Gastro Journeys

Sydney (October 2011)

2011-10-23T11:48:00.000+01:00

When one usually thinks of Australia you picture bright sun-kissed beaches, warm happy people and the ubiquitous "g'day", "how you going?" or "good on you." Our experience lived up to all the expectations: fresh, delicious food, innovative cocktails, smooth Australian wines and some of the best service we have ever experienced! Sydney has the ability to be big bustling city and small quaint neighbourhoods, all within a few paces. Completely taken in by the flavours and the people we vowed to come back and experience much more...

- Aria

A must-do for many visitors to Sydney, Aria manages to be an incredibly romantic dining option despite its popularity with well-heeled tourists. Stunning views of the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and north Sydney provide a fitting backdrop for impeccable service and outstanding food by Chef Matt Moran. Salmon seared and delicate with a yuzu dressing, raviolo of rapa, ricotta and egg yolk with crispy chicken wings and shaved black truffle and mains of seared snapper and lamb accompanied by a side order of truffle mash. The Australian wines are crisp and delicious and an excellent accompaniment to the sea food courses. Have to give the credit for this one to my wife who first heard of it because Leonardo Di’Caprio took Blake Lively there when the two were in the city in Spring 2011 .

No.1 Macquarie Street +61 2 9252 2555

- Tetsuya

A gastronomic wonder set in a refurbished heritage-listed townhouse centred around a serene Zen garden. The service once again infused with typically Aussie charm was delightful. The 11 course Japanese-inspired menu, while innovative

fell slightly short of my expectations from what is considered one of the best restaurants in the world.

So what does one eat for 11 courses? Mostly sea-food with a couple of meat and dessert courses:

Amuse of potato soup with quails egg and caviar

Steamed custard with uni

Sashimi of kingfish, with ginger, lemon and spring onion dressing

Tetsuya's signature salmon with a konbu crust and salmon roe

Steamed crab with tofu and foie gras

Loin of veal (Shruti's was a goats cheese ravioli)

Quail breast with puffed rice and jamon iberico

Marinated Venison with beetroot

Sorrel granita on hay ice-cream served alongside a warm bread and butter pudding

Chocolate ganache with cream cheese ice cream

Petit fours and coffee

Tetsuya’s international reputation for pure, clean flavours is manifested in some of the fish courses – the kingfish and salmon courses are nothing short of spectacular. The meat courses on the other hand are not on par with meats served at Tetsuya contemporaries Fat Duck or El Bulli.

The Chocolate Parfait is satisfying but unimaginative. Far more interesting (and delicious) is the generous serving of black truffle-and-parmesan-infused butter that accompanies the bread basket on every table.

529 Kent Street, +61 2 9267 2900

- Longrain

Surry hills-favourite for mouthwatering Thai in a modern setting with a very fun bar in the basement. Beware of the long waits for a table on weekends even though they are well worth it. We tried the crispy trout and prawn wontons which had a delicious dipping sauce, the egg net salad with pork prawn and crunchy veggies in a sweet and spicy tamarind stressing, and the unbelievable kingfish green curry with baby eggplant. For those who shy away from Thai food because of coconut-overkill, Longrain’s curries are refreshingly light and fresh.

85 Commonwealth Street, +61 2 9280 2888

- Cafe Sydney

Chic but fun lounge and restaurant right at Circular Quay. Just popped in for drinks and of course a bit of arancini with tomato, mozarella and basil.

Customs House, 5th Floor, Circular Quay, +61 2 9251 8683

- Ocean Room

Unassuming restaurant just under the OPT, with delicious and wonderfully fresh sea food. Starters off their tapas menu of tuna sashimi in a waffle cone, wagyu curry puff and soft shell crab taco. For a main, I tried the chef's sushi selection, delicious mix of salmon, tuna, yellowtail, kingfish and prawn, each with it's unique dressing and topping. The marvel of it was that it was all prepared by the head chef's 15 year old son.

Ground Level, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay West, +61 2 9252 9585

- Hemesphere / sushi E

Very cool lounge, bar with leather couches, chilled beats and creative sushi rolls. Fun vibe and and an interesting crowd on week nights and weekends. Part of the Merivale group.

Level 4, establishment, 252 George street, +61 2 9240 3040

- Ivy

Truly spectacular expanse of bars, clubs, lounges all in one massive building, each with its own DJ and particular styling. A very Miami/Ibiza feel right in the heart of the CBD and fun retro music. The place is packed on weekends and the different spaces have something for everyone, whether youre looking to just kick back and enjoy a few cocktails or want to party it up!
330 George Street

Bondi Beach

- Iceberg

Multiple level lounge, bar and restaurant with picture-perfect views of the famed Bondi-beach. Must do for any one visiting Bondi. Menu for bar snacks is limited but this is definitely the see-and-be-seen place at Bondi. Try the Polenta chips with sour cream for a truly indulgent nibble.

One Notts Ave., Bondi Beach, +61 2 9365 9000

- Beach Burrito Company

Secretly one of my favourite places in Sydney, for it's relaxed style, chilled beach vibe, and delicious burritos and tacos with shrimp, pulled pork and grilled chicken. Sit back and enjoy the ocean front views

252 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach +61 2 9130 7123

- Chocolateria San Churro

If your day on the beach is marred by a spot of cold weather, this small speciality store with outdoor seating is the perfect pit stop for Spanish-style Churros and hot chocolate with a great view. Try the chili hot chocolate for that extra kick.
Shop 5/84 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach +61 2 9130 4331

Places to visitor sure for first timers:
- Opera House/ Harbour Bridge
- Royal Botanical Gardens
- Paddington for it's shops cafes and very charming side streets
- Bondi Beach
- King Street Wharf

PSI Eating Club № 2: The Loft Project (Supperclub, Kingsland Road)

2010-04-18T21:00:00.031+01:00

After an excellent inauguration with Korean BBQ, we decided to be a bit more adventurous and try a new supperclub concept from Chef Nuno Mendes (previously at Bacchus). Nuno has created The Loft Project, an open dining environment, where chefs-in-residence create their specialty 10-11 course tasting menus based on their own experiences as sous chefs at world renowned restaurants like Tetsuya, Noma and Nahm.

Clayton Wells was the head chef the night we went. The dining room is very intimate with 15 seats right in front of an open kitchen where one can view each course being prepared. Diners are encouraged to mingle and truly enjoy the experience of each course together. The various courses are paired with wines that complement them perfectly, and the evening starts with a wonderful champagne-based aperitif. Diners are also encouraged to wander through the kitchen and engage with the various chefs as they assemble each course. So after that introduction, we began our tasting experience....

1: Pacific Oyster and Chardonnay vinegar granita

An excellent preparation, where the oyster is effectively cured by the acidity in the granita. Outstanding concept, wonderfully presented and delicious.

2: Raw and pickled vegetables, squid ink, herbs and

flowers

Great presentation as ribbons and strips on a bed of squid ink paste, this dish was definitely better on the eyes than on the

palate. It lacked some flavours and a punch.

3: Hamachi, yuzu, creme

fraiche, fennel & spring onion

An outstanding dish where the yellow-tail was prepared perfectly with delicate balance of flavours that just melted away in your mouth.

4: Confit salmon, wakame & lemon, salted konbu

The true sous vide style, where the salmon, though cooked to perfection, looked and felt like sashimi, with the balance of sea kelp and lemon.

5: Textures of beetroots, goats curd, apple, almonds &

chickweed

A lot of beetroot, but a good combination with salty goat curd and sweetness of the apples. Unusual combination, but worked remarkably well.

6: Smoked eel, aubergine, dashi gelee, stone pot rice

Another incredible example of the low temperature, vacuum-style of cooking. Tender eel, on an aubergine puree, with a topping of sea kelp-

based broth that had been transformed into vermicelli.

7: Roasted celeriac, onions & hazelnut, st. Jorge cheese, onion tapioca

Another example where the visual was more

appealing than the taste. Unique combinations,

and individual flavours, but the celeriac lacked a true central influence that could bind the dish together.

8: Pork loin, black pudding puree, cauliflower, prunes & malt

The pork was an excellent cut, but it was a

bit dry and didn't seem to absorb the influences of the other ingredients.

9: Rhubarb & buttermilk

An amuse dessert and a very effective palate cleanser, light, fresh and delicious.

10: Blackberry sorbet, yoghurt, hazelnuts, shiso granita

A fantastic take on a sorbet! Sweet and sour blackberry sorbet in the shape of a log, with a combination of hazelnuts and the mint freshness arising from the shiso granita

11: Chocolate fondant, black sesame,

blackcurrant gel

A perennial classic, but Clayton's version with black sesame adds the right bitterness to the rich dark chocolate and a sweet softness of the blackcurrant.

An excellent experience and truly unique even with some dishes trying to deliver more than their capability. I would strongly recommend it to anyone with a thirst or more likely and appetite for experimental dining.

Service: 8, Food: 7, Decor: 8

PSI Eating Club № 1: Asadal (Korean BBQ, Holborn)

2010-04-18T20:58:00.015+01:00

Many people you meet these days refer to themselves as foodies. The word is definitely overused and an exaggeration for people that just like to eat. Some mistake quantity and variety for quality. But true foodies are one's that wake up with a flavour on their taste buds and are not satiated till that craving is met, ones that discuss what's for lunch around 10am, and some that can discus the finer points of the most every day delicacies like Spanish ham, grilled cheese sandwiches or carrot cake.

I'm sure its not a huge surprise to many of you that I work with a team that fits exactly this

description of "foodies." Given our common passion for everything culinary, we decided to put together a PSI Eating Club, where we compiled a list of all the restaurants, cafes, take-aways

and hole-in-the-walls we wanted to sample and started making our way through them. First on our list was Asadal, a Korean BBQ restaurant in Holborn. We arrived in time for our reservation and were quickly seated by an abrupt waitress. Here's a description of everything we ordered, and my take on each:

Appetizers

- Kimchi (pickled cucumber, Chinese cabbage and white radish with red

chili powder) - Very fresh, delicately spiced and a good start to dinner

- Jap Che (vegetables and pan-fried beef with glass noodles, soy sauce and seasonings) - One of my favourites where you can taste the beef and vegetables without an overpowering soy sauce

- Kan Poong Gi (deep fried chicken with a sweet spicy marinade) - Not

something i had tried in the past, a bit sweet for my tastes

- Pa Jeon (pancakes with spring onions, mussels, oysters, prawns and squid) - Always incredible, crispy pancakes with a variety of seafood that is cooked to perfection and the dipping sauce truly makes the dish

- Ddok Bok Ki (rice cakes with fish balls in a spicy sauce) - Another Korean favourite of mine, the rice cakes and fish balls are dripping with this tangy, spicy sauce which truly soaks in

Mains

- Gal Bi (marinated rib beef) - A Korean classic and well marinated here

- Bul Go Gi (marinated topside of beef) - Similar to the Gal Bi, the Bulgogi was perfectly prepared and tender after coming off the grill

- Dewji Bul Go Gi (spicy marinated pork) - Again, something new for me, and personally I prefer the Gal Bi and Bul Go Gi

- Yuk Hei Bibimbab (raw fillet of beef, with vegetables and rice in a hot stone bowl) - Always one of my favourites, but the waitress (who appeared to be "in training") waited too long to mix it all together and one portion was undercooked

I think we all felt that it was an excellent meal, a great beginning to the PSI eating club, though it was a bit lacking in service and decor.

Service: 4, Food: 8, Decor: 6

(all scores out of 10)

London Part 5 - All Others (Camden / Primrose Hill / Hammersmith)

2009-10-12T22:38:00.008+01:00

Having covered off many of the main boroughs of London, I thought i'd clump together the rest of my favourites in one post. These are the one's that don't fit neatly into any categories, but are definitely worth discovering...

Restaurants

- The Engineer (Primrose Hill, $$) - An excellent gastropub in Primrose Hill with a prime back garden. Always good for pitchers of Pimms and some excellent food ranging from a confit duck, aged sirloin steak with bernaise sauce and miso marinated sea bass.

- Gilgamesh (Camden, $$$) - One of the most impressive restaurant spaces I have ever seen, Gilgamesh is 20,000 sq.ft. of ornate wood carvings depicting the story of Babylonian king Gilgamesh. The space is divided into a bar, lounge and restaurant with an open roof for the summer time. The food is pan Asian with all the new classics like duck and watermelon salad, salt & pepper squid, dim sum selections, sushi, lamb cutlets and beef bulgogi. The food is interesting and the cocktails definitely potent, but the thing that will keep you coming back is the space and the way it has been designed. Definitely make a trip to the restrooms for one of the most decorative experiences in London.

- Borough Market (Borough, $) - A true London Institution, the market started up as a farmer's market, and has grown into a true phenomenon. Every Friday and Saturday, all the local merchants fill the market, with produce, cheeses, cooked foods and an incredible bustling vibe. One can spend the whole day tasting the specialties, but a few are worth an extra mention: the juicy chorizo and red pepper sandwich with rocket and olive oil, the incredible grilled cheese sandwich with scallions and pepper (more cheese than you have ever had), the lamb and tzatziki burger, and the selection of jamon and cheeses.

- Saagar (Hammersmith, $$) - Nestled on busy King Street, this vegetarian south-Indian restaurant serves up outstanding food in a very simple, no-frills surrounding. Definitely try the chaat including dahi batata puri, sev puri and pani puri, and follow it up with some of the south-Indian delicacies like plain dosas (crispy crepes stuffed with spiced potatoes and onions), mysore masala dosas and utappams (fluffy rice pancakes with onions, pepper, tomatoes and peas).

- River Cafe (Hammersmith, $$$$) - Don't let its obscure location scare you off, the River Cafe epitomizes the pinnacle of Italian cooking in London. The room is fantastic open and spacious with big glass windows overlooking the river. Each of the four courses brings in seasonal specialities. Appetizers like chargrilled squid with chilli, mozzarella di bufala with olives and spring onion and delicious pizettas. For the primis, spaghetti con granchio with fresh crab, fennel and chilli and the simple tagliarini con pomodoro. For the secondis, the leg of lamb or dover sole are incredible. With menus changing daily, definitely ask for recommendations and enjoy it with a good Soave wine. Also, don't forget to leave room for the desserts, like the chocolate nemesis (the name says it all) and the divine lemon tart.

- Saigon Saigon (Hammersmith, $$$) - Excellent Vietnamese in Hammersmith, with a very authentic decor and good value. The menu offers all the traditional specialties from cold summer rolls, crispy soft shell crab, steamed sea bass and a selection of soups.

London Part 4 - East London (City / Shoreditch / Bethnal Green)

2009-10-12T22:21:00.023+01:00

For many West Londoners, the thought of venturing East is terrifying. However, a lot of the new restaurants, bars and clubs have all opened in Hoxton, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green and Brick Lane. The vibes are very different, usually unpretentious, and loads of fun. I strongly recommend you drag yourself out to the East end when you are next in town.

Restaurants

- Chilango (Fleet Street, $) - Slightly biased by my close affiliation with Chilango, but in my opinion the BEST burritos in London. Excellent slow cooked, tender meats and a fan following that winds its way around Fleet Street each day make for an excellent experience. Must try the braised pork burritos with all the trimmings.

- Tajima-tei - (Leather Lane, $$) - Small, very traditional Japanese with an outstanding sushi menu and some classic favourites like otoro (fatty tuna), snow cab tempura, great maki rols and deep fried aubergine with bean paste. Make a reservation if you're there for lunch as it gets very busy.

- Smith's of Smithfield (Smithfield Market, $$) - Three-floor restaurant serving up all the British classics, fresh from Smithfield Market. Ground floor is casual with burgers and sandwiches, 1st floor is more of a bistro feel and the 2n floor is the formal restaurant with outdoor terrace. Very good burgers and steaks.

- Hix Oyster & Chophouse (Greenhill Rents, $$$) - Mark Hix's first outpost of his eponymous restaurant group, this place serves some excellent British meats and fish. Each of their cuts of steak are well selected, tender and delicious.

- St. John (St. John Street, $$$) - You may think this is just another meat-focused place, but St. John is so much more. With its focus on seasonal game and some creative preparation, you can rest assured that you will try some things which you have definitely not had before (for better or worse). Undoubtedly, their specialty is the whole roast suckling pig which serves 16 and has to be pre-ordered and carved on your table. Get a group together and give it a try.

- Moro (Exmouth Market, $$$) - Very well reputed North African / Spanish in Exmouth Market serving classics like pigeon pastilla, crispy pork belly and by far the best chorizo cooked in wine. Make reservations in advance as this small local gets packed every night.

- Drunken Monkey (Shoreditch High Street, $$) - Serving up simple Chinese and pan-Asian classics, Drunken Monkey is great for dinner before a big East end night out. Good for groups with its massive tables and DJ busting out tunes all night.

- Pizza East (Shoreditch High Street, $$$) - From the Soho House Group, this pizza parlour looks like an unfinished warehouse and has several people waiting for tables each weekend. Its a very good scene but what brings people back each time are the pizzas. Delicious, thin and definitely wood-fired with creative toppings like veal meatballs with sage and parsley, spicy sausage with broccoli and garlic, spinach with goats cheese and pine nuts and prawn with spring onion and chilli. Make a reservation so you aren't waiting too long.

- Tayyab's (Whitechapel, $$) - Strictly or the hardcore, this casual Pakistani special in Whitechapel has been famous in London for years. The seekh and chicken kebabs, lamb chops, nehari, karahi dishes and buttery naans are an excellent example of the cuisine of the country. Its BYOB so pick up your beers and wine from the nearby corner shops.

- L'Anima (Snowden Street, $$$$) - An unusual location for a new Italian, but the stark white dining room with high ceilings an glass frontage gets packed with a City lunch crowd. The crab & avocado salad, scallops and beef carpaccio are outstanding. In the pastas, the wild mushroom fettuccine and cavatelli with sausage and sprouts are my favourites.

- Bistrotheque (Wadeson Street, $$$) - This modern French bistro with a twist, buried in Bethnal Green is difficult to find but definitely worth it. With a cocktail bar downstairs, and a nightly drag show, Bistrotheque is definitely a different experience. The restaurant upstairs is the main event with a warehouse, white tiled dining room with an open feel. The food is modern French wit bistro classics like oysters, hamburgers, lemon sole and succulent rib-eyes.

- Hawksmoor (Commercial Street, $$$) - Surprisingly, in my 5 years in London I have yet to try this place, but every review I have read and recommendation I have gotten swears that this is one of the best steakhouses in London. With classic seafood as appetizers and a wide selection of cuts of beef, I am going to have to try what is supposed to be the best steakhouse in London very soon.

- Rosa's (Hanbury Street, $$) - Tiny modern Thai that has become a local favourite, and with a new branch recently opened in Soho, Rosa's is going to only gain in popularity. Serving up some truly unusual Thai dishes like stir fried scallops in chilli, chargrilled duck breast and venison Thai red curry, there is plenty to get your taste buds going.

- Hoxton Apprentice (Hoxton Square, $$$) - Very interesting concept, where young chefs can experiment with an innovative menu for a few weeks each. Wide range of offerings depending on the chef in residence.

- Song Que (Kingland Road, $$) - Cheap and busy Vietnamese, and one of the many on Kingsland Road but definitely the most popular. Perennial favourites include pho noodles, summer rolls, salt pepper squid and sea bream in delicious sauces.

- Cinnamon Kitchen (Devonshire Square, $$$) - A casual outpost of the Michelin-starred Cinnamon Club in Westminster, it serves up Indian specialties with a modern influence and in a modern setting. Quite possibly the best Indian restaurant in the East, which also offers some ambience and a good bar.

- Piada (St. John Street, $) - Small Italian lunch spot, serving up delicious piadas, which are large flatbreads, grilled and filled with delicious Italian meats, cheeses, fresh rocket and olive oil. Good selection of fillings, and some daily pastas, soups and salads too.

- Asadal (Holborn, $$$) - Tucked away own a narrow staircase right next to Holborn tube, Asadal is an excellent choice for Korean bbq. Very good marinated meats, bibimbop, and all the kimchi accompaniments. Look out for a more detailed review soon.

Bars & Clubs

- Beach Blanket Babylon - This BBB branch offers a more diverse scene than NH, and a good bar scene downstairs with crazy performances from time to time. Probably not worth eating here but definitely stop in for a drink.

- Boundary Rooftop - A very popular spot during the summer time, and unfortunately it doesn't take reservations. Great cocktails and a good vibe with the big central fireplace as it starts getting cooler in the evenings. Don't bother with the Terence Conran restaurant in the basement but Albion, the more casual cafe on the ground floor is a better option.

- Callooh Callay - Themed after Alice in Wonderland, this cocktail bar has a good mixologist and mad hatter style decor.

- Loungelover - From the Trois Garcon guys, Loungelover, with its bizarre decor is good for drinks pre-dinner if you are in the area.

- Green & Red Cantina - Right near the top end of Brick Lane, a Mexican cantina was a required addition to the Bethnal Green bar scene. With good Mexican food upstairs, the downstairs manages to draw in a crowd each weekend. Bring on the margaritas!

London Part 3 -West (Notting Hill / Marylebone)

2009-10-12T21:57:00.008+01:00

Notting Hill was my first home in London, and I lived there for almost 3 years, truly exploring the area and all that it had to taste. A previously artsy neighbourhood, it has recently been overrun by bankers and Americans (all no doubt inspired by the movie). But the neighbourhood still feels like a village with its local merchants, grocers, bars and restaurants.

Restaurants
Italian / Mediterranean
- Mediterraneo (Kensington Park Road, $$$) – A Notting Hill classic, this neighbourhood Italian, manages to pack the house each night with its simple pastas and incredible grilled meats and fish. Definitely try the lobster linguini and the strawberry tiramisu for dessert (when in season).
- Arancina (Pembridge Villas, $) – Tiny little Italian takeaway, which specializes in arancina, fried balls of risotto with mushroom or ham or seafood. Also, the pizza slices and dessert with a good Italian espresso are fantastic.
- Locanda Locatelli (Seymour Place, $$$$) – One of the best Italian places in London with a very good scene, Giorgio Locatelli’s restaurant succeeds in drawing the crowds for lunch and dinner. The menu changes seasonally, but truffle season is usually best when they do Scrambled Barberini eggs with shaved black truffles and outstanding pastas. I feel it’s a bit overpriced for what it is but you always enjoy the experience.
- Il Baretto (Blandford Street, $$$) – From the guys who do Roka, La Petite Maison and Zuma, comes an Italian, in an Marylebone. Not their best work, but a good local place with very thin and crisp pizzas and decent pastas. The wine list is excellent as is the service.
- The Oak (Westbourne Park Road, $$$) – This Med/Italian is great in the summer when you can sit outside and enjoy their antipasti platters and wood-fired thin crust pizzas with unusual toppings.
- Negozio Classico (Portobello Road, $$$) – Small wine focused Italian with an excellent antipasti menu to go along with the plethora of wines. A wall full of bottles carefully catalogued allow for a good tasting session, and you grab what you like and they serve it to you (for a minimal corkage charge). Excellent wines and the food is delicious.

French
- Galvin Bistro De Luxe (Baker Street, $$$1/2) - Classic French brasserie from Jeff and Chris Galvin, this French restaurant serves an excellent crab lasagne and classics like steak frites. Always good for long lunch or a dinner with a big group.
- The Ledbury (Ledbury Road, $$$$) - Undoubtedly one of my favourite restaurants in London, the Ledbury was recently awarded its second Michelin star. The food is incredible as is the passion fruit souffle with Sauternes ice cream for dessert and the best cheese trolley in London. But what really makes this place special is the friendly service which you don't usually get in 2-start French restaurant anywhere in the world.
- La Fromagerie (Moxon Street, $$) - One of the best cheese shops in London, they also serve up a seasonal menu and a host of cheese plates to munch on while you're there as well.
- Le Relais de Venise (Marylebone Lane, $$$) - Based on the Entrecote concept from Paris, they have the simplest menu and possibly the most bored chef in London. The only question you are asked is "How would you like that cooked". The only thing on the menu is a walnut salad, thin slices of entrecote steak in their secret mustard sauce served with fries and a few options for dessert. I would suggest the profiteroles, again best i've had in London.

Lebanese / Middle Eastern / Persian
- Maroush (Edgeware Road, $$$) – With a name like Maroush synonymous with Lebanese food in London, there are about 10 of them scattered all over, but the main one is on Edgeware Road with the chandeliers and waterfalls et al. The food is outstanding and the portions generous with all the standard fare from the Lebanon. Watch out for the massive fruit plate, which arrives after the meal.
- Helen's (Edgeware Road, $) – This tiny hole-in-the-wall serves up the best shawarma (both chicken and lamb) and falafel sandwiches in London. Open around 7-8pm and open till the early hours of the morning Helen’s is definitely the stop on the way home from a big night out.
- Al Tanoor (Edgeware Road, $$) – Another small non-descript Lebanese on Edgeware Road, Al Tanoor, churns out what has to be the best and softest Lebanese bread I have ever had. Order up a bunch of hot and cold mezze and enjoy the bread.
- Levant (Wigmore Street, $$$) – More of a group restaurant with its prix fixe menus and belly dancing entertainment Levant (and its sister restaurant Levantine), manage to keep the crowds coming, even though off late its been more stag/hen parties and tourists rather than Londoners.
- Alounak (Wetbourne Grove, $$) – Honestly, one of the best Persian meals I have ever had. Alounak (with 2 locations on Westbourne Grove and Kensington Olympia) serves up excellent kashke bademjan and mirza ghasemi (both aubergine based appetizers) with taftoon bread (delicious) and the most tender, succulent meats (lamb kofte, chicken and lamb cubes) with buttery rice and grilled tomatoes. Simple, delicious and truly incredible.

Thai / Chinese / Japanese / Asian Fusion
- Pearl Liang (Paddington Central, $$) – Pearl Liang has become my new favourite restaurant for classic Chinese food. It’s a bit hard to find, tucked away in Paddington Central, but the dim sum on weekends (with the best Shanghai Soup Dumpling I have had), and the mains comprising Lobster Noodles with ginger and Scallion, the Peking Duck, and the Dover Sole which is stir fried with chillies and served on the fried whole fish bone (incredible presentation).
- Royal China (Queensway, $$) – A perennial classic with all Londoners and the Indians visiting, Royal China always lives up to the task. Excellent food, slightly stern service and a flashy dining room make for a fun evening with big groups. Watch out for long queues for dim sum on the weekends.
- Churchill Arms (Kensington Church Street, $) – this dine-and-dash Thai in the back of the Churchill Arms pub, serves up excellent and cheap Thai food. The service and pushiness of the wait staff leaves you feeling pressured to eat quickly an down that pint before they serve you your bill. Personally prefer Addie’s by the same owners on Earl’s Court Road.
- Dinings (Marylebone, $$$) – New innovative Japanese in a strange part of Marylebone with not many restaurants around. The tiny dining room and authentically Japanese staff make every evening interesting, but the food is what keeps patrons coming back again and again. Outstanding and creative dishes make it a good middle ground between the local conveyor belt sushi houses and the Roka/Nobu’s of London.
- Princess Garden (North Audley Street, $$$) – Undoubtedly the best Peking Duck in London (because of their wheat pancakes), Princess Garden in Mayfair has been serving to a packed house for ages. The dim sum on the weekends is excellent and affordable and much more civilized than Royal China or others.
- E&O (Portabello Road, $$$) – A true Asian-fusion place just off Portobello Road, with classics like duck and watermelon salad, a rich red curry and great Thai fried calamari, this one is still a great place to eat. Also serves up excellent cocktails.

Brunch / Diners
- The Electric Brasserie (Portabello Road, $$$) – Another NH institution, the Electric (brasserie, club and cinema) have lines out the door. Excellent burgers, great eggs benedict and outstanding Sunday roasts. But make sure you make a reservation because it fills up quickly. Let the bartender surprise you with his creative mixology rather than order off the menu.
- 202 (Westbourne Grove, $$) – Another NH classic, this brunch place in the Nicole Farhi store is packed with the lunch crowd especially on weekends. Excellent lamb burgers and a very strong brunch menu make it a favourite. Always good to sit outside on nice sunny days too.
- Tom's (Westbourne Grove, $$) – From Tom Conran, this diner-like place focuses on brunch and serves up all the classics like omelettes, eggs benedicts, American style pancakes, etc. Has a tiny back garden which is always good in the summer.
- Lucky 7 (Westbourne Park Road, $$) – Also from Tom Conran, this 50s style “burgers and shakes” diner I great for a casual night out in Notting hill.
- Ottolenghi (Ledbury Road, $$) – Without doubt one of the best dessert places in NH, with a window full of cakes, pies and tarts, its impossible to walk by and not pick something up. My favourites are the passion fruit meringue tart and the devils food cake. Some of the salads and soups are really good too for lunch.

Others, etc.
- Crazy Homies (Westbourne Park Road, $$) – Another off the wall idea from Tom Conran, CH’s is a classic Mexican cantina serving up smashing Mexican street food like burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas and tacos to some of the best churros with chocolate for dessert, and definitely the most potent margaritas in different flavours. Try and make a reservation because the wait can be quite long.
- Pinxtos (Westbourne Grove, $$) – Pronounced (Pinchos), this casual Spanish place, has a bunch of spanish tapas all bite-sized and delicious with a stick running through them. You pick the ones you like and get charged by the number of sticks consumed. The wine list needs some inprovement but always fun on a week night.
- Hummingbird Bakery (Portabello Road) – Another classic in NH (and South Ken) Hummingbird specializes in cupcakes of all kinds and the lines out the door are a testament to their fan following.
- Providores (Marylebone High Street, $$$) – Another excellent and unusual restaurant which is great for lunch and brunch in Marylebone. Cant remember the food given its been a while since I last went but outstanding each time.
- Trishna (Blandford Street, $$$) – This Bombay-classic opened up in Marylebone, with a slight twist on the down-and-dirty vibe of Bombay. The London branch has a tasting menu and a French maitre’d and a great wine list too. The food is outstanding with the classics like koliwada prawns, hyderabadi fish tikkas, butter pepper crab (de-shelled), coconut curry mussels and an excellent daal. Not quite the same but excellent even though it’s a bit overpriced.

Bars & Clubs
- Montgomery Place - Outstanding cocktails in small unassuming venue.
- Ruby & Sequioa - Always packed with a mix of the carnival and modern NH crowd
- Trailer Happiness - Great cocktails from the guys who do the Player in Soho
- Portabello Star - Recently renovated with an extensive cocktail menu, this place has a great vibe and good scene
- The Clarendon - Again recently renovated, this one has a good pub/bar scene upstairs and a big terrace for the summer
- The Lonsdale - One of the few upscale places in NH, great cocktails and a good wine and champagne list. Only problem is it closes by 1am.
- The Westbourne - Honestly a sight to see in the summer, the terrace and pavement outside this gastropub are heaving with a great scene and pitchers of Pimms are flowing. Always a good time.
- Electric House - Part of the Electric Cinema group, this private member's club is usually packed and one of the few late night spots in NH.

London Part 2 - South West (Chelsea / South Ken / Sloane Square)

2009-10-09T19:21:00.002+01:00

From Soho, we move to South Kensington and Chelsea. I have been living in the area for almost 2 years now, and have had chance to explore the various restaurants, bars and clubs in the area.

Restaurant

Spanish

- Tendido Cero (Old Brompton Road, $$) – One of South Ken’s best tapas restaurants, with incredible innovative tapas and a great wine list. They only do 2 seatings at 7pm and 9:30 and make sure you book in advance. As with most Spanish places, their Jamon Iberico is delicious. My other favourites are the Sobresada (thin pastries stuffed with chorizo and cheese and drizzled with honey), the chorizo (amazingly tender and cooked in wine and vinegar) and the Gambas al Ajillo (prawns in garlic). The foie gras carpaccio is worth a miss and doesn’t have a truly distinct flavour. Also great for groups and big tables with a set menu.

- Cambio de Tercio (Old Brompton Road, $$$) – From the same guys who do Tendido Cero, Cambio is more of a restaurant than a true tapas bar. They still serve a limited list of tapas but their specialties are more Spanish dishes.

- Casa Brindisa (Exhibition Road, $) – A recent outpost of the Borough Market original, Brindisa is excellent for a relaxed evening. Their menu constantly changes depending on the seasons, but the best dishes I have tried are the chorizo (a Brindisa specialty) and peppers on bread with rocket, the fillet steak with a blue cheese on toast, the Monte Enebro cheese which is lightly fried and doused with honey, the jamon (of course), the padron peppers and the tortilla. Some of their salads are really good as well.

- Lola Rojo (Wandworth Bridge Road, $$) – The second site offering some more innovative Spanish cooking from the regular tapas bars. Here they are experimenting and borrowing influences from the molecular gastronomy that has become so prevalent in the Basque region and other parts of Spain. Definitely worth a visit for some Spanish cooking that’s a bit different.

Italian

- Aglio e Olio (Fulham Road, $$) – Small, local Chelsea Italian which is always packed and noisy. Incredible appetizers of scallops, prosciutto and mozzarella, and antipasti platters. Their mains and pastas are delicious from the Penne with pancetta, peas and mushrooms in a cream sauce, to their spaghettini with lobster in a spicy tomato sauce, to their linguini vongole (with clams). Expect to wait a bit for a table but always good food and great value.

- Osteria dell'Arancio (King’s Road, $) – Honestly one of my favourite Italian restaurants in London, this quirky place has a very interesting décor and an authentic vibe given the only other branch is in Italy. Excellent appetizers of grilled squid, beef carpaccio and bocconcini. For mains, I always end up getting a pasta and their Amatriciana is divine, as is their spaghetti with crab meat, and their outstanding gorgonzola ravioli.

- La Famiglia (Langton Street, $$) – This Chelsea institution has been around for ages, and has a classic feel with an all white-tiled dining room and waiters in aprons. Also, their back garden is good for big groups. In terms of their food, all the classics are on their menu. For appetizers, my favourites are the fried calamari, the melanzane (layers of aubergine, cheese and a delicious tomato sauce) and the antipasti selection. For mains, their veal, the steaks and almost all the pastas are outstanding. Also, definitely leave room for dessert which comes around on a trolley at the end of the meal.

Thai / Chinese / Asian Fusion / Japanese

- Hunan (Pimlico Road, $$$) – Hands down the best Chinese restaurant in London and a true neighbourhood secret. Michael and his father (Mr. Peng) have been running Hunan for years. Definitely make a reservation and be ready for the meal of your life. There is no menu, it’s a set meal where everything comes in portions just enough for the size of your group. There are probably 10-15 courses and the big dishes are the chili lobster noodles (incredible, fiery and better than Mandarin Kitchen’s), a steamed sea bass in ginger, scallion and soya and a crispy aromatic duck served in the traditional style with pancakes. Let Michael know which mains you want so he can organize it upfront. Definitely leave the wine selection to him.

- Addie's Thai (Earl’s Court Road, $) – Cheap and cheerful Thai in Earl’s Court. The fact that it is always full is a true testament to its excellent food and strong following. I believe its one of the best Thai spots in London and am constantly arguing with friends that give the crown to Churchill Arms (ironically both owned by the same people). Call ahead before going so you can guarantee a table and don’t have to wait. For appetizers try the kra thong thong (crispy baskets with minced chicken and prawns topped with corn and peppers), the spicy beef salad and the papaya salad. In mains, their specialties are the grilled neck end of pork served with a special sauce (sounds weird but trust me it is amazing), the weeping tiger (sizzling beef), the green and red curries, the stir fried morning glory and of course the Pad Thai (made just right with a lattice pattern on top). If you live in the area Addie’s also delivers.

- Eight over Eight (King’s Road, $) – Part of the group that does E&O and XO, they have perfected the art of Asian Fusion cooking in London. Great cocktails and very good food. My favourites are the duck and watermelon salad, the spicy grilled beef fillet, the fried calamari with peppercorns and the curries. Their dim sum is interesting as well.

- Zuma (Knightsbridge, $$$$) – From the guys who own Roka, Zuma has been part of the London scene for ages. The menu is very similar to Roka with Robata grill specialties, but probably a greater emphasis on sushi. Its always crowded and a usual haunt for the City crowd, the Knightsbridge bunch and unfortunately a lot of pros. Great for drinks as well.

- Sushinho (King’s Road, $$$) – Recent addition to the King’s Road lot, focusing on Japanese-Brazilian fusion. I have only been there once, and it is trying to be the Sushi Samba (NY) of London. Good food but definitely had some teething issues when I was there.

Indian

- Painted Heron (Cheyne Walk, $$) – My favourite Indian restaurant in London, Chef Yogesh Dutta has done a great job at ensuring high quality, innovative yet classic Indian food in a very relaxed and serene setting. Definitely try the chicken tikka masala (clichéd, but very very good), the scallop and prawn in coconut curry, the lamp chops (very tender), the yellow daal and the paneer tikkas. Make sure you leave some room for the mango kulfi served on a stick.

- Amaya (Halkin Arcade, $$$$) – This Michelin-starred Indian restaurant from the Punjabi sisters is outstanding and has been the Hakassan of Indian food. Focused on small sharing plates and many different grills, this place really has earned its star. A good cocktail menu, excellent service and a cool ambiance add to its popularity. My favourites are the peppered chicken tikka, the spicy prawn tikkas, the soft-shelled crab and the kebab with the thin thread in the middle. Definitely focus on the biryani, yellow daal and raita for the mains and add a curry if required.

- Masala Zone (Earl’s Court Road, $) – From the owners of Amaya and Chutney Mary, this super casual, cheap and relaxed restaurant with several locations across London is always good if you’re craving some good Indian food. Focused on Indian street food including sev puri, dahi puri, pav bhaji and shikhampuri kebabs and excellent curries ranging from chicken mangalore, chicken madras and prawn karwari. To get a taste of everything, try the thali, which is a large plate with small portions of a few different dishes served with rice and naan, a great way to experience as many different flavours as possible. For locals, Masala Zone delivers as well.

Lebanese / Turkish

- Ishbilia (Knightsbridge, $$$) – One of the more traditional Lebanese places around, with the white table cloths and the big platter of uncut vegetables when you arrive. Excellent food and you can clearly tell they know what they are doing. The mezze are fantastic from the humous with shawarma, kibbeh and moutabal. In the mains the meats are outstanding with my favourite being the grilled lamb served over pita and a spicy tomato based sauce and yoghurt.

- Noura (Knightsbridge, $$) – More casual than Ishbilia, with excellent food and all the Lebanese classics. Noura also delivers if you live in the area.

- Bosphorus (Old Brompton Road, $) – This tiny beat-up looking kebab shop is a South Ken institution. Located very close to the tube at the top end of Old Brompton, it serves incredible kebabs and is usually open late. With limited seating, this is more of a take-away place.

Brunch

- PJ's (Fulham Road, $$) – Best brunch in Chelsea, serving all the American classics in a great setting. Also a few tables outside for people watching on warm sunny days. Definitely have the Eggs Benedict, the French Toast with Bacon, the Cheeseburger or even one of the salads. Usually better to book as the weekends can get very busy.

- Aubaine (Brompton Road, $$) – A small French brasserie which has a very French Riviera feel about it. Amazingly popular for brunch on the weekends. My favourites are the Aubaine Burger (sliced filleted steak on a burger bun with a delicious horseradish mayo and fries) or one of the egg options (Benedict or Omelettes). Excellent dessert and very good bread as well. Definitely book before going.

Others, etc.

- The Botanist (Sloane Square, $$$) – Very popular gastro pub right on Sloane Square. Always full for drinks with the crowds pouring out on the street and good modern British food.

- Jak's (Walton Street, $) – Small local favourite where Jak serves up his good home-cooking focusing on Mediterranean influences. Outstanding salads and great daily meat, chicken and vegetarian specialties.

- Thomas Cubbitt (Elizabeth Street, $$) – Very good gastro pub in Pimlico, serving a more casual bistro-style menu downstairs and a formal dining room upstairs.

- Chelsea Farmer's Market (Off King’s Road, $$) – Unique to Chelsea this “farmer’s market” is more a collection of small outdoor restaurants rather than a traditional market. Good pizzas, good Argentinean steaks and a more relaxed place serving salads, burgers and sandwiches. Always popular on bright sunny days.

- Bumpkin (Old Brompton Road, $$$) – This is the “country pub” in the heart of the London. Great for drinks and good food as well. An excellent Sunday Roast (you better be hungry) as well. Sister restaurant to their original location in Notting Hill.

- Hache (Fulham Road, $$) – Classified as a gourmet burger restaurant, they really do serve about 50 different kinds of burgers ranging from different meats, to a host of cheeses and a variety of breads too. Good burgers too, which are rare to find in London.

Bars & Clubs

- Boujis (Thurloe Place) – A South Ken institution and a place that has become my “second home”, this tiny South Ken club still manages to pack the house each night with different DJs and themed nights. Make sure you are on the list or book a table. Ask for Jessica or Jake at the door.

- Nam Long (Old Brompton Road) – This Vietnamese restaurant is much more popular for its drinks than its food. Nam Long was the originator of the Flaming Ferraris (4 kinds of liquor in a martini glass, set on fire, and sucked down quickly through a straw). Always open late and a good place for drinks as an alternative to the clubs in the area.

- Eclipse (Walton Street / Old Brompton Road) – Open for years, Eclipse still manages to bring in the crowds and serves up delicious Watermelon Vodka cocktails. Walton street has better people watching, but Old Brompton definitely has more ro0m and a dance floor downstairs.

- Bart’s (Sloane Avenue) – A tiny speakeasy, hidden away inside the Chelsea Cloisters apartment building. Look for the comic strop wall paper and ring the doorbell, someone will open the slit to see who you are and let you in. Once inside you feel like you have been transported to a different time. Great cocktails and a very good soundtrack but sometimes full of way too many “Sloaneys”.

- Tini (Walton Street) – One of the bars on the Walton Street strip, Tini isn’t really differentiated in any way, except for the Pirelli calendar pictures on the walls. Good for drinks before heading out in the area or fro drinks during the week.

- Raffles (Fulham Road) – Besides Boujis this is the other place to go clubbing in South Ken. Good scene and great music, but make sure you are on a guest list or have a table booked.

- Diva Beach – Trying to provide bit of a Miami-vibe in London can be hard but these folks are trying it out. With an all white décor and beds, this new club is gaining popularity.

- Kensington Roof Gardens (Kensington High Street) – Having been around for years, this indoor outdoor rooftop bar/club is always popular in the summertime. I haven’t seen their most recent iteration, but it can be fun for drinks. As a club it’s a bit ht or miss as the crowd can sometimes be “B&T”.

London Part 1 - Central London (Soho/Mayfair/Charlotte Street)

2009-09-16T22:29:00.002+01:00

London has been my home for the past 5 years and as you can imagine I have tried a whole host of restaurants and bars measuring the length and breadth of the city. So I've decided to separate my London recommendations into a few of my favourite areas: Soho, Chelsea/South Ken., Shoreditch, Notting Hill/Marylebone and Others. Lets start with Soho....

Soho is truly where the pulse of central London really is. From the crowded shopping districts of Carnaby Street, to its amazing aromas and colours of China Town to its arty and trendy vibe. But most of all it has become the mecca for all new restaurants that want to be perceived as somewhat unique. From a bunch of new tapas bars, to modern iterations of classic Chinatown favourites, to some very good sushi places, Soho is truly my favourite eating area in London.

Restaurants

Chinese / Asian Fusion

- Yauatcha (Broadwick Street, $$$) – From the master of Asian fusion flavours, Alan Yau, this Michelin-starred dim sum and tea house truly lives up to its reputation. Always make a reservation (and try and put up with their 2 hour table turn around attitude) and order family style. In terms of what to order, some of my picks are the Mooli Sea Bass Dumplings which are very tender but amazingly tasty, the baked Venison Puffs which are a novel take on the classic dim sum, Jasmine Tea Smoked Ribs which are juicy and delicious and just fall of the bone, the Crispy Mongolian Lamb with sweet chili dipping sauce (which is honestly the reason I come here) and a thin layer of marrow in the middle, and the Wagyu Beef Cheung Fun is also amazing. For veggies, there are tons of dumplings and noodles and veggie options so don’t fret. Yauatcha also does excellent cocktails, my usual classic being the Lalu (which is Russian Standard Vodka with bamboo, ginger and a mix of juices). Also the desserts are excellent, as are the Macrons is a 100 different flavours.

- Haozhan (Gerrard Street, $$) – A pleasant change from the run of the mill Chinese places on Gerrard Street, Haozhan is quite zen in décor but has some amazing dishes. Try the Peking Duck, which is prepared and served in a modern style, and also the Wasabi Encrusted Prawns, which are just right in terms of spice and texture.

- Bar Shu (Frith Street, $$$) – Finally, a Soho favourite catering to the fiery lot. This Sichuan restaurant definitely has some of the spiciest food in London. A couple of dishes to try are the Sea Bass in the sea of chillies, the hot shredded beef, the cold chicken noodle salad and definitely some of the greens depending on what’s in season. Amazing flavours and genuine fire derived from the Sichuan pepper make this a mouth and eye-watering experience.

- Ba Shan (Frith Street, $$) – From the same owners as Bar Shu, this smaller take on a Sichuan tea house focuses more on a lighter menu though still spicy. The Lotus Buns are great and very soft, the Dumplings in hot chili oil are excellent and the shredded chicken and beef salads are both excellent. Don’t really need a reservations but probably worth it for large groups.

- Mr. Kong ($$) – One of the old favourites on Lisle Street in Chinatown, Mr. Kongs menu probably has about 100 different dishes. The specialities for me are the Prawns in a Paper Bag and the Pork and Green Beans. Both excellent and worth trying.

Japanese

- Roka (Charlotte Street, $$$$)– Definitely the best Japanese restaurant in London in my opinion. From the owners of Zuma, comes this less pretentious Japanese focusing on Robata grill specialties rather than Sushi. Honestly, when I’m here I rarely order any sushi at all. The best dishes are their take on the Tuna Tataki Salad, which comes is delicious dollops with an apple dressing, the Rock Shrimp Tempura with Ponzu sauce (a Nobu classic but a good rendition), the Sea Bream Fillet (definitely too fishy for some) which is very tender, gently grilled and coated in a miso dressing, the Chili Beef which is a slices of grilled beef that melt in your mouth served with a chili dipping sauce and the Lamb Chops Korean style which are delicious. Also as accompaniments try the Grilled Eggplant and the Asparagus Skewers. I always sit downstairs in their bar called Shochu Lounge for dinner which has a cozier more relaxed vibe, good music and great cocktails. Try the Kasia Laska, which is Zubrowka Vodka, with orange bitters and apple juice and a massive iceberg in the center.

- Tsunami (Charlotte Street, $$$) – This original Clapham Japanese has had tremendous success with its second opening on Charlotte Street. More understated than Nobu or Roka but still uncompromising in terms of taste. The Wasabi Prawns, the Sushi platter, the Snow Crab Shumai, the Yellowtail Sashimi Jalapeno and the Lamb Cutlets are all delicious, and even though some of the influences are borrowed from other famous Japanese restaurants, they always add their own touch as well.

- Kikuchi (Hanway Place, $$$) – This tiny non-descript Japanese is around the corner from Hakassan and could honestly give most high end Japanese in London a run for their money. Very traditional with waitresses that greet you loudly when you arrive and a sushi chef who could easily have been a character in Kill Bill, this is a no-nonsense restaurant with an extensive Sake list and a massive menu. The best dishes I tried are the Snow Crab Tempura (very unique and soft), the Chef’s Sushi Selection (which includes Otoro), the Eggplant in Miso (half an eggplant grilled with the miso glaze and deliciously soft), the Scallops with Mushrooms in Butter (that melt in your mouth), the Grilled Miso Glazed Toro (usually a special) and the Sizzling Teppanyaki Pork (simple and tender).

- Aqua (Off Regent’s Street, $$$$) – From the owners of Aqua in Hong Kong, comes a brand new restaurant in 2 parts with Aqua Nueva (Spanish) and Aqua Kyoto (Japanese). Both have been rated very highly but I haven’t tried them yet. Will obviously update this review when I do.

Italian / Spanish / Tapas

- Bocca di Lupo (Archer Street, $$$) – One of the best newcomers to London, this Italian focuses on small dishes which are meant for sharing. Their specialties include the Fritti Romani (fillet of salt cod and artichokes are the best ones), and incredible Pasta selection served in small portions to allow you to try as many as possible (my favourites of which are the all of which are the Trofie with Green Beans and Pesto and the Spaghettini with Lobster and Mussels) and the Sea Bream baked in Salt. Also, don't forget the Girolles with Parsley and Chili on the side. Stay away from the Lung and Spleen Foccacia (don’t ask why we tried it!). Try and sit at the bar counter and watch all the food being cooked in front of you. One of the hardest reservations to get on London these days so book well in advance and you wont be disappointed.

- Barrafina (Frith Street, $$$) – BEST tapas in London by miles. This tapas bar from the Hart brothers is modeled on Cal Pep in Barcelona. With just 23 seats and no reservations, this places runs a very simple democratic approach of 1 in – 1 out. Worth waiting for and order the Urbina Rioja, Jamon and Padron Peppers while you wait and get into the mood. The specials keep changing but the classics will always be available and most of the food is prepared a la plancha in front of your eyes. Definitely try the Tuna Tartar (which is finely chopped and tossed in sesame oil and served with guacamole), the Tortilla (either the prawn or chorizo, both are excellent and wonderfully moist), the Prawns grilled and drizzled with chili, the Spinach Tart with Sultanas and Lamb Cutlets. Also, if you still have room try the Crema Catalana or the Santiago Tart for dessert.

- Fino (Off Charlotte Street, $$$$) – From the same brothers that brought you Barrafina, Fino is a more formal restaurant with Spanish dishes and a selection of tapas. The best dish I have tried here is the grilled Pork Belly which is tender, juicy and crispy glazed on top.

- Fernandez & Wells ($$) – Small Italian wine bar and tapas selection which functions better as a pre-dinner option. Great wines by the glass and some excellent Jamon and cheeses to accompany them.

- Dehesa (Ganton Street, $$$) – Right in the heart of Carnaby Street, this Italian/Spanish tapas restaurant from the owners of Salt Yard manages to throw off some unique dishes. Excellent for big groups with a private dining room below. The Fried Courgette Flower stuffed with Cheese and drizzled with honey is the best I have ever had, the grilled Chorizo is excellent and the Confit Pork Belly is outstanding and deliciously crispy on top with a tender interior. My other favourites are the Prawns a la Plancha, the Beetroot Carpaccio and the Patatas Fritas. And as always the Jamon is excellent.

- Polpo ($$$) – Brand new and from one of the ex-Chefs from Bocca di Lupo, Polpo focuses on Venetian style small plates. I haven’t tried it yet but I have heard it is very good though a shade below BDL.

Indian

- Rasa Samudra (Charlotte Street, $$$) – London has plenty of Indian restaurants, but few focus on South West Indian coastal seafood specialties. Rasa Samudra is def the best of the lot, even with its pink walls and bright colours. The food has the traditional flavours of the south coast using a lot of coconut, mustard seeds and spices. For appetizers, the Crab Thoran and the Konju Varuthathu (Prawns in dried chilies). For mains, try one of the Prawn specialties and also the Tilapia or fish dishes. Definitely try the aapams and neer dosas instead of traditional naans.

- Mint Leaf ($$$$) – One of the modern Indian places, personally I prefer Mint Leaf as a cocktail bar than for its food. Trying to be the Hakassan for Indian, the sleek lines and décor give it a good feel but in my opinion the food is ok and definitely overpriced.

Others, etc.

- Automat (Dover Street, $$$) – This small Diner style American is very popular with the Euros. Always a good scene and a very good burger and Mac and Cheese. Great for drinks as well.

- Ran (Great Marlborough Street, $$$) – Having recently undergone a renovation, Ran is an excellent destination for Korean BBQ. The classics like Bulgogi, Kalbi and Bibimbop are all excellent, but specialties like the glass noodle salad and rice cakes in chili are also amazing.

- Wahaca (Covent Garden, $$) – Its rare to find good Mexican in London, so when you do its usually very good and the Chef certainly knows what she is doing. A Covent Garden favourite with a long line out the door. Definitely worth grabbing a Margarita (Anejo, Reposado or Reserva) and waiting for. Their pork quesadillas, enchiladas in mole sauce (one of the best moles I have ever tasted) and burritos are all outstanding. Also have a restaurant in Westfield Mall.

- La Petite Maison (Brooks Mews, $$$$) – From the guys who brought us Roka and Zuma, this French Riviera styled restaurant is excellent and a welcome change to the stuffy high-end French restaurants in London. I cant recall what I ate but the food was excellent and the place a had a good buzz and good scene.

- Scott's ($$$$) – One of the newer seafood focused restaurants from the guys who brought us Ivy and J Sheeky’s. I haven’t been yet but have heard rave reviews. Usually packed with celebs, this one is worth trying if you’re looking for a good crowd.

Bars & Clubs

- Milk & Honey (Poland Street) – An outpost of Sasha Petraske’s infamous New York speakeasy, the London M&H is a more accessible member’s club. With some of the best cocktails in London, bartenders can truly conjure up magic once you just give them an idea of what you feel like. Some of my favourites are the Ivy Fizz and the bourbon-based cocktails. Also, definitely try the Puglia Olives. For a more buzzing scene try the ground floor bar and for something a bit more quiet the Red Room is always better. Definitely call and make a reservation before going, and obey the rules!

- Cuckoo Club (Swallow Street) – Possibly one of the best of the West End clubs, Cuckoo has been going for a few years now and still manages to pack the place every night. With a tough, discerning doorman and hoards of people outside make sure you are sorted before you go. If you get a table it would make things a lot easier but they run at 1,000 minimums.

- Aura (St. James’) – After being one of the essential London clubbing venues, Aura has just been re-launched. I haven’t been yet, but all the press, pictures and promotion make it seem like a great venue.

- Ronnie Scott's (Frith Street) – One of London’s oldest Jazz clubs, Ronnie Scott’s is an amazing experience. With a very cool dimly lit setting, great cocktails and excellent Jazz, this place runs a full house most nights. Check out what’s playing and book tickets in advance on their website. Try the bar upstairs as well. Go for the late show and don’t eat dinner there, the food is average. Try Barrafina or Bar Shu before or after.

- Soho House (Greek Street) – The most desired membership in town, Soho House (together with all its sister Houses) is a great venue for drinks, snacks and just chilling out. With many rooms throughout this remodeled townhouse, you get a fairly relaxed and laid back scene. Definitely need to be a member or know a member to get in.

- Crystal – A flashier club in the West End, Crystal can be a bit over the top sometimes. The crowd is quite young and the place has catwalks that run the length and breadth of it with tables in between.

- Jalouse (Hanover Square) – One of the more recent additions to the London club scene, it has become a favourite for the Mayfair crew. A great space with amazing music and a good crowd. Definitely check it out but make sure you are on the list or sorted with a table.

- Shochu Lounge (Charlotte Street) – This is the more relaxed lounge below Roka. Excellent cocktails and a very relaxed vibe with a good mix of people given the media scene around Fitzrovia. Book ahead and get a table if you plan to be there for drinks and some incredible Japanese food. Try the Kasia Laska for sure.

- Freud’s (Covent Garden) – Very relaxed and tiny bar around Covent Garden, but jammed with people after work or on weekends. Good cocktails and a chilled bar to grab drinks before dinner or a play.

- Arts Theatre Club (Frith Street) – A really unique space catering to the theatre performers who frequent this place late nights. You go down a narrow staircase and are transformed into a small speakeasy with a 1920s style décor and excellent cocktails. Usually a member’s only bar but they would let you book a table if you come early. They also do a karaoke night during the week.

Bombay & Goa

2009-09-16T22:26:00.000+01:00

Bombay, my home, where I grew up and where I am at least once a year to spend time with my family and my friends. It is a city that is truly alive, with a lot to take in and experience. The crowds, poverty, pollution and smells all make it an interesting place, but there is so much which shows you the city's true fabric. From excellent food (spanning roadside hawkers to high-end restaurants), amazing hospitality, friendly people and a true melting pot of influences from all across the sub-continent, the city truly is an excellent destination. As a primer definitely buy the Time Out guide to Mumbai and Goa. Its very helpful and full of good info on things to see and places to eat and drink at.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Out-Mumbai-Goa/dp/1904978711/sr=8-1/qid=1168618198/ref=sr_1_1/203-4791793-8364769?ie=UTF8&s=books

BOMBAY

Things to see

- Definitely use the Time Out guide and do a walking tour of the Fort area in South Bombay. Several old historic buildings, very interesting architecture an a beautiful Victorian train station.

- Gateway of India and the surrounding area (Colaba) are very nice and touristy and have tons to see and shops to visit

- Elephanta Caves - Can take a boat to Elephanta Caves from Gateway of India. Not incredible but its a fun boat ride and nice to see the city from the water

Restaurants

- Trishna - The best crab and seafood in Bombay by far. Tough to find, but again its all mentioned in the Time Out guide. Definitely order the Butter Pepper Garlic crab (medium size is way better and tastier than large) or Kalamiri crab and the Hyderabadi Rawas. Also amazing vegetarian food for all you herbivores, order the tadka daal, jeera aloo and chilli mushroom.

- Golden Dragon (in the Taj Mahal hotel) - Probably the best Chinese food in Bombay but expensive. Currently under renovation following the closure of the Taj hotel.

- Swati Snacks (located in Tardeo) for some of the best Bombay street food. Try the pani puri, pav bhaji, sev puri, panki chatni and gatta nu shak.

- Peshawar (located in the ITC hotel near the airport) - for some of the best North Indian Food available. Huge portions and amazing kebabs, and a black daal which has probably been stirred for 24 hours. If you leave here hungry you have definitely done it wrong.

- Indigo (Colaba) - Very popular Mediterranean restaurant, with a very good crowd. Also used to have the best Sunday brunch. Huge spread of antipasti and all you can drink shots, champagne and cocktails for a very reasonable price.

- Olive - Amazing Mediterranean/Moroccan fusion place and a great place for drinks too.

- Thai Pavilion - Very good high end Thai food in the President Hotel, one of my favourites. Make sure to have the crab in red chili paste and some of the Thai salads, which are off the menu. The curries are very good, as are the ice creams which are served in delicious nougat baskets.

Bars/Clubs

- Prive /Tetsuma - By far the best club at the moment, located very close to the Taj hotel. Also has a Japanese restaurant called Tetsuma, attached to it that doubles as a lounge and is much more fun than Prive most nights. This is where the South Bombay crowd hangs out on the weekends, though it can be a bit young sometimes.

- Shiro (in Lower Parel) - Cool Asian lounge with massive Buddha statues, for drinks and appetisers. Get really busy, so make sure you get there early enough to grab some space.

- Indigo - This perennial bar and restaurant in Colaba is perpetually crowded and has a fun bar scene especially on Friday and Saturday nights. A classic pre-drinks venue and usually a good crowd.

- Dome bar - One of my favourite lounge/bars, outdoors with white couches on the rooftop of the Intercontinental hotel on Marine Drive. Much more chilled out than some of the other clubs. An incredible view of the entire Marine Drive and what is often called the Queen's Necklace.

- Bluefrog - Great live music, jazz and cool DJs playing in Lower Parel. Also good drinks and food. Check out whats on online before going across.

Shopping

- Oberoi shopping centre - for pashminas, leather, jewellery, shoes

- Courtyard (right next to Prive) - for Indian designers

- Fab India - for very affordable hand woven clothes to wear at the beach or just lounge in

- The Bombay Store - for good quality Indian linens, tableware, artifacts, and gifts

GOA

Goa is amazing and most of the action is in North Goa and there are a couple of very good beaches in South Goa (i.e Palolem) as well. The Time Out guide for Goa is very informative. With all the tourists that came to Goa over the last 30 years and decided to stay, there are excellent European fusion restaurants in Goa along with some super Goan seafood.

Things to see

Honestly, I have never done much sight seeing in Goa, but here are a couple of things to see:

- The Church of St. Francis of Assisi - supposed to be very impressive and very significant for the Goans

- Several other churches also mentioned in the Guide

- All the beaches...Palolem in South Goa and then Baga, Anjuna, Vagator and Morjim in North Goa

- Baga Beach is overrun by tourists but still fun. Lots of beach shacks serving good drinks and amazing sea food, and tons of deck chairs to just hang out.

- Anjuna is the original hippy beach where the rave scene started in Goa. Weekly flea market every Wednesday and good beach bars too.

- Vagator and Morjim are cool and are newer areas

Restaurants

- A Reverie - Amazing new fusion place, outdoors with good cocktails. Near the Goan Heritage Hotel

- Fiesta - Another fantastic Mediterranean place with Goan influence near Baga beach

- Martin's Corner - One of the best traditional Goan restaurants in South Goa. Honestly worth the trip. Amazing seafood in recheado sauces, cooked in authentic Goan spices.

- J & A's Little Italy - Very good outdoors Italian restaurant run by an Indian couple at Baga Creek. Amazing pastas and great meats too.

- Shiro's at the Beach - Asian fusion place with a cool lounge right on the beach (in the Marquis Beach Resort)

- Zanzibar - One of the best beach shacks on Baga Beach; cool lounge music, good Goan food and very chilled out

Bars/Clubs

- Club Cabana - a really fun club in Goa located near Anjuna beach and up on a hillside. Multiple split levels, all outdoors with beds to lounge on and good music, with amazing views too. Its Rs.500 and all you can drink

- Shalom - Fun lounge that's opened near Baga

- Shiro @ the Beach - new lounge, modelled on the Shiro in Bombay

- 9 Bar - in Vagator, and only a sunset bar, which closes at 9 or 10pm.

- Lots of bars and shacks on Baga and Anjuna beaches

New York (May 2009)

2009-09-16T22:25:00.001+01:00

New York is definitely in my top 5 "food capitals" and when i lived there I could try a new restaurant almost every day and probably never run out of alternatives. The beauty of NY restaurants are that they cater to every flavour, every budget and are usually open at all hours of the day and night. That's what makes this 24 hour city truly entertaining. While I am in NY I focus on a few specific kinds of food which i think the city does very well: Japanese, Mexican, American (Steaks and Burgers) and Italian. The other side of NY is nightlife. There truly is something to suit everyone's tastes, moods, music and scenes. Over the summer the theme seemed to be "speakeasy" style establishments, secret hideaways, with unmarked doors, very plush interiors and incredible cocktails. The other perennial in NY is the club scene, and each time I go back there are a few new ones. The flavours of the summer were daytime clubs in the Meatpacking District which serve brunch and then start with bottles of champagne and DJs spinning.

Restaurants

- Yerbabuena (Latin) - Tiny Central and South American restaurant serving up some incredible Brazilian mocqueca, excellent pulled pork and very good cocktails (try the tequila based ones) on the Lower East Side (LES) at Ave A and End street. Definitely book before you go. http://www.ybnyc.com/media/yerbabuena.html

- Momofoku Ssam (Asian) - Finally excellent Asian flavours in NY. Ssam is part of the Momofoku family which has truly taken NY by storm. Fantastic Asian food from across the South East Asian region. Some of the most memorable dishes were the fried brussel sprouts (yes i know it sounds awful, but just try it), the pulled pork banh mi Vietnamese sandwich which is truly tender and dripping with a delicious sauce and the rice cakes with pork which is spicy and just the right texture. Located in the East Village at 207 2nd Avenue. No reservations taken but the turnaround is fairly quick so you do not end up waiting very long. http://momofuku.com/ssam/

- Sushi Seki (Japanese) - With several sushi restaurants across NY and the likes of Nobu and Bond Street, I bet you are asking why I am sending you to a no-name hole-in-the-wall on the Upper East side. Trust me, ITS WELL WORTH IT. Honestly one of the best sushi omakase menus I have ever tasted. Definitely book a seat at the sushi bar and get the chef's omakase sushi menu. The sea eel with salt is incredible. http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/sushi_seki/

- Sushi of Gari (Japanese) - With locations on the Upper East and Upper West sides, this small sushi restaurant also serves up an incredible sushi omakase menu. Its only 10 pieces but if you like any particular ones they will bring you another piece. It doesn't sound like a lot but the pieces are massive and the flavours truly unique. http://www.sushiofgari.com/

- For Mexican, try La Esquina (amazing place which looks like a small cantina and then has a cool restaurant and bar in the back through the kitchen) , Dos Caminos (in Soho, with great guacamole made fresh at the table and also good for Mexican brunch), Rosa Mexicano or Maya (both more formal restaurants with a higher-end Mexican cuisine and great margaritas).

- Burgers - What would the US be without burgers, and NY has some excellent venues for them. Corner Bistro is a small bar with the tiniest grill but some of the best burgers in NY (331 W 4th St). The burger at the Parker Meridien hotel is also excellent and very popular with New Yorkers and tourists. One of my old favourites and one which is not obvious is the burger at Hillstone (formerly Houston's), and even though its part of a countrywide chain of restaurants, the burger is delicious, messy, flavourful and served with coleslaw and great fries. http://www.hillstone.com/hillstoneNYC/

- Steaks - These meats are actually synonymous with NY and there are a few places to go for the best steaks in town. If you make it to Brooklyn, Peter Lugers is the best by far, with classically rude service, thick strips of bacon for appetisers and the best cuts of meat around. Otherwise, in Manhattan, Sparks Steakhouse or Wolfgangs serves up some really good cuts of beef too.

- Sushi Samba (Brazilian/Sushi) - Been around for ages, but their mix of influences of Brazilian flavours with Japanese food, makes for a mouthwatering experience. Also, the roof terrace at the one on 7th Ave South is great in the summer.

- Mediterraneo - This local, Euro, Mediterranean restaurant has been my staple in NY ever since my sister moved into the building directly above it. She's been there almost 10 years and i have kept going back for their potent Sangria, smashing pastas and deliciously thin pizzas. My favourites are the Linguini Nere Al'Arabiata (black linguini with prawns and garlic in a very tasty tomato based sauce) and the Penne Al Sugo Toscano (penne pasta with ground beef, carrots and celery). Corner of 66th St an 2nd Ave. http://www.mediterraneonyc.com/index2.htm

- Pastis - A NY classic for lunch and brunch, this French bistro i always packed and serves up an excellent burger, steak frites and croque monsieur/madame. Located in the Meatpacking District, always good for people watching.

- Spotted Pig - A very trendy and popular British Gastropub in the West village. Great food, excellent crowd and always good for groups. My favourites are the really juicy burger and the pork belly. Also does an excellent and very popular brunch on the weekends. http://www.thespottedpig.com/

- Num Pang - Vietnamese banh-mi sandwiches have taken over NY. The incredible French bread and delicious fillings and sauce make this the best new snack. The pulled pork and spicy catfish were incredible and had really unique flavours. Great for lunch and snacks. www.numpangnyc.com

Bars and Clubs

- Please Don't Tell - I know this is supposed to be a secret but this speakeasy inside a hot dog stall is a must try while in NY. Its on the LES and requires reservations. have to book. Once you enter the hot dog stall turn left and step inside the phone booth, pick up the phone and the hostess will open the door to the bar behind you). Once inside its as if you were in a secret cocktail bar in the 1920s with leather banquettes, dim lighting, great tunes and outstanding cocktails, and of course some outstanding NY style hot dogs and fries. http://www.pdtnyc.com/

- Death + Company - Another speakeasy on the LES with great food and all the drinks that were banned during the prohibition. Cocktails at their best located at 433 East 6th St. http://www.deathandcompany.com/lounge/

- Hotel Bars - NY has a host of very hip hotel bars at the Bowery Hotel, Gramercy Park Hotel, Maritime Hotel and Thompson Hotel. Check out www.culturedivine.com for more details

- Butter (on Monday) - Classic restaurant on Lafayette St. in Soho, which has been open for ages but still hosts one of the best Monday nights in town. http://www.butterrestaurant.com/

- Kiss & Fly - Fairly new club (formerly Aer) in the Meatpacking District. Great decor inside with Roman arches and columns and frescos and killer beats playing club classics and old school tunes as well. 409 W. 13th St. http://www.kissandflyclub.com/main.html

- The Greenhouse - This Tribeca club claims to be the first eco-friendly club in the world. With LED lights, grass on the walls and a very cool vibe, this is the new hotspot in town. Varied music from rock to hip hop to house, this place really mixes it up. Make sure you go to the downstairs room as well. http://www.greenhouseusa.com/

A couple of websites which can be very helpful for restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels are:

- www.citysearch.com

- www.culturedivine.com

- www.hipguide.com

Paris (2006-2008 and April 2009)

2009-09-16T22:23:00.002+01:00

Paris is definitely one of the most romantic cities in the world. The city is very near to my heart considering I spent a lot of time there during INSEAD and for a few years after. With the French passion for quality ingredients, impeccable presentation, outstanding wines and the true joie de vivre, the city is truly a gastronomic paradise. With so many wonderful restaurants, its difficult to come up with all the recommendations but here are a few of my favourites. Also, a very good website for restaurants (though in French) is Le Fooding http://www.lefooding.com/. For Parisian hotels, bars and restaurants is Culture Divine. This is a good site though definitely focused on high-end establishments. http://culturedivine.com/ . In case you're there in August, which is the holiday season in Paris, just make sure to call ahead and make sure the restaurants are open.

Hotels

- Park Hyatt Place Vendome - One of the nicer hotels and if you can swing a corporate rate its a perfect place to stay. Incredible service, an ideal location and very welcoming and hospitable staff.

- Hotel Bourg Tibourg - A smaller, more boutique-style hotel in the Marais, which can be really fun.

- Le Pavillon de la Reine - As if preserved from a previous generation, this small hotel in Palce des Vosges. Again located in the Marais, but in a much more ancient and quiet part, it can make for a good weekend away.

- L'Hotel - One of the new design hotels

Restaurants

- L'Ami Jean - A small Basque restaurant, with an incredible atmosphere with pots hanging from the ceiling and incredible food focused on meats and game. A really fun night out for groups. 27 Rue Malar, +33 1 47 05 86 89

- 404 - One of my old favourites in the 3rd arrondissement, a very festive French-Moroccan restaurant with a great ambiance and fun staff. Try and get the table on the mezzanine which is great for groups. 69, Rue de Gravilliers, 3eme, +33 1 42 74 57 81

- Anahi - A very unique Argentinean steakhouse, set in old butcher's shop in the 3rd. Try to sit in the front part of the restaurant its a better atmosphere. Amazing steaks and excellent chorizo. 49, Rue Volta, 3eme. +33 1 48 87 88 24

- Peres et Filles - A classic French bistrot with a great al fresco dining option. Excellent steak frites and a fun and relaxed setting. 81 Rue de Seine, 6eme. +33 1 43 25 00 28

- Casa Bini - An incredible Italian restaurant in Saint Germain. Excellent pasta and very good meats. 36 Rue Gregoire-de-Tours, 6eme. +33 1 46 34 05 60

- Les Cocottes - A great place that cooks all its food in small cocottes, which are cast iron pots. Small, funky place which doesn't usually take reservations in the 7th. 135, Rue Saint Dominique, 7eme.

- Fontaine de Mars - Honestly one of favourites in Paris for classic French food which is just a bit better. Also in the 7th, its a wonderful neighbourhood spot. Its on Rue Saint Dominique, 7eme.

- Gaya - A new fusion restaurant with a really good scene. I haven't ben but have heard some really good things about it.

- Cafe Marly - From the guys who brought you Hotel Costes, this cafe is situated on the terrace overlooking the Louvre, and makes for great people watching and some good though over-priced fusion food. Also good for brunch on saturdays and sundays. 93 Rue de Rivoli, 1eme. +33 1 49 26 06 60

- Livingstone - A small Thai restaurant just near Rue de Rivoli in the 1st. Amazing house cocktail, which is like a mojito and incredible thai food, especially the fish cooked in a banana leaf. Definitely worth a try. 106, Rue Saint Honore, 1eme. +33 1 53 40 80 50

- Dave - One of the few Chinese restaurants that I have tried in Paris. Very entertaining gay owner who is truly a character. The food is good, but not amazing, but the place is really cool, with red walls with photographs of famous people all over them. 12, Rue Richelieu, 1eme.

- Petit Thiou - Another excellent modern Thai restaurant in the 7th. Much more formal than Livingstone and definitely pricey but fun for a good night out. Small portions, but a very innovative and creative menu. Also a good value brunch on the weekends. 2, Rue Surcouf, 7eme. +33 1 40 62 96 70

- Coffee Parisien - The quintessential Parisian Diner. A perfect place to come and refuel after a big night out. Modelled on an American Diner concept with eggs benedict, hash browns, pancakes, milkshakes and burgers. But just with that French touch. Few locations alla round Paris, but my choices usually are the 16th or 6th.

Bars & Clubs

- Cafe Flore - A classic Parisian bar for drinks in Saint Germain. Its where scores of Parisians will sit outside in the heart of the 6th and watch the beautiful people go by.

- Plaza Athenee Bar - Located in one of the most beautiful hotels in Paris, the bar at the Plaza Athenee can be really fun. Though the 20 euro cocktails can et you back a bit, the experience is worth it. 25, Avenue Montaigne, 8eme.

- Le Fumoir - A great, though slightly touristy bar in the 1st. Good cocktails (which are rare to find in Paris) and located close to the Louvre. The bar also doubles as a restaurant and serves up a great brunch. 6, Rue de L'Amiral-de-Coligny. 1eme.

- Andy Wahloo - From the same owners as 404 (above), and right next door, this funky Moroccan pop-art bar is a good place for incredible mint cocktails. Also has a fun outdoor space which is very popular in the summer time. 71, Rue de Gravilliers, 3eme.

- Echelle de Jacob - Cool cocktail bar, very popular with the locals in Saint Germain. Good DJs and open late. 12 Rue Jacob, 6eme.

- Cha Cha Club - New popular club with a hard door policy. Definitely need to dress the part to party here.

- Bagatelle - Located in the middle of a beautiful park, and very popular for private parties, this former chateau-like venue makes for a crazy night out. Just google it to find out what's on that night.

- Paris Paris - Small, trendy Parisian style club.

- Le Baron - One of the most popular Parisian clubs which is very popular with the media set. Ridiculous door policy so make sure you go with someone who is a regular. Great DJ who mixes all genres of music and a very cool crowd.

- Castel - One of the classics, and has a really mixed crowd from old 60-year-olds to attractive, young Parisians all partying together.

- Montana - One of the new clubs which i haven't tried yet but heard good things about.

Berlin (February 2009)

2009-09-16T22:23:00.001+01:00

I had never thought of Berlin as a must-see destination but I was wrong. In January, a few friends and I decided to experience Berlin for a weekend. The city is fantastic and has a very vibrant energy. It is young, hip and trendy. So much art, culture, music and creativity permeates through it. In my opinion, the centre of this creativity was an area called Mitte. And it is an excellent place to stay and truly enjoy Berlin. There is so much history and culture that the sights combined with very friendly people and excellent food and parties makes it a great place to visit at any time of the year. A great website to see what's going on in Berlin is http://berlin.unlike.net/

Hotels

- Hotel Q - More of a boutique, design hotel, with a small and intimate feel. I would think this is more appropriate for couple than for a guys trip. www.hotel-q.de- Lux Eleven Hotel - This is where we stayed right in the heart of the Mitte district. Excellent, comfortable and very modern and one of the design hotels. Great service and an Aveda spa underneath to give you a massage and bring you back to life. Its probably in the mid-range in terms of pricing. http://www.lux-eleven.com/

- Ellington Hotel - Newer, young and stylish hotel. Its cheaper than Lux and probably worth trying. www.ellington-hotel.com

- Hotel de Rome - Very fancy hotel from the Rocco Forte Hotel group. Definitely the most expensive of the 4, but definitely luxurious. www.roccofortehotels.com

Restaurants

- Alpenstueck - Excellent restaurant, which had a fun vibe and a minimal decor. The food is mostly modern German with influences from all around Europe. The wiener schnitzel was fantastic, as were some of the pastas and cocktails. I would definitely recommend it on a visit to Berlin. http://cgi.alpenstueck.de/user-cgi-bin/?file=kop1.php

- White Trash Fast Food - An eclectic venue with live bands from rock, to punk to electro performing and mostly burgers and classic American fast food with a few German influences. www.whitetrashfastfood.com

- San Nicci - More formal, business-like venue for excellent Italian food. We didn't try this but it was highly recommended and got great reviews.

- Spindlerklatt - An unusual venue which is an excellent restaurant, bar, lounge and club. If its good weather the terraces and outdoor lounges can be amazing. Very cool bed-like tables for dinner. www.spindlerklatt.com

- Grill Royal - A formal French-style bistro which is frequented by the fashion elite and by the business culture. We didn't try it but it was continuously recommended but probably over priced for Bistro fare.

- Good Time - For really good Thai food (thanks Rahul)

- Mr. Hoang - For cheap and good Vietnamese (thanks Rahul)

Bars and Clubs

- Bar Tausend - Very small and trendy bar with a great DJ and small dance floor, frequented by the hip locals and the media set. Very difficult door so make sure you are well turned out which means more trendy and hip than formal in Berlin. Big illuminated eye at one end dominates and the crowd and music make it a fun night. www.tausendberlin.com

- COOKIES - Excellent club with a warehouse type feel but super music and an attractive crowd. The club is only open on Tuesdays and

Thursdays but also does private events on weekends. We attended the Berlin Film Festival after party which was off the hook.

- Berghain / Panorama Bar - This is a crazy after hours club in what seems like an old abandoned warehouse. Probably gets going after 1am on Fridays/Saturdays and continues till around 5-6pm on Sunday afternoon. The 1st floor is a predominantly gay crowd, but the 2nd floor is a mixed crowd with excellent house beats.

A definite experience for late night Berlin-style.

- Weekend - www.week-end-berlin.de

- Rodeo - New trendy club. We didn't get to try it but heard good things.

- Puro Lounge - Similar to Rodeo but unfortunately we didn't get to try it.

- Kit Kat Club - A strange and kinky venue (obviously being with 3 guys we didn't try it), but heard its fun and completely crazy. They do make you leave your jeans or trousers at the door ... for both men and women. Not for the faint hearted of course.

- Felix - High-end NY style club, which I didn't try but have heard good things about

Things To Do

- Checkpoint Charlie

- Brandenburg Gate

- Berlin Wall (near the Gate and the graffiti laden pieces further away)

Thanks for all the pictures Matt.

Viva Las Vegas (October 2008)

2009-09-16T22:22:00.002+01:00

Las Vegas, the ultimate Sin City and true adult playground. Many imagine Vegas to be a gambling destination but over the years it has evolved into much more. With excellent restaurants, luxurious hotels, entertainers, performers, artists, theatre and of course some of the best partying in the US. Some friends and I decided to do the classic boys trip over Halloween last year. Little did we know that Halloween in Vegas lasts for approximately 5 days. It was the most expensive 5 days of my life, and all I can say is that we barely gambled. All in all an amazing trip and one that everyone should experience. Viva Las Vegas!

Hotels

Vegas has thousands of hotels with every theme that you can imagine. But to get away from the tourist craziness, I would recommend staying at one of the 2 all suites hotels.

- The Hotel - Part of the Mandalay Bay, its an all suites hotel and much more calm and relaxed without the massive casino floor and a more understated feel (for Vegas). You can get adjoining suites for a group of 4 and each suite would have its own bedroom, living room and bathroom. Very comfortable and luxurious.

- Encore - An alternative to The Hotel is Encore which is part of the Wynn and again an all suites hotel. Similar pricing and layouts, though Encore feels more like cheesy Vegas while The Hotel is definitely more understated.

Restaurants

- Yellowtail (Sushi) - Really good New York quality sushi at the Bellagio and several dishes influenced by Nobu, Roka, Zuma, Bond Street and other global Japanese greats.

- Joe's Stone Crab (Seafood) - A sister to the original Joe's in Miami, this really is a unique experience at the Caesars Palace. The Alaskan King crab claws, the stone crab and the steaks are all excellent.

- Tao (Asian Fusion) - A perennial favourite of mine, which ha been copied and replicated all over the world. Their classics like the Wagyu beef cooked over the hot stone, the spicy eggplant and great sushi are all excellent.

- CUT or Carnevino (Steak) - Both run by renowned Chefs, Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali respectively. The steak are really good and among some of the best in Vegas. Classic American style with quality cuts and grilled to perfection.

- Fatburger - The perfect late-night stop on the Strip and excellent (though massive) burgers. [Saleem: its just 5 minutes away, we promise :)]

- In and Out Burger - One of the best burger chains in the US and an excellent example of what fast food can really taste like.

Bars & Clubs

- Tao (Thursday or Friday) - Incredible, massive club with several rooms for house and hip-hop and a great roof terrace / poolside area. Definitely book a table in the main room and call or email Brandon Roque for a table reservation. We had an insane time as this was Halloween night and all the angels and devils were out in droves.

- Lavo (Friday) - Italian restaurant that turns into a club at the Palazzo hotel. We didn't try Lavo but I have heard its a very good night. Again try Brandon for a table reservation.

- XS (Saturday) - A recent addition to the Vegas nightlife scene at the Wynn. It was not open when we went but I have heard it is the ONLY place to be on a Saturday night. The club is part indoors part outdoors and around a pool. For table reservations try Brandon.

- The Bank (Sunday) - Its the "industry night" that should not be missed at the Bellagio. The people who work in the various bars and clubs around Vegas go out on Sunday and Monday. Bank hosts the Sunday night party and is a classic, massive opulent club with all the bells and whistles of Vegas. Supposedly they drop $10,000 in $1 bills from the ceiling each Sunday. We went on Saturday so didn't get to see this ridiculous act.

- Prive (Monday) - A very good club at Planet Hollywood which hosts "Industry Mondays". One of the best nights I had in Vegas. Contact Rob Pursima who manages the tables and definitely request Big Ed as your security for the table. Ed is one of the nicest and most effective bouncers I have met and he really took care of us.

- Body English (Sunday) - A crazy club with a rock theme at the Hard Rock Hotel. Contact Jason Habel or Brandon for guestlist or table reservations.

- Drai's - The ultimate after hours club in Vegas where everyone ends up when the clubs close. Its in the most obscure location at Bill's Gambling Hall and Saloon but definitely worth the experience. A very different scene to the clubs in the hotels and a

seriously good time with 2 rooms for house and hip hop. Will need a reservation so ask your hotel or ask Brandon to help.

Daytime Clubs (and Pools)

About 5-6 years ago, the folks in Vegas realized that clubbing didn't have to be restricted to the night time and having all day pools which operate like clubs only with people in the bikinis and trunks would work well. And of course, it has. The daytime European pool scene is very popular in Vegas and runs from May - October each year. Some have swim-up blackjack tables, others have celebrity DJs. Its one of the coolest experiences and should not be missed. You ill need to book tables at the various places and your hotel concierge or Brandon should be able to help.

- Tao Beach @ the Venetian

- XS @ the Wynn

- Bare @ the Bellagio (recently opened and smaller and more exclusive)

- Rehab @ Hard Rock (a bit played out and more cheesy than the others now)

- Moorea Beach Club @ The Hotel (similar to Bare, smaller an more exclusive, do not get a private cabana, but get one of the daybeds)

Contacts (for guestlists and table reservations)

Brandon Roque (Tao, Lavo, Body English)

broquelv@aol.com +1 702 491 5786

Eric Zawid (Director, VIP Services @ the Light Group that runs Bank, Yellowtail, Fix, Bare, etc.)

ezawid@lightlv.com +1 702 556 5060

Brian Nevius (VIP Host - Tryst)

+1 702 245 6627

Edward "Big Ed" Greer (Table Bouncer - Prive (Planet Hollywood))

biglazydawg@yahoo.com +1 702 612 0457

Al "Big Al" Ramsey (Personal Security)

nvbchboy@yahoo.com +1 702 219 0330

Rob Pursima (VIP Host - Prive)

Robp@privelv.com +1 702 461 4720

Tim Beale (Bouncer - The Bank)

tzartziger@yahoo.com +1 702 528 3206

Jason Habel (VIP Host - Body English)

jasonh@hrhvegas.com +1 702 287 9657

Matt, Dan, Saleem: hope this brings back the memories .... ALLLOOOOOKKKKIIIIKKKK!

Stockholm (August 2008)

2009-09-16T22:22:00.001+01:00

Last summer, a few friends and I decided to go to Stockholm for the long weekend. Having never been to Scandinavia I didn't know what to expect. But from everything I had heard my expectations were very high and every single one of them was met or exceeded. Stockholm is an incredible city. It has a strong cafe culture and many young trendy people in the central part of town. My favourite area was Stureplan which had a bunch of excellent restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs and shopping. And obviously the beautiful Swedish people make for some great people-watching.

Restaurants

- Sturehof - From the same group that runs Riche, this is

more high-end seafood restaurant right in the main square. Its a

great venue to sit outside in the summertime and watch the crowds go by. Great fish and excellent wines.

- Kungsholmen - Excellent Asian fusion restaurant with a very cool decor and right on the waterfront. Different part of town from the main Stureplan strip but definitely worth trying. The restaurant has 6 or 7 different open kitchens and the menu mixes and blends each of these making the meal really interesting. www.kungsholmen.com

- Riche - A very trendy bar and restaurant right on Stureplan. Great bar scene and excellent modern Swedish food. Its very popular and always packed so you have to make a reservation even for just drinks. The food was really good and the most notable were the crab cakes and other fish appetizers and the steaks for mains. www.riche.se

- East - Japanese restaurant in the main square. Always crowded but the food was not outstanding. If you are craving sushi its a good option to try.

- Grill - For more formal dining, try Grill which is modern Swedish cooking.

- Fredsgatan - New, trendy restaurant. I didn't try it while I was there.

- Lux - Similar to Fredsgatan, I didn't try it but heard its more of a cool scene than truly exceptional food

- Teatergrillen - Great restaurant for pre-clubbing because its near the clubs. Its where the trendy young Swedes will go to on a Friday night.

Bars & Clubs

- Riche - See above, good bar scene and definitely great pre-dinner or pre-club cocktails. Seems to have a fairly mixed crowd of locals and tourists.

- V Club - Honestly one of the most ridiculous clubs I have been to. The most popular and hip club in Stockholm with a very difficult door policy. You have to have a reservation and you want one in the VIP area upstairs called the "V" Room. Call Ulf Von Roth who runs the VIP area for a table (+46708477357). The area has about 8-10 big tables and honestly gets packed with some of the most attractive people I have seen in a club.

- Cafe Opera - An excellent club which is good on Friday or Saturday nights. Its the old Opera House which has been converted into a club and its a great space with excellent music.

- Hell's Kitchen - The after party venue blow V club. If you have a reservation for V you usually get into Hell's Kitchen as well. Very different scene to V and more hip hop and packed with people.

Things To Do

- The Old City and the Castle

- Vasa Museum - Really quite unique and a usual stop on the tourist roster, but definitely worth a visit. The Vasa was a great war ship that was built buy the Swedes during the Baltic wars and when it finally set sail, the ship sank about an hour after it set off. The Vasa was

resurrected and restored and the museum is a

great way to learn about it.

- The Food Market (Ostermalms Saluhall) -

Excellent place for a seafood lunch

- Museum of Modern Art

- Archipelago - One of the best things to do is take a boat from Nybrokajen and go tour the archipelago. Makes for a great day trip.

- Polo Tournament - If you can get an invite, try and go to the Polo Tournament held in the summertime. its a great event especially if its good weather and a very cool scene too.

Budapest (July 2008)

2009-09-16T22:20:00.000+01:00

Budapest, which was originally pegged as a bachelor party destination turned out to be a lot more. I have been there twice and with different groups of friends and both times, it was a truly unique experience. It also has a whole lot of young people because of the big universities making it a really good party city.

Hotels

- The town has some amazing hotels which are converted historic buildings. In my opinion the Boscolo Hotels and the Corinthian Hotels are both very good. The other alternative is to get an apartment-type suite at one of the hotels as well. This works much better for groups.

Restaurants / Cafes

- Cafe Kor - Just next to Negro Bar and near the main square in town, this is an incredible restaurant that has a small and local yet gastronomic feel. The food is modern Hungarian and dishes like the smoked salmon, the spiced chicken in a spicy yoghurt sauce and the steaks are very good. The service is excellent and full of specials and suggestions.

- Tom George - A high-end restaurant with a renowned chef. I did not try this one, but have only heard good things about the place and the exceptional cooking.

- Deryne- is a new cafe on the Buda side with a very relaxed feel. Very trendy crowd and good food.

- Articsoka - One of the better Mediterranean restaurants in Budapest, good food and a good scene as well.

- Donatella's Kitchen - is the first Michelin starred restaurant in Budapest serving exceptional Italian food. Very good but doesn't have the truly Hungarian feel to it.

- Some very good cafes with outdoor seating for lunch, brunch or dinner in the Liszt Ferenc Square as well. Inexpensive classic Hungarian food and good Italian specialties too.

Bars and Clubs

There are two main areas for entertainment as far as we could find. The Liszt Ferenc Square, which has a long line of bars and restaurants and cafes, and the other is Hajogyari Sziget (Boatmaker's Island) which is on an island between Buda and Pest and has some of the most ridiculous clubs.

- Negro - A very trendy but mostly expat bar in the main square near the Basilica. Good crowd but mostly for pre or after dinner cocktails before you head to the island for some serious clubbing.

- Bed Beach - This is THE spot to be in the summer time. Imagine Nikki Beach, only full of beautiful Eastern Europeans, and all truly enjoying the music and dancing. No real need to get a table or a booking, if you pay a very nominal amount you get in and get a few free drinks as well. Incredible party destination, with a white theme and outdoor couches and mostly open. www.bedbeach.hu

- Studio - This is the winter version of BedBeach. The same craziness as one would expect at BedBeach. The night we went, we were taken into the VIP area, from where you can see the entire club with thousands below you, angels and devils hanging from trapeze wires above you and an entire 4-storey wall with squares cut into it where you had dancers gyrating to the pulsating beats. www.studio-eh.hu

- Romkert - On the Buda side and fun, but mostly if the weather is working in your favour

- Zsold Pardon - The true summer clubbing experience under the Petofi Bridge. Almost like a makeshift club in as remote a location as you can imagine and outdoors and fully open to the sky. Much more chilled and relaxed than Bed and Studio but a really fun experience being outdoors and under the magnificent bridge. Great for a Sunday night.

Things To Do

- There is a lot to see from churches, basilicas and some amazing architecture.

- Also, the special experience is enjoying some of the thermal baths. Whether that is at the Gellert Baths, Kiarly Baths or Rudas Baths, it is worth the trip and brings you back to life after a night out.

- Sunday Brunch at one of the big hotels like The Four Seasons or Le Meridien is definitely worth a try.

Cinque Terre, Portofino (April 2006)

2009-09-15T22:23:00.000+01:00

During the Easter of 2006, a few friends and I decided to go explore the Ligurian coast of Italy and Cinque Terre, which is made up of five towns along the coast. The novelty of the towns is that there are no cars permitted and there are various ways to get around from one town to another: i) you hike (or walk aggressively) over the mountains, ii) you take a ferry, or iii) you take the train through them. The most amazing views and interesting experience is when you walk across the region so the hikes are the most popular. Obviously this novelty coupled with the incredible Ligurian pesto based pastas and pizzas and fantastic wines made for a great vacation. While in the region we also explored the busy town of Genoa, the amazingly exclusive hideaway of Portofino and the wonderfully picturesque town of Santa Margherita.

Cinque Terre

- In Vernazza, an incredible seafood restaurant called Gambero Rosso had the best local cuisine

- In Monterosso, a small seafood restaurant called Miky

- In Riomaggiore, a great restaurant

called La Grotta, just near the small market. Amazing penne and trofie with pesto and as always, great seafood.

- We stayed at the Locanda Il Maestrale B&B in Monterosso, which was a small B&B, which was comfortable and inexpensive. Great service and very helpful people.

Portofino / Santa Margherita

This small town has the tiniest harbour but definitely the biggest and most beautiful yachts. Just off the harbour is the Hotel Splendido, which is definitely one of the best locations for a hotel I have seen.

Splendido has a couple of restaurants but La Terraza is the best with an incredible menu. Go for

a long relaxed lunch, order some of the delicious antipasti and pastas and just enjoy it with a bottle of chilled White. The pesto pasta i had was simple, yet delicious

Tallinn (Summer 2007)

2009-09-15T22:03:00.000+01:00

The tour of the Baltics is famous for its stag dos and boys trips, and the INSEAD crew and I decided to check it out. We spent a weekend here in the summer and really enjoyed the old city of Tallinn and its food, culture and entertainment.

Hotels

- Merchant's House Hotel - Very interesting old Merchant's house that has been converted into a boutique hotel. This is where we stayed and it was very nice and centrally located.

- Three Sisters - This is probably the best hotel in Tallinn, which has combined 3 medieval houses into a boutique hotel. A bit more pricey but definitely a unique place.

Restaurants

Overall the food was good but not amazing. Very similar in styles to the other Baltics and Hungary. I list a couple of the restaurants that we tried but honestly can't recall any exceptional dishes at these places.

- Zebra Cafe

- Controvento

- Pizzeria al Sole

- Peppersack

Bars & Clubs

- BonBon - Amazing club, probably the best and only high end club in town, very good scene and great music. We had a HUGE night here that probably ended just in time for breakfast.

- Kaheksa - Trendy lounge bar

- Hollywood - Very popular club in the centre of town, but extremely young grungy crowd. Not my favourite but it had lines out the front door and the crowd was too young.

- Stereo Lounge - All white lounge bar with good cocktails and music. Good for a couple of drinks before moving on for some more intense partying.

Istanbul (April 2007)

2009-09-15T21:17:00.000+01:00

By far my favourite European city is Istanbul. The mix of palaces, mosques, the Bosphorus, beautiful terraces, incredible food and the best part.....true Turkish hospitality which is second to none. The beautiful neighbourhoods of Besiktas, Ortakoy, Nisantasi, Ulus, Taksim and Sultanahmet all make for an incredible journey through one of the best cities in the world.

Hotels

- Ciragan Palace - The best

hotel that I have ever stayed at, with the most hospitable service. I don't think I have

ever heard them say "No" to any request. Amazing heated overflow pool overlooking the Bosphorus and a great place to have a coffee on the terrace.

- Four Seasons (Besiktas) - New Four Seasons right next to the Ciragan which is much more modern but still extremely luxurious

Restaurants

- Haus Cafe (Ortakoy) - Relaxed cafe by the waterfront in Ortakoy, great for lunch and cocktails

- Ulus 29 (Ulus) - Very cool restaurant, up in the hills; excellent food and a cool bar scene and incredible views

- Mikla (Pera) - Great fusion food with a Scandinavian / Turkish influences; also amazing views of the entire city at the top of the Marmara Hotel in Pera

- Konyali - Excellent traditional Turkish food with kebaps and manti. Two locations, one near Topkapi Palace and another in the Canyon Mall

- Lacivert - Great seafood restaurant on the Asian side of Istanbul; take the restaurant's boat across the Bosphorus; just ask your hotel concierge and they should be able to sort it all out

- 360 - Great views of Istanbul and good international food

Bars & Clubs

- Reina - Been open for years but still one of the best clubs, with a huge dance floor hanging off over the Bosphorus; you HAVE to visit Reina while in Istanbul (only open in the Summer months, usually May - September)

- Club 29 - Bar/Club attached to Ulus 29

- Nu Teras - Cool bar in Pera

- Leb-i-Derya - Trendy restaurant/lounge in Pera with good city views

- Cahyde - Crazy and strange drag club which I was taken to by a friend, but surprisingly entertaining and fun

Things To Do / See

- Definitely have to visit the Grand Bazaar (for some serious bargaining) and the Spice market for a great mix of colour and scents

- In terms of sightseeing, the Blue Mosque, Hajia Sophia, Dolhmabahce Palace and Topkapi Palace are the must see

- Something truly unusual is the underground cistern with the inverted Medusa head at the end and the eerie orange lighting throughout; just near Sultanahmet

- Try and see how the hip locals live by visiting the cool bars and cafes in Nisantasi

- If you can go see some football at Fenerbahce or Galatasaray

- Also, if you can spend more time in Turkey definitely visit Bodrum (incredible beach town), Cappadocia and Kas

Thanks for some of the pictures Aditya.

Rome (October 2007)

2009-09-15T20:45:00.000+01:00

I can't believe that I spent 3 years in Europe before i decided to visit Rome for the first time. An incredible city with more history, architecture and culture that I had ever seen. Also, amazing food and very good nightlife. Also, the beautiful Italians always dressed immaculately are always a plus. (Thanks for all the recommendations Aditi, each one was amazing)

Hotels

- Hotel de Russie - Very good location just minutes away from the Spanish

Steps

- Hotel Art - More funky hotel also near the Spanish Steps

Restaurants

- Perilli - Incredible tiny restaurant which almost looks closed from the outside. Family run place with incredible food in Testaccio (Via Marmorata 39)

- Maccheroni - Great pastas and grilled meats

- Camponeschi - Excellent seafood

- Pizzeria Bafetto - Excellent pizza (Via del Governo Vecchio 11)

Bars & Clubs

- Vineria

- Bar del Pace

- Antica Enoteca

Sevilla (May 2007)

2009-09-15T20:30:00.001+01:00

Another great Spanish weekend getaway, Sevilla is small enough to experience on a weekend. Again incredible food, good bars and tons of things to see.

Hotels

- Las Casa del Rey de Baeza - Great, quiet, central hotel with incredible rooms, but make sure you get one on the 1st or 2nd floor http://www.hospes.com/en/hotel-seville-casas-rey-baeza/

- Hacienda Benazauza - This is the hotel run by El Bulli with a fantastic restaurant but far out of town http://www.elbullihotel.com/

Tapas

- Bar Las Terasas - One of the oldest tapas bars in Sevilla; has a very local feel to it

- Bar Las Columnas

- Bar El Giraldillo - definitely have the pimientos rellenos

- Bar Altimara - best croquetas

- Bar las Giralda - very good jamon

- Bar Las Sacristia - great Sangria and garlic prawns

Restaurants

- Casa Robles (on Calle Franco)

- Oriza

- El Taberna Alaberna

Things To Do

- Segway tour - fun way to travel around the city and through the tiny streets; located just down the road from the bullfighting arena along the waterfront (thanks for the tip Aditi)

- Definitely go see a flamenco performance at one of the smaller schools which are set in the courtyard of a house

- Bull fighting in the Maestranza

Barcelona (November 2006)

2009-09-15T20:04:00.001+01:00

One of my favourite weekend trips from London is Barcelona. It has all the makings of a good weekend with incredible food, good bars & clubs and some interesting architecture and history with all the Gaudi buildings. I have probably been 3 or 4 times by now, and its been really fun each time. The city just has a very good vibe with the relaxed Spanish influences mixed with a fun, friendly tourist ambience And the food is incredible of course.

Restaurants

- Cal Pep - By far the best tapas place in Barca; always long lines out the front door, and seating mostly along the bar counter with all the food cooked on the plancha just behind it.

- El Xampanyet - Great Catalan tapas place for classic tapas and good beer and wine

- Cinc Sentits - Incredible modern Spanish cooking, with a very good 8-course tasting menu with paired wines. The place is completely family run with the mother as the host, the sister as the sommelier and the brother as the expert Chef. http://www.cincsentits.com/

- Agua - Good restaurant by the beach near the Hotel Arts; great on Saturday or Sunday for lunch

- Botafumeiro - Excellent high-end restaurant

- Comerc24 - Excellent modern Spanish restaurant along the lines of Cinc Sentits http://www.comerc24.com/

Bars & Clubs

- Hotel OMM - Good hotel bar, with a cool scene and great cocktails

- Sutton the Club

- Universal

- Luz de Gas

- Opium

- Danzatoria - Very fun club on the hillside but a bit further away on the Tibidabo plateau

Things To Do

- Walk around the cool neighbourhoods: Paseo de Garcia, Las Ramblas, Paseo Maritimi, Barri Gotic, El Born

- Sagrada Familia - Beautiful unfinished church designed by Gaudi

- Parc Guell - Excellent views from the top of the hill

- Museums - Museo Picasso and Museo Miro are both amazing

(I'll let you all guess the symbolism of the numbers in the square on the right)

Dubai (May 2006)

2009-09-13T19:03:00.000+01:00

I decided to go explore "the land of sand" i.e. Dubai since I had a few friends living there. It was a surreal experience given I had never been to Middle East, and I was amazed at the length of the highways, the amount of construction and the fact that it was in fact a desert.

Hotels

- Stayed at the Shangri-la Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, which was great. The service was impeccable, good restaurants and a very cool pool scene. This is where the movie Syriana was shot.

Restaurants

- Sho Cho (Sushi) - Cool outdoor bar and restaurant serving Japanese and a good weekend bar scene

- Royal Mirage One and Only Hotel (Moroccan)

- Souk (Middle Eastern) - At the Mina Al Salaam Hotel

- Shang Palace (Chinese) - Very good Chinese restaurant at the Shangri-La; also the dim sum is pretty good

Bars / Clubs

- Boudoir - Fun club with a good scene at the Dubai Marine Resort

- 360 - Fun bar at the end of the pier at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel

- Rooftop at Trilogy - 3 floor dance club with a roof deck

- Barasti Bar - Outdoor bar with a live band

- Peppermint - Hard house music

Things To Do

- Desert Safari - Amazing experience to go and live in the desert for a night; you sleep in tents and its all very luxurious but definitely a fun adventure

- Ski Dubai - Indoor skiing inside the mall

- Mall of the Emirates - Huge place full of global stores

Brazil (Aug 2007) Part 3 - Rio (Santa Teresa)

2009-09-13T16:47:00.000+01:00

From the amazing natural beauty of the north, we returned to Rio, but decided to stay in a small guest house in a different part of town. Santa Teresa is up in the hills above Lapa and displays a very different side of Rio. It is dotted with art galleries, musicians, cafes and has a small tram called bondinho that can take you back down to Lapa. The area has incredible restaurants and a very arty-cultural feel to it.

Hotel

- We stayed at Mama Ruisa, which is a private guest house

operated as a small boutique hotel.

The owner, Jean Michel Ruis, is originally French and has been living in Rio for several years. He is well connected throughout Rio, especially Santa Teresa and Lapa and is extremely hospitable

is helping plan activities, clubs, restaurants, etc.

http://www.mamaruisa.com/english/santa_teresa.asp

Restaurants

- Aprazivel - Amazing location with outdoor seating surrounded by

trees and fantastic views and incredible lanterns hanging from the

trees; the food was phenomenal with seafood as a specialty

- Espirito Santa - Smaller restaurant serving Mediterranean food but very funky and fun; great views off the terrace overlooking ST; has a club downstairs as well

- Bar do Mineiro - Small local bar with lots of black and white photos for beers and snacks

Clubs (in Lapa)

- Rio Scenarium - Huge 3 floor Samba club with many different

rooms and great live music

- Club dos Democraticos - Similar to Scenarium

- Carioca da Gema - Smaller samba

cafe club with live bands and tables

- Semente

Things To Do

- Several grand houses, castles, and museums in ST

- Many small art galleries and cafes to hang out in

- Definitely take the Bondinho down the hill

Brazil (Aug 2007) Part 2 - Lencois, Parnaiba and Jericoacoara

2009-09-13T15:43:00.000+01:00

After Ipanema beach, we headed north to Sao Luis and made our way down the coast through Barreirinhas, Lencois, Maranhenses, Cabure, Parnaiba and Jericoacoara.

Sao Luis

- Small historical town in the north, with lots of history but in my opinion not a lot to see.

- Stayed at a tiny pousada called Portas da Amazonia in the centre of town.

Barreirinhas / Lencois Marenhenses

- Barreirinhas is a small sandy town which serves as the entry to one of the most beautiful natural sights that I have ever seen. The area is dominated by pure white sand dunes as far as the eye can see, going all the way till the ocean. In August each year, after the rains, the dunes are filled with crystal blue lagoons and this makes for some very entertaining sight seeing, where you walk over a dune and then run down the side for a very cool, refreshing swim in the natural lakes that are formed.

- Stayed in a small hotel called Porto Preguicas Resort

Cabure

- Tiny strip of beach between the Preguicas River and the ocean. Take a boat ride from Barreirinhas to Cabure passing some vegetation and wildlife, the most friendly of which are the monkeys.

Parnaiba

- The town at the mouth of the Parnaiba Delta is truly amazing.

- Taking a boat trip down the Igaracu river, you see mangroves, monkeys, crocodiles, variety of birds, lizards, etc.

Jericoacoara (My favourite place in Brazil)

- From Parnaiba we take a 4x4 for about 3-4 hours through the ruins of Tatajuba and some breathtaking lagoons to arrive at Jericoacoara, which in my mind is the BEST place on earth.

- Its basically, 4 streets of sand on the middle of nowhere, with amazing tiny restaurants, a big sand dune, windsurfing, capoeira and Forro music and dancing. Spent 5 days there and it was still not enough.

Hotel

- Best hotel in Jeri is Mosquito Blue, amazing villas on the beach with the most friendly and hospitable service ever. Beautiful views, great food and lost of friendly people.

Restaurants

- Chocolate - Tiny restaurant with some of the best seafood and desserts. The lobster is incredible

- Carcara - Incredible Bahian food. The specialty is Mocqueca, which is a Brazilian seafood stew.

- Ice cream and sorbet stands and caipirinhas on the beach are incredible too

Bars

- The only one we found was a great one where there was live Forro music and all the locals dancing

Things To Do

- Windsurfing - Very good instructors just down the beach from Mosquito Blue. Tremendous winds so very good windsurfing.

- Horse-back riding - Great trails towards the back of the island to see a huge stone archway in the middle of the ocean.

- Evenings on the Dune - every evening all the tourists and locals head to the top pf the dune for the sunset, sand boarding, etc

- Capoeira - Capoeira classes on the beach for all levels and daily demonstrations, which are amazing

Brazil (Aug 2007) Part 1 - Rio (Ipanema)

2009-09-13T15:03:00.000+01:00

So after weeks of research and with gallons of excitement in me, I left for Brazil in August 2007. It was my second trip to Brazil but this time was going to be different. I was venturing beyond the cities to see some of the amazing natural beauty. First stop Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro...

Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema Beach)

We stayed at the Fasano in Ipanema, which opened 2 weeks before. An amazing hotel with Phillipe Starck interiors, an incredible location with a rooftop pool overlooking the beach and very hospitable service.

Restaurants

- Sushi Leblon (Japanese) - Amazing sushi given the massive Japanese influence in Rio

- Porcao (Churascaria) - The BEST steakhouse in Brazil, and you better have a massive appetite and don't get carried away with the salad bar

- Carlota (Int'l/Brazilian food)

- Zaza Bistro (Int'l/ Brazilian food)

- Zero Zero (Sushi) - Good sushi and a cool bar scene as well

- 66 Bistro French/Brazilian) - Fantastic high-end restaurant from top chef Claude Troigros

- Satyricon - Fancy restaurant, pricey but amazing seafood

Bars (Afternoon bars off the beach for some beers and amazing snack food)

- Bar Bracarense

- Bar Jobi

Clubs (Not the most amazing but def worth checking out Nuth)

- Nuth - Amazing indoor/outdoor jungle themed club and def one of the best in Rio

- 00 (Zero Zero)

- Melt

- Bom Bar

Things To Do

- Ipanema Beach - The best part of Ipanema is the beach, and making sure you know which part or Posto to be at is critical. Look for the beautiful people and you'll know you've arrived at the right place.

- Pepe - Another amazing beach without a lot of tourists is near the bar Pepe (Posto 2) on Barra de Tijuca

- Lapa - Great weekend markets, art galleries and musicians.

- Maracana Stadium - Brazil is football and watching a match at this stadium is almost sacred.

- Corcovado - The amazing statue of Christ on the hill is definitely worth seeing

- Hang Gliding - Its the most incredible experience to jump off one of the cliffs and fly over the beautiful homes in Rio, eventually landing on the beach