When traveling I will eat out more frequently and choose larger meals than I might normally. I don’t know if it’s because of the website or some silly notion I have that because I’m traveling I have to pack in all I can on every trip instead of slowing down and relaxing. Sometimes pushing myself in this way leads me to hidden gems and experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise… and sometimes it further rounds the gut. Take my last trip to Shanghai. I was stuffed after a solid couple weeks of dining out. I had a quiet Monday night lined up and everything inside of me was saying, “just stay in at the hotel, order room service and veg out.” But another part of me was saying, “get out there, you might not be back in Shanghai for a few months and this is your last night out to try something new.” On this particular night I was so glad I listened to the guilt and ventured out to Stiller’s instead of staying in. [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 October 26, 2009
An elaborate tasting menu makes for a decadent fusion dining experience
We were delighted to be in Beijing…an unexpected detour on an extended business trip brought us to the former 2008 Olympic city. Immediately Paul, I and a colleague (Andy) set out to find the most distinctive of culinary experiences, and so it was that Blu Lobster emerged on our radars. The Spanish chef, Jordi Villegas Serra, had come from a distinctive background including a 2-starred Michelin restaurant in Barcelona and a 3-starred Michelin restaurant in Paris. Rumour has it Chef Serra is now after his own Michelin star. We heard that tasting menu was not to be missed, and so notebook and camera in hand, we set off to the Shangri La Hotel to try for ourselves. [keep reading…]
by Paul on September 11, 2009
Thanks to everyone who came for making our second Accidental Epicurean Event a great evening. Also a big thank you to our sponsors for the evening. Suresh and the staff of El Toro Restrobar provided a cool, calm, and casual venue for us…just the right Latin vibe we needed for the night. Chris from PengWines was informative and the wines were wonderful. Anyone who can get their hands on the King from PengWines needs to do so quickly before it runs out, it’s a true stand-out wine. (pics after the jump)
[keep reading…]
by Paul on August 13, 2009
Our first event as “Accidental Epicurean Events” went off wonderfully last night. Another big thank you goes out to our event sponsors – Epicurious, Underground Wines, and Divine MedSpa. Helena from Epicurious, Sianne from UW, and Christine from Divine MedSpa were so relaxed, calm, and generally cool and that vibe came through to our guests making for a really great evening. (pictures of guests at bottom of post) [keep reading…]
by Paul on August 6, 2009
Hey all,
In the few months we’ve been running Accidental Epicurean , we’ve taken the website from 1500 readers to over 13,800 last month! We’ve put up over 100 informative posts on food, wine, spas, hotels, and different Asian cities. Now it’s time for another new feature at Accidental Epicurean…the hosted event.
“Stumbling upon the good life” involves more than just reading about wines, foods, etc. You need to get out and try things for yourself, deciding what interests you. So we’ve teamed up with various venues and product providers around town in order to bring you some unique flavors and experiences you might not have discovered on your own. And we’re striving to give you these opportunities in a safe, unpretentious environment where it’s OK to not know all the right things to say or do.
Next week on the 12th of August we’ll be hosting our first event with the great folks of Epicurious and Underground Wines. Epicurious will provide light bites of Asian fusion to pair with the New Zealand wines provided by Underground Wines. Better still you get to sample 6 out of 8 wines… this way you’re not forced to take a predetermined 6 wines even if you don’t particularly like a grape or varietal. This way you can get what you want and even team up with a friend or guest to sample the other two 
The wines being offered are:
- Mt Rosa Riesling 2006, Central Otago, New Zealand
- Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Whitehaven Pinot Gris 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Bushmere Estate Chardonnay 2006, Gisborne, New Zealand
- Sherwood Estate Pinot Noir 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
- Mt Rosa Pinot Noir 2007,Central Otago, New Zealand
- Unison Merlot/ Cab Sauv/ Shiraz Blend 2007, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
- Gladstone Rose 2008, Wairapara, New Zealand
If you are a faithful Singapore reader or just in town on the 12th please make a point of RSVPing today. We’re keeping the event smaller at only 40 or so people and things are filling up quickly already. If you miss this event, look for more in the future and if you’re a venue or product provider interested in partnering with us in the future please drop us a line via the contact page.
Thanks,
Paul
Some exciting and well-priced wines from Astrolabe Winery, New Zealand presented by Rubicon Reserve Wines [keep reading…]
