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Alle Darsene di Loppia in Lake Como – Perfect Lunch in Bellagio

November 5th, 2016

At the far end of Bellagio's Villa Melzi garden is the little hamlet of Loppia where the restaurant Alle Darsene di Loppia serves up a perfect lunch. Picture this - a vine covered pergola, crisp white linen, fresh local seafood and wine on an early autumn day. While the weather may not always be as ideal as it was during my visit last month, I'd still make the Alle Darsene di Loppia a must visit eatery in Lake Como for its unpretentious cooking and warm and friendly service. The risotto...

Bellagio’s Grand Garden – the Villa Melzi

October 29th, 2016

Lake Como is dotted with grand villas and for a few of them, the gardens probably exceed the beauty of the villas themselves. Two of the best known gardens are Bellagio's Villa Melzi and across the lake, near Tremezzo, is that of Villa Carlotta. Since we were staying in Bellagio, we spent a lazy late afternoon strolling the garden of the Villa Melzi.

The villa has been in the same family since it was built in 1810 for Francesco Melzi d'Eril. While the villa itself is closed to the...

Berghotel Passo Giau, Dolomites, – Good Food Salvages a Rainy Day

October 16th, 2016

On a rainy day in the Dolomites, I savoured one of the best veal cheek dishes I've ever had. Wholesome, satisfying, comfort food at its best. The cheeks were tender and tasty and the gravy, rich but subtle, complimenting the meat. So while we didn't see the iconic Passo Giau views, it was certainly worth the drive to the Berghotel Passo Giau for lunch in its restaurant.

The Hotel Passo Giau is the only facility of its kind in this landmark location. It has been lovingly run by the...

Sasagin, Tokyo – Late Summer Goodness at a Favourite Izakaya

September 18th, 2016

Every time I visit Tokyo, I look forward to squeezing in dinner at Sasagin especially when there are seasonal goodies to try. This time round the Sanma fish (or Pacific Saury in english and, according to Wikipedia, also known as the mackerel pike) was in season and it was simply grilled with salt. The Sanma is an oily fish but much less fishy than mackerel or sardine. And when its grilled just right with salt, all you need is a squeeze of lime or lemon. While also known for a great...

Hanamaru, Tokyo – Best Conveyor Belt Sushi has a Ginza Branch

September 12th, 2016

I'd happily recommend Hanamaru to anyone looking for good sushi in Tokyo and now that its Ginza branch is open, it's even better. This is conveyor belt sushi that renders a visit to a Michelin-starred sushi-ya unnecessary for the most part, especially as I could eat almost 12 times at Hanamaru for the cost of a single meal at the loftier restaurants (JPY 2,500 which is around USD 25 left me very full and happy enough to cry). The fish is fresh and Hanamaru serves some Hokkaido specialities...