When I asked my Roman friends if they knew any “hidden gems ” unknown to the tourists they started laughing,- “Everywhere there are tourists!”. Until this moment I have been to only one restaurant (two if you count gelateria) which was touristy. Ristorante Matricianella And it was Ristorante Matricianella (…

It’s been a while I haven’t been at Guy Savoy and I’ve almost forgot how brilliant this chef’s cooking is. For me, the food at Guy Savoy represents the true 3 Michelin stars cuisine. You are impressed by the forms, the textures and the presentation, but finally what amazes you…

…at least when I was in Brussels. Kriek is Belgium beer fermented with cherries. Normally I don’t like beer, but this one tastes like a slightly alcoholic cherry drink(very distinctive and natural flavour). I wonder if you can buy it elsewhere… P.S. Apologies for being absent from the blogosphere recently…

“George, in your restaurant one eats like at home”,- a guest once told to Georges Cuvelier, a former coal miner and the founder of one of the most famous Brussels restaurants – Comme Chez Soi. Maybe the current chef, Lionel Rigolet is the fourth generation of the restaurant’s dynasty, you still…

There’ve been quite a few new openings over the last year in Paris. Call it a coincidence or a trend, three of the new restaurants were opened by Parisian chefs étoilés. Two of the chefs, Jean François Piège at Thomieux (former Crillon) and Jean Louis Nomicos at Les Tablettes (former…

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Etoile at the Publicis Drugstore in Paris (133, av des Champs-Elysées, 75008,Paris , tel. 01 47 23 75 75 ) is the lastest addition to Robuchon restaurants empire. I’ve been at quite a few Robuchon restaurants around the world and I am always amazed how they…

Ushiwakamaru (136 West Houston Street,10012, tel. 212-228-4181, New York) sushi bar on West Houston is one of my best discoveries in NY this year. If you are a sushi purist like me, you will love this simple place run by Japanese chef Hideo Kuribara where the product is the king.…

Umami Burger in LA has completely changed my understanding of what a good burger should be like. In fact, it has changed my life as I will never be able to enjoy any other burgers ( other burgers than Umami to be precise.) Soft Portuguese bread, amazing beef, grilled shiitake…

“Black forest” cake at La Pâtisserie des rêves 111 rue de Longchamp, Paris. I don’t know how they managed to put the classic “Black Forest” cake (layers of chocolate cake, maraschino cherries and whipped cream) into a crunchy chocolate cherry, but I must say I have never seen such an…

“Ah, that foreigners’ place”, – was my Hong Kongese friend’s reaction when I told her I booked at the China Club for our dinner. Even if this private restaurant/club has a very exclusive reputation, you don’t feel very much exclusive when you are at the place. If you are staying…