Seafood Archives - Gazing and Grazing

Les Amis is Still On Top of its Game

September 21st, 2017

Les Amis (website) remains one of Singapore's top fine dining destinations. It has been a standout for decades but I haven't eaten here in a few years and so a visit a few months back surprised me positively. The restaurant's current chef, Sebastien Lepinoy, hails from France and settles Les Amis with quality modern french cooking with a lighter touch. While Singapore's Michelin rankings may have left some surprised, I do think that Les Amis genuinely deserves its two-starred accolade. And...

Venice and the Prosecco Road

September 20th, 2017

Prosecco and Venice go hand in hand. Since Venice is just a one hour train ride from Conegliano, and the start of Italy's "Prosecco Road", it's easy enough to explore the area especially if you have a car. We drove down to Valdobbiadene, the town on the other end of the Prosecco Road, from Cortina. As we headed south, the jagged peaks of the Dolomites turn to green slopes planted with glera, the grapes that make prosecco. To find out more about this increasingly popular aperitif, we spent...

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...

Cinque Terre – 48 Hours in Italy’s Prettiest Villages

April 20th, 2016

Cinque Terre has to be one of the most memorable parts of the world. The pastel buildings of the five fishing villages hugging the steep hills, encroaching into the pristine blue sea as seen in the photo of Manarola at dusk has to be one of the more iconic travel photos ever taken. This is great place for walkers and amateur photographers with the villages linked by a series of hiking paths and amazing scenery at every bend. The five fishing villages (hence Cinque Terre which means five...

Kanazawa – Three Good Meals

February 15th, 2016

Fancy some great seafood? There are a few good reasons to go to Kanazawa - one being the fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan, the other two in my opinion are the Kutani porcelain and Kenrokuen Garden (see my photos). The new bullet train link to Tokyo makes a short trip to Kanazawa, known as "little Kyoto", all the more accessible. I spent two days, one night in Kanazawa a year ago (see my earlier blog and suggested itinerary) and had three good meals. Pricing ranged from a relatively...