Hotel Oddity #48. Shangri-la tea
byThis intriguing basket was waiting in our room when we checked into the Shangri-La hotel in Singapore. It had been a long journey for…
This intriguing basket was waiting in our room when we checked into the Shangri-La hotel in Singapore. It had been a long journey for…
What has the Four Seasons Sultanahmet in Istanbul not thought of? I’ve already written about its coffee delivered with wake-up call, a practice worthy…
In Stockholm, it’s that time of year. Fresh, delicious, Swedish potatoes. Get them in the neighborhood grocery stores, dirt and all. I’ve never seen…
You find the strangest things in airport lounges. Fancy banana liqueur? This was in the Turkish Air lounge in Izmir. Let me tell you:…
Vodka and caviar in Russia Russian oligarchs suck billions of dollars from the national economy but leave lavish scraps to tease big bucks from…
How one thing leads to another… Bob and I were enjoying a delicious dinner in a small Turkish resort town. It was a balmy,…
The weather was terrible when we visited Japan last month. There was a whole inch of snow on the ground, and slushy puddles to…
Kajsas fish soup I dream of Kajsas’ fish soup! Since I started visiting Kajsas Fiskbistron (fish bistro) in the 90s, I always order only…
Durian. You love it. You hate it. Or you’ve never had it. This powerfully-fragrant fruit from Southeast Asia is considered so foul-smelling by some…
Sounds good, but it’s not what you think if you’re imagining a fragrant, wood-smoked Margherita pie. Back in Naples, lunching at the tiniest pizza…
If this doesn’t make you drool, well, try the lower photo. Sfogliatelli must be the most exquisite pastry ever invented. Found only in Naples,…
Here’s a restaurant in Singapore I didn’t try. In addition to its famous pig organ soup, the specialty restaurant pushes portions of pig livers,…
Mamak is worth standing in line for. Bob and I waited 50 minutes for what is actually rather ordinary Malaysian food. But you can’t…
Denouement. None of us wanted to leave the park. After the demos, the dinner, and the as-yet-untold experience on the buses, after the conversation,…
Dinner with thieves, continued. Carafes of white wine land on the table. I join Andy and Lou and have beer. Among much laughter, the…
The shouting at dinner surprised me. It was like the stereotypical Italian dinner: loud and full of gesturing, standing up and leaning forward, voices…
You are lucky indeed if you ever get the opportunity to experience a kaiseki meal, especially one in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn….
Every frequent traveler has a personal list of what he misses about home. The list varies depending on the type and length of travel….
Go ahead—laugh. I did. Is there a more phallic kitchen tool on the planet? Or one more ridiculous? You should see the thing in…
Eating Mumbai Bhel puri just might be my favorite Indian food. A snack commonly prepared and served on the street, you can find it…
After twenty years of baking this decadent dessert, which I’ve called by a name I’m quite fond of, I must finally, if fleetingly, commit…
The Slovene driver sped along the autostrade, disco crackling on the radio, fast-chomping gum, taking and making phone calls as if he runs another…
Just back from Japan with a few shallow thoughts: I like the Japanese philosophies of beauty and simplicity, love the food, but can’t get…
Coogee Beach, Australia—From our hotel, we walk around the corner to The Globe for “brekkie” every morning. We’re regulars on the stools at the…
I can’t remember ever having eaten dried octopus, but I’m not saying I wouldn’t. There they were, looking festive, a row of fresh ones…
I got a nut salad in a place we worked recently. Better not name the place…
Last month in the New York Times, Michael Pollan wrote an open letter to the president-elect about the importance of revising our entire food…
Why did we order two? Paper masala dosa is one of my favorite meals. I order them at every opportunity when I’m in India,…
Montreal—Read anything about this city’s vibrant dining scene and you’ll be pointed to Au Pied de Cochon. You’ll also be warned: dining here entails…
A family visit to Stockholm turned into a media circus. How did they know we were in town? First was an interview for an…