Good Food and Views are Worth the Journey
To be awarded three Michelin stars anywhere is quite a big deal and I was all the more curious about this sushi-ya in Hong Kong to see if it measured up to those in Japan. It was only at the end of the meal that I found out that Shikon is the Hong Kong branch of Tokyo's Sushi Yoshitake, also 3-starred. Happily, I think Shikon measures up to its Tokyo parent although given the relative cost, I think the Tokyo original is more affordable.
I'd actually been to Sushi Yoshitake back in...
Hong Kong has the best wonton noodles because the noodles are springy while the wontons are almost a whole prawn. So when the famous Hong Kong wonton eatery Mak's Noodles opened a branch in Singapore, I was really keen to check it out. As a comparison, during a recent trip to Hong Kong, I dropped in on the original. I think the Hong Kong outlet on Wellington St. is still better but the Singapore branch will save on my airfare.
This famous Hong Kong wonton eatery opened in...
After the influx of sake bars in town and the success of Japanese whiskeys in global competitions, it shouldn't be surprising to now find a Japanese whiskey bar in Singapore. D.Bespoke Bar is a "Japanese style" bar - the type you find in Ginza's basements with leather, brass touches and wooden bar tops. With its discreet entrance, Don Draper would be at home here.
Located near the top end (#2) of Bukit Pasoh Road, the bar is not immediately evident when you enter as there is a second...
Jade Palace is a well established Hong Kong style cantonese cuisine restaurant in Singapore. After more than 20 years, I think it is still the "go to" eatery for cantonese dining which is testament to the restaurant's consistency and focus on serving quality dishes. We wanted to introduce our Italian wine maker friends to some Australian wines recently and thus, had a menu of some better known standards along with some new creations.
One of the outstanding staples on Jade Palace's...
Florence had been one of my favourite cities in Europe for its great art, history and of course, shopping, but it is getting impossible to roam around these days without encountering crowds of tourists. This does make having a pleasant trip more challenging so I highly recommend that visitors who want to visit the museums and other historical sites to do so with a guide. I arranged a private tour to visit the Vasari Corridor, a secret Medici passageway while in Florence last year and it...