A great way to skip the line at the Eiffel Tower? Make reservations at Le Jules Verne, Chef Alain Ducasse’s restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower! Be prepared to pay though, because this was rather pricey for a one Michelin Star spot. Tasting menus start at 105€ for three courses (weekday lunch only) and climb to… Read More Dining Inside the Eiffel Tower at Le Jules Verne – Paris, France
What’s a perk of having two weddings? Two anniversaries! Since our two weddings were a month apart, it made sense to have a month long celebration! Singlethread Farm was my original pick for my husband’s surprise birthday dinner in 2016, but due to opening delays it didn’t pan out. After 1.5 years of anticipation, we… Read More A Midweek Escape at Singlethread Farm – Healdsburg, CA
2017 was one of my favorite years for food. I enjoyed so many vibrant, punchy, and creative dishes. In contrast to the kaiseki-heavy and refined restraint of last year, 2017 was all about bold, indulgent deliciousness! Since I have the biggest sweet tooth, I’m kicking off my most memorable bites with my favorite pastry of… Read More 2017’s Most Memorable Bites
It’s time to reflect and pick my top food experiences of 2017! This year, I had a fun variety of meals – from high end tasting menus to bun cha served on the side of the street. My Vietnam trip was a major highlight – how cool to experience my favorite cuisine in its country… Read More 2017’s Top Three Restaurants
We found ourselves with just two days in Saigon so we crammed the food in, starting with a motorbike food tour from XO Tours. In 4.5 hours, we zipped through 6+ districts in Saigon and ate at three restaurants. We also (separately) sought out the most famous pho and banh mi spots in Saigon, tried… Read More Two Days in Saigon – A Food Guide to Ho Chi Minh City
The cooking class at Sompong Thai Cooking School was a highlight of my Thailand trip! I love Thai cuisine and dabble with Thai flavors in my cooking. I make a mean Tom Kha Gai (coconut galangal chicken soup), so I was super excited to optimize that dish and learn a few others in this class.… Read More Sompong Thai Cooking School, Bangkok (Honeymoon Pt. 5)
We enjoyed a day-long Ayutthaya tour and river cruise while visiting Bangkok, Thailand. Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam Kingdom back in the 14th-18th centuries, and the impressive ruins hint at the grandeur this once was! The city is located 80 km north of Thailand – about a 90-minute drive, which made for an easy… Read More Ayutthaya Day Trip and River Cruise from Bangkok (Honeymoon Pt. 3)
While in Phuket, we went on a fun speed boat tour of the very scenic Phang Nga Bay. In eight hours, we hit up six diverse stops in the Bay, including canoeing, caving, and of course beaching. Oh yes, we also did a sail-by of the famous James Bond Island, but thankfully didn’t go ashore… Read More Phang Nga Bay Speed Boat Day Tour (Honeymoon Pt. 2)
Greetings from the married side! After a magical four-day celebration in Carmel Valley, CA, we packed our bags and went to South East Asia for an 18-day honeymoon. We started with a relaxing three days at the luxurious Banyan Tree Phuket. We stayed in the Spa Sanctuary area, where each private pool villa comes with unlimited massages(!) and 6000 sq.… Read More A Luxurious Stay in Phuket – Banyan Tree Spa Sanctuary (Honeymoon Pt. 1)
In contrast to my recap of the most memorable dishes this year, it was surprisingly easy to pick my top three favorite restaurant experiences. 2016 was a weak year for new restaurants in the Bay Area, so the standouts were established, proven destinations. Excellent food was just the baseline, and what made them my favorite is a combination of uniqueness and personal… Read More 2016’s Top Three Restaurant Experiences