Restaurants Archives -

Travelling with the toddler to Kyoto, Japan, Part 2

Dining with toddlers when travelling is a world apart from eating out when it’s just you and your hunny bunny. On previous trips to Japan, I would have made reservations at cult places I’ve been dying to try or restaurants that I already love weeks in advance. Because many of my favourite haunts are uber-popular, booking ahead is essential. However, with the tiny one in tow, not only could I not plan ahead, but the kinds of restaurants we visited were very different. Continue Reading →

Travelling with the toddler to Kyoto, Japan, Part 1

My wife S and I have been to Kyoto many times. But until this past April, we’d never gone there with a young child in tow (of course, since we only had our first child two years ago, that would kind of make sense). This most recent trip, because we had brought along our son T, was remarkably different from all of our previous trips. Our schedule, because we had to plan everything around his schedule, was different. Where we went and what we did each day, because we wanted to do and see things that would be fun for him, was different. And where we ate, because we wanted to go to places that served food he liked, was different.
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Sublime sushi at Kanesaka in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

I was very fortunate to be in Tokyo recently, at the height of the sakura season. But the highlight of my visit was not the blossoming sakura but the simply sublime sushi at Kanesaka in Ginza. You may know that the well-known Shinji at Raffles Hotel in Singapore is actually a branch of Kanesaka in Ginza. I thought I should go straight to the mother restaurant in Ginza to check out the Kanesaka experience. Continue Reading →

A blue cheese masterclass at Classified in Hong Kong

Classified is a chain of several European-style casual restaurants in Hong Kong that I visit regularly for lunch with friends or to happily while away a solitary hour or two with tea and a slice of their delicious carrot walnut cake. It’s part of the Press Room Group, which counts other popular restaurants including The Press Room and The Pawn in its portfolio. Continue Reading →

Japan blossoms in Sydney restaurant Ume

Ume is a charming restaurant. Like the plum which it’s named after, it is sweet, and it is delicate. This modern Japanese eatery feels like it was taken straight out of the old streets of Kyoto and seamlessly placed in a leafy area of the otherwise buzzy Surry Hills, in Sydney. Continue Reading →

A beautiful feast at Liberty Private Works, Hong Kong

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.

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Burger extravagance at Jazz City Milk Bar in Sydney

American chef Dan McGuirt moved to Australia to further his career within a fine dining kitchen. After a successful time cooking at Melbourne’s Vue De Monde, he decided to go back to his roots, and opened Jazz City Diner, a restaurant that would give Aussies the opportunity to taste the American South. Making his New Orleans grandmother proud, McGuirt set his mind on offering robust, comfort soul food. With the success of his first restaurant, he’s opened a second, more casual spot: Jazz City Milk Bar.

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Sushi Mitsuya and chef Ryosuke Harada – exciting newcomers to Singapore’s sushi scene

As a sushi fetishist, I’ve been rather jaded by the recent flux of new sushiya – it’s all too easy nowadays to offer the ‘freshest’ toro and ‘melt-in-your-mouth’ uni, in an ‘authentic’ edomae setting. But the imminent opening of one Sushi Mitsuya, and the arrival of one of the most inspiring shokunin I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, has my fullest attention. Over the course of two lunches during the restaurant’s soft opening in February, I experienced a maturity and obstinate passion absent from other more glamorous sushi bars here. Quite simply, I fell in love. Continue Reading →

Innocent Bystander: fabulous pizza and Moscato on tap

Over the New Year, we vacationed in Melbourne with our munchkins, our first family holiday since baby girl C entered the brood. Since the hubby and I love visiting vineyards when we travel, we were looking forward to exploring the best of Yarra Valley. I was anticipating neat rows of lush green vines, well-manicured vast lawns for the kids to run around in, endless wine-tasting, delicious seasonal food served at the restaurants, all set in the vineyards’ peaceful and tranquil surroundings. Continue Reading →

Spanish restaurant Movida makes a positive move to Sydney

Each time I visit Movida, I simply rejoice. The name, which means ‘the movement’, was chosen by Spanish head chef and owner, Frank Camorra. Inspired by the arts and film movement that emerged in Madrid after the fall of General Franco, he too wanted to draw from the principles of the era, a time during which ideas flourished and innovation was encouraged. Continue Reading →

Chicha – the authentic taste of Peru in Hong Kong

When I hear about Peruvian restaurants opening in different cities, I keep an eye on them. The world has finally welcomed Peruvian food as a global phenomenon, and new eateries are popping up in all corners of the world. On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I visited Chicha, the city’s only Peruvian restaurant – Chicha is known as an exciting trend-setter in the local restaurant and foodie circle, and also the recent recipient of Time Out Magazine’s Best New Restaurant (People’s Choice). Continue Reading →