Best Restaurants Around the World 2011

To me Chinese is one of the best cuisines in the world.  However I understand that food is a personal choice.  Some, although not many, can live on crisps and toast only.  Yes they exist!  I have seen them on Discovery channel.  To them they are fed to survive rather than to a bigger extent that it is also something to enjoy.  Food plays an important part in Hongkie's life, 42.3% of Hong Kong people travel in search of good food.  One of my favourite local weekly travel magazines have recently invited some influential foodies to select their best restaurants around the world and I would like to share with my readers which one I would love to try:

1. Tickets - Barcelona - Spain 
   One of my holiday destinations in 2012 is Spain.  What I remember about Spain is their delicious tapas bars, the stylish Madridians, Gaudi and their way of living.  So I am definitely tempting to try this tapas bar. 
   
   The godfather of molecular gastronomy and one of the best chefs in the world, Ferran Adrià, announced the closing of his 3-Michelin star restaurant el Bulli few months ago.  It has disappointed many gourmet eaters especially those who had been waiting for a year to try to get a table.  But fret not, he has opened a more 'down-market' molecular tapas bar - Tickets in Barcelona and the head chef is his brother Albert.  If you want to book a table, you only need to wait for three months.
   
   Try The Oysters with its Pearl, The Olives, Jamon de toro
   
   
2. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal - London - UK
   Blumenthal's food is impressive and fun but too much of a trouble to try it yourself - watch his TV series Heston's Feasts and you will know what I mean.  It's just not something you will do at home.  For this reason, I would love to visit one of his restaurants.  Dinner is nested in Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.  It has earned its first Michelin-star just after ten months it has opened its doors.  I do like the thrill of molecular food and besides Adrià, nobody else does better than Blumenthal.  BUT I think the attraction of this recently opened restaurant is its 'gentrified' traditional British menu.
   
   Try Meat Fruit, Mandarin, Chicken Liver Parfait and Grilled Bread and Roast Scallop, Cucumber Ketchup and Borage
   
   
3. Noma - Copenhagen - Denmark
   Noma has been voted the world's No.1 restaurant by the reputable British gourmet magazine - Restaurant.  I have never been to Scandinavia nor tried their cuisine but now I have noted this restaurant down, I have a good reason to make a trip there in the future.
   
   
4. El Celler De Can Roca - Girona - Spain
   Roca is another successful molecular gastronomy restaurant situated in the outskirts of Barcelona.  Currently holding a 3-Michelin star, their food is theatrical.  I like it that you have only got two menus to choose from - either the Tasting Menu or the Feast Menu.  The average waiting time for a table is six months so I guess if I do decide to go there in 2012, I should book now. 
   
   Try Caramelized Olive Tree, Campari Bombon
   
   
5. 三田牛 飛苑 - Kobe - Japan
   Okay by now I am kind of wanting some 'normal food'.  Hien does not have any Michelin star but nothing beats a nice piece of char-grilled marbled Kobe beef steak.  Slightly different to molecular gastronomy, the chef here focuses on simple preparation of quality ingredients.  Sometimes less is more, I will be very happy just having this beef with a bowl of plain rice.
   
   Address: 神戸市兵庫区松原通1-1-69. Tel: 0786816529　
   
   
6. 吉士酒家 - Shanghai - China
   Xin Ji Xhi group has a few branches in Shanghai and the one on Tian Ping Road is their oldest branch.  I have been to the one in Xi Tian Di and personally much prefer the decoration and atmosphere there.  I was taken there for my birthday and the food was absolutely scrumptious.  It is Shanghaiese so expect something perhaps greasier with strong flavour.  This is definitely on my list if I ever travel to Shanghai again.
   
   Address: No.41 Tian Ping Road. Tel: 21-62829260
   
   
7. The Press Club - Melbourne - Australia
   Geroge Calombaris is one of the presenters of Master Chef Australia and he's also one of the top 40 chefs in the world.  He owns five restaurants in Australia and one of them is The Press Club which is a Greek restaurant.  Greek food isn't that popular in Hong Kong.  I guess there just isn't much demand for it here.  I always enjoy the food when I am in Australia because they have rich fresh produce which makes a huge difference for a dish.  Much of the western ingredients available in Hong Kong are imported and I remember the first time I could really taste a tomato was when I was in Perth. 
   
   I enjoyed my 2-day visit in Melbourne when I visited a few years back so next time when I am in town, The Press Club will definitely be one of my dining choices.  Their food looks really appertising and it will be indulging to try their 4-course set.
   
   Try Larisa "Kotopoulo" slow-cooked chicken breast, Naoussa Arni-Lamb
   
   
8. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand
   I would have enjoyed Thai food much more if it's not that spicy.  I have visited many famous local Thai restaurants and just couldn't finish a meal without drinking ten gallons of water because of too much hot spice!  I always wanted to visit Nahm during my visits to Bangkok but never got around to it.  The chef of Nahm actually comes from Australia.  So I think he will go easy with the spice, this is one top of my list when I visit Bangkok next.
   
   Try Fresh crabs cooked with turmeric and coconut sauce
   
   
   
   
   
   

Bangkok, Thailand

Why?

Do you really need a reason to visit Bangkok? Even though I have been many times, it is a city never ceases to excite me when I am there. Not only it’s a vibrant city full of great food, markets and massage parlours. It’s the hub to the many beautiful islands scattered around Thailand.

[ Typical Traffic in Bangkok ]

Length of this Trip

4 days. Trip made in 2010. 

Hotel we stayed in

This time stayed in Amari Watergate. Although the hotel is a walking distance to Central World/Grand Hyatt and Phaya Thai BTS station, would I recommend it? Not really as it’s located on a very busy road and a market with high traffic! However, the room is spacious and clean. Better alternatives are the mid-range Novotel at Siam Square or if you want to splurge, stay in the newly opened Siam Kempinski!

What to do?

Day 1

• Took Airport Link to Makkasan Station, then change for a taxi but I would have just taken the taxi from the airport all the way to the hotel as Makkasan Station is a bit deserted and it was hard to find a cab.
• As we arrive in the late afternoon, we decided to have dinner alfresco style at the famous T&K Seafood Restaurant located in Chinatown on Yaowarat Road (aka Soi Texas). To be honest, come here for the atmosphere not the food. Food was good but not great. We had grilled BBQ prawns, curry crab, fresh oyster with Thai herbs and friend morning glory. For a few hundred Bahs more, I’d rather go to Somboon which is my all time favourite seafood restaurant in Bangkok. However, Chinatown is an interesting area to explore at night. Soi Texas is full of food stalls selling grilled seafood, cold sweet coconut based soups, noodles and local delights.

[ Seafood dinner at T&K ]

[ China Town at night ]

Day 2

• I always enjoy the hotel buffet breakfast in Bangkok. However, another reason I won’t recommend Amari Watergate is their buffet breakfast was very disappointing. Still a good varieties to choose from but the quality was not that good. I have once stayed in Shangri-la and I must say their buffet breakfast was the best. Food was beautifully spread out with great choices catering for both Asian and Western hungry tourists. My favourite seats were the ones on the terrace overlooking at the Chao Phraya river.
• Spa treatment at Spirit of Spa in Soi Lang Suan – I don’t understand why some of my friends don’t enjoying having a massage whereas I love the sensation feeling my muscles relaxed after a good rub. It was clearly a mistake deciding to walk to the Spa from BTS. Even though it was not a hot day, I was literally soaked myself and felt very irritable by the time we arrived there. The spa is small but very cozy. I had a very enjoyable spa treatment of body scrub with jasmine rice powder followed by an hour and a half hot stone massage. It just felt therapeutic and heavenly.
• Lunch at Greyhound, Siam Paragon – Paragon is the mega shopping mall in Bangkok full of high end boutiques. Originally we planned to go to Mandarin Oriental café but service was appalling so we couldn’t wait for the waiters to come back to take our order and moved onto Greyhound instead. I had a yummy light tum yum soup with a chocolate cake – yeh I know it was a weird combination! Food was okay but cheap. After that, we had a quick look at the Paragon department store. A recommendation for all the ladies – don’t miss their jewellery section, I can always pick a unique local designed piece or two here.  Also not to miss is the department store's Gourmet Supermarket in the basement level where you can try local snacks in a clean environment.
  

  

  [ Siam Paragon ]

• Shopping in Siam Square Soi 1-3. These streets across Siam Paragon are full of local independent shops. A great place to explore. I bought a funky necklace at Mosessories. Shame we didn’t have enough time, I only managed to quickly walk around 1-3 plus it was raining so took a tuk-tuk to the dinner place instead. Tuk-tuk actually charges more than taxi but it was a fun ride and the most important of all got us from A to B quickly. Most taxi drivers would drive around blocks to make the meter runs longer! (BTS: Siam)
  

  
  

  

  [ Siam Square Soi 1-3 ]

• Drinks & Dinner at Hyde & Seek. This place was recommended by a local. Very stylishly decorated by the owners from Sweden. Even though I like Thai food, it’s a nice change not having something with chillies for a change. They do wicked cocktails and the food and atmosphere were excellent. Address: Athenee Residence, 65/1 Soi Ruam Rudi, Sukhumvit Road (BTS: Phloen Chit)

[ Hyde & Seek ]

Day 3

• Chatuchak Market – the best time to come to Bangkok is between October and March before it gets boiling hot! Walking inside the market lined with thousands of stalls without air-condition isn’t fun. Chatuchak is the biggest market in Asia and it’s always a must thing to do on my agenda. We bought a few items of homeware this time and I even found the coconut ice-cream stall! There is a section with a/c restaurant near the antique market, a good place to wind down after busy shopping!  (BTS: Mo Chit)
  

  

• Or Tor Kor Market. The market is across the street near the antique section of JJ market (aka Chatuchak Market). Very clean and big but they mainly sell grocery. It's an interesting place though.  Quite a big section of food stalls but no idea what to order so ended up eating in JJ market instead.
• Dinner at Patara (375 Soi Thonglor 19 Sukhumvit 55, Klongtonnua Vadhana).  Beautifully decorated with an open garden. Food was unconventional and refreshing. Service was great. Although we didn’t enjoy the pork ribs, it tasted too porky. Other dishes were fine. Atmosphere was a bit lacking as the restaurant was very quiet but it’s a romantic place to take your date. (BTS: Thonglor)
  

  

  

  [ Patara ]

• Drinks at Iron Fairies, 394 Thonglor Road (Sukhumvit Soi 55), opposite Ton Krueng Thai Restaurant, Bangkok (BTS Thong Lor).  A great small bar - very dark with live jazz performance. Great place for a night cap after dinner at Patara.

If you have more time, try:

• Erawan Tearoom for afternoon tea.
• Somboon for delicious seafood
• Jim Thomas House to appreciate traditional Thai architecture
• Koh Samet for a beach excursion
• Ayutthaya Ancient City for a day trip