by joanna on September 30, 2009
Cote de Boeuf steak for two and other French classics
Thoroughly French bistro style… chalkboard, inlaid marble tables, dark interior, temperature controlled wine room and all. Two-year-old Franck presents a French menu with bistro classics like pigeon, roasted chicken, steaks, beef tartare, grilled tuna and more in Shanghai’s French concession. Overall, it is a classic presentation of classic dishes in the classic style….in a word “solid” but not necessarily original or distinctive. Then again, it’s always a pleasure to have a well executed French meal in Asia…. [keep reading…]
by joanna on September 29, 2009
Homemade pastas, a whole room of cheese, chocolate martinis and more, oh my!
I must admit I love a champagne brunch. And this one has to be among the best in Singapore. My favorite had been the St Regis Hotel Champagne brunch… and until recently nothing else had really come close. But I think now Basilico’s is right up there in my rankings. [keep reading…]
by Paul on September 28, 2009
I was in China for a week… first in Shanghai, then on to Beijing. In that time I only ate one proper Chinese meal. It wasn’t that I was scared of the food, it’s just that the western food on offer here is so appealing. Take Ristorante Sadler, an authentic Italian restaurant, in a beautiful location… oh yeah, and it’s also founded by a 2 Michelin Star rated chef! With a lunch set, including wine, at only 200 RMB (less than 30 bucks) it was a lunch I had to try. [keep reading…]
by Paul on September 25, 2009
Laser Hair Removal always seemed like a frivolous expense, reserved only for those in the upper tax bracket… that is until I moved to Asia. Here a full set of LHR treatments cost about as much as getting a pair of glasses, and if things go correctly it’ll last you much longer.
[keep reading…]
by Paul on September 24, 2009
Ever been at a wine tasting, dinner party, or other event featuring wine and some know-it-all (probably with a beard and wearing a sweater) swirls his glass vigorously and then tilts the glass sideways to observe the streaking wine (wine legs)? Don’t feel bad if you believed the explanation that followed explaining that this was a good wine because it had “nice legs” or some other nonesense. This is one of the most persistent wine myths around. Read the explanation of why wine “has legs” (or “tears” for our francophile readers) after the jump.
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by joanna on September 23, 2009
Highlights of what to see and do in the wonderfully traditional city of Kyoto
Many folks love Kyoto and consider it the highlight of any trip to Japan. With 17 Unesco World Heritage sites, 1600 Buddhist temples and over 400 Shinto shrines, Kyoto is rife with ancient culture and Japanese history. And beyond historical sites lies the Japan of movies and books….zen gardens, red lanterns, and geishas….Thus, it is no surprise that Kyoto is considered Japan’s cultural capital. That said, unless you really want to spend weeks touring temples, one can get a real flavor of this sprawling city in 2 days. Here are our recommendation for 48 hours in Kyoto. [keep reading…]
by joanna on September 23, 2009
A culinary tour of Japan in 9-courses
While in Japan, we tried to cover as many foods as possible. My favourite meal may have been Katsudon but in our effort to experience as many food types as possible during our trip, I stretched myself beyond pork perfection 
Which is why when we were in Kyoto and heard about a special 9-course tasting menu at Grotto that purported to be a tour of Japanese cuisine, we leapt at the opportunity to give it a try. [keep reading…]
by Paul on September 21, 2009
It was only a matter of time before our Sunday brunch group broke from the main island and ventured over to the Disneyland-like island of Sentosa. I was apprehensive at first. The island is almost too planned and organized, meaning there’s little to be found or discovered. Plus with the cost of rent on the island I’m sure there’s never going to be an undiscovered hole in the wall serving up great food at amazing prices. We decided to set aside our cynical nature and answer one question – could we find good value on the island (factoring in extra travel costs, entrance to island fees, etc)? Surprisingly we did.
[keep reading…]
by Paul on September 18, 2009
This weeks Epicurean Concept is relatively simple, but one that we were curious about and so thought maybe others were as well. Often at restaurants I’ll see lamb dishes on the menu, but other times mutton dishes. I wondered if there was really a difference or if it was a restaurant’s way of dressing up or down a dish through verbal trickery. Answer after the jump. [keep reading…]
by Paul on September 17, 2009
I first heard of “no knead bread” thanks to the famous NY Times post and bookmarked it for a later attempt. I forgot about it until I saw the Cook’s Illustrated Video (via their free podcast). The video seemed so simple and I knew I could trust these guys to deliver a solid, tasty recipe. So I set about trying it out in my new Le Creuset French Dutch Oven. The results were better than I could have hoped for and tastier than breads I’ve been served at some restaurants lately. [keep reading…]
