Tag: featured

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...

Continue Reading

One Day in Arashiyama – Kyoto’s Western District

Kyoto Bamboo Forest

Kyoto’s western district Arashiyama is worthy of its own destination visit. Nestled in the lush hills along the Oi river, it is best known for its towering bamboo forest and the Tenryu-ji temple, while the imperial residence Katsura Villa and “Moss Temple” Kokedera (Saiho-ji) are nearby. You could easily spend two days here without stepping foot into Kyoto city. But if you’re short on time, here is a one day condensed itinerary.

Morning: Katsura Imperial Villa or Moss...

Continue Reading

Tokyo’s Fuku – Good Value Yakitori

Fuku Yakitori

Yakitori was never in my list of priority foods to eat in Tokyo. There are so many yakitori joints where I live and the ones beneath the railway tracks near Ginza were never that great. But Fuku's yakitori is unlike others (due in part to quality ingredients) and is proof that you can eat really well in Tokyo and for very reasonably as well.

For travellers to Tokyo, Fuku is also relatively visitor friendly. The owner speaks very good english and was able to provide more details...

Continue Reading

Northwest Spain – Cliff Notes on the Flysch Route

Flysch cliffs

I had a grand plan to walk at least half of the 15km Flysch Route, a cliff top walk along the coast south of San Sebastian between Zumaia and Deba. However, the tourist information office in Zumaia looked at us and recommended that we just walk out to the view point. I guess we looked that unprepared. Nonetheless, I'm grateful for their advice because the seemingly short 4km excursion actually kept us occupied for two hours.

The Flysch Route gets its name from a particular rock...

Continue Reading

Three Lunch Options in Arashiyama, Kyoto

Hirano-ya food

If you’re in Arashiyama for a day (or more), there are three great dining options for lunch - Shigetsu, Unagiya Hirokawa and Hirano-ya. They are very different from each other and I really enjoyed all three. So, depending on your food preferences and available time, at least one of these should tick the boxes.

Shigetsu - Zen Vegetarian (Shojin Ryori)

Shigetsu is a zen buddhist vegetarian dining hall in Tenryu-ji temple. The story goes that it started with the monks cooking...

Continue Reading