Bon appetit, y’all!
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
Soup, sandwiches, salads, juice – that’s the lunchy kind of stuff you want when you’re on the go for strapped for time. If you’re in that situation and find yourself in Marylebone, you’re in luck. You can get all that sort of sustenance at Souli with the only main difference between what it offer and that of any nearby competition being that Souli’s food is actually very tasty and doesn’t seem to skimp on the quality. I loved my cauliflower soup (with freshly made croutons – ooh la la!); my half of a porchetta sandwich on sourdough (about or just under £2.50 for the half); a pert carrot/apple/ginger juice; and a surprisingly scrumptious quinoa cashew and cranberry salad. If it lived or worked in the area, I’d be in there often, usually ordering that quinoa salad during most of my visits.
I’d be coming round to Souli for coffee all the time as well. Hella and co get their beans from Rome’s age old self roasting cafe and coffee supplier, Il Caffé Sant’Eustacchio. Wow! Toasty and full-on with the flavour, my double shot of Sant’Eustacchio yielded just the sort of tasty hit I was after. The coffee was expertly pulled too, I might add. Tea snobs might be interested knowing Souli serves Parisian brand, Mariage Fréres.
Souli looks and feels like somewhere you’d like to slip into during a typical London lunch break: uncluttered with a pale wash robin’s egg on the wooden walls with prepared foods and artisanal breads as the main décor elements displayed in a rustic and restrained style. It’s predominately a ‘get it to go’ establishment, but there’s comfortable seating. I reckon most folks could enjoy an ample meal (open for breakfast and lunch only at the moment) a la Souli for around a fiver, and they’d be doing themselves a right tasty favour when doing so!
Souli is located at 17 George Street, W1U 3QL. Find out more at soulifood.com.
Here’s a list of five of my favourite photographers with their lenses turned toward some of the world’s most interesting subject matter.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
On Saturday the 25th of October, the 125 year old Whitworth will again invite visitors through its doors – just with a lot more on the inside to share with them. The gallery will boast twice the public space as before its renovation along with new state-of-the-art facilities including expanded gallery space, a learning studio, study centre, cafe, outdoor art garden and a collections access zone.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
One restaurant where I had a particularly memorable meal was Palace Cafe. Anyone out there planning your own foodie sojourn to the Big Easy listen up. This place was ace. At the edge of the French Quarter right on Canal, Palace Cafe is a fine dining restaurant with kinetic atmosphere and commitment to presenting patrons with the best in contemporary creole cuisine.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
Stuff I particularly loved about my experience included the following:
At 50 quid for a cut or, say, 60 for a “deluxe” wet shave and hot towel face massage, I don’t think Pankhurst is going to replace my local East End barber for my regular every-few-weeks’ trim, but there are always going to be those special occasions when a little more detailing might be required. And when those situations present themselves, I’m gonna head to Pankhurst. I feel I should also point out that compared to similar luxury experiences, Pankhurst’s prices are great value and, with respect to some other upscale men’s grooming options I’m tried, I found Pankhurst to be a lot less poncey and trend dependent – with more focus on offering a quality experience and helping a man look as good as possible.
Next time you’re in need of a proper spiff-up or you’re shopping around for a gift to give your manly man friend, I recommend keeping Pankhurst in mind.
Pankhurst is located at 10 Newburgh Street, W1F 7RN. Find out more at pankhurstlondon.com.
Only the best of this migratory fish qualifies for the SKREI® branding by the Norwegian Seafood Council. To be classified as SKREI®, a fish needs to meet these quality standards:
• Caught fully grown – as a large mature cod before it has spawned (approximately. five years old);
• The skin needs to be immaculate, with no scratches, bruising or injuries – the fish must look
as good as it tastes;
• Packaged within 12 hours of being caught;
• Stored on ice at a temperature between 0° and 4° Celsius; and
• Whole, fresh SKREI® is required to have the SKREI® brand fastened to the forward dorsal fin and put in a branded SKREI® box.
I got sent some supremes of Skrei on Friday and had a most Skrei-uptuous weekend, enjoying the fish Friday and Sunday at home and Saturday at the dinner party of another London blogger (hey Rosana!). That may sound like a cod awful amount of fish for some folks, but I loved every bite and am kinda bummed to now be without anymore for the week ahead. I reckon if you’re a seafood lover as well, you’d have savoured my fishy weekend as much as I did.
Both times at home (lunch on Friday and Sunday), I ate my Skrei simply (and perfectly) panfried. On Friday, I had it fried in a pat of butter with a bit of salt and served as a filet burger with some home made tartar sauce and peas. On Sunday, it was fried in extra virgin olive oil and salt alongside some boiled potatoes and a fresh salad. Saturday, I was served a gorgeous and chunky Skrei ceviche at a dinner party hosted by Hot & Chilli blogger Rosana. In each instance, the fish was absolutely delectable. Without doubt it’s been some of the most flavoursome cod I’ve ever come across and probably some of the best quality fish I’ve ever brought into my kitchen.
In London you find skrei in Harrods Food Halls. In the north look for it at Booths. Also, it never hurts to ask at local fishmonger as well. Find out more about skrei and seafood from Norway at en.seafood.no.
More tasty Skrei content:
Check it out:
Nicos and Philthy are back for another three days with a surf n’ Turf pop-up dinner featuring “great food, great music and some hard drinking.”
£35 gets you access to their unique dining experience, a gargantuan main meal, with sides/ dessert and a custom cocktail. Here are just a few of the menu highlights: Buffalo wings; pulled pork profiteroles; pork loin with lobster mac n cheese, pop up salad; squid and chorizo burger with chipotle mayo; and more!
Nicos & Philthy’s Three Nights of Reef ‘n’ Beef pop-up runs from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 March at Railway Arch 289, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9HA. Book with Nicos by emailing reefnbeef@outlook.com or calling 07875 238 095. Find out more at the Facebook listing of the event:
facebook.com/events/631786380204568
On now at the Bush Theatre in Shepherd’s Bush, the play offers an ‘everything you never realised you wanted to know but will find fascinating look at Namibian history’ … while addressing racism and the frustrating ramifications of European colonialism in Africa … and how those factors might apply to the lives of Londoners with seemingly no connection to Namibia at all. If that sounds like the play is nothing less than a thudding lecture with little in the way of actual entertainment, don’t worry. There’s plenty of clowning around involved as playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury mixes the political with the personal for a punchy production that’s as unflinching as it is irreverent.
Cast members – Ayesha Antoine, Joseph Arkley, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Joshua Hill, Kirsty Oswald, and Isaac Ssebandeke – shine in equal brilliance as they contemplate on stage how best to confront the frustrating legacy of colonialism in Africa. Such a rolling rehearsal of a plot capably directed by Gbolahan Obisesan. Designer Lisa Marie Hall does well too; her set revels elements in novel and clever ways without upstaging the action.
I had a hoot and a ponder – both in equal measure – at the press night performance of We are Proud to Present …. It’s an easy one to recommend and one I’m especially glad I caught.
We are Proud to Present … runs until 12 April at Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ. Find out more at bushtheatre.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!
Offering a fun and flexible hot chocolate range that lets you make your drink just the way you like it – hot, cold, with milk or just water – and conveniently packed in seven-serving-size pounches, this new range of instant drinks is perfect to mix and match depending on how you are feeling. Available from ASDA and Tesco at a RRP of £1.99, here’s a list of the new items:
Do these sound like your sort of yum? They’re all certainly worth a try. And guess what? I have enough to share one of each with one lucky reader.
To be in with a chance win the assortment of Mars and Galaxy instant drinks (one of all the above listed items) 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 21 March 2014 at 1pm (British time). The winner will receive a package in the post containing one each of the following items: Mars Chocolate Drink; Galaxy Chocolate Drink; Galaxy Caramel Hot Chocolate; Galaxy Ripple Hot Chocolate (with mini Ripple pieces); Maltesers Malty Hot Chocolate; Milky Way Magic Stars Hot Chocolate (with mini Magic Stars). To be eligible to win, you need to have an address here in the UK where the prize may be posted.
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!
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Although it may seem exhaustive, the list below hardly scratches the surface with respect to all the outdoor access in London. It is however a more than adequate guide suggesting some of the best bits of London to be experienced al fresco …
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
During my dine, I sampled a fantastic pheasant, partridge and bacon pie as well as one with pigeon, sweet potato and juniper. It was a tough choice even having the chance to tuck in to two different pies as the rabbit, hare, cider, mustard pie sounded like an equally appealing treat as did the veal, red wine, and olives option. Pies were served with ample mash and roasted seasonal veggies. It’s worth noting that the game used in the pies (and any dish at the tavern) is sourced from Suffolk, all shot by the chef’s uncle. Pies range in price from £8.50 for a vegetarian cheese and cauliflower pie to £11.50 for a steak pie.
No room for dessert, I was nevertheless encouraged to try the apple and cinnamon pie by some fellow enthusiastic diners on their way out. I just couldn’t though. I was completely stuffed. I did however greatly enjoy a pint of Shipyard Brewing Co’s America Pale Ale with my meal. It was one of the most satisfying beers I’ve had in awhile … and I reckon I’ve been on something of a winning streak of late with respect to coming across great beers.
In addition to the great food and drink, Punch Tavern has a singular air about it and is a lovely spot to find yourself. There’s gorgeous natural light streaming in from a glass ceiling in the main bar area, a working fireplace, and original features from 1897 such as marble bar, dark oak panelling, and a series of original Punch and Judy themed paintings.
Punch Tavern is located at 99 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1DE. Find out more at punchtavern.com.
You know the scene. You and your party are seated quickly with prompt service on the front end and every order filled to satisfaction. But then when the meal is over and you’re ready to go, catching your server’s attention becomes a game of hide-and-go-seek. You’ve got your hand half raised in air as if you’re an unsure student in the classroom of a strict teacher with your index finger darting up and down like you’re bidding at an auction. Meanwhile, the people who waited on your table go about their business seemingly intent to never making eye contact with any other living being for the rest of their lives – or at least for the rest of your evening out. Indeed, sometimes it’s like you haven’t a moment to even glance at the menu before asked what you want to choose. But then come time to pay – to give them something – there’s no one around and you’re made to feel like a jerk for simply wanting to complete a straightforward transaction.
Now available for use in London – at the moment only at Busaba Eathai and Prezzo outlets (but more locations to be rolled out soon) – MyCheck is a free app for iPhone and Android that’s designed to take the wait out of paying a restaurant bill by enabling users to pay straight from their phone and “making that sometimes lengthy and frustrating wait for the bill or credit/debit card receipt a thing of the past.”
During a recent lunch at the Covent Garden Busaba, I was introduced to MyCheck with my party’s bill being paid via MyCheck. From what I saw, I thought it was a handy app with lots of smart bells and whistles to allow a bill to be split – either evenly, by percentage or by item and then work out how much to tip. Basically, all that was required was to check in to Busaba as you would on Foursquare or Facebook and to let our server know we were going to use the app to pay … and then let the good times and the gorgeous ginger and peppercorn calamari roll!
MyCheck is of Israeli origin. It’s apparently already big hit there as well as in New York where “it’s accepted at full-service restaurants, quick-service shops, hair salons, spas, and more.” Find out more at uk.mycheckapp.com or download it now for free.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
Tapping into the worldly wisdom of all these globetrotters and hoping to give a little something back to people who use their services (or might need to in the near future), HiFX has recently asked expats who blog (and there seems to be quite a lot of us out there doing just that) to contribute some advice to their new Expat Tips page. Honestly, I’m not sure if I’d qualify as any sort of expert or not, but I certainly have my opinions about being from one country and living in another. I was happy to pitch in with some thoughts for US citizens contemplating a move to the UK when asked if I’d like to participate.”
The tips I’m going to share are probably a little more nuanced than what you might expect. If you’re looking for hard facts and thorough explanations of visa requirements etc, I recommend checking out the American Citizen Services page of the US Embassy in London’s webpage. It’s an incredibly dry reading, but the info you need to know is there:
http://london.usembassy.gov/service.html
In closing, I’d just like to suggest that you keep an open mind and give yourself at least six months to get through the transition of moving before deciding on whether you actually like living here. I actually hated my initial six months in London but grew to absolutely love this city and find it difficult to imagine having as fulfilling a life almost anywhere else.
Offering imbibers an apple-sweet and smoothly spiced sip, Elephant Gin from Hamburg, Germany is slow-distilled using fourteen botanical including rare African ingredients like Baobab, Buchu, and African Wormwood for its distinctively rich flavour. But buying it doesn’t just been you’ve got good taste. It also means you’re willing to support a good cause with 15% of Elephant Gin’s profits going to two African elephant foundations supporting the preservation of African wildlife. Stockists include Speciality Drinks, Soho Wine, Master of Malt, The Whiskey Exchange, and Selfridges London.
Made in Shade is a new bar and restaurant on Hoxton Street. I went to the launch where I very much enjoyed drinking a UFC (Buffalo Trace Whiskey, Blackwell’s Rum, Kamm & Sons Ginseng Liqueur, Guinness Foreign Extra Syrup, £10). Was it the Ultimate Fucking Cocktail? Well, you couldn’t blame anyone for thinking so – and it’s a far deal better than most mixes you’ll slurp on this part of town.
Okay okay! I’m not always boozing it up. Sometimes I even like to look after myself and consume something for its health benefits. Cuckoo Food’s ready-to-eat range of Bircher muesli applies. With flavours like Apple & Cinnamon Spice, Apricot & Madagascan Vanilla, Elderflower & Cranberry, Dark Chocolate & Sour Cherry, and Mango & Coconut – it’s a tasty choice too. I liked having the Apple & Cinnamon Spice for my breakfast the other day. Cucko Bircher Muesli is currently available at Selfridges and Daylesford Organic farm shops in 200g single-serve pots (RRP £2.49).
In the West we think nothing of beauty contests for dogs, horses, flowers, even women. But the leggy, doe-eyed lovelies on parade here are of the four-legged variety, and are judged on such criteria as having a nice firm pair of ears and floppy lips. Just like supermodels, at the height of their careers camels can command millions of dollars. Who knew?
More:
http://www.vice.com/en_uk/the-vice-guide-to-travel/miss-camel-beauty-contest
James Whatley – known to his 10,000+ Twitter followers as @Whatleydude – is a prolific polymath dabbling in the social, mobile and digital realms with great aplomb and intensity. He blogs too and loves coffee. I caught up with James recently for a quick chat about blogging, some of his other “geeky hobbies”, and how coffee helps him keep up his busy schedule.
Read my complete Coffee Break with the “WhatleyDude” at the espressoCrazy blog.
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!
*Note: you really probably shouldn’t actually read this book to your child.
From the Prezzybox website:
As a parent we have all thought the same and muttered those words in our minds ‘Go The F** To sleep!’ Well this funny and tongue in cheek book lets you know that it’s normal to feel that sort of frustration with your toddler when they refuse to go to sleep! It’s realistic and funny nature becomes a parents best friend as it talks about normal family situations including toddlers famous excuses of why they can’t sleep, such as ‘mummy I’m thirsty’ or ‘there’s a monster in my cupboard’! We’ve all heard them, and this book helps to soothe an excited toddler as well as soothe the annoyed parent!
Need this fully illustrated 16.5 x 21.7cm book in your sleep deprived life? To be in with a chance win a copy of Go the F**k to Sleep 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 14 March 2013 at noon (British time). To be eligible to win, you need to have an address in the UK where the prize may be posted.
About Prezzybox
Prezzybox.com is the complete online gift solution. If you’re looking for a unique or exciting gift for your mum, dad, brother, sister, buddy, half cousin or yourself (let’s face it – we all deserve something nice) then Prezzybox is the place. From Electronic Cigarette to the Chocolate Pizza and Addictaball Maze, Prezzybox has a veritable cornucopia of weird and wonderful goodies waiting for your perusal. Find out more at prezzybox.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.
There were a number of dishes available at Japan Centre’s Shoryu Soho that seemed to be placed on the menu especially for me and my greedy palate: particularly soft shell crab tempura (£9) and shishito (deep fried padron peppers with hakata yuzu and British sea salt, £7). I could go for an order of either again (and again). I also really got a kick out of drinking my super icy Kirin Frozen (½ pint £2,90, pint £4,90) served with a -5 degrees frozen whipped top in a chilled glass. Come warmer weather (please!!!), that chilly drink is sure to be on my mind.
But of course the star of the show was the ramen, and I loved my mega-bowl of Shoryu Ganso Tonkotsu (£11) – the eatery’s signature ramen. It like all ramen there (except for a few veggie options) came in a “rich tonkotsu pork broth with bbq pork, nitamago egg, kikurage mushrooms, spring onion, sesame, ginger, nori and mayu (caramelised black garlic oil)” along with the added yummies of miso in the broth and fried shallots.
Also with respect to the probability of a queue, if it’s anything at all like when I went you can expect it to move swiftly and for service to be efficient at this tight little communal seating restaurant with the friendly vibe near Piccadilly Circus.
I visited the Shoryu Soho at 3 Denman Street (W1D 7HA) , but there’s a Shoryu Ramen location at 9 Lower Regent Street too, plus another outlet at Kingly Court on its way any day now and a new “Shoryu Go” takeaway concept for Air Street planned. Find out more at shoryuramen.com.
In Nawlins for Mardi Gras and feeling guilty because certain friends, family members or colleagues couldn’t come with you to enjoy all the fun? Or maybe you’re hoping to rub it in about what a great time you had once you’re back? Here’s the low down on four fantastic French Quarter shops selling gifts that’ll help you make generous amends or rile the envy of others accordingly.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
