tikichris

Win a Bottle of Whitley Neill Small Batch London Dry Gin

Posted on 2015-08-14 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!

Whitley Neill is a small batch London dry gin. Inspired by Africa, it is comprised of nine different botanicals including the South African baobab and cape gooseberry. Fancy a taste … for free? I’ve got one bottle of this distinctive and award-winning premium spirit to give away.

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:

RT to win a free bottle of @WhitleyNeill #smallbatch #gin compliments of @tikichris: http://ow.ly/QTE3Z #SummerOfGin

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.

Posted in Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged competition, Drink, free, freebies, gin, london dry gin, RT to win, Shopping, Small Batch Gin, twitter competition, Whitley Neill | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Hedged Home

Posted on 2015-08-13 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Recipe: Mustard Greens

Posted on 2015-08-13 by tikichris

Maybe I just haven’t been looking hard enough or in the right places, but my experience in London has been that mustard leaves (on their own, not as part of a mixed leaf salad) aren’t that easy to come by. So I was really pleased to be able to snag a couple of bags of them via my Food Assembly shopping trip and then cook ‘em up like I used to have them when I was a kid back in the States.

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)

A generous pat of butter;
Salt to taste;
1 finely diced garlic clove;
100g mustard leaves with stems and course ribs removed;
1 strip of streaky bacon (I prefer smoked) finely chopped;
Chicken stock to taste (I’d say about );
1 tablespoon of cider vinegar;
1 tablespoon of mustard seeds.

Method

Place a pat of butter in a pot and set to medium heat;
Add the garlic and some salt;
Throw in the greens;
Cover with cold water and stock;
Add the bacon;
Turn up the heat and bring to a boil;
Give the greens a couple of stirs and taste if they require more salt before covering with lid and allowing to simmer;
The longer they can simmer the better, but they’ll be plenty tasty enough after 15 to 20 minutes;
Drain in a colander giving them a light press to squeeze out excess moisture.

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.

Posted in Food, London, My Food Assembled!, Recipes, Shopping | Tagged Food, Food Assembly, London, mustard greens, mustard leaves, My Food Assembled!, recipes, Shopping, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | 1 Comment

2015 Main Stage Acts at the Reading and Leeds Festivals (OneTravel)

Posted on 2015-08-12 by tikichris

Two of Britain’s biggest annual music festivals – the Reading and Leeds Festivals – take place over the same weekend at the end of August and featuring alternating line ups. The two cities are about three and a half hours drive or train ride away from each other. So if you’re a fan of any particular artists performing at the festivals (and you can bag tix for both) you could possibly get to see them play live among thousands of other fans … maybe even within 24 hours of each concert.

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.

Posted in England, Entertainment, Live Performance, Music, OneTravel, Travel | Tagged england, Entertainment, Leeds Festival, live performance, music, Reading Festival, Travel | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Druid Street

Posted on 2015-08-12 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged bermondsey, druid street, east london, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, SE1, south london, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Wine and Spice at The Cinnamon Club

Posted on 2015-08-11 by tikichris

I had a great time at one of my favourite London restaurants during a special Exploration of Greece wine tasting last month.

Led by affable and knowledgeable Laurant Chaniac, wine consultant to The Cinnamon Club and Kitchen, the intimate event was held in the restaurant’s intimate library, where guests were invited to sample a range of greek wines paired with exceptional dishes such as pistachio and spice crusted saddle of lamb and tandoori cod with fenugreek seeds. I loved all the wines and pairings of the night, but without doubt my favourite was the one at the end served with dessert: an especially deep flavoured Assyetiko Vin Santo 2004 (of which only 1,000 bottles had been produced).

The Wine and Spice tastings are on hold for August as the Club “takes a pause in order to prepare for a new chapter” but bookings are already being taken for upcoming tastings in September and October including what promises to be a particularly amazing Burgundy Wines dinner with 12 year-old Bourgogne Domaine de la Galopiere and a 30 year-old Santenay Premier Cru already lined up to wow the lucky few who sign up to attend. Prices vary per tasting. The Exploration of Greece event was £60 per head.

The Cinnamon Club is located at The Old Westminster Library,
30-32 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BU. Find out more at cinnamonclub.com.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wine | Tagged cinnamon club, Drink, Food, Great Smith Street, Greek Wine, London, restaurants, SW1, SW1P 3BU, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #44

Posted on 2015-08-11 by tikichris

Good stuff? Great stuff! And so much of it I’m having trouble keeping track and sharing the best of it in a timely manner. But don’t let my inadequate ability to blog efficiently get in the way you having a wonderful time. Have a look a this list of fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy.

Crystal Head Vodka Skull Bottle Miniatures

Crystal Head Vodka has launched a 50ml miniature of their signature bottle. To celebrate, the brand has created a “Deconstructed Martini” drinking experience offering drinkers one Crystal Head Vodka miniature, a shot of dry vermouth and garnishes, shaken with “the purest” ice, and served in chilled Martini glass. In London, you can try a Deconstructed Martini at Lights of Soho, Galvin at Windows, and Hush. To purchase your own miniature skull bottle (at a recommended retail price of £7.95) visit Gerry’s Wine and Spirits in Soho or shop online at justminiatures.co.uk.

Introduction to Japanese Cuisine: Nature, History and Culture

Recently published by Shuhari Initiative, the first volume in The Japanese Culinary Academy’s Complete Japanese Cuisine is a gorgeous coffee (or should I say tea) table book filled with beautiful photography, excellent insight into the history and tradition of Japanese cooking, a pretty handy glossary, and loads of inspiring recipes. Look for it in better bookshops at a recommended retail price of £50.

Little Moons

While I’m on the subject of delicious Japanese food, allow me to insert here a mention about the new Little Moons mocha ice cream desserts. The gelato balls coated in a thin layer of gummy mochi are some of the tastiest treats I’ve come across in quite some time. Little Moons come in six flavours, I love the toasted sesame and the matcha. Pick some up at Whole Foods (recommended retail price of £5.99 for a box of six) or order them from the dessert menu at Bone Daddies, a Shoryu Ramen, and other Japanese restaurants around town.

Mirabeau Rosé

There are still a few days of summer left, right? Hopefully? If so, a nice way to spend them might be to pop open a bottle of rosé and make the make of the season as it winds down into autumn. I’ve done just this a few times this summer with Mirabeau, the “world-class Provencal rosé made by an Englishman.” I especially liked sipping Mirabeau Pure with hints of grapefruit and orange blossom.

Posted in Books, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, London, Restaurants | Tagged #LargestOnlineWardrobe, BARS, books, Crystal Head Vodka, Drink, Food, good stuff, ice cream, Introduction to Japanese Cuisine, japanese food, Little Moons, London, Mirabeau, Mochi, restaurants, rose, The Japanese Culinary Academy, The Japanese Culinary Academy’s Complete Japanese Cuisine, vodka, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Streamered

Posted on 2015-08-11 by tikichris

Preview: International Street Food Challenge 2015 | Thursday 13 August | Shoreditch

Posted on 2015-08-10 by tikichris

This Thursday (13 August) TravelSupermarket will host a free street food festival in Shoreditch. The International Street Food Challenge 2015 will give guests the chance to sample a variety of authentic and delicious dishes cooked by a variety of vendors from around the world and to vote on which they think serves up the tastiest dish.

Vendors for the event were selected after “showing the best in class street food from their country,” with a number of the vendors even travelling from far and wide to compete, including French chefs Copper and Wheat from Copenhagen who are flying in their own brand of potatoes and duck fat to ensure their dishes are 100% authentic. Other confirmed vendors are Kothu Kothu (Sri Lanka), La Tua Pasta (Italy), Orange Buffalo (USA) and Vinn Groute (Seychelles).

I’m looking forward to giving it all a browse (and a bite!) and seeing if I can glean some streetwise inspiration for my own home cooking. Stay tuned!

The International Street Food Challenge 2015 will be held at The Back Building, 148 – 150 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AR on Thursday 13 August from noon to late.

The event promises to be a popular one. So to make sure you don’t get turned away at the door take a sec to download your free ticket at travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/street-food.

Posted in Food, Freebies, London, Restaurants, Street Markets, Travel | Tagged curtain road, east london, EC2, EC2A 3AR, Food, free, freebies, International Street Food Challenge 2015, London, shoreditch, street food, street markets, Travel, Travel Supermarket, TravelSupermarket, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Tunnel

Posted on 2015-08-10 by tikichris

Cocktails and Pizza at Clerkenwell & Social

Posted on 2015-08-09 by tikichris

Located at St John’s Square (where The Bear pub used to be) is Clerkenwell & Social. I was really impressed with the inventive cocktails and found it to be a fine place to enjoy a pizza and bar snacks while catching up with friends.

Service at C&S was swift, friendly, and interested in what my party had to say about our lunchtime experience. It guess it’s worth noting that we had the place virtually all to ourselves during our late lunch midweek visit. But I got the impression that this bar can fill up (and spill out onto the square) at night.

For my part, I had no complaints but mentioned the pizza could have spent little more time cooking in the oven. Still I devoured mine, the Salami (tomato, mozzarella, salami and black olives, £11) and maybe of slice or two of my friends’ pizzas as well without hesitation. Other items tried during my visit included tasty calamari (£6), chicken wings (five for £5 or eight for £8), and the arancini with mushrooms and truffle oil (£4.50).

The food just seemed to be a sidekick for the far more inspired (and inspiring) drinks. Cocktails like the Breaking Good (Pisco infused with chilli, lime juice, tarragon syrup, homemade bitters and egg white) and Beer New World (pale ale with amaretto and Bourbon shaken with honey, lemon juice and orange bitters) took me off guard with their presentation and intriguing flavour. And at £8.95 each I thought they are were rather good value for a fun Zone 1 outing.

Clerkenwell & Social is located at 2-5 St John’s Square, EC1M 4DE. Find out more at clerkenwellandsocial.com.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Pizza, Restaurants | Tagged BARS, Clerkenwell, Clerkenwell & Social, cocktails, Drink, EC1, Food, London, pizza, restaurants, reviews, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

The Fire Station Hots up Waterloo Once Again

Posted on 2015-08-09 by tikichris

After a year long refurb, The Fire Station near Waterloo Station has reopened with a new look and menu. I tagged along to the relaunch last month and liked what I saw and what I tasted.

I’d been to The Fire Station a couple of times over the years, never to eat though. So I can’t comment on how the new menu of burgers and pizzas from a wood-fired oven compares to the food of its gastropub past. But I really liked the couple of slices of pizza I tried at the launch (pizzas range in price from £7.95 to £12.50). I thought my buttermilk fried chicken burger with spicy coleslaw (£8.50) was pretty swell too.

Bartenders were on active duty whipping out all sorts of refreshing looking cocktails, but I stuck with beer during my visit though. With Beavertown Gamma Ray (£4.50) and Modelo Especial (£4.75) gleaming from behind the bar, I was happy to do so.

Looks wise, the place seemed airier with way more light than I remembered it. That’s a good thing.

The Fire Station is located at 150 Waterloo Road, SE1 8SB. Find out more at thefirestationwaterloo.com.

Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, London, Pizza, Pubs, Restaurants | Tagged BARS, beer, London, pizza, pubs, restaurants, reviews, SE1, SE1 8SB, south london, The Fire Station, WATERLOO, Waterloo Road, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Ask for Janice

Posted on 2015-08-09 by tikichris

“Asking for Janice” seems to mean take it easy, enjoy a few drinks alongside some dishes of crafty comfort food and set your concerns on pause for a while, or so my experience played out when I finally got round to paying a visit to this highly recommended little bar.

I really enjoyed my dinnertime visit to AFJ. A number of foodie folk whose opinions I respect had been upping the thumb about the place to me since it opened. They were right too.

This casual bar and restaurant is a welcome addition to the cluster of food and drink options around Smithfield Market. I loved sipping my Beast of Bourbon cocktail (Woodford Reserve, sweet vermouth, crème de mure, £9). The stout salt squid (£8) was pretty yummy too as was most everything else I nibbled. I wasn’t too sure about my grenadine-y seasonal pickles (£3) though.

Gin aficionados will go gaga for Janice’s vast selection. Fans of lowbrow and Pop Art (not to mention scaled back/pared down interiors) will enjoy the background while getting their drink on.

Ask for Janice is located at 50-52 Long Lane, EC1A 9EJ. Find out more at askforjanice.co.uk.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants | Tagged Ask for Janice, bar, barbican, BARS, Clerkenwell, cocktails, Drink, EC1, EC1A 9EJ, farringdon, Food, London, LONG LANE, restaurants, reviews, Smithfield Market, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Teide Observatory Gets New Telescopes, Ups “Astro-Tourism” Draw (OneTravel)

Posted on 2015-08-09 by tikichris

Tenerife has boosted its position as one of the best locations on the planet for stargazing, with the introduction of eight new telescopes at the island’s Teide Observatory. Introduced in June, the telescopes will appeal to amateur “astro-tourists,” trained scientists, and anyone keen to admire the marvels of the universe.

The arrival of the new, advanced solar telescopes marks the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC).

Read my complete post at OneTravel.

Posted in OneTravel, Spain, Travel | Tagged Cananary Islands, OneTravel, spain, tenerife, Travel | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: 142142

Posted on 2015-08-09 by tikichris

August Issue of UK Cigar Scene Out Now

Posted on 2015-08-08 by tikichris

Issue Eight of the monthly UK Cigar Scene Magazine is now online and ready for download.

Each issue of UK Cigar Scene is free to download and includes a video interview with a key cigar personality along with news of events, gossip, and more stogie related info celebrating the specialists, their staff and the many personalities who enjoy a fine cigar here “in one of the world’s most energetic cigar scenes.”

The magazine is the creation of proprietor and editor (and my long time acquaintance), Nic Wing. This summertime issue features an interview with World Cigar Smoking Champion, Darren Cioffi of Principle Cigars. As with previous issues, I was pleased to do the still photography for the interview.

Have a look at ukcigarscene.com.

Posted in Freebies, interview, London, Luxury, Photography, Shopping | Tagged cigars, CUBAN CIGARS, Darren Cioffi, free, freebies, interview, London, luxury, nic wing, Photography, Principle Cigars, Shopping, UK Cigar Scene, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Untitled

Posted on 2015-08-08 by tikichris

You Might be a Coffee Snob If … (espressoCrazy)

Posted on 2015-08-08 by tikichris

Do you consider yourself to be a coffee snob? Do you judge others on how much they know (or don’t) about your favourite caffeinated drink? Have you ever done anything out of the ordinary to achieve a dream coffee situation? Do you even have a ‘dream coffee situation’ in mind?

Here are 16 potential clues you might be a coffee snob …

Read my complete post at espressoCrazy.

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

London Daily Photo: Bricks

Posted on 2015-08-07 by tikichris

Whaam! Win Free Banh Mi for a Week | Get a Free Americano with Purchase of Sandwich

Posted on 2015-08-07 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!

About two months ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing Vietnamese style sandwich shop, Whaam Banh Mi, near Piccadilly Circus. Now, I’m teaming up with this friendly little Soho eatery to offer one reader a week’s worth of banh mi for free and the opportunity for everybody to get a free Americano with the purchase of any banh mi over the next week.

Win a week’s worth of banh mi for free

Okay, so maybe there’s no such thing as a free lunch. But here’s the chance for somebody to nab six yummy meals for the price of a tweet.

To be in with a chance to win a week’s worth of banh mi for free (that’s one sandwich a day for six days), simply tweet the following:

RT to win a week’s worth of #free #BanhMi from @WhaamBanhMi
compliments of @tikichris: wp.me/p2Fl8q-6iy #tikibanhmi #soho #lunch

Please take a moment to read the terms and conditions before tweeting and to check out this special offer for a free coffee from Whaam.

Get a free Americano when you buy a banh mi and mention tikichris …

I’m only able to offer the week’s worth of free banh mi to one lucky duck. But, at tikichris, everyone’s a winner. So, to coincide with the run of this competition, Whaam is offering my readers a free Americano with any purchase of any banh mi on the menu … as long as you mention this blog. Yep, there’s a breakfast banh mi on the menu. The shop opens at 7.30am Monday to Friday and at 11.30am on Saturday (closed Sunday).

So, free coffee with the purchase of a sandwich from Friday 7 August to Friday 14 August (please note Whaam is closed on Sundays) … all ya gotta do is mention “tikichris” when you go.

T&C

For the “free banh mi for a week” competition, I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday 14 August at 11.30pm BST. The winner will be eligible to receive one free banh mi sandwich per day for six days. The offer will be eligible only for 30 days starting Monday 17 August. Good luck.

Whaam Banh Mi is located at 40 Great Windmill Street, W1D 7LY. Find out more at whaambanhmi.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.

Posted in Coffee, Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Restaurants | Tagged #tikibanhmi, banh mi, coffee, competition, Drink, Food, free, Free banh mi, free coffee, free lunch, freebies, Great Windmill Street, London, lunch, restaurants, reviews, RT to win, sandwiches, soho, twitter competition, vietnamese food, W1, W1D 7LY | Leave a comment

Get Ready to Crave the New Druid Street Market

Posted on 2015-08-06 by tikichris

Okay folks, I’ve got a couple of phrases I’d like you to repeat after me. The first one is “kimchi and Stilton grilled cheese sandwich” as this is the future of what you shall crave. The other is “Druid Street Market,” which is an important phrase to remember because that’s were you’re gonna head on Saturday to take a bite out of this ultra-umami toastie.

The kimichi and Stilton sandwich can be found at the F.A.T market stall at the new Saturday-only Druid Street Market. Made by pickle and sauce enthusiast Freddie Janssen with her own homemade kimchi, aged Stilton blue cheese and bread from St John’s Bakery, it’s a winning combo served hot at £4 for a small and £7 for a large.

Yes, that’s right there’s another foodie street market that’s just launched in London. And yes, it is just round the corner and down the street from the heaving and popular Maltby Market. However, the Druid Street doing are distinctive enough to be their own thing … and delicious enough for me to wanna shout about.

Anchored by a few brick and mortar businesses operating out of the street’s railway arches (chiefly magnificent muffin makers Peyton & Byrne bakery), the market is the brainchild of Toast Magazine Editor, Miranda York, who sees the market as an opportunity to curate a tasty selection of “fresh produce, innovative new products and street food.”

Based on my time tagging along on a tour she led last Saturday, I’d say Miranda’s off to an excellent start. I very much enjoyed munching my way through the market and was pleased to have her confirm to me that she aims to keep the ready-to-eat component of the market capped at 40%. So, folks can actually shop for products to take home and prepare themselves. Miranda and crew are also hoping the market can sustain trade on Sundays too and that events such as guest chef appearances, book releases and more will find their way into the Druid Street calendar.

In addition to the kick ass kimchi sarnie, I liked everything I tried during the tour, and loved much of it. Highlights included cold brew coffee from Black Box, Scampi Shop’s fresh made scampi with ample dollop of some pretty awesome tartar sauce, savoury hams cured in East London by Blackhand Charcuterie, and downhome Louisiana style fixings from Decatur London (iced tea, gumbo, oysters, gumbo – yes sir please and thank you kindly).

One more vendor who rocked my palate something mighty was Grant Harrington (ex Faviken and Gordon Ramsay) whose “&” brand batch cultured English butter put butter on a whole other level of yum.

Is that it? Hardly. But you ought to head over there to have a taste for yourself.

F.A.T. is online at fffaaattt.com.
Peyton & Byrne is at peytonandbyrne.co.uk.
The Black Box Coffee website is blackboxcoffee.co.uk.
Scampi Shop tweets at twitter.com/scampishop.
Blackhand Charcuterie is online at blackhandfood.com.
Decatur London tweets at twitter.com/decaturlondon.
Find out more about & at instagram.com/butterculture.

Druid Street Market (Druid Street between Sweeney Crescent and Abbey Street, SE1 2HH) is open on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. Find out more at druid.st.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping, Street Markets | Tagged Drink, east london, Food, London, Miranda York, SE1, SE1 2HH, Shopping, south london, street food, street markets, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: No Entry

Posted on 2015-08-06 by tikichris

2015 Edinburgh Fringe: Must See Shows (OneTravel)

Posted on 2015-08-05 by tikichris

For fans of live performance, August in Edinburgh means one thing: Fringe! The largest arts festival in the world, the three-week Scottish shindig brings the opportunity to be entertained by a heaving variety of world class, up-and-coming, and often rather ‘out there’ shows with a long standing emphasis on comedy, improv and (as the festival’s name implies) the very best in fringe theatre.

This year’s Fringe runs from the 7th to the 31st of August and features a calendar of more than 3,000 events. How about a quick look at some of the upcoming 2015 highlights?

Read my complete post at OneTravel.

Posted in Entertainment, OneTravel, Scotland, Theatre, Travel | Tagged edinburgh, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Entertainment, live performance, OneTravel, scotland, Travel | Leave a comment

Häagen-Dazs Master Ice Cream Academy: Free Ice Cream Fun at Bloomsbury Square Today!

Posted on 2015-08-05 by tikichris

What’s better than ice cream? Free ice cream, served by one of London’s top chefs and accompanied by a few fun sensory exercises to kick your taste buds into high gear.

Yes, the Häagen-Dazs Master Ice Cream Academy kicked off its quick stint at Bloomsbury Square yesterday – and it’s still on and open to the public today, Wednesday 5 August from 11am to 6pm.

Hosted by “Masters of Real” Dan Doherty (Executive Chef at Duck & Waffle), Professor Barry Smith (founder of the Centre for the Study of the Senses), and Rose Thomas (TheLondoner.me), the ice cream academy brings a chance to challenge your perceptions about food and flavour, learn how to make super delicious treats for yourself, and eat ice cream. Yeah!

I dropped by Bloomsbury Square yesterday and had a great time. Already a fan of Dan’s doings at Duck & Waffle, I loved getting to sample his peach melba Champagne float. The event was my second encounter with Professor Smith and I was just as amazed and inspired as I was the first time. Rose’s blog, The Londoner, had been completely off my radar until the event. But to have teamed up with Dan, I reckon her site’s worth taking a look-see at. Maybe I’ll do that now while you make plans to get over to Bloomsbury Square, WC1A 2NS today between 11am and 6pm.

Find out more about the Häagen-Dazs Master Ice Cream Academy:
greatbritishchefs.com/campaigns/haagen-dazs-masters-of-real.

And for more about Häagen-Dazs’ firm stance on having #realornothing:

haagen-dazs.co.uk
haagendazsuk.tumblr.com
facebook.com/haagendazsuk

Posted in Blogs, Drink, Food, Freebies, Great British Chefs, London, Restaurants, Shopping | Tagged #realornothing, barry smith, Blogs, bloomsbury, Bloomsbury Square, Centre for the Study of the Senses, Dan Doherty, duck & waffle, free, free ice cream, freebies, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, Häagen-Dazs, Häagen-Dazs Master Ice Cream Academy, ice cream, London, Masters of Real, Rose Thomas, The Londoner, WC1, WC1A 2NS, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Tanner Street

Posted on 2015-08-05 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged bermondsey, east london, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, SE1, south london, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Afternoon Tea with a Difference with Bird of Smithfield and Veuve Clicquot

Posted on 2015-08-04 by tikichris

Talk about a tea-rific team up! Bird of Smithfield and Veuve Clicquot Rich Champagne are coming together to create a unique and bubbly take on the ever so English ritual of afternoon tea for one week this August.

In celebration of Afternoon Tea Week – Monday the 10th to Saturday the 15th of August – Bird will be offering guests sandwiches with a twist, classic scones and yummy cakes – all served alongside “The Earl of Veuve” cocktails (Veuve Clicquot Rich infused with delicate Earl Grey leaves).

Situated on the edge of the City next to Smithfield Market within easy reach of Farringdon, Barbican, St Paul’s and Chancery Lane Tube stations, Bird of Smithfield – with it four floors and rooftop garden of delicious fun – is an ideal location for afterwork shenanigans, lingering lunches, and … for a limited time only … one of london’s most sophisticated and indulgent afternoon teas.

Advanced booking is required.

Price: £28 per person
Serving time: 2pm to 5pm

Contact Nadia Evans at 02075595100 or email nadia@birdofsmithfield.com.

Bird of Smithfield is located at 26 Smithfield Street, EC1A 9LB. Find out more at birdofsmithfield.com.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Luxury, Restaurants | Tagged afternoon tea, afternoon tea week, Afternoon Tea Week 2015, champagne, Clerkenwell, cocktails, Drink, EC1, EC1A 9LB, farrindon, Food, french wine, luxury, restaurants, smithfield, Smithfield Market, Smithfield Street, sparkling wine, tea, Veuve Clicquot, Veuve Clicquot Rich, Veuve Clicquot Rich Champagne, wine | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Bermondsey

Posted on 2015-08-04 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Tagged bermondsey, downside, east london, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, SE1, south london, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

My Food Assembled! Falling in Love with Food Assembly

Posted on 2015-08-03 by tikichris

Have you heard about Food Assembly? It’s a convenient new way to shop locally and seasonally that I’ve just come across – and have fallen in love with. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to share my personal Food Assembly experience across a series of My Food Assembled! posts to whet your appetite (and maybe even run a fun competition to give one lucky reader the chance to shop Food Assembly for free).

Whether it’s a box of veg, a jar of vegan jam, homemade buttermilk, fresh caught fish or a big juicy steak – Food Assembly can help you 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), Food Assembly already has more than a dozen assembly points across London and is proving to be a smart alternative to the supermarket.

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.

So, last week I browsed the site, placed an order and headed over the Roman Road pickup point for my first experience with Food Assembly. The hosts and producers present were all super friendly, avid and enthusiastic about their products. There were plenty of samples and nibbles on hand and a lovely community-spirit about the casual event that made mingling with the producers and other shoppers a delight.

All the usual weekly shopping items (eggs, bacon, bread, milk, etc) were available for purchase – just tastier, locally produced, and most likely more ethically sourced than what I might have been able to pick up nearby otherwise. Everything there came from 50 miles or closer to the Roman Road location; the bread was baked just round the corner. But, less typical foods like edible flowers and “Welshman’s Caviar” were also available.

I liked being able to meet the people behind what I eat. I suppose that having them bring only what was already bought online by shoppers, helped the producers to reduce waste and get a better sense of customer preference. At-home online shopping with easy East End pickup helped me get started working on a few recipes I’ve been meaning to make for a while. I’ll soon share those recipes on the blog and be sure to highlight which ingredients are from my Food Assembly expedition.

In addition to my no-fuss and actually really fun shopping trip, the Food Assembly expedition was an opportunity to discover a lovely independent shop too. The collection point was at Vinarius wine bar, where staff was on hand to share a free glass of wine with Assembly shoppers and offer special deals. Vinarius is located at 536 Roman Road, E3 5ES. Find out more at vinarius.london.

Find out more about Food Assembly at thefoodassembly.com and keep an eye out for more My Food Assembled! posts.

Posted in Drink, Food, London, My Food Assembled!, Recipes, Shopping, Wine | Tagged Drink, E3, E3 5ES, east london, Food, Food Assembly, London, My Food Assembled!, recipes, roman road, Shopping, Vinarius, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | 3 Comments

London Daily Photo: Nowhere

Posted on 2015-08-03 by tikichris

Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography | Leave a comment

Movie Review: Pressure

Posted on 2015-08-02 by tikichris

What happens when four deep sea saturation divers get stranded 650ft below the surface of the Indian Ocean after disaster strikes their ship? Pinewood Pictures’ suspenseful new feature length thriller, Pressure, ponders just that.

With the air in their bodies compressed to withstand the deep water dive, surfacing too fast without decompressing could lead to certain death. Realising their diving bell is damaged, rescue is uncertain and oxygen is depleting fast, can the foursome put their differences aside and work together to fight for their survival?

Starring Danny Huston, Matthew Goode, Joe Cole, and Alan McKenna, with appearances by Ian Pirie, Daisy Lowe, and Gemita Samarra (and that’s it folks), Pressure is a taut film with plenty of hold-your-breath moments and ample action.

When I first nestled into my seat at a recent Soho House press screening, I felt the movie started out a tad too slow while setting things up for a far too predictable outcome. Boy, was I wrong about the ending! And I’m pleased to report that once Pressure’s plot is established, the rest of the flick rolls out in with tense, claustrophobic drama at gripping and even pace.

Huston, Goode, Cole and McKenna play off each other well. Some of the interactions seem a bit hokey and contrived – particularly how Huston’s aptly performed character, Engel, just happens to end up with such a perfect opportunity to find redemption for a troubled past through his relationship with Jones, a young neophyte diver played with persuasive sympathy by Joe Cole. But the draw of the film is the smartly metered apprehension that had me clutching my armrests and scooting my tuckus toward the edge of the seat.

Directed by Ron Scalpello and produced by Alan McKenna and Jason Newmark
Pressure opens in UK cinemas 21 August. Find out more at pinewoodpictures.com/film/pressure.

Soho House screening room is located at 21 Old Compton Street, W1D. For more information go to sohohousegreekstreet.com.

Posted in Celebrities, Entertainment, London, Movies, Video | Tagged Alan McKenna, Celebrities, Danny Huston, Entertainment, Joe Cole, Matthew Goode, Movies, OLD COMPTON STREET, Pinewood Pictures, Pressure, reviews, Soho House, Video, W1, W1D | Leave a comment

Celebrate Mozzarella Season with Rossopomodoro

Posted on 2015-08-02 by tikichris

Summertime’s the best time to eat buffalo mozzarella from the southern Italian region of Campania. The weather’s at its warmest, the grass and herbs are at their sweetest, and the water buffalos graze with glee, resulting in the tastiest, richest milk to be made into the famous white cheese.

Nobody in London knows this better than Neapolitan pizzeria, Rossopomodoro. The folks there are celebrating Mozzarella Season by transporting fresh mozzarella di buffalo twice weekly direct from Campania to its London restaurants – from production to plate with 24 hours – to offer guests two mega-milky options for festive get togethers: a 1kg Mozzarellona and a massive 3kg Trecciona.

The 1kg Mozzarellona serves six to ten people and is priced at £40. The 3kg Trecciona serves 20-30 people, costs £120, and requires a one-week advanced pre-order. Both are served with tomato bruschetta, grilled vegetables and prosciutto di Parma.

Lucky me, I got invited round for a trial run mozzarella party at the Fulham Road Rossopomodoro. A fan of its pizzas (among the very best to be had in London) and of buffalo mozzarella (one of my top five cheeses), it was an easy RSVP to make. I loved the chance to tuck into multiple servings of delicious freshly made mozzarella and found this special offer to be a fun way to dine with family and friends.

Rossopomodoro has eight locations throughout London as well as an outlet in Birmingham (not to mention Italy, France, Iceland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Japan and the US). I enjoyed my Mozzarella Season feast in the comfy upstairs dining room of Rossopomodoro’s Chelsea restaurant, 214 Fulham Road, SW10 9NB. Find out more at rossopomodoro.co.uk.

Posted in Food, London, Pizza, Restaurants | Tagged Buffalo Mozzarella, cheese, chelsea, Food, fulham road, italian food, London, mozzarella, MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA, Mozzarella Season, pizza, rossopomodoro, SW10, SW10 9NB, west london, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: Pale Blue Paint

Posted on 2015-08-02 by tikichris

5 Excellent Online Resources about Beijing (OneTravel)

Posted on 2015-08-01 by tikichris

The capital of China is one of the world’s biggest cities. Rich in history and tradition, Beijing plays as significant a role in global events today as it ever did (if not more so). It’s also a fascinating destination, but one that can seem like a tough nut to crack to outsiders who don’t speak the language. Fortunately, plenty of excellent resources to help you ma.ke the most of your big Beijing plans are out there though.

Shall we have a look at some of Beijing’s most informative sites for English speaking vistors and expats? Let’s.

Read my complete post at OneTravel.

Posted in China, OneTravel, Travel | Tagged beijing, china, OneTravel, Travel | Leave a comment

London Daily Photo: The Marquis of Wellington

Posted on 2015-08-01 by tikichris

The Ultimate Guide to New Orleans Voodoo Culture (Miles Away)

Posted on 2015-08-01 by tikichris

Fer Gregory/Shutterstock

Voodoo. How much of its mysterious traditions are hokey hype and how much is genuine religious practice? There’s no better place to find out for yourself than in New Orleans, where the legend, kitsch, and reality of Voodoo collide.

Here’s a list of eight of the city’s most famous voodoo shops—mostly in or nearby the city’s super accessible French Quarter—for you to explore. But when you do, just keep in mind that for many people, Voodoo is a living religion and a major part of their lives. As when visiting any religious site as a tourist, be sure to do so respectfully—it’s easy to tell the tourist traps apart from the real deal the instant you enter an establishment—and with an open mind. Most shop owners and employees, as well as many practicing local folks, would be more than pleased to discuss their beliefs with you, so long as you approach them politely and without judgement.

Now get out there and start exploring!

Read my complete post at Miles Away.

Posted in CheapOair, Louisiana, Miles Away, Shopping, Travel | Tagged cheapoair, louisiana, Miles Away, new orleans, nola, Shopping, Travel, voodoo | Leave a comment

Whitley Neill is a small batch London dry gin. Inspired by Africa, it is comprised of nine different botanicals including the South African baobab and cape gooseberry. Fancy a taste … for free? I’ve got one bottle of this distinctive and award-winning premium spirit to give away.

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I had a great time at one of my favourite London restaurants during a special Exploration of Greece wine tasting last month.

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Located at St John’s Square (where The Bear pub used to be) is Clerkenwell & Social. I was really impressed with the inventive cocktails and found it to be a fine place to enjoy a pizza and bar snacks while catching up with friends.

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After a year long refurb, The Fire Station near Waterloo Station has reopened with a new look and menu. I tagged along to the relaunch last month and liked what I saw and what I tasted.

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“Asking for Janice” seems to mean take it easy, enjoy a few drinks alongside some dishes of crafty comfort food and set your concerns on pause for a while, or so my experience played out when I finally got round to paying a visit to this highly recommended little bar.

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Issue Eight of the monthly UK Cigar Scene Magazine is now online and ready for download.

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Do you consider yourself to be a coffee snob? Do you judge others on how much they know (or don’t) about your favourite caffeinated drink? Have you ever done anything out of the ordinary to achieve a dream coffee situation? Do you even have a ‘dream coffee situation’ in mind?

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What’s better than ice cream? Free ice cream, served by one of London’s top chefs and accompanied by a few fun sensory exercises to kick your taste buds into high gear.

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Talk about a tea-rific team up! Bird of Smithfield and Veuve Clicquot Rich Champagne are coming together to create a unique and bubbly take on the ever so English ritual of afternoon tea for one week this August.

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What happens when four deep sea saturation divers get stranded 650ft below the surface of the Indian Ocean after disaster strikes their ship? Pinewood Pictures’ suspenseful new feature length thriller, Pressure, ponders just that.

Share this:

Summertime’s the best time to eat buffalo mozzarella from the southern Italian region of Campania. The weather’s at its warmest, the grass and herbs are at their sweetest, and the water buffalos graze with glee, resulting in the tastiest, richest milk to be made into the famous white cheese.

Share this:

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Voodoo. How much of its mysterious traditions are hokey hype and how much is genuine religious practice? There’s no better place to find out for yourself than in New Orleans, where the legend, kitsch, and reality of Voodoo collide.

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