by joanna on March 22, 2010
An outstanding Cantonese meal with impeccable service
I have a great fondness for Chinese cuisine. And at the top of my list are both Sichuan and Cantonese. Living in Chinatown in Singapore one might expect the best Chinese dining to be here…and while this is not entirely incorrect, we were recently blown away by a lunch at Summer Palace in the Regent Hotel. They have recently reinvigorated the restaurant with the addition of a new chef and the makeover of the interior. Having never visited before, I cannot comment on the degree of change, but one thing I can say is that this is the best Cantonese I have had outside of Hong Kong. It was, in a word, outstanding! [keep reading…]
by Paul on January 5, 2010
Like HCMC today, the Bangkok foreigner scene of old thrived close to the river. These days, however, I never really think to set foot down there. It’s the kind of place you visit once, the first time you come to the city… King’s Palace, check. Emerald & Reclining Buddha, check. Either the Oriental or Shangrila for tea or brunch, check. Then for most who live in the city (unless they work nearby) the river is a distant memory. This has more to do with the difficulty and time it takes to get down to the river than what’s on offer. But, if you wait till Sunday brunch time, with no traffic… the other side of the river is accessible in about 20 minutes tops and you don’t even have to wait for a ferry. This is the perfect time to venture out to Trader Vic’s massive brunch/lunch buffet spread. [keep reading…]
by joanna on December 3, 2009
Stunning presentation, impeccable service and inventive, modern French cuisine
It was Paul’s birthday, so it had to be special…something out of the ordinary and truly impressive. After much consideration I selected Gunther’s, #7 on the Miele Guide’s list for top restaurants in Asia. I think what got me, besides its reputation as one of the best restaurants in Singapore, was the idea of a menu-less, 8-course tasting dinner designed on the spot by the chef (who trained in a 3-starred Michelin restaurant in Paris). The idea of every course being a surprise sounded exhilarating and like just the kind of unique experience I was looking to share with Paul on his special day. [keep reading…]
by joanna on June 3, 2009
A sumptuous art-deco Northern Chinese restaurant with panoramic city views
I get annoyed with those restaurants with stunning city views and mediocre food. We all know places like this in every major city…the kind of place you always take out of town guests to, scoff at the exorbitant bill in relation to the quality and remember why you never go there otherwise. Hutong is decidedly NOT this sort of place – it is the inventive Northern Chinese food that keeps me coming back again and again. [keep reading…]
by joanna on March 19, 2009
Kampot and Kep are two charming little villages, if not already on your list of to-do’s in Cambodia, certainly should be. [keep reading…]
