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Category Archives: Shopping
Inforgraphic: Kitchen Hygiene
Click here for a closer look at the above infographic Did you know there are more than a million cases of food poisoning every year in the UK? It’s commonly assumed that most incidents arise from eating out at restaurants. … Continue reading
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Good Stuff #42
Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the lowdown 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. Jean-Pierre Braganza Limited Edition Sunglasses for … Continue reading
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Posted in Design, Fashion, Freebies, Gardening, Good Stuff, London, Shopping
Tagged apps, binchotan, Black + Blum, Coin Street, Culture Key, design, Eau Good, fashion, Fiskars, free, freebies, gardening, good stuff, Jean-Pierre Braganza, label.m, London, OXO2, south bank, sunglasses, water bottle, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Get a £1 Scoop of Greedy Goat Ice Cream at Piccadilly Circus and Leather Lane Market
The Greedy Goat has been wowing Borough Market shoppers for some time now with its ice cream made with British goat’s milk. Now the folks at the Goat are giving more Londoners the chance to have a taste of their frozen treats with a new concession at Piccadilly Circus and a stall at Leather Lane Market. And with a limited run offer for tikichris readers to get a scoop of any flavour for only £1, ewe would be crazy not to give this goat’s ice cream a lick! Continue reading
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Posted in Discounts and Special Offers, Food, London, Shopping
Tagged £1 ice cream, Clerkenwell, discounts and special offers, EC1, Food, goat's milk, goat's milk ice cream, Greedy Goat, ice cream, leather lane, leather lane market, London, mayfair, piccadilly circus, soho, tikichris special, W1, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win the Full Range of Doisy & Dam Superfood Chocolate Bars #superchoc
Doisy & Dam makes and packages chocolate by hand in the UK, using globally sourced ingredients and high quality organic dark chocolate. Ingredients include superfoods – like goji, maca, spirulina, hempseed, and lucuma – for uniquely delicious results with an added boost of yummy energy and a wealth of health benefits. Continue reading
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Posted in Chocolate, Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping
Tagged chocolate, competition, dark chocolate, Doisy & Dam, Food, free, freebies, organic, RT to win, Shopping, super foods, superfoods, twitter competition
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Good Stuff #41
Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the (long overdue) lowdown 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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Posted in Drink, Food, Good Stuff, London, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged BARS, Compass Box Whisky, Drink, east london, Food, good stuff, HACKNEY WICK, Hedonism Quindecimus, japanese food, London, NOODLES, Number 90, restaurants, Sheridans Cheesemongers, Shopping, tofu, whisky, Yutaka, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Seven Dials: Bi-Annual Shopping Event Take Over
Londoners who enjoy the charm of boutique shopping and the excellence of world-renown brands will appreciate Seven Dials in Covent Garden. At its bi-annual shopping event this May, over two-hundred stores came out in force to offer discounts, freebies, tasters, … Continue reading
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Posted in London, Shopping
Tagged London, Maddie Salters, seven dials, Shopping, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win Two New #MojoRisin Aromatic Chilli Relishes from That Hungry Chef
Looking for something to spice up the summer? How about a couple of jars of instant yum? I’m offering one lucky reader the chance to win two new palate pleasing and oh-so aromatic chilli relishes from That Hungry Chef. Continue reading
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Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, London, Shopping
Tagged #mojorisin, chill relish, Food, free, freebies, hot sauce, islington, London, Mojo Risin', Nikhat Chahal, north london, Pratap Chahal, restaurants, RT to win, supper club, That Hungry Chef, twitter competition, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Godiva Ice Cream: Summer Indulgence
With summer fast approaching, we all have frozen treats on the brain. If you’re looking for something that packs a more flavourful punch than off-the-truck lollies, with more glam than you’ll find in typical soft serve, then Godiva has you covered. Maddie Salters visited Godiva’s Regent Street location for the re-launch of its ice cream trio, to get the low down on what’s a must-try. Continue reading
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Find Sicily’s Tastiest Spots with the Free Agromobile App (OneTravel)
A recent and delicious visit to Sicily was made all the more juicy, fruitful and scenic with the Agromobile app. Agromobile is a website and a free to download app sharing food and wine related itineraries in Sicily. Interested “land … Continue reading
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Preview: RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015
I dropped by the show yesterday for the press/VIP preview. I skedaddled before I could get to any big game celeb and royalty spotting but managed to see most of what’s in store for the inevitable throngs of garden enthusiasts soon to swarm the gracious grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Here’s a quick look at what I enjoyed most … Continue reading
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Posted in Food, Gardening, London, Shopping
Tagged 2012 michelin stars, A Trugmaker’s Garden, chelsea, chelsea flower show, Edo Garden, Edo no Niwa, Food, Future Climate Info, gardening, gardens, Homebase, Homebase Urban Retreat Garden, Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Laboratory, Jo Thompson's, London, Morrice & Ann Innes – The Potato Story, RHS, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015, Royal Hospital Chelsea, shaun rankin, Shopping, Sub Zero & Wolf, SW3, SW3 4SL, The M&G Garden 2015 – The Retreat, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Artistan Wine Fair – RAW – Returns to Truman Brewery
My favourite wine event of the year, Raw, returns to London this Sunday and Monday (note: Monday is trade only) featuring “one of the most exciting collections of fine, natural, organic and biodynamic wine artisans” sharing some of the best … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, London, Shopping, Wine
Tagged artisan wine, brick lane, Drink, E1 6QL, east london, London, old truman brewery, RAW WINE FAIR, Shopping, wine, WINE FAIR, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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You’re Saving When You Shop Online with VoucherBin, Right?
I wish I’d known about VoucherBin ages ago – for all the renovations we’ve undertaken but also for all sorts of other more every day sorts of situations. Better late than never I suppose. I’m certainly glad I’m now in the know about the site. Continue reading
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Posted in Money, Shopping
Tagged money, online shopping, Shopping, SPONSORED POST, voucher codes, VoucherBin, VoucherBin.co.uk
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Choccywoccydoodah: Enter a Chocolate Wonderland with their New Book
Maddie Salters pays a visit to ChoccyWoccydoodah, Carnaby Street’s infamous chocolatier, for a look at its long-awaited cookery book, Chocolate, Cake and Curses. Continue reading
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Posted in Books, Chocolate, Drink, Food, London, Shopping
Tagged books, cake, carnaby, carnaby street, Choccywoccydoodah, chocolate, Chocolate Cake and Curses, cookbook, FOUBERT'S PLACE, London, Maddie Salters, recipes, Shopping, soho, W1, W1F 7PS, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Le Vie della Zagara: Ceramic Dynamic Caltagirone
Caltagirone was one of those places where soon into my time there I started wondered about the price of local property. Could I afford to chuck it all in and relocate? How could I make such a transition work – and what kind of work would I even be able to do if I actually did settle there? Such a feeling of immediate attraction to a place often used to overwhelm me when travelling in my 20s and early 30s. It’s a less frequent – but much deeper and more exacting – experience when it hits me these days. No, I don’t think I’ll actually up and move to Caltagirone (and I very much love my life here in London), but that possibility lingers still in my thoughts as I remember it. And I sorely hope I’m don’t have to wait too long to return there for further exploration. Continue reading
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Posted in Art, Drink, Food, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, Museums, Restaurants, Shopping, Sicily, Travel, Wine
Tagged Art, Caltagirone, ceramics, contemporary art, Drink, Feudo di Santa Tresa Wine, Food, Il Locandiere, italian food, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Caltagirone, museums, Ospedale delle Donne, restaurants, Ristorante Il Locandiere, Sammartino e Delfino, Santa Tresa, Scala Santa Maria del Monte, seafood, Shopping, Sicilia, sicilian, sicily, Travel, wine
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Le Vie della Zagara: Limone di Siracusa
A fertile coastal plain stretching between the mountains and the sea with plenty of sea air and consistent year-round sunlight make conditions right for growing Limone di Siracusa, aka Syracuse lemons – some of the juiciest and zestiest on the market. Such conditions add up to a gorgeous place to visit too. The last of the low hanging PGI fruits picked along my journey across Sicily, here’s why I’m a sucker for the aroma and flavour of this mighty if diminutive squirt! Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, Shopping, Sicily, Travel
Tagged agriturismo, Agriturismo Pozzo di Mazza, Citrus, Drink, Food, IGP, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, Lemons, limone di Siracusa, PGI, Pozzo di Mazza, Shopping, Sicilia, sicilian, sicily, Siracusa, Syracuse lemons, Travel, Vie della Zagara
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Le Vie della Zagara: Sicily’s Beautiful Blood Oranges
The three varietals of Sicilian blood oranges include the deeply crimson Moro, the Tarocco (a great all rounder and Italy’s most popular orange), and the sweet and succulent Sanguinello. During my time travelling Le Vie della Zagara, I got a taste of all three blood oranges (and more – keep reading!) while visiting two places involved in the production of aranchia rossa: the lavish San Giorgio Estate with its upscale luxury Aranjaya villa and the more pragmatic but nonetheless impressive processing facilities of Pannitteri & C. Both are located in the eastern area of Sicily within the province of Catania and bestowed with jaw-dropper views of smoking and snow-capped Mount Etna. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, Luxury, Shopping, Sicily, Travel
Tagged aranca rossa, Aranjaya, blood oranges, Citrus, DOP, Drink, Food, hotels, IGP, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, luxury, oranges, Pannitteri & C, PGI, Ribera, Ribera Oranges, Rosaria, San Giorgio Estate, Shopping, Sicilia, sicilian, sicily, Travel, Vie della Zagara
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Le Vie della Zagara: Balanced and Scenic Ribera
The world’s only orange with PDO certification (protected designation of origin, DOP in Italian) grows in Ribera, Sicily. Belonging to the family of yellow navel oranges, it’s not all that different in appearance to any run of the mill orange you’re apt to come across at any supermarket anywhere in the world. But bite into a Ribera or drink some of its juice and what sets it apart becomes clear. It’s a juicy fruit with a balanced ratio of sugars and acids – not too sweet or tart – with a firm and smooth flesh and no seeds. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, Shopping, Sicily, Travel
Tagged Citrus, DOP, Drink, Food, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, oranges, Ribera, Ribera Oranges, Sicilia, sicilian, sicily, Travel, Vie della Zagara
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Le Vie della Zagara: Ciaculli and its Anti-Mafia Mandarins
First stop on Le Vie della Zagara was the Palermo suburb of Ciaculli, home of the juicy Mandarino Tardivo di Ciacualli, where land once owned by the Mafia has been confiscated and converted into citrus groves by the locally run Consorzio il Tardivo di Ciaculli. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, Shopping, Sicily, Travel
Tagged addiopizzo, Ciacualli, Citrus, Consorzio il Tardivo di Ciaculli, Drink, Food, Italy, Le Vie della Zagara, mafia, MandarInArte, mandarinello, Mandarino Tardivo di Ciacualli, Mandarins, palermo, Sicilia, sicilian, sicily, Slow Food, Travel, Vie della Zagara
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The Clothes Club Fundraiser at Dalston Roof Park
The Clothes Club is doing its fundraising event at the recently reopened Dalston Roof Park, on Thursday 21 May. For just £8, you’ll get some new clothes, make a donation to the causes they’re supporting at the same time and there’s some great prizes in the raffle too. Continue reading
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Posted in Fashion, Good Cause, London, Shopping
Tagged ashwin street, clothes club, dalston, E8 3DL, east london, Emily de Groot, fashion, Fundraising, good cause, hackney, London, Previews, rooftop, The Print House, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Finding Inspiration in Bonne Maman Desserts
Little angular jars of Bonne Maman jams, jellies, and compotes have sat on breakfast tables across the UK for decades, so imagine my surprise and delight to find that its brother branch, the brand’s lineup of fine cakes, biscuits, and tartlets, work as a great accompaniment to old favourites or as a tasty stand-alone treat. Continue reading
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Posted in Celebrities, Chocolate, Food, Recipes, Shopping
Tagged bonne maman, cakes, Celebrities, chocolate, cookies, eric lanlard, Food, Maddie Salters, Madeleine, recipes, Shopping, tarts
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The George Foreman Grill “Evolves”
The George Foreman has grown up; the new “Evolve” model is described as “the next generation”. New features such as a deep bake pan mean you can easily create so much more than the toasties, paninis and grilled meats associated with the earlier versions. It’s now possible to cook small stews, casseroles and even pizzas using the grill. Continue reading
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Posted in Food, Shopping
Tagged Food, George Foreman Evolv, George Foreman Grill, Leila Dukes, reviews, Shopping
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Win a Variety Pack of Jaz & Jul’s Origin Mixture Drinking Chocolate
Award winning independent chocolate makers, Jaz & Jul’s, are launching a new Origin range of drinking chocolates. Featuring three single-origin dark hot chocolates made with cacao grown in a different region (Madagascar, Peru, Brazil) for a collection of subtle yet indulgent flavours. Keen to find out how to get a sneaky peek taste ahead of all the other choco-fiends? Keep reading, my cocoa loving friends. Continue reading
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Posted in Chocolate, Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Shopping
Tagged chocolate, competition, Drink, drinking chocolate, Food, free, freebies, hot chocolate, Jaz & Jul's, London, RT to win, Shopping, twitter competition, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Review of Moët Academy
Last week Maddie Salters embarked upon an adventure in London’s Southbank that would take her into the heart of France’s Champagne region. Celebrated brand Moët & Chandon re-created the vineyards and wine cellars of its lush estate at OXO along the … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, London, Luxury, Shopping, Wine
Tagged Barge House Street, champagne, Drink, french wine, London, luxury, Maddie Salters, Moët & Chandon, Moët Academy, oxo tower, OXO2, OXO2 Tower Wharf, SE1 9PH, Shopping, south bank, southbank, sparkling wine, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Piadabar: New Italian Takeaway in the Heart of Soho
Piadabar is a new Italian takeaway on Bateman Street in Soho that serves authentic piada (Northern Italian flatbread), traditional cheeses and cured meats, amazing homemade desserts, excellent espresso and more. It’s a brilliant spot to drop by for a quick sandwich or snack – whether on your way to work in the morning, during lunch or even after a late night out playing weekend warrior (Piadabar is open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights). Continue reading
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Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged Bateman Street, breakfast, cafe, cannoli, coffee, espresso, flatbread, italian food, London, lunch, pastries, Piada, Piada Bar, Piadabar, Piadina, restaurants, reviews, sandwich, sfogliatella, sfogliatelle, soho, TIRAMISU, W1, W1D 4AG, zabajone, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Taking it Easy with an Overnight Spa Break in Bath
Easter week, Kemey and I made a quick overnight trip to Bath for a bit of rest and relaxation with a dash of history and scaled down but nonetheless urban ease. Both of us had been to Bath before but ages ago and not together. We had so much fun during our brief stay in this compact and attractive city. It’s a great place for couples and super easy to get to from London. Of course, more time to explore Bath and the bucolic countryside nearby would have been ideal, but our overnight visit proved to be an amply replenishing pause before having to head back to the London grind. Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Drink, England, Food, Hotels, Pubs, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
Tagged Avon, bath, Bath Abbey, Bath Spa, Bed and Breakfasts, beer, Brooks Guesthouse, design, Drink, england, First Great Western, Food, hotels, No 1 Royal Crescent, pubs, restaurants, Roman Baths, Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House, somerset, The Bell Inn, Thermae Bath Spa, Travel
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Record Store Day in Kingston, Jamaica (OneTravel)
Long gone are the days when the streets of Kingston, Jamaica were chockablock with record shops. And with most folks listening to music by digital means and piracy all too often used, the days of many music retailers still in … Continue reading
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My Simple Italian by Theo Randall – Book Review (Great British Chefs)
Fellow alum of the kitchens at Hammersmith’s fabled River Café, Jamie Oliver likes the book and reckons it’s the “most deliciously gorgeous Italian cookbook I’ve seen in a long, long time.” Enough said? Maybe. But please indulge me in my own humble rave about this book featuring “100 inspired recipes from one of Britain’s best Italian chefs.” Continue reading
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Posted in Books, Food, Great British Chefs, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged books, chef, cookbook, Food, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, London, My Simple Italian, recipes, restaurants, Shopping, theo randall, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Moët & Chandon: The Champagne Region Comes to Londontown
Moët & Chandon is perhaps the most recognisable name in Champagne. Its impressive estate, nestled into the heart of the Champagne Region of France, produces full-bodied sips, often with bold fruity notes and a gentle finish. As of 13 April, Moët & Chandon will bring the magic of its Épernay vineyards to Southbank in London, to delight the palates and imaginations of visitors. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, London, Luxury, Shopping, Wine
Tagged Barge House Street, champagne, Drink, french wine, London, luxury, Maddie Salters, Moët & Chandon, Moët Academy, oxo tower, OXO2, OXO2 Tower Wharf, SE1 9PH, Shopping, south bank, southbank, sparkling wine, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win a Complete Range of Jealous Sweets Jewel Box Treats
Candy! Candy! Candy! Some of the tastiest I’ve come across in a long while are Jealous Sweets’ “Sweet Seduction” jewels. And – because I’m such a super nice fella – here’s a chance for you to win the complete range of these treats to try for yourself. Continue reading
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Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping
Tagged candy, competition, free, freebies, gummy bears, Jealous Sweets, jelly, Jewel Boxes, RT to win, The Jealous Life, twitter competition
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Recipe: Half Dipped Madeleines
When the friendly folks at Bonne Maman UK got in touch with me to see if I’d be up for creating with a recipe using their madeleine as the main ingredient, I was keen to give it a shot. But, I wondered what to do with something that’s already a perfectly complete treat in and of itself. So, I took the easy way out and did very little … and was pleased with the tasty results. I hope you’ll like my ideas for super simple Half Dipped Madeleines. Continue reading
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Posted in Food, Recipes, Shopping
Tagged bonne maman, cake, dessert, Food, GREEK YOGHURT, Half Dipped Madeleines, kemey lafond, Madeleine, recipes, Shopping, Snack, tikichris recipes, yoghurt, Yogurt
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That Hungry Chef Supper Club
I don’t attend all that many supper clubs and can recall more mediocre or actually disastrous experiences at them than list any exemplary clubs doing anything all that interesting. However, I still love the concept and when it works it’s a wonderful way to dine. So, it is with pleasure that I recommend the delicious and convivial dining on offer by That Hungry Chef. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged Drink, Food, indian food, islington, London, Mojo Risin', Nikhat Chahal, north london, Pratap Chahal, restaurants, reviews, supper club, That Hungry Chef, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Sponsored Video: In the Sneakers of Walcott
You know that old saying about walking a mile in somebody else’s shoes? Well, what if those shoes were a pair of stylish and extra comfy Adidas trainers belonging to one of your favourite footballers? Cool idea, huh? Check out this fun little ‘day in the life’ video featuring Arsenal forward and the England national team player, Theo Walcott – shot from the vantage point of Theo’s shoes – a pair of ultra blue Adidas Pure BOOST Chill trainers. Continue reading
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Posted in Celebrities, Fashion, Shopping, Sports, Video
Tagged adidas, Adidas Pure BOOST Chill, Arsenal, Celebrities, fashion, football, Pure BOOST Chill, shoes, sneakers, soccer, SPONSORED POST, sports, Theo Walcott, trainers, Video
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New Fangled Old Fashioneds with Woodford Reserve
The Old Fashioned is pretty much my go-to cocktail these days. And if it’s made with Woodford Reserve, well then all the better. So an invitation to attend an Old Fashioned masterclass hosted by Woodford Reserve brand ambassador Tom Vernon at South Place Hotel’s SPIES Society bar and to enter a Classic American Cocktail competition based on my takeaway from the event was greatly appreciated. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Hotels, London, Luxury, Recipes, Shopping
Tagged BARS, bourbon, Classic American Cocktail, cocktails, Drink, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, luxury, Old Fashioned, Photography, recipes, Shopping, south place hotel, SPIES Society, street photography, Tom Vernon, whiskey, Woodford Reserve, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win a Box of Wine from The Grape Club
I have recently tried and would love to recommend to you The Grape Club,– an online London-based subscription service that sends an assortment of four bottles of wine in a sturdy and easily transportable box to its members every month. There’s no membership fee, just a month payment of £45, which covers all the costs of having the club deliver a quartet of smartly selected quality quaffs directly to your door. Keep reading for more grape news about this new service as well as details about the chance to win a selection of four wines from The Grape Club. Continue reading
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Posted in Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Shopping, Wine
Tagged competition, Drink, Food, free, freebies, London, RT to win, Shopping, The Grape Club, twitter competition, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Hot Cross Easter Creations from Paul A Young and The Bread Factory
For Easter 2015, Paul A Young Fine Chocolates has teamed up with North London’s The Bread Factory for a range of hot cross bun creations that are big on traditional seasonal flavours and offered in a fascinating variety of combinations, including a limited run hot cross bun caramel spread, truffle and brownie. Continue reading
