Tag Archives: wine

Visiting Borough Market with Le Cordon Bleu’s Chef Emil Minev

Experiencing Borough Market with Le Cordon Bleu’s Culinary Arts Director, Chef Emil Minev, was a real eye opener – and a definite palate pleaser! Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Recipes, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Pubs, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pulp – Fun New Way to Learn about Wine

Pulp is a new startup for budding wine enthusiasts that wants to make you a wine expert at-home and at-ease … and at 50% off for tikichris readers. Continue reading

Posted in Apps, Discounts and Special Offers, Drink, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Free Cheese and Wine Festival at East Village, Stratford

East Village will host a free cheese and wine festival the weekend of 1 April. No fooling. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Calçotada at Boqueria

Like the sound of some especially savoury if rather sloppy Spanish foodie fun on a Sunday afternoon in South London? Celebrate Calçotada at Boqueria. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #64 | St Patrick’s Day Edition

Here’s my latest list of good stuff, in this case all in celebration of Irish drink with a sampling of quality beverages I had the pleasure of trying at a recent Spirit of Sharing tasting event hosted by Irish Ambassador Daniel Mulhall and Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, at the Irish Embassy in Belgravia. Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Drink, Good Stuff, London, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Darkhorse, East Village, Stratford

Set at the base of one of the East Village towers (former Olympic Athletes Village) in Stratford, Darkhorse is a seemingly aptly named contender for one of the best places to eat in London I’ve come across in quite a while. Kemey and I certainly loved our leisurely Saturday lunch. Continue reading

Posted in Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Chef at Bird of Smithfield

Bird of Smithfield is the same great restaurant set in a five-storey townhouse with rooftop bar across from Smithfield Market as it has been since launching in 2013 – just now with a new Head Chef, Tommy Boland. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tio Pepe Challenge 2017

The Tío Pepe Challenge is an international cocktail competition offering bartenders and mixologists around the world a chance to demonstrate their knowledge and creativity preparing a signature drink with sherry. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Drink, Jerez, Spain, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Best Dressed Irish Oyster

Last week, Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) hosted a Best Dressed Irish Oyster competition at Hix Oyster and Chop House in Farringdon. I tagged along for the chance to slurp down some especially delicious oysters and while having a look at how participating chefs went about dressing them up. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Basque Brunch at Eneko at One Aldwych

Basque Chef Eneko Atxa’s eponymous One Aldwych restaurant launched a new brunch menu over the weekend. I was glad to have a first taste on Saturday. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bar + Block Steakhouse, King’s Cross

A good steak in a smart place, that’s the gist of what’s on offer at new King’s Cross steakhouse, Bar + Block. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a £150 Gift Card from Pocket High Street for Valentine’s Day

I’ve teamed up with the folks at PocketHighStreet.com again to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a £150 gift card to spend at the best independent shops in London. Continue reading

Posted in Chocolate, Competition, Drink, Fashion, Food, Freebies, London, Shopping, Valentine's Day, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eneko at One Aldwych

I could taste with each bite how Chef Eneko Atxa earned his three Michelin stars at his Bilbao restaurant, Azurmendi, with intriguingly flavourful and beautifully plated food and how his London restaurant’s Head Chef, Edurne Martín Delgado, executed Atxa’s vision with craft and precision. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Bars, Beer, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Pubs, Restaurants, Shopping, Tiki, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Bars, Beer, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, California, Drink, Food, France, Hotels, Jerez, Louisiana, Luxury, Music, New Orleans, Restaurants, Spain, Tennessee, Tiki, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Bars, Best of 2016, Best of the Best, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win Panettone and Prosecco from Carluccio’s

Hoping to end the year on a beautiful buon Natale note? Here’s a delicious and bubbly competition to help! I’ve teamed up with Carluccio’s to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a panettone filled with a prosecco flavoured cream plus a bottle of prosecco. Continue reading

Posted in Christmas, Competition, Drink, Food, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Radio Alice | Pizza | Hoxton Square

Radio Alice is a new pizzeria opened in Hoxton Square. The approach to serving pizza is unique. The results are delicious. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Pizza, Restaurants, Uncategorized, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Good Stuff #61

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.

Posted in Beer, Books, Christmas, Drink, Good Stuff, London, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Big Bag o’ Booze for Free

Oh no! I’m running out of room in my liquor cabinet. And that’s especially good news for one lucky tikichris reader. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

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

Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Louisiana, Luxury, New Orleans, New Orleans in 18 Eats, Restaurants, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Three Month Wine Subscription from Le Petit Ballon

Le Petit Ballon, the top wine subscription service in France, is now in the UK. Ready to find the wine you love? I’ve teamed up with Le Petit Ballon to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a three-month subscription (two bottles per month and more). Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in California, California Tiki Tour & More, Drink, Food, Hotels, Luxury, Restaurants, road trip, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

QP LDN

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

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Win Six Bottles of Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference South African Wines

Did you know that all of Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference South African wines are Fairtrade? And as I discovered at a recent tasting, they’re all delicious too. Here’s an opportunity to taste the difference for yourself with a chance to win six bottles of Taste the Difference South African wines for free. Continue reading

Posted in Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in California, California Tiki Tour & More, Drink, Food, Hotels, Luxury, Restaurants, road trip, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

They Started It: Where to Enjoy Public Food Fights! (Going Places)

Check out these fun, sticky, and messy food festivals from across the globe (but, really, they’re mostly in Spain for some reason). All are open to locals and visitors alike, but remember to bring a change of clothes, a healthy appetite, and an easygoing attitude to endure a proper basting of your senses. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, Going Places, OneTravel, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Win a Case of Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Graham Norton and the folks at Invivo Wine have kindly set aside a case of Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc 2016 to share with one lucky tikichris reader. Continue reading

Posted in Celebrities, Competition, Drink, Freebies, Shopping, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Feeling Fino | Outro

As I wrote in my introduction to this series of posts, visiting Jerez felt like a dream. Being able to experience the city with hometown hero Tio Pepe made it one of the tastier dreams to come true for me as a writer since I started this blog. Continue reading

Posted in Bars, Drink, Feeling Fino, Food, Jerez, Restaurants, Shopping, Spain, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Graffigna Gran Asado

Argentine winemaker, Graffigna, threw the meatiest of parties recently at Dinerama in Shoreditch. Continue reading

Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Great Day Out + Great Wines Too | Hush Heath Estate & Winery

Hardly an hour out of London by train (via Charing Cross to Staplehurst) is Hush Heath, a 400 acre estate in the heart of Kent with vineyards, orchards, grasslands and ancient oak forests. The estate also owns a few pubs. Two are within earshot of the Hush Heath vineyards, in the villages of Goudhurst and West Farleigh. Both offer overnight accommodation. The others are in London, near Liverpool Street Station and Smithfield Market. Continue reading

Posted in Bars, Drink, England, Food, Hotels, London, Pubs, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment