tikichris

For a Relaxing Holiday Look for a Bed and Breakfast

Posted on 2016-05-02 by tikichris

If you are planning any type of trip with your family, loved ones or that special person in your life, you definitely want to consider going to London as part of your holiday. London has so much to offer to everyone that you can spend an entire week in the city and still not get to do everything you want to do.

Millions of people travel to the city each year to experience the great sightseeing, shopping, entertainment, dining and more. As you start to plan your trip to London, think about just what kind of hotel you should book for your visit. Continue reading →

Posted in Hotels, London | Tagged Best Western Victoria Palace, hotels, London, Travel | Leave a comment

Mia in Mauritius: Elena’s Top Three

Posted on 2016-05-02 by tikichris

Continuing with her … in Mauritius series, Mia shares her travelling companion Elena’s top three highlights from their trip.

Always with her Canon camera, passionate about travel, sailing and sports – and still single at the time of publication – my friend Elena’s top three to-d0 list for Mauritius is an active and outdoorsy one. Let’s have a look: Continue reading →

Posted in Mauritius, Mia in Mauritius, Travel | Tagged Coin de Mire, Mauritius, MIA, Mia in Mauritius, paddle boarding, Roche Noirs, Souillac, Travel, Villa Agena | Leave a comment

7 European Cities You Must Visit in Your 20s (Miles Away)

Posted on 2016-05-02 by tikichris

Dennis van de Water / Shutterstock

Hey you twentysomething you! You’re young and full of energy with your whole life ahead of you. So what are you doing just sitting there? It’s time to hit the road.

Traveling abroad in your 20s is a rite of passage that broadens horizons and sets a meaningful global perspective that will inform the important decisions you’ll being making for years to come. It’s also an absolutely fantastic way to have a blast!

Read my complete post Miles Away.

Posted in CheapOair, Miles Away, Travel | Tagged cheapoair, europe, Miles Away, Travel | Leave a comment

8 Breathtakingly Beautiful Train Rides You Have Got to See (Going Places)

Posted on 2016-05-02 by tikichris

All aboard for a ride through eight of the world’s most beautiful spots! As it is so often said, the journey itself and not necessarily reaching one’s destination is the most meaningful part of a trip. Such sentiment rings particularly true when it comes to rail travel.

So sit back and let the chug-a-chug rhythm lull you as you ponder the world outside your window.

Read my complete post at Going Places.

Posted in Going Places, OneTravel, Travel | Tagged Going Places, OneTravel, rail travel, train travel, trains, Travel | Leave a comment

Mia in Mauritius

Posted on 2016-05-01 by tikichris

While I’m ‘out of the office’ for the next week or so, my friend Mia is sitting in at tikichris to share a short series of posts she wrote about her recent trip to Mauritius.

If you are planning a trip to Mauritius – which is not a honeymoon but for a group of thirtysomethings (a single mum with her toddler son, her almost single sister, and her very single best friend in the rainy/cyclone season –then this series is for you.

Over the next several days, I’ll be sharing the highlights from my – and my travel companions’ – time in Mauritus. Continue reading →

Posted in Mauritius, Mia in Mauritius, Travel | Tagged Mauritius, MIA, Mia in Mauritius, Travel | Leave a comment

Spring Focus (Going Places)

Posted on 2016-04-27 by tikichris

jiratto / Shutterstock

Spring has sprung. And oh it feels so good. It tastes great too, and the air is filled the heavenly scent of flowers in bloom. One of the best things about springtime is getting to experience nature when it’s most full of vital energy, even if the opportunity is brief. So why not highlight this most fleeting and frisky of seasons with a look at what makes it such a fun and beautiful time of year?

Here’s a teaser course of some of spring’s prettiest, tastiest and most splendidly fragrant moments.

Read my complete post at Going Places.

Posted in Going Places, OneTravel, Travel | Tagged Going Places, OneTravel, spring, Spring travel, Travel | Leave a comment

Wiener Demeanour: Just the Beginning

Posted on 2016-04-26 by tikichris

Sure, Vienna isn’t the biggest city in Europe. But the role it’s played in shaping European and Western culture cannot be overstated. And the many distinctively Viennese things to see and do while visiting are span broad and deep whatever your interests may be.

In my quick series of posts, I shared some of the best bits from my recent visit to Vienna – focusing mainly on the excellent cafes, restaurants and bars visited as well as the coolest galleries and a handful of other artsy and design-oriented stuff I enjoyed checking out. However, there is so much more to experience than I was able to cover in this go. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed reading about my trip, and that it might come in handy when you plan your own visit. Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, Travel, Vienna, Wiener Demeanour | Tagged austria, Travel, vienna, Wiener Demeanour | Leave a comment

2016 UK Blog Awards: The Big Night is Soon!

Posted on 2016-04-25 by tikichris

Swish digs at the Park Plaza, host of the UK Blog Awards ceremony

This Friday night the winners of the 2016 UK Blog Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony that promises to be an especially swish affair.

Shortlisted for Best Travel Blog and Best Food and Drink Blog (thanks to all who voted to put tikichris over the edge in both categories), I’m so bummed that I won’t be able to attend. True to form though, I’ll be away. And yep, I’ll be travelling somewhere tasty – Appleton Estate rum distillery in Jamaica (don’t hate) – with the idea of keeping notes and taking pics to share the very best of the experience in a series of blog posts. Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Hotels, London | Tagged #UKBA16, 2016 UK Blog Awards, Best Food and Drink Blogs, Best Food Blogs, Best Travel Blogs, blogging, Blogs, Food and Drink Blogs, Food Blogs, hotels, London, travel blogs, UK Blog Awards, UK Blog Awards 2016, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | 2 Comments

New Menu at The Drift and All Drake & Morgan Restaurants

Posted on 2016-04-25 by tikichris

London bar and restaurant group, Drake & Morgan, has launched a new spring/summer menu focused on “Mediterranean flavours and sun-kissed ingredients.” An invitation to have a taste of the new menu led to a lovely Sunday lunch for Kemey and me at D&M’s airy, expansive and pleasant The Drift at the base of Heron Tower.

Kemey and I liked all the dishes we tried during our visit and were especially impressed with the service (we were in kind and competent hands with our server Maria who looked after us so well). Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged 110 Bishopsgate, BARS, bishopsgate, city of london, DRAKE & MORGAN, drake and morgan, Drink, EC2, EC2N 4AY, Food, HERON TOWER, liverpool street, London, restaurants, reviews, THE DRIFT, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Wiener Demeanour: Galleries, Art and Design

Posted on 2016-04-25 by tikichris

Heir Häfliger at Bäckerstrasse 4

Not content to rest on the laurels of its imperial past, Vienna’s more contemporary forays into art and design can be just as – if not sometimes more – compelling, and decidedly more dynamic.

Schönbrunn Palace … St Stephen’s Cathedral … the Belvedere … the Albertina … even a cursory list of Vienna’s top attractions packs the sort of artful wallop that would delight even the pickiest of culture vultures. And by all means as many of these (and so many other) places should be included in any sightseeing itinerary of the historic Austrian capital. But that doesn’t mean visitors to Vienna must relegate themselves to an urban escape set only in the past. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Austria, Design, Museums, Vienna, Wiener Demeanour | Tagged 21er Haus, 21er House, Alexa Brauner, ARCHITECTURE, Art, austria, Bäckerstrasse 4, Bernhard Leitner, Campus Wu, contemporary art, design, Galerie Hilger, Galerie Lukas Feichtner, galleries, Georg Kargl Box, Georg Kargl Fine Arts, Heir Häfliger, Hilger Next, Karl Schwanzer, museums, Oswald Oberhuber, Ronald Kodritch, ssunta Abdel Azim Mohamed, Travel, University of Economics and Business, vienna, walking tours, Wien, Wiener Demeanour, wienkultours, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Zaha Hadid | Leave a comment

Plenty, Berners Street

Posted on 2016-04-24 by tikichris

Folks foraging for food in Fitzrovia listen up! Mediterranean and Middle Eastern eatery, Plenty on Berners Street, offers a tasty range of healthy options for breakfast and lunch at reasonable prices.

I had lunch at this friendly little café and comptoir recently with a friend. Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged Berners Street, breakfast, CAFES, coffee, fitzrovia, London, lunch, Plenty, Plenty Fitzrovia, reviews, salad, W1, W1T 3LT, WRAPS, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Recipe: Hazelnut Comté Mac n Cheese

Posted on 2016-04-23 by tikichris

Craving a mac attack? Then you’ll love this recipe for Comté mac ‘n cheese with a hazelnut panko crust.

Yeah, I know. That was a really cheesy way to introduce this recipe. Even a little bit nutty. Doh! There I go again. Anyway, however much my dumb rhymes and pathetic puns might cause you to cringe, I’m certain they’re worth it for the taste of this easy to make version of macaroni and cheese. Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Recipes, Shopping | Tagged cheese, comte, Comte cheese, Food, french cheese, french toast, hazelnut, Hazelnut Comté Mac n Cheese, hazelnuts, mac and cheese, mac n cheese, macaroni, macaroni and cheese, pasta, recipe, recipes, Shopping, tikichris recipes | Leave a comment

Spice Deli Supper Club

Posted on 2016-04-22 by tikichris

A love of spices and how they boost immunity and flavour are the inspirations behind North London supper club, Spice Deli.

With children of her own, professionally trained chef Kim Wilshaw has worked to teach mothers how to cook baby food which incorporates spices and has taught Indian cooking classes. Keen to carry on spreading the good news about spices, she recently started the Spice Deli supper club, cohosted with her husband, Tarun, in their Golders Green home. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged Food, Golders Green, Grubclub, Kim Wilshaw, London, north london, Spice Deli, Spice Deli supper club, supper clubs, supperclub, supperclubs, Tabl, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Win a Three Piece BBQ Toolset from Napoleon Grills

Posted on 2016-04-21 by tikichris

COMPETITION IS OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!

Can you feel it? The days are getting longer – and warmer – and everybody’s in a much better mood than seemed to be just a few weeks ago. Spring is in the air, and summer’s not too terribly far off. It’s BBQ season, folks! And I’ve teamed up with Napoleon Grills to help one lucky reader make the most of this gorgeous time of year. Keep reading for your chance to win a three piece BBQ toolset for free.

That’s right, I’m giving away an ace trio of utensils to made your outdoor cooking go more smoothly. Continue reading →

Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged #WinBBQToolSet, BBQ, BBQ Toolset, BBQ utensils, competition, Food, free, freebies, Grilling, Napoleon Grills, Shopping, Three piece BBQ toolset | Leave a comment

Theo’s Simple Italian, Earl’s Court

Posted on 2016-04-20 by tikichris

Newly opened Theo’s Simple Italian is Chef Theo Randall’s second restaurant, this one near Earl’s Court and tied to The Hotel Indigo. Like his eponymous restaurant at The Intercontinental, this venture features expertly prepared dishes of top quality and seasonal Italian ingredients just with a smaller menu (fairly ‘smaller’ prices too) that changes on a more frequent basis and is presented in a more casual setting.

Finding out about the opening of Theo’s Simple Italian presented a very simple choice for an Italian food lover like me. I had to try it. And I’m so glad I did. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Restaurants | Tagged Barkston Gardens, Chef Theo Randall, earls court, Hotel Indigo, italian food, kensington, pasta, restaurants, reviews, SW5, SW5 0EW, theo randall, Theo's Simple Italian, west london | Leave a comment

You’re a Mess Too? This Hassle.com Promo Code Can Help.

Posted on 2016-04-19 by tikichris

Thumbs up to Hassle for a phenomenal service keeping my house the cleanest it’s been since I moved in. I’m happy to recommend this online and app-based cleaning service and to do so with a bit of promo code incentive to boot for £12 off your first repeat clean.

Thanks for sticking with me and reading my I’m a Mess series of posts about my hassle-free experience trying out Hassle. Continue reading →

Posted in Apps, I'm a Mess, London | Tagged Cleaning service, Hassle, Hassle.com, housecleaner, housecleaning, I'm a Mess, London, London cleaners, tikichris specials, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Wiener Demeanour: Cafes, Restaurants, and Bars

Posted on 2016-04-18 by tikichris

I had a delicious time in Vienna – a city that perhaps more than any other best exemplifies European café culture and presents visitors with a delectable array of food and drink options ranging from down-to-earth comforts to upscale innovations.

Here’s a look at the tastiest bites and most satisfying sips from my visit. Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, Bars, Coffee, Drink, Food, Hotels, Restaurants, Travel, Vienna, Wiener Demeanour, Wine | Tagged austria, Austrian food, BARS, BioWerkstatt, Café Korb, Café Landtmann, CAFES, cocktails, coffee, Daniel Bakery, Daniel Bakery at Hotel Daniel Vienna, Das Loft, Drink, Food, Heuer am Karlsplatz, Hotel Daniel Vienna, hotels, käsekrainer, Konstantin Filippou, O Boufés, Restaurant Konstantin Filippou, restaurants, Sofitel, street food, Supersense, Travel, vegan, vienna, Wien, Wiener Demeanour, wine, Würstelstands | Leave a comment

Recipe: Tamago Miso French Toast

Posted on 2016-04-17 by tikichris

A cache of miso paste and a few other Japanese ingredients, the last thirds of a loaf of bread, a handful of eggs, and some stray refrigerator stragglers looked like a disparate assemblage cobbled together on my kitchen counter when rooting round my kitchen for something to eat one recent morning. But hunger pangs and inspiration prevailed for what turned out to be a super yummy breakfast – tamago miso French Toast. It’s a recipe I made again soon after and definitely plan to enjoy again and often.

Talk about a pain perdu! My eggy bread took a long detour through Japan on its way to France! Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Recipes, Shopping | Tagged breakfast, brunch, eggy bread, Food, french toast, japanese food, japanese french toast, miso, pain perdu, recipe, recipes, Shopping, Tamago Miso French Toast, tikichris recipes, Yutaka | 2 Comments

Good Stuff #56

Posted on 2016-04-16 by tikichris

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy.

Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Good Stuff, Shopping | Tagged #GreenSpears, 1843 Magazine, B.Fresh, crisps, cucumber soda, Drink, Fine Food Specialist, Food, good stuff, Green Spears Asparagus Juice, magazines, potato chips, Qcumber, Shopping, The Economist, Torres Selecta, Torres Selecta Black Truffle Potato Chips | Leave a comment

#Shaveril: Shave Your Beard This April in Support of Mental Health

Posted on 2016-04-15 by tikichris

A photo posted by Chris Osburn (@chrisosburn) on Apr 14, 2016 at 10:57am PDT

Shaveril is a new concept asking beardos to shave it all off during the month of April, then post a before and after picture/video to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #shaveril and make a small donation to mental health charity – Mind – via text code or website. Newly clean shaven participants are invited to pass the challenge to their bushy faced friends.

And that’s what I’m doing now. Continue reading →

Posted in Good Cause, London | Tagged barbers, barbershops, charity, Donate, good cause, hotels, hoxton, Hoxton Hotel, Huckle the Barber, London, men's grooming, Mental health, Mental health charity, Mind, shave, shaveril, shaving, The Hoxton | Leave a comment

Shepherd Market Wine House

Posted on 2016-04-15 by tikichris

Kudos to Shepherd Market Wine House for its easy-going expertise and the wonderful setting for enjoying great wine.

The more I’ve come to appreciate wine the more I’ve realised there’s still a lot I don’t know and that such a lack of knowledge tends to be the case with so many so-called connoisseurs. Similarly, as I continue to acquaint myself with Mayfair – one of my favourite parts of London for a meandering mosey – the more I feel smoke and mirrors of the brashest affluence and exclusivity for its own sake have obscured and tarnished this upscale and historic neighbourhood’s resplendence.

So, bravo to Ben Van de Meutter – manager, buyer, and Head Sommelier at Shepherd Market Wine House – for knowing his stuff and backing it up with enthusiasm and presenting his wares in an approachable manner and in an easy-going and comfortable setting. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine | Tagged BARS, Drink, London, luxury, restaurants, reviews, shepherd market, Shepherd Market Wine House, Shopping, W1, W1J 7PN, wine, wine bars, wine shop, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | 3 Comments

Win £50 Worth of Free Healthy Eating from Pod

Posted on 2016-04-14 by tikichris

COMPETITION IS OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!

Not feeling at that pod-uctive? It might have to do with how you’re eating. Or so I learned at a recent Pod-uctivity Report hosted by Pod restaurants with nutritionist Helen Money sharing insight into healthy eating.

I left the report with a spring in my step (thanks to the zingy smoothie I had during the session) and feeling especially keen to share what I had learned with folks. More than that though, I wanted to share a taste of good food options Pod has on offer. Fancy £50 worth of free food and drink that’s super healthy and guaranteed to increase your pod-uctivity? Keep reading. Continue reading →

Posted in Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Restaurants | Tagged breakfast, competition, Drink, Food, free, free lunch, freebies, gift vouchers, healthy eating, Helen Money, London, lunch, nutrition, Nutritionist Helen Money, pod, pod london, pod-uctivity, Pod-uctivity Report, poductivity, restaurants, RT to win, twitter competition, vouchers, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Greek Cheese and Wine Tasting at Isle of Olive

Posted on 2016-04-14 by tikichris

Isle of Olive – Hackney’s home of Hellenic hospitality and great Greek food and drink – continues with its delicious charm offensive by offering wine tastings and related events.

A few weeks back, I was glad to attend a Greek Cheese and Wine Tasting at this lovely shop just off Broadway Market. The event was by Isle of Olive’s sommelier, Uli Gamber, who guiding the small assemblage (there might have been 12 of us in total?) through pairings of eight wines with an assortment of cheeses. All the wines – listed below – were available for purchase in shop. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine | Tagged Ada Street, broadway market, cheese, Drink, E8, E8 4QU, east london, Food, Greek cheese, greek food, Greek Wine, hackney, Isle of Olive, London, Shopping, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Roba Bar & Restaurant

Posted on 2016-04-12 by tikichris

Welcome to the brand new Roba Bar & Restaurant in Paddington where a young executive chef – Andrea Secchi (ex-Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley) – a focus on in-house aging of beef and smoking of salmon, and a menu designed largely around a robata grill add up to a hearty dining experience.

Opened this week and set at the base of the Norfolk Towers hotel near Paddington Station, Roba aims to appeal to locals and tourists alike as they bobble about in search of something good to eat. I reckon such customers would be in for a fine meal indeed should they happen to give Roba a go. I was pleased with what I had to try and impressed with Chef Secchi’s doings enough to want to pay his restaurant another visit. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Restaurants | Tagged Andrea Secchi, BBQ, Chef Andrea Secchi, Drink, Food, hotels, London, Norfolk Place, Norfolk Towers, paddington, restaurants, reviews, RIBS, Roba, Roba Bar & Restaurant, steak, W2, W2 1QW, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

St George Cheeseburger at BRGR.CO

Posted on 2016-04-11 by tikichris

Slay the dragon of deep carnal cravings and celebrate St George’s Day throughout April with BRGR.CO’s limited offer St George cheeseburger – a blade steak patty topped with a Cheddar and a Red Leicester cross and served with a side of sweet, sticky caramelised onions and a portion of fries for only £10 (or upgrade to hanger steak for an extra £2 – I did).

Back in 2012, soon after BRGR.CO had launched I went round to review and was not aimpressed with what was on offer. I thought the offering was bland. But everybody deserves a second chance. Plus, a lot can change over the course of a few years. So I’m pleased to report that the invitation to drop by for a taste of the St George cheeseburger led to an opportunity to see how this burger joint has upped its game and updated the menu for the better. Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged BRGR, BRGR.CO, burgers, cheeseburgers, Drink, Food, hamburgers, ice cream, London, restaurants, reviews, root beer, Root beer floats, soho, St George BRGR, St George Burger, St George Cheeseburger, st george's day, W1F 8ZB, wardour street, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | 5 Comments

Cork Report | Obrigado

Posted on 2016-04-10 by tikichris

From ancient oak forests south of Lisbon to state-of-the-art processing facilities near Porto in the north, tracing cork’s route from the tree to the finished product turned out to be a fascinating journey across Portugal.

Since the trip, I no longer take for granted a cork stopper whenever opening a bottle of wine (and I have developed an educated disdain for screw caps and synthetic stoppers). I see cork applications all over the place as well – not just the walls of my house either, but shoes, gadgets, housewares, toys, flooring, furniture … Cork is an incredibly versatile material and as green a resource as any. Continue reading →

Posted in Cork Report, Design, Portugal, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged Amorim, cork, Cork Report, design, portugal, Travel, wine | Leave a comment

Wiener Demeanour: Visit Vienna

Posted on 2016-04-09 by tikichris

Wait a second. You’ve never been to Vienna? Wien not!? It’s a terrific city – one of the world’s most beautiful – teeming with culture and plenty of fun things to do.

I’m just back from a recent visit and am keen to share the best bits of my trip with you. So keep an eye out for more posts to come in my Wiener Demeanour miniseries. Until then, take a gander at this list of practicalities to help you make the most of your time in Vienna.
Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, Hotels, Travel, Vienna, Wiener Demeanour | Tagged addison lee, addison lee app, addison lee minicabs, austria, Grand Ferdinand, Grand Ferdinand hotel, hotels, Intersprint, Travel, vienna, Wien, Wiener Demeanour | 2 Comments

I’m Still a Mess. But at Least My House is Clean.

Posted on 2016-04-08 by tikichris

Welcome back to this messy series of posts about my experience with Hassle.com – the online and app-based cleaning service offering vetted cleaners, online payments, and 100% money-back guarantees. I’ve been booking cleanings via Hassle for just over a month now and thought it was time to share my thought about the service with you.

So far so good. No technical or scheduling hiccups. And my house has never been cleaner. Continue reading →

Posted in Apps, I'm a Mess, London | Tagged Cleaning service, Hassle, Hassle.com, housecleaner, housecleaning, I'm a Mess, London, London cleaners, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | 4 Comments

Cork Report | Bringing It Back Home

Posted on 2016-04-08 by tikichris

So impressed were we with our cork tour of Portugal that Kemey and I wanted to bring back home with us a more substantial than usual souvenir as a keepsake. Before we knew it we were making plans to clad an entire wall of our house with cork tiles. Having now lived with the tiles in place for several months, our choice seems more and more sensible and aesthetically sound as the days go by.

The tiles came by way of Wicanders, a brand of Portugal’s top cork producer Amorim, and were imported to the UK by Siesta Cork Tiles. Wicanders’ main business is flooring, but its line of Dekwall applies the same knowhow and use of sustainable material for tough, flexible wall tiles. Continue reading →

Posted in Cork Report, Design, Portugal, Shopping, Travel | Tagged Amorim, cork, Cork Report, cork stoppers, Cork tiles, Dekwall, design, portugal, Shopping, Siesta Cork Tiles, Travel, Wicanders | Leave a comment

London Coffee Festival

Posted on 2016-04-07 by tikichris

The London Coffee Festival returns to the Old Truman Brewery for a long weekend of everybody’s (or at least my) favourite warm beverage. I’m heading over tomorrow for my morning cup o’ Joe. See you there?

I’m looking forward to checking out, tea and kitchenware brand – and festival sponsor – Bonavita. The Seattle-based brand will be on hand during LCF to host masterclasses and to showcase the UK launch of its two best selling products: 8-Cup Coffee Brewer with Stainless Steel Lined Thermal Carafe and the Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle. I’m especially keen to take a gander at the 8-cup brewer.
Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Shopping | Tagged coffee, Drink, E1, E1 6QL, east london, Food, Hanbury Street, LCF, London, london coffee festival, old truman brewery, Shopping, The Old Truman Brewery, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #55 | Southbank Centre Food Market

Posted on 2016-04-06 by tikichris

I *heart* paella made with Label Anglais free range chicken.

This latest list of good stuff is filled with street eats enjoyed during a forage through Southbank Centre Food Market, which celebrated its one year anniversary last Friday. Located at South Bank Centre Square behind Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, the market is open every Friday (noon to 8pm), Saturday (11am to 8pm), and Sunday (noon to 6pm) and on Bank Holiday Mondays (noon to 6pm).

Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, London, Shopping, Street Markets | Tagged beer, Belvedere Road, cocktails, CRAFT BEER, Drink, Food, Fourpure Brewing Co, good stuff, Korrito, Label Anglais, London, royal festival hall, SE1, SE1 8XX, Shopping, south bank, south bank centre, south london, southbank, southbank centre, street food, street markets, The Hop Locker, world of zing, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Whaam Banh Mi Celebrates its First Anniversary

Posted on 2016-04-05 by tikichris

Congratulations to Whaam Banh Mi for reaching a first full year of trading – and cheers for celebrating your big bday by offering folks the chance to have a taste of your ace sandwiches for free.

Yep! On Friday 8 April, this Soho shop focused on Vietnamese food will be giving away free (chef’s selection) banh mi from noon to 1pm. If you’re in the area, be sure to check this out – and be prepared to queue up though as I expect this freebie offer to be a popular one! Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Freebies, London, Restaurants | Tagged banh mi, coffee, Drink, Food, free, FREE FOOD, free lunch, freebies, Great Windmill Street, London, lunch, restaurants, reviews, sandwiches, soho, vietnamese food, W1, W1D 7LY | Leave a comment

Rib Fest Finale: Home Team BBQ at The Blues Kitchen Brixton

Posted on 2016-04-04 by tikichris

Damn. That was delicious! Deep flavour from the Deep South came to London for the finale of The Blues Kitchen Brixton’s Rib Fest with a sold out, one night only feast of epic proportion. In town from the States to man the grill were the award-winning keepers of the low and slow flame: Home Team BBQ. I was mightily glad to have managed to slide in for a taste of the action and reckon I enjoyed some of the best BBQ I’ve had since October 2015 when I had a chance to visit the Home Team fellas on their own turf of Charleston, South Carolina.

Wanna known what you missed (or – if you were lucky enough to be among the sated Rib Fest attendees – to revel in the remembrance)? Here’s the menu from the night: smoked St Louis pork ribs and belly, fontina and aged sharp white Cheddar mac ‘n cheese, collard greens, pickled vegetables with hot red sauce and Alabama white sauce.
Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged acre lane, BBQ, BLUES KITCHEN, brixton, cocktails, Drink, Food, Home Team BBQ, London, restaurants, reviews, Rib Fest, Ribfest, south london, SW2, SW2 5SP, The Blues Kitchen, The Blues Kitchen Brixton, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

The Langham London Launches New Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood

Posted on 2016-04-03 by tikichris

The Langham London’s Executive Pastry chef Cherish Finden and her team have launched a new Wedgewood Afternoon Tea. Inspired by (and served with) classic Wedgwood collections and featuring butterfly and daisy motifs, the new tea service is a salute to spring and the warmer and sunnier days to come.

Yes, this post is the second time in less than a month about afternoon tea at the Langham (see my review of the Langham’s limited run Easter afternoon tea here). No I’m not really that much of an afternoon tea fanatic. But I am a fan of flavour – and there’s plenty of that to be had and to be admired. Especially yummy sandwiches, scones, and pastries are presented with masterful yet lighthearted display. Moreover, I can’t think of a better-established venue for afternoon tea – or most other luxuries – in the heart of London than the Langham.
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants | Tagged afternoon tea, CHERISH FINDEN, Drink, Food, hotels, London, luxury, marylebone, Portland Place, regent street, restaurants, reviews, tea, The Langham London, W1, W1B 1JA, Wedgwood, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Win the Complete Range of Sown & Grown Cereals

Posted on 2016-04-02 by tikichris

COMPETITION IS OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!

Craving a wholesome start to your day? Say good morning to Sown & Grown, a new range of delicious and nutritious breakfast granolas and mueslis that are high fibre, low fat, low salt, low saturated fat, baked in small batches and made of 100% British grains. Packed in resealable tubes to stay fresh and stow easily, recently launched Sown & Grown cereals are available now in shop and online and at Sainsbury’s – and for free for one lucky tikichris reader who wins this generous giveaway competition.

Sown & Grown cereals include the following great flavour combos: Continue reading →

Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged breakfast, Cereal, competition, Food, free, freebies, Granola, Great Little Grains, muesli, RT to win, Shopping, Sown & Grown, twitter competition | Leave a comment

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Continuing with her … in Mauritius series, Mia shares her travelling companion Elena’s top three highlights from their trip.

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Hey you twentysomething you! You’re young and full of energy with your whole life ahead of you. So what are you doing just sitting there? It’s time to hit the road.

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All aboard for a ride through eight of the world’s most beautiful spots! As it is so often said, the journey itself and not necessarily reaching one’s destination is the most meaningful part of a trip. Such sentiment rings particularly true when it comes to rail travel.

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While I’m ‘out of the office’ for the next week or so, my friend Mia is sitting in at tikichris to share a short series of posts she wrote about her recent trip to Mauritius.

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Sure, Vienna isn’t the biggest city in Europe. But the role it’s played in shaping European and Western culture cannot be overstated. And the many distinctively Viennese things to see and do while visiting are span broad and deep whatever your interests may be.

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This Friday night the winners of the 2016 UK Blog Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony that promises to be an especially swish affair.

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Not content to rest on the laurels of its imperial past, Vienna’s more contemporary forays into art and design can be just as – if not sometimes more – compelling, and decidedly more dynamic.

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Folks foraging for food in Fitzrovia listen up! Mediterranean and Middle Eastern eatery, Plenty on Berners Street, offers a tasty range of healthy options for breakfast and lunch at reasonable prices.

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Craving a mac attack? Then you’ll love this recipe for Comté mac ‘n cheese with a hazelnut panko crust.

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A love of spices and how they boost immunity and flavour are the inspirations behind North London supper club, Spice Deli.

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Thumbs up to Hassle for a phenomenal service keeping my house the cleanest it’s been since I moved in. I’m happy to recommend this online and app-based cleaning service and to do so with a bit of promo code incentive to boot for £12 off your first repeat clean.

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I had a delicious time in Vienna – a city that perhaps more than any other best exemplifies European café culture and presents visitors with a delectable array of food and drink options ranging from down-to-earth comforts to upscale innovations.

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Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy.

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Kudos to Shepherd Market Wine House for its easy-going expertise and the wonderful setting for enjoying great wine.

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Not feeling at that pod-uctive? It might have to do with how you’re eating. Or so I learned at a recent Pod-uctivity Report hosted by Pod restaurants with nutritionist Helen Money sharing insight into healthy eating.

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Isle of Olive – Hackney’s home of Hellenic hospitality and great Greek food and drink – continues with its delicious charm offensive by offering wine tastings and related events.

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Welcome to the brand new Roba Bar & Restaurant in Paddington where a young executive chef – Andrea Secchi (ex-Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley) – a focus on in-house aging of beef and smoking of salmon, and a menu designed largely around a robata grill add up to a hearty dining experience.

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From ancient oak forests south of Lisbon to state-of-the-art processing facilities near Porto in the north, tracing cork’s route from the tree to the finished product turned out to be a fascinating journey across Portugal.

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Wait a second. You’ve never been to Vienna? Wien not!? It’s a terrific city – one of the world’s most beautiful – teeming with culture and plenty of fun things to do.

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The London Coffee Festival returns to the Old Truman Brewery for a long weekend of everybody’s (or at least my) favourite warm beverage. I’m heading over tomorrow for my morning cup o’ Joe. See you there?

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Congratulations to Whaam Banh Mi for reaching a first full year of trading – and cheers for celebrating your big bday by offering folks the chance to have a taste of your ace sandwiches for free.

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