Hong Kong’s Lung King Heen – Still One of the Finer Cantonese Restaurants Anywhere

It's always a treat to eat at Hong Kong's Lung King Heen restaurant, one of the finest cantonese restaurants probably anywhere in the world. Although I've had plenty of equally satisfying cantonese meals elsewhere, especially for cheaper if you factor in the premium Michelin 3-star pricing at Lung King Heen, I don't think any of the others equal in terms of how elegant the cooking actually is. Much of this is reflected in the sauces which just seem very fine at Lung King Heen.

The...

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Japan’s Shirakawa-go – Picture Perfect Ginger Bread Houses

Shirakawa-go farm house

They may not be real ginger bread houses, but Shirakawa-go's unique farm houses make the village look like a Christmas log cake came to life. Nestled in Japan's Hida Mountains ("northern alps"), this mountain village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of these historic farmhouses. Because of its location, this is a great place to visit in the winter if you're seeking snow.

Indeed the day I visited just after Christmas 2014, it probably only stopped snowing for just 15 minutes....

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Soo Kee – Still the Best Char Siu in Kuala Lumpur

Soo Kee restaurant Kuala Lumpur

Decades on, the best char siu is still found in Soo Kee, a simple local restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. Located further down Jalan Ampang just before turning off to Ukay Heights, Restaurant Yuen Soo Kee is a family owned operation where patrons mainly come for the barbecue pork (chinese style or "char siu"). This is Malaysian style char siu which is nicely caramelised and fattier than Hong Kong style char siu. Besides the char siu, the tofu, fried spring roll, steamed fish among other dishes are...

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Terra – Italian with a Tokyo Touch

Terra Singapore

Terra restaurant is proof again that a Japanese twist on western products and food often surpasses the original. Chef Seita Nakamura's cuisine is firmly rooted in what he terms "Tokyo Italian", which is recognisably Italian but with ingredients that are Japanese. If done well, and Terra does, the traditional European dishes have a more subtle touch and some novelty.

Located on Tras Street in Singapore, which is now home to a number of good eateries, Terra is open Mondays to...

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Tamaya Dining – Good Sushi Without Mortgaging Your House

Update: Sushi chef Koike Koji recently resigned from Tamaya so the quality and dishes could be changing.

Let's face it, the economy is a bit challenging these days and so we look of alternatives to get our sushi fix without breaking the bank. Tamaya Dining in Singapore's "Japan Town" - essentially the area within and around Cuppage Plaza just off Orchard Road - is a good place to scratch that sushi itch.

This izakaya seats around 16 people downstairs around the...

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