London Daily Photo: Ladyeve Ltd
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Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged broadway market, E8, east london, Graffiti, hackney, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london fields, london photographer, street art, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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4 Fun Bars in Athens (OneTravel)
Like a lot of sunny Mediterranean destinations, the nightlife in Athens goes late and is, of course, a load of fun. From what I could tell during my recent visit to the Greek capital, Athenians are as friendly as anyone and love a sociable drink as much as they love showing visitors how awesome their city is.
When you go, consider bending an elbow at one of these fine watering holes …
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Drink, Food, Greece, Hotels, OneTravel, Restaurants
Tagged athens, athens greece, BARS, drnk, Drunk Sinatra, Explorers Lounge, Food, greece, hotels, NJV Athens Plaza Hotel, OneTravel, restaurants, Six d.o.g.s, Syntagma, The Dude Bar, Travel, travel blog
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London Daily Photo: Round and Round
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged bus, LDP, London, London blog, london buses, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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I Did What in Amsterdam? It Wasn’t Me! I Swear!
So, here’s that little eight inch 3D print out of me hanging out in Amsterdam. It’s nice to think that “I” got to go sightseeing via British Airways’ new Last Call range of last minute flight and last minute holiday deals and that “I” apparently chose an especially sunny time to visit this fun loving Dutch city.
Freaky? A little bit. Does it compel me to want to hop a flight a Amsterdam? Well, I was already a fan of Amsterdam who’d been a few times (as recently as last year) and fully expected to pay repeat visits in the years to come. But yeah, seeing “me” in that setting does kinda make me wish I had actually got to go there myself.
What’s hilarious to me about this is seeing my resemblance appearing to be all chummy with business journo, travel writer, and city blogger Josh Ferry Woodard like we’re lifelong travel buddies or some such even though we’ve never met!
Both Josh and I are contributors to the especially excellent online read known as Urban Travel Blog, and I’d like to thank UTB editor Duncan Rhodes for presenting me with this unusual opportunity.
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Posted in Design, Netherlands, Travel, Urban Travel Blog
Tagged #lastcall, 3D printing, amsterdam, BA, british airways, design, Josh Ferry Woodard, last call, Travel, urban travel blog
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London Daily Photo: Skelter
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Good Stuff
Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy.
Jacob’s Creek Limited Edition Wimbledon Bottle
Celebrating four years as the official wine of Wimbledon, Jacob’s Creek has launched a limited edition Wimbledon bottle for its classic Shiraz and Chardonnay at a RRP of £8.09. If you known Jacob’s Creek you know it’s a good value, easy drinking brand. The design for the bottle is as sporty and elegant as the tournament that inspired it. Beyond the nifty bottle, Jacob’s Creek is also “encouraging everyone to play tennis and enjoy it their own way … [and] challenging the Great British public to perform tennis tricks and rewarding the best with tickets to Wimbledon,” via Facebook.
Kayak Ice Cream and Frozen Yoghurt
When in Athens a few weeks back, I just about fell in love with the yummy treats available by local artisan producers, Kayak. I especially liked their mastic ice cream and quinoa frozen yoghurt. Is it in the UK? If yes, where!?! If no, please come soon! Or … maybe I should just make plans to head back to Greece. Hmmm …
I had a ramble through Taste of London last week and found my natural handmade ice lolly from the folks at Lickalix to be a very refreshing treat. I tried the pina colada flavour. Yummy.
Also enjoyed at ToL was sampling all the cured meats and cheeses from Lituanica, “the best from home” if your home happens to be Lithuania. Mine is not and I know little about the country to be honest – but if my recent nibbles reflect what’s to be had “back home” it must be an amazing place to eat!
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Posted in Design, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, Greece, London, Shopping, Sports, Travel, Wine
Tagged athens, chardonnay, Food, frozen yoghurt, good stuff, greece, ice cream, ice lollies, jacob's creek, Jacob’s Creek Limited Edition Wimbledon Bottle, Kayak Ice Cream, Lickalix, lithuanian food, Lituanica, London, London blog, mastic, mastic ice cream, masticha, quinoa frozen yoghurt, shiraz, taste of london, taste of london 2014, wimbledon, wine, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Lea Bridge Road Swathed in Golden Light
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged E10, east london, LDP, lea bridge road, leyton, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win an Assortment of Handcrafted Baked Goods from Genesis Crafty
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!
As Genesis Crafty’s Blogger of the Month, I’ve been having a blast sharing my ideas for recipes to pair with the handcrafted baked goods made by this family run Northern Ireland bakery. Now here’s a chance for you to have a go at whipping up your own tasty creations to enjoy with yummy Genesis Crafty scones, pancakes and more! Keep reading to find out how to win a generous assortment of treats from Genesis Crafty.
Genesis Crafty is a modern bakery and family business owned and run by six brothers who together make baking amazing. Originally set up by the McErlain brothers’ parents in 1968 as a simple home bakery with just one bread cart, just over four decades later Genesis Crafty is a truly modern bakery but with artisan values. The bakers still flip every pancake and chaff every scone by hand. A unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and skilled innovation, Genesis Crafty is proud to still be making many age-old favourite recipes, while keeping fresh with new and delicious creations.
Have a look at Genesis Crafty’s award winning range of products now available across the UK:
- Big Pancakes – (RRP £1.39 per pack of 4). Made with locally produced buttermilk, locally milled wheatflour and flipped by hand for an airy, fluffy taste. Available via Ocado, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s stores throughout the UK.
- Blueberry Pancakes – (RRP £1.49 per pack of 4). Made and flipped by hand with ripe blueberries, local buttermilk and locally milled flour. Available via Waitrose stores throughout the UK.
- Chocolate Chip Pancakes – (RRP £1.49 per pack of 4). Premium Belgian chocolate chips blended with locally produced buttermilk and locally milled wheatflour. Available via Waitrose stores throughout the UK.
- Sultana Scones – (RRP £1.89 per pack of 4). Genesis Crafty’s version of the traditional fruit scone, rolled and cut by hand. Local flour and butter mixed with sweet, juicy sultanas for a rich, buttery and fruity scone. Available via Ocado and Waitrose stores throughout the UK.
- Cheese Scones – (RRP £1.79 per pack of 4). Rich, tangy and tasty scones made with soft Irish butter, local red cheddar and locally milled flour. Rolled out and cut by hand. Available via Ocado and Waitrose stores throughout the UK.
- Mini Sultana Scones – (RRP £1.99 per pack of 9). A smaller version of the classic sultana scone. Mini in size, still maxi on taste. Available via Waitrose stores throughout the UK.
To be in with a chance to win an assortment of handcrafted baked goods from Genesis Crafty , 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 Wednesday 25 June 2014 at 17.30pm BST. To be eligible to win, you need to have an address here in the UK. The winner will receive an assortment of handcrafted baked goods from Genesis Crafty.
Find out more about Genesis Crafty at genesiscrafty.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.
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Posted in Competition, Food, Freebies, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, Shopping
Tagged #HandcraftedBakedGoods, bakery, Big Pancakes, Blueberry Pancakes, Cheese Scones, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, competition, contest, cooking, Food, free, freebies, genesis crafty, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, Mini Sultana Scones, my recipes, pancakes, recipe, recipes, RT to win, scones, Shopping, sultana scones, twitter competition, WIN, Win an Assortment of Handcrafted Baked Goods from Genesis Crafty
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London Daily Photo: Back Out
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged east london, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Experiencing the World Cup in London (OneTravel)
Okay. The World Cup is on! And, save a vacation in Brasil, every sporty London is as excellent a place to experience the footie action as anywhere.
It’s also a city that likes to take the spirit of these global games and shake things up a bit, throwing in some of its own unique style. Have a look at this list of some of the more interesting ways Londoners are celebrating the World Cup.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Sports, Travel
Tagged Boteco Brasil Soho, Far Rockaway's World Cup Pizza All Stars, Food, football, HARVEY NICHOLS, London, London blog, OneTravel, Portraits: The Homeless World Cup by Anthony Epes, soccer, sports, The Vaults World Cup Carnival, Travel, travel blog, When Food Meets Football at Harvey Nichols, where to watch the world cup in london, world cup, world cup 2014, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: New North Road
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Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged Graffiti, islington, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, N1, Photography, photography blog, playground, street art, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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#CookBrazil Feast with Tilda Limited Edition Brazilian Samba Rice
Talk about a foodie dream team! London based Brazilian food blogger Rosana McPhee and 2010 MasterChef winner Dhruv Baker collaborated last night on a Brazil themed feast hosted by supper club extraordinaire Luiz Hara and in celebration of the launch of Tilda brand’s Limited Edition Brazilian Samba Rice.
Whew, that was a mouthful … and a delicious one too as this lucky duck got a spot on the guest list for this especially topical event.
So is Tilda jumping on the 2014 World Cup bandwagon with the limited edition “Samba Rice”? To be sure, but can ya blame ’em? As was confirmed with Rosana and Dhruv’s cooking, Brazilian food means big flavour.
Highlights from the dinner included picanha with pimenta de bico, manteiga de garrafa (rump cap of beef roasted under a blanket of rock salt and served with Brazilian chilli pepper and drizzled with Brazilian clarified butter and roasted garlic); bolinho de arroz (rice fritters made with a mix of dried shrimp, white fish and chicken served with lime and saffron mayonnaise); and caju sorbet (cashew fruit sorbet). But that’s just a thinly sliced recollection of all the treats brought to the graciously set table last night.
And, of course, there was a hearty bowl of Brazilian national dish feijoada – black bean stew with Portuguese sausage, smoked ribs, bacon and more meat along with shredded greens, orange, and toasted cassava flour with Tilda’s new Samba Rice. What a savoury and filling dish!
About Tilda Brazilian Samba Rice
Created by blending a combination of red and green chillies, lime and tempero baiano herb and spice mix with Tilda’s classic Basmati grains, the new Limited Edition Brazilian Samba Rice is “perfect for adding warmth to everything from a quick lunch to celebratory summer gatherings with friends and family.” The 250g pouches are already partly steamed for convenience and can cook in the microwave for two minutes, or added straight to a wok with a little oil to cook in under five minutes. Brazilian Samba Rice is available at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, Ocado and selected Morrisons and independent stores with an RRP of £1.59.
Find out more at tilda.com.
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London Daily Photo: 2SE
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged clapton, E5, east london, hackney, hackney downs, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Recipe: Wee Soda Sliders
The six brothers behind decades old Northern Ireland bakery Genesis Crafty presented me with an opportunity to be one of the family so to speak … but only for a limited time. I’m their blogger of the month! And as such, I’m taking to my kitchen to see what I can cook up to go with their range of handmade small batch baked goods. Here’s one last creation to share: Wee Soda sliders.
So who says you need buns to make a burger? See what you think about this version for sliders (mini-burgers) using Genesis Crafty’s Wee Sodas instead of the typical bun.
WEE SODA SLIDERS Yum
Ingredients (makes 4 patties for sliders)
- 1 teaspoon of cooking oil (I use rapeseed oil for this recipe);
- 2 tablespoons of sea salt;
- 250g of mince;
- 1 slightly beaten egg;
- 1 clove of garlic finely diced;
- 1 dash of Worcester sauce;
- 1 small tomato sliced and with the skin removed;
- Black pepper to taste (I use about 2 to 3 tablespoons);
- About 100g of mature Cheddar.
Method
- Place a frying pan on medium heat, pour in the oil and 1 tablespoon of salt;
- Mix the beef, rest of the salt, egg, garlic, Worcester sauce, and tomato together thoroughly in a large bowl;
- Add the pepper and mix well;
- Pat out 4 compact meatballs;
- Flatten the balls into patties by firmly patting it them in the palms of your hands;
- Place the patties in the pan;
- Cook evenly on each side until thoroughly browned;
- Remove the patties from the heat and place a thin slice of cheese on top of each.
Serve
Obviously, you’ve now got some small hamburger patties to use however you see fit. I recommend trying them out on soda bread as I did for this recipe with some rocket, a slice of raw white onion and whatever other toppings and condiments you like on your sliders.
About Genesis Crafty
Genesis Crafty is a modern bakery and family business owned and run by six brothers who together make baking amazing. Originally set up by the McErlain brothers’ parents in 1968 as a simple home bakery with just one bread cart, just over four decades later Genesis Crafty is a truly modern bakery but with artisan values. The bakers still flip every pancake and chaff every scone by hand. A unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and skilled innovation, Genesis Crafty is proud to still be making many age-old favourite recipes, while keeping fresh with new and delicious creations.
Find out more at genesiscrafty.com.
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Posted in Food, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, Recipes, Shopping
Tagged burger recipe, burgers, cheddar, cheeseburgers, cooking with bourbon, cooking with whiskey, Food, genesis crafty, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, hamburgers, mini burgers, my recipes, recipe, recipes, slider recipe, sliders, soda bread, sodas, tikichris recipes, wee soda sliders, wee sodas
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London Daily Photo: Edgar
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8 Great Gin Bars in London (OneTravel)
Gin. It’s a London thing. So it’s no surprise that this city has some of the best bars to drink it.
Here’s a look at eight great places to enjoy an elbow bender with the infamous Mother’s Ruin.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged 35 St James's Place, blandford street, bond street, Bride Lane, city of london, City of London Distillery, cocktails, conduit street, county hall, distillery, Drink, duke's, Duke's Bar, Duke's Hotel, EC4, EC4Y 8DT, Food, Gillray's, Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar, gin, gin and tonic, gin bars, Golden Square, Graphic Bar, Great Chapel Street, hotels, London, London blog, london gin, london gin bars, London Marriott, marriott, marylebone, mayfair, notting hill, OneTravel, Portobello Road, Portobello Star, Purl, SE1, SE1 7PB, soho, southbank, st james's, steakhouse, The London Marriott Hotel, The Polo Bar, The Polo Bar at The Westbury Hotel, The Star at Night, the westbury, the westbury hotel, Travel, W1, W11 2DY, W1A 1NY, W1F 8FR, W1F 9HT, W1U 7HX, Westminster Bridge Road, where to drink gin in london, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Textures
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged Food, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Check Out Mikael Jonsson’s New Tartine Menu at Antidote Wine Bar
An invitation to try the new afternoon bar menu at Newburgh Street’s Antidote Wine Bar presented me with a perfect excuse to lounge about Soho for awhile nibbling away at some savoury snacks and sipping a lovely glass of wine.
Under the guidance of Hedone’s Head Chef Mikael Jonsson (who’s been overseeing the menu at Antidote since it reopened earlier this year), the bar has introduced a new tartine menu available from noon to 5pm. Items are priced between £5 and £7.50 and can be had alongside a glass of house wine for an added three quid.
While there, I went with the caponata with radishes, celery and watercress on sourdough (£5). The bread was ace – some of the yummiest you’re apt to come across in London I reckon. I had a bite of my lunch buddy’s croque monsieur (pain de mie, speck cotto and 24 month aged gruyere, £7) too and must admit I was somewhat jealous that bad boy wasn’t on my plate. It might just be the best croque monsieur to be had in Soho. It was definitely the best I can remember having in London anyway.
I also had a fantastic glass of Pinot Noir while there too … but that’s probably for another post. Just keep in mind that when you go (whether for the tartines or not) the bar …
… only collaborates with small growers who work organically and biodynamically in the vineyard. The wines are made from grapes that have been grown without chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. The fermentation is made with indigenous yeasts and no artificial additives has been added.
The wine list is mostly French, and all wines are available to take away at a retail price.
Antidote Wine Bar is located at 12A Newburgh Street, W1F 7RR. Find out more at antidotewinebar.com.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged afternoon menu, antidote, antidote wine bar, carnaby, carnaby street, Chef Mikael Jonsson, croque monsieur, Food, Hedone, London, London blog, lunch, Mikael Jonsson, newburgh quarter, newburgh street, soho, tartine, tartine menu, W1, wine, wine bar, zomato, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: White Flames
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Recipe: Red Grape and Sage Mascarpone
The six brothers behind decades old Northern Ireland bakery Genesis Crafty presented me with an opportunity to be one of the family so to speak … but only for a limited time. I’m their blogger of the month! And as such, I’m taking to my kitchen to see what I can cook up to go with their range of handmade small batch baked goods. My latest creation? A rich and creamy red grape and sage mascarpone.
Inspiration comes when you least expect it sometimes. As I mentioned in my last recipe post for this Genesis Crafty series, I was recently in Athens, Greece. While going through the toiletries in my hotel room bath, I was particularly impressed by the moisturiser and its main ingredients of red grape and sage. It smelled great and to me the unusual mix of grapes and sage seemed like something to eat more than lather on your body. So, when I got home I started playing around with the combo and came up with this creamy spread that’s ideal when served alongside Genesis Crafty scones.
RED GRAPE AND SAGE MASCARPONE Yum
- 250g mascarpone;
- 5 tablespoons of sage;
- 250g seedless red grapes chopped in half (or even quartered or diced if you wish);
- 1 dash of freshly milled black pepper.
Want to make a smaller (or larger) quantity? Basically, for every 50g of mascarpone add a tablespoon of sage and roughly 50g of grapes and black pepper to taste.
Method
Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly and store in an airtight container.
Serve
Enjoy as you would clotted cream or cream cheese.
About Genesis Crafty
Genesis Crafty is a modern bakery and family business owned and run by six brothers who together make baking amazing. Originally set up by the McErlain brothers’ parents in 1968 as a simple home bakery with just one bread cart, just over four decades later Genesis Crafty is a truly modern bakery but with artisan values. The bakers still flip every pancake and chaff every scone by hand. A unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and skilled innovation, Genesis Crafty is proud to still be making many age-old favourite recipes, while keeping fresh with new and delicious creations.
Find out more at genesiscrafty.com.
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Posted in Food, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, Recipes, Shopping
Tagged cooking with bourbon, cooking with whiskey, Food, genesis crafty, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, mascarpone, mascarpone recipe, my recipes, recipe, recipes, red grape and sage mascarpone, scone, scones, tikichris recipes
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London Daily Photo: Lea Bridge Road B&Q
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Good Stuff
Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy.
Maybe you’ve heard that the World Cup’s on? If you’re going to be in Central London and keen to find a place where you can watch the matches, consider Boteco Brasil Soho (123 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0EW). In association with Crane.tv, the Anglo-Brazilian Society, the Embassy of Brazil, The Department and The Gallery Soho, it’s the “official Brazilian World Cup experience” in London with large screen TV for live broadcasts of matches, lots of great food ingeniously presented by culinary designer Simone Mattar, an ace cocktail bar, and plenty more Brazilian and footie related treats and activities. I took a peek of the venue during the launch party the other night and really enjoyed the ambience, the canapés, and an especially refreshing watermelon caipirinha.
Just rolled into London, the #weareinpuglia 2014 road show offers a chance to nibble and sip some fantastic southern Italian delicacies, have a go at a range of Puglia travel activities and learn what makes the “heel” of Italy such a great destination – and all for free. The “village” is here only until the 15th of June. Look for it at Southbank’s River Walkway near Gabriel’s Wharf between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge.
And speaking of Italian delicacies, I recently received a whole box full of ’em from Passione Italiana, a new online shop sharing a tasty assortment of “curated, non-industrial Italian food and wine” along the lines of pasta, cured meat, olive oil, cheese, wine … you name it! I was particularly impressed with my bottle of Chianti Poggio Felice and would not hesitate to recommend this service to folks (only in the UK, France, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany at the moment) who are interested in ordering artisan and traditional food and drink directly from Italy.
In my cupboard right next to the Passione Italiana products I recently got hold of is a bottle of Yutaka’s new Yuzu Citrus Seasoning. A winner of two Great Taste Award stars, it’s a tangy and fruity treat that’s perfect for a range of Japanese inspired salads, noodles, marinades, desserts, cocktails and more. I love it. Yuzu Citrus Seasoning is available in Sainsbury’s at £2.99 for a 100ml bottle.
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Posted in Drink, Food, Good Stuff, London, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine
Tagged #weareinpuglia, Anglo-Brazilian Society, bar, Boteco Brasil Soho, caipirinha, charing cross road, chianti, Chianti Poggio Felice, cocktails, Crane.tv, Drink, Food, good stuff, italian cuisine, italian food, italian wine, JAPANESE CUISINE, japanese food, London, London blog, official Brazilian World Cup experience, Passione Italiana, Poggio Felice, puglia, Puglia Village, red wine, restaurants, Shopping, soho, southbank, The Department, The Gallery Soho, W1, watermelon caipirinha, WC2H 0EW, wine, world cup, world cup 2014, World Cup London, Yutaka, Yutaka Yuzu Citrus Seasoning, Yuzu Citrus Seasoning, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Recipe: Pasteli Sauce
The six brothers behind decades old Northern Ireland bakery Genesis Crafty (Adrian, Brian, John, Paul, Seamus, and Damian McErlain) recently presented me with an opportunity to become one of the family so to speak … but for a limited time only. I’m their blogger of the month! And as such, I’m taking to my kitchen to see what I can cook up to go with their range of handmade small batch baked goods. Here’s another flippin’ tasty creation to go with your pancakes: pasteli sauce.
I was in Athens earlier this month, which is where I found inspiration for this recipe while munching on a piece of the classic Greek sweet, pasteli. A thin hard rectangle of mostly sesame seeds and honey, pasteli was probably the world’s first candy bar. For my sauce, all I did was take its basic ingredients to create a sort of enhanced honey, something that’s particularly tasty poured generously over a stack of Genesis Crafty’s Big Pancakes.
PASTELI SAUCE Yum
Ingredients
- 400g honey;
- 1 cup of sesame seeds;
- 50g of pistachios;
- 1 dash of rosewater;
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice;
- 1 tablespoon of sea salt.
Method
Mix all the ingredients together and store in an airtight container.
Serve
Serve as a sweet condiment over pancakes, scones, French toast …
About Genesis Crafty
Genesis Crafty is a modern bakery and family business owned and run by six brothers who together make baking amazing. Originally set up by the McErlain brothers’ parents in 1968 as a simple home bakery with just one bread cart, just over four decades later Genesis Crafty is a truly modern bakery but with artisan values. The bakers still flip every pancake and chaff every scone by hand. A unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and skilled innovation, Genesis Crafty is proud to still be making many age-old favourite recipes, while keeping fresh with new and delicious creations.
Find out more at genesiscrafty.com.
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Ant & Dec’s Takeaway on Tour at The O2
So, as an American who moved to London in 2001, a few distinctively British quirks revealed themselves to me soon after starting to settle in. To name but a few … there was the love of tea, a keen interest in reading newspapers on public transport (if only to avoid eye contact with other passengers), and an overzealous use of the word “sorry” in any number of social situations that may or may not have actually warranted an apology. And then there were these two fellows: Ant & Dec. Who? Huh? Why?
More than a decade on, I’m now hip to the tea thing (even though I continue very much to prefer coffee). I’m as apt as any to scan whatever piece of printed matter I can find when riding the Tube or bus, and I’ve been known to utter “I’m terribly sorry” before I even realise what’s happening in certain circumstances.
However, the Ant & Dec phenomenon is still a bit beyond me, honestly. But I’ve gotta give ’em props. Since moving here 14 years ago and first learning about the comedy duo, they’ve appeared to hardly age (I wish I could say the same for myself!), and their popularity has not waned at all. As far as I can tell their many fans love them now as much as ever. Bravos chaps!
I’m being a bit cheeky about the ever cheery and actually quite funny twosome from Newcastle, of course. But to be sure, they are an especially British institution.
Are you an Art & Dec devotee? Here’s some info about seeing them live this summer in London.
Ant & Dec’s Takeaway on Tour, “a spectacular live show featuring special guests, amazing prizes” with the chance for you to be part of the act will be stopping at The O2 on the 29th and 30th of August as part of their national arena tour with the promise of “all sorts of surprises” and lots of chances for audience members to appear on stage with these much beloved funsters.
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London Daily Photo: Snow Hill Court
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Grecotel Pallas Athena: Great Boutique Hotel in the Heart of Athens, Greece (OneTravel)
I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Athens, Greece where I had a fantastic time exploring this ancient and buzzing city full of all sorts of contemporary charm. In fact, I’ve been raving about the trip almost non-stop since my return flight arrived back home a few days ago.
Much of what made my visit to Athens such a treat was that I lucked out by scoring a great room in a smartly situated hotel. Staying in the right place is so often key to making the most of any city break, especially when you’re hoping to see and do as much as possible in only a few days like I was attempting to do during my few days in Athens.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Art, Drink, Food, Greece, Hotels, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged athens, athens greece, blogtrotters, boutique hotel, grecotel, grecotel pallas, grecotel pallas athena, greece, hotel review, hotels, OneTravel, Travel
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London Daily Photo: Penfold Street
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win a Free Dinner for Two and Celebrate Benihana’s 50th Birthday
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!
Famed Japanese teppayaki restaurant Benihana turns 50 this year. With its unique offering of quality food served with a side of kitchen theatrics in a glamorous setting, Benihana is one of the most fun ways to dine in London. Keen to experience a delicious meal with a few thrills and a lot of laughs? Here’s a chance to celebrate the famous Japanese steakhouse’s half century of success with a free dinner for two at one of its London restaurants.
At every Benihana restaurants, each table has its own private chef who creates the meal in front of the diners on the 360 degrees Teppan grill. The meals are served in several courses and the guests select the main component of their meal accompanied by an appetiser, soup, salad and sides. The menu also offers a selection of sushi and sashimi.
I must admit I never had been to Benihana before this month. I had a blast and reckon my time at Benihana’s especially King’s Road location will go down as one of my favourite nights out of the year. I’m definitely keeping the place in mind for future occasions. Yes, of course, the food was fantastic. But I laughed and smiled so much more than I would have at most other London restaurants. I was even genuinely amazed a couple of times by the juggling and knife handling showmanship of my table’s chef.
So, it’s a pleasure to have teamed up with Benihana UK to offer one lucky reader a chance to win an eight course dinner for two at any of the restaurant group’s three London locations.
Alas, only one person gets to win this fab prize. But check this out. As a birthday gift to its guests, Benihana is offering the same meal for two at a very reasonable £50 for a limited time. The £50 eight course meal for two includes onion soup and Benihana salad with homemade ginger dressing; teppan sushi (salmon, beef, eel); mixed tempura; prawn and vegetable appetisers; habachi rice; chicken teriyaki; a main choice (per person) of sea bass with miso sauce or habachi steak with mushroom; and ice cream sponge cake. Plus, all diners who order this meal are eligible to win a monthly prize draw to win five £100 vouchers. Beyond that, Benihana is going all out with the 50th b-day promotions with a loyalty card lottery worth £50,000; a ladies only “Keiko Menu” featuring nine courses with wine or cocktail at £30 per person; a Global Star Chef competition to win £5,000; and a newly launched Sake Ceremony for private events.
To be in with a chance win a free eight course dinner for two at Benihana, 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 Friday 20 June at 11.30am. The prize will be an opportunity to enjoy an eight course meal for two valued at £50 and redeemable at the Piccadilly or Chelsea Benihana outlet in London. To be eligible to win, you need to have an address in the UK.
Benihana UK has three locations across London:
- Benihana Piccadilly, 37 Sackville Street, W1S 3EH
- Benihana Chelsea, 77 King’s Road, SW3 4NX
- Benihana St Pauls, 35 Carter Lane, EC4V 5AJ
Find out more at benihana.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 Competition, Discounts and Special Offers, Food, Freebies, London, Restaurants
Tagged £50 dinner for two, Benihana, benihana birthday, Benihana UK, Benihana's 50th Birthday, competition, contest, discounts and special offers, Food, habachi, japanese food, japanese restaurant, japanese steakhouse, London, London blog, RT to win, sashimi, steakhouse, sushi, teppanyaki, twitter competition, Win a Free Dinner for Two, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: West Smithfield
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Recipe: Bourbon Maple Reduction with Roasted Pecans
The six brothers behind decades old Northern Ireland bakery Genesis Crafty (Adrian, Brian, John, Paul, Seamus, and Damian McErlain) recently presented me with an opportunity to become one of the family so to speak … but for a limited time only. I’m their blogger of the month! And as such, I’m taking to my kitchen to see what I can cook up to go with their range of handmade small batch baked goods. Here’s another recipe for ya: Bourbon maple reduction with roasted pecans.
This rich sauce is ridiculously easy to make and guaranteed to be a hit with anybody who’s a fan of full-on flaovur. Try it poured generously over a stack of Genesis Crafty’s Big Pancakes.
BOURBON MAPLE REDUCTION WITH ROASTED PECANS Yum
Ingredients
- 1 cup maple syrup;
- ½ cup Bourbon (I use Jim Beam);
- 25g butter;
- 100g or so of pecans (crushed if you wish but I like to leave mine simply halved).
Method
- Preheat your oven to 175°C (about 350°F);
- Place your pecans on a baking sheet in the oven;
- Add the maple syrup and the Bourbon to a saucepan over medium and bring to a boil;
- Reduce to low heat;
- Add the butter to the sauce and stir in thoroughly;
- Cover with a lid and let simmer until the pecans are ready;
- Check the pecans every minute or so; they should be perfectly toasted after about 5 minutes, just don’t let them start to smell burnt or turn dark brown;
- Add the pecans to the reduction;
- Be sure to turn off the hob;
- Pour the reduction with pecans into a container or serving vessel of your choice.
Serve
Add a pat of butter on top of a stack of pancakes and pour on the syrup. Maybe throw in some bacon to yum it all up just a bit. This sauce should go well with French toast too, or as a topping for baked sweet potatoes, or drenching over an ice cream sundae or, actually, with anything else you reckon that could do with a sweet and robust kick.
About Genesis Crafty
Genesis Crafty is a modern bakery and family business owned and run by six brothers who together make baking amazing. Originally set up by the McErlain brothers’ parents in 1968 as a simple home bakery with just one bread cart, just over four decades later Genesis Crafty is a truly modern bakery but with artisan values. The bakers still flip every pancake and chaff every scone by hand. A unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and skilled innovation, Genesis Crafty is proud to still be making many age-old favourite recipes, while keeping fresh with new and delicious creations.
Find out more at genesiscrafty.com.
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Posted in Food, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, Recipes, Shopping
Tagged bourbon, bourbon maple, bourbon maple reduction, bourbon maple reduction with roasted pecans, bourbon maple sauce, bourbon recipes, cooking with bourbon, cooking with whiskey, Food, genesis crafty, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, maple, maple syrup, maple syrup recipe, my recipes, pancake topping, pancakes, pecan recipe, pecans, recipe, recipes, roasted pecans, tikichris recipes, whiskey
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London Daily Photo: 145
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged clapton, E5, east london, hackney, homerton, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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New Gin and Tonic Menu at The Polo Bar at The Westbury
An invitation to sample a newly launched gin and tonic menu at The Polo Bar at The Westbury Hotel presented an excellent opportunity to discover a fine place to have a drink.
Created by Tanqueray mixologist Tim Homewood and Polo Bar manager Elias Yiallouris, the new G&Ts are part of a “Botanical Brew Experience” collaboration between Tangueray No. TEN gin and Fever-Tree tonic water. All feature the quadruple distilled gin and the premium tonic along with an intriguing array of fresh ingredients.
Here’s a look at the menu:
· Blue Lady Tea and Grapefruit Peel served with Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic – the exotic floral and citrus notes of Blue Lady Tea are lifted with zesty Grapefruit Peel, a refreshing thirst-quencher;
· Fennel and star anise seed served with Fever-Tree Classic – native to China, the liquorice aromas of Star Anise combine with the sweet, warm flavours of Fennel Seed for an oriental twist;
· Blackberry and hibiscus tea and lemon peel served with Fever-Tree Lemon Tonic – Cleopatra’s drink of choice, ruby red Hibiscus tea is paired with fruity blackberries for a divine blend of sweet and sour;
· Cinnamon, clove and vanilla served with Fever-Tree Classic – warming and uplifting, the soft, creamy flavours of vanilla are spiced up with aromatic cloves and cinnamon;
· Rosebuds served with Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic – reminiscent of an English garden on a summer’s day, the delicate notes of rose are given a rich, dry edge with the addition of elderflower essence;
· Pink pepper and orange peel served with Fever-Tree Classic – the kick of spiced pink pepper is sweetened with a citrus orange peel, and garnished with an orange twist.
I was pleased to be invited to the bar for a tasting and did my best to work my way through this drinks list (“tough job but …” right?) and especially liked that cinnamon and clove number and thought the pepper and orange peel mix to be a particularly fantastic ensemble. Priced at £15 each, all were refreshing and worth a taste.
New cocktails or not, I found The Polo Bar to be an exceptional venue for quality sips. Bar snacks were ace (loved the foie gras and the panko crusted prawns!) and service was delightful and prompt. Upscale and low key, the bar is conveniently centred between Bond Street, Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus stations yet removed just enough from the fray to allow for decompression. With Art Deco inspired designer interiors with Swarovski and Fendi details, it’s a swish spot to keep in mind whether you’re mingling to impress or simply hoping to unwind in high style.
And this just in … another reason to drop in for a drinky drink … earlier this month The Polo Bar won Best Mixology at the 2014 London Club and Bar Awards.
The Polo Bar is located at The Westbury Hotel at the entrance at 37 Conduit Street, W1S 2YF. Find out more at westburymayfair.com/restaurant_5-en.html.
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged bar, BARS, bond street, cocktails, conduit street, Drink, Elias Yiallouris, FEVER TREE, Fever-Tree tonic water, Food, G&T, gin, gin and tonic, hotels, London, London blog, luxury, mayfair, mixologist, mixology, polo bar, tangueray, Tangueray No. TEN, Tangueray No. TEN gin, The Polo Bar, Tim Homewood, tonic, W1, W1S 2YF, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: The World of Interiors
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged east london, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Recipe: Cheesy Chipotle Beans on Toast
The six brothers behind decades old Northern Ireland bakery Genesis Crafty (Adrian, Brian, John, Paul, Seamus, and Damian McErlain) recently presented me with an opportunity to become one of the family so to speak … but for a limited time only. I’m their blogger of the month! And as such, I’m taking to my kitchen to see what I can cook up to go with their range of handmade small batch baked goods. Here’s my first recipe: cheesy chipotle beans on toast.
This smokier spicier version of the classic brekkie dish is especially yummy when you use a couple of slices of Genesis Crafty’s Toaster Wheatens for your toast.
CHEESY CHIPOTLE BEANS ON TOAST Yum
Ingredients (Serving size depends on how hungry you are. Are you making an especially filling meal for yourself or a side dish for 2 to 4 people?)
- 1 can of 415g baked beans (I prefer Heinz Reduced Salt and Sugar);
- Seeds from 1 or 2 small chipotle chilli (go with only 1 if you’re unsure about how spicy these chillies are);
- 4 finely diced slices of pickled jalapeños;
- 1 heaping tablespoon of non-spicy “yellow” mustard (I love French’s brand);
- 1 teaspoon of oregano;
- 1 handful of grated mature Cheddar;
- 1 handful of grated mozzarella;
- 1 dash of black pepper;
- 2 sliced spring onions;
- 1 handful of chopped fresh coriander;
- 1 to 2 slices of toast per serving.
Method
- Add the beans to a saucepan set on medium heat;
- Stir in the chilli seeds and diced jalapeños;
- Thoroughly mix;
- Stir in the mustard;
- Thoroughly mix;
- Add the oregano;
- Thoroughly mix;
- Now is probably a good time to put your bread in the toaster;
- Add the Cheddar and mozzarella to the saucepan;
- Continue to stir the beans and cook until the cheese is thoroughly melted. Be sure not to boil or overcook the beans;
- Plate the toast and top with the beans;
- Sprinkle the black pepper across the beans;
- Add the spring onions and fresh coriander.
Serve
This easy to make (and easy to proportionally scale) dish can be served as a satisfying breakfast for one or as a side dish for a great range of meals. Consider serving it at your next BBQ.
About Genesis Crafty
Genesis Crafty is a modern bakery and family business owned and run by six brothers who together make baking amazing. Originally set up by the McErlain brothers’ parents in 1968 as a simple home bakery with just one bread cart, just over four decades later Genesis Crafty is a truly modern bakery but with artisan values. The bakers still flip every pancake and chaff every scone by hand. A unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and skilled innovation, Genesis Crafty is proud to still be making many age-old favourite recipes, while keeping fresh with new and delicious creations.
Find out more at genesiscrafty.com.
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Posted in Food, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, Recipes
Tagged baked beans, baked beans recipe, beans on toast, beans on toast recipe, Cheesy Chipotle Beans on Toast, chipotle, chipotle chillies, Food, genesis crafty, Genesis Crafty Blogger of the Month, my recipes, recipe, recipes, spicy baked beans, spicy beans on toast, tikichris recipes
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London Daily Photo: CHURCH ARMY
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged Bell Street, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, london photographer, marylebone, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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