Beef Culture at Schloss Aigen

Salzburg, June 2015 – We found that “beef to perfection” traditional Austrian dining experience at Gasthof Schloss Aigen in Salzburg. Located inside the 15th century castle Aigen, the elegant restaurant is ran by the Berger family. Mr. King and I enjoyed a relaxing evening there – good food and excellent service. We were seated under…

Café Tomaselli

Salzburg, June 2015 – If there were an Austrian café institution, it would be the 300-years old Café Tomaselli. If it was good enough for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, it is good enough for Mr. King and me.  Café Tomaselli was a favorite hangout for the prodigy composer. Speaking of Wolfgang, it was another Wolfgang and…

Mr. & Mrs. Vigné’s PfefferSchiff

Salzburg, June 2015 – Our most idyllic Austrian gourmet dinner was at Pfefferschiff (meaning “Pepper Ship”) in Söllheim, about 15 minutes from UNESCO World Heritage City, Salzburg. Chef Jürgen Vigné and Iris are the husband and wife team behind this sublime, yet very relaxed restaurant. On a breezy summer evening, Mr. King and I arrived at the…

Café Sacher Salzburg

Salzburg, June 2015 – During my recent family vacation in Salzburg, we enjoyed several meals at the Café Sacher. Situated inside the legendary Hotel Sacher, the Café is decorated in Sacher’s signature burgundy red upholstery, crystal chandeliers – exerting old world charms. Aside from their famed pastries and cakes, they serve excellent savory dishes as…

Hotel Sacher Salzburg

Salzburg, June 2015 – Being a big fan of “The Sound of Music”, I made it a family vacation to visit Salzburg – home of this fantastic musical film. My 3-year old son, Little K enjoyed Salzburg, and he loved Hotel Sacher. Everyone was attentive, and unexpectedly, the hotel was very kid-friendly. Hotel Sacher is…

Romantic Tuscan Restaurants

Florence – While reminiscing about romantic Italian dinners, memories of our dining experiences at La Loggia and Enoteca Pichiorri came to mind. What made them memorable? Ambience, Elegance and Tranquility. The Tuscan cuisine was delicious, but we were intoxicated by the sheer ambience (romance in the air) that made them so extraordinary to Mr. King…

FOC by Nandu Jubany

Singapore, May 2016 – According to our Spanish friends, FOC makes the best pulpo (octopus) tapas in Singapore. Mr. King and I finally made it to this very happening tapas bar last weekend. “FOC Restaurant, is a collaboration between Michelin-Starred Chef Nandu Jubany, Chef Jordi Noguera and award-winning mixologist Dario Knox.  At FOC you will…

Ginza Sushi Ichi, Singapore

Singapore, April 2016 –.  Last week, I visited Ginza Sushi Ichi  (newly minted One Michelin star in July 2016 and the Singapore outpost of  Michelin 1-star Sushiichi in Tokyo) for lunch with my friend (a sushi-addict like me).  It was superb! We selected the Tokusen Nigiri set – 10 pieces of sushi, miso soup and dessert. Sushi…

First Time at Sushi-Ichi

Singapore, September 2013 – Over the past few years, a number of gourmet Japanese restaurants have sprung up in the Lion City. The latest comer is Michelin 1-star Sushi-Ichi, which hails from Ginza, Tokyo. Sushi-ichi takes pride in being “the first in Singapore to offer an exquisite degustation menu featuring top-tier Kyoto Kaiseki, complimented with…

TwinPalms Sunday Brunch

Phuket, December 2015 – When it comes to Sunday brunch on the island, the hippest and most sumptuous brunch is at the stylish contemporary resort, TwinPalms’ Oriental Spoon Grill and Bar. Mr. King and I have been there several times, and each time, it was full house. There is a wonderful, lively buzz, as the diners…

Rendezvous with petit h

Singapore, August 2013 – The petit h exhibition in Hong Kong last year left me with a lasting impression – the amount of creativity was astounding! Petit h is the laboratory and workshop of re-inventions using various discarded Hermès materials from silk to leather to crystals to porcelain to stirrups and turns them into playful,…

Bobby Bräuer’s EssZimmer

Munich, June 2015 – Who would have thought that one of Munich’s finest restaurants is above a car showroom? The Michelin 2-star EssZimmer by Bobby Bräuer is nested inside BMW Welt, the state-of-the art exhibition facility showcasing the latest BMW automobiles. The futuristic architecture of BMW Welt alone was impressive enough. Mr. King and I visited…