tikichris

Just Back from Tahiti. Whoa!

Posted on 2013-05-18 by tikichris

Hey folks. I’m back in town after a week and a half sailing around French Polynesia’s Leeward Islands. And aside from a couple of hours of choppy sailing and a bout of seasickness that I thought might never end, the trip was truly awesome: eating lots and lots of fresh papaya … swimming around in giant bathtub lagoons off wild specks of far flung land … spotting dolphins … ogling tikis … contemplating all the many different shades of blue … I had a bona fide blast in the tropical breeze.

Commissioned by City AM, I was in the South Pacific to cover the Tahiti Pearl Regatta – and, to be sure, I’ll post a heads up here on the blog when that piece gets published. Island hopping with a bunch of yachtsmen and women from all over the globe revealed a whole new world of possibilities to a landlubber like me. I’d never really been sailing before – only a few hours excursion before this opportunity. I loved it.

I spent most of my time on the “media boat” (a hired catamaran from Tahiti Yacht Charter with a cool captain and lovely hostess), but when I wasn’t at sea I was lounging at the Intercontinental Resort Tahiti. Lush. Scenic. Luxurious. Yearningly returnable. My first night at the resort was in an over-the-water bungalow (yeah, one of those!), giggling at my good fortune and being lulled to sleep by the sound of lapping waves just a few feet beneath my massive bed (replete with its own “pillow menu”).

French Polynesia is a long way away, but honestly I think that is much of its appeal. I was somewhere else, not expediently reached or easily cancelled out. I was having an adventure. Tahiti and her islands would make an ideal honeymoon destination, a great place for getting-away-from-it-all, and a smart location for reconnecting with whomever in your life you feel you’ve drifted too far away from. It certainly was an idyllic setting for a regatta and a much appreciated spot to visit on commission.

Anyway, keep a weather eye out for more stories from my experience with the Tahiti Pearl Regatta. Until then, you can see all my photos from the trip here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tikichris/sets/72157633494126905/

For more information on Tahiti and her islands visit www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk.

Posted in City AM, French Polynesia, Hotels, Photography, Tiki, Travel | Tagged boating, City AM, french polynesia, hotel, INTERCONTINENTAL, InterContinental Resort Tahiti, leeward islands, pacific, pacific ocean, polyneisa, polynesia, polynesian, race, regatta, resort, sailing, society islands, south pacific, tahiti, tahiti pearl regatta, tahiti yacht charter, tahitian, tikcihris, tiki, Travel, yachting, yachts | 4 Comments

London Daily Photo: Olympic Sports Club and Sandwich Cafe

Posted on 2013-05-18 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged bethnal green, cambridge heath, east london, hackney, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

“New Yorker Loves Denim” Video

Posted on 2013-05-17 by tikichris

Denim love – true enough! Inspiration in our veins, jeans on our skin – New Yorker is denim! Check out New Yorker’s new Denim-Spot featuring some of the newest articles from the New Yorker collection. #spon

Posted in Shopping, Video | Tagged clip, denim, denim love, denim-spot, jeans, new yorker, new yorker demin, new yorker loves denim, Video | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Untitled

Posted on 2013-05-17 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

Brueghel, Titian and More – Exhibitions in Rome May 2013 (CheapOair)

Posted on 2013-05-17 by tikichris

A great resource for finding out about art related happenings in Rome is local website romaexhibit.it (with information in Italian and English about current and upcoming events). Here’s a heads up about two must-see exhibitions in a couple of amazing venues on now in Rome – compliments of romaexhibit.it – along with details on how to make the most of any art-minded visit …

Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.

photo/paolofefe

Posted in Art, CheapOair, Italy, Rome, Travel | Tagged Art, Brueghel, cheapoair, Chiostro del Bramante, EXHIBITIONS, flemish art, galleries, Italy, may 2013, roma, romaexhibit.it, rome, Scuderie del Quirinale, the Fascinating World of Flemish Art, Titian, Travel | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: In Your Face

Posted on 2013-05-16 by tikichris

Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged Graffiti, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street art, street photography | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Gold

Posted on 2013-05-15 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

Coronation Afternoon Tea at Fortnum and Mason (CheapOair)

Posted on 2013-05-14 by tikichris

In March 2012, her Majesty the Queen opened the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon in honor of her 60 years as Monarch since her ascension to the throne in February 1952. This year sees the continuation of the celebrations, to mark the 60th anniversary since her coronation at Westminster Abbey in June 1953.

Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.

Photo/1000heads

Posted in CheapOair, Drink, Food, London, Shopping, Travel | Tagged afternoon tea, cheapoair, coronation, Coronation Afternoon Tea, diamond jubilee tea salon, QUEEN ELIZABETH II, tea | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: KEEP OFF

Posted on 2013-05-14 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

Taste of London Celebrates 10th Anniversary (OneTravel)

Posted on 2013-05-13 by tikichris

The perennially popular Taste of London restaurant festival marks its tenth anniversary this summer with its biggest and best line up to date.

Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel | Tagged alfred prasad, Ben Tish, chefs, Drink, festival, Food, francesco mazzei, London, MICHEL ROUX JR, OneTravel, Pascal Aussignac, regent's park, restaurants, summer, taste of london, Travel | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Thanks! You Too.

Posted on 2013-05-13 by tikichris

Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged Graffiti, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street art, street photography | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Timeline

Posted on 2013-05-12 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged LDP, London, London Daily Photo, phone box, Photography, street photography, telephone box | Leave a comment

Foodie Fun at England’s Seaside in Sussex (CheapOair)

Posted on 2013-05-12 by tikichris

Located along the coast in Southeastern England, Sussex offers the best of British surf and turf for gourmet travelers visiting the UK and all within easy reach of London and its two main airports – Heathrow and Gatwick. Indeed Gatwick is located halfway between London and Sussex seaside communities of Brighton and Hove. Here’s a selection of upcoming food and drink events around in Brighton and Hove and surrounding Sussex countryside. Happy eating!

Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.

Posted in Beer, CheapOair, Drink, England, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping, Street Markets, Travel, Wine | Tagged beer, brighton, Brighton Farmers Market, cheapoair, Churchill Square Farmers Market, cider, Drink, Food, Henry Butler, Hove, L'Eglise, restaurants, seafood, South Downs Beer & Cider Festival, sussex, Sussex Gourmet Bus Tour, Travel, wine | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Barber’s Back

Posted on 2013-05-11 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged barber, barber shop, haircut, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, sharp's, street photography | Leave a comment

Colombian Chef Harry Sasson “Pops Up” at the Intercontinental London Park Lane (CheapOair)

Posted on 2013-05-11 by tikichris

InterContinental London Park Lane is to host its very own pop-up version of chef Harry Sasson’s pioneering Bogotá restaurant, Club Colombia. Known as one of South America’s most celebrated Chefs, Harry and his team will take over the iconic London hotel’s Cookbook Cafe from 17th to the 25th of May to recreate his modern and refined approach to Colombian cuisine for a British audience.

Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.

Posted in CheapOair, Food, Hotels, London, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged Bogotá, Bogotá restaurant, cheapoair, chef, Club Colombia, colombian cuisine, colombian food, colombian restaurant, cookbook cafe, Harry Sasson, hotel, INTERCONTINENTAL LONDON PARK LANE, London, nterContinental, park lane, pop-up, restaurant | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Faithful Companion

Posted on 2013-05-10 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged cocker spaniel, dog, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

Tapas Recipe: Apple Crumble Crema Catalana by Jose Pizarro

Posted on 2013-05-10 by tikichris

A few weeks back I had the pleasure sampling the results of chef Jose Pizarro and Codorníu cava teaming up to create a series of “Great British Tapas”. You can read about that experience in my write up for Blue Tomato. I really enjoyed tasting all of the tapas and thought the idea behind the project was novel and well executed. So, I decided to share all the recipes here on my own blog.

Here’s the last of five recipes to be published this week. Make sure to have a look at all the recipes.

Apple Crumble Crema Catalana
Makes 16 small glasses

For the apples:
500g cox’s apples peeled
50g caster sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
For the crumble:
90g plain flour
50g butter cold and cubed
40g soft brown sugar
50g slivered almonds

For the custard:
1 litre whole milk
1 lemon peel, pith removed
1 orange peel, pith removed
5cm cinnamon stick
6 large freerange egg yolks
50g caster sugar
40g cornflour

Preheat the oven to 200˚C place the flour, butter and sugar in a bowl and rub with your fingers until you have crumbs, stir in the almonds and scatter on a baking sheet. Place in the oven to toast for 15 minutes until golden and crisp, turning over frequently with a spoon.

Peel and cube the apples, place in a small pan with the sugar and cinnamon, just cover with water and place over a medium heat to cook with a lid on gently for 5 minutes until softened. Remove the apple cubes from the liquid and set aside whilst you reduce the liquid remaining over a medium heat for a further 2 minutes until syrupy. pour over the apple cubes and allow to cool.

Heat the milk, lemon and orange peel and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan over a medium heat until just about to boil. Remove from the heat and set aside to allow the flavours to infuse. once cool remove the zest and cinnamon stick and discard. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick and pale, add the cornflour and then continue to whisk in the milk. return the custard to a clean pan and cook, stirring continuously, for approx 10 minutes until the mixture is thick and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Cool slightly before straining through a fine sieve into a jug. Spoon the apple mixture into the base of 16 small glasses and pour over the custard.

Scatter the custards with the almond crumble and serve immediately.

Posted in Drink, Food, Great British Tapas Project, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged apple, apple crumble, apple crumble crema Catalana, apple crumble recipe, british cuisine, british food, CAVA, chef, CODORNÍU, crema catalana, dessert, dessert recipe, Great British Tapas Project, jose, JOSE PIZARRO, London, PIZARRO, pudding, recipe, restaurant, restaurants, spanish cuisine, spanish food, spanish restaurant, spanish wine, sparkling wine, tapas, Tapas Recipe | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Cafe Dusk

Posted on 2013-05-09 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged cafe, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, neon, Photography, signage, street photography | Leave a comment

Tapas Recipe: Beef and Pimentón Yorkshire Mini Puds by Jose Pizarro

Posted on 2013-05-09 by tikichris

Here’s the fourth of five recipes to be published this week. Check back tomorrow for another recipe.

Beef and Pimentón Yorkshire Mini Puds
Makes approximately 24 small Yorkshire puddings

For the beef:
1 kilo beef sirloin
1 tsp hot pimentón
1 tbsp olive oil

For the peppers:
4 large red peppers
1 ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 thyme sprigs
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
1 garlic clove crushed

For the pudding:
140g plain flour
4 medium eggs beaten
200ml milk
2 tsp sweet pimentón

Preheat oven to 220˚c. place the peppers in a small baking tray and pop in the oven to roast for 30 minutes, turning occasionally until the skins have blackened. remove from the oven and place straight into a ziplock bag to sweat and allow the skins to loosen. Once cool, slit the peppers in half, remove the stalks, seeds and skin. Tear the flesh into 1 cm strips and toss into a bowl with the olive oil, thyme leaves, vinegar and garlic.

Lower the oven to 200˚c. season the beef with the pimentón and rub with the olive oil. sear in a hot pan on all sides before placing in the oven to roast for 20 minutes (rare) 25 minutes (medium). Remove from the oven and leave to rest before carving.

Tip the flour into a large bowl, make a well in the middle, pour in the eggs and slowly add the milk, whisking continuously until a smooth batter is reached. Stir in the sweet pimentón and season with sea salt and black pepper.

Drizzle a little sunflower oil in the bottoms of a 12 hole non stick patty tin. Place the tin in the oven for the oil to preheat and get very hot.

Remove the tin from the oven, divide the batter between the holes and place back in the oven to cook for 15 minutes until golden and puffed. Repeat using all the batter.

Place a crispy Yorkshire on each plate, top with a thin slice of beef,a few of the peppers and serve immediately, drizzled in a little of the pepper dressing.

Posted in Drink, Food, Great British Tapas Project, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged beef, beef and pimentón Yorkshire mini puds, british cuisine, british food, CAVA, chef, CODORNÍU, Great British Tapas Project, jose, JOSE PIZARRO, London, PIZARRO, recipe, restaurant, restaurants, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, spanish cuisine, spanish food, spanish restaurant, spanish wine, sparkling wine, tapas, Tapas Recipe, yorkshire mini puds, yorkshire pudding | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Star

Posted on 2013-05-08 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

Tapas Recipe: Fish and Chips Tostados by Jose Pizarro

Posted on 2013-05-08 by tikichris

Here’s the third of five recipes to be published this week. Check back tomorrow for another recipe.

Fish and Chips Tostados
Makes approximately 16

For the fish:
3 x 100g cod fillet skinned
50g plain flour
1 litre olive oil to deep fry

For the chips:
200g maris piper potatoes
500ml extra virgin olive oil

For the peas:
200g jamon diced
2 shallots finely diced
300g fresh peas
150ml fresh chicken stock
3 tbsp fresh mint
16 slices thin baguette toasted in oven

For the fish:
Heat the olive oil in a large deep pan to 180˚c (use a cooking thermometer). Dust the cod
fillets in the flour and dip the floured fish into the hot oil. Fry for 5 minutes until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper and flake.

For the chips:
Pour the oil into a deep frying pan and heat to 180˚c (use a cooking thermometer).
Cut the potatoes lengthways into 3mm slices,then cut the slices into thin matchsticks.
Add the chips, stir well and leave them to fry for 3 minutes until they are crisp and golden.

Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, drain on kitchen paper, season with sea salt
and cracked black pepper.

For the peas:
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a sauté pan, add the diced jamon, cook until crisp. remove
from the pan then add the shallots, fry until golden. Add the peas, followed by the
stock and cook for a further 10 minutes until the stock has reduced, crush the peas
slightly, stir in the chopped mint.

Spoon a little of the peas onto the baguette slices, top with a large flake of the fish
and finish with a few of the thin chips.

Posted in Drink, Food, Great British Tapas Project, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wine | Tagged british cuisine, british food, CAVA, chef, CODORNÍU, Croquetas, fish, fish and chips, Fish and Chips Tostados, Great British Tapas Project, jose, JOSE PIZARRO, London, peas, PIZARRO, recipe, restaurant, restaurants, seafood, spanish cuisine, spanish food, spanish restaurant, spanish wine, sparkling wine, tapas, Tapas Recipe, Tostados | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Di

Posted on 2013-05-07 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged lady diana, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, painting, Photography, portrait, princess of wales, street photography | Leave a comment

Tapas Recipe: Shepherd’s Pie Croquetas by Jose Pizarro

Posted on 2013-05-07 by tikichris

Here’s the second of five recipes to be published this week. Check back tomorrow for another recipe.

Shepherd’s Pie Croquetas
Makes 10

For the filling:
1 onion finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
250g lean minced lamb
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground allspice
½ tsp sweet pimentón
Freshly grated nutmeg
3 tbsp flat leaf parsley finely chopped

For the potato:
1 kilo floury maris piper potatoes
100g fresh white bread crumbs
1 egg
olive oil for frying

For the filling, fry the onion in the olive oil for 10 minutes until golden and soft. Add the minced lamb and fry for 3 minutes, breaking up any lumps as it browns. grind the cumin seeds and the coriander seeds in a spice grinder to a fine powder. Add to the minced lamb along with the cinnamon, allspice and pimentón. Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper, add 200ml water and continue to cook stirring occasionally until the liquid has evaporated and the lamb is tender. Stir in the parsley and a good grate of nutmeg, check for seasoning and set aside to cool.

Cut the potatoes into chunks and boil in a large pan of water for 20 minutes until tender, drain well and leave to dry in the colander for a few minutes until the steam dies down, return to the pan and mash until smooth. Stir in the beaten egg, season with salt and pepper and set aside to cool.

Lightly oil your hands and shape the potato into balls approx 60g, flatten each into a disc approximately 10cm diameter. Put a tablespoon of the meat filling into the middle of the discs and wrap the potato round it to form a ball. Seal any gaps then flatten gently into a 7cm patty.

Heat 1 cm of olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat 170˚c, coat half the fritters in the breadcrumbs, add them to the pan and cook gently for 5 minutes on each side until golden and crisp. Lift out of the pan and place on a plate lined with kitchen paper. Repeat with the remaining fritters. Serve cut in half with some pea shoots.

Posted in Drink, Food, Great British Tapas Project, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged british cuisine, british food, CAVA, chef, CODORNÍU, Croquetas, Great British Tapas Project, jose, JOSE PIZARRO, London, PIZARRO, recipe, restaurant, restaurants, Shepherd’s Pie, shepherd’s pie croquetas, spanish cuisine, spanish food, spanish restaurant, spanish wine, sparkling wine, tapas, Tapas Recipe | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Pig

Posted on 2013-05-06 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

Tapas Recipe: Full English Sourdoughs by Jose Pizarro

Posted on 2013-05-06 by tikichris

Here’s the first of five recipes to be published this week. Check back tomorrow for another recipe.

Full English Sourdoughs
Makes approximately 16

For the soaked beans:
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 onion finely diced
300g chorizo cubed
300ml chicken stock
300g ripe tomatoes chopped
2 tbsp flat leaf parsley chopped

For the beans:
300g dried arrocina or haricot
beans soaked overnight
1 onion halved
1 garlic bulb
4 bay leaves
4 cloves

For the rest:
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
8 slices serrano ham
4 slices sourdough bread griddled
and cut into 3cm pieces
16 quail eggs

Drain the beans and put them in a pan with a litre of water, bring them to a boil, skim off the scum, add the garlic head, onion halves, cloves and bay. Cover and leave to simmer gently for 1 hour 30 minutes until tender. Drain and discard the onion, garlic, bay and cloves.

Heat the oil in a medium sauté pan, add the garlic and the onion and fry gently until golden and soft. add the chorizo and continue to cook for 3 minutes until the chorizo starts to release its oil and starts to crisp. stir in the beans followed by the stock. Simmer gently for 20 minutes until the beans are softened and flavoured with the chorizo. Then stir in the tomatoes. Set aside to keep warm.

In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil and fry the serrano ham in batches until crisp and set aside to keep warm. In the same pan (adding more oil if needed) fry the eggs, so they are crispy and lacy.

Place the toasted bread on a serving plate, spoon over some of the beans, top with a fried quail egg and the crispy ham broken into shards.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged british cuisine, british food, CAVA, chef, CODORNÍU, full english breakfast, full English sourdoughs, Great British Tapas Project, jose, JOSE PIZARRO, London, PIZARRO, recipe, restaurant, restaurants, spanish cuisine, spanish food, spanish restaurant, spanish wine, sparkling wine, tapas | Leave a comment

The Bristol Hotel (CDCLifestyle)

Posted on 2013-05-05 by tikichris

Right on the harbour and just a block over from picturesque Queen Square, The Bristol is an ideally situated hotel whatever might bring you to the vibrant and compact city of Bristol. I certainly didn’t have any problems getting around the city centre on foot while keeping this comfortable hotel as my base during a recent visit.

Read my complete post at the Comte des Cierges CDCLifestyle blog.

Posted in CDCLifestyle, Drink, England, Food, Hotels, Travel, Wine | Tagged bristol, bubbles & berries, CDCLifestyle, champagne, comte des cierges, england, FOUR STAR HOTEL, french wine, hotel, Louis Dornier & Fils, sparkling wine, temple spa, the bristol, the bristol hotel, Travel | Leave a comment

Slider Decider at The Gun Pub in East London (OneTravel)

Posted on 2013-05-05 by tikichris

On Thursday May 16, chefs rom across the UK will gather at celebrated East London pub, The Gun, to pit their slider skills against The Gun’s own head chef, Quinton Bennett, to determine who deserves the title of Slider Decider Champion 2013.

Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, London, OneTravel, Pubs, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged BARS, Barworks, beer, Blue Boar Smokehouse, burgers, canary wharf, Capish, Check On, Disco Bistro, dishoom, Drink, duck & waffle, east london, ED'S EASY DINER, Food, Graphic, hamburgers, Nanban, Nigel Frederick Butcher, OneTravel, OPERA TAVERN, Original Fry Up Material, pub, pubs, restaurant, Seven Park Place, sliders, St Austell Brewery, street vendors, sushinho, The Bladebone Inn, The Butty, The Grove, THE GUN, The Plough, The Red Lion, THE SHIP, The Tavern; Tsuru, Travel | Leave a comment

Good Stuff and Grand Designs

Posted on 2013-05-05 by tikichris

Here’s a quick little list of good stuff I’ve recently come across and thought was worth sharing with you. Enjoy!

Dominion American Craft Sodas

So, all foods massive and American seem to be en vogue here in London at the moment (and it’s been a pretty long moment). But whaddya gonna wash your burgers down with if ya ain’t up for a beer? I recently received a sample range of drinks from Dominion Sodas: creamy orange, black cherry, ginger ale (all made with natural cane sugar) and the root beer (made with honey). I loved the black cherry – really interesting full-on cherry flavour – as well as the (especially) creamy orange. The root beer and ginger beer were good but the former lacked a bit of bite and the latter wasn’t fiery at all. They’ll all a nice alternative to heavier high fructose corn syrup sodas though. Brewed in Delaware, Dominion sodas are now available in a few restaurants and bars across the UK including Bodean’s, The Diner and All Star Lanes as well as online at slurp.co.uk.

International Chocolate Awards

Now in its second year, the International Chocolate Awards is an independent organisation set up by Chocolate Week and Seventy% that partners with fine chocolate experts and organisations in different countries with independent verification and oversight to determine who makes the finest chocolate in the world … and few things are as delicious as being asked to serve as a judge during the European Semi Final round. As fun as the tasting was, the session really gave my palate a workout (not complaining!!!). Stay tuned for info about the results later in the year.

Grand Designs Live

As the guest of Samsung (huge thanks for the hospitality!), I paid a visit to the Grand Designs Live show at the Excel London yesterday.

I got a kick out of my visit to the Samsung House checking out the new range of products for the “connected home” including TVs, AV, cameras, mobiles and digital appliances. I studied the Galaxy Camera to a covetous extent and all but wept that I simply don’t have the money or space for the behemoth that is the 28 cubic foot, four-door refrigerator and freezer with “flexi-zone” compartment. Wow.

More stuff I marvelled at while roaming around Grand Designs Live:

Jellyfish Capsules – state of the art habitats for jellyfish.

Mygind Design – self-contained and weather resistant garden haven loungers.

Tree Tents – lightweight, hybrid aluminium and steam bent ash airframes that offer a comfortable, low impact shelter at any time of year.

Posted in Chocolate, Design, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, London, Photography, Restaurants, Shopping | Tagged All Star Lanes, appliances, Bodean's, cameras, cherry soda, chocolate, chocolate week, digital appliances, Dominion American Craft Sodas, Drink, Excel London, fine chocolate, four-door refrigerator, Galaxy Camera, ginger beer, Grand Designs Live, international chocolate awards, jellyfish, Jellyfish Capsule, Jellyfish Capsules, kitchen, London, Mygind Design, orange soda, restaurants, root beer, SAMSUNG, Samsung four-door refrigerator, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Galaxy Camera, Samsung refrigerator, seventy%, should have gone to specsavers, should've gone to specsavers, slurp.co.uk, soda, spec savers, specsavers, The Diner, Tree Tents | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Grease

Posted on 2013-05-05 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged bathroom, chatsworth road, clapton, E5, east london, hackney, lavatory, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, public toilet, street photography, toilet, urinal | Leave a comment

Mandrake – Machiavelli’s Greatest Comedy – at the Brockley Jack Theatre

Posted on 2013-05-04 by tikichris

brockleyjack.co.uk

Posted in London, Theatre | Tagged brockley, Brockley Jack, comedy, design, kemey lafond, lewisham, London, Machiavelli, Mandrake, preview, SE4, theatre | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Untitled

Posted on 2013-05-04 by tikichris

Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged east london, Graffiti, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, Photography, street art, street photography | Leave a comment

Breakfast at The Botanist, Sloane Square

Posted on 2013-05-04 by tikichris

As elegant as any casual dining establishment you’re apt to come across in upscale Chelsea and just a stone’s throw from Sloane Square Station, the Botanist is as smartly situated as London restaurants come. And with a newly introduced breakfast menu available all week, it’s now a smart place to start your day as well.

Hungry in SW1? Pull in The Botanist for its tummy filling take on ye olde full English. At £14, The Botanist Breakfast delivers a generous mound of smoked streaky bacon, a tidy and tasty stack of mini Cumberland sausages, a thick square of Mrs Brown’s black pudding (the best black pudding I can recollect having in quite some time), roast vine tomatoes, rather moreish field mushrooms, better than average baked beans, cumin spiced home fries (kinda bland to be honest), two eggs to order (I had mine poached and a little runny) and choice of rye or sourdough toast (I went with the sourdough). Yeah, I liked it – and didn’t even contemplate having another meal for another eight hours.

As much as I loved the above, I believe I probably would have been just as satiated with other options. Sweetcorn fritters with roast vine tomato, smoked streaky bacon, baby spinach and avocado salsa (£12) sounded delish and was highly recommended by the incredibly gracious server, Jess. I’m pretty sure the blueberry buttermilk pancakes with smoked streaky bacon and maple syrup (£11) could have done the trick if I’d been in that sort of mood. There’s a lot more to the menu that just those mentions too.

Other highlights from my lovely late morning linger included excellent coffee – just Illy but superbly tempered and pulled … great marmalade and strawberry jam … a “Popeye punch” juice featuring spirulina, spinach and apple juice (and more stuff I think) … a nice bossa nova heavy soundtrack wafting through the restaurant … free WiFi … and just staring out the window upon the tony streets of Chelsea and ogling the line up of luxury cars most mere mortals could never afford zip by. It was a gorgeous sunny morning too, and The Botanist’s wide open doors and large windows seemed ideally suited to take in plenty of the lovely natural light.

In fact, I was enjoying my time there so much, I stayed well after my brekkie to do a spot of work.

The Botanist is located at 7 Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE. Read about the new morning menu and everything else at thebotanistonsloanesquare.com.

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Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged bacon, black pudding, botanist, breakfast, breakfast menu, breakfast review, chelsea, coffee, full english breakfast, illy, London, mrs brown's black pudding, new menu, pub, restaurant, restaurant review, sausages, sloane square, SW1, THE BOTANIST, the botanist breakfast | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Millfields Road

Posted on 2013-05-03 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged clapton, CLAPTON POND, E5, east london, hackney, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, LOWER CLAPTON, millfields road, Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

Soho’s Best Indian Restaurants (OneTravel)

Posted on 2013-05-02 by tikichris

Britain’s long been known as a great destination for Indian and South Asian cuisine. Up until recent years, many people even would say the best Indian restaurants in the world were actually in the UK and not Indian itself. Of course, London is home to a dynamic and cosmopolitan dining scene. Without doubt, amazing Indian restaurants are an important part of it.

Perhaps nowhere in London is the variety of restaurants and dining options as varied as in Soho, the compact and social heart of this sprawling city. Even once you’ve decided on what type of food you’re keen to enjoy, going out to eat in Soho brings with it tough decisions. To help narrow your list down, here’s a list of a few choice Indian eateries in (and around) Soho.

Carom at Meza
100 Wardour Street, W1F 0TN

Carom is an excellent restaurant for a fine meal as well as a happening spot to take in some of London’s hottest nightlife. There’s a fantastic cocktail bar at the entrance and a late night Cuban club downstairs featuring live music every night of the week. Somehow executive chef, Balaji Balachander, adeptly manages to make sure all this Soho-centric activity doesn’t steal the spotlight from his gorgeous menu. Fabulous dishes to try include the soft shell crab, Rajasthani style lamb Laal Maas and the vegetarian saag makai.

More info about meza-soho.co.uk.

Cinnamon Soho
5 Kingly Street, W1B 5PF

The third in executive chef Vivek Singh’s trio of exquisite fine dining restaurants, the menu at Cinnamon Soho shows off Singh’s signature modern take while incorporating his playful take on classic British favourites. Fanciful dishes such as a Bangla Scotch egg and ox cheek vindaloo (not to mention a seemingly ever buzzing cocktail bar) entice without disappointing.

Visit the restaurant online at cinnamonsoho.com.

Dishoom
12 Upper St Martin’s Lane, WC2H 9FB

Argue amongst yourselves whether London’s first “Bombay cafe” (there’s now another Dishoom open in East London as well) is technically located within the boundaries of Soho. If not, it’s just steps beyond and only a mere minute’s walks from Leicester Square Underground Station. What’s indisputable is that Dishoom offers a fun and vibrant place to dine. A yummy menu, quality chai and a scrumptious array of Anglo-Indian breakfast items make this a excellent spot to keep in mind whatever the time of day.

Visit dishoom.com to find out more.

Govinda’s Pure Vegetarian Restaurant
10 Soho Street, W1D 3DL

Located at the Radha Krishna Temple, Govinda’s aim is to provide a “karma free diet” of “fresh, nutritious meals at affordable prices.” Everything on the menu is meat, fish and egg free. There are plenty of vegan dishes as well. Govinda’s is a conveniently central yet serene setting for anyone seeking a healthy meal.

Find out more at iskcon-london.org.

Imli Street
167-169 Wardour Street, W1F 8WR

Looking for somewhere casual that can accommodate a range of appetites and palates? Keep Imli Street in mind. There’s plenty of seating at and around the bar and a menu featuring a range of cocktails and bar snacks. Having just reopened after a major refurbishment, it’s as attractive a venue as ever your apt to find in Soho without having to break the bank or join a private members club.

Details at imli.co.uk.

Mooli’s
50 Frith Street, W1D 4 (BUT MOVING TO A BIGGER LOCATION SOON)

Everybody who tries Mooli’s seems to become a fan. Famous for their roti wraps (just don’t call ’em “Indian burritos!”) filled with inspired flavours and fresh ingredients, Mooli’s is a strong contender not just for one of the best south Asian options in Soho but also for top street eats in town.

More at moolis.com.

Veeraswamy
99-101 Regent Street, W1B 4RS

Established in 1926 (on the same day as Queen Liz’s birth), Veeraswamy is Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant and one of London’s oldest surviving restaurants. Right off Regent Street (the restaurants’ first floor dining room hovers above it – get a table near a window if you can!), with an “ethnic” without being kitsch atmosphere, incredibly attentive service, fascinating history and an exceptionally tasty menu: Veerswamy is an elegant restaurant serving delectable Indian cuisine. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but a side dish of fresh pineapple curry is highly recommended.

Check out Veeraswamy online at veeraswamy.com.

This post was originally published on the OneTravel blog.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged britain's oldest indian restaurant, carnaby street, carom at meza, CINNAMON SOHO, dishoom, fine dining, Food, frith street, imli street, indian food, indian restaurant, KINGLY STREET, leicester square, London, London blog, MOOLI'S, OneTravel, regent street, restaurants, soho, soho's best indian restaurants, street food, swallow street, Travel, upper st martin's lane, veeraswamy, W1, wardour street, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Red, White or RAW? (Great British Chefs)

Posted on 2013-05-02 by tikichris

Whether you’re looking to quaff some environmentally friendly vino, keen to sample something dramatically different than that same old pinot grigio or you’re simply curious about what might just be the next big thing in viticulture and in the cellars of the world’s top chefs, this year’s RAW takes place at London’s Old Truman Brewery in London on the 19th and 20th of May.

Read my my complete post at Great British Chefs.

Posted in Drink, Florida, Great British Chefs, Hotels, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged artisan wine, bethnal green, biodynamic, canapes, chef, chef nuno mendes, corner room, Crazy FrenchWoman, Drink, east london, Food, french wines, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, hotel, ISABELLE LEGERON, London, NATURAL WINES, nuno mendes, old town hall, old truman brewery, orange wine, organic, RAW WINE FAIR, the corner room, tower hamlets, town hall hotel, viajante, viticulture, wine, WINE FAIR, wine tasting | Leave a comment

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