London Daily Photo: New City Days
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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
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4 Sites to Visit for South Africa’s Freedom Day (OneTravel)
27 April is Freedom Day, a national holiday in South Africa that commemorates the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in the country.
Have a look at this list of four places to visit in South Africa offering the chance to learn more about the country’s struggle against apartheid and to help honor the lives of Mandela and the many other South African anti-apartheid heroes.
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
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London Daily Photo: Brixton
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged brixton, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, south london, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Preview: The Goblin King’s Masquerade Ball 2015
The Goblin King’s Annual Masquerade Ball is a themed costumed ball “of mischief and revelry” exploring the darker side of fantasy through promenade theatre, live music and DJs, cabaret, interactive creatures, puppetry, art installations, goblin markets, hot tubs, “hidden experiences” and loads more surprises in “suitable goblin habitable locations.”
This year’s dastardly do takes place Friday 8 May from 10pm to 4am at The Coronet, 28 New Kent Road, SE1 6TJ. “Early Bird Goblin” ticket prices start at £20 each for individuals and £16 each when purchased for groups of five or more. For details and to book, go to goblin-king.co.uk.
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Posted in Art, Drink, Live Performance, London, Music, Theatre
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London Daily Photo: Soho
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Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, soho, street art, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House
Photo/Elliot Erwitt © 2000, Dogs, New York City
There’s a whole lot of photography on view now at Somerset House with the 2015 Sony World Photography Awards exhibition with a good assortment of eye catching and poignant works to see.
The number of photographs to view impresses. Those that I was most pleased to give more than a once over at the press preview include Li Fan’s photos of life among the Ethnic Yi people in China’s Great Liangshan Mountains; Jordi Pizarro’s portraits of Acid Survivors in India; John Moore’s gut wrenching images o the Ebola Crisis in Liberia.
I also really enjoyed the chance to check out works by legendary Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt, winner of SWP’s 2015 Outstanding Contribution to Photography award.
Hardcore fans of contemporary photography, keep this show on your radar.
One more thing: hats off to Somerset House for becoming such the premiere centre for photographic exhibition in London. Really amazing stuff doing on there these days!
The 2015 Sony World Photography Awards exhibition runs from 24 April to 10 May at Somerset House, Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 1LA. For tickets and more details go to worldphoto.org.
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Posted in Art, London, Photography
Tagged 2015 Sony World Photography Awards, Art, exhibition, London, Photography, reviews, somerset house, Sony World Photography Awards, street photography, the strand, WC2, WC2R 1LA, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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A Simple Space at Udderbelly Festival: No Frills Just Thrills and Simply Amazing Acrobatic Stunts
Wow! I was blown away at last night’s press preview performance by A Simple Space, a no-frills show direct from Australia which “champions the incredibly artistry of the human body over traditional circus gimmicks.”
Could you solve a Rubik’s Cube while balancing upside down on your head in front of an audience? Would you ever want somebody standing on your face or jumping on your back while you yourself are standing atop another person? And who’s up for being slung meters into the air to be caught considerably close to the floor by four different performers each grasping onto a different limb with perfect precision?
Pared down to T-shirt attire, basic lighting and little else save for lots of muscle, flexibility, grace, humour and friendly one-upmanship – the six fellows/one gal Gravity & Other Myths acrobatics ensemble behind this thoroughly entertaining hour of ouch defying feats and novel stunts leaned on their own ability, training, and trust in each other – and little else – to amaze a thoroughly appreciative crowd.
I’ve been a member of enough mostly Londoner audiences now to know that a standing ovation in this town is not easily come by. The enthusiastic everybody-sprung-from-their-seats send off we gave the Simple Space acrobats was perhaps this most appreciative I’ve seen at any London show. That in and of itself should serve as ample recommendation to get you down to Udderbelly to see this Aussies do their stuff before they head off near the end of May.
In addition to the chance to see amazing feats of strength, endurance and daring, it was just really nice to realise that – with Udderbelly now open – summer is almost here! I very much enjoyed sitting outside near the river having a Pimm’s and lemonade and soaking up that last bit of early evening sunlight at the festival grounds.
A Simple Space runs from 21 April to 24 May at Udderbelly Festival, located on the Southbank, between Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens and the London Eye, just off Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Find out more at udderbelly.co.uk.
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Posted in London, Theatre
Tagged A Simple Space, acrobats, Belvedere Road, circus, Gravity & Other Myths, live performance, London, reviews, SE1, SE1 8XX, south london, southbank, udderbelly, udderbelly festival, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Dragons and Lock
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Tagged London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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The George Foreman Grill “Evolves”
Leila Dukes reminisces about her days as a student while trying out the new George Foreman Evolve and pondering its practicality in her life now that she and the famous grill have both grown up.
This week a student became an internet sensation after being snapped using a George Foreman grill to make a bacon sandwich in the front row of a university lecture.
The last time I encountered a George Foreman I was also a student, which was more years ago than I care to admit. In those days, the student halls had a greasy, squalid kitchen shared by over twenty freshers who would rather spend their pennies on snakebite than washing up liquid. The communal “George” was the high point of the place; the only reliable appliance and the maker of many late night cheese toasties. Even the culinarily challenged (one guy genuinely used to eat dry Supanoodles straight out of the packet) could whip up something hot and nutritious on our trusty George.
Coincidentally, in the same week that the brazen student’s antics went viral, the nice people at George Foreman invited a group of bloggers to try out the latest model.
Like those early Noughties students, the George Foreman has grown up; the new “Evolve” model is described as “the next generation”. New features such as a deep bake pan mean you can easily create so much more than the toasties, paninis and grilled meats associated with the earlier versions. It’s now possible to cook small stews, casseroles and even pizzas using the grill.
The main draw of the original models was the angle of the grill which meant excess fat drained away. The Evolve still has this feature, but as people are gradually coming around to the idea that fat isn’t something to be afraid of, this model lets you adjust the angle as you wish.
Another snazzy new addition is the sear function, which gives a blast of intense heat before returning to normal cooking temperature.
To put all of these features through their paces, we prepared a menu of seared tuna with salad, a beetroot and broccoli pizza, finishing with grilled plums on rosemary skewers with a hot buttery citrus sauce.
Some of the dishes were more successful than others – all of our tuna steaks ended up overcooked despite following the instructions to the letter. The sear function did not seem to deliver on its promises. The pizza was decent but the base was so crisp it was difficult to cut through – a far cry from the pillowy soft Napoli style pizzas. The best dish was the grilled fruit dessert recipe which didn’t require such precision timing and temperature control.
The George Foreman Evolve grill certainly looks impressively shiny and is easy to use; the dual LED display has a digital timer and variable temperature. The ceramic coated grill plates are simple to remove and clean (even for lazy students) and are dishwasher safe which is a bonus.
Although the appliance is touted as space-saving as it combines several features in one, it is a fairly bulky bit of kit to keep on your kitchen counter, particularly if you already have a hob and oven/grill. It’s not for everyone; I struggled to think when I would prefer to plug in the George instead of using a normal pan or oven dish. Even our famous student would have struggled to set this up in class.
However, the George Foreman Evolve is great solution in many situations; it would be fantastic in a setting with limited cooking facilities such as an office, student accommodation or for taking on self-catered holidays. And let’s not forget those hangover saving cheese toasties. I may not keep one on my kitchen counter 24/7, but I dare say I’ll dig out the George Foreman Evolve next time I feel nostalgic for my student days.
George Foreman Evolve grills are available from Argos, £149.99. Find out more at georgeforeman.co.uk.
Leila was invited to review the George Foreman Evolve as a guest.
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Posted in Food, Shopping
Tagged Food, George Foreman Evolv, George Foreman Grill, Leila Dukes, reviews, Shopping
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Win a Variety Pack of Jaz & Jul’s Origin Mixture Drinking Chocolate
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!
Award winning independent chocolate makers, Jaz & Jul’s, are launching a new Origin range of drinking chocolates. Featuring three single-origin dark hot chocolates made with cacao grown in a different region (Madagascar, Peru, Brazil) for a collection of subtle yet indulgent flavours. Keen to find out how to get a sneaky peek taste ahead of all the other choco-fiends? Keep reading, my cocoa loving friends.
The new Origin mixtures are made by hand in London with organic chocolate shavings ethically sourced from small producers. Already popular at a number of top indie coffee shops (such as Madagascar 61% at Pot Kettle Black, Peru 75% at Fields Beneath and Brazil 70% at Prufrock and Kaffeine), the new Origin retail range will allow customers to enjoy Jaz & Jul’s fabulous single-origin dark drinking chocolate mixtures at home too.
Me? Oh, I’ve already dipped my fingers in the packs for a taste. And I like – a lot! And you will too. Check ‘em out …
There’s the slightly spicy and a little sharp Madagascar 61% made with Malagasy cocoa from the Sambirano Valley with yummy fruit aromas; the Peru 75% made with rare white crioloo beans from the Alto Piura region of northwest Peru with their buttery texture and a complex, coffee-like finish; and the rich Brazil 70% made from Trinitario beans grown in the Amazon rainforest in the state of Para.
To be in with a chance to win a variety pack of Jaz & Jul’s Origin mixtures, simply tweet the following:
Good luck. Please take a moment to read the terms and conditions before tweeting!
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Thursday 30 April at 11.30pm BST. The winner will receive a variety Pack of Jaz & Jul’s Drinking Chocolates. To be eligible to win, you need to have an address in the UK where the prize can be posted. Good luck.
Jaz & Jul’s at the London Coffee Festival
Heading to the upcoming London Coffee Festival (30 April to 3 May at Old Truman Brewery, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR)? Be sure to look for Jaz & Jul’s, who’ll be there launching their Origin drinking chocolates. For details about LCF, go to londoncoffeefestival.com.
Shop online and find out more about Jaz & Jul’s at jazandjuls.co.uk.
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.
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Posted in Chocolate, Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Shopping
Tagged chocolate, competition, Drink, drinking chocolate, Food, free, freebies, hot chocolate, Jaz & Jul's, London, RT to win, Shopping, twitter competition, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: The Strand
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Tagged London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, street photography, the strand, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Review of Moët Academy
Last week Maddie Salters embarked upon an adventure in London’s Southbank that would take her into the heart of France’s Champagne region. Celebrated brand Moët & Chandon re-created the vineyards and wine cellars of its lush estate at OXO along the River Thames, allowing guests absorb the look and feel of the Champagne valleys before relishing the taste of its most famous export.
The experience was called Moët Academy. Educational and interactive, it first took visitors through a mock-up vineyard where real Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier grapes grew in chalky French soil. There, among the leaves, a lecture on traditional production revealed the difference between a Grand Cru estate and a regular, and the effect of temperature and season on quality and taste.
Armed with this knowledge, guests ambled into the second portion of the experience: a Moët & Chandon cellar, where the complex, artistic, and nuanced process of creating their line was demonstrated and recounted. I was floored to learn that in a single bottle of Moët & Chandon vintage, over one-hundred base wines are blended together to create a fabulously malty and deeply acidic brew that is then painstakingly transformed into their brightest, fruitiest, and sweetest Champagne. The process takes over six months of constant care and a deep commitment to professionalism, proving that the journey from vine to glass is one of creativity above science.
The last section of the tour, the ‘School of Champagne,’ boasted a deeply impressive tasting menu. A vintage champagne, a Brut Impérial (the brand’s primer cuvée,) an atypically dry and bitter Rosé, and a summer Iced Impérial were paired off with savoury morsels. Hosted by Master of Wine Peter Richards, I was immediately put at ease by his cool wit as he began the walkthrough of the glasses with a short pronunciation lesson of ‘Moët & Chandon.’ “Mow-way is No Way! Mow-It? No-It Ain’t! Mmmwet is more like it… though it always sounds better when someone French says it.”
Highlights of the class included getting to try the pungent base vintage wine side-by-side with its bubbly counterpart, the Grand Vintage 2006. Usually an honour only reserved for those creating the blend, it was a sensory way to understand the very complex process each bottle undergoes to reach its marketable state. I was also impressed that the brand’s Rosé contained less sugar than its Impérials, meaning it lent itself surprisingly well to food pairings, especially desserts. A swish of refreshing ice wine was a fun and funky way to keep Champagne contemporary as rooftop season begins, and the individual smelling notes that were given to each participants tested our might at being able to identify the many layers of taste and scent in each glass.
Best of all, I was able to capture the moment in their photobook, using the hashtag #moetacademy.
England has never had such marvellous access to the French Champagne region in the luxury of its own backyard. Hopefully, Moët Academy will return next year with more to learn, and of course, more to taste. Cheers.
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Posted in Drink, London, Luxury, Shopping, Wine
Tagged Barge House Street, champagne, Drink, french wine, London, luxury, Maddie Salters, Moët & Chandon, Moët Academy, oxo tower, OXO2, OXO2 Tower Wharf, SE1 9PH, Shopping, south bank, southbank, sparkling wine, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Deep in Dean Street
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Tagged DEAN STREET, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, soho, street photography, W1, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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7 Eco-Wise Travel Tips to Celebrate Earth Day Everyday! (OneTravel
Happy Earth Day! But why should we celebrate this planet we call home only one day a year? And how can we make the most of our travel and leisure time while still keeping a clean and green conscience?
Keep reading.
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
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Piadabar: New Italian Takeaway in the Heart of Soho
Piadabar is a new Italian takeaway on Bateman Street in Soho that serves authentic piada (Northern Italian flatbread), traditional cheeses and cured meats, amazing homemade desserts, excellent espresso and more. It’s a brilliant spot to drop by for a quick sandwich or snack – whether on your way to work in the morning, during lunch or even after a late night out playing weekend warrior (Piadabar is open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights).
You can get a filling and tasty sandwich here, as I did during a recent visit, for under a fiver. Throw in a soup or salad and a drink and it will only cost £6.50. I recommend the “classic” piada (toasted piada sandwich with Parma ham, melted mozzarella and rocket), but there’s a range of options including salmon, beef, pork belly, three cheese and vegan, as well as ones with chocolate or fruit.
Coffee’s good here – if you like a more fully flavoured and no frills approach to espresso-based drinks. Desserts – such as gorgeous homemade zabajone and tiramisu and all sorts of pastries like cannoli and sfogliatelle – are definitely worth saving room for!
Yeah, I was impressed with what’s on offer at Piadabar … to such an extent actually, that I might be teaming up with the owners to help spread the word. So watch this space. Or better yet, head over to this affordable and friendly Soho eatery to have a look and taste for yourself!
Piadabar is located at 3-5 Bateman Street, W1D 4AG. Find out more at piada.bar.
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Posted in Coffee, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged Bateman Street, breakfast, cafe, cannoli, coffee, espresso, flatbread, italian food, London, lunch, pastries, Piada, Piada Bar, Piadabar, Piadina, restaurants, reviews, sandwich, sfogliatella, sfogliatelle, soho, TIRAMISU, W1, W1D 4AG, zabajone, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Gatekeeper
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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
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Taking it Easy with an Overnight Spa Break in Bath
Easter week, Kemey and I made a quick overnight trip to Bath for a bit of rest and relaxation with a dash of history and scaled down but nonetheless urban ease. Both of us had been to Bath before but ages ago and not together. We had so much fun during our brief stay in this compact and attractive city. It’s a great place for couples and super easy to get to from London. Of course, more time to explore Bath and the bucolic countryside nearby would have been ideal, but our overnight visit proved to be an amply replenishing pause before having to head back to the London grind.
Thermae Bath Spa
The highlight of our time in Bath was the early evening Twilight for Two visit to Thermae Bath Spa. Available from 4pm with last full entry at 6pm (daily except for Saturday), The Twilight package offers a three-hour session with a light meal in the spa’s Springs Restaurant (straight from the pools in your robe and slippers if you like – we liked!). Prices start at £45 for individuals and £85 for couples.
This was the first experience at the spa for both of us. We especially loved the steam room and getting to take in the views from the heated rooftop pool. Situated in the heart of town just a short walk from the rail station and our accommodation with reasonably priced range of options, we also admired the spa’s aim to provide accessible means of wellbeing.
Thermae Bath Spa is located at The Hetling Pump Room, Hot Bath Street, Bath, BA1 1SJ. For more details and to book your visit, go to thermaebathspa.com.
Brooks Guesthouse
We stayed at boutique bed and breakfast, Brooks Guesthouse, and would not be against doing so again. Basic requirements – impeccably clean, free WiFi with a good signal throughout, comfy bed, strong shower, quiet room, convenient location – were certainly all met. Everyone we met at Brooks was exceptionally friendly. Breakfast was scrumptious and hearty.
Brooks Guesthouse is located at 1 Upper Bristol Road, Bath, BA1 2NA. Visit the guesthouse online at brooksguesthouse.com.
The Bell Inn
A fireside pint (of delicious Bath Ale Gems!) at The Bell Inn at the end of our night added to the unwinding effect of our dip at the spa. Live music, friendly folks, and prices so cheap they remind you how nutso expensive life in London has become – ah, that’s what a West Country pub’s supposed to be like, right?
Located at 103 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BW, The Bell is owned by 536 customers, fans (including Robert Plant and Peter Gabriel) and workers under IPS CoOperative rules. How awesome is that? Go to thebellinnbath.co.uk for details.
First Great Western
Not even an hour and a half travel time between London Paddington Station to Bath Spa Station via regular train service provided by First Great Western, getting there was a breeze. We went First Class, very much enjoying the WiFi, extra legroom, and free snacks – waiting to board our outgoing train in the First Great Western lounge at Paddington (freebie sandwiches and magazines) was a treat as well.
With a couple of trains servicing the route hourly and it being such a short ride time, taking the journey via standard fare would not be a hardship. Still, if the tickets aren’t too dear, doing it in First Class style is definitely the way to go! Read schedules, special offers and more information at firstgreatwestern.co.uk.
More
So many sights to see and things to do in Bath! Here’s a look at the few we got round to.
Bath Abbey: The beautiful and impressively well preserved Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is worth a visit if only for a look at the natural light streaming in from its massive windows – bathabbey.org.
No 1 Royal Crescent: Whoa! The ornate symmetry, the insight into the formalities of socializing during the Georgian era, the phenomenal knowledge and consideration of the numerous docents on hand … our tour of No 1 Royal Crescent was such a wonderful way to while away an hour – no1royalcrescent.org.uk.
Roman Baths: Not to be missed, the Roman Baths are a fascinating link to the distant past. Kemey and I had both been before but absolutely loved the repeat visit – and would probably be inclined to go again next time we’re in Bath. One nagging complaint – I wish there were facilities like a coat check or somewhere for visitors to leave bags. We dropped in before heading to the station to return to London. Lugging my suitcase through the venue was kind of a bummer – romanbaths.co.uk.
Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House: We got a kick out of our pit stop at this centuries old and rather kitsch attraction. My bun with cinnamon butter was tasty – sallylunns.co.uk.
Take a gander at visitbath.co.uk for loads more ideas for making the most of your visit to this lovely little laidback town.
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Posted in Beer, Drink, England, Food, Hotels, Pubs, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
Tagged Avon, bath, Bath Abbey, Bath Spa, Bed and Breakfasts, beer, Brooks Guesthouse, design, Drink, england, First Great Western, Food, hotels, No 1 Royal Crescent, pubs, restaurants, Roman Baths, Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House, somerset, The Bell Inn, Thermae Bath Spa, Travel
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London Daily Photo: London Light
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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
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Sponsored Cocktail Recipe: The Last Word
In comparison to many other drinks, cocktails are mainly drinks for connoisseurs. When you go to a bar or a pub, first things that you have in mind is beer, wine or whiskey. Only a handful of people are willing to go for cocktails. It is not only that you need to know the flavors of the cocktails; you also need to know the precise places that are making good ones. Otherwise, you might end up in an establishment that can’t satisfy your need for a quality drink. Cocktails differ from your regular bottled beverages that are same wherever you go.
These drinks are heavily susceptible to trends. One good example is The Last Word. It was really popular during prohibition era. Unfortunately, it has fallen off the map somewhere along the way. Seattle bartender, Bill Murray, reinvigorated this drink by serving it in one of the popular Seattle clubs, Zig Zag Café. Besides this club, you can find The Last Word in many popular bars and lounge all over Canada and US. One of them is D.W. Alexander, a great lounge in Toronto.
Although The Last Word is based on green Chartreuse, it is actually a perfect mix of four different drinks. Cocktail has really strong flavour and it is fairly easy to make.
Ingredients
· 0.75 ounce gin (any type)
· 0.75 ounce green Chartreuse
· 0.75 ounce Luxardo Maraschino liquor
· 0.75 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
Even though it is easy to prepare this drink, you need to be careful and put precisely the same amount of each drink. When everything is ready, put all the drinks into a shaker filled with ice. After 10 to 15 second of shaking, strain the cocktail into stemmed glass.
The most popular variation of this drink is The Final Ward which has rye whiskey instead of gin and lemon juice instead of lime juice.
Sponsored post submitted by Nick Stokes
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London Daily Photo: Hungerford Bridge
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged embankment, Hungerford Bridge, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Record Store Day in Kingston, Jamaica (OneTravel)
Long gone are the days when the streets of Kingston, Jamaica were chockablock with record shops. And with most folks listening to music by digital means and piracy all too often used, the days of many music retailers still in business are numbered.
Nevertheless, a few of the best shop are making a go of it and are definitely worth visiting if you’re a fan of classic reggae, ska and dancehall and heading on to Kingston Town.
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
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London Daily Photo: Brixton Market
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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
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‘Hot & Chilli’ Coffee Break with Rosana McPhee (espressoCrazy)
Our resident blogger, Chris Osburn, takes a Coffee Break with Rosana McPhee.
Ready for a quick cuppa friendly food blogger advice? Then kick back, relax and enjoy the latest instalment of my Coffee Break series of interviews. This time round, I’m finding out about Brazilian food and learning a few tips for cooking with coffee from Hot & Chilli blogger, Rosana McPhee, a Brazilian expat keen to share Latin kitchen expertise with the wider world.
Read my complete “Coffee Break with Rosana McPhee” at espressoCrazy.
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Posted in Blogs, Coffee, Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, interview, London
Tagged Blogs, coffee, Drink, espresso, espressoCrazy, espressocrazy.com, hot & chilli, Hot and Chilli, illy, interview, London, rosana mcphee, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Blackfriars Bridge
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged blackfriars bridge, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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My Simple Italian by Theo Randall – Book Review (Great British Chefs)
Chef Theo Randall has a new book out. Simply titled My Simple Italian, it is Theo’s second and serves as an enticing and instructive read.
Fellow alum of the kitchens at Hammersmith’s fabled River Café, Jamie Oliver likes the book and reckons it’s the “most deliciously gorgeous Italian cookbook I’ve seen in a long, long time.” Enough said? Maybe. But please indulge me in my own humble rave about this book featuring “100 inspired recipes from one of Britain’s best Italian chefs.”
Read my complete post at Great British Chefs.
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Posted in Books, Food, Great British Chefs, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged books, chef, cookbook, Food, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, London, My Simple Italian, recipes, restaurants, Shopping, theo randall, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Marylebone
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Tagged London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, marylebone, Photography, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Tredwell’s by Marcus Wareing
Often before heading to a restaurant for the first time I’ll have a look online at existing reviews about the place to know what to keep an eye out for and maybe to avoid. For my Sunday lunch visit to Marcus Wareing’s “modern British” Tredwell’s, I should have just avoided reading the reviews all together and let my gut (which is now a good bit larger after my Tredwell’s meal) guide me in the right direction.
The snide attitudes issued in write ups published in the Evening Standard and the Independent suggesting Tredwell’s was “cynical” and “passable” seemed to be just that – cynical and passable diatribe having at a successful chef for trying to bring something yummy to the high street.
What’s a restaurateur to do? Hide away in a cloistered Knightsbridge kitchen for the rest of his professional career or take a chance near Leicester Square with aplomb and a reasonable priced menu in a comfortable and attractive setting? I reckon the latter is a much braver – and in the long run considerably savvier – action than the former.
I liked my lunch at Tredwell’s. And if this “gateway” eatery might lead folks to hanker a more sophisticated experiences at Wareing’s two Michelin star restaurant at The Berkeley (never had the pleasure but have heard the raves) or his Gilbert Scott brasserie at the St Pancras Renaissance (have been a few times and absolutely adored it), then all the better.
Definitely a more down market take on dining out compared to his other venues, Tredwell’s offers an assortment of au courant dishes that err on the side of playful and hearty.
I savoured every bite of my starter course of prawns, white polenta and roasted garlic in chicken broth (£9.50) and thought my massive main course of Rhug Estate smoked slow cooked beef short rib (£29) was super satisfying. So what if it wasn’t all that terribly refined? Not to get all ecclesiastical about such things, but there’s a time and a place, ya know – and that goes for high street gourmand grinds as much as it does for fanciful haute cuisine. Sides like creamy kale slaw (£5) and chunky sweet potato fries (£5) did not disappoint while a damn fine made-to-order (and not on the drinks list) Bloody Mary impressed greatly. A “housemade” salted caramel soft serve (£5, with gratuitous honeycomb) was a treat!
Service was polite and on the ball (particularly from the fellows behind the bar). The dining area (all three floors of it!) was attractive, filled with natural light (even the basement to some degree) and pretty comfy too!
If Tredwell’s sounds like your kind of place to eat and drink, a great time to go might be from 5pm to 8pm on Sunday 19 April when the restaurant’s downstairs bar will host a special Gin & Jazz night with New York-based double bass player Rob Duguay and Parisian-born saxophonist Alex Terrier. The jazz duo will present an exclusive intimate live set ahead of their performance at Ronnie Scott’s on 20th April. The event will be priced at £15, which includes a Bebop cocktail (Gin, Aperol, Strawberry and Rhubarb) as well as a contribution of £2.50 to the Mousetrap Charity. The band will play from 5pm to 8pm.
Tredwell’s is located at 4a Upper St Martin’s Lane, WC2H 9NY. Find out more at tredwells.com.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged BARS, covent garden, Drink, leicester square, London, marcus wareing, restaurants, reviews, seven dials, Tredwell's, Tredwell's by Marcus Wareing, upper st martin's lane, WC2, WC2H 9NY, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Oxford Street
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, oxford street, Photography, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Give Me Space: Stowing (It) Away
Got a gap year coming up? Longing for a long holiday abroad? Or maybe you’ve got guests coming to visit and you need to make some room for them? Whatever your particular travel-related situation, finding a short, convenient and affordable way to stow your stuff while you head off on an adventure (or when BFF adventurers beckon at your door) can sometimes mean all the difference between being a carefree wanderer or gracious host and having to stay put and lonely at home.
As previously mentioned, I’m trying out new urban storage service SpaceWays and sharing my thoughts about the service with you. I have a few boxes of my things in storage with SpaceWays at the moment And yep, I’m about to go on a press trip soon actually. So, clearing space for my girlfriend while I’m gone is really coming in handy.
SpaceWays offers a reasonably priced and convenient option for self-storage with its on-demand full-service storage via durable boxes delivered to your doorstep that you fill with your things. These boxes and your oversized items get picked up for free and stored in secure facilities, and then returned whenever you need them. Pricing is transparent and starts as low as £3 per month.
Out of sight, out of mind? So to speak I suppose (well, with respect to my storage – NOT my girlfriend!).
In addition to giving SpaceWays a try and sharing that experience with you, I’m running a competition offering one lucky reader free storage of three boxes for six months with SpaceWays, along with free pick up and delivery of your items.
Want to hit the road and let SpaceWays deal with your stuff until you get back … for free?
To be in with a chance to win six months of SpaceWays storage for free, simply tweet the following:
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday 8 May at 11.30am BST. The winner will be entitled to six months of free storage. To be eligible to win, you need to have an address within the M25 (this could be a student hall, hotel, house, flat, place of business) where your items can be picked up and returned.
Find out more about SpaceWays at spaceways.co.uk.
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Posted in Competition, Freebies, Give Me Space, London, Travel
Tagged #GiveMeSpace, competition, free, freebies, Give Me Space, London, SpaceWays, Travel, Urban Storage, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Grafton Way
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged Fiztrovia, grafton way, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Vaisakhi 2015 (OneTravel)
April 14th is Vaisakhi. Now celebrated throughout the world, Vaisakhi (also know as Baisakhi) is traditionally a Punjabi harvest festival.
It’s an especially significant holiday among the Sikh community as it commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa (the “sovereign” collective of the “five beloved ones” of Sikh leaders) as well. But the date is also an important one for Hindus and Buddhists as it is the start of the New Year in the Nanakshahi solar calendar.
Read my complete post at OneTravel.
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Moët & Chandon: The Champagne Region Comes to Londontown
Maddie Salters reports on how Moët & Chandon plan to bring the Champagne Region to the heart of London for the next two weeks.
Moët & Chandon is perhaps the most recognisable name in Champagne. Its impressive estate, nestled into the heart of the Champagne Region of France, produces full-bodied sips, often with bold fruity notes and a gentle finish. As of 13 April, Moët & Chandon will bring the magic of its Épernay vineyards to Southbank in London, to delight the palates and imaginations of visitors.
Dubbed the Moët Academy, the Champagne experience will take place from Monday 13 April to Friday 20 April at OXO2. The views of the River Thames may be the only recognisable part of London life, as Susie Barrie MW and Peter Richards MW will take guests through a multi-sensory voyage that includes a re-creation of the vine-enconsed cellar, allowing connoisseurs to absorb the ambiance of the French region. After learning about the journey from grape to glass, guests will have their own flutes filled during a tasting of some of the brand’s choicest Champagnes.
Not to be missed, you can book you own 90-Minute session at moetacademy.co.uk. Pricing is £40 per person. Located at OXO2 Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, SE1 9PH.
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Posted in Drink, London, Luxury, Shopping, Wine
Tagged Barge House Street, champagne, Drink, french wine, London, luxury, Maddie Salters, Moët & Chandon, Moët Academy, oxo tower, OXO2, OXO2 Tower Wharf, SE1 9PH, Shopping, south bank, southbank, sparkling wine, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Rathbone Place
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged fitzrovia, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, RATHBONE PLACE, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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A Myriad of Marks: Dragica Carlin at Lollipop Gallery
For a night of contemporary art and the ephemera, Maddie Salters headed back to The Lollipop Gallery for the premier of A Myriad of Marks, the solo exhibition by painter Dragica Carlin.
Bubbles and bulk white walls greeted me, as The Lollipop Gallery provided its typical minimalist space to showcase the art. Set across two floors of industrialist space with plank wooden floors and the smell of sawdust, the intimate gallery has the feel of wandering into a painter’s study, rather than an exhibition of work. That personal tone was further set by there being no plaquards asride any of Carlin’s pieces, no Titles or information on mediums, a rare treat that invited guests to use their senses to understand and analyse the abstract works.
Carlin’s paintings, which ranged in size from the mighty and massive, to the tiny and intricate, are deeply romantic. Each piece has the sensation of presenting a moment: a single step in a dance, a glance, a pulse. Her use of wide brush strokes evoke sensations of space, while a playful use of curvature and light almost render forms and figures across her chaotic canvasses. Single colours tend to take the centre stage in her pieces, which are unframed and raw, paint seeping into the sides of the borders, sometimes artfully, sometimes as an afterthought. Wavering hues and gradient colour give the works impact, a struggle between light and dark that creates a three-dimensional space in her abstractions.
Wandering both floors, taking everything in, I was especially impressed by two pieces. On the basement floor, a selection of stunted canvasses (the only ones framed, and set deep into a double frame to further minimise their size and to pull them into the backdrop,) presented a turmoil of lines and discordant colours. The turmoil is parted by a cloudy painting that seems a moment of peace in the storm, and then the melancholic blues are overtaken by a powerful burst of orange and turquoise. The motion of these works is beautifully contrasted by a large canvass on the first floor, where burnt rose suggests a bouquet, leisure, sunlight, and slow-motion.
Indeed, her work evokes much of what we encounter in daily life. Smoke coming off the grates on a city street, sunlight over a cityscape, masses of people squeezed together as they walk to work, creating heat. She creates an exceptional balance in the haywire strokes of paint, which would otherwise seem hectic and claustrophobic. Carlin’s love of poetry comes across clearly, in that she hopes to connect with a viewer while also letting them see what they’d like to see.
Carlin, who says she is inspired by urban spaces and the question of existence, uses “visual language” to explore these settings and concepts in beautiful ways. The physical and the metaphysical are brought together in a throughly modern way.
A Myriad of Marks runs until April 26 at The Lollipop Gallery, 58 Commercial Street, E1 6LT. The show is free to view. Learn more at lollipopgallery.com.
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Posted in Art, London
Tagged A Myriad of Marks, Art, COMMERCIAL STREET, Dragica Carlin, east london, galleries, Lollipop Gallery, London, Maddie Salters, painting, review, reviews, tower hamlets, whitechapel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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El Pirata of Mayfair Celebrates 20 Years Serving Authentic Tapas
Anchored for two decades in Mayfair with an admirable reputation, El Pirata has long been regarded as a regular favourite among the locals and a safe bet for out-of-towner’s seeking a more than decent meal. Slow sailing me, I’ve intended to visit this popular tapas bar for ages but only recently set a course in its direction, where I discovered a menu full of treasured Spanish dishes. Is El Pirata worth considering for your next port of call? Aye, cap’n.
Okay, no more nautical puns. Sorry. But I am pleased to report that this bar with the seafaring moniker offers some pretty awesome seafood dishes. From the tapas calientes menu, I especially enjoyed the fritos de rape (deep fried medallions of monkfish); pimientos de piquillo rellenos de merluza (piquillo peppers stuffed with fresh hake mousse); and the mar y tierra (prawns in olive oil with pimentos and wild mushrooms). Everything I tried was tasty and prepared to a high standard if not necessarily super wow awesome: tortilla was commendable, but I’ve had far better; chicken wings in spicy sauce were just so-so.
My order was from a set menu (which I kinda rejiggered to be less meaty and more pesco friendly for my date – hi Kemey!). It was priced at £21.95 per person (minimum two people) and was ample.
A bottle of house recommended albarino – a fresh and citrusy Santiago Ruiz (£37.25) – went down a winner and paired impeccably with the seafood.
A deliciously eggy flan (£4.45) was well worth saving room for.
Service was gracious. The setting was casual but buzzing. All the many Picasso, Miro and more Spanish artist prints filling the walls added a nice bit of colour.
Elpirata of Mayfair is located at 5-6 Down Street, W1J 7AQ. Find out more at elpirata.co.uk.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged BARS, Down Street, El Pirata, El Pirata of Mayfair, London, mayfair, restaurants, reviews, spanish food, tapas, W1, W1J 7AQ, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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