Herbfest is a new “botanical experience” for summer 2013 at London’s riverside Southbank Centre. It’s part of the centre’s greater Festival of Neighbourhood which runs until September 8th and offers locals and visitors alike with a nicely scented opportunity to learn about herbs, eat food prepared with fresh herbs and simply relax in a leafy green urban oasis.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
Now I reckon I was lucky. Wednesday was an absolutely gorgeous morning – dry and still with plenty of sunshine eventually brighting up a very blue sky and illuminating everything beneath it as night yielded to a spectacular and lingering dawn. The colours, the range of light, the quiet … this was perhaps London at its most serene: an otherwise ever raging beast toned down and tranquil. Honestly, I think I would have had a great time even if the weather had been a less accommodating. Except for a total downpour, any sort of conditions at that time of day would have probably presented a scenic chance to take great photos.
I found our guide, Anthony Epes, to be knowledgeable, affable and impressively capable of going with the flow and adapting to the dynamics of his group (there were five of us on the tour representing just about every skill level and with a variety of camera models). And Hackney Wick – with all the graffiti, the canal, the Olympic Stadium as backdrop, the post industrial vibe – was a particularly photogenic setting.
Of course, it was super cool snooping around East Village too. Opening in a matter of weeks to its going to be an interesting place to live to say the least! With its own wetlands, loads of outdoor space (every flat has some sort of terrace or garden), Westfield at it doorstep along with very decent transport links (not to mention its proximity to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park), the development is worth paying attention to, whether you’re considering settling around that part of town or you’re simply keen to monitor the London housing market. I certainly intend to keep following the East Village story as long as I can.
I really got a lot out of my early a.m. ramble round Hackney Wick and Stratford – and think my the experience resulted in some awesome pics as well. I’ll be publishing some of the photos from the day over the next couple of weeks in my London Daily series. Hope you enjoy!
Video recorded by Kemey Lafond. Enjoy.
Ingredients (serves around four cocktails)
Method
Serve
Serve in a large glass. It might be nice to garnish with lemon wedge and mint sprig.
Check out all the great pomegranate drink ideas at pomcocktails.co.uk.
I also found out that Sake No Hana is a fantastic restaurant worth a visit whether you’re looking for an education in spirits or simply a gorgeous meal. Sitting at Sake No Hana’s sushi bar and admiring the chefs’ nimble work while sipping “Grand Cru” level premium sake, I was very much in my happy place and couldn’t think of a more conducive way to enjoy a fine Japanese meal in London.
Sake No Hana is part of the Hakkasan Group; so I was expecting certain level of quality and sheer wow when I visited. I’m pleased to report that I was not disappointed. The setting was minimalist yet swank. Service, exceptionally polite. Food, for the most part, was phenomenal. In particular, I loved my Chilean seabass hobayaki and would order it again. Sushi was extraordinary too. I am keeping this restaurant in mind for upcoming special occasions.
As for the actual masterclass, the press preview was a bit of a condensed crash course of what paying customers will get. Nonetheless, I learned plenty about how sake is made, what to notice when tasting it and how to tell different styles apart. Also (and perhaps most importantly), I received tips how to go about drinking it while making sure to adhere to Japanese etiquette and custom.
The classes will be hosted by Christine Parkinson, Head Wine Buyer for the Hakkasan Group globally and judge of sake at the annual International Wine Challenge, alongside Anthony Rose – well-known wine guru and Co-Chairman of Tokyo’s International Sake Challenge.
Dates for the classes are 6 July, 3 August, 7 September and 5 October. The half-day classes will run from 11am and will provide guests with an opportunity to try seven different types of sake and one umeshu (Japanese plum wine) as well as the “Taste of Sake No Hana” lunch menu at the linear timber topped sushi counter. Guests will get a gift bag with a bottle of sake and kikichoko, a “snake eye” sake cup. To ensure an intimate experience, spaces are extremely limited. The price is £60 per person, and based on my experience at the preview, I’d say that’s spot-on value for money.
If you can’t make the class, you should consider still paying a visit. At £29 per person, the four course Taste of Sake No Hana menu is definitely a smart way to go. This menu is available Monday to Wednesday at anytime and Thursday to Saturday from 6pm to 7pm and after 10pm.
Sake No Hana is located at 23 St James’s Street, SW1A 1HA. For more information and to book a spot in the masterclass go to sakenohana.com or call the restaurant’s reservations team on +44(0) 207 925 8988.
A two hour flight from Gatwick brings you straight into the sunny Nice Cote D’azur Airport and into the glorious city also known as Nice la Belle (Nice the Beautiful), the capital of the Alpes Maritimes département and the second biggest city of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region after Marseille.
Here are some of Vysia’s tips for those of you looking for a weekend away that won’t break a bank.
Stay:
I stayed at the Villa St Exupery Gardens Hostel, voted one of the best hostels in Nice. Pretty no frills though, so don’t expect any luxuries. I stayed in one of the eight person mixed dorms and it was noisy to say the least. Perfect if you’re travelling alone and want to meet random strangers, but choose one of the double rooms if you want a romantic getaway (or another hotel – this place is where the kids have their Spring Break). That said, they offer a good selection of activities that you can book through them like trips to surrounding the surrounding cities of Ere, Monaco, Cannes etc, and adventures like canyoning, scuba diving and sailing.
Play:
I only had one full day in Nice and chose to go scuba diving. The booking was straightforward enough – you go to the reception, choose between the 9am and 2pm sessions, and pay a downpayment. They then print you instructions and you get there by yourself.
The trip out to the dive spot is great, and Nice Scuba, who operates the tour, are brilliant guides for beginners – you don’t need a licence as they’ll guide you through the waters and show you what you need to see. I spotted a blue giant grouper and went up close and personal with some of the most amazingly colourful fishes I’ve ever seen.
Explore:
Nice Old Town is glorious and filled with charming little nooks and corners of amazing discoveries. From amazingly fresh Limoncello ice cream to lavender sachets, beaded bikinis and french antiques, there is something for everyone.
The beach is beautiful, but don’t expect to build sandcastles as they’re all pebbled beaches. Enjoy the waves though as it splashes on you as you walk along the shore, cooling off the heat of the summer.
Written by Vysia Duffield
Here’s a list of the best places to view art by Kahlo and Rivera as well as where to find out more about the life they shared together …
Read the complete post at the OneTravel blog.
If you think you’re thrifty enough for the challenge, drop a line to competitions@moneysupermarket.com by 8 July 2013 with “MoneySupermarket’s Big Night In” in the subject field along with a few details about your BNI plans in the body of the email. If accepted and sent the 50 quid, all you then have to do is write about your evening and wait to see if you’ve won. You can read all the T&Cs here.
The Money Supermarket folks are especially keen to see how creative bloggers can be in terms of food, drink and entertainment. And I reckon that’s fair. However, at the risk of coming across as a complete fuddy-duddy, I’m going to go out on a laid back and not terribly inventive limb to say that a perfect evening at home for me would not actually entail doing very much at all.
Even casual readers of my blog should be aware that I go out a lot, usually having a fantastic time wining-and-dining my merry way around London or setting off on some sort of zany adventure. I’m not complaining about my “job” by any stretch (I really am doing what I love). However – as fun as it is – such a lifestyle wears me down sometimes and shifts my focus away from the “little things in life” that are most important to me.
A Big Night In for me might involve … Propping my feet up … Maybe ordering a pizza or having a simple fresh salad … Probably not drinking (a “night in” of any size is an excellent opportunity for me to rest my overworked liver!) … There might be some Netflix action involved, although ideally I’d be plucking on my sorely neglected guitar.
Still, all that stuff’s secondary. What would make an night at home a “big” one for me would be taking advantage of that time to spend with my girlfriend, Kemey, and our cat, Winston. That’s it. As lame as it may sound, just being able to clear a block in my calendar of non-scheduled time (and sync that with Kemey who’s work life is equally exciting but often frantic) seems like thrill enough to be honest. If super fluffy Winston’s there with us begging for a belly rub, then so much the better!
So, I’m gonna try my Big Night In over the weekend … and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m not sure if this write up meets the reqs of what Money Supermarket aims to achieve with the campaign, but I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to think about prioritising my time. It’s been a nice and relaxing exercise just writing about the downtime to come!
I had a pleasant lunch at Tibits on Sunday. It’s a spacious and comfortable place to enjoy a meal. Wedged between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus down the sanctuary of quiet Heddon Street (a spruced up, eatery-laden alley dubbed the Regent Street Food Quarter), Tibits also a welcome retreat from the bustle of nearby Regent Street and Oxford Circus. Even if you’re just looking for a spot to get off your feet, drop your shopping bags and have a quick drink or snack, you would be wise to keep Tibits in mind.
Food here is priced by weight (per 100 grams). From 11.30am to 6pm, it’s £2.20 to eat in or £1.70 for takeaway. From 6pm to 11pm, the price is £2.50 to eat in or £1.70 for takeaway. I like this concept, but I wasn’t certain how much my meal was going to cost until it was time to pay. The “damage” in the case of my lunch was £17.99 (which included a large glass of freshly made carrot-apple-ginger juice). I thought that was a reasonable price given the variety of what was available and the quantity (a sizeable mound but I wouldn’t say it was excessive or too different to what I saw on other patrons’ plates) of what I had. I was in Sunday lunch mode; I suppose if you’re dipping in to Tibits for a light weekday lunch to-go, you’d pay a lot less and still be pleased with what you got.
Highlights of my lunch included some especially moreish and piquant jalapeno cheese popper thingies; a fantastic tabouli; a Peruvian quinoa salad with fresh mint, red pepper, tomato and spring onion; a slightly spicy Thai tofu salad of with organic tofu and melon, medium hot; and an interestingly assembled and rather more spicy mango banana curry of manioc, coriander and soy cream sauce. Everything I sampled was pretty tasty to be honest (expect for some really bland and tough onion rings).
It’s worth noting that roughly 80% of the selection at Tibits is vegan. Every nine days the restaurant does a special vegan only menu. Also worth a mention is that this is a very family friendly establishment with a “Kids Corner” downstairs and lots of seating options for large parties throughout the dining area.
Tibits is located at 12-14 Heddon Street, W1B 4DA. Find out more at tibits.co.uk.
JustOpenedLondon.com launched back in the early spring as part of the equally fledgling Just Opened Network, a global network of sites dedicated to celebrating and sharing everything “just opened.” But for the time being, the main focus appears to be on London.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
As an American living in the UK, getting my head around the fact that I’m going about my business in an actual kingdom kinda does me in. Having grown up in the “land of the free,” the concept of kingdom seems more like something associated with ancient history or fairy tales. There was Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom hosted by Marlin Perkins on TV and that was about it.
Of course, Britain’s hardly the only modern day place with a royal family. And, with respect to practical concerns, the idea of whether folks here are subjects to a throne really doesn’t seem to matter all that much on a day-to-day basis. Of course, it is a big deal. As a foreigner I find this aspect of the UK’s cultural landscape can be a tricky one – balancing a genuine interest in history and current affairs with an attempt to assimilate and fit in with the locals ain’t always easy nor is discerning who’s a staunch royalist, who’s a republican or who even really cares. Whatever the situation – and whomever I happen to be talking to – one thing’s for sure: The Queen’s got a awesome collection of stuff with much of it impressively accessible to the public and well worth seeing for yourself.
Such is especially true in the case of In Fine Style which “explores the sumptuous costume of British monarchs and their court during the 16th and 17th centuries through portraits in the Royal Collection.” It’s a smartly curated show with an amazing (and free with entry) handheld audio/visual media guide greatly enhancing the experience of viewing the many gorgeous and historic paintings exhibited.
Interested in why we wear what we wear today? Looking for a material connection with history? Simply keen to take a gander at great art? This show’s for you. With more than 60 paintings including significant works by Rembrandt, Hans Holbein, Van Dyck, displayed alongside important works such as a number of etchings by Wenceslaus Hollar as well as an array of garments, jewellery, armour and more – In Fine Style follows the changing fashions of the period while demonstrating the spread of styles internationally and showing how clothing could (and still does) convey important messages.
And if your girlfriend happens to be a set and costume designer, you can score mega-points inviting her to visit the exhibition with you. Yep, Kemey loved this show. I did too I learned plenty checking it out with her. This exhibition’s a good one for contemplating the relationship between royalty and contemporary society and coming to grips with Britain’s living link to the past.
In Fine Style: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion runs until 6 October 2013 at The Queen’s Gallery. Admission is £9.50 for adults. The gallery is located at Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA (entrance on Buckingham Palace Road). Find out more at royalcollection.org.uk.
Check it out. Communications agency, Ciscion, has highlighted me in a “Speedy Spotlight” interview: Author Chris Osburn spoke to Cision about his love of London, targeting his audience and working with PRs.
Read the complete interview at the Cision blog.
The Overground’s East London extension opened in spring of 2010. This line runs from Highbury and Islington station in the north to Croydon to the south and is particularly useful – especially for culture vultures keen to check out London’s quirkier side.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
Situated within the grounds of Kensington Palace which itself is set amid the parkland splendour of Kensington Gardens, Queen Anne’s 18th century Orangery is a great place for sharing that quintessentially English tradition of afternoon tea with out-of-towners in an historic London venue. It’s a smart spot to keep in mind when meeting with family and friends and a mere cuppa somewhere more pedestrian simply won’t suffice. I wish I would’ve taken my mom there last time she was in town – she would have absolutely loved it. Comfortable and elegant, my guest and I found the Orangery especially conducive to long overdue discussions about all sorts of things and for plotting out the next few days of her London itinerary.
During our visit, service was prompt and polite, the food (little crustless sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves, an assortment of pastries and cakes – you know the scene) was good and plentiful, and the actual tea was lovely. I went with the newly added Eucalyptus Zest, rooibos blended with eucalyptus leaves, orange peel and orange blossoms. A nice and non-caffeinated pick-me-up, it was a refreshing drink that paired well with the Champagne I had ordered.
I thought the meal was reasonably priced as well – and a lot less expensive than other afternoon teas I’ve had over the years that were equally enjoyable. The “English Orangery Afternoon Tea” costs £22.65 per person. For special occasions, you can make it a “Royal Afternoon Tea” by adding a glass of Laurent-Perrier Brut NV (£32.50), Pimm’s (£28.95) or Spumante (£28.50). Of course, an obligatory post-tea amble through the palace grounds and Kensington Gardens is free of charge.
The Kensington Palace Orangery is located within Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX. Afternoon tea is available daily from 2pm to 6pm every day until 1 November 2013. To learn more, make reservations and find out about end of year opening times, go to orangerykensingtonpalace.co.uk.
The festival kicks off on Friday the 5th of July – with Bon Jovi headlining and Kaiser Chefs and Bush as supporting acts – and ends on Sunday the 14th with a Lionel Richie/Jennifer Lopez double bill (with Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers, Eliza Doolittle and more). Yes, the main draw is the line up of superstar acts but there’s stuff all through the day – comedy, children’s activities and entertainment, cooking demos and pop-ups.
Except the two Rolling Stones dates (which are sold out or extremely close to being so) I think there are still plenty of tickets to all the shows. I’m heading to over to check out BST on Friday the 12th to see Elton John and His Band along with Ray Davies and Elvis Costello. I’m a huge Elvis Costello fan and am really looking forward to this show! Stay tuned – I’m sure I’ll post a review soon after.
For more info visit www.bst-hydepark.com.
Get your Wiggle on for your chance to WIN Wimbledon tickets with this fun video sponsored by Evian.
The Fourth of July is all about enjoying a long weekend of summer fun and celebrating American independence with family and friends. And where better to make the most of this special occasion than San Francisco? A terrific place to visit any time of year, the City by the Bay pulls out all the stops for Uncle Sam’s birthday.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
More photos of the Dynamo levitation here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tikichris/sets/72157634304485116/with/9126960948/
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!
This new barbecue range hasn’t quite made it to your supermarket shelves yet, but I’ve had a chance to sample some of products. I really enjoyed what I’ve tasted too! I was especially impressed with the Smokey Chipotle Marinade Rub and the Smokey Barbecue Mill (blend of pepper, smoked paprika and coriander).
The rubs come with in-pack marinade bags to help make cooking much less messy and cleaning a whole lot easier. All you have to do is place the meat or fish in the bag with the marinade, hold the bag closed and shake gently to spread the ingredients around. For depth of flavour, leave in the fridge for an hour or more before grilling. And, just in case it’s raining, the bag can also be used in the oven for slow cooking, retaining the moisture.
Planning to host a BBQ this summer? These new smoky flavoured treats from Bart are sure to wow you and your guests and lighten your after party workload too!
To be in with a chance win the Bart Smokehouse rubs and marinades simply tweet the following:
RT to win – Summer BBQ? @tikichris rubs it in with @BartIngredients http://bit.ly/10Gik4A
Good luck!
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday (28 June 2013, noon British time). To be eligible to win, you need to have an address here in the UK. The winner will receive all five rubs as well as two mills and two sauces of choice.
About Bart’s Smokehouse range of authentic rubs, mills and sauces
The recipes in the Smokehouse Range have been chosen from around the world to bring exciting flavours to everyday cooking. The rubs come in five great flavours:
In addition to the rubs, the Smokehouse range features seasoning mills and sauces, all of which complement each other and can be used before cooking as a marinade, at the grill or as a dipping sauce at the table.
Whole spices and seeds in the new mills give a fresh, aromatic seasoning, heat, flavour and colour to meat, vegetables and salads:
The three Smokehouse sauces are inspired by regional US recipes:
Like all Bart products, the Smokehouse Barbecue range features ingredients of the highest quality blended in the way that most suits the herbs and spices selected, preserving flavour and appearance. And the guarantee that there are never any fillers, artificial colourings, flavour enhancers or other nasties.
The full range is available at Ocado from the end of June and a selection of the rubs and mills will be instore at all Waitrose branches from 2nd June. They will also be available through independents, and delicatessens around the country. Or buy online at bart-ingredients.co.uk from July. The rubs are priced at £1.49, the sauces at £2.99 and the mills at £3.99.
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.
Check out the official book trailer for by Bernard Cornwell’s epic new novel, 1356, and join the greatest unknown battle in British history with the master storyteller. Post sponsored by Harper Collins.
Direct from New York for a limited run at London’s Charing Cross Theatre is Blind Date starring Canadian comedienne Rebecca Northan as Mimi, a “lovable minx of a Parisian clown.”
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
Authentic British clothing and accessories brand Fat Face is celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer by giving fans the chance to win Jim, a bespoke Fat Face Volkswagen campervan, worth £35,000.
“Jim” is an amalgamation of the names of Fat Face founders Jules Leaver and Tim Slade. When Jules and Tim started the business a quarter century ago, Naming their company “Fat Face” as an homage to Le Face (an Olympic black ski run in Val d’Isere), the duo sold their own VW Campervan to sell printed T-shirts.
For more details and to enter the #WinJim competition visit Fat Face’s 25 years website and the brand’s Facebook page. And be on the lookout for a new summer range of Fat Face heritage products influenced by original styles and designs from the early days.
Entrants must be residents of the UK/Ireland and aged 18 or over by the 18th August 2013.
The prize is a VW Campervan 1966 split screen Deluxe Trim 1.6 petrol, left hand drive, manual transmission. The VW Campervan has had a Fat Face Logo sticker applied by Fat Face; this is non-permanent and can be removed. Insurance, maintenance and running costs of the vehicle are the responsibility of the winner from the date of ownership of the vehicle.
The winner must arrange insurance and provide a full UK/EU driving license on the date of collection. The VW Campervan will have accrued mileage from previous ownership. Fat Face will not be responsible for any mechanical (or other) faults that may develop after the winner takes ownership of the vehicle. The VW Campervan will be supplied with 6 months tax, full MOT and a tank of petrol. Wow!
… how best to go about and make sure you’re spending your money wisely? A smart way to save while checking out some of Atlanta’s most visited attractions is to get the CityPass.
Read my complete post at CheapOair.
Great news! One of north London’s best loved and most picturesquely placed pubs is going to the dogs.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
Key to the herbaceous celebrations is a temporary greenhouse curated by Britain’s leading herb expert, Jekka McVicar. Organic gardening expert, author and broadcaster – McVicar knows her stuff too and shares it with enthusiasm. She owns the UK’s largest collection of culinary herbs (Jekka’s Herb Farm near Bristol) with more than 600 varieties and has been awarded 62 62 Horticultural Society Gold Medal for her organic herb displays, including 14 at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The greenhouse is located right on the Thames just outside Southbank Centre’s Riverside Terrace Cafe. It’s free to wander through and is well worth doing so with nostrils flared to take in all its headily herby grandeur.
Helping transcribe the herbs from the soil to the plate is Company of Cooks caterers with renowned pastry chef, Claire Clark MBE. Claire’s had a delicious career having shared her delectable creations at everywhere from French Laundry, to the Ritz, Claridges, and a whole lot more.
Venues involved in Herbfest – and will be using herbs from the greenhouse on their menus – include The Royal Opera House, Kenwood House, Southbank Centre’s Riverside Terrace Café, and The Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden with fantastic views of the Thames and the skyline and plenty of garden plants and grassy spots.
More info at southbankcentre.co.uk.
