Tag Archives: North Carolina

Best Restaurants of 2018

Posted on 2018-12-11 by tikichris

There’s one list left in my Best of 2018 series, and it’s a doozy: best restaurants of the year! Continue reading →

Posted in Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Cleveland, Drink, Edinburgh, England, Food, Germany, Hotels, Italy, Japan, London, Luxury, North Carolina, Ohio, Restaurants, Scotland, South Carolina, Spain, Tennessee, Texas, Travel, USA, Wine | Tagged Acorn, Asma Khan, Avinguda dels Comtes de Pallars, BBQ, Berliner Strasse, bermondsey, BERMONDSEY STREET, Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Brückenstraße, Café Pessets, carnaby street, Carretera N260, catalunya, Chattanooga, Chef Jon de Villa, Chef Jonathon Sawyer, Chef Scott Walton, chinese food, chinese restaurants, Chuo Ward, Clementine, Cleveland, COMMERCIAL STREET, darjeeling express, Dodson Avenue, Drink, E1, E1 6NE, E17, E17 9P, East 4th Street, East Martin Luther King Boulevard, East Warrington Avenue, england, Etles, Etles Uyghur Restaurants, Filipino food, Filipino restaurants, Food, Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Free State Kitchen, germany, Goodman, Goodman – Mayfair, Greenhouse Tavern, Heimat, Hoe Street, Hotel Castell de Ciutat, hotels, Hyogo, Hyōgo Prefecture, Hyōgo-ken, indian food, indian restaurants, Ishida Kobe Beef Steak Chome-2 Nakayamatedori, italian food, italian restaurants, Italy, japan, japanese food, japanese restaurants, jermyn street, JOSE PIZARRO, Katia, KINGLY COURT, Kitanagasadori, kobe, Kōbe-shi, Kubochō, La Seu d'Urgell, Lérida, Liverpool L1 9DE, Lleda, London, Lume, luxury, Maddox Street, Maryland Street, mayfair, Metzgerei Tombers, Mien Tay, Milan, milano, Mon, Nagata-ku, North Carolina, Northwest Military Highway, Ohio, okonomiyaki, Old Plantation Barbeque, Onion Maiden, pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PIZARRO, restaurants, Sam Jones, Sam Jones BBQ, Sampei, San Antonio, SE1, SE1 3TQ, sobameshi, Sort, south london, spain, spanish food, spanish restaurants, spitalfields, st james's, steak, steakhouse, SW1, SW1Y 6LX, TENNESSEE, texas, Travel, UK, Uncle Larry's Hot Fish, USA, vegan, Via Giacomo Watt, vietnamese food, Vietnamese restaurants, W1, W1B 5PW, W1S 1QH, Walnut Street, West Fire Tower Road, Wiltons, wine, Winterville | Leave a comment

Best Beer of 2018

Posted on 2018-12-08 by tikichris

I pour on with my Best of 2018 series to provide a heady brew of the tastiest beers I enjoyed during the past 12 months. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Basel, Beer, Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Cleveland, Drink, England, London, North Carolina, Ohio, Pubs, Shopping, Switzerland, Travel, USA, Wales | Tagged 1718 Brewing Ocracoke, Bang-On Mêl Bang-On Brewery, BARS, beer, Best Beer, Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Brookfield Brewing Company, Brunch Coffee Kolsch, Cleveland, Drink, Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, england, Fauxbia, Freudian Strip, Heller Engel, Hop Stuff Brewery, LionHeart Artisian Premium Ale, London, Malt Licker, Mandarina Mild, Mockery Brews, North Carolina, Ohio, pubs, Saucy Brew Works, Shopping, Skullville Jalapeno Pale Ale, Stadtmauer Brauer, switzerland, Travel, Trollingwood Taproom & Brewery, USA, wales | Leave a comment

Excellent coffee is crucial, particularly when I’m travelling. Having comfortable places to drink it is a big deal too. So are competent and affable baristas. If you can throw in reliable WiFi and an outlet to keep my laptop and phone charged while I drink coffee, you’re golden. This list of three London espresso bars and six more in Chattanooga (Tennessee), Greenville (North Carolina), Köln, Liverpool, Pittsburgh, and Zurich met all my requirements and shined the brightest for me in 2018. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Drink, England, Food, Germany, Pittsburgh, Switzerland, Travel | Tagged 15210, 27858, 37408, 50667, 8001, Appestat, Arlington Avenue, Auf dem Berlich, bakeries, BARS, Best cafes, Best cafes in London, Best coffee, Best coffee in London, Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Black Forge, Black Forge Coffee, Black Forge Coffee House, Blackbeard Coffee, Blackbeard Coffee Roasters, Boki, breakfast, Café enSoie by ViCAFE, Cafe Kogi, CAFES, Chattanooga, coffee, Coffee Houses, Coffee shops, Coffee Station, Cologne, covent garden, Drink, E17, E17 4NX, E17 9QF, earlham street, East 5th Street, east london, East Main Street, england, espresso, Espresso bars, Farnan Avenue, Food, Ganton Street, germany, Greenville, Hanover Street, Hoe Street, islington, Islington High Street, Koln, L1 4AF, Lindentreppe, liverpool, London, London cafes, London coffee, N1, N1 8EG, Niedlov's, Niedlov's Breadworks, North Carolina, pennsylvania, Perky Blenders, Perky Blenders - The Magistrates, Pittsburgh, Root Coffee, Root Liverpool, Sacred Cafe, seven dials, soho, Specialty coffee, Station Approach, Strehlgasse, switzerland, TENNESSEE, Travel, UK, USA, ViCafe, W1, W1F 9BL, waltham forest, WALTHAMSTOW, Walthamstow Central, Walthamstow Central Station, WC2, WC2H 9LG, Zurich, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦 | Leave a comment

Discussing Fact and Fiction with Historian Kevin Duffus | Blackbeard’s Wake | #TCTalks Episode 38

Posted on 2018-10-07 by tikichris

Another tie in with the Blackbeard’s Wake miniseries on my blog, Episode 28 of tikichris Talks finds me in conversation with research historian, author and documentary filmmaker Kevin Duffus. Kevin is perhaps best known as an expert on Blackbeard and for his deeply researched attempts to separate fact from fiction as it pertains to the story of this legendary pirate. Continue reading →

Tagged #Blackbeard300, #TCBlackbeard300, #TCTalks, blackbeard, Blackbeard's Wake, books, history, interview, Kevin Duffus, North Carolina, Ocracoke, Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, Pirates, PODCAST, road trip, Roadtrip, tikichris talks, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

Blackbeard’s Wake | Weighing Anchor

Posted on 2018-10-02 by tikichris

Hey folks. I’m weighing anchor and sailing on to cover other topics, but I hope you enjoyed reading about my Blackbeard-based tour of the Carolina and Georgia coast and that you had a chance to listen to my two related podcast episodes. Continue reading →

Posted in Blackbeard's Wake, Cars, Georgia, History, North Carolina, road trip, South Carolina, Travel, USA | Tagged #Blackbeard300, #TCBlackbeard300, blackbeard, Blackbeard's Wake, cars, Charleston, Charleston South Carolina, georgia, good cause, Greenville, Greenville North Carolina, Hertz, Hertz Car Hire, history, Hurricane Florence, North Carolina, Ocracoke, Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, Pirates, road trip, Roadtrip, Savannah, Savannah Georgia, South Carolina, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

Discussing Fact and Fiction with Historian Kevin Duffus | Blackbeard’s Wake | #TCTalks Episode 38

Posted on 2018-09-30 by tikichris

Posted in Blackbeard's Wake, Books, History, interview, North Carolina, Podcast, TCTalks, USA | Tagged #Blackbeard300, #TCBlackbeard300, #TCTalks, blackbeard, Blackbeard's Wake, books, history, interview, Kevin Duffus, North Carolina, Ocracoke, Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, Pirates, PODCAST, road trip, Roadtrip, tikichris talks, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

Ocracoke Historian Philip Howard | Blackbeard’s Wake | #TCTalks Episode 37

Posted on 2018-09-30 by tikichris

Episode 37 of tikichris Talks is a tie in with the Blackbeard’s Wake miniseries on my blog. It features an interview with Ocracoke Island historian, Philip Howard. Philip is the eighth-generation descendant of William Howard – the fourth and last colonial owner of Ocracoke who before that allegedly served as quartermaster for the infamous pirate Blackbeard. Continue reading →

Tagged #Blackbeard300, #TCBlackbeard300, #TCTalks, Blackbeard's Wake, history, interview, North Carolina, Ocracoke, Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, Pirates, PODCAST, road trip, Roadtrip, Springer’s Point Nature Preserve, tikichris talks, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

Ocracoke Historian Philip Howard | Blackbeard’s Wake | #TCTalks Episode 37

Posted on 2018-09-28 by tikichris

Posted in Blackbeard's Wake, History, interview, North Carolina, Podcast, road trip, TCTalks, Travel | Tagged #Blackbeard300, #TCBlackbeard300, #TCTalks, blackbeard, Blackbeard's Wake, history, interview, North Carolina, Ocracoke, Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, Philip Howard, Pirates, PODCAST, road trip, Roadtrip, Springer’s Point Nature Preserve, tikichris talks, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

Ocracoke, North Carolina | Blackbeard’s Wake

Posted on 2018-09-26 by tikichris

From Greenville, I made for the Outer Banks, specifically to the island of Ocracoke, where Blackbeard’s legacy seemed to hang in the air like Spanish moss on a live oak. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Beer, Blackbeard's Wake, Blogs, Drink, Food, History, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Travel, USA | Tagged #Blackbeard300, #TCBlackbeard300, 1718 Brewing Ocracoke, Back Porch Restaurant, BARS, beer, blackbeard, Blackbeard's Wake, Blogs, CRAFT BEER, Drink, Food, history, hotels, North Carolina, North Carolina Ferry, Ocracoke, Ocracoke Island, Ocracoke Island Golf Carts, Ocracoke Village & Beach Tours, Outer Banks, Philip Howard, Pirates, Plumb Pointe Kitchen, restaurants, road trip, Roadtrip, Springer’s Point Nature Preserve, Travel, USA | 2 Comments

Greenville, North Carolina | Blackbeard’s Wake

Posted on 2018-09-24 by tikichris

As much as I savoured reacquainting myself with such a tasty town, I was primarily there to take a peek into the East Carolina University lab where artefacts from Blackbeard’s sunken flagship are being preserved and studied for a more accurate record of North Carolina’s coastal heritage. Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Beer, Blackbeard's Wake, Drink, Food, History, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, USA | Tagged #Blackbeard300, #TCBlackbeard300, BARS, BBQ, beer, blackbeard, Blackbeard's Wake, coffee, CRAFT BEER, Drink, East Carolina University, ECU, Food, Greenville, Greenville North Carolina, history, hotels, Hurricane Florence, Kayaking, Knee Deep Adventures, North Carolina, Pirates, Pitt County, Queen Anne’s Revenge, Queen Anne’s Revenge Conservation Lab, restaurants, road trip, Roadtrip, Sam Jones, Sam Jones BBQ, Shopping, Tar River, The Music House, The Music House Greenville, Travel, USA, West Fire Tower Road, Winterville, Winterville North Carolina | Leave a comment

In Blackbeard’s Wake

Posted on 2018-09-22 by tikichris

Ahoy, y’all! I’m back in London and starting to sift through the notes from my latest road trip. This one was along the US Atlantic coast of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia on the trail of fact and fiction pertaining to one of the world’s most notorious pirates: Blackbeard. Continue reading →

Posted in Blackbeard's Wake, Cars, Georgia, Good Cause, History, North Carolina, road trip, South Carolina, Travel, USA | Tagged #Blackbeard300, #TCBlackbeard300, blackbeard, Blackbeard's Wake, cars, Charleston, Charleston South Carolina, georgia, good cause, Greenville, Greenville North Carolina, Hertz, Hertz Car Hire, history, Hurricane Florence, North Carolina, Ocracoke, Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, Pirates, road trip, Roadtrip, Savannah, Savannah Georgia, South Carolina, Travel, USA | Leave a comment

Best Hotels of 2015

Posted on 2015-12-26 by tikichris

My list of favourite hotels veers toward the luxury end of the spectrum. But there are some budget friendly considerations included. In large part, hospitality and appreciation won out over bling or lavish excess. Continue reading →

Posted in Barcelona, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Food, Hotels, Italy, Luxury, North Carolina, Restaurants, Sicily, South Africa, Spain, Travel, USA | Tagged Albergo Ristorante Pizzeria Del Viale, barcelona, Best Hotels of 2015, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill North Carolina, Earth Lodge, Earth Lodge Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Food, Generator Barcelona, Generator Hostels, hostels, Hotel Arts, Hotel Arts Barcelona, Hotel Del Viale, Hotel Majestic, hotels, Italy, kruger national park, Lodges, luxury, North Carolina, Palazzo Adri, pizza, restaurants, Sabi Sabi, safari, sicily, south africa, spain, Travel, UNC, University of North Carolina, USA | Leave a comment

Best Bars of 2015 (Excluding London)

Posted on 2015-12-22 by tikichris

Hey globetrotters, who’s up for a drink? If you ever happen to find yourself thirsty in Barcelona, Rome, Atlanta, Bath or even tiny Hillsborough, North Carolina here’s where to go for the best flow of drinks mixed with camaraderie. Continue reading →

Posted in Barcelona, Bars, Beer, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Luxury, Pubs, Rome, Travel, USA, Wine | Tagged atlanta, barcelona, bath, Beehive Inn, beer, Best Bars of 2015, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, cocktails, Cumbria, Drink, Eamont Bridge, Food, georgia, Gracia Barcelona, Hillsborough, Hillsborough North Carolina, hotels, Italy, Joystick, Jumeirah, Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto, La Gilda, La Pepita, lake district, luxury, Mystery Brewing, Mystery Brewing Public House, North Carolina, Penrith, pubs, roma, rome, somerset, tapas, Time Restaurant & Wine Bar, Travel, USA, Via Vittorio Veneto, west country, wine, wine bars | 1 Comment

Best Restaurants of 2015 (Excluding London)

Posted on 2015-12-20 by tikichris

The tikichris of 2015 series continues with a look at some of the most amazing restaurants I visited this year. Continue reading →

Posted in Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy | Tagged Abbaye de Montheron, american food, Antico Forno Roscioli, BBQ, Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Best Restaurants of 2015, BISTRO, brockenhurst, Caltagirone, Carolina Inn, Cerniat, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill North Carolina, Crossroads Chapel Hill, Dallas, england, Fearing’s Restaurant, france, french food, Gruyere, Gruyeres, hampshire, Hotel Relais Saint Germain, hotels, Il Locandiere, italian food, Italy, La Pinte des Mossettes, Le Comptoir du Relais, Le Zie Trattoria di Perrone Anna Carmla, Lecce, luxury, Montheron, new forest, North Carolina, O Zé Da Quitéria, paris, pizza, portugal, PORTUGUESE FOOD, Pronto A Comer Zé Da Quitéria - Jose Cardoso, puglia, restaurants, Ristorante Il Locandiere, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Dallas, rome, Saint Germain de Prés, seafood, Setúbal, sicily, SO42 7QL, Swiss food, switzerland, Tejo, texas, The Pig, The Pig Hotel, Travel, UK, UNC, University of North Carolina, USA, Vaud | 2 Comments

Best BBQ of 2015

Posted on 2015-12-19 by tikichris

To kick off my Best of 2015 series of yearend posts, I’d like to start with a roundup of the 25 best BBQ restaurants visited during my BBQ Bound road trip through the American South in October. Continue reading →

Posted in Best of 2015, Best of the Best, Food, Georgia, North Carolina, Restaurants, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Travel | Tagged athens, Athens GA, Athens Georgia, atlanta, Austin, Ayden, Ayden North Carolina, B's Barbecue, Barbecue Center, BBQ, BBQ Bound, BBQbound, Best of the Best, Brownsville, Brownsville Tennessee, Bum's Restaurant, Central BBQ, Charleston, Dallas, driftwood, Driftwood Texas, East Austin, Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ, Fincher's Barbecue, Food, Fox Bros, Fox Bros Bar-B-Q, Franklin Barbecue, Fresh Air Barbecue, georgia, Greenville, Greenville North Carolina, Helen's Bar B Q, Hillsborough, Hillsborough BBQ Company, Hillsborough North Carolina, Home Team BBQ, Hot Thomas BBQ, Lexington, Lexington Barbecue, Lexington North Carolina, Lockhart Smokehouse BBQ, Macon, Macon Georgia, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Memphis, Memphis Tennessee, Micklethwait Craft Meats, Nolensville, Nolensville Tennessee, North Carolina, Pecan Lodge, Pitt County, Pitt County North Carolina, Pulaski Heights BBQ, restaurants, Salt Lick, Savannah, Skylight Inn, Smoke, Smoke Dallas, Smoke Restaurant, Smoke Ring, South Carolina, Southern Soul Barbeque, St Simons Island, Swig and Swine, TENNESSEE, texas, Travel, USA, Watkinsville, Watkinsville G, Wiley's Championship BBQ | 15 Comments

#BBQbound: South in the Mouth Success!

Posted on 2015-12-10 by tikichris

My BBQ Bound miniseries chronicling my three-week quest for the best BBQ in the American South has now come to a burnt end. Ready for the recap? Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, BBQ Bound, Food, Georgia, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Travel | Tagged addison lee, addison lee app, addison lee minicabs, Arkansas, athens, Athens GA, Athens Georgia, atlanta, Austin, BBQ, BBQ Bound, BBQbound, Brand USA, british airways, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Dallas, Food, georgia, Greenville, Greenville North Carolina, Hillsborough, Hillsborough North Carolina, Lexington, Lexington North Carolina, Macon, Memphis, North Carolina, restaurants, Savannah, South Carolina, St Simons Island, TENNESSEE, texas, Travel, USA, Visit the USA | 4 Comments

#BBQbound: Pitt County, North Carolina

Posted on 2015-11-19 by tikichris

An epicentre of epicurean wonder (as long as you love whole hog BBQ), Pitt County is a prime destination for some of the best tasting meat in America. I had no idea so much good BBQ could come from such a concentrated and largely rural area. Continue reading →

Posted in BBQ Bound, Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged Ayden, Ayden North Carolina, B's Barbecue, BBQ, BBQ Bound, BBQbound, beer, Brand USA, Bum's Restaurant, Food, Greenville, Greenville North Carolina, hilton, Hilton Greenville, hotels, North Carolina, Pitt County, restaurants, Sam Jones, Skylight Inn, Travel, USA, Villedge, Villedge Woodfired Kitchen & Bar, Visit the USA | 1 Comment

#BBQbound: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Posted on 2015-11-16 by tikichris

Chapel Hill is a city I know fairly well from more youthful days. But I’d not been back there for well over a decade – and I must admit I knew nothing of the BBQ there. I’m pleased to report the town is as agreeable place as even – and that the BBQ is fantastic. Continue reading →

Posted in BBQ Bound, Drink, Food, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Travel | Tagged BBQ, BBQ Bound, BBQ Festival, BBQbound, beer, Brand USA, Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill North Carolina, Crossroads at the Carolina Inn, Food, hotels, North Carolina, restaurants, Shopping, Southern Season, The Pig, Travel, University of North Carolina, USA, Visit the USA, Weathervane | Leave a comment

#BBQbound: Hillsborough, North Carolina

Posted on 2015-11-15 by tikichris

The small town of Hillsborough, North Carolina made a big impression on me, despite only being able to drop in for a short overnight stay. Completely off my radar before planning my BBQ Bound itinerary, the town is now my top choice for a repeat visit of all the stops I made during my three weeks on the road. Continue reading →

Posted in BBQ Bound, Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, North Carolina, Restaurants, road trip, Travel | Tagged BBQ, BBQ Bound, BBQ Festival, BBQbound, beer, Brand USA, Eno River, Food, Hillsborough, Hillsborough BBQ Company, Hillsborough North Carolina, Holiday Inn Express, hotels, Mountains to Sea Trail, Mystery Brewing, Mystery Brewing Public House, North Carolina, restaurants, Travel, USA, Visit the USA | 1 Comment

#BBQbound: Lexington, North Carolina

Posted on 2015-11-14 by tikichris

This small town (population 19,000) is home to its own signature Lexington style of BBQ (also known as Piedmont or Western Carolina style). Made with wood-smoked (a mix of hickory and oak) and chopped pork shoulder (aka Boston butt) and usually served “wet” with a vinegar and ketchup based red sauce, the BBQ as a sandwich or more typically as a tray jammed full of BBQ and a side of “red” coleslaw that’s been mixed with the same red sauce instead of mayonnaise, and hushpuppies. It’s distinctive and delicious. Continue reading →