The Lighthouse – Good Pasta and Views, Meat Courses Fall Short

Mixed fried seafood

I went to check out The Lighthouse, the rooftop restaurant at The Fullerton Hotel, as I've always liked Chef Carlo Marengoni's cooking. I also wanted to try some of its southern Italian dishes to see how it compared to my experience from a recent visit to Sicily. In short, I enjoyed the starters and the pasta dishes but our meat courses disappointed especially when compared to what Chef Carlo used to offer at his own restaurant.

Firstly, the views in the evening from The...

Continue Reading

MERS and Tuberculosis – Taking Some Precautions When Flying

Hong Kong airport

Ever since the SARS outbreak in Asia in 2003, there are heightened fears that serious diseases can be caught while traveling - in particular flying. Although airplanes' air systems are meant to be able to clean up some airborne bugs, it's not foolproof especially when people are sitting in close contact anyway for a period of time. These are some additional precautions to take amid the current MERS scare and worries over drug resistant Tuberculosis.

What is the current concern...

Continue Reading

Barcelona’s Xiringito Escriba – Surf, Sand and Good Paella

Barcelona paella

If you're looking for good traditional paella in Barcelona, then Xiringito Escriba is it.  Situated on the beach north of Port Olimpic, this was definitely a place to come for gazing and grazing. Nothing beats looking out at the sea while tucking into some fresh seafood.

We came here for lunch on a Saturday, which was all the more fun because this beach side eatery was filled with locals out to enjoy the weekend. The paella was definitely the most popular item here and you can...

Continue Reading

La Sagrada Familia – As Stunning as Ever

La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudi's ongoing labour of love, is all the more stunning now as completion is in sight in 12 years time. As probably the last grand cathedral project in the world, it simply is a must visit. Even though Gaudi's design was mooted more than 100 years ago, the interior of the cathedral looks timeless, even other worldly. The stained glass windows, installed over the past ten years have fill the basilica with colour.

I visited La Sagrada Familia in 1989,...

Continue Reading

Rome’s Taverna Trilussa – When in Rome, Eat as the Romans Did

Roman pasta

Taverna Trilussa serves really good traditional Roman food simply cooked in a rustic setting. In short, it's a great place to go if you're looking for something local. I think the highlight was definitely the pasta, which is served straight out of the pan.

After some disappointing eating experiences in Rome, I knew that I had to rely on a local. Taverna Trilussa was recommended by a friend knowing that we wanted something that would be uniquely Roman as we would be going to the...

Continue Reading