Daalder restaurant excels at accessible fine dining. Located in the charming Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, the space feels welcoming with understated elegance. A marble top bar is the focal point of the small dining room, a throwback to the prior iteration of the space. A diner could easily walk in for lunch and enjoy the… Read More Relaxed Fine Dining at Daadler – Amsterdam
Farm to table can be overused, but De Kas restaurant exemplifies the concept. A globally-inspired menu highlights ingredients from the attached garden and greenhouse. Seasoning and spices are mostly reserved, allowing the focus to be on the fresh vegetables. The colorful plating further emphasizes the freshness and vibrance of the same-day picked produce. The space… Read More Plant to Plate Dining at Restaurant De Kas – Amsterdam
I recently visited the beautiful city of Istanbul for my first time. While the trip was focused on a wedding and reunions, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to check off another World’s 50 Best Restaurant, Mikla. Mikla Chef Owner Mehmet Gürs is credited with helping establish the New Anatolian Kitchen – a food movement that… Read More New Anatolian Cuisine at Mikla – Istanbul, Turkey
#3 – Atelier Crenn, San Francisco, USA Three years after my first experience at Atelier Crenn, my return visit reflected their evolution from good to great. The consistent dreamy presentation was done justice by new standout flavors. The team received their third Michelin Star this year – congrats! Atelier Crenn – A Poetic, Modern French Experience… Read More 2018’s Top Restaurant Meals
My 2018 was a great year for dining. There was so much competition for my annual list of favorite bites, that I added a runner up to each category. Too many good options to recognize! Without further ado, here are my winning bites of 2018. Best Dessert Runner Up – Rose Confit de Framboise Choux… Read More 2018’s Memorable Bites
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