GlobalGoodFood

Danjee Korean Sydney

2015-04-06T19:02:00.004+10:00

Danjee has fermentation pots on display, an open glassed kitchen and with spacious seating. We ordered all the prerequisites: various barbecued meats, bibimbap, Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) of course and even more. Actually it was much more varied than the usual predictably Korean meal.

Fishface Double Bay Sydney Australia

2015-04-05T22:48:00.003+10:00

I first visited FishFace at their original restaurant in Darlinghurst, now relocated to Double Bay. FishFace is a great unassuming restaurant / bar serving incredibly innovative dishes in a casual setting. I think Double Bay is more suited since parking is available across at Woolworths and off-street parking can be easily found.

The fish and chips are always great.

Fsh-Face-darlinghurst

TRS (Tourist Refund Scheme) Avoid the queue Sydney Australia

2015-03-21T22:36:00.002+11:00

When departing from Sydney airport and wanting to claim your refund of GST paid besure to download the App and complete it before going to the airport. Otherwise lining up with all the clueless tourist who maybe struggling with the English language and the procedures and be prepared to be delayed and even losing the chance to claim the refund. With the TRS app, you complete it offline and it generates a QR code which not only allows you to join the express queue but quickens the processing. A Customs Officer was shooing people off the express line if they didn't already have the QR code and even reprimanded me for downloading the app whilst in-line, I of course denied the accusation. Ha ha.. I think they deliberately make it difficult so many do not claim or run out of time.

Two Sticks Yunnan George St Sydney

2015-03-20T10:31:00.000+11:00

Two Sticks Yunnan is a restaurant chain popping up all over Sydney. In name it is Yunnan with the concept of putting the rice noodles into boiling soup at your table but what I had was Sichuan in taste. Of course you could choose a soup base that don't have chilis and Sichuan peppercorn. It was a great experience eating beef noodles from these big earthenware pots. The fried Chicken wings were really crunchy but was very much too salty and had a sprinkling of Sichuan peppers and chill too. But I couldn't stop eating them. Overall a great experience and inexpensive too! Highly recommended.

Mos Burger Teriyaki burger and chips モスバーガー Bangkok Thailand

2015-03-18T19:05:00.000+11:00

Mos Burger the Japanese Burger chain is the second largest fast food operator in Japan behind MacDonalds. Now expanded all over Asia and includes 5 stores in Australia. Each burger is cooked on-order and assembled individually and delivered to the table in a cane basket. I ordered a Teriyaki burger. The chips (fries) appear to be more rustic and are cut thicker, just like the chips we had before MacDonalds came in and made the shoe-string French Fries the norm.

Turkish Airlines Business Class supper SGN to BKK

2015-03-16T01:03:00.001+11:00

Turkish Airlines, the most awarded airline in Europe flies SGN (Saigon HCM) to BKK Bangkok to Istanbul. It was a light supper of a nicely presented sandwich and a piece of cake. Turkish Airlines being more accustomed to European passengers served a cold supper something Asian Airlines would usually not do, i.e. serve a cold meal. But it was a very nice sandwich of prawns, asparagus and mayo. The cake may have been just a slab but with the walnut and the white chocolate decoration made its appearance presentable. It also tasted great.

Photo: iPhone

Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul Turkey

Mellben Seafood has the best Singapore crabs in Singapore

2015-03-13T01:45:00.000+11:00

Locals took me to an extremely popular seafood restaurant who specialises in crabs, mud crabs. Mellben Seafood is so popular that locals actually stand in-line for up to an hour for a table then still have to wait for their chosen crabs to make it to three table. It's a local only restaurant as it is out in the suburbs. Imagine we had three of the most popular crab dishes all at once. ManTou to mop up the sauce. Yes, this restaurant was extremely good and I agreed that it is probably the best crab restaurant in Singapore. Worth the wait, yes!

"Q" means queue

The fan base

Fried tofu

Mantou

Crab Bee Hoon (Vermicelli)

Salt & Pepper Crab

Singapore Chili crab

Shisen Haten - by Chen Kentaro son of Iron Chef Chen Kenichi Mandarin Orchard Singapore

2015-03-08T15:08:00.000+11:00

This I had to try. Chen Kentaro is the grandson of Chen Kenmin "The Father of Szechuan cuisine" in Japan and the son of Iron Chef Chen Kenichi "The Szechuan Sage". The restaurant Shisen Haten started in 1958 in Japan. Now the newest Sichuan restaurant on Orchard Road located on 35th floor this restaurant has huge chandeliers and expansive high ceilings. The food wasn't all about Sichuan and differs to the typical Sichuan cuisine from which it originated from, it has been modified over the years to suit Japanese taste however it was a pleasant refreshing change from the usually hot, fiery and numbing Sichuan style.

Photo: iPhone

Ice-cream

Designer Hong Bao Red Packets - Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Cartier

2015-03-06T18:12:00.000+11:00

Following on previous post of Bvlgari's Chinese New Year's Red Packet, this time with Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Cartier. In the past one would go to the street to buy red packets which were cheap until the big Banks got involved with giving away ones with their logo. Today it is the designer Red Packets that reigns supreme. With a LV or Cartier Hong Bao / Red Packet it certainly will project a better image of yourself regardless of the sum of money it contains.

HongBao Bvlgari designer red packet.

Tea Lounge where you can draw & paint Arteastiq Mandarin Gallery Singapore

2015-03-04T18:04:00.000+11:00

These days when you transverse a shopping mall whether in Beijing, Sydney, Singapore or Bangkok it's all of the very same, same. Here is something very different. A Tea house where you can paint or draw. It's Arteasiq and they call it Social Painting. No, I didn't try my hand but it did stop me as I was intrigued.

Chatterbox Lobster Laksa at Chatterbox Mandarin Orchard Singapore

2015-03-03T16:48:00.002+11:00

Throughout the many years each time I'm in Singapore, it's mandatory to dine at Chatterbox, Mandarin Orchard Hotel for their legendary Chicken Rice. It was the Chatterbox in 1971 who first put Singapore Street food on the map by introducing it in their Chatterbox restaurant, it was avant-garde to feature street food in an upmarket hotel back then.

So usually, for my own nostalgic memories I would always order the Chicken-rice, except this time. I opted for the nearly as famous Chatterbox Lobster Laksa since I have already raved about the Chatterbox Chicken-rice in a previous post. The Lobster Laksa was rich, very rich in flavour. You get a bib tied around your neck by the waitress which made me very self conscious but nobody seemed to notice nor cared. My only complaint is the silly Chinese soup spoon which may look great but is totally unusable in practise.

But I did go back for a Chicken Rice - I just couldn't break my own tradition, yes it was as good as it ever was. The best!

Read about Chatterbox Chicken Rice here. It is still my favourite.

The legendary Chatterbox Chicken Rice

Breakfast in Singapore at The Providore Mandarin Gallery Orchard Rd Singapore

2015-02-27T22:34:00.002+11:00

It's early and in Asia nothing is open early, I searched everywhere for a cafe and resorted to asking - which lead me to The Providore at the Mandarin Gallery. It was only starting to open and I had to wait. Finally I got to have a coffee and the croissants have not yet been delivered so it was poached eggs on toast which looked really sad, not a pretty sight at all. It was not quite like I had envisaged while enduring the long 15 minutes wait. Anyway, most importantly the coffee was good.

Photo: iPhone

Sad eggs

Nam Phuong / Phong Nguyen Quan - fine dining Hanoi Vietnam

2015-02-27T11:34:00.005+11:00

Nam Phuong - Phong Nguyen Quan is the premium fine dining restaurant for Vietnamese cuisine in Hanoi. It's where all Heads of State dine. I have been fortunate to dine here several times over the many years and the exceptional high quality and standards of food and service are still without par in Hanoi.

Where Heads of States dine
Photo: iPhone

Fried spring-rolls "Nem" in Hanoi

Vietnamese fresh rice spring-rolls

Salad

Pork belly slow cooked

Prawns

Egg-plant

A Viet meal always ends with a soup and some individuals add rice to it.

Vietnam breakfast at Pho Le Beef Noodle Soup - Bo Pho Beef - Saigon HCM Vietnam

2015-02-25T09:23:00.000+11:00

Pho is the Vietnamese rice-noodles that is consumed at breakfast, lunch, dinner and as a snack at any other time. For me it was breakfast as I like to eat whatever the locals are eating for breakfast which is truly cultural as you tend to eat what your Mum made for you and what you're used-to.

I was informed that Pho-Le is reputed to have the best Beef Pho in Saigon, or was it the bouncy beef meat-balls which may sound odd to a Westerner but Asians just love the mouth-feel which is another dimension and is often regarded on-par with taste. Incidentally these beef meat-balls were very similar in taste and mouth-feel to what is famously served in Hong Kong, again with noodles. The difference is of course in Vietnam it is the silky rice noodle and the ample fresh herbs, bean sprouts, chilli, lime and fish sauce.

The Chef

Preparation

Beef

Beef meat-balls

Limes & Chilli

Beef noodles

Beef meat-balls

Beef Pho

Trung Nguyen Coffee - Veitnam's premium coffee company Saigon Vietnam

2015-02-23T09:18:00.001+11:00

Trung Nguyen Coffee is Vietnam's biggest and the most renowned coffee producer. Vietnam is the world's second largest producer of coffee beans in the world, second only to Brazil. Like nearly all former French colonies Vietnam produces predominately "Robusta" due to the altitude and climatic conditions (low, flat and hot) which is precisely why the French may have great food but terrible coffee, they are just used to drinking Robusta. I find the only way to drink Robusta coffee beans is to do it the Vietnamese way. Steeped slowly in a drip, with sweetened condensed milk. Its thick, strong and full of caffeine.

Trung Nguyen Coffee originates from the South and you will find their cafe's everywhere in HCM City (Saigon).

Why Starbucks coffee at Opera Paris France?

Photo: iPhone

CaLang Toan Thang 445 Bach Dang Hanoi

2015-02-21T11:08:00.002+11:00

CaLang Toan Thang is suitable positioned beside the river, I think it's the Red river. It specialises in Vietnamese cuisine and predominately fish. The most famous Hanoi dish would be Cha Ca, fried fish in dill and turmeric eaten with the cold rice noodle Bun, dipped in the fermented purple shrimp sauce. It was nice setting beside the river but it did not have the atmosphere (nor the taste) of the original 100+ years restaurant Cha Ca La Vong with it's old worn steep and narrow stairs lined with French tourist waiting for a table. Cha Ca La Vong who had not only inspired the whole street in Hanoi's old City with the same menu but even New York Chefs and restaurants.

Condiments and spices

Seasonal fish

Bun (cold rice noodles)

Cha Ca (fried fish) with Dill, Turmeric

The fermented shrimp sauce (purple)

Sour soup with bamboo shoots and pineapple

Pomelo (peeled and segmented)

Happy New Year of the Goat 2015

2015-02-18T14:47:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year.

Xin Nian Kuai Le 新年快乐

Chuc Mung Na Moi

saehae bok mani badeuseyo 새해 복 많이 받으세요

kotoshi mo yoroshiku o-negai-shimasu 今年もよろしくお願いします

Times Square Causeway Bay Hong Kong

The Landmark Central Hong Kong

Saigon Vietnam

House of Jasmine, a Maxim's restaurant Harbour City TST Hong Kong

2015-02-17T21:30:00.000+11:00

This is a Hong Kong cuisine restaurant within the huge Harbour City shopping mall. The Maxim's restaurant group is gigantic and operates on the higher levels. It is nicely finished in light pastels with comfortable seating both indoor as well as out-doors. The menu is indeed comprehensive and is on the more expensive side. Well, it's Harbour City and this is where the tourists shop and no locals dine here so understandably so. The meal was great but we were charged for tea service which we didn't have. The service staff expected us to leave the change as tips by holding open the folder with the change making it awkward for us but I having no-shame - I took it all, leaving none. They didn't deserve any. The absent tea was already charged at a high cost.

Photo: HTC

Cafe Corridor Times Square Russell St Causeway Bay Hong Kong

2015-02-15T21:26:00.000+11:00

Here is a real find, a gem, a somewhat hole in the wall after walking down a long corridor and there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is cool and quiet away from the usual ding of Hong Kong. It is directly opposite Times Square Shopping Mall on Russell Street in Causeway Bay. As is always usually the case, I was in dire need for a caffeine fix, it was early morning 9.00 am and most of Hong Kong is not yet opened for business. Why would I go in to a chain cafe to get a very average or below par coffee. I needed a real coffee. So I gave this Cafe Corridor a go!

I was extremely pleased that it was open, it looked and smelt like a serious cafe and yes the coffee was great. Now this is a rare occurrence for me to praise a coffee joint in HK. Usually I settle for Hong Kong's own chain Pacific Coffee who usually charges more than Starbuck because they tell me that they're better! but the truth is their coffee beans were roasted in Seattle (yes in USA) and shipped or flown over to Hong Kong. Sure, Seattle roasters are good but not so good to keep the roasted beans fresh from spoiling and to be able to trick time itself. Pacific Coffee had plans to start roasting locally, may be they have, I dunno.

Anyway, now I know where to get a fix in Causeway Bay. This is my new Cafe of choice.

Photo: iPhone

Mango sweets at Hui Lau Shan 許留山 HKG Airport arrivals Hong Kong

2015-02-15T21:01:00.001+11:00

Hui Lau Shan is a chain specialising in Southern Chinese / Cantonese sweets, Herbal teas and including turtle jelly. However today they are "mango centric" which has since launched them throughout China and South East Asia.

At the Hong Kong Airport's Arrival Hall there's an outlet - its great to enjoy some mango desserts or even Bird's nest while you're waiting. Actually the sweet Bird's nest soup was extremely economical in price (for Hong Kong) - even when considering the cost in Bangkok.

Bird's nest

Dockside Cafe Woolwich Sydney

2015-02-13T22:37:00.001+11:00

Here's a great cafe on the waterfront set nearby one of Australia's oldest still working boatyard which is more like a good restaurant serving breakfast and lunch every day. The quality of food matches their high level of good service. Yes, the coffee is also good.

Photo: iPhone 6

Australian breakfast Kepos Street Kitchen Redfern inner Sydney

2015-02-10T23:26:00.000+11:00

Here's why the Australian breakfast has stormed the world from the UK to USA it's all the rage. Starbucks in the US has even copied the Aussie / Kiwi invented Flat-White coffee. The Australians have managed to put together a most unusual collective range of favourites from everywhere and called it Australia's own. The food is only half the story being copied, it's the unique style of friendly, casual and the rather laid-back service that Australians are well known for, is a hard act to follow.

Water served in old milk bottle

Good Coffee

Fresh juice served in jars

Sardines

Poached egg and (I forgot)

Aussie Israeli breakfast

Faux Hermes Kelly 爱马仕 in Black patented crocodile with silver hardware

2015-02-05T18:47:00.002+11:00

Look at this beauty a Faux Hermes Kelly in shiny black crocodile with silver hardware and a strap of course. Hand-made in Bangkok from the finest crocodile skin tannery in France. Yes, the same as where you-know-who get their skins from.

Hermes-berkin-kelly-bags

Milan-station-luxury-handbags

Tokyo Ramen Macquarie North Shore Sydney

2015-02-05T09:32:00.001+11:00

This is a very basic (cheap) run of the mill, boring Ramen by Tokyo Ramen at Macquarie Centre for A$ 8.00, A$8.50 and A$10.00 for that you can only expect Miso / Soy Ramen and no Tonkotsu (pork bones broth) here. Recommended only if you were in Macquarie Centre and was starving and desperate for Ramen like I was. I wouldn't go back and should have opted for a burger instead.

Chinese Noodle Restaurant - great Chinese Muslim - Bathurst St Sydney

2015-02-03T09:17:00.001+11:00

Now here is a real gem, a "hole in the wall" you'll walk by and gladly not give it a second glance but it has all the goodies. It may not have the polish of some of the newer regional Chinese restaurants, looks a bit basic and grimy, the menu's on the wall so just point and eat!

Authentic hand kneaded noodles / dumplings that have that springiness (al dente) that machines just cannot replicate. The Xinjiang (Chinese Muslim) lamb with cumin is flavoursome, the Sheng Jian Bao with the pan toasted bottom, it's all great and inexpensive. Try it and you won't regret the experience. It's just like travelling and being in Northern / Western China. I love it.

Cash only!