Tag Archives: BARS

Our/Summer at Our/London Vodka Distillery

Definitely get yourself to Hackney Downs soon to soak up the Our/Summer series each Saturday until 19th August from 12-6pm. Continue reading

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New Cocktail Menu at The Cocktail Trading Co

Full disclosure, I’ve got a soft spot for The Cocktail Trading Co. You see, my day job is pretty glamorous. I’m often out and about drinking with bartenders as I interview them for a gin bar blog series. It’s safe to assume I’ve jotted down plenty of stories and have a feel for how each bar operates. But there are two in bars in particular that have stood out. CTC is one of them. Continue reading

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Summer Food and Wine Q&A | #AskBordeauxWines

Save the date! From 1 to 3pm on Monday 12 June, I’ll be on Twitter engaging in an afternoon Q&A about summer food and wine pairings with the folks from Bordeaux Wines UK. Continue reading

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Salt Beef Bagels, Iced Coffee and More at Mercer & Co, Chapel Market

At £3.90, a recent late breakfast/early lunch of hand carved salt beef with mustard (I went with American) and a pickled gherkin on a bagel was minimal money went spent for a mightily meaty and thoroughly filling meal. Continue reading

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Honky Tonking in Downtown Nashville (Miles Away)

Honky tonks and honky tonking ain’t what they used to be, but the last bastion of hope for this 20th-century pastime still exists in downtown Nashville at the lower end of Broadway (just look for the neon glow). Continue reading

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New Summer Cocktails at St James Bar, The Balcon, Sofitel London St James

St James Bar at The Balcon (inside the Sofitel London St James) has recently launched a new Spring/Summer Collection of cocktails. Continue reading

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New BBQ Menu at St Bart’s Brewery

St Bart’s Brewery has launched a meaty new “barbecue soul food” menu (not such a bad idea for a pub situated across the street from Smithfield Market). Part of the Hush Heath Estate group, the pub uses apple wood from its Kent estate to smoke and cook a range of fresh and sustainably sourced British meat, fish and vegetables. Continue reading

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Highbury Music Venue The Garage Relaunches

New owners DHP Family (Oslo in Hackney and Rock City in Nottingham) are relaunching the famed (and infamous) music venue this month. Updates include a new sound system, decor and bar; a revamped intimate gig space upstairs; and an all-day café and bar on the ground floor. Continue reading

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Division 194 at The King & Co

Po-boy purveyors, Division 194, have set up shop in the kitchen of Clapham pub The King & Co for the next several weeks with a menu oozing with New Orleans inspiration and a dash of American gourmand excess. Continue reading

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Spring Strawberries at StreetXO

Talk about a fruitful team up! The folks behind Seasonal Berries – a year-round campaign funded by British Summer Fruits and representing 98% of British berry growers – organised a spring fling lunch with edgy upscale Mayfair restaurant StreetXO to demonstrate the vibrant versatility of the much adored but seldom tampered with strawberry. Continue reading

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Southern Pride (Foodism)

The Louisiana city of New Orleans is a melting pot of great restaurants. In a city where food options abound, Chris Osburn gives us his hot takes. Continue reading

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Ember London, Monument EC3

Fancy cocktails and bar food are the hallmark at Ember London, a sleek and slightly secretive basement bar recently opened just steps away from Monument Station. Continue reading

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Sherry, Wine and Tapas Pairing at El Pirata, Mayfair

My most recent visit to El Pirata tapas bar and Spanish restaurant was not my first (and I hope is wasn’t my last). I love this Mayfair institution for its buzzing atmosphere and overload of Spanish art on the walls – and most importantly, of course for the food and drink. Continue reading

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Holi Celebrations Return to Cinnamon Kitchen

Now in its fourth year, House of Holi at Cinnamon Kitchen is now open to the public with a purpose-built pod set up outside the restaurant in Devonshire Square where willing participants can let loose with paint throwing festivities that mark Holi, the Indian festival of colour. Continue reading

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#CityStories | Index

I hope you enjoyed my City Stories posts and videos highlighting some of the best food and drink in and around Shoreditch – all within a short stroll of the newly opened Point A hotel on Paul Street. Continue reading

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#CityStories: Bars and Pubs

Thirsty in Shoreditch? You are so in the right place. Check out the second video instalment for my City Stories collaboration with Point A Hotels. Continue reading

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#CityStories: Exploring #Shoreditch with #PointAHotels

Get ready for City Stories: a new series of video posts I’ve cooked up with Point A Hotels to highlight some of my favourite food and drink in and around Shoreditch. Continue reading

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Raw Wine Week 2017

Raw Wine Week will make a splash this month across London with tastings, dinners, wine list takeovers, meet the producer events, parties and of course the Raw Wine Fair. Continue reading

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Surf & Turf Wars at The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch

For three days only, The Blues Kitchen’s Shoreditch outpost is hosting Brooklyn restaurant Extra Fancy for a one-off collaboration and friendly “surf vs turf” competition. Last night (Monday 30 January) was the first of three nights of Surf & Turf … Continue reading

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Cinnamon Bazaar

About a month old but well on its way to super scrumptious stardom, Chef Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Bazaar near Covent Garden is a smart place for a full-flavoured meal. And with a bar boasting a list of signature cocktails created with master mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana, it’s a clever destination for drinks as well. Continue reading

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A Decade Down | Ten Years of tikichris

Before 2016 comes to a close, I thought I’d take a moment to recap the 10 team ups I co-hosted over the year in celebration of my blog’s tenth anniversary and – more importantly – to thank the folks involved in helping me make each of those 10X10 events happen! Continue reading

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Cheers from Artesian | 10X10 with tikchris

The ninth celebration to mark my decade of blogging was a boozy little get together with a few other writers and friendly freelancer folk – a kind of yearend office party for those without offices – at one of my favourite bars in London: Artesian. Continue reading

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Best of the Best of 2016

I hope you enjoyed reading my Best of 2016 series and that the posts may assist you in having more fun, saving more money and making more of your time than you would have otherwise. Continue reading

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Best London Pop-Ups, Supper Clubs, Street Food, etc in 2016

This year, many of my favourite London meals didn’t occur at a traditional restaurant or via a kitchen with a permanent address. Keeping with current dining trends and continuing with my Best of 2016 series, here’s my list of Best London Pop-Ups, Takeovers, Supper Clubs etc of the year. Continue reading

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Best London Bars and Pubs of 2016

London! You know how to quench a thirst. My Best of 2016 series continues with a taste of my favourite bars and pubs in London. Continue reading

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Best Bars of 2016 (Excluding London)

What a year! Ready for a drink? Might I recommend having it in style at one of these fabulous bars? They’re the best I came across in 2016. Continue reading

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Best London Restaurants of 2016

The London Dining scene of 2016 seemed markedly better that that of the past couple of years before it. But maybe that’s more reflective of me and my reasons and opportunities to eat out. Continue reading

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Best of 2016

The year is now coming to a close. How was it for you? My mind’s still reeling trying to figure out that question for myself. To say the least, 2016 was intense, with plenty of ups and downs. Allow me a chance to look at some of the ups in a little more detail and to celebrate the year by highlighting some of my favourite food, drink and travel experiences. Continue reading

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Preview: Sleight of Hand on the Strand

International award-winning magicians Tony “Sonic” Middleton ‘Sonic’ and Dominick Zwolinski bring their up close style of conjuring to a small audience in a private room at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand for one night only this month with their show Sleight of Hand on the Strand. Continue reading

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WSET’s From Still to Bar: Whiskey Flight at Shotgun

Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has teamed up with some of London’s top bars to create From Still to Bar: a series of immersive experiences with each session focused on a different spirit. Kemey and I dropped by Shotgun … Continue reading

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Ormer Mayfair

Michelin starred chef Shaun Rankin’s upscale restaurant attractively set downstairs at Flemings Mayfair Hotel – Ormer Mayfair – brings a refined and rich taste of Jersey to London. Seafood lovers and fans of dining with formal flair take note! Continue reading

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New Orleans in 18 Eats | Index | #TCEatsNOLA

Lord have mercy! It’s a good thing this blog came equipped with an elastic waistband. Otherwise, I might not have been able to finish my 18-stop tour of America’s culinary capital on a streetcar named delicious. Continue reading

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Trinity | #TCEatsNOLA

Trinity restaurant on Decatur Street in the French Quarter had only been open for about three months when I paid a visit. Nevertheless, Executive Chef Michael Isolani’s 21st century take on Haute Creole cuisine more than met the standards for fine dining in NOLA, seemed to fit in with the local scene as if it had always been there, and certainly proved suitable as a choice for one of my 18 New Orleans Eats. Continue reading

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Parkway Bakery & Tavern | #TCEatsNOLA

The folks at Parkway Bakery & Tavern reckon they do the best po-boy/po’ boy/poor boy in Louisiana. Maybe. Although some fans of this famous sandwich of New Orleans origin would suggest you need only go about five miles uptown for a taste of a worthy contender. Whatever the case, Parkway has been making authentically delicious and massive po-boys since 1911 – and you’d be a fool to fault ‘em for it. Continue reading

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Dinner at Beagle, Hoxton

I love the space (and smart use of it). What’s doing at the bar is very much in line with how I prefer to imbibe. Service is friendly and helpful. And the food’s great. Based on my recent visit, I’ve no bone to pick with Beagle and can only bark about how smart a choice this Hoxton restaurant is for a quality meal. Continue reading

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