with a special – and especially chocolaty – afternoon tea for Chocolate Week. Continue reading

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Big Fun, Big Flavour, Big Sur | #TCTikiTour

Nestled snug in the wooded seaside splendour among all this scenic beauty is tiny Carmel-by-the-Sea, our first stop out from San Francisco Continue reading

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San Francisco: Golden Getaway | #TCTikiTour

The thunder clapped, and the rain came down in heavy sheets. Our California Tiki Tour was off to a perfect start with an exotic night out in San Francisco. Continue reading

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