Tag Archives: luxury

Best Hotels and Resorts of 2016

Nicest digs on the planet? Here are a few of ‘em! 2016 was one of the best years of travel for me yet. What made the year such an amazing time to ramble was, in large part, where I got to lay my head at night. 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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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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Coffee at The Fairmont San Francisco (espressoCrazy)

One of my all time favourite destinations, San Francisco was a beautiful and welcoming as I remembered, and maybe even a little tastier this time around … or at least my coffee was. Continue reading

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Willie Mae’s Scotch House | #TCEatsNOLA

Last but by no means least among my list of 18 New Orleans Eats is the great Willie Mae’s Scotch House which has been serving exceptionally satisfying fried chicken and soul food fixings in a modest home setting since 1957. Continue reading

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Upperline Restaurant | #TCEatsNOLA

Moving back uptown for another phenomenal feast among my 18 New Orleans Eats, I’m sitting down for a most sublime supper at the accommodating and gentile Upperline Restaurant, where the very definition of Southern hospitality may be enjoyed to its fullest and most delectable extent. 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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Shaya | #TCEatsNOLA

When I first started to come up with my wish list for New Orleans in 18 Easts, I wasn’t thinking about falafel and hummus, neither was I expecting Israeli cuisine made almost exclusively with locally grown Louisiana ingredients to top my list of all-time favourite restaurant meals. Then I found out about Shaya and wisely took a chance on eating there. Continue reading

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La Petite Grocery | #TCEatsNOLA

Elegant and indulgent, novel and authentic, worldly and homespun, fine and funky: my uptown lunch at La Petite Grocery was a gourmet dream of gourmand extravagance. Had I ever been presented with a richer, more inventive meal – even among … Continue reading

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K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen | #TCEatsNOLA

Legendary Louisiana chef, Paul Prudhomme, is widely recognised as the man who brought Cajun and Creole cooking to the masses through his fame as a chef and restaurateur and the popularity of his Magic Seasoning Blends sold throughout the US. Sadly, Chef Prudhomme passed away in 2015, but his legacy lives on in scrumptious glory at his French Quarter restaurant K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen. Continue reading

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GW Fins | #TCEatsNOLA

Love seafood? Crave innovative cuisine? Seeking an upscale setting with a casual air? GW Fins is the place for you. Continue reading

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Galatoire’s | #TCEatsNOLA

Blame it on the cocktails (and might I recommend a potent and creamy Brandy Milk Punch) or on the burst of relief upon getting in the door (there’s a no reservation policy but always a lengthy queue out front) … or maybe on notoriously naughty setting on Bourbon Street … whatever the case, Galatoire’s was one the most raucous and rowdy restaurants I’ve ever entered. It was also one of the most rarefied and refined. Maybe all the revelry was simply because folks were feeling understandably jubilant to be eating such great food in such an amazing establishment. I know I was over the moon to be there. Continue reading

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Compère Lapin | #TCEatsNOLA

Situated in the lobby of The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, my hotel for the first half of my NOLA dining adventure, Compère Lapin was only few month’s old, all the rage, and absolutely hopping (jeu de mots) during my stay. Not to try it as one of my 18 Eats, would have been remiss. Beside every time I passed the restaurant on my way in or out of the hotel, the lure of the aromas wafting out of its kitchen grew more irresistible. Continue reading

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Commander’s Palace | #TCEatsNOLA

Family owned Commander’s Palace has been wowing palates with inventive Haute Creole cuisine and utterly genteel service since 1880, making it the third oldest restaurant in New Orleans. With chefs such as Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse, Jamie Shannon, and now Tory McPhail among its kitchen alumni, this revered Garden District restaurant dripping with awards and accolades is arguably the city’s most popular and historically significant place to eat. Continue reading

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Broussard’s | #TCEatsNOLA

Established in 1920, Broussard’s is an elegant setting for fine dining with a menu focused on elevating down home dishes through culinary refinement. There’s a pretty courtyard for intimate al fresco dining and a most magnificent bar for exploring an inspired range of cocktails that are as historic as they are tasty. Continue reading

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Brennan’s | #TCEatsNOLA

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And if by important, they (whomever ‘they’ are) mean utterly scrumptious and overwhelmingly substantial, then there’s no finer example of this rule than breakfast at Brennan’s. Indeed, the morning I visited this family run French Quarter institution of haute Creole cuisine was without doubt the tastiest a.m. of the year for me, resulting in one of the more delicious meals I had during my time in New Orleans, and perhaps the best breakfast I’ve ever eaten in my life. Continue reading

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Festive Cocktail Menu at Artesian

London’s most lauded and luxurious bar – Artesian – is the place for tipples this festive season with a limited run drinks menu making spirits bright until the new year. Continue reading

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Arnaud’s & French 75 | #TCEatsNOLA

First up in my series of New Orleans in 18 Eats is the French Quarter’s 98 year old Grande Dame of creole cuisine: Arnaud’s. A quick note before we dig in … To be sure, I had clear favourite meals … Continue reading

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Sideways Detour to Solvang | #TCTikiTour

Continuing with the More part of our California Tiki Tour & More, Kemey and I made our way to sunny central coast city of Solvang – just up the road from Santa Barbara and about a 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Continue reading

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QP LDN

Fine Southern Italian cuisine – and exceptional wine – is on impeccable display in Mayfair’s luxurious QP LDN. Continue reading

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Chocolate Week Afternoon Tea at The Langham London

The Langham London’s Executive Pastry Chef, Cherish Finden, has done it again, this time round with a special – and especially chocolaty – afternoon tea for Chocolate Week. Continue reading

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Big Fun, Big Flavour, Big Sur | #TCTikiTour

Nestled snug in the wooded seaside splendour among all this scenic beauty is tiny Carmel-by-the-Sea, our first stop out from San Francisco Continue reading

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San Francisco: Golden Getaway | #TCTikiTour

The thunder clapped, and the rain came down in heavy sheets. Our California Tiki Tour was off to a perfect start with an exotic night out in San Francisco. Continue reading

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Jamaica’s Blue Mountains (espressoCrazy)

As ubiquitous as coffee is, it actually can only grow in very limited areas of the world, basically high on mountain slopes in the tropics and a few subtropical regions. Continue reading

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Difference Coffee Company

Entrepreneur Amir Gehl is on a mission to create the “ultimate terroir-led coffee collection” not to mention what’s got to the be the world’s most expensive collection of coffee capsules, with his new venture Difference Coffee Company. Continue reading

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Good Stuff #59

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip, savour and more – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy.

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The Ultimate List of All the Best Filet Mignon Spots in America (Going Places)

August 13th is National Filet Mignon Day, a day to indulge and to savor the most tender cut of beef. Here’s a rundown of a few of America’s best steakhouses known for their filet mignon. Continue reading

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Cane to Cocktail: Master Blender Joy Spence

The highlight of my Cane to Cocktail tour of Jamaica was the opportunity to experience a slice of island living with Appleton Estate Master Blender, Joy Spence, and to savour the rums she created with her there to discuss the science and the craft that goes into making them. Continue reading

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The Langham Children’s Afternoon Tea with Hamleys

Mia – a tikichris contributor, Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef, and mother of a toddler – visits The Langham London with her three-year old son for the launch of its new Children’s Tea with Hamleys – and gives it “triple … Continue reading

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Cane to Cocktail: At the Source

Produced only in Jamaica on one single estate in a small, circumscribed geographic area, Appleton Estate rum is one of the world’s few rums with a terroir. The core event of my Cane to Cocktail tour was a visit to the estate to discover what sets it apart from other rums and gives it such deep flavour. Continue reading

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Cane to Cocktail: Half Moon Resort, Montego Bay

There’s nothing wrong with indulging in a little rarefied rest and relaxation now and again. And I’m glad I got to do just that in fine Caribbean style for a few nights of my Cane to Cocktail tour at the splendorous Half Moon resort in Montego Bay. Continue reading

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I’d Do It Again in a Heartbeat: An Interview with tikichris (Wexas)

Chris recently went on a self-drive trip around Namibia with Wexas, and we were keen to hear a bit more about his trip and his other travel experiences … Continue reading

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