Photo/Steve Harris
The Toronto After Dark Film Festival is an annual showcase of the world’s best new Horror, Sci-Fi, Action and Cult Movies. Entering its eight year with “nine nights of cinematic mayhem,” the 2013 festival runs from the 17th to the 25th of October – just in time for Halloween!
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
I finally made it round to Tommi’s new permanent location on Thayer Street in Marylebone. Good atmosphere and great burgers!
I recently had the pleasure of sipping double distilled and award winning St Lucian rum – Chairman’s Reserve – and can definitely taste why it took home The Rum Trophy at this year’s International Spirits Challenge.
Just opened at the Crown Plaza London (the one near Blackfriars), Diciannove is a classy little Italian restaurant, cicchetti bar and deli. I crashed the launch party, loved the Negroni.
Looking for something healthy and peppy to cook with? Piccolo Parsnips – sweet and tender baby parsnips – are delicious and easy to cook with. You can pick ’em up at Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose – and I highly recommend that you do. There’s no shortage recipes to use with Piccolo Parsnips, but I’ve gotta say simply roasting them until they’re crispy is a really nice way to eat these zingy treats.
So, back at the beginning of summer I paid a samphire picking visit to Riverford Farms down in Devon, but it wasn’t until a few weeks back that I actually had the chance to give its delivery service a go. The medium vegbox I received was stuffed with great seasonal veggies and of a much better quality than what I’m apt to find on a regular basis at my local shops. At just over 16 quid, I thought it was fantastic value too.
Sula Nashika Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Laithwaite’s Wine held a press tasting a few weeks ago and kindly extended the welcome to me. In addition to enjoying a fantastic range of Italian reds, I was intrigued by and rather liked a fruity and fresh white wine from Sula Vineyards in India.
Creative Sandwich with Warburton’s and James Ramsden
I sat in on a fun and friendly Creative Sandwich competition a couple of Fridays ago at the swish kitchens of Food at 52 Cookery School. Put on by Warburton’s to showcase their Sandwich Thins and Square Wraps, the event was hosted by James Ramsden.
Coming from meeting across town, I showed up late and had to jump in head first with a couple of off-the-cuff (and off the top of my head) submissions, including one I was quite proud of and would certainly eat again: a mortadella wrap with French’s mustard, lots of fresh coriander, gherkin slices, mozarella di bufala, a few sun dried tomatoes and a sprinkling of paprika.
I thought the Warburton’s breads were pretty tasty and super convenient for making quick sandwiches and snacks. I was a bit bummed to see dextrose listed as an ingredient though, as it’s something I actually try to limit in my diet. In a pinch or a rush, the thins and wraps would admittedly really come in handy.
I took a premium booze pit stop the other night at Skylon to meet bar manager Nebojsa Kutlesic and Matthieu Boulas, sales manager for FAIR Spirits and have a taste of FAIR Rum, the UK’s first fair trade, premium rum. Made in Belize from molasses and then aged for five years in American oak barrels, FAIR is then shipped to Cognac in France where a master distiller “perfects” it. If you like rum, you indeed might find this one to be perfect. I certainly enjoyed sipping it neat and in a couple of cocktails.
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!
To be held during the weekend of 18 October at the Olympia Exhibition Centre, Salon du Chocolat London will be the grand finale of Chocolate Week. Thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the show (might there be a sell out?) to see the best British chocolate companies exhibiting alongside exciting international brands along with a full schedule of demonstrations, talks and hands-on workshops with top chocolatiers.
A major highlight of the show will be Salon’s world famous Chocolate Fashion Show, in the UK for the first time and featuring models walking the catwalk wearing couture outfits made entirely out of chocolate.
Full event listings and further details about Salon du Chocolat London and Chocolate Week can be found at chocolateweek.co.uk.
To be in with a chance win a pair of tickets to the 2013 Salon du Chocolat London, all you’ve got to do is tweet the following:
RT to win two tickets to Salon du Chocolat London http://bit.ly/192JtC0 #BigChocolateWin
Please read the terms and conditions before tweeting.
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Monday 7 October 2013 at noon (British time). The winner will receive a pair of tickets to the 2013 Salon du Chocolat London at the Olympia Exhibition Centre. Good luck.
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!
Check out more tikichris competitions.
My Loomswood duck and Suffolk pork burger with Kreik Boon, liquorice and black cherry ketchup served on sesame seed brioche (£8.75) was a nice change from what’s become a litany of “gourmet” burgers in London. Washed down with a pint of Paulaner and accompanied by a rather large side of seasoned “bloody Mary” fries £3.50), the meal was substantial and tasty. I really liked the liquorice and black cherry ketchup and thought it paired nicely with the meat.
Other burgers on the menu include a free range Devonshire beef and Limousin veal. Other seasoned fries on offer are salt and vinegar, Worcester sauce and chilli and lemon and oregano. Beyond the burgers and fries, the pub serves a range of small dishes and wraps made with freshly baked flat breads.
Yesterday’s lunch was my first visit to the Crown & Shuttle, which is only about a half year old. Burgers or not, the pub has a fantastic and fairly expansive garden and a cosy interior. Owned by the same publican as The Water Poet (another great pub that’s just down the street), I reckon the Crown & Shuttle is a smart pub to keep in mind for a knees up in hipster/yuppie DMZ between The City and Shoreditch.
The Crown & Shuttle is located at 226 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6PJ. Find out more at crownandshuttle.co.uk.
Last night Fever-Tree, makers of premium tonic water and mixers, hosted Gin & Tonic Fever. Billed at the “world’s largest G&T tasting” the event was held at Chelsea Physic Garden and featured well over 100 different gins from around the world to sample along with all of Fever-Trees tonic waters and mixers.
I really enjoyed tasting as many gins as I could and especially like my sample of Hoxton Gin (“… classic juniper driven character … distilled with coconut and grapefruit”) served with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water with a wedge of lime.
The event was held in part to raise funds and awareness for Malaria No More.
Photo/Jordan Fischer
Canadian Thanksgiving takes place on the second Saturday of every October. This year the date falls on the 14th. Differences between the Canadian and American versions of the holiday are nuanced with both celebrations centering around a family feast of turkey with all the trimmings. Essentially, Canadian Thanksgiving is just a lot earlier and further north – but just as delicious!
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
I’m heading over to the Odeon Cinema Covent Garden tomorrow to catch a couple of screenings – A Top Goal Scorer in My Heart and Santos, 100 Years of Playful Football.
New to the festival this year is the opportunity to watch the best of Brazilian cinema but also to get a taste of the best of Brazilian cuisine. The Brazilian Film Festival will also feature Brazilian Taste, giving the public a chance to experience Brazilian inspired dishes at a selection of partnering restaurants across London – including Cabana, Lockhart London, Lima London, A Little of What You Fancy, Oui Madame, McQueen Shoreditch, Canela, Ivy’s Mess Hall, Praia at Sushinho, and (recent addition to my favourite London restaurants) Quantus.
Me? I’m making my way to Lima for lunch before hitting the cinema.
Odeon Cinema Covent Garden is located at 135 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8AH. Find out more at brazilianfilmfestival.com.
LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair opened this week at Berkeley Square and runs until Sunday 29 September. I took a sneak peek at the press preview a couple of days ago and reckon it’s well worth a visit if antiques and contemporary or classical art are your thing.
However, I must mention the atrociously rude security bungling things up (jerking my ticket from my hand and not returning it even though it was good for the duration of the fair; grabbing my shoulders and forcing me toward the entrance before I had a chance to visit the information desk to get a catalogue and floorplan; making me check my bag without informing me I would need to pay £1 to get it back when I left). If you encounter a tall skinny balding Englishman with white hair at security when you visit, steer clear. He’s an unpleasant person who’s been placed in the wrong job. I really have no idea what made him so aggressive and why he couldn’t keep his hands to himself.
What you shouldn’t steer clear of is the Sylvia Powell Decorative Arts display! I absolutely loved viewing the collection of painted plates by Jean Cocteau (as pictured above).
The recently released and limited edition Sunday Lunch Pasty (£4.15 for a medium sized order) did me right and kept my appetite at bay for the rest of the evening. Stuffed with prime beef skirt from Britain and Ireland along with fresh carrots and peas, potatoes and parsnips and even Yorkshire pudding with gravy and horseradish it was the best of a traditional roast baked into a handy parcel of comfort food satisfaction. I’d have it again and would recommend it next time you’re on the hoof and looking for something to tide you over that isn’t complete junk food or bland.
The Sunday Lunch Pasty is available now until 9 November at all West Cornwall Pasty Co shops. There are more than 70 West Cornwall Pasty Co outlets in England (plus one in Glasgow) with over a dozen shops in Greater London.
Find out more at westcornwallpasty.co.uk.
The Brazilian Film Festival – the premiere platform for contemporary Brazilian cinema in the UK – returns to London from the 27th of September to the 1st of October, offering a riveting presentation of Brazilian culture on and off the screen.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
Black Beauty, the first major solo exhibition in the UK by American artist Lutz Bacher, opens today at the ICA. The show provides a unique opportunity to see Bacher’s new works made specifically for the ICA together with recent work for the first time in London.
Salon du Chocolat, the world’s biggest chocolate show, is joining forces with the organisers of London’s annual chocolate festival, Chocolate Unwrapped, to create what is slated to be the most incredible chocolate show the UK has ever seen: Salon du Chocolat – London.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
Usually – and even if I’ve thoroughly enjoyed a dining experience – I’m keen to get going after a meal … to carry on to the next venue, walk off some excess calories, head home and change into my jammies, whatever … just move! After my satisfying brekkie at Aqua Shard on Saturday though, I wanted to linger – to have another cup of coffee and simply ‘take it all in’ for a little while longer. To be honest, I felt like that the minute I stepped into Aqua Shard.
So I did, and sitting there sipping my second Americano while scoping the London landscape from The Shard’s 31st floor, I felt satisfied indeed. I’d had a fantastic “Shard Breakfast” of two Old House Farm eggs (I had mine poached), Staffordshire dry-cured streaky bacon, Cumberland sausage, spinach, Bermondsey salted ricotta, vine tomatoes, grilled mushrooms, smoked ham hock cannellini beans, hash browns, black pudding and sourdough toasted. Whew, a morning meal as epic as my view! Everything was tasty, I particularly liked the bacon, beans and hash browns. Priced at £14.50 it was a bit on the dear end of the spectrum, but I thought it was very good value for money, especially considering the novel setting.
I had the pleasure of enjoying my breakfast with Kemey who went with the lobster Benedict (Colchester Blue lobster, two poached eggs, toasted English muffins and Hollandaise, £18). She was kind enough to let me have a bite. It was delicious. I’d go back for that lobster dish again though the tattie scones and kedgeree were mighty appealing menu listings also. Of course, there are lunch and twinkly-lit and lofty dinners (and maybe even the prospect of afternoon tea in the near future) to consider too … not to mention The Shard’s other two restaurants (Hutong and Oblix) to check out.
Meals with magnificent views aside, Aqua Shard is a gorgeous place. It’s difficult to not gaze out the windows while there but if you can manage, you’ll see attractive fittings and interiors that’d have me giving a thumbs up even if it had been a basement bar. Seating was comfy too, and just walking across the dining area felt grandious.
Our server was an absolute – and super friendly – pro. Dishes were served promptly and without fuss.
Impress a client, treat that special someone, show off your beloved city to your out-of-towner guests: this is the place to do it, and breakfast is as good a time as any.
Aqua Shard is located at Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY. Breakfast is served Monday to Friday from 7 to 10.30am and weekends from 8.30 to 10.30am. I recommend making a reservation. To find out more and to book, visit aquashard.co.uk.
Rachel, a “woman for all seasons” who’s “cooking for Britain” was an absolute delight to cook alongside and to learn from. Observing her in the kitchen (not to mention getting to sample here her excellent food) was the highlight of the week. Nothing fancy but big on yum, Rachel’s recipe’s were down to earth, easy to follow and (most importantly) delicious.
Here’s the recipe for a basic but really inspired dish, peas on toast. Read more of Rachel’s recipes from our day with John Lewis and Cole & Mason.
Ingredients
Instruction
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!
Camilla and the folks at Higgidy are celebrating ten years of piemaking. With around 200 employees rolling out five miles of fresh pastry a week to cover and contain more than 200,000 pies, quiches, tarts and slices, that’s a lot of fingers in a lot of pies. And that sounds just like the Camilla I met. Not just at the helm of what seems to be a thriving enterprise, she’s just released her first book, The Higgidy Cookbook: 100 Recipes for Pies and More!
Giving the pie something of a 21st century makeover that’s a lot less “blokey” and considerably more salubrious image than a mere afterthought at a chip shop, Camilla’s passion for yummy yet practical cooking shines a bright oven light in this new book.
For your chance to win a copy of Camilla’s handy pie compendium, simply tweet the following:
Please read the terms and conditions before tweeting.
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday 27 September 2013 (noon, British time). The winner will receive one copy of Camilla Stephens’ The Higgidy Cookbook: 100 Recipes for Pies and More! that’s been signed by the author herself. To be eligible to win, you need to have an address in the UK where the book can be posted. Good luck.
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!
Check out more tikichris competitions.
Rachel, a “woman for all seasons” who’s “cooking for Britain” was an absolute delight to cook alongside and to learn from. Observing her in the kitchen (not to mention getting to sample here her excellent food) was the highlight of the week. Nothing fancy but big on yum, Rachel’s recipe’s were down to earth, easy to follow and (most importantly) delicious.
Here’s her recipe for a very tasty salsa verde. Check back soon for more of Rachel’s recipes from our day with John Lewis and Cole & Mason.
Ingredients
Instruction
Photo/Futurilla
The British Ceramics Biennial returns this autumn to the English town of Stoke-on-Trent, the world capital of ceramics, with its biggest line-up to date. Set to run from Saturday the 28th of September to Sunday the 10th of November, the Biennial celebrates the best in contemporary ceramics and brings together 150 leading artists through a series of exhibitions, installations and events while drawing on the local area’s heritage and significance in the ceramics industry.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
Rachel, a “woman for all seasons” who’s “cooking for Britain” was an absolute delight to cook alongside and to learn from. Observing her in the kitchen (not to mention getting to sample here her excellent food) was the highlight of the week. Nothing fancy but big on yum, Rachel’s recipe’s were down to earth, easy to follow and (most importantly) delicious.
Here’s her recipe for a simple yet satisfying aioli. Check back soon for more of Rachel’s recipes from our day with John Lewis and Cole & Mason.
Ingredients
Instructions
Johnson’s documentary about Golden Lane Estate is an …
observation, investigation and social record of the lives and thoughts of ten current residents, including an architect, a filmmaker/writer, a photographer, a retired homemaker, a butler/chauffeur, a medical student and a nurse, documenting the life of the complex over half a century since its construction. The work asks questions about domestic and private space and of making a home in such an iconic and distinctive architectural environment.
I had the pleasure of being one of the ten folks Esther interviewed for the film. That was back in 2010. The View from My Window … is now screening for free at Exhibit (located at Golden Lane). In addition to (or in spite of) me being featured in it, it’s a gorgeous piece of art and well worth watching. If you’re interested in urban living, design, architecture, modernism or simply the individual lives of a small handful of central Londoners, this film is for you.
Exhibit is located at 20 Goswell Road, EC1M 7AA.
Screening Times
Find out more at blanchepictures.com and exhibit-goldenlane.com.
Rachel, a “woman for all seasons” who’s “cooking for Britain” was an absolute delight to cook alongside and to learn from. Observing her in the kitchen (not to mention getting to sample here her excellent food) was the highlight of the week. Nothing fancy but big on yum, Rachel’s recipe’s were down to earth, easy to follow and (most importantly) delicious.
Here’s her recipe for one of my favourite dishes, guacamole. Check back tomorrow and later in the week for more of Rachel’s recipes from our day with John Lewis and Cole & Mason.
Ingredients
Instructions
Serve
Inside the urban pop-up forest, there will a range events and activities taking place including an Orchard Juice Bar, complimentary cycle maintenance courtesy of Dr Bike, live music and complimentary food and drink such as homemade lemonade at Patagonia and pizza slices a la the Rossopomodoro mobile wood-fired oven on Neal Street nearby its brick and mortar pizzeria on Monmouth Street.
I’ve just got wise to Rossopomodoro myself and reckon a freebie opportunity to sample their authentic Neapolitan pizza and have a wander round a pop-up forest would be a tasty treat and a lot of fun. More about International Car Free Day here:
Stanley Donwood‘s latest exhibition Far Away is Close at Hand in Images of Elsewhere is now open at The Outsiders London (Greek Street, Soho). Vibrant and eerie, the show’s well worth taking a look at. Many of you who might not immediately recognise the artist’s name might actually have some of his work in your homes. Donwood has been collaborating with Radiohead for cover artwork since the band put out The Bends almost a decade ago.
Photo by Jim, the Photographer
With the newly renovated Benjamin Franklin Museum (formerly the Underground Museum at Franklin Court) having just reopened in late August, this autumn is an excellent time to explore the rich and historic legacy of Philadelphia’s most famous son: the one and only Benjamin Franklin.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
Honky Tonk Clapham opened about a week and a half ago, riding the trendy cibus Americanus wave south of the river in the hopes of finding the same success that sister bar and restaurant, Honky Tonk Chelsea has.
I dropped by Honky Tonk Clapham last night for the launch party, munched on some pretty decent chicken wings and enjoyed a Maple Trace cocktail (essentially an Old Fashioned with cinnamon and maple syrup infused bourbon). Yee haw.
Comfortable, convenience and gourmet – what else could you want? How about top notch service, nightly entertainment, and long list of amenities and activities? From its very own lagoonarium to “Overwater Motu Bungalows” and much, much more – there are plenty of amazing reasons to make the Intercontinental Resort Tahiti your base while discovering the joys of French Polynesia.
Read my complete post at the Travelbag blog.
Check out how Mancunian rap sensation Misha B reacts when magician Dynamo plays a fantastic trick on her at this summer’s Yahoo! Wireless Festival. Can you spot how he did it? Me neither. Maybe I should give it another viewing … but I’ve already watched the clip about a half dozen times. Argh. Man, that guy’s good.
Says Dynamo:
When I’m performing magic, I love to improvise. Some of the best reactions are when I take something that people use everyday and try something with it that they can’t explain.
How he managed to do what he did with that Pepsi Max bottle cap is beyond me. Slight of hand? Ever so! That’s certainly the only way I can explain it. And Misha B’s comment at the end is priceless – quick witted too!
I really like how Dynamo is able to take an everyday item as ordinary as a bottle cap and transform it. And compared to a lot of other illusionists, he seems able to pull its stunts and trick off with minimal flash. I’m sure what he’s doing is the same old smoke and mirrors stuff of his predecessors, but he’s way more low key about it, which I think translate to an even bigger wow and adds a real element of surprise. You’re just not expecting things to turn out as they do!
Post sponsored by Spreaditfast
Photo by Sarah Fleming
Trick or treat, y’all? October’s just around the corner, and Houstonians are preparing for a frightfully fun Halloween. Here’s a selection of five events around Houston, whether you’re looking for family friendly activities for the little ones or something more mature for the witching hours.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
Early evening yesterday, I spent a bit of time at Mr Fogg’s in Mayfair with Laura Riascos and Martamaria Carrillo of Colombian premium rum (and the only family owned rum made in Colombia), La Hechicera. I had tasted La Hechicera before and really enjoyed it. So I was pleased to receive the invitation. Matured in American White Oak bourbon barrels between 12 and 21 years, it’s got an intriguingly smooth flavour profile and goes down a charm. Next time you’re at one of London’s finer bars, look for the bottle with the blue label.
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!
The East India Company’s Five Night Luxury Holiday runs until 30 November 2013. Scroll down for details.
The East India Company’s collection of Chakra Herbal Infusions includes a tea for each of the six chakras – bliss, intuition, expression, love, balance and lifeforce – and will “support you in establishing a tranquillity of spirit and are so delightful that you may simply care to drink them for their remarkable flavour combinations alone.” Each blend has been developed with medical herbalism expertise and is encased within pyramid bags to ensure the whole ingredients have space to maximise their beneficial properties.
To be in with a chance win the entire collection of Chakra Herbal Infusion teas, simply tweet the following:
RT to Win – Take a #ChakraTeaBreak with @tikichris and @TheEastIndia http://bit.ly/14j7Mbr
Good luck and please take a moment to read the terms and conditions before tweeting!
I’ll pick one winner at random on Monday 23 September 2013 at noon (British time). To be eligible to win, you need to have an address here in the UK. The winner will receive the complete collection of six sets of Chakra Herbal Infusion teas (with 12 pyramid bags each) priced at £5 per set.
To celebrate the launch of Chakra Herbal Infusions, The East India Company is offering a chance to win a special holiday to Banyan Tree Al Wadi in Dubai. To be eligible to win, all you have to do is register on the EIC website by 30 November 2013. The luxury holiday prize will include five nights at Banyan Tree’s unique all-pool villa resort in UAE, with Emirates Holidays, including daily breakfast, a Rainforest spa session and afternoon tea for two during the stay as well as two return economy flights from London to Dubai plus airport transfers in Dubai. The flights and holiday will be provided and facilitated by Emirates Holidays.
More details at eicfinefoods.com/chakra.
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!
Check out more tikichris competitions.
An abandoned, overgrown landscape in central London is the site for an installation of free-to-view public art by artist Daniel Silver. Called Dig, the installation features a series of not-quite-finished (often eerily incomplete or eroded) figures and fragments of varying size all worked from hand and made of a range of materials including marble, plaster and terracotta.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
