What is a Bravas Fest?
Since the first edition in Valencia in 2024 when more than 30,000 people attended, more than 7 tons of potatoes had been cooked and 9,000 liters of Mahou beer had been served, the 2025 edition was awarded a win to La Ruta by Thacks…
A 30 hour Irish Assignment: Guinness and Chipper Food at the cliffs of Ballycotton – PART II
By John Thackray So, I touched down in SUNNY Cork at 19:00 local time, dashed to get my hire car and the upgrade to a brand new Jeep with 4,000km on the clock was a nice start though I didn’t have time to faff…
A 30 hour Irish Assignment: Guinness and Chipper Food at the cliffs of Ballycotton – PART I
The greatest thing about living in Europe is that budget airlines exist – so you can find a return flight to another country less than 3 hours away for under €60. You can fly to Venice for a day to fill up on genuine…
Spanish Wine Outings
Just an hour outside of Valencia… Valencia was often known for its cheap bulk wines, but it has already blossomed into one of Spain’s most interesting wine regions. Rehabilitated long-forgotten local grapes like the red Mando and the white Verdil are coming back to…
Restaurante Albacora (Valencia) Review
Restaurante Albacora in the Marina of Valencia, Spain, is a hidden gem that is tricky to get to if the pedestrian bridge isn’t open. But it is so worth it!! We started off with ‘Carpaccio de Gambas’ which is a seafood version carpaccio with…
Eurovision 2024 Predictions
Although Thacks Awards is mostly about food, drink and travel, herewith a beginners guide to something different: Eurovision. Panelist John had a look at all of the 2024 entry videos on YouTube and brings you this guide and intro… Just in case you need…
2023 was an up and down year
2023 was an exciting year in terms of destinations. And finding things different to your expectations. The seven panelists travelled to far-flung destinations like Japan, Columbia, Canada, Brazil, the USA from their bases in Spain, Austria, Cyprus, the UAE, Australia and South Africa. They…
2023 Top 3 Winner: THE CURRY CLUB, Cape Town, South Africa
From the moment I stepped into The Curry Club, I was overwhelmed by the aromatic fragrances from the Punjabi spices that began seducing my nose-buds. Punjabi cuisine has its origins in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, and it is known for its…
2023 Top 3 Winner: BINGO IZAKAYA RESTAURANT, Kyoto, Japan
Tucked away in a side street of Kyoto is a very unassuming little gem of a restaurant. I wish I could say that it’s Kyoto’s best kept secret but the cat has been let out the bag a long time ago as this restaurant,…
Eurovision 2023 Predictions
Although Thacks Awards is mostly about food, drink and travel, herewith a beginners guide to something different: Eurovision. Panelist John had a look at some of the 2023 entry videos on YouTube and brings you this guide and intro. Just in case you need…
2023 Top 3 Winner: LONGTABLE RESTAURANT, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Longtable Restaurant at Haskell Vineyards in the Cape Winelands of South Africa, has won an international Thacks Award for ‘Best Brunch in the Cape Winelands’. Longtable Restaurant offers exceptional food, warm service, and stunning views that make it a must-visit for anyone in the…
2022 Top 5 Winner: THE KNYSNA OYSTER COMPANY, Cape Town, South Africa
“I love oysters. My panelist profile picture on the panelists page attests to that!Nothing is better than a good oyster: fresh, plump and creamy.But alas, nothing is worse than a bad one either: dehydrated, thin, stale, sandy and shelly. Many times price is not…
Qatar Airways: Best product in the sky, but lacking service/functionality?
Although Qatar Airways offers the most-awarded and we agree a ‘best Business Class offering’; and it has been a favourite airline for even the Thacks Awards panelists (Qatar’s inflight offering won a 2021 Thacks Award; and it came out tops in comparisons with KLM,…
Son Restaurant (Bordeaux) Review
Ranked a #1 Restaurant in Bordeaux, Son indeed delivers a treat and is sold as a ‘sophisticated restaurant presenting innovative cuisine amid elegant surroundings’. This is an award winning and credible dining experience with a great ‘value for money’ €25 lunch menu and a…
2022 Top 5 Winner: THE ROYAL OAK, Balmain, Australia
A perfect Sunday afternoon chill session – more than a pub but one of Balmain’s oldest and best-known pubs. For the perfect setting to recharge for the week ahead, look no further than The Royal Oak in Balmain.It’s no secret that Australia has a…
2022 Top 5 Winner: RUST EN VREDE RESTAURANT, Stellenbosch, South Africa
As far as international comparisons go, Rust en Vrede Restaurant on the stunning Rust en Vrede wine estate near Cape Town, under the fine management of superb chef Fabio Daniel, has already won multiple awards in 2022 since winning the Thacks Awards 2021 Top…
A TALE OF 2 EQUALLY GOOD PIZZA EXPERIENCES IN SPLIT (Croatia) – Restaurant Reviews
A bucket-list trip to Croatia recently included 3 nights in Split between a jam-packed itinerary of Dubrovnik and Hvar with some island hopping to follow. Not too far from Italy we heard that the pizza in Croatia was just as good and although geographically…
2022 Top 5 Winner: TASHAS, Abu Dhabi, UAE
I had read of Tasha’s excellent food and luxe coastal vibes and so made my way out to Al Bateen, expecting to find the place in a mall. What I found took my breath away. Tashas stood apart on a small island, surrounded by…
2022 Top 5 Winner: CHARLES STREET KITCHEN (CSK), Sydney, Australia
Every time I visit this vibrant cafe, I am always delighted – the food is great, the service wonderful and best of all the owner, Calvin is always ready to welcome you and your pooch! Charles Street Kitchen is a Korean-inspired Australian fusion cafe…
2022 Top 5 Winner: THE CAMPAIGN ROOM BISTRO, Musselburgh, Scotland
The fabulous The Campaign Room Bistro at Carberry Tower, is locally-known as a positive spoil and with good reason… Using the very best, fresh, local and seasonal Scottish produce, a selection of mouthwatering lunches and dinners are presented beautifully. The ambience is relaxed and…
2022 Top 5 Winner: LEO HILLINGER WINESHOP & BAR, Vienna, Austria
After a week in three cities in Croatia in September three of the panelists parted ways: one went on to do some wine stomping in Spain a week later while another jetted off to Slovenia, then two reunited in time for a quick stop…
2022 Top 5 Winner: MEDITERRANEO, Hvar, Croatia
Croatia is a bucket-list destination for many, especially after Game of Thrones made some of the city sights a must-see destination to fans and we noticed mostly American visitors in the narrow city streets of Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar. The days of being known…
2022 Top 5 Winner: CONSONANCE, Bordeaux, France
When you stumble onto a classy wine bar establishment with super-friendly service and you aren’t hungry but can’t stop ordering their tasty menu treats, you know you’ve stumbled upon the next Thacks Awards winner! Whilst the word Consonance means ‘agreement or compatibility between opinions…
Ets Vallauri Wine Bar and Shop (Cannes) Review
When you’re in Cannes for a day and want some good wine, this is your place! We saw an online review simply reading “A bit snobby”. When someone who visited in January 2021 (when Covid was still lurking around) posts a rubbish 3-word review…
Post Pandemic Cruising: On the Disney Magic in Europe
Is a Disney Cruise holiday worth it beyond 2022? What you need to know and be prepared for. From being imprisoned in a windy port for 2 days solid then being offered an open bar which caused a fight; to the magical detail of…
Vinorte Wine Bar (Valencia) Review
For something to be featured on Thacks Awards, it needs to be good. And ‘Vinorte’ in Valencia won’t disappoint!Last night two of the panelists and their friends stumbled upon this gem. And we’ll be back… very soon. We had a 21:30 dinner show reservation…
2022 Top 5 Winner: CLUB69, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Thacks Awards have mostly been awarded to great restaurants and wine bars. But 2022 sees a night-life establishment winning one for the first time!! Congratulations to ‘Club69’ that helped two of the Thacks Awards panelists feel 13 again. But partying until 5am made us…
Buenos Aires – a treat for all senses
The Italian food elements, chocolate, ice-cream/helados and great value on the ‘blue dollar’ rate (changing euros or US dollars at double the rate than with the banks); with a Spanish twist made our April 2022 trip to Buenos Aires very affordable – and memorable.…
Bluebells Restaurant (Ascot) Review
Bluebells Restaurant in Ascot in the United Kingdom – not far from London – is listed to offer a relaxed yet formal approach to dining. Options include lunch, dinner, Sunday and a kids menu. “Bluebells Restaurant was fully booked a week in advance and…
Three days in beautiful Bordeaux
Wine tourism is a favourite hobby. What’s not to like about sweeping landscapes often with sunny blue skies and a massive variety of grape types pressed into tasty wines across the globe? From the volcanic vineyards of Santorini and Sicily, to Tuscany and the…
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