Those who have ever tried to book Tokyo top sushi shops like Saito or Sugita, might know how difficult or even impossible to book them unless you are introduced by a regular. I asked Andrew Gyokudari, the man who has over 300 sushi meals per year to recommend top sushi…

22 MUST GO SAN SEBASTIAN PINTXOS BARS (with specialities you can have at each of them). Thank you Gabriella Ranelli (On Instagram – @tenedortours), undoubtedly one of the leading San Sebastian experts for her kind collaboration creating this list. Originally from New York, Gabriella has been living in San Sebastian…

By John Hirai a.k.a. Tokyo Rocks on Tabelog (instagram.com/tokyorocks69)All images©John Hirai As most of you might know, ramen is originally from China. The first ramen shop opened 1910 in Tokyo and spread around all over Japan after World War II. Almost every region or city has their own style of…

Derek Wilcox, chef of Shoji at 69 Leonard in NYC, is one of very few non-Japanese sushi masters in the world to have reached a comparable level to the best in Japan. Originally from upstate New York, Derek trained at Kikunoi in Kyoto for 7 years and at Sushi Aoki…

Roscioli – Roman classics and original dishes made with quality ingredients. Recommended dishes: mortadella, Cantabrian anchovies with butter and toast, fresh ricotta, carbonara, rigatoni with yuzu butter and bottarga, rigatoni with butter and Parmigiano. Ask for the French wine list. Trattoria Da Cesare al Casaletto – out of the way,…

The day I asked the legendary Turkish food critic Vedat Millor @vmilor to share his Istanbul recommendations. He is the co-author of an excellent blog Gastromondiale @gastromondiale. MEYHANE Most interesting category, a remnant of old cosmopolitan Istanbul Asmali Cavit in Beyoglu Sahil Lokantasi in Balat Inciralti in Beylerbeyi KEBAP-OCAKBASI (there…

Some highlights from my lunch at Kiro sushi last week, easily one of the best “Edo-mae” style sushi restaurants in Europe at the moment. It is located in Logroño, La Rioja, the place you will probably not travel to eat sushi, yet it’s definitely worth a special trip. Most of…

Fine dining The Greenhouse (contemporary French fine dining; excellent new chef since last year)Bibendum (contemporary French fine dining; love the roast and the Black Forest soufflé)The Ledbury (classic fine dining, consistent quality since years)The Clove Club (modern British fine dining) Mid-range Ikoyi (Nigerian inspired contemporary cooking)Wiltons (old school seafood,one of…

You haven’t truly been to Mexico City until you’ve experienced the street food. Here are ten essential and unmissable street food spots in CDMX. Gorditas ZacazonapanFreshly made gorditas (deep-fried pastry made of corn flour) with chicharron prensado (pressed pork).Av. Revolución 749, Nonoalco, 03910 Ciudad de México, CDMX. Tacos al PastorMy…

Perfect tortilla from my short trip to Spain this week. Light, with the runny center from La Primera in Madrid. La Primera potato tortilla 1 kg potatoes (chopped) 12 eggs Onion (chopped) Olive oil Salt Fry onions in olive oil until golden. In a separate pan, fry potatoes for 15…