Yuanfen 缘分, or “fateful coincidence”, is a Chinese phrase I learned at my dinner with Cecilia Chiang. It was a fateful series of events that led a food acquaintance to meet Cecilia, and it resulted in us dining together at a four-top months later. The occasion was an amazing milestone – her 100th birthday. It didn’t… Read More Celebrating a 100th Birthday – Benu, San Francisco
Among the many three Michelin starred restaurants the Bay Area is lucky to have, Quince Restaurant stands out in my mind for the service. A tough feat, considering the standard of service of its peers. Take the chef’s table. In my experience, most chef tables are reserved in advance, and the complete tasting menu is… Read More Seamless French Italian Cuisine at Quince Restaurant – San Francisco
#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
I am writing this half a year after my lunch at L’Arpège. Looking back, puzzlement is the best descriptor. If it weren’t for Ryan Sutton’s review, “The Crushing Disappointment of L’Arpège,” I would almost wonder if I went to the wrong restaurant. How could my experience be so far from what this vegetable-focused Paris institution,… Read More The Puzzling Mediocrity of L’Arpège – Paris, France
One of my favorite meals this year took place in the manicured gardens of Epicure Paris in Le Bristol Hotel. This was the perfect trifecta of ambiance, excellent food, and the best(!) service I’ve experienced thus far. The staff absolutely nailed my core service checklist – timing, knowledge of ingredients, a clear passion for their… Read More A Dreamy Garden Dinner at Epicure Le Bristol – Paris, France
Fresh off the high of excellent fine dining in Barcelona (Disfrutar, Tickets, Enigma), I was looking forward to my first three Michelin star experience in Spain. Not only does Arzak have three stars, it’s one of the rare World’s 50 Best Restaurants to be headed by a female chef (no. 31 of 50). I even… Read More The Letdown of Arzak – San Sebastian, Spain
I had a grand total of one birthday party as a kid and it was a joint celebration months ahead of my actual birthday. I’m also not one to expect extravagant gestures. Having said that, it does feel nice to be spoiled once in a while. My birthday this year was all that and more,… Read More Surprise Birthday Trip – Dinner at Alinea 2.0 and Drinks at The Aviary