Sushi Shikon – Sushi Yoshitake’s Excellent 3-Star Hong Kong Outpost

Sushi Shikon's uni sushi

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...

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Iggy’s – No Gimmicks, Just Reliable

Iggy's Singapore food

While my recent meals at Iggy's have not disappointed, they've not entirely wowed me either. The good thing is that it's not gimmicky and food is nicely cooked and tasty. With reliable service, I still see Iggy's as a good (and safe) place to bring clients but not necessarily a restaurant I would rush back to on my own time. However, with a good set of friends, it's still a nice evening out.

The one thing that's nice about Iggy's is their effort to change up the menu for their...

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Mugaritz – Fun but a Bit Strange

Mugaritz food

San Sebastian's Michelin two-starred Mugaritz gets polarising reviews and I wanted to find out why so I went recently to try out the restaurant. The best way I would describe the food is that it's exploratory and really tests diners' boundaries in some cases. So, while I didn't enjoy all the courses, I really had a good time because on the whole it was fun. The wine probably helped in this case as did going with open-minded and adventurous friends.

The restaurant is degustation /...

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David Toutain – Fun and Fresh French Dining

David Toutain food

Of the restaurants I went to my last trip to Paris, David Toutain is the one that I want to go back to and the one that I have no hesitation in recommending. While the restaurants of Paris’ well known chefs - Joel Robuchon, Alain Ducasse, etc. - remain highlights of any trip to Paris, I find I have an increasing preference for eating food by the younger set. I think it’s partly due to the more casual ambience and less costly menus, but in many ways, I think the food holds a little more...

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Barcelona’s Disfrutar – Most Enjoyable Meal

Barcelona's Disfrutar restaurant

Disfrutar means “enjoy” in Spanish; and this new addition to Barcelona’s dining scene lives up to its name. It was one of my favorite experiences in a recent trip to Spain and the one restaurant I would say you must try if in Barcelona. The food is modern but yet comfortable although some dishes definitely held surprises. The pedigree of the food reflects Disfrutar’s chef-owners, who were ex-El Bulli head chefs and I suspect that there is probably a fair degree of similarity in some...

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