Tag Archives: luxury

Barcelona Brief: Too Brief but Brilliant!

Posted on 2015-05-13 by tikichris

Just back from far too few but still wonderfully rejuvenating days in Barcelona, it’s easy to proclaim it as the ideal getaway. So ideal, I can’t stop thinking about what it might be like to getaway there for good! No matter your “thing” – art, food, beach, luxury, street life, shopping, history … etc etc ad nauseum – or whether you’re one to zealously guard a small budget or magnificently blow a big one, you can do so with flying colours in this captivating Catalan capital. And if you’re like me and want the best of it all in maximum dosage, then keep an eye out for upcoming posts in my Barcelona Brief. Continue reading →

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Dammann Frères Teas at the Sofitel London St James’s Rose Lounge (espressoCrazy)

Posted on 2015-05-13 by tikichris

Man cannot live on coffee alone. And as much as I tried (often succeeded) in doing so, I must admit it’s nice to have a cup of something else every once in a while. Horses for courses and all that … Continue reading →

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La Vie en Rose Afternoon Tea at the Sofitel London St James

Posted on 2015-05-06 by tikichris

On now and running throughout May is a new floral-inspired La Vie en Rose afternoon tea at the Rose Lounge at the Sofitel London St James hotel. I got a taste of this limited run luxury a couple of weeks back and very much enjoyed it. Here’s a waft of what made it such a treat for me. Continue reading →

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Le Vie della Zagara: Sicily’s Beautiful Blood Oranges

Posted on 2015-05-04 by tikichris

The three varietals of Sicilian blood oranges include the deeply crimson Moro, the Tarocco (a great all rounder and Italy’s most popular orange), and the sweet and succulent Sanguinello. During my time travelling Le Vie della Zagara, I got a taste of all three blood oranges (and more – keep reading!) while visiting two places involved in the production of aranchia rossa: the lavish San Giorgio Estate with its upscale luxury Aranjaya villa and the more pragmatic but nonetheless impressive processing facilities of Pannitteri & C. Both are located in the eastern area of Sicily within the province of Catania and bestowed with jaw-dropper views of smoking and snow-capped Mount Etna. Continue reading →

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The Ultimate Foodie Safari in Sabi Sabi (City AM)

Posted on 2015-04-27 by tikichris

The streets of Mayfair may seem a world away from the remote South African bush, but for discerning gourmet travellers the metaphorical – if not physical – distance between the two has just become smaller. A new initiative at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve invites some of the world’s top chefs into the kitchen at the area’s renowned Earth Lodge. The partnership was launched in February, with Michelin-starred Eric Chavot making the inaugural visit, taking a week-long break from his eponymous Mayfair brasserie (at The Westbury on Conduit Street) to share his experience with the cooks at Earth Lodge. Continue reading →

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Review of Moët Academy

Posted on 2015-04-22 by Madison Salters

Last week Maddie Salters embarked upon an adventure in London’s Southbank that would take her into the heart of France’s Champagne region. Celebrated brand Moët & Chandon re-created the vineyards and wine cellars of its lush estate at OXO along the … Continue reading →

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Moët & Chandon: The Champagne Region Comes to Londontown

Posted on 2015-04-13 by Madison Salters

Moët & Chandon is perhaps the most recognisable name in Champagne. Its impressive estate, nestled into the heart of the Champagne Region of France, produces full-bodied sips, often with bold fruity notes and a gentle finish. As of 13 April, Moët & Chandon will bring the magic of its Épernay vineyards to Southbank in London, to delight the palates and imaginations of visitors. Continue reading →

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Lunch at The Pig

Posted on 2015-04-10 by tikichris

Oozing with ye olde English shabby chic charm without coming across as twee, the look and feel of this “restaurant with rooms” very much did it for me. I could have staged a “you-can’t-make-me-leave” sit-in at the hotel’s ultra cosy lobby bar; I got a mini recharge from my brief amble through the kitchen garden and surrounding grounds; I would have loved to try a post-lunch treatment at the spa across the pond in the garden or maybe an expert-led forage in the forest for wild mushrooms.
Continue reading →

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Preview: Bompas & Parr Dine with the Dead and Toast with a Human Skull

Posted on 2015-04-03 by tikichris

Over my years writing about the London dining scene one thing’s proved a certain constant: any email landing in my inbox from the jellymongering of Bompas & Parr is a must-read missive. The latest announcement of foodie frivolity (this time with a slightly darkened tinge) is no exception with an invitation to “a magnificent feasting occasion offering guests the ultimate tribute to departed Londoners in a spectacular environment.” Continue reading →

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New Fangled Old Fashioneds with Woodford Reserve

Posted on 2015-03-28 by tikichris

The Old Fashioned is pretty much my go-to cocktail these days. And if it’s made with Woodford Reserve, well then all the better. So an invitation to attend an Old Fashioned masterclass hosted by Woodford Reserve brand ambassador Tom Vernon at South Place Hotel’s SPIES Society bar and to enter a Classic American Cocktail competition based on my takeaway from the event was greatly appreciated. Continue reading →

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Hot Cross Easter Creations from Paul A Young and The Bread Factory

Posted on 2015-03-22 by tikichris

For Easter 2015, Paul A Young Fine Chocolates has teamed up with North London’s The Bread Factory for a range of hot cross bun creations that are big on traditional seasonal flavours and offered in a fascinating variety of combinations, including a limited run hot cross bun caramel spread, truffle and brownie. Continue reading →

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Skip the Hippest Lines in Stockholm with the Berns Hotel VIP Wristband (OneTravel)

Posted on 2015-03-19 by tikichris

If you’re only going to be in Stockholm for a short spell but keen to be immersed in the local scene ASAP, booking the Berns would prove an especially wise move. Set in the heart of historic Stockholm, the 150 … Continue reading →

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Fine Dining with a View to Match at Galvin at Windows, London Hilton Park Lane

Posted on 2015-03-16 by tikichris

Twenty-eight storeys up, the Michelin star shines brightly (and rightly) from Galvin at Windows restaurant atop the London Hilton Park Lane where diners are just as likely to ooh and ah over the food and drink as they are about the panoramic views of the city. Continue reading →

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On Safari with Chef Chavot (Great British Chefs)

Posted on 2015-03-07 by tikichris

Do you know what’s better than going on safari at one of South Africa’s most luxurious private game reserves? Going on safari at one of South Africa’s most luxurious private game reserves. Then heading back to the reserve’s award winning … Continue reading →

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March Issue of UK Cigar Scene Out Now

Posted on 2015-03-07 by tikichris

The third issue of the monthly UK Cigar Scene Magazine is now online and ready for download. Each issue of UK Cigar Scene is free to download and includes a video interview with a key cigar personality along with news … Continue reading →

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Good Stuff #39

Posted on 2015-03-05 by tikichris

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. Ceru This Levantine pop-up located … Continue reading →

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UK Cigar Scene Magazine Issue Two Out Now

Posted on 2015-02-16 by tikichris

Issue number two of the new monthly UK Cigar Scene Magazine is now online and ready for download. Each issue of UK Cigar Scene is free to download and includes a video interview with a key cigar personality along with … Continue reading →

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Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge Added to National Geographic’s Top List of Lodges (OneTravel)

Posted on 2015-02-12 by tikichris

I’m just back from a few days of luxury safari at Earth Lodge in the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in South Africa. Yes, I was only there for a four nights. To be sure, I would have been delighted … Continue reading →

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Sabi Sabi Safari

Posted on 2015-02-10 by tikichris

Making eye contact with a lion metres away from my seat in a topless Land Cruiser … lounging in a private plunge pool in the buff while smoking a Cuban and staring off into the unfenced and utterly vast savannah … losing track of how many rhinos and elephants I’d seen in the span of a couple of hours … having a multi course feast prepared by a Michelin starred chef and paired with some of the best South African wines available … getting one to most relaxing massages I’ve had in too long awhile … Sabi Sabi turned me into a blathering mess of wow. Continue reading →

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New Afternoon Tea at the Intercontinental London Park Lane? It’s a Guiltless Pleasure.

Posted on 2015-02-03 by tikichris

Yes, the folks at the Park Lane Intercontinental have done it again: wowed my senses in one of London’s most elegantly comfortable public settings … and with gracious and polite service to boot! This new vegetarian (without ever stating so) afternoon tea was a delight and yet another point to be added to a now rather lengthy set of reasons to recommend the hotel as an ideal destination for making the most of your time in the West End. Continue reading →

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UK Cigar Scene Magazine First Issue Out Now

Posted on 2015-01-09 by tikichris

There’s a new monthly online magazine out now about the cigar scene. Titled (appropriately enough) UK Cigar Scene Magazine, each issue will be free to download and will include a video interview with a key cigar personality along with news of events, gossip, and more stogie related info celebrating the specialists, their staff and the many personalities who enjoy a fine cigar here “in one of the world’s most energetic cigar scenes.” Continue reading →

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M Restaurants on Threadneedle Street, EC2

Posted on 2015-01-03 by tikichris

It was the last restaurant I visited in 2014 and the first one I’m reviewing in 2015 – appropriate enough for a finish or start to a great year of dining as any I reckon. My late night dinner at M – a newly opened and rather slick two-in-one restaurant plus wine bar combo just a stroll from Bank Station – pleased my palate with a menu full of tartare, tiradito and sashimi selections that didn’t leave me feeling raw. Continue reading →

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Good Stuff #36

Posted on 2014-12-27 by tikichris

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. Continue reading →

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2014 – Best of the Best

Posted on 2014-12-27 by tikichris

Going back over of the best sights, bites and more from the past 12 months was a fun and fruitful exercise in counting my blessings and strive for more. I hope my series of Best of 2014 lists may assist you in making the most of your time in the months to come. Cheers for reading tikichris in 2014! Continue reading →

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Best Restaurants (Everywhere Else) – 2014

Posted on 2014-12-21 by tikichris

Have I ever eaten so well in so many different destinations? Nope. If 2014 was one thing for me, it was a fantastic time of great foodie adventures. When coming up with this list of noteworthy restaurants visited the past year (see my list of London’s best here), I realize I did the bulk of the job of making a list of the best restaurants I’ve ever visited in my life. Continue reading →

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Best Restaurants in London – 2014

Posted on 2014-12-20 by tikichris

Most of these ‘best of lists’ I’m doing have been compiled with some degree of difficulty often leaving me feeling guilty for excluding somewhere excellent that for whatever reason was nudged out by another place. However, making a concise and definite list of my favourite few London restaurants visited over this past year was an absolute breeze as five fantastic eateries clearly did stand out from the rest with respect to quality of food and overall dining experience. Continue reading →

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Best Hotels – 2014

Posted on 2014-12-19 by tikichris

From the inner core of downtown DC to a sparsely settled archipelago at the junction of the North Atlantic and the Norwegian Sea – with loads of scenery and bon vivant adventures along the way – I stayed in some fantastic hotels this year. Continue reading →

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Upscale Japanese Served with Knightsbridge Panache at Nozomi

Posted on 2014-12-18 by tikichris

From my wisely suggested and promptly served Japanese Old Fashioned to my palate cleansing spread of homemade sorbets (ooh the pineapple!) – and all the tasty moments in between – there were so many highlights worth reporting from my luxuriant Saturday night out at Nozomi in Knightsbridge. Continue reading →

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Best Bars (Everywhere Else) – 2014

Posted on 2014-12-17 by tikichris

A blogger walks into a bar … and has an amazing time! No joke! Here’s a quick write up of some excellent places to have a drink in a handful of awesome destinations I had the pleasure of visiting this year. Continue reading →

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Washington DC: Where to Eat in the Political Capital of the Western World (City AM)

Posted on 2014-12-15 by tikichris

Over the past few years, ravenous London scenesters have been snarfing down a vast array of steaks, burgers, hot dogs, shakes, pizzas, burritos and all sorts of other full-flavoured Americana from a diverse range of restaurants, pop-ups and food trucks. US food, as our Stateside cousins would say, is hot right now. Meanwhile, denizens of US capital Washington DC have been reinvigorating the very concept of what it means to eat American, as I discovered during my recent city break there. Continue reading →

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The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood

Posted on 2014-11-11 by tikichris

The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood historic home of the afternoon tea – and one of the most stylish venues I’ve yet to encounter in this town – The Langham London has collaborated with leading luxury brand Wedgwood to launch a new afternoon tea featuring a special menu of delectably dainty creations by Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden (one of my London foodie heroes!) inspired by and to be served alongside Wedgwood specialty teas in bespoke “Langham Rose” Wedgwood teaware. Launching across all The Langham and Langham Place hotels and ahead of The Langham London’s 150th anniversary in 2015, new tea offering is available now. Continue reading →

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Elegant Japanese Dining at Kouzu, Belgravia

Posted on 2014-11-10 by tikichris

Japanese fine dining restaurant, Kouzu, opened with a hush of a soft launch (although apparently the Prince of Monaco had already caught wind and paid a visit) last week. Via an invitation extended by the restaurant, Kemey and I dropped by Saturday for what turned out to be a most elegant meal. Continue reading →

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5 Scan-tastic Reasons to Visit Sweden’s Koster Islands (OneTravel)

Posted on 2014-10-10 by tikichris

About a month back I had the pleasure of visiting the Koster Islands, Sweden’s most westerly populated (if only sparsely) islands. Just south of the Norwegian coast, it’s a rugged and beautiful part of the world and a great place … Continue reading →

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DC Dining? It’s a Capital Idea!

Posted on 2014-10-03 by tikichris

A commission for City AM had me visiting Washington DC and rural Virginia at the end of September to write a piece about the exquisite Hay-Adams hotel and its relationship with regional food and drink suppliers. I’ll be sure to do a heads up post here on the blog when that article is published, but in the meanwhile I thought I’d share some of the best bits of my trip in a quickie roundup. Continue reading →

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Win Dinner for Two at Pont Street Restaurant – Courtesy of Zomato

Posted on 2014-09-25 by tikichris

So, a couple of weeks back I had a very agreeable Friday night dinner for two at Belgraves hotel’s Pont Street restaurant. And now – thanks to a team up with online restaurant discovery guide, Zomato – I’m offering the chance to enjoy the same delicious experience to one lucky reader. Check it out! Continue reading →

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