by Paul on August 31, 2009
by Paul on August 27, 2009
Our normal breakfast group was a bit thin this week… which was unfortunate for those who couldn’t make it because it was a highly enjoyable meal / experience. Sunday brunch at Graze is something we’ll be returning to enjoy soon.
[keep reading…]
by joanna on August 25, 2009
A bit of rejuvenation after a hard week for Paul and me :)
It was a banner week for Paul and me – from flying back from Sri Lanka on Tues and landing at 6am (and with me going straight to the office and facilitating an all-day workshop) to then putting on our first event the very next day….by the time Saturday arrived, we were in all honesty, shells of our usual selves. Tired, achy with that unmistakeable pale pallor of sheer exhaustion…we landed on the doorstep of Divine MedSpa in hopes of some rejuvenation. [keep reading…]
by Paul on August 24, 2009
We here at Accidental Epicurean are looking at ways of expanding the reach of our site beyond Southeast Asia. As part of that mission we’re going to start doing a weekly series of “epicurean concepts”…these could be words that you’ll find on a fine dining menu, boutique ingredients, dining etiquette, etc. (if there’s something specific you’d like addressed or something you learned in a painful / embarrassing way and would like to spare others the embarrassment hit us up in the comments or via the contact page).
We’ll start the series with one of my favorite dining terms – Amuse-Bouche.
[keep reading…]
by Paul on August 21, 2009
Dun
Dan
Dun!
This post should really start with the iconic “Kill Bill Theme” theme song from the movie and play throughout. If you’d like to load it up to play in the background get it here : )
We had just finished watching the Tokyo Giants win the game with a homer in the 9th. The hot dog and yakitori we ate in the 2nd inning weren’t holding us over. As we debated food options (surprisingly not a lot around the dome) our friend, who is no stranger to Tokyo, suggested we hit up Gonpachi. The name didn’t register with me at first. Then she said all that needs to be said about the place, “the kill bill restaurant”. Dun Dan Dun. The music immediately started up in my head as a grin spread across my lips. Sure I said coolly, masking the kid-like joy bubbling up inside me. [keep reading…]
by Paul on August 20, 2009
Dim Sum is like Thai food for me… I love it, can’t get enough of it, and find I enjoy it most when it’s served up cheap in some back-alley hole in the wall. I’ve tried Dim Sum in fancier settings, but it always seems to lack the flavor of the more rustic shops. I also really love brunch at the St Regis in Singapore. So when I heard about Yan Ting’s dim sum brunch at the St Regis I decided to set aside my bias towards expensive Dim Sum and give it a try. To jump ahead a bit and spoil the surprise – they do manage to provide good value for the amount charged, but not necessarily in the ways you’d expect….
[keep reading…]
by Paul on August 19, 2009
I just got the OK from Blue Elephant Cooking School to share some recipes with you. This first recipe was a bit of a surprise for me and also my favorite. Before moving to Thailand I had tried numerous incarnations of Penang, Red Curry, and Green Curry in Thai restaurants around the US. Those living in the US must think Thais eat nothing but curries and Pad Thai (they don’t! I saw one Thai person order Pad Thai in 4 years in Bangkok when not ordering it for a foreigner friend). I had never heard of Yellow Curry though….and it’s too bad because it just might be my favorite.
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by Paul on August 18, 2009
(This review has two parts as we’ve dined here twice, the first time unfortunately was just with friends and I didn’t have my camera with me. The second visit covers the weekday dinner set menu)
The neon Heineken sign visible from the street coupled with twin oversized yellow umbrellas belied the charming interior and delectable French cuisine found inside. But once past the front door, L’Angelus French Restaurant transported me to the unassuming French countryside. Not the commercialized French experience with wrought iron cafe tables and doilies scattered about, but rather an almost homey atmosphere with walls decked out with vintage French movie posters, tables dressed in simple, white tablecloths, and golden lighting that warmed the room. [keep reading…]
by joanna on August 17, 2009
And left Japan kicking and screaming…
The first time I traveled to Hong Kong, I fell in love. I had an inexplicable affinity for the place, and on subsequent trips, discovered many new parts that ultimately led to Hong Kong’s classification as my favorite city in Asia. Now I think Tokyo has equally captivated me, if not possibly surpassing Hong Kong in my personal ranking…in fact when my travels came to an end, I honest to goodness did not want to leave! What is it that makes Tokyo so special? [keep reading…]
by Paul on August 14, 2009
Japan = Cute.
Japan = Cosplay.
Japan = Rockabilly?
A Sunday stroll through Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park is unlike a visit to any park anywhere else in the world. Sure you can find couples enjoying the day quietly on blankets, dad’s playing catch with their children, hippies whipping about frisbees in many parks… but there’s so much more on show at Yoyogi Park. I’d go so far as to say it’s a must visit for any traveler to Japan as it offers a unique glimpse into the wackiness that can only be found in Japan 
[keep reading…]
If you are already a Gizomodo reader you’ve already seen the posts, but I thought their Taste Test Week was worth promoting to our readers. All week they linked to food related stories such as iPhone specific food applications, cooking demonstrations and tips, food gadgets and more. I particularly like the link to partner site Lifehacker’s top 10 cooking demonstration videos featuring everything from Mario Batali discussing pasta to sauce ratios to Christopher Walken making Chicken On a Throne 
