My wife V, who’s almost as greedy as I am, loves dining at private kitchen dining concepts. Of course, I’m always delighted to discover them with her. Liberty Private Works in Hong Kong ups the ante by offering modern counter seating and a commanding view of the Central district. And the food was so artfully done and beautifully delicious. Enjoy.
A little something to make you hungry this Friday and also to whet your appetites for a series of stories I am working on currently. I just came back from a week touring Tohoku, which has some of the most amazing hot spring spas, sake breweries, and seafood in Japan. Continue Reading →
Just a few weeks ago, the 2013 edition of The Miele Guide to Asia’s Finest Restaurants was launched. With that came the annual announcement of the year’s list of the 20 most highly ranked restaurants in the region–as determined by a popular and a juried vote. The highest-ranking debut on the 2013 list was Waku Ghin in Singapore, which debuted on the list in second place. For many of his fans, that Chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s restaurant would attain such a high rank so quickly, was perfectly understandable. Many people I’ve met have claimed that their meals at Waku Ghin have been their best in Asia.
I’ve always loved ice cream sandwiches. A good one, with artisanal ice cream and a homemade cookie, is a true treat. In the past, my amazing wife S used to make them for me. But these days, between work and looking after our hyperactive son, she simply doesn’t have the time to indulge me. Fortunately, I have discovered the guys at The Ice Cream & Cookie Co., who make rather exceptional ice cream sandwiches. Continue Reading →
In the Kyoto guide that I created back in 2009, I wrote about an über-popular dessert cafe called Tsujiri. Tsujiri, founded in 1860, is especially famous for its green tea desserts and cold drinks. The branch that I visited in Kyoto is so popular the waiting time is usually a minimum of 30-40 minutes. But now, thankfully, I neither need to fly to Japan nor queue up for a green tea parfait. Tsujiri has opened a branch in Singapore, located in the 100AM shopping centre on Tras Street.
It’s no secret I love pig products. Gimme a well-cooked piece of pork and I’m a happy camper. So, I was both thrilled and intrigued to receive a little Christmas gift from SuperNature, the organic store that my wife S enjoys shopping at, and does a bit of work for. Thrilled because the little package contained bakkwa (Chinese barbecued pork that is kind of like jerky), which I always enjoy, and intrigued because SuperNature–known to promote healthy foods–was the last place I would have imagined getting bakkwa from. Continue Reading →
Nothing beats a shaved ice dessert on a hot day. The gorgeous dessert pictured here is from a cool cafe in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. My wife S and I are presently in Japan – taking a week’s break from Singapore. Continue Reading →
I love carpaccio, the raw beef “salad” that has become one of the must-have dishes on all Italian restaurant menus today. It’s actually hard to believe that the dish is only 62 years old; which makes it a baby compared to most of Italy’s equally famous dishes, most of whose recipes have been passed down from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter for generations. Carpaccio, unlike most of Italy’s most famous dishes, was invented in a restaurant. In one of my favourite restaurants in the world in fact — Harry’s Bar in Venice. Continue Reading →
A quick snapshot of a good friend tucking into a plate of some amazing linguine with fresh crab at Il Lido restaurant in Sentosa (Singapore). Il Lido’s always been a favourite of mine and my wife’s. Continue Reading →
My beautiful foodie wife S’s all-time favourite food is sushi. It’s what she craves when she’s feeling crappy. It’s what she wants to eat when we’re celebrating and it’s what she would like to eat – if we could afford it – on an almost daily basis. Continue Reading →
I love ayam buah keluak. This distinctive Peranakan dish–a spicy, heady chicken and black nut stew–is so very special. The best versions are obviously homemade, but I have yet to even attempt this at home. This version pictured above–one of my favourites–was shot at Guan Hoe Soon, one of Singapore’s oldest Peranakan restaurants.