Hong Kong restaurants 2008-9

The standards of Hong Kong restaurants seem to have slipped in the past few years. Poor and unprofessional service is a problem but so is the food quality. Not sure why meat and vegetables no longer taste fresh, is it because everything is being transported from China these days?? In the past few years, I have not been to a restaurant that blew me away. People don't seem to cook with their hearts anymore, it's so hard to find a place that serves sincere and honest food! What is going on with this 'Food Paradise?' I am not a fussy eater, but I have been let down continuously so now I would rather stick to the regular joints to avoid disappointments. It's a shame because I am usually an adventurous eater. Sadly, the restaurant scene in Hong Kong no longer excites me anymore. I spent quite a few months jetting in and out of HK in the past year, so here are some of my recent culinary experiences. Some reviews might be quite harsh, but I am angry about the slip in the overall standards esp. when I used to enjoy many many memorable meals here.

Thumbs down experiences:

Armani - High prices but food was so-so! Mixed up food and bills with neighbouring tables implied slack service as well. A let-down!

La Bouteille (FRENCH) - A friend took me to this odd place inside a Central commercial building for lunch without a reservation. We arrived before the lunch hour but only got seated after a long and serious discussion between the boss/manager and the waitress. OK, I understand that lunch hour is their busiest but we didn't need someone to come over every 2 seconds to ask if we were ready to order. Besides the rude and pushy service, everything we ordered was sloppily done, no attention was paid on the execution nor presentation. Why bother opening a restaurant when they couldn't care less about their customers? If rushing to get the food out was their main priority, then they should have opened a fast food joint rather than a French restaurant where people are supposed to take time to enjoy their meal!

Dan Ryan (AMERICAN), Festive Walk - I can't remember the last time I ate here, it must have been about 10 years ago... and maybe there is a reason why I haven't returned! Salad was too cold and everything else was soaked in some BBQ sauce. Noisy and not very clean... a terrible place!

House of Canton (CANTONESE/ DIM SUM) – A typical HK restaurant with poor and inattentive service. Some of the dim sum was ok, some we had to send back because they were either cold or too greasy. Not sure why people would queue to get a table here except for its location (Festive Walk). Pricey and not worth it.

Lippo Chiuchow restaurant - So hard to find authentic Chiu Chow food these days, and this is definitely NOT the place to come if you want to sample good Chiu Chow dishes. The manager took no notice of us because he was too busy serving our neighbouring table, some Mainland Chinese who ordered shark-fin soup and other delicacies. Food was average and the fact that they didn't even serve us the famous strong tea made me wonder about their authenticity!

Myung Ga (KOREAN) - Bad service, expensive and small portions. Again, why do people queue to get in here? Is it for the view? No idea.

Pho Tai - Is this a joke? This is supposed to be a pho specialist but they didn't even give me any herbs/ bean sprouts/ lime for my beef pho. When I asked for these condiments, the waitress told me that they ran out of everything! Then a few minutes later, she came out with a small slice of lime and some not-so-fresh looking bean sprouts! Simply unbelievable!

Robuchon's bakery - Poor and patronising service! I haven't encountered such arrogant and bad service for a long long time!! The middle-age woman behind the cashier is a rude Bxxch!

Roka (JAPANESE) - Perhaps we came too soon - just after they opened and it was really awful. They ran out of udon and made us order the yakisoba which arrived in seconds...sadly the noodles was soggy and lukewarm. (did they microwave it?) The service was beyond bad... after a few complaints to the manager, we were offered free desserts and the yakisoba taken off our bill. But it was too late already... another problem: the air-con was too cold, so our hot food turned cold very quickly. Definitely will not come back again!

Sevva (INTERNATIONAL) - The view is great and the decor tasteful but nothing else was up to scratch! Unprofessional service combined with bad, overpriced food & drinks, just how bad can you get? Joyce cafe used to have a similar menu but it was so much better!! I have heard nothing but negative reviews about this place from different friends, it makes me wonder how long this place can survive esp. in this current economic climate?!

Superstar seafood restaurant (CANTONESE/ DIM SUM) - Too many overpriced fancy dim sum, waitresses were constantly selling expensive items not on the menu. A rip-off joint!


Disappointing food:

Cova, Central - Lunch was expensive and not that great. My pasta was bland and tasteless, my friend's tiramisu basically had only mascarpone with a bit of cocoa on top. Did they forget the savoiardi?!

Nahm, Elements - Huge portions but very hit/miss, sadly, it was a 'miss' for us! The nouveau Thai cuisine just didn't work for us, though service was efficient and professional.

Viceroy - This famous Indian restaurant has been around for a long time, but the lunch buffet was not so special, not as good as Excelsior's curry lunch buffet!

Xi yan tastes (FUSION) - I have never been to the original Xi Yan, but lunch at this particular branch inside G.O.D. was disappointing. The food was quite tasteless, very different from his cook books. Perhaps he has become the Gordon Ramsey of HK? Expanding too quickly but unable to control the quality?! Not a good sign.

Over-hyped:

Fusion - Many people might disagree with me but I didn't find the food here amazing. OK, I'm not a fusion cuisine fan but the dishes here were neither innovative nor special. Brunch is good value because it includes a glass of champagne, an antipasti buffet, a main and another dessert buffet. The antipasti buffet was fine with lots of Mediterranean-style grilled vegs. and oysters... though the tripe was kinda odd amongst other dishes. My risotto with foie gras was a disappointment... the rice was way overcooked, the texture was almost like congee! Perhaps the chef caters to suit the locals' tastes, but I found his food 'neither here nor there'. Perhaps this is his way of interpreting 'fusion', but personally, I believe in order to do fusion well, the chef needs to be braver and much more creative with the combination of ingredients.

Yin Yang (CHINESE) - Interesting location & space but according to my friends, the standards have slipped since its move. We had to pre-order the food/ menu days before, so my anticipation was high. The food arrived very slowly and the description sounded better than the taste. Apparently the chef grows most of her own veggies in the N.T., but sadly the freshness and flavours didn't really come through in the cooking. The famous roast chicken was quite good, but not memorable. Dessert was a sloppy red bean soup, maybe the chef has had a bad day, but I am not that convinced.

Nice surprises:

EN - This Okinawan bar/restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong turned out to be surprisingly good! I don't know too much about Okinawan food, but everything we had was tasty and interesting (in a good way). There were also lots of sake to choose from, ours went very well with our snack-like dishes. The place was quite empty that evening, we sat outside on the balcony for the meal and then moved inside for drinks. This place made us feel like we were in a small Tokyo bar/restaurant, we almost forgot that we were in HK until we got out of the building and back onto the loud & rowdy D'Aguilar St!

Il Bel Paese (ITALIAN DELI) - We almost missed this deli in Happy Valley but luckily we didn't. We walked in out of curiosity, not knowing that you can buy your food at the counter and eat it upstairs. Everything we had tasted fresh and the bread was delicious. My friend and I were both tempted to buy everything home. This is a real gem in the city!

OVO (CHINESE) - It's usually quite rare to find a restaurant with the combination of tasteful decor and good food. Most of the time, it's either one or the other, but Ovo actually lives up to its hype. The decor and food reminded me of Hutong but I enjoyed my meal here more. Probably less pretentious, and the attentive service made us feel quite comfy here. The portion sizes were just right and the food was delicious. The spicy food also went exceptionally well with our wine, it was an enjoyable meal!

San Xi Lou (SICHUAN) – The location is probably not the most convenient, but the food here was tasty and quite authentic. It’s hard to find good Sichuan restaurants in HK, Xiao Nan Guo used to serve some good Sichuan dishes but standards have slipped recently, so this was a good find. Clean and professional service, a very good restaurant overall.

Sabatini - It has probably been 15 years since i last came but everything seems to look the same. Brunch here is good-value with lots of antipasti and a good range of mains and desserts to choose from. The food was not outstanding but quality was overall high. We liked the warm service and the nostalgic factor, probably a sign of us aging...

Tonkichi - Probably serves the best Japanese style pork katsu in town! Friendly service, clean and efficient, hence, this place is always full! Best come before or after the busy lunch hour! Unlimited cabbage is fab and the oysters are fat and juicy too! I really recommend this place!

Other restaurants:

American restaurant (PEKINGESE) - Came with a bunch of expats and we all enjoyed our meal here in this ANCIENT restaurant in Wai Chai. Don't expect great service, fancy decor or presentation, but portions are big and food is decent. Yes, it is noisy, a bit rude but it's also very 'Hong Kong'.

Bacar wine brasserie (PIZZA, TAPAS) - I was pleasantly surprised by this bar/ restaurant by the escalator! We only came in here because it was late and there was nowhere else to go for a meal! Staff here was friendly and attentive, and food arrived very quickly. The tapas dishes were tasty and pizza was thin and crispy... not a destination restaurant but a good place for late night snacks.

Bee Japanese curry shop – Japanese style curry is one of my favourite comfort food! The katsu curry I had here was quite good and the portion size was decent too. Would come back again whenever I get a Japanese curry craving.

Cafe Graham (INTERNATIONAL) - friends' favourite haunt in Central. Good comfort food with decent prices. Tiramisu is much better than Cova's. Honestly, who needs fancy decor?!

Chiu Chow Garden - Sorry to say this but this place is for expats and foreign visitors who are not familiar with Chiu Chow cuisine. The fancy tableware, presentation and decor = high prices! Personally, I would rather eat downstair at Shanghai Garden (both owned by Maxim) which I think is less fancy and serves better food.

Cucina (CHINESE/ ITALIAN) - Nice setting with a good view of the harbour and skyline of HK. We were expecting fusion food but instead we were given 2 menus - one Chinese and one Italian. Food was pretty good and service was friendly. Best for birthday celebrations or group dinners!

Dickens bar - not sure about their Western food but the lunch curry buffet is a bargain! Much better than Viceroy!

Domon Sapporo ramen - Small ramen place in TST recommended by a friend. We got there after the lunch hour so there were plenty of seats to choose from. My friend didn't like her soup broth nor the texture of noodles, while I was ok with mine and thought the gyoza was quite good. Obviously this place is not as good as the real deal, but it's not too bad esp. when you have a ramen craving.

Farm House (CANTONESE/ DIM SUM) – Dim sum here was fine and a bit pricey. Not a bad choice for this area.

Fringe Club - Brunch here was quite good and inexpensive, if it's not too hot/ humid, it can be quite nice to sit outside on the roof-top. We tried, but gave up and went inside after about 5 mins!

Frites (BEGIAN) - We got what we wanted: moules, frites et biere + a very noisy crowd! Not a place to chat, so eat, drink and leave!

Fu Sing seafood restaurant (CANTONESE/ DIM SUM)- Dim sum here was good, though don't expect much service, very typical HK style service esp. during the busy lunch hour!

Gold Medal Hotpot (A direct translation, not sure what it’s English name is) - I haven’t been to a hotpot place for ages, so I was quite looking forward to this even though it’s in Jordan. The place is surprisingly modern looking for a hot pot place, the carriage-style seating was not so comfy, but we managed to squeezed in. We had 2 broth, a spicy one and a clear one, as well as lots of beef, tripe, fish & meat balls, tofu and veggies. The quality of the food was quite good, we ate continuously for hours and washed down with champagne (brought by a friend). The bill was very reasonable, so we all left satisfied and went for desserts across the street!

I Caramba! (MEXICAN) - A narrow and small restaurant in Soho serving Tex-Mex food. Hearty portions, not exactly gourmet food but it's probably what you need after a few happy hour cocktails.

Jimmy's Kitchen (INTERNATIONAL) - a regular haunt for my parents since I was a kid. Nothing much has changed over the years in this Central branch... My favourite is their curry dishes!

JJs, Grand Hyatt - Very good Thai food, maybe not THAT authentic, but everything was tasty and full of flavours, no complaints from us!

Kaetsu, Grand Hyatt - Two tables on a Sat night? A bad sign for this Japanese restaurant! Probably due to this reason, the standard of food was better than usual. We had a very good meal here!

Kiku - I have not been here for years, not sure if it's me or has the prices dropped? Standard Japanese fare but dinner was relatively quiet, so not a bad choice if you want to stay away from Lan Kwai Fong and Soho.

Mos burger - very Japanese burger joint! Small tasty burgers, though not as good as my first Mos burger in Tokyo years ago, salmon with seaweed and brown rice... yummy.

Mrs Jones (ITALIAN) - We had lunch here one afternoon and the food turned out to be pleasant but nothing special. There was sand in the Linguine alle Vongole and it was probably a bit too spicy (I think they used too much bird's eye chilli). The tuna nicoise was ok, again, nothing special. Overall, it was a fine lunch with laid back service and relaxed atmosphere.

Ngau Kee Food Café (HK STYLE) – Small but very busy local restaurant with TV on the wall and communal round tables. We were told that the scrambled eggs with prawns here is excellent, and so we had high hopes. Thankfully, the eggs were not overcooked and it came with many decent-size prawns, but the rose chicken on the otherhand was just ok. Not knowing the sizes of the dishes, we ended up ordering too much! But the biggest problem we had was the timing, we had to wait about 10-15 mins for each dish to arrive, it was like having a 3 course meal with one dish after the other!

O Sip Hah (THAI) - From the outside, this restaurant looks very European, but actually it serves modern Thai cuisine. Some of dishes we had were very good but some were just average, slightly inconsistent. Overall, we liked the ambience and enjoyed our meal, the weak point was probably the service... it was just a bit too clinical.

The Pawn - Never dined here but came here for drinks twice. Not so sure about the mix and match British pub-like decor... it doesn't seem to go with the building itself. Drinks are not cheap and the TV really put me off.

Peak cafe, Soho (INTERNATIONAL) - Convenient location makes this a popular bar in Soho. Cocktails are pretty good with many Asian and Western snacks available. Less noisy at the back.

Post 97 (INTERNATIONAL) - Good value lunch menu with decent food. The 90s decor also bring back old memories...

Rei sushi, IFC - Came here twice and I have mixed feelings about this place. I thought the standard of food was quite good but I wasn't sure about the price tag. Like many other restaurants in IFC, it's a bit overpriced.

Rice paper, TST - If you strip away the fancy decor, you are left with an ordinary Asian style restaurant serving average and not so authentic food at inflated prices. Their trick? Being in high-traffic locations/ malls.

Ruby Tuesday, (AMERICAN) CWB - My experience here was horrid, but not in terms of food, I was simply appalled by their customers! Sitting by the salad bar was a revelation... I have never seen so many greedy, selfish and shameless people all in one room! In very typical HK style, these customers would spend on average 20 mins trying to pile as much as possible into a small salad bowl, despite everything spilling over onto the floor at the same time. There was no regards for other customers and staff (the bar soon turned into a real mess), and they looked so proud of their achievements! The poor waitress had to sweep the floor continuously because there were tomatoes, lettuce & croutons everywhere! I don't want to sound like a snob, but I would be embarrassed to bring foreign visitors here! This all reminds me of 'Spirited Away' when Chihiro's parents turned into pigs by the food stall... scary!

Sanpachi Ramen - My friend's recent discovery was this ramen place in the busy Causeway Bay. The texture of the noodles was quite good, but my broth was not hot enough... a bit disappointing. Will probably give it another try in the future.

Sen-ryo - not a bad place for a quick meal if you can get a seat! The lack of cheapish places in IFC makes this a very popular joint. My favourite is the grilled eel sushi!

Shiro, Pacific place - Sushi was quite fresh, with some unusual dishes on the menu. But I wasn't not so fond of like the environment, I just didn't feel comfortable there.

Simply Thai, Time Square – Cocktails were good here but the food was only so so. Not very authentic, just another average Thai restaurant.

Soho soho - Hardly anyone here during the busy lunch hour... service was friendly and food was quite good in this modern British restaurant, though not particularly memorable.

Tasty congee & noodle wonton shop - I have been here a few times and I find the congee ok but not fantastic. The fried dough cheung fun was a bit disappointing. It’s ok if you just want a quick lunch in the IFC, but I would rather walk further and go to a more local congee shop.

Thai Empress chicken (direct translation), Wai Chai - A friend took me to this small busy restaurant that specialises in Thai style Hainanese chicken. Cramped tables and uncomfortable seats make you want to spend very little time here. We picked a set menu for 2 which was very good value and the portions were huge. The food was tasty but this is definitely not a place to linger!

Very Good restaurant (CANTONESE) - Despite the amusing name, this place actually turned out to be better than I expected! My Korean friends were in town and they wanted to have some typical Cantonese food in Kowloon, where I go once in a blue moon. Then I found this on the internet, thanks to the many restaurant review blogs! I encouraged my friends to try the roast pigeons and they were pleasantly surprised. Portions were huge, reasonably priced and very tasty, though I suspected that we probably gulped down tonnes of MSG as well!

Wa San Mai (JAPANESE) - Nice view and comfortable seating. We came during lunch and didn't have the teppanyaki. My stone pot rice with crab and sea urchin set was good value and included many side dishes. Overall, not a bad choice for lunch in CWB.

Xiao Nan Guo (SHANGHAINESE/ SIUCHUAN) - Used to be better a few years ago, food standard and service have both slipped. The 'wow' factor has gone, but their cold tofu with 1000 year old eggs dish is still better than Ye Shanghai's.

Ye Shanghai - not bad but not as good as Shanghai Garden.

Yee Tung Heen (CANTONESE/ DIM SUM) - Standards have definitely slipped... dim sum was not as good as before, and the fried dishes were too greasy.

Zest (INTERNATIONAL)- Bright and airy Mediterranean-style decor made us feel like we were in Europe. Brunch was pretty good, no surprises, but a good place to relax on a Sat/Sun afternoon.

Zhong Guo Song (HK STYLE)) – An odd Chinese home-style cooking restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong. Its down to earth style is a contrast to many of the pretentious restaurants nearby. I can’t say the food was fab. but it’s not bad if you want a substantial meal at a decent price.

Michelin guide (Hong Kong)

The new Hong Kong and Macau Michelin guide has caused quite a stir in Hong Kong. Some people are thrilled, others are skeptical. In general, Cantonese/Hong Kong people prefer affordable local dishes such as wonton noodles and fish ball ho fan, high-end Chinese cuisine is quite out of reach for many locals. However, many restaurants on the list are inside 4/5 star-hotels, and they are all pretty pricey. Many skeptics don't trust the French's judgments on Chinese cuisine and I don't blame them. But then again, Michelin never judges on just the food, usually service, ambience and wine lists are all taken into considerations. Whether we agree or not, we have to admire Michelin's marketing skills, since many diners around the world still treat their guides as bibles (just look at their fans in Japan). Chefs have committed suicide when their Michelin stars were taken away, so Michelin is still very influential in the restaurant world today.

I don't reside in Hong Kong anymore, but I do visit regularly and would try out different restaurants each time. Looking at the H.K. list, I was shocked to see Lung King Heen being awarded three stars. I tried the restaurant with some friends about 2 years ago but didn't find it particularly special.

Others that I have been to are: 2 stars- Summer Palace, Shang Palace and T'ang Court (it's actually quite good). 1 star - Fook Lam Moon, Hutong (I prefer their original and cheaper branch, Water Margin, but I guess this has better views and ambience), Shanghai Garden (my mum's favourite) and Yung Kee (has been my dad's canteen for about 20 years). I am surprised not to see any Italian nor Japanese on the list, and it seems that most Chinese restaurants on the list are Cantonese except for 2.

I don't think we should take this list too seriously, accurate or not, Michelin has already caused enough publicity. I doubt most H.K. people would agree on their choices of restaurants, but as long as it can boost the economy and tourism, I am sure they are not going to be too upset after all.

Colours of sunsets

How many sunsets can you remember in a lifetime? Who did you watch the last sunset with? Who will you watch the next sunset with? Sunsets are beautiful and never the same. City sunsets differ from those in the countryside because of pollution. But can we tell the difference? Watching sunsets can be exciting and sad at the same time because it makes you realise that no matter how beautiful it looks, you cannot capture the best moments (except by taking photos/ recording it on video). Sunsets happen everyday across the globe but do we really appreciate this natural phenomenon? Maybe we city folks need to take time and learn to appreciate nature and people around us.


Macau


Dubai


Bali



Istanbul


Turkey



Sahara, Tunisia


Mallorca


Venice



Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland



Norway


Las Vegas





Mexico



Morocco


Muscat, Oman


Ibiza, Spain


Cascais, Portugal



Suffolk, England

Michelin starred restaurants (New York)

There are so many fantastic restaurants in New York, but why do I keep seeing Jean Georges' establishments on the list? What is going on?!

3* Le Bernardin - Went there twice, the 1st time was mind-blowing... thought the cooking was skillful and creative. The sommelier also recommended excellent wine to go with each of our courses. The second time was quite disappointing esp. with the service, but I still think it's one of the best seafood restaurants in town!

3* Jean Georges - Horrible! My restaurant critic friend's pork dish was covered in barbeque sauce! All of us thought the meal (lunch) was pretty awful except for the desserts and service.

2* Bouley (bakery) - An interesting restaurant in Tribeca. We had the tasting menu for lunch and felt too greedy afterwards. Food was Asian-influenced with many fruit-themed dishes. Adventurous but a bit hit/miss. Service was friendly and professional.

2* Daniel - This doesn't feel like NYC at all! Quite a grand dining room, very formal for NY. My fish wrapped in potatoes was crispy but a bit too heavy and greasy. Overall, the food was very good but there were no surprises. Professional and attentive service. A great restaurant for special occasions.

1* Babbo - After hearing & reading so many good reviews about this place, our experience here turned out to be quite average. We didn't find the food amazing and thought the service was rather cold. Did we miss something? Maybe, but there are too many good places in NYC, so I won't be rushing back anytime soon.

1* Gotham bar & grill - When I first moved to NYC, this was THE place to see & be seen. Finally, I went there years after I moved away and it was still buzzing! The modern American cuisine was tasty and visually pleasing. However, the place was cramped and noisy, a slight let-down esp. in this upmarket category.

1* Gramercy Tavern - Good food, pleasant dining room but not that memorable.

1* Oceana - My first dinner experience here was fantastic, the seafood was excellent and service was warm and friendly. The second time, lunch was so so and service was cold. The difference was quite drastic! Did we go to a different restaurant?!

1* Vong - Went there many years ago when fusion food was still 'trendy'. At the time, the food was quite revolutionary, dishes like foie gras with mango really stood out. Also went to the HK branch at Mandarin Oriental hotel before it closed down. I'm not a fan of Jean Georges, but Vong is probably my favourite out of all of his establishments.

1* JoJo - Went there for lunch and we all thought the meal was just average, nothing to write home about.




1* L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon - I am a Joel Robuchon fan... I love his food even though all his portions are tiny!! There are always surprises and he seems to enjoy challenging our senses! I never expected him to open inside The Four Seasons, but it is surprisingly informal and airy. I love sitting by the bar, it feels good to watch, sample and chat.

1* Sushi of Gari - A Japanese friend recommended Gari many years ago when she was living in the neighbourhood. We used to sit by the bar and requested Gari himself to make all our sushi (booked in advanced of course!). The first experience was exhilarating, because it was unlike any sushi I have ever tasted before. Unfortunately, like all restaurants, the standards always slip when the chef decides to expand and open one restaurant after another in different locations/ cities. Went to Gari in the West side 2 years ago and felt quite disappointed. I miss the old days when we used to sit by the bar and watched Gari creating his delightful sushi with care & dedication!

1* The Modern (the dining room) - Actually, we didn't go to the formal part of the restaurant because we were told that the casual dining room serves equally good food but at lower prices. And they were right, we just didn't expect a museum restaurant to be this good! Tapas- sized dishes were great for sharing and the cocktails were excellent. Lunch was a bit hectic but we thoroughly enjoyed our meal!

Michelin starred restaurants (Europe)

I can't help but wonder how the inspectors picked the Michelin starred restaurants/ S.Pellegrino's 50 best restaurants. Some of the restaurants on these lists are just above-average and extremely overpriced, but I guess food (and beauty) is a matter of opinion, so we can only assume that the experts know what they are talking about.

I have been very privileged and have enjoyed many fine restaurants around the globe, including many Michelin starred restaurants. I am not a restaurant critic but I have certain standards and preferences. I believe that dining out is not just about the food, it's also about the service, atmosphere, company and mood of the diners. Some of the best meals I have had were not in Michelin starred restaurants, but rustic/ traditional family-run restaurants that serve simple and fresh food without much fuss. I can't stand some of the 'hip & trendy' restaurants with snotty service, they are just not worth the time & money. Great service makes a huge difference to the dining experience, I wish all restauranteurs would understand this.

Personally, I think the most diverse and high-quality restaurants are located in New York City and Tokyo. London is slightly over-hyped and over-priced for what you get, whereas Paris is best for French cuisine only (the French will probably dispute over this). Hong Kong used to be excellent for food but I feel that the standard has slipped over the past few years, not quite sure why... And then there's Moscow... hmm... what can I say... I feel sorry for those Moscovites who pay so much for such average food, it probably explains why they are all fleeing to London!

Here is a list of the Michelin starred restaurants I have visited over the years (in Europe) as well as my experiences and honest opinions:

Paris

3* L'Arpege - Excellent seafood and subtle flavours. Friendly service, not at all pretentious.

2* Les Ambassadeurs - Opulent setting, professional service. I remember the setting, champagne & waiters, but unfortunately I can't remember much else...

2* Senderens - After much anticipation, my experience turned out to be quite disappointing. The Asian fusion cuisine didn't do much for me, in fact, I got quite sick after the meal! Service was a bit cold & rushed.

2* Les Elysees du Vernet - Food was a bit too heavy but the service was friendly & attentive. What a beautiful dining room!

2* L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon - Went there soon after it opened, was quite blown away by the concept and originality. Thoroughly enjoyed the tasting menu! The flavours and combinations of ingredients were amazing, the best fusion cooking I have ever had!

1* Gerard Besson - Very traditional French, nothing special but excellent service.

1* L'Espadon @ The Ritz - Was very impressed overall, thought the cooking would be quite traditional with heavy sauces etc, but it wasn't. Faultless service.

1* Dominque Bouchet - What a disappointment, considering how famous he is in France and Japan! The tasting menu was nothing special, in fact, it was one of the most disappointing tasting menu I have ever had! Everything was quite bland...

1* L'Angle du Faubourg - Professional service combined with high quality cooking and reasonable prices. A low-key but excellent establishment.

1* Maison Blanche - Great setting and original cooking, though not so fond of the pretentious/ trendy crowd.

1* Gaya par Pierre Gagnaire - A real surprise! Tiny and casual place but the cooking (mainly seafood) was creative and excellent at the same time. Will want to go back for more!

London/ U.K.

3* The Waterside Inn - Cosy hotel and great location, but are the 3 stars awarded for the cooking or the legacy of Michel Roux?! The tasting menu's portions were far too generous and on the heavy side with very rich sauces. Impeccable service but not sure if this should be the top 3 restaurants in the country...

Afternoon tea at Le Manoir

2* Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons - Why is this not 3 starred? I have no idea. I think the cooking is inventive and full of flavours. Tried 2 of their tasting menus, and I highly recommend the 10-course Découverte menu. Unpretentious service and setting, oh, and breakfast was wonderful too!

2* Le Gavroche - Strangely, I had a better experience at Le Gavroche than The Waterside Inn. I really enjoyed the food, wine, atmosphere and service. A first class restaurant!

2* Petrus - Went there for lunch and found the lunch menu quite reasonable (for a 2 Michelin starred restaurant). The food got mixed reviews from us, perhaps Marcus wasn't around that afternoon?!

1* Club Gascon - Been there twice, enjoyed it both times. The wine went extremely well with the food, but service was just okay.

1* Gordon Ramsay at Claridges - Despite all the negative reviews about this place, I enjoyed my meal here. Food and service was top notch, no complaints from me!

1* Hakkasan - Not sure how this place managed to get a Michelin star?! Is it the decor? The hype? I'm sure anyone who has lived/been to Hong Kong would ask the same question. Overpriced and over-hyped, but I did enjoy their cocktails!

1* Yauatcha - The 90-min time slot was awful. We were rushed and reminded constantly to return the table by a certain time. The dim sum was tasty and desserts were delicious but the service + seating arrangement was a letdown!

1* Nobu - Not as good as Nobu in NYC and steeper prices too!

Baked rice @ Benares
1* Benares - After watching 'Great British Menu' on BBC2, I was eager to try Atul's cooking! I was expecting some creative Indian cooking, but nothing I had was THAT special. Good meal, nice dining room and high prices !

1* Tamarind - Again, I am puzzled by the Michelin star given to this restaurant. Above average Indian and so so service... what did I miss?!

1* Sketch (lecture room) - Been to both lecture room & gallery. Gallery is a place to see and be seen, whereas the lecture room is for serious foodies. I found the cooking too fussy and complicated, it wasn't a particularly memorable meal.

1* L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon - Having been to the Paris and NY branches, I was anxious to see if the London one would live up to the 'Robuchon' standards. Even though this chain is expanding quicker than Starbucks, I still love the concept and cooking! I can eat here once a week without being bored! I also love the bar upstairs, it's feels like a private member's club!

1* Mirabelle - I am surprised to find out that this place has a Michelin star. Not that it wasn't good, it just wasn't outstanding. Nice dining room and professional service, food was classic French. Nothing special.

1* Rhodes W1 - Not a fan of Gary Rhodes but did enjoy my meal here. The place was empty when we were there, so we got all the attention!

Rome

1* L’Altro Mastai - Was looking forward to my first Michelin starred establishment in Rome after reading many positive reviews, but sadly, the experience didn't meet my expectations. Food wasn't memorable nor outstanding and service was ok.

Langoustines & seafood soup at Quinzi & Gabrieli


1* Quinzi & Gabrieli - Wow!! Haven't had such fresh & amazing seafood for a long time! Very simple cooking techniques and yet everything we had was excellent! The steamed langoustines were so sweet! Very warm & friendly service in a touristy area, will go back there again & again! One of the best seafood places I have ever been to!

Mallorca

Dessert at Bacchus
1* Bacchus at Read's hotel - Beautiful 16th century dining room! The food was good but maybe not as magnificent as the setting. Professional service, a pleasant experience.

1* Koldo Royo (lost his star in 2008 after 18 years with Michelin!) - Went there twice when the chef still had his star! Thought the menu & food was adventurous and brave, a good place to enjoy bold & flavoursome Basque cuisine in an informal setting.

Food, markets & cities

Pig's head & other bits sold in Central Market, Downtown Los Angeles

One of my passions in life is to eat! I love cooking at home as well as dining out. My favourite cuisines: Japanese (not just sushi), Chinese (esp. Szechuan food), Thai, Vietnamese, Italian, Moroccan and French. I am not a big fan of fusion or over-complicated cooking (unless it is done by a masterchef!). I believe fresh produce/ high quality ingredients are key to an excellent meal. When the produce is fresh, do as little as possible to retain its original flavours, esp. with seafood. Simplicity is the answer and the Japanese are experts in this area.

I love going to food markets when I visit foreign cities because it shows how important food is in their cultures or lives. I love the smell, colours and buzz, I also love how the market vendors arrange their displays, their work can almost be considered an art of its own. Besides, market food stalls usually serve fresh, delicious and inexpensive food, so they are great places to grab quick bites too.

If you want to understand the culture and people of a country, skip the sightseeing, just go to the markets and absorb the atmosphere, watch the sellers and shoppers interact, it's so fascinating! Supermarkets thrive in the U.S. and U.K. because people are too lazy! The popularity of farmers markets in recent years has proved that people are finally changing their eating habits. Why do we buy unripe fruits and vegetables flown all the way from Kenya or India when we can buy fresh local produce at the markets?! It doesn't make sense. Let's all start supporting our local food markets instead of the large chained supermarkets!!



Wet and fruit markets in Hong Kong


Scandinavian style market in Stockholm



Indoor market in Bali


Borough market, London


The famous Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo


Dried fish in Dubai



Indoor market in Kyoto





Fruit and livestock in Oman




Food and shoes stalls sold altogether under the roof of Testaccio Market in Rome


Market style setting in the basement of a department store in Seoul


Bangkok


Grand Bazaar in Istanbul




Central market, Downtown Los Angeles



Seafood in Hokkaido



Batignolles organic market, Paris





Colourful indoor market in Saigon


Farmers market off Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles



Spices and fruits in Cairo


Farmer's market in Tokyo



Food & flowers in Brugge



An indoor market in Taipei