Bangkok

Went with a friends & loved ones to Bangkok and Burma over Christmas & New Years. Bangkok is developing at an unimaginable rate: more MRT stops, larger shopping malls, & taller high-rises. But the markets & temples still remain key to its society and as tourist attractions.

Hotel along the river

Buddhas along the Buddha Market

Paragon: 1 of BKK's largest shopping malls

Temple decors

Floating Market: Coconut Sugar Farm

Floating Market: old woman continues to make a living serving food to customer on her boat

Scene from BOND

Never leave this busy city without a visit to Long Table, the DOME - Sirocco, and Bed Supper Club.

L'Autre Pied - 8 amazing courses to die for

*I'm missing the chees platter No.7

Randall & Aubin - seafood in Soho

Early lunch at Spuntino

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The New Yorker sibling of Polpo - Spuntino

Spuntino - 61 Rupert Street, Soho, London, W1D7PW

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from Thrillist

NOPI - another player in SOHO

Just opened new restaurant in Soho, London by Israeli-born Yotam Ottolenghi.  This Middle-Eastern inspired menu will serve the selective Londoners.  Within a month we can see if it's managed to draw regulars from Polpo, Bocca di Lupo and the likes.  Seared scallops with pickled daikon and chili jam anyone?  The name of the dish is already a mouthful!

5 Pollen Street - Not so discreet when it becomes popular!

Transforming Leicester Square

 

W Hotel just had their soft opening Saturday night.

Seems to have minor buzz around the London; however, not sure about it's maximum potential yet. Heard that many of their staff was recruited from Sanderson, some customers too by the staff.  Regular tricks to bring in the numbers.

Spice Market London is based right behind ChinaTown and middle of Piccadilly.  Perfect location for tourists and Londoners. Haven't heard many great comments about the 'crowd'; however, can't judge for myself until a dinner at the Spice Market.

BBB - Notting Hill

Starter: 5* /5

Pancetta wrapped Monk Fish on rosemary sticks with beetroot, tomato, capers & lemon

Main: 3* /5

Pan Seared Sea Bass and shaved fennel salad with macerated raisins, pine nuts,
orange segments and dill

Dessert: 1* /5

Chocolate Cake w/Lemon Ice Cream

Beach Blanket Babylon

The interiors of this restaurant/bar is absolutely charming and perfect for intimate and large dinners.  Many restaurants in London are not capable of comfortably accommodating large parties for events but BBB seems to satisfy that with its Georgian Mansion decorated space.  The bridges and steps do make it tricky for the heels.

The food was rather disappointing.  I had the Monk Fish as the starter which was just amazingly blended with flavours and textures.  The next fish - Sea Bass - was just lacking flavour.  It was as if none of the ingredients meant to compliment the fish had a purpose! What's the point in that? And, I shouldn't expect any bones, which I did get a prick. Finally, the chocolate cake dessert was so horrible I couldn't even be bothered to take a picture.  There is a huge difference between 'cake' and 'fudge'.  Obviously either we misread the menu or the kitchen can't tell the difference. 

Overall the atmosphere is amazing with great customer service.  There should be a taxi service during these bitter winter nights though, considering it's a walk to the main street.

Would I return for another sitting? Maybe at the Shoreitch branch just to give that a fair shot.

Alamada keeps his center stage

Carlos Alamada continues to maintain his stylish, exclusive, and cozy restaurant/bar ALMADA on Berkeley Street popular after a year of success. With an invitation-only guest door policy, Carlos has been able to hand-pick the 'Friends & Family' members in London and internationally. Fantastic food, familiar faces and great fun!

Of course, I would choose to celebrate my birthday at Almada this year.

However, if you're not a friend or lacking a friend of a friend to put you on the guestlist, there is always the famous New York style American brasserie AUTOMAT on Dover Street. Ideal for a Sunday gathering or a intimate family sitting over breakfast/brunch.

Miike Snow & Polpo

It was at the famous Polpo that I found my BA fashion show catwalk song.  Miike Snow's tracks were playing in the restaurant at my first visit there a month after it's opening.  The fun restaurant/bar staff wrote the artist's name down and it officially found space in my Ipod.  I love sitting at the bar for dinner and watching my bf chatting away with the staff.  They always remember him because he orders everything from the menu, sometimes twice.

This time we stuck with some favorites and tried some of the new:

New time will be Polpetto.

Howling for more

Bocca di Lupo in Soho continues to impress me with their ever changing fancy descriptive menu and the amazing chefs behind the bar. I enjoy sitting at bars of restaurants (if available) because, as a customer, you are priveledge to watch how quick and precise these chefs can be. The chefs at Bocca di Lupo so happen to also be Italian (some Portuguese) and they are painting a picture with their cooking.

There's no point of ordering dishes of food you could whip up yourself (unless you don't cook at all). I always choose a few interesting dishes to excite my tastebuds. This time it will have to be the courgette flower. It's slightly crispy on the outside from the quick dip in hot oil but the flower itself just melts in your mouth with the slightest natural taste of sweetness. The chefs are not only great with their timing on cooking but also creating the delicate rich sauces that seal the tastes of rather simple dishes. The red wine selection has just enough variety to compliment the food.

Inside Aqua - Kyoto or Nueva...?

Argyll Street brings back so many memories of living in Soho and Movida car shows (you know what I mean). The street has been paved beautifully and Aqua has found itself a vast space that overlooks Regents Street. With two restaurants to choose from: Kyoto (Japanese) and Nueva (Spanish) the place was very much buzzing! DT took me there so I chose Japanese...
DT is one of the few people that can pull off a white jacket. He is also one of the rarest Scottish people I have seen who actually tans rather than turn into a freshly cooked lobster.



I have much to say about this place, good and bad and.... but I truely believe you must go to experience it yourself.

A few tips to keep in mind:
-The bar/restaurants are on the 5th floor (the elevator only has two buttons)
-Host/hostess will tell you the restaurant is on the 5th floor
-DO NOT let the bartenders serve you their specialties unless you enjoy cucumber juice with gin
-Be prepared to hear a banker say 'Oh, I'm going to make that building my office', pointing at the Crown's property across the street
-Expect to walk half way across the 2 restaurants if you're heading to the ladies' room


Is it trying to be the new Nobu?

Galvin La Chapelle - Spitafields

If there is one French resaurant in London that I adore, it has to be Galvins. Each Galvins presents you with a variety of atmosphere and view. Having already tried the convenient 5-min walk to Galvin Bistrot de Luxe and admiring the amazing view of London from Galvin Windows; I knew that the next one would continue to impress me.
Galvin La Chapelle at Spitalfields.


Just look at the refurbishment they've completed while retaining some details of the area leaving us to feel the mood of the surrounding area. I had a quiet Sundat brunch worth the travel to.