tikichris

Win a Belgian Chocolate Easter Egg and More from Guylian Chocolates

Posted on 2016-02-29 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!

Easter already? It will be here soon! And just in time for this hippity-hoppity holiday, I’ve teamed up with Guylian, makers of the world’s favourite Belgian chocolates, to offer one lucky reader an eggs-tra yummy range of Easter treats for free.

Here’s a look at just a few of the luxury chocolates available in Guylian’s 2016 range of Easter eggs and gift boxes:
Continue reading →

Posted in Chocolate, Competition, Easter, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged belgian chocolate, chocolate, competition, easter, Easter Egg, Food, free, freebies, Guylian, Guylian Chocolate, Guylian Chocolates, Guylian Sea Shells, milk chocolate, RT to win, Shopping, twitter competition | Leave a comment

8 of the Craziest Places to Take an Adventure Trip (Miles Away)

Posted on 2016-02-29 by tikichris

Photo: Casa nayafana/Shutterstock

It seems like more and more travelers are interested in adding an espresso shot of adrenaline into their trips, with the popularity of activities like bungee jumping, sky diving, and snowboarding all growing.

How about you? Is a vacation without some sort of adrenaline-pumping activity only guaranteed to bore you to tears? Never fear! Here’s a look at eight destinations that are always a safe bet for an awesome adventure.

Read my complete post at Miles Away.

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

Infographic: Iconic Furniture in Film and TV

Posted on 2016-02-29 by tikichris

Check out this fun infographic put together by the furniture experts at Oldrids and featuring some of the most famous furniture from the movies and on TV.

Set design plays a massive role in creating the look and atmosphere of most TV shows and films. Sometimes the set becomes as famous as the characters in the production. Take a seat as we run down 12 of the most iconic furniture items in film and TV …

Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrities, Design, Entertainment, infographic, Movies, Shopping, Television | Tagged Celebrities, cinema, design, Entertainment, film, furniture, infographic, Movies, Shopping, television, tv | Leave a comment

Easy Eats to Recommend: The Joint at The Refreshment Room

Posted on 2016-02-26 by tikichris

Mega meat treats cross the river and head east with Brixton Market bad boys, The Joint, taking over the kitchen at The Refreshment Room in Stratford.

The Refreshment Room (just across the street from the non-Westfield side of the Stratford Centre) opened back in December. It’s a roomy space, a good place for a drink, and – come warmer weather – a smart venue to keep in mind with its huge outdoor seating area. It’s a fine spot too if you’re a BBQ fan, with The Joint supplying a menu of meaty delights.
Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Beer, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged BARS, BBQ, beer, Brisket, E15, E15 4BQ, east london, Food, London, pop-up, PULLED PORK, reviews, STRATFORD, Stratford Broadway, The Joint, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | 2 Comments

Mark Wallinger Id at Hauser & Wirth London

Posted on 2016-02-26 by tikichris

Id, a solo show of new paintings and multi-media works by Turner Prize winning artist Mark Wallinger, opens today at Hauser & Wirth London, with large-scale pieces featuring prominently in both of its Savile Row spaces.

Key to the show is Wallinger’s new body of work: the Id paintings. A series of 17 symmetrical(ish) black acrylic paintings on large white canvases (the width of Wallinger’s arm span and double his height) “only hands” (no brushes) works that suggest to the viewer (or, at least, to this viewer) giant Rorschach Tests and brain scans.
Continue reading →

Posted in Art, London | Tagged Art, contemporary art, hauser & wirth, hauser & wirth london, London, Mark Wallinger Id, mayfair, PAINTINGS, reviews, savile row, Sculture, W1, W1S 2ET, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Cork Report | From the Forest

Posted on 2016-02-24 by tikichris

Kemey and I started our cork-ucational tour of Portugal with a trip to an ancient forest to see it being harvested in essentially the same way it has been for centuries.

Just across the Tagus River about 30k south of Lisbon is Herdade de Rio Frio, a centuries old 4,000 hectare “homestead” with strong traditions in horse breeding, equestrianism, and polo as well as viniculture and winemaking. Within the Herdade is what was once the world’s longest vineyard – with rather delectable quaffs still being bottled from the grapes of remaining vines today. This vast expanse of land is also home to a cork forest.
Continue reading →

Posted in Cork Report, Drink, Portugal, Travel, Wine | Tagged Amorim, cork, Cork Report, Drink, Herdade de Rio Frio, portugal, Rio Frio, Setúbal, Travel, wine | Leave a comment

Coffee Break Inspiration (espressoCrazy)

Posted on 2016-02-24 by tikichris

A short while ago, I sat back and settled in to write my latest post for the EspressoCrazy blog … and drew a big fat blank. Usually, I’ve got a coffee-related idea in mind that I’m keen to tap out on my keyboard. But this time, I couldn’t come up with anything at all to write about. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Conceding writer’s block, I headed to the kitchen to make myself a cup of … yep, you guessed it … coffee!

And then it dawned on me with a thud of a duh.

Read my complete post at espressoCrazy.

Posted in Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Shopping | Tagged coffee, Drink, espresso, espressoCrazy, Food, illy, Shopping | Leave a comment

Historic Puerto Rico: Exploring Old San Juan (Going Places)

Posted on 2016-02-23 by tikichris

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Bienvenido a San Juan Viejo!

The second oldest Europe-established capital in the Americas, (Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic is older) is still very much a vibrant destination for whatever floats your vacation boat. For some of the Caribbean’s best preserved historical sites, cool cocktails, hot dancing, and a variety of fun-in-the-sun activities, Old San Juan is a sensational place to be.

Have a look at our top five guide to the best of Old San Juan, and start planning your getaway to the Puerto Rican capital’s most historic quarter pronto!

Read my complete post at Going Places.

Posted in Going Places, OneTravel, Travel | Tagged CARIBBEAN, Going Places, Old San Juan, OneTravel, puerto rico, San Juan, Travel | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #52

Posted on 2016-02-23 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, Good Stuff, Shopping, Travel | Tagged Bloomon, ChariTea, Drink, fairtrade, flowers, good cause, good stuff, HouseTrip, LemonAid, PhotoFast, PhotoFast MemoriesCable, Shopping, Travel | Leave a comment

Cork Report | Popping Down to Portugal

Posted on 2016-02-21 by tikichris

Back in June of last year, Kemey and I popped down to Portugal for an immersive two-day crash course in one of the country’s most enduring, sustainable and biggest industries: cork.

I would love for you to think that the reason it’s taken so long for me to get round to writing about my trip was because I was purposefully and patiently waiting for my ideas to mature – like some fine wine in a bottle with a cork stopper – to make for an especially delectable and informative read. However, the truth is that simply I’ve been slammed and have only now found the time (for a brief moment anyway) to tell this story.

It’s a corker of a tale though, and one that I wanted to stand out on the blog and not get buried under a heavy stack of unrelated posts.
Continue reading →

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

Win a Month’s Supply of Portlebay Popcorn

Posted on 2016-02-19 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!

Popcorn! It’s the go-to snack when you’re on-the-go. With its delectable range of flavours, Portlebay Popcorn hand pops its corn in Devon for a “scoop full of outdoor, sunny and happy feeling” that’ll keep you going all day. Craving some now? How about an entire month’s worth of the stuff? I’m pleased to announced I’ve teamed up with Portlebay to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a month’s supply of Portlebay Popcorn for free.

From Crispy Bacon & Maple Syrup to Sweet & Salty Kracklecorn as well as more unusual flavours such as Wasabi & Sweet Ginger and the new Cappuccino (the first of its kind in the UK), Portlebay’s flavours keep your taste buds popping with pleasure. Pick up a pack now at Boots, Tesco, WHSmith, Budgens or from many of the country’s delis and farmshops. Or …
Continue reading →

Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged competition, Food, free, freebies, popcorn, Portlebay, Portlebay Popcorn, RT to win, Shopping, snacks, twitter competition | Leave a comment

5 of the Coolest Film Festivals Around the World (Miles Away)

Posted on 2016-02-18 by tikichris

Photo: muratart/Shutterstock

Want to add a little extra cool factor to your next trip? Plan it to coincide with a film festival! Not only is the destination going to hum with added activity and extra cool things to do, but there’s the heightened possibility of celebrity spotting, and, of course, a chance to see and learn more about the art and business of cinema.

For movie buffs with a love for travel, here’s a look at the five coolest film festivals screening the biggest hits and best indie flicks around the planet.

Read my complete post at Miles Away.

Posted in Celebrities, CheapOair, Miles Away, Movies, Travel | Tagged cheapoair, cinema, film, Film Festivals, Miles Away, Movies, Travel | Leave a comment

Low, Slow & Juke

Posted on 2016-02-17 by tikichris

A juke joint within walking distance of St James’s Park? To be sure newly opened Low, Slow & Juke offers a mere simulation of a down and dirty Deep South eating and drinking experience, but a fun one nevertheless.

I had a hoot at the Low, Slow & Juke launch party last night. From the moment I entered the small and rather unassuming entrance to going downstairs for the full blown Texas style Narnia expanse below (and right comfy one at that), I was impressed.
Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Beer, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged Abbey Orchard Street, BARS, BBQ, beer, cocktails, Drink, Food, London, restaurants, reviews, st james's park, SW1, SW1P 2LU, VICTORIA, westminster, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

2016 UK Blog Awards: Big Thanks for Helping Me Make the Shortlist!

Posted on 2016-02-16 by tikichris

Remember back last month when I was hitting you up to vote for me in the UK Blog Awards? Well guess what?!?

An overwhelming 73,352 public votes were received by the UK Blog Awards for the 2,000 blogs entered in the competition. My pleas to you must have worked (or at least provided some sort of edge) because my blog was shortlisted as a contender in both the Travel and Food and Drink categories.

Thank you for making that happen. I am so grateful to known you took the time to show support for me.
Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs | 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, travel blogs, UK Blog Awards, UK Blog Awards 2016 | 4 Comments

An Unforgettable Evening of Fun Friends and Murder Mystery

Posted on 2016-02-16 by tikichris

Looking for something different to do this weekend? Want to plan an office party that employees will actually want to attend? An unforgettable evening of fun friends and murder mystery awaits at Murder Mystery Events.

Murder Mystery Events offers several types of corporate entertainment murder mystery events that are held at the best venues across the UK such as Downtown Abbey or Sherlock Holmes. Clients can participate in a shared party or, and this is the exciting part, they can choose their own venue and have the plot written specifically for their company! Murder Mystery Events even offer day or evening shows, whichever is preferred or goes better with the customised plot.
Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, London | Tagged Entertainment, London, Murder Mystery, SPONSORED POST, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

The Magic Flute at ENO

Posted on 2016-02-15 by tikichris

Mozart’s fanciful The Magic Flute is on now for a limited run at the London Coliseum with a spectacularly staged production from the English National Opera.

I had the pleasure of attending a performance last week and very much enjoyed the experience. did a bang up job following his chin and clowning around as Papageno.

Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Live Performance, London, Music, Theatre, Video | Tagged Allan Clayton, design, english national opera, ENO, Entertainment, live performance, London, london coliseum, Lucy Crowe, michael levine, mozart, music, Nicky Gillibrand, opera, Peter Coleman-Wright, reviews, ST MARTIN'S LANE, The Magic Flute, theatre, Video, WC2, WC2N 4ES, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

10 Great Golf Destinations for 2016

Posted on 2016-02-14 by tikichris

Mowbray Golf Club, Capetown, Western Cape, South Africa

Is hitting the links a mandatory activity when you travel? When you hear friends boasted about how much fun they had on their last golfing getaway does it leave you green with envy? Then this list of ten of the world’s best golf destinations to visit in 2016 might be the stroke of genius you need to start planning your own ultimate golf holiday.

Have a look and see what you think about this top ten list of places to play golf.
Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Travel | Tagged golf, SPONSORED POST, sports, Travel | Leave a comment

Fleurs des Rêves: Bompas & Parr X Perrier-Jouët at The London Edition

Posted on 2016-02-13 by tikichris

Dudes. Listen up. Dark forces are at work. No longer is it going to be a safe bet to selecting some nice flowers to offer your beloved. Now – compliments of a luxury trio consisting of Bompas & Parr, The London Edition, and Perrier-Jouët – you might have to make sure your chosen blooms aren’t of the ordinary hum-drum one constant colour variety but newfangled and fascinating colour changing Fleurs des Rêves.

Yep, upping the ante for Valentine’s rituals, earnest apologies, anniversaries and the like, this ultra-lux troika of discerning tastes has launched the world’s first colour changing flowers.
Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Hotels, London, Luxury, Shopping, Valentine's Day, Wine | Tagged Berners Street, Bompas & Parr, chameleon flowers, champagne, colour changing flowers, Drink, fitzrovia, Fleurs des Rêves, flowers, hotels, London, luxury, Perrier-Jouet, POP UPS, Shopping, sparkling wine, The London Edition, Valentine's Day, W1, W1T 3N, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

New Chocolate Shop for Fitzrovia: Choconut, Great Portland Street

Posted on 2016-02-12 by tikichris

Are you nuts about chocolate? Then check out the new Choconut boutique chocolate shop in Fitzrovia.

Family owned and hardly more than a couple of months old, Choconut is London’s only shop to use 100% Valrhona chocolate for its handmade creations – and all Choconut chocolate products are handmand in-store, including a range of made-while-you-wait bespoke products (done by chocolatier Xavier Parcerisa, ex Head Pastry Chef at The Goring). The shop pulls a mean coffee as weel – relying on top quality roasters Nude and Square Mile for its beans – and bakes its own muffin from scratch.
Continue reading →

Posted in Chocolate, Coffee, Drink, Food, London | Tagged chocolate, choconut, coffee, Drink, fitzrovia, Food, great portland street, hot chocolate, London, Shopping, Valentine's Day, Valrhona, W1, W1W 5PB, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Stripper Wear Fair | David Bowie Burlesque Tribute | Pole Dancing Werkshop at Red Gallery, Shoreditch

Posted on 2016-02-12 by tikichris

Burlesque performer Chiqui Love models her designs that she’ll have for sale at the Stripper Wear Fair on Saturday.

This weekend – Valentine’s weekend – do something special for yourself and that significant other at one (or all) of three super sexy events hosted by the East London Strippers Collective at Red Gallery in Shoreditch.

There’ll be a chance to learn how to twerk it like a pro pole dancer, shop till you drop low to the flo’ for stripper wear, and to admire the artistic stylings of performers dancing in tribute to David Bowie.
Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrities, Entertainment, London, Music, Shopping | Tagged burlesque, Celebrities, chiqui love, david bowie, David Bowie Tribute, Diamond Dolls, east london, East London Strippers Collective, EC2, EC2A 3DT, ELSC, Entertainment, fashion, London, music, Musis, Pole dancing, Red Gallery, Redchurch Street, rivington street, Shopping, Stripper Wear, Stripper Wear Fair, strippers, Strippin, Stripping, striptease, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Win a Free Cooking Kit from Kitchen Trotter + £15 Off Promo Code

Posted on 2016-02-12 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! PROMO CODE IS STILL VALID AND SHARED NEAR END OF THIS POST.

Kitchen Trotter is a subscription-based cooking kit community offering you a convenient and inexpensive way to discover world cuisine and cook new recipes from the comfort of your own kitchen! Making it even easier and more affordable for a few lucky tikichris readers, I’ve teamed up with the Kitchen Trotter folks to share three of its cooking kits with three winners of a fun and super simple competition. I’ve also worked out a generous promo code for everybody else. Happy eating wherever your taste buds may take you!

Each month, the team at Kitchen Trotter selects a cuisine from a different country, carefully sourcing authentic and hard-to-find products and easy-to-follow recipes from there, and then pack it all up in a beautiful box and deliver it direct to subscribers’ doors!
Continue reading →

Posted in Competition, Discounts and Special Offers, Food, Freebies, Recipes, Shopping | Tagged competition, Cooking Kits, discounts and special offers, Food, free, freebies, Kitchen Trotter, promo code, recipes, RT to win, tikichris special, twitter competition, voucher code | Leave a comment

Two Champagnes, One Chef | GH Mumm | Perrier-Jouët

Posted on 2016-02-11 by tikichris

Invited by two Champagne houses – GH Mumm and Perrier-Jouët – for an overnight visit to the Champagne region for a meet with their Chefs de Caves (Didier Mariotti of Mumm and Hervé Deschamps of Perrier-Jouët), I enjoyed a behind the peek of what goes into blending two of the world’s most celebrated quaffs and how distinctive each is. A bubbly affair to be sure, the occasion served as an excellent opportunity to discover how these wines differ, while enjoying two showcase dining experiences (one for each wine) crafted by in-house chef for both Mumm and Perrier-Jouët – Josephine Jonot.

Each meal was top quality and tantalising but a stark contrast to the other.
Continue reading →

Posted in Drink, Food, France, Luxury, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged champagne, champagne ardenne, Chef de Cave, chef de caves, chef Josephine Jonot, Didier Mariotti, Food, france, french wine, G. H. Mumm, GH Mumm, Hervé Deschamps, Josephine Jonot, luxury, Mumm, Perrier-Jouet, sparkling wine, Travel, wine | Leave a comment

7 of the Best Budget Trips in 2016 (Miles Away)

Posted on 2016-02-10 by tikichris

Want the best bang for your buck while seeing as much of the world as possible? Or maybe you just want to sit on the beach and watch the tide roll in – and pay as little for the privilege as possible?

Whether you’re a snowbird on a fixed income, a young family hoping to eek out some quality time together, a couple yearning for a romantic break, or a free spirit in search of the next great adventure, this list of seven budget friendly destinations has affordable options for all travel lovers to consider.

Read my complete post at Miles Away.

Posted in OneTravel, Travel | Tagged Budget trips, OneTravel, Travel | Leave a comment

My Preferred Cup of Coffee for My Joburg Layover (espressoCrazy)

Posted on 2016-02-08 by tikichris

I’m back from a trip to Namibia in Southern Africa, where I spent about two weeks on a self-drive safari. Yes, I had a blast – and would highly recommend a trip to this vast desert country for anyone interested in wide open spaces and viewing wildlife.

To get there I had to first fly overnight to O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I had a couple of hours layover before my short connector flight to Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city. So what’s the first thing I saw once through passport control and walking to the gate for my flight to Windhoek? A sign for illy coffee of course!

Read my complete post at espressoCrazy.

Posted in Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Shopping, South Africa, Travel | Tagged airport, coffee, Drink, espresso, espressoCrazy, espressocrazy.com, Food, illy, Shopping, south africa | Leave a comment

Fowl Mouths at The King & Co

Posted on 2016-02-07 by tikichris

Fowl Mouth’s Melissa Thompson cooking up something good

There’s nothing foul about the Fowl Mouths residency taking place now through the first week of March at Clapham’s rockin’ little indie pub, The King & Co. And without doubt a read of the Fowl Mouths’ menu jam packed with Japanese comfort food treats should ring mellifluent to any foodie within earshot.

South London supper club heroes, Fowl Mouths, have brought their signature dishes of ultra yummy Japanese grub to The King & Co for a five-week kitchen takeover. Highlights include terrific teriyaki chilli wings (£6) and killer kara-age chicken (£5 as a starter, £10 as a main served with wasabi coleslaw). Both are way too easy to keep eating and eating and eating, which is just what I gleefully did when I paid the pub a visit a couple of days back.
Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, London, Pubs, Restaurants | Tagged beer, CLAPHAM, Clapham Park Road, Drink, Food, Fowl Mouths, Hammerton Brewery, japanese food, London, Melissa Thompson, pubs, restaurants, reviews, south london, SW4, SW4 7BZ, The King & Co, The King and Co, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #51

Posted on 2016-02-07 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 Bars, Beer, Books, Chocolate, Coffee, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Shopping, Valentine's Day | Tagged 808 pureview, BARS, beer, books, Bread Street Bar Sessions, BREAD STREET KITCHEN, chicken wings, chocolate, coffee, cookbook, Cooking for Geeks, Cru Kafe, Drink, Food, good cause, good stuff, Häagen-Dazs, Häagen-Dazs Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, ice cream, Jeff Potter, Lavolio, London, mocha, recipes, reviews, Shopping, Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, street food, Toast Ale, Tristram Stuart, Valentine's Day, Wingmans, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Need a Break? Our Top 10 Beach Destinations for 2016 (OneTravel)

Posted on 2016-02-07 by tikichris

Craving a beach break in 2016?

Here’s a look at our top 10 spots to consider for fun in the sun by the sea!

Read my complete post at OneTravel.

Posted in OneTravel, Travel | Tagged beach, OneTravel, Top 10 Beach Destinations for 2016, Travel | Leave a comment

Dish of the Month at 108 Brasserie

Posted on 2016-02-06 by tikichris

Executive Chef Russell Ford has launched a Dish of Month special to last through the year at his 108 Brasserie. And if February’s offering is any indication, 2016 promises to be an especially tasty month for diners who decide to tuck in at this elegant and buzzing Marylebone Lane restaurant.

Roasted whole turbot for two with trumpet mushrooms, baby onions, spinach gratin, and potato mousseline (£65): that’s February’s DOTM.
Continue reading →

Posted in Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged Chef Russell Ford, Dish of the Month, Drink, fish, Food, London, marylebone, MARYLEBONE LANE, restaurants, reviews, Russell Ford, seafood, Turbot, W1, W1U 2QE, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

The Postal Museum to Open Early 2017

Posted on 2016-02-06 by tikichris

Slated to open early 2017 at the site of the Mount Pleasant sorting office in Clerkenwell, The Postal Museum will aim to bring 500 years of communications history “through the eyes of one of its most iconic services” while offering visitors a chance to experience Mail Rail with rides through disused miniature tunnels of the world’s first driverless electric railway.

I tagged along to the breaking ground ceremony and media tour at the museum earlier this week and was impressed by a project that promises to deliver a first class experience when it opens its doors to the public next year. I left certain that Londoners and visitors alike will give the new historic attraction their stamp of approval.
Continue reading →

Posted in Celebrities, History, London, Museums | Tagged Cathorpe House, Celebrities, Clerkenwell, Dan Snow, history, London, Mail Rail, museums, Phoenix Place, The Postal Museum, WC1, WC1X 0DA, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Optimal Lunch at Opso in Marylebone

Posted on 2016-02-06 by tikichris

Greek restaurant Opso has introduced a new range of lunch box sandwiches to its menu. The sandwiches are priced at £7 each and are served in a koulori sesame seed bun with a side of hand cut chips and homemade tartar aioli.

An invitation to sample something from the range led to me having a delicious lunch – and to discovering a few other ace reasons to keep this attractive little Marylebone eatery in mind.
Continue reading →

Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged coffee, Drink, Food, greek food, ibrik, Ice cream sandwich, London, lukumi, lunch, marylebone, Moustokoulouro, Opso, Paddington Street, PULLED PORK, restaurants, reviews, sandwiches, square mile co, SQUARE MILE COFFEE, W1, W1U 5QL, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Win Dinner at Diciannove Plus Drinks in a Private Vault at Voltaire Cocktail Bar

Posted on 2016-02-05 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!

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I’ve teamed up with London Crowne Plaza – The City on the north end of Blackfriars Bridge to offer one couple a free night out including a romantic dinner for two at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Diciannove, followed by drinks in your own private vault at its cocktail bar, Voltaire.

Diciannove is the Crowne Plaza’s own authentic Italian wine bar and restaurant where Executive Chef Alessandro Bay (who trained under Giorgio Locatelli
for ten years) shares his passion and expertise through a range of breads, pastas and classic Italian dishes all made in house with an emphasis on seasonality and quality ingredients.
Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, Hotels, London, Restaurants, Travel, Valentine's Day | Tagged BARS, blackfriars, city of london, cocktails, competition, Crown Plaza, Dicannove, Drink, EC4, EC4V 6DB, Food, free, freebies, hotels, italian food, italian restaurant, London, London Crowne Plaza, London Crowne Plaza – The City, New Bridge Street, Private Vaults, restaurants, RT to win, Travel, twitter competition, Valentine's Day, Vaults, Voltaire, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Betty Woodman: Theatre of the Domestic at ICA

Posted on 2016-02-05 by tikichris

Theatre of the Domestic, the first UK solo exhibition by American contemporary artist and ceramist, Betty Woodman, is on now at ICA enlivening its galleries with a playful and vibrant collection of mixed media works created within the past ten years.

There’s something expressly joyful – and delightfully clunky – about Woodman’s art. By clunky I don’t mean inelegant or slapdash, but aware of the wobbles, contours and juts that allow an object or set of objects to be idiosyncratic and pronounced in space – to “take an arbitrary group of forms and make a composition” as Woodman has put it.
Continue reading →

Posted in Art, London, Museums | Tagged Art, art review, Betty Woodman, Betty Woodman: Theatre of the Domestic, contemporary art, Decorative Art, exhibition, ICA, INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS, London, museums, reviews, sculpture, SW1, SW1Y 5AH, The Mall, Theatre of the Domestic, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Easter already? It will be here soon! And just in time for this hippity-hoppity holiday, I’ve teamed up with Guylian, makers of the world’s favourite Belgian chocolates, to offer one lucky reader an eggs-tra yummy range of Easter treats for free.

Share this:

It seems like more and more travelers are interested in adding an espresso shot of adrenaline into their trips, with the popularity of activities like bungee jumping, sky diving, and snowboarding all growing.

Share this:

Check out this fun infographic put together by the furniture experts at Oldrids and featuring some of the most famous furniture from the movies and on TV.

Share this:

Mega meat treats cross the river and head east with Brixton Market bad boys, The Joint, taking over the kitchen at The Refreshment Room in Stratford.

Share this:

Id, a solo show of new paintings and multi-media works by Turner Prize winning artist Mark Wallinger, opens today at Hauser & Wirth London, with large-scale pieces featuring prominently in both of its Savile Row spaces.

Share this:

Kemey and I started our cork-ucational tour of Portugal with a trip to an ancient forest to see it being harvested in essentially the same way it has been for centuries.

Share this:

Share this:

Bienvenido a San Juan Viejo!

Share this:

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.

Share this:

Back in June of last year, Kemey and I popped down to Portugal for an immersive two-day crash course in one of the country’s most enduring, sustainable and biggest industries: cork.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

A juke joint within walking distance of St James’s Park? To be sure newly opened Low, Slow & Juke offers a mere simulation of a down and dirty Deep South eating and drinking experience, but a fun one nevertheless.

Share this:

Remember back last month when I was hitting you up to vote for me in the UK Blog Awards? Well guess what?!?

Share this:

Share this:

Looking for something different to do this weekend? Want to plan an office party that employees will actually want to attend? An unforgettable evening of fun friends and murder mystery awaits at Murder Mystery Events.

Share this:

Mozart’s fanciful The Magic Flute is on now for a limited run at the London Coliseum with a spectacularly staged production from the English National Opera.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Are you nuts about chocolate? Then check out the new Choconut boutique chocolate shop in Fitzrovia.

Share this:

This weekend – Valentine’s weekend – do something special for yourself and that significant other at one (or all) of three super sexy events hosted by the East London Strippers Collective at Red Gallery in Shoreditch.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Want the best bang for your buck while seeing as much of the world as possible? Or maybe you just want to sit on the beach and watch the tide roll in – and pay as little for the privilege as possible?

Share this:

I’m back from a trip to Namibia in Southern Africa, where I spent about two weeks on a self-drive safari. Yes, I had a blast – and would highly recommend a trip to this vast desert country for anyone interested in wide open spaces and viewing wildlife.

Share this:

Share this:

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.

Share this:

Craving a beach break in 2016?

Share this:

Executive Chef Russell Ford has launched a Dish of Month special to last through the year at his 108 Brasserie. And if February’s offering is any indication, 2016 promises to be an especially tasty month for diners who decide to tuck in at this elegant and buzzing Marylebone Lane restaurant.

Share this:

Share this:

Greek restaurant Opso has introduced a new range of lunch box sandwiches to its menu. The sandwiches are priced at £7 each and are served in a koulori sesame seed bun with a side of hand cut chips and homemade tartar aioli.

Share this:

Share this:

Theatre of the Domestic, the first UK solo exhibition by American contemporary artist and ceramist, Betty Woodman, is on now at ICA enlivening its galleries with a playful and vibrant collection of mixed media works created within the past ten years.

Share this:

Archives

Meta