Good Food and Views are Worth the Journey
A big part of the fun of traveling in Sicily is the good food at affordable prices. The wealth of quality produce grown, farmed and fished on and around the island itself means that ingredients are fresh and so the simplest preparation is going to be the best way to highlight the flavours. The following is a small list of some good, casual and reasonably priced eateries that I would go back to again and again. They are dotted around the island.
Solicchiatta (Mt Etna area) - Cave...
I wouldn't go to Jypsy for classical Japanese dishes but most definitely for its own take on sashimi and sushi rolls and fantastic chicken karaage. This is a nicely adorned modern izakaya in Singapore, and a comfortable place I can bring friends to without breaking the bank. After opening in early July, I made three visits within two weeks. This is just solid comfort food that Jypsy's parent, the P.S. Cafe group, has managed to perfect at manageable pricing (for Singapore). And the dessert...
I had visions of flying my drone to film sweeping panoramas as we hiked along Mt Etna's crater but alas, bad weather meant I settled for some misty photos and a soggy but still enjoyable ramble. Sicily equals sunshine unless you happen to visit during a week long rainstorm, which I'm assured is unusual. So, just our luck but we didn't let it dampen on our day out to Mt Etna too much. What helped was having a very good guide who led us through the forest to lava caves, gave a lesson in...
Bangkok's Michelin two-starred Gaggan is rated by some as Asia's best restaurant so I had to go see whether it was worth that hype and especially since the restaurant will close in 2020. After getting some help in securing a reservation, I'm glad I came because it's a blend of food that's unlikely to be duplicated elsewhere. The cuisine is borderless - creative Indian with Thai, Japanese and French influences and generally beautifully presented in 25 small courses. While some of it can be...
I spent a half day in Hiratsuka, which sits on the pacific coast of Japan between Tokyo and Mt Fuji. It is a modern Japanese city best known for its Keirin stadium, an unusual vinegar based ramen (which I enjoyed) and a decent art museum. Laundering money is illegal but washing it at Hiratsuka's Myoenji temple is meant to bring luck. So, my trip ended with me having some of my Japanese Yen washed in the hope of getting rich for the year - let's see what...