Be sure to have a snoop of these local blogs to help you have a fun filled Vietnamese vacation. Not surprising to any lover of Vietnamese cuisine, a good number of the best blogs coming out of Vietnam are about food.
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
The State Rooms are the public rooms of the Palace, designed for monarchs to receive, reward and entertain subjects and visiting dignitaries. Today the State Rooms continue to be used by The Queen and members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions.
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
Urban Travel Blog contributors in Barcelona, Rome, Paris, New York, and yours truly in London were each given a Skrill Prepaid Mastercard loaded with €500 and sent on our merry ways to enjoy our respective cities to the fullest extent – while taking notes to share insider tips for when others visit these cities we love so much. Dream gig? Pretty much.
So I had €500 (just under £340) burning a hole in my proverbial pocket that had to be spent in 48 hours and could only be spent on having fun and playing the tourist in London. Was I up to the challenge? I was certainly keen to take advantage of my newfound wealth to pay for some things I’ve been craving to do and try to treat my girlfriend, Kemey, along the way as well. So have a read over my two-day insider’s itinerary and see if you reckon I made the most of my “free money”…
Read my complete post at Urban Travel Blog.
Bringing law and order to Reconstruction Era Kansas City while establishing a thriving business that exists to this very day, Scotsman Allan Pinkerton (played by Braveheart’s Angus Macfayden,) created the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Working alongside him was his son William, (played by Jacob Blair) and America’s first female detective, Kate Warne (played by Superbad’s Martha MacIsaac).
The soon to air series is to feature stories based on actual cases from the early days of the agency. A key component of the show is MacIsaac’s portrayal of Warne, who seems capable of solving crime with methodical objectivity as she deals in stride with the machismo and sexism of the era. Juxtaposed against this is the more impulsive approach of her fresh-faced colleague William. Situations arising in the premiere episode suggest there’s going to be plenty of humour interspersed throughout this action-packed drama as Warne and the junior Pinkerton learn to work together despite their divergent styles and dispositions.
Fans of Ripper Street, Murdoch Mysteries, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries should especially enjoy tuning in to watch The Pinkertons. As for me, I love a good Western and appreciate a thoughtfully produced period drama – if there’s a touch of reality in the story then so much the better. The first episode of The Pinkertons replete with a train robbery, bushwackers, and tense scenes in a shady saloon was a lot of fun. I’ll be on the lookout for a chance to see next episode for sure.
Post sponsored by UKTV.
Likewise, sometimes I simply want to have something simple. Basic dishes such a Caesar salad or a plate of pasta – when well prepared and made with quality ingredients – can really hit the spot. So when presented with an opportunity to drop by Getti and have a taste of its Italian comfort food classics, I was adamantly andiamo about the affair. Presented with grace and panache, backed up a great wine list and served in a romantically lit (and really quite convenient) setting, it was a great meal. From stuzzichini (a small bowl of buttery green olives) to dolci (a moreish tiramisu followed by a quick espresso), I was pleased with every aspect of the experience.
I dined with my dear Kemey, who if co-writing this review would interject now with a mini-rave about how much she loved the grilled tuna steak with olive sauce and steamed vegetables (£21.95). I had a bite; she wouldn’t have been out of place to say such things about the dish. Back to me and my favourite morsels, I loved the flavourful tagliatelle della casa (fresh tagliatelle with truffle cream and porcini mushrooms, £13.95).
A gorgeous glass of “top cru” Chianti Classico Molino di Grace 2011 (£12.50 for a glass, £23.95 for a carafe, £46.95 for a bottle) was something I probably never would have considered ordering, but I was glad to have had it recommended to me by our waiter – the same fella who so aptly steered Kemey toward her much appreciated fish main. Twelve quid was a bit of a treat for a glass of vino – definitely a quality quaff though (and don’t worry; the restaurant has plenty of good, affordable wines).
For back to basics dining done right, Getti is located at 16-17 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6LT (there’s another outlet on Marylebone High Street). Find out more at getti.com.
Named in honour of the (in)famous Ninth Ward district of New Orleans (and the area hardest hit by – and still recovering from – Hurricane Katrina ten years ago this month), Ninth Ward London offers an experience that’s more NOLA lite than properly Nawlins immersive. Whaddyamean there’s no Sazerac on your drinks list? But I must admit there were some especially authentic Louisiana elements enjoyed during my visit that could have me heading back. And everything sampled from the menu was super tasty.
Chief among the handful of reasons I’d return was the Abita beer. Brewed in Louisiana at Abita Springs about 30 miles north of New Orleans – and among my most regularly downed beers when I was a student back in the States – it’s one of my favourite beers. Ninth Ward is the only place I’ve come across it in London and is to the best of my knowledge the only bar in town to stock Abita. Ninth Ward serves Amber and Restoration Pale Ale in bottles. I commend the bar for it. If it was to add Abita Turbodog brown ale to its drinks list, I’d hoot and holler with glee.
Food was worth mentioning too. I was particularly pleased with the bar snacks. Hot wings served with Slap Yo Mamma sauce and house bleu cheese (£7.50) did it for me and would be an easy recommendation. Curried okra lightly fried in Abita beer batter (£4.50) was a dish I’d order again (and again). A heaping bowl of house cut dirty fries “smothered” in beef chilli, cheese, jalapeños, and American mustard (£6.50) was an indulgent treat as well.
I liked the look and feel of Ninth Ward too. Although, I found it more Voodoo/Bourbon Street kitsch (if impeccably done and worth taking a gander at) than actual Ninth Ward-like. I loved all the reclaimed wood, repurposed industrial fittings, and long tabletops. Staff kept the light low and dim while I was there, and I very much appreciated the atmospherically dark effect.
Discounts, Special Offers, and Such
My visit to Ninth Ward was upon invitation by PocketHighStreet, a free service helping local shops and new customers connect online with mighty fine offers such as the following Ninth Ward deals:
Ninth Ward is located at 99-101 Farringdon Road. Find out more at ninthwardlondon.com.
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!
However you find pleasure and sustenance in your provisions, Food Assembly helps assemble a week’s worth of gorgeous groceries. Started in France in 2010 and now with “assemblies” sprouting up across Europe (I’ve heard this concept is especially popular in Spain), there are already with more than a dozen assembly points in London alone.
Here’s how it works:
Order online
Choose from a wide range of local products: fruit, vegetables, bread, cheese, meat, beer and much more… it is up to you how much you buy and how often!
Collect Your Order
Every week your Assembly takes place in a local venue. Collect your order from here and meet both the people behind your food and your neighbours.
Eat Better
Every season taste the freshest food available in your region.
Shop Fairly
Support your local producers and economy! In each Assembly producers set their own prices and receive an income that is both fair for them and good for the local economy.
I really enjoyed my Food Assembly shopping experience. Hosts and producers present (at the Roman Road assembly) were all super friendly, avid and enthusiastic about their products. There were plenty of samples and nibbles on hand as well as a lovely community-spirit about the casual event that made mingling with the producers and other shoppers a delight.
Sounds like a great alternative to slogging your way through the aisles of the supermarket, right?
To be in with a chance to win, simply tweet the following:
Please take a moment to read the terms and conditions before tweeting!
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Monday 31 August at 11.30am BST. The winner will receive £30 worth of free online shopping at thefoodassembly.com. To be eligible to win, you need to be able to pick up your shopping at one of 18 (at the time of publishing this post) Food Assemblies in London.
Find out more about Food Assembly at thefoodassembly.com and keep an eye out for all My Food Assembled! posts.
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Check out more tikichris competitions.
Me and golf? There’s nothing there, no history (unless you allow encounters when the term was hyphenated with “mini” or “crazy” at the front of it). But I found the chance to try out the Peninsular range with a complimentary quickie lesson to be a lot of fun. With a flute of Pol Roger and some tasty tapas to augment the session, I’m now all fore gourmet golfing and find myself hankering another attempt.
Opened at the beginning of July by N1GOLF, Peninsular is a 60 bay driving range near London’s O2 Arena featuring panoramic views of the Thames and Canary Wharf (taking aim to drive a ball at the glass towers across the river was a cathartic way to get some exercise). From what I could gather based on my instructor’s patience and ability to get even a novice like me to hit a few balls in the right direction and with some distance, I’d say it’s a great place to learn to play golf. And with most of the other bays filled with folks who seemed to know what they were doing and enjoying the heck out of it, I reckon the range just as ideal a destination for seasoned players as well.
Whether I make it to North Greenwich for golf again or not, I’m certain to head back for another dine at the range’s Extremaduran and Catalan accented restaurant and bar: Vinothec Compass. An opportunity to sample highlights from Chef Jordi Rovira Segovia’s menu truly impressed. Simple but full flavoured Spanish dishes like baby squid with tomato and coriander, smoked trout salad, and suckling pig with piquillo peppers where gastro-delights, as delicious as they were stylishly presented. Other wonders from his kitchen included a sophisticated cod confit with Romesco sauce and a perfectly grilled longhorn onglet.
But wait there’s more. Lots more, actually. Vinothec Compass has a cellar with more than 600 wines (not to mention a smartly curated Craft Beer Counter to boot) with an emphasis not on region or price tag but great taste and diversity and an admirable aim “to promote the pretty, unusual and iconic – from indigenous grapes nurtured by small independent growers, underlining the importance of sustainable, organic viticulture.” Great quaffs had during my visit included a crisp Bulgarian Chardonnay, a tantalizing Tempranillao from Morocco and some rather umph-y French reds. All (I sampled a mix of nine or ten wines over my evening meal) sparked conversation and could be classified in the best of wine tasting categories: distinctive and interesting.
A stroke of delectable genius, Vinothec Compass Restaurant and Bar is located at Peninsular Golf Range, Tunnel Avenue, SE10 0QE. Find out more at greenwichpeninsulagolfrange.com and vinotheccompass.com.
The national holiday sees festivals across the country with the most significant national events taking place in the capital city of Budapest.
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
While it’s tempting to rush off and start a cooking marathon as soon as possible, it’s important to consider where your meat comes from first. Of course, discerning shoppers always try to source the best quality possible to be sure of welfare standards and good flavour. However there are so many labels to decipher and even the savviest foodie is likely to be confused by the terms “outdoor bred”, “outdoor reared” and “free range.” Based on my recent visit to Blythburgh Farm in Suffolk, here’s what they all mean:
If the pork you’re about to buy has none of the above labels or is imported pork, chances are it is from animals who have had relatively miserable lives.
The explanations above are courtesy of Jimmy Butler, an experienced farmer and head of Blythburgh family farm in Suffolk. The Butlers converted their pig farm into the “absolutely, totally free range pork” venture it is today back in the 1990s. Today, you can find pork bearing the Blythburgh stamp in specialist butchers around the country including my local, Hennessy Butchers in Battersea.
You may have come across Blythburgh pork, also known as Jimmy Butler’s pork, on menus at the Savoy, the Fat Duck, the Ivy and the Hind’s Head – as well as street food favourites Chipotle and Yum Bun. The label “Blythburgh pork” means that the meat you are buying is traceable back to one truly free range farm, which has ideal conditions for raising happy pigs.
The pigs that produce Blythburgh Free Range Pork spend their entire lives outdoors in the fresh air, with freedom to roam. Large airy tented barns in each paddock with plenty of bedding straw provide shelter when needed. Better welfare and better taste – these pigs grow at a slower rate, so develop more flavour and succulence that is not easy to find in intensively farmed oprk. Jimmy’s son Alistair tells us that pigs are curious, intelligent animals who love to root and play. As Jimmy puts it, “a free range pig is a happy pig and a happy pig is a good pig”.
The open spaces of the free range farm is clear to see just off a main road near the town of Blythburgh; the pig farm has become something of a landmark in these parts. You can see for yourself how the pigs happily roam in large paddocks, playing and rooting around as is their nature in the sandy Suffolk soil. I was lucky enough to cuddle one.
After the visit, the group of food writers I was with were invited to a butchery demonstration by Gerard King, from local craft butcher Salter and King, who skilfully broke down a whole side of pork and shared his top tips for preparing each cut. His recipe for rolled pork belly stuffed with chorizo sounds like a winner!
With fine quality meat like Blythburgh pork, the simplest recipes are often the best to showcase the natural flavours. The Butlers shared one of their favourite family recipes for slow-cooked pork sholder:
Ingredients
- 6kg Blythburgh pork shoulder, boned, rolled and scored;
- 2 tablespoons oil;
- 1 tablespoon fennel seeds;
- Salt
Method
- Heat oven to 220C;
- Place the pork in a roasting tray, rub the skin with oil and salt, and then sprinkle with fennel seeds;
- Roast for 30 minutes and then lower the oven to 120C;
- Cook for a further six and a half hours;
- When cooked remove pork and rest for 15 minutes;
- Remove crackling, shred pork and serve in rolls with apple sauce or with vegetables and gravy.
Find out more at freerangepork.co.uk.
Here have a drink and enjoy perusing this list of the best bars on the beautiful island of Bali. Cheers!
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
I had a taste of this craft New Yorker combo at the launch last night (along with a burger … and some cheese fries … and a certainly alcoholic pint of ShackMeister Ale). Quite the treat for a Monday night!
The float was the highlight of my meal. Rich, creamy, not overly sweet – Mast’s chocolate beer is brewed with freshly roasted cacao, cane sugar and water before being carbonated with nitrogen. With a scoop of custard slowly melting into the brew, the float’s flavour altered ever so slightly with each sip.
Trying the beer was also a delicious reminder that I’ve to pay a visit to the new Mast Brothers shop in Shoreditch … and that I really really should. For more about Mast Brothers go to mastbrothers.co.uk.
Shake Shack is located at 24 Market Building, The Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2E 8RD. Find out more at shakeshack.co.uk.
Finding a place that strikes just the right balance of quality, comfort and affordability can be tricky when you are traveling to places like Swindon but if you look at the City Centre Hotels in Swindon and see what is available you can find the ideal space.
Qualities You Should Look For
There are a number of qualities you want to be looking for when you look at hotels available in Swindon. Finding a place in the City Centre can be perfect for your needs since you will be close to many of the top attractions, dining spots, entertainment, shopping areas and more. You will also have easy access to public transportation so you can get around the city without having to worry about driving and parking. You want to look at the hotels and check the different amenities that they offer to see if they have the qualities that are most important to you when you are looking for a comfortable place to stay. Once you have looked over everything you will find that of the Swindon hotels available the Holiday Inn Express Swindon City Centre has everything you are looking for.
All You Could Hope For
A room at this hotel is going to provide you with all you could hope for in a quality hotel in the City Centre area without breaking your budget. The hotel has six floors of rooms so they are several sizes available to accommodate whatever your party needs may be. The hotel itself is located in the heart of the City Centre so you have great access to everything whether you are in town for business or for leisure. You will also find amenities like Wi-Fi Internet access, HD LCD televisions, en-suite bathrooms with power showers, comfortable bedding, in room coffee and tea facilities, workspace with proper lighting and other comforts. You can also use the restaurant and lounge on-site for your meals or as a place to relax and unwind at the end of the day.
You get all of the amenities you could hope for in the location in Swindon that you want at one of the best prices of any of the hotels in the City Centre area when you stay at the Holiday Inn Express Swindon City Centre. Instead of spending hours looking over all of the hotel listings you find, go straight to the website of this Holiday Inn Express and find exactly what you are looking for in quality, price and comfort.
Service was stellar on the Thusdaynight . Our bartender was cool and correct with his suggestions; I loved my bottle of Er Boqueron (an unfiltered golden ale made with sea water, £5.50). The manager working the floor was super friendly and helpful too.
Food was great. Not on the menu, my favourite dish was probably the daily special: hamburguesas de morcilla (a pair of blood sausages sliders served with piquillo peppers on soft brioche buns). If Omar and team wanted to add that savoury number to the fulltime roster, I wouldn’t stop ‘em. From the menu, everything I tasted would be worth having again, especially the ham croquetas (£5.50) and the dense and homey tortilla de patata (£5.25).
Portion sizes were ample. Prices were decent. Saving room for some flan with vanilla cream was wise.
What’s missing? Little really, except for the age-old atmo of a tried and true tapas bar in, say, Madrid … or Barcelona … or Sevilla … or San Sebastian … or … you get the picture. But hey, ya gotta start a revolution somewhere, and Shoreditch is a fine enough place to do so. The flavours were as Spanish as you’ll come by in Shoreditch, and the restaurant is a welcome step up from Allibhoy’s conveniently placed tapas kiosk a Westfield (there’s a location in Bluewater too with more outlets on the way I believe).
Tapas Revolutions is located at 58 Bethnal Green Road, E1 8JW.
A smart time for you to visit might be during the restaurant’s Summer Fiesta – Friday 28 and Sunday 29 August from 6pm to 9pm – when guests can enjoy free paella and sangria on the terrace or book a table inside for 30% off the dinner menu. Entertainment will be provided by traditional Spanish flamenco dancers and DJs as well as owner Omar Allibhoy, who will be cooking a giant paella al fresco on the terrace and sharing top tips for Spanish food at home.
Find out more tapasrevolution.com.
Rowan Atkinson, the cast of The Office, Rik Mayall, Terry Jones: Andy Hollingworth has photographed them all, and many more. Some of his best shots are featured in the Snap Galleries exhibition with prints in a range of sizes for sale. Ask about the special print set for £50. And while you’re enquiring, request some details about the upcoming gallery tour with Andy on Saturday 5 September.
Running From Greenbaum is on now and runs until 19 September, at Snap Galleries, 12 Piccadilly Arcade, SW1Y 6NH. Find out more at snapgalleries.com.
This recipe for ricotta buttermilk ice cream is easy to make, requires minimal ingredients, and yields some much more flavour and creamy texture than typical ice creams tend to have. The ricotta and the buttermilk came from Bermondsey’s Kappacasein dairy through my local Food Assembly. I the ricotta is definitely good enough to eat on its own, and I reckon would be great in any number of dishes. Maybe next time I’ll make some cassata.
RICOTTA BUTTERMILK ICE CREAM Yum
Ingredients
Method
Serve
I won’t think I should have to give much instruction on how to eat this yummy treat! But a good rule of thumb for serving any ice cream is to take it out of the freezer about ten minutes before you plan to scoop it.
Find out more about Food Assembly and producers at thefoodassembly.com and keep an eye out for future My Food Assembled! posts and more tikichris recipes.
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!
Whitley Neill may be inspired by Africa, but it’s made in England in small batches by Johnny Neill, a direct descendant of 18th century gin maker Thomas Greenall and the last in a long line of distillers.
Compared to a lot of gins (and to be sure there are a lot of gins out there these days), Whitley Neill is less juniper-y and more zestful. I live it and reckon it’s an ideal component for an especially refreshing G&T though it stands up well enough on its own with such an intriguing flavour profile.
To be in with a chance to win, simply tweet the following:
Please take a moment to read the terms and conditions before tweeting!
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday 21 August at 11.30am BST. The winner will receive one bottle of Whitley Neill gin. To be eligible to win, you need to have an address in the UK where the prize can be delivered. Obviously you also need to be of legal drinking age to receive this alcoholic product and must be able to show ID that proves your age.
Good luck and please drink responsibly.
For more about Whitley Neill go to whitleyneill.com.
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Check out more tikichris competitions.
The leaves were grown biodynamically and “organic in conversion” at Brockmans Farm near Canterbury. They were tasty to be sure and ideal for the recipe I was craving to create. However, pretty much any sort of bitter greens – collard greens (good luck finding them here), turnip greens, cavolo nero, bok choi even – could be used as a more than suitable substitute.
For my batch of greens, I also used a few other key ingredients that I picked up from Food Assembly producers: gorgeously full flavoured raw cultured butter from Bermondsey’s Kappacasein, and streaky bacon and chicken (for chicken stock) from Marsh Produce in Kent. I was particularly impressed with Marsh’s chicken as even a thigh simply boiled had considerably more flavour to it than most supermarket chicken.
My mustard greens recipe is easy to follow. It’s designed for one person (as that’s how I had it and to show how this is a great dish for solo home dining), but scaling it for more than one serving shouldn’t cause any headaches.
When making this dish for yourself, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Food Assembly ingredients I used were especially yummy and – I reckon – made the greens that much better than they might have been otherwise.
MUSTARD GREENS Yum
Ingredients (single serving)
Method
Serve
Place in a bowl and eat while they’re hot. I like mine with a few dabs of Tabasco.
Find out more about Food Assembly and producers at thefoodassembly.com and keep an eye out for future My Food Assembled! posts and more tikichris recipes.
This year’s roster for Reading and Leeds is going to be as epic as in years past with over 100 bands, solo artists, comedians, films and more jammed into an action packed schedule.
Ready for the mother of all weekends?
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
