tikichris

WSET’s From Still to Bar: Whiskey Flight at Shotgun

Posted on 2016-12-11 by tikichris

Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has teamed up with some of London’s top bars to create From Still to Bar: a series of immersive experiences with each session focused on a different spirit. Kemey and I dropped by Shotgun in Soho recently for a strong lesson in all things whisk(e)y.

From Still to Bar was launched in June. Other bars involved were Mark’s Bar (for rum) and Punch Room at The London Edition (for gin).

For the tasting at the bar in Shotgun, I was offered a flight of three whiskies and an iPod Shuffle with headphones. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping | Tagged BARS, carnaby, carnaby street, From Still to Bar, KINGLY STREET, Shotgun, Shotgun BBQ, soho, W1, W1B 5QD, whiskey, Wine & Spirit Education Trust, WSET | Leave a comment

Ormer Mayfair

Posted on 2016-12-10 by tikichris

Michelin starred chef Shaun Rankin’s upscale restaurant attractively set downstairs at Flemings Mayfair Hotel – Ormer Mayfair – brings a refined and rich taste of Jersey to London. Seafood lovers and fans of dining with formal flair take note!

To have enjoyed such a lovely dining experience so late in the year has me wondering about all the other yummy opportunities I’ve missed enjoying in 2016. I’m glad Kemey and I managed to get round to Ormer – and not too long after its early autumn opening – for recent dinner. If you were looking to have a fine meal in an equally fine setting, you’d be wise to keep Ormer at the top of your to-do list. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged BARS, Chef Shaun Rankin, cocktails, Drink, Flemings Mayfair Hotel, Food, Half Moon Street, hotels, Jersey lobster, lobster, London, luxury, Manetta’s Bar, mayfair, restaurants, reviews, seafood, shaun rankin, W1, W1J 7BH, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Coffee at The Fairmont San Francisco (espressoCrazy)

Posted on 2016-12-10 by tikichris

As mentioned in my last post [for espressoCrazy], I was away for quite a while travelling in the US for the month of September. First stop on my tour was one of my all time favourite destinations, San Francisco. As with past visits, I had an amazing time. One of my all time favourite destinations, the city was a beautiful and welcoming as I remembered, and maybe even a little tastier this time around … or at least my coffee was.

This time round, I did San Fran right and stayed in a great hotel, The FairmontSan Francisco.

Read my complete post at espressoCrazy.

Posted in California, Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel | Tagged breakfast, california, coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, hotels, illy, luxury, restaurants, san francisco, Shopping, The Fairmount San Francisco, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

Top 5 Winter Break Destinations

Posted on 2016-12-09 by tikichris

Image by sharonang, used under Creative Commons license CC0 1.0

Skiing, snowboarding and enjoying the idyllic winter scenery in the mountains or a spring-like temperature in warmer areas? No matter what the choice is the winter holiday will always be an unforgettable experience.

While many people choose to spend the winter break in sunny islands or warmer parts of Europe, others prefer the true winter experience more appealing, choosing places such as Germany, The Netherlands or Iceland. Continue reading →

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged Travel, winter | Leave a comment

Ken Price Retrospective at Hauser & Wirth London

Posted on 2016-12-09 by tikichris

Open now and running at Hauser & Wirth London until the 4th of February, Ken Price: A Survey of Sculptures and Drawings, 1959 – 2006 is the first exhibition of American artist Ken Price’s work in London since 1976.

And boy has this town been missing out on some fun and thoughtful art over these past few decades. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, London | Tagged Art, ceramics, contemporary art, drawings, EXHIBITIONS, gallery, hauser & wirth, hauser & wirth london, Ken Price, Ken Price: A Survey of Sculptures and Drawings, Ken Price: A Survey of Sculptures and Drawings 1959-2006, London, low brow, mayfair, reviews, savile row, sculpture, Sculture, W1, W1S 2ET, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

A Gift Guide for Travelers (Going Places)

Posted on 2016-12-09 by tikichris

izzet ugutmen/Shutterstock

We all have people in our lives who love to travel just as much as we do. Whether it’s family or friends, we know you’ll be thinking about what to gift these savvy travelers this holiday season.

To make your life easier, here are five considerations to keep in mind as you make your lists.

Read my complete post at Going Places.

Posted in Christmas, Going Places, OneTravel, Shopping, Travel | Tagged christmas, gift guide, Going Places, OneTravel, Travel, Travel gifts | Leave a comment

New Orleans in 18 Eats | Index | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-09 by tikichris

Lord have mercy! It’s a good thing this blog came equipped with an elastic waistband. Otherwise, I might not have been able to finish my 18-stop tour of America’s culinary capital on a streetcar named delicious.

In closing this series out I would like to send a big belly busting thanks to the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau for the kind support helping me organise my trip and to the owners, chefs, managers and staff at all the venues I visited. I had a wonderful time. And thanks to you, dear reader, for tagging along while I indulged in the memories of these exquisite dining experiences. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Hotels, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, USA | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, BARS, Drink, Follow Your NOLA, Food, french quarter, hotels, louisiana, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, Shopping, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

New Shake Shack at Leicester Square

Posted on 2016-12-09 by tikichris

“Modern day roadside burger stand” Shake Shack has launched its fourth London outlet (and fifth in the UK) at Leicester Square.

Has the all mighty burgerus americanus found its Central London zenith? Has this town’s burger craze jumped the shark? Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged american food, beer, burgers, cheeseburgers, Concretes, Coventry Street, Drink, Food, frozen custard, hamburgers, leicester square, London, restaurants, reviews, Shake Shack, Shake Shack Leicester Square, shakes, soho, W1, W1D 6BH, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Willie Mae’s Scotch House | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-08 by tikichris

Last but by no means least among my list of 18 New Orleans Eats is the great Willie Mae’s Scotch House which has been serving exceptionally satisfying fried chicken and soul food fixings in a modest home setting since 1957.

The setting might be humble but the menu sure ain’t. “America’s Best Fried Chicken” is the “Hot Item” listed on it – at the very top of the page. With a side of red beans and rice with a cornbread muffin, it certainly is a meal to boast about. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70115, cocktails, Drink, Food, fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, JoAnn Clevenger, louisiana, luxury, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, seafood, shrimp remoulade, Soul food, Travel, Upperline Restaurant, Willie Mae's, Willie Mae's Scotch House | Leave a comment

Infographic: Rise of the Street Food Van

Posted on 2016-12-08 by tikichris

The popularity of street food has grown substantially over the past few years. Search volume around the term has grown by more than 80% between 2014 and 2016, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that 2.5 billion people now eat street food on a daily basis.

Are you a budding street food entrepreneur hoping to make the most of the street food revolution? Check out this fun infographic from Van Monster. Continue reading →

Posted in Cars, Food, infographic, London, Restaurants | Tagged Food, Food Truck, food van, infographic, street food, street food van, Van Monster | Leave a comment

Upperline Restaurant | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-08 by tikichris

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

JoAnn Clevenger’s Upperline Restaurant is one of the most delightful places to dine in New Orleans – for the authentic haute Creole cuisine, for the museum worthy display of local New Orleans art, and for the warm welcome by Ms Clevenger and staff. If you want to feel at home in an elegant setting and to have “that little place we went to one night” to remember for the rest of your life, go to Upperline. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70115, cocktails, Drink, Food, fried green tomatoes, fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, JoAnn Clevenger, louisiana, luxury, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, seafood, shrimp remoulade, Travel, Upperline Restaurant, Upperline Street | Leave a comment

Win a £150 Gift Card from Pocket High Street

Posted on 2016-12-08 by tikichris

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!

Daunted by the task of Christmas shopping? Hoping to avoid the same old big box retailers this year and find prezzies that are as special and distinctive as your friends and family whom you’re buying for? Have I got a gift for you! I’ve teamed up with the folks at PocketHighStreet.com to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a £150 gift card to spend at the best independent shops in London.

Pocket High Street makes it easy to shop online while support local independent businesses. Simply browse the site for things you like from independent shops across London and have them delivered to your door in an hour. Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Competition, Design, Fashion, Food, Freebies, London, Shopping, Travel | Tagged #feelgoodshoplocal, £150 gift card, £150 giftcard, christmas, competition, design, fashion, feel good shop local, Food, free, freebies, Independent business, London, Pocket High Street, PocketHighStreet, PocketHighStreet.com, RT to win, Shopping, Travel, twitter competition, win £150 gift card | Leave a comment

Trinity | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-07 by tikichris

Trinity restaurant on Decatur Street in the French Quarter had only been open for about three months when I paid a visit. Nevertheless, Executive Chef Michael Isolani’s 21st century take on Haute Creole cuisine more than met the standards for fine dining in NOLA, seemed to fit in with the local scene as if it had always been there, and certainly proved suitable as a choice for one of my 18 New Orleans Eats.

Two simple but mightily flavourful (and really rather innovative) dishes that impressed me best were Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70116, BARS, Chef Michael Isolani, cocktails, Decatur Street, Drink, Eric Orzechowski, Follow Your NOLA, Food, french quarter, louisiana, luxury, Michael Isolani, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, Travel, trinity, trinity decatur, trinity restaurant | Leave a comment

Beiriso Updated

Posted on 2016-12-07 by tikichris

One of the first eateries I reviewed this year was Beiriso near Holborn Station. The takeaway café with a menu focused on reasonably priced, freshly made and quickly served sushi and pasta invited me back recently for another taste after rearranging the dining area and giving it a refurb and honing in on the best aspects of their kitchen.

As I was in January, I’m still impressed by what I called at the front end of 2016 a ‘tasty assortment of lunchtime and on-the-hoof dining options to the hectic streets of Holborn that’s bound to woo passers-by with affordable prices and a mostly health-conscious selection of food and drink.’ Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged Beiriso, coffee, Drink, Food, holborn, italian food, japanese food, London, pasta, Procter Street, restaurants, review, sushi, WC1, WC1V 6NX, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Shaya | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-06 by tikichris

When I first started to come up with my wish list for New Orleans in 18 Eats, I wasn’t thinking about falafel and hummus, neither was I expecting Israeli cuisine made almost exclusively with locally grown Louisiana ingredients to top my list of all-time favourite restaurant meals. Then I found out about Shaya and wisely took a chance on eating there.

Only a few years old, Shaya already is well established as one of the city’s most popular and celebrated places to eat, with Executive Chef Alon Shaya boasting a James Beard Award for Excellence among an abundance of other accolades and awards. So, I’m hardly the first fella to shout out about this place or make haste to dine there. Indeed, I was there for an 11.30am lunch, and the place was already packed. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70115, Alon Shaya, Chef Alon Shaya, Chef Justin Devillier, Drink, Israeli food, louisiana, luxury, Magazine Street, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, okra, restaurants, reviews, Shaya, Travel, wood fired oven | Leave a comment

Coffee Island, Upper St Martin’s Lane

Posted on 2016-12-06 by tikichris

Coffee Island is new café near Leicester Square aims to provide customers with sustainably sourced coffee brewed in a variety of methods and offered as customised blends.

I paid a looksee visit to the month-old Coffee Island last week, tried some treats in store and took home a bag of beans blended with my preferences considered. Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Shopping | Tagged cafe, coffee, Coffee Island, covent garden, Drink, Food, leicester square, London, restaurants, reviews, Shopping, upper st martin's lane, WC2, WC2H 9NY, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

La Petite Grocery | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-05 by tikichris

Elegant and indulgent, novel and authentic, worldly and homespun, fine and funky: my uptown lunch at La Petite Grocery was a gourmet dream of gourmand extravagance.

Had I ever been presented with a richer, more inventive meal – even among my 18 New Orleans Eats?

Let me lay it out for you: Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70115, 70119, Chef Justin Devillier, crab beignets, Drink, La Petite Grocery, louisiana, luxury, Magazine Street, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, sandwiches, seafood, Travel, turtle bolognese | Leave a comment

All Day Brunch at Over Easy, Marylebone

Posted on 2016-12-05 by tikichris

Across Duke Street from Selfridges, Over Easy is a stylish café for brunchy endeavours and caffeinated pit stops.

The few months old eatery was an easy option for popping in to have a quick (if substantial) bite and coffee catch up with a friend recently. Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged breakfast, brunch, CAFES, cocktails, coffee, Drink, duke street, eggs, Food, London, marylebone, Over Easy, restaurants, reviews, W1, W1U 1LG, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Parkway Bakery & Tavern | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-04 by tikichris

The folks at Parkway Bakery & Tavern reckon they do the best po-boy/po’ boy/poor boy in Louisiana. Maybe. Although some fans of this famous sandwich of New Orleans origin would suggest you need only go about five miles uptown for a taste of a worthy contender. Whatever the case, Parkway has been making authentically delicious and massive po-boys since 1911 – and you’d be a fool to fault ‘em for it.

Join me as I continue my series about New Orleans in 18 Eats as I take a bite out of one of the most satiating sandwiches I’ve ever double-fisted. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70119, BARS, Drink, fried oysters, Hagan Avenue, louisiana, lunch, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, Parkway, Parkway Bakery & Tavern, po-boys, poor boys, poorboys, restaurants, reviews, sandwiches, seafood, Travel | Leave a comment

Breakfast in America (espressoCrazy)

Posted on 2016-12-04 by tikichris

To be sure, I’ve been having a lot fun. And the coffee – for the most part – has been terrific.

The tastiest aspects of my recent US escapades often took place in the morning. So I thought I’d share with you a few especially memorable breakfasts from my time in the Land of Plenty.

Read my complete post at espressoCrazy.

Posted in Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Restaurants, Travel, USA | Tagged breakfast, coffee, espressoCrazy, illy, restaurants, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-03 by tikichris

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

Prudhomme’s pronounce flavours (as prepared by the restaurant’s longtime executive chef, Paul Miller) made my meal one of the most delicious in my life – and probably the best I had during my 18 Eats in New Orleans. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70130, blackened, Chartres Street, Chef Paul Miller, Chef Paul Prudhomme, cocktails, crème brûlée, Custard Marie, Custard Marie Crème Brûlée with a Praline Bottom, Drink, Follow Your NOLA, Food, french quarter, garden district, gumbo, louisiana, luxury, Magic Seasooning Blends, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, Paul Miller, Paul Prudhomme, Praline, restaurants, reviews, seafood, Travel, turtle soup, watermelon margarita | Leave a comment

Win a Chocolate or Coffee Explorer Pack from Taste Tripper

Posted on 2016-12-03 by tikichris

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!

Do you have a London friend or family member who’s a coffee or chocolate fanatic? Then I’ve got just the gift idea for you! Taste Tripper Explorer Packs are a fun and tasty way to enjoy the best of the London foodie scene – and I’m giving one explorer pack away to one lucky tikichris reader.

Currently available in Chocolate or Coffee, Taste Tripper’s Explorer Packs arrive in a chic yellow envelope (big enough to look impressive, small enough and flat to fit in your letterbox). They contain everything required for an extended foodie adventure in London. Continue reading →

Posted in Chocolate, Coffee, Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged chocolate, Chocolate Ecstasy Tours, Chocolate Explorer Pack, coffee, Coffee Explorer Pack, competitio, competition, Drink, Food, free, freebies, Jennifer Earle, London, RT to win, Shopping, Taste Tripper, Taste Tripper Explorer Pack, Travel, twitter competition, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

GW Fins | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-02 by tikichris

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

Opened in 2001, this relative newbie to the NOLA dining scene has been holding its own against the more historic and firmly established French Quarter competition. Indeed, at the time of this post’s publication (and for a long time before that as well), GW Fins was the top rated New Orleans restaurant on TripAdvisor. From what I got to taste of ’s fabulously fishy menu, it was easy to understand why the restaurant had made such a splash – and why it would deserve a mention in my series about New Orleans in 18 Eats. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70112, Bienville Street, Chef Michael Nelson, Crabmeat Yvonne, Executive Chef Michael Nelson, fish collar wings, Follow Your NOLA, Food, french quarter, GW Fins, louisiana, luxury, Michael Nelson, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, seafood, swordfish ribs, Travel | Leave a comment

Dinner at Beagle, Hoxton

Posted on 2016-12-02 by tikichris

I love the space (and smart use of it). What’s doing at the bar is very much in line with how I prefer to imbibe. Service is friendly and helpful. And the food’s great. Based on my recent visit, I’ve no bone to pick with Beagle and can only bark about how smart a choice this Hoxton restaurant is for a quality meal.

Situated in a series of disused railway arches right next to the Hoxton Overground station, Beagle does its subdued darnedest to reel passersby in with inviting outdoor seating (with heat lamps), and equally welcoming and ambient bar and dining areas. I’d been there before for a thoroughly enjoyable evening of drinks and bar snacks with live music, but last week was my first time to have a taste of the seasonally changing dinner menu. I was impressed. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged BARS, Beagle, cocktails, Drink, E2, E2 8HZ, east london, Food, Geffrye Street, hoxton, London, restaurants, reviews, shoreditch, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Galatoire’s | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-12-01 by tikichris

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

My most memorable meal of my 18 Eats, Friday lunch at Galatoire’s was as gleefully indulgent and indelibly delectable as a fine dining experience could be. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70130, Bourbon Street, Brandy Milk Punch, cocktails, Crabmeat Yvonne, Follow Your NOLA, Food, french quarter, Galatoire's, gumbo, louisiana, luxury, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, Travel | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #61

Posted on 2016-12-01 by tikichris

Good stuff and lots of it!

Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip, savour and more – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Books, Christmas, Drink, Good Stuff, London, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged air travel, beer, Beer FAQ, books, Brizebox, christmas, cocktails, Drink, good stuff, Harveys Bristol Cream, Jeff Cioletti, las vegas, London, Norwegian Air, sherry, Shopping, The London Essence Co, tonic, Travel, Video, wine | Leave a comment

Elizabeth’s | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-11-30 by tikichris

Chef Bryon Peck’s homey from-scratch cooking is as downhome as it gets. I loved my time digging into a big Southern style breakfast while admiring the vibrant folk art on walls (inside and out), at his laid back and creaky floored Bywater restaurant Elizabeth’s.

A ginormous portion (even by American standards) of shrimp and grits with a side of praline bacon “pig candy” and a biscuit was heartily scrumptious – especially that pig candy. A strong cup of coffee regularly refilled with a bit of flirty sass from a friendly waitress made the meal that much more of a late morning treat. Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70117, breakfast, Bywater, Chef Bryon Peck, Drink, Elizabeth's, Follow Your NOLA, Food, Gallier Street, louisiana, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, pig candy, praline bacon, restaurants, reviews, shrimp and grits, Travel | Leave a comment

Preview: Simon Warner’s Viva Hypnosis at Leicester Square Theatre

Posted on 2016-11-30 by tikichris

Photography by Brian Roberts

Comedy hypnotist, Simon Warner, brings his mesmerising act to the West End stage for the first time in 15 years with Viva Hypnosis for two nights only at the Leicester Square Theatre just before Christmas.

Following a successful run across the globe with shows in Las Vegas, the Caribbean, and Orlando as well as sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Viva Hypnosis comes to London to take audience members on an “exhilarating hypnotic journey down the Las Vegas strip” with dancers, music, fibre optic props, costumes, full-stage projections and more. Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Live Performance, London | Tagged comedy, comedy hypnosis, Entertainment, hypnosis, live performance, London, Simon Warner, theatre, Viva Hypnosis, west end, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Compère Lapin | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-11-30 by tikichris

Best known as Runner Up and Fan Favorite from Top Chef Season 11, Chef Nina Compton brings flavours from her Saint Lucian home to the fore at her Warehouse District restaurant, Compère Lapin, providing dinners with a delicious double take update on Creole concept cooking.

Situated in the lobby of The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, my hotel for the first half of my NOLA dining adventure, Compère Lapin was only few month’s old, all the rage, and absolutely hopping (jeu de mots) during my stay. Not to try it as one of my 18 Eats, would have been remiss. Beside every time I passed the restaurant on my way in or out of the hotel, the lure of the aromas wafting out of its kitchen grew more irresistible. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Hotels, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70130, BARS, Celebrities, Chef Nina Compton, cocktails, Compère Lapin, Drink, Follow Your NOLA, Food, hotels, louisiana, luxury, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Nina Compton, nola, Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, restaurants, reviews, Tchoupitoulas Street, Top Chef, Travel | Leave a comment

Recipe: Banana Split Milkshake

Posted on 2016-11-29 by tikichris

Häagen-Dazs has launched a new seasonal flavour for Autumn/Winter 2016: Honey Walnut & Cream. Mmm mmm good? Uh huh. Oh yeah. Want to add an extra layer of yum to it? Check out my recipe for a banana split milkshake (regular and ‘hard’ versions included) using this delicious limited run ice cream.

How serendipitous for the Häagen-Dazs folks to bring this nutty new flavour to the market now. I’ve been on something of a walnut kick lately, incorporating them and walnut oil in a range of dishes – sweet and savoury – while also simply enjoying them more often than usual as a healthy snack on their own. So having walnuts added to my ice cream seems like a logically tasty progression. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Recipes, Shopping | Tagged banana split, banana split milkshake, cocktail recipe, cocktails, Drink, Food, Häagen-Dazs, haagen-dazs honey walnut and cream, hard shakes, honey walnut and cream, ice cream, JACK DANIEL, JACK DANIEL'S, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Rye, milk shake, milkshake, milkshake recipe, MILKSHAKES, recipes, RYE, rye cocktails, rye whiskey, Shopping, TENNESSEE SIPPING WHISKEY, tikichris recipes, walnut ice cream, walnuts, whiskey, whiskey cocktails, whiskey milkshake | Leave a comment

Commander’s Palace | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-11-29 by tikichris

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

Whet your appetite? Come with me for this most gracious of meals in my series about New Orleans in 18 Eats. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70130, Commander's Palace, Drink, Follow Your NOLA, Food, garden district, louisiana, luxury, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, seafood, Shrimp & Tasso Henican, Shrimp and Tasso Henican, Soups 1-1-1, Travel, Washington Avenue | Leave a comment

A Relaxing Stay at a Bed and Breakfast

Posted on 2016-11-29 by tikichris

There are some times where you just want to be able to get away for a weekend or a few days and be with that special person, with your family, with friends or just by yourself. You want to go to a place that is going to be calm, relaxing and have a beautiful setting so that you can get the piece you are looking for and get away from the daily stress and anxiety that you might feel.

It is hard to find a place like this if you only focus your attention on the larger cities that are around you. Instead of looking for a large luxury hotel or some other busy establishment near a big city, you may want to consider looking for a relaxing stay at a B & B in Newbury. Continue reading →

Posted in England, Hotels, Travel | Tagged england, hotels, Newbury, Travel | Leave a comment

Cochon Butcher | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-11-29 by tikichris

Warehouse District “swine bar” and butcher shop with sandwich counter and deli – Cochon Butcher finds inspiration in “old world meat markets” and in Louisiana heritage foods such as Cajun specialties boudin, andouille, and tasso.

Join me at the bar for my latest of 18 New Orleans Eats as I tuck into a mightily tasty lunch? Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Beer, Drink, Food, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70130, Arabella, BARS, beer, burgers, butcher, cajun food, cheeseburgers, Chef Donald Link, Chef Stephen Stryjewski, Cochan Butcher, Cochon, Donald Link, Follow Your NOLA, Food, hamburgers, le pig mac, louisiana, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, NOLA Brewing Company, restaurants, reviews, Shopping, Stephen Stryjewski, Tchoupitoulas Street, Travel, Warehouse District | Leave a comment

Win a Big Bag o’ Booze for Free

Posted on 2016-11-28 by tikichris

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!

Oh no! I’m running out of room in my liquor cabinet. And that’s especially good news for one lucky tikichris reader.

To clear space (and be generous at this most festive of seasons), I’m giving away a collection of 25 bottles of quality alcoholic drinks. They’re all sample bottles, mostly 50ml but some are considerably larger. Continue reading →

Posted in Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged ake, alcohol, aquavit, bigbagobooze, Booze, cognac, competition, Drink, free, free samples, freebies, gin, irish cream, retweet to win, RT to win, rum, sample bottles, scotch, Shopping, twitter competition, whiskey, whisky, win a big bag o' booze, wine | 15 Comments

Central Grocery and Deli | #TCEatsNOLA

Posted on 2016-11-28 by tikichris

We’re back in the French Quarter for this latest instalment of New Orleans in 18 Eats, with a visit to Central Grocery and Deli for the mutha of all mega-sized sandwiches: the mighty muffuletta.

Of Italian American origin, the muffuletta is a 10” round sandwich on Sicilian sesame loaf loaded with layers of mortadella and/or ham, salami, provolone (and maybe mozzarella), and marinated olive salad. The sandwich was first created at Central Grocery by its founder Salvatore Lupo sometime soon after opening the grocery in 1906. A delicious assemblage, the sandwich is a brilliant example of immigrant resourcefulness and thoughtfully crafted design. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Louisiana, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel | Tagged #FollowYourNOLA, #TCEatsNOLA, 70116, Central Grocery, Central Grocery and Deli, Decatur Street, Follow Your NOLA, Food, french quarter, Italian American food, louisiana, lunch, muffuletta, new orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, nola, restaurants, reviews, sandwich, Shopping, Travel | Leave a comment

Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has teamed up with some of London’s top bars to create From Still to Bar: a series of immersive experiences with each session focused on a different spirit. Kemey and I dropped by Shotgun in Soho recently for a strong lesson in all things whisk(e)y.

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Michelin starred chef Shaun Rankin’s upscale restaurant attractively set downstairs at Flemings Mayfair Hotel – Ormer Mayfair – brings a refined and rich taste of Jersey to London. Seafood lovers and fans of dining with formal flair take note!

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Skiing, snowboarding and enjoying the idyllic winter scenery in the mountains or a spring-like temperature in warmer areas? No matter what the choice is the winter holiday will always be an unforgettable experience.

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Open now and running at Hauser & Wirth London until the 4th of February, Ken Price: A Survey of Sculptures and Drawings, 1959 – 2006 is the first exhibition of American artist Ken Price’s work in London since 1976.

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We all have people in our lives who love to travel just as much as we do. Whether it’s family or friends, we know you’ll be thinking about what to gift these savvy travelers this holiday season.

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Lord have mercy! It’s a good thing this blog came equipped with an elastic waistband. Otherwise, I might not have been able to finish my 18-stop tour of America’s culinary capital on a streetcar named delicious.

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“Modern day roadside burger stand” Shake Shack has launched its fourth London outlet (and fifth in the UK) at Leicester Square.

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Last but by no means least among my list of 18 New Orleans Eats is the great Willie Mae’s Scotch House which has been serving exceptionally satisfying fried chicken and soul food fixings in a modest home setting since 1957.

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The popularity of street food has grown substantially over the past few years. Search volume around the term has grown by more than 80% between 2014 and 2016, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts that 2.5 billion people now eat street food on a daily basis.

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

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Coffee Island is new café near Leicester Square aims to provide customers with sustainably sourced coffee brewed in a variety of methods and offered as customised blends.

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Elegant and indulgent, novel and authentic, worldly and homespun, fine and funky: my uptown lunch at La Petite Grocery was a gourmet dream of gourmand extravagance.

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Across Duke Street from Selfridges, Over Easy is a stylish café for brunchy endeavours and caffeinated pit stops.

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To be sure, I’ve been having a lot fun. And the coffee – for the most part – has been terrific.

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

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Good stuff and lots of it!

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Chef Bryon Peck’s homey from-scratch cooking is as downhome as it gets. I loved my time digging into a big Southern style breakfast while admiring the vibrant folk art on walls (inside and out), at his laid back and creaky floored Bywater restaurant Elizabeth’s.

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Comedy hypnotist, Simon Warner, brings his mesmerising act to the West End stage for the first time in 15 years with Viva Hypnosis for two nights only at the Leicester Square Theatre just before Christmas.

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Best known as Runner Up and Fan Favorite from Top Chef Season 11, Chef Nina Compton brings flavours from her Saint Lucian home to the fore at her Warehouse District restaurant, Compère Lapin, providing dinners with a delicious double take update on Creole concept cooking.

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Warehouse District “swine bar” and butcher shop with sandwich counter and deli – Cochon Butcher finds inspiration in “old world meat markets” and in Louisiana heritage foods such as Cajun specialties boudin, andouille, and tasso.

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Oh no! I’m running out of room in my liquor cabinet. And that’s especially good news for one lucky tikichris reader.

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We’re back in the French Quarter for this latest instalment of New Orleans in 18 Eats, with a visit to Central Grocery and Deli for the mutha of all mega-sized sandwiches: the mighty muffuletta.

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