Colombia bills itself el país de la belleza – the country of beauty. The South American nation features astounding biodiversity and cultural heritage, and topography ranging from the majestic Andes and the Amazon rainforest to the Caribbean coast. My second and more extensive visit to this country has only confirmed the impression left by my first: that Colombia rewards those willing to look past is reputation, revealing a place of extraordinary warmth, resilience, and richness at every turn. Some of the cafes that serves good Colombian coffee: And now for the food and accommodations during my visit: Two memorable meals in Medellin were…
Category: Food
“Gratis” NYC
As they say, nothing in life is truly free — but let me indulge in the fantasy that it can be. Using airline miles for my roundtrip flight and hotel points at the Kimpton Era (same as my last visit), I found myself back in New York City for three nights. Keeping with that “complimentary” theme — right up until it inevitably runs out — I tapped into my reciprocal museum benefits for free entry to the Guggenheim. First up was Yayoi Kusama’s “Infinity Mirrored Room – Dancing Lights That Flew Up to the Universe,” followed by the Guggenheim Pop…
NYC Break
Spending the Easter long weekend in New York City. I came with no plans and winging it – which turned out great! First stop was the Whitney Biennial 2026. I was able to attend the 2024 edition and took the opportunity to see what’s new thus year. Also on exhibit is Unitiled (America) featuring Whitney’s collection and new acquisitions. Isamu Noguchi collection: I was able to sneak in a Broadway musical as well (booked my ticket the morning of) – Maybe Happy Ending, which won the Tony Awards for Best Musical. Very entertaining and enchanting – with only four actors…
Supergoed
I noticed the Dutch tend to use “super” more frequently in casual daily conversations, as an adjective or adverb to mean “very”, “extremely” or “amazing”. Now talking about food: first dinner was at Serre located at the Hotel Okura. A Michelin Bib Gourmand designated restaurant serving fusion cuisine. Next dinner was at another Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Wils Bakery Cafe with the kitchen serving French classics with global influence. Now this is Super! I had to go back on this trip to Rijks – the gem of a restaurant at the Rijksmuseum that has a one star Michelin. It was…
Visita Maravilhosa
Church of São Roque (Igreja de São Roque) is a 16th-century Jesuit church known for its plain facade and stunning Baroque interior. My third visit to Lisbon – and its dining scene continues to evolve. Mix of iconic seafood institutions, modern interpretations of Portuguese classics, and an increasing number of Michelin-recognized contemporary concepts. From the historic “tascas” in Alfama to upscale rooftops with river views, the city offers high-quality gastronomy that remains relatively affordable compared to other Western European capitals. First dinner was at Mercearia do Século – a charming mom and pop serving very good traditional dishes. Make a…
Food & Stays
As I say Danke and Merci to Zurich and Paris, here are the food and stays during this trip: La Bottega Di Mario is a wonderful ristorante and salumeria in Zürich, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction. Catching up with Swiss friends, I was taken to Zeughauskeller, for traditional Swiss fare (warning servings are huge!) Another Bib Gourmand brasserie that is good is AuGust. A gem of a restaurant is Bauernschanke, tucked in an alleyway in the old town. Totally deserving of their Bib Gormand. A modern Japanese izakaya is Gaijin – another casual place with a Bib Gourmand distinction….
Bedankt
”Thank you” in Dutch – for another pleasant stay! New restaurants tried, with one a repeat as it was an old favourite – Buffet van Odette. Jansz, located at the Pulitzer Amsterdam, serves well crafted dishes inspired by modern-Dutch cuisine. The best meal I had during this visit was at Rijks, a culinary adventure of Dutch cuisine – worthy of its Michelin Star. No visit to Amsterdam is complete without Indonesian Rijsttafel. Max Restaurant delivered well for me. Final dinner was at Gitane, a Michelin Bib Gourmand casual neighbourhood restaurant, serving Mediterranean dishes. A real lovely stay at the Pulitzer…
MIA
A brief 3-day / 2-night trip to Miami to attend my first Art Basel. It was overwhelming at times – sensory overload – yet a wonderful and awe-inspiring visit. There were several other art and design fairs taking place in the city at the same time – Art Miami, Untitled, Design Miami, among others – that caused a deluge of visitors (and party-goers) to Miami and Miami Beach. The causeway to Miami Beach had heavy traffic every day and local police was out in full force. For food: first dinner was at Lucali, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant serving 20-inch…
An Empire Long Weekend
A long weekend back in New York – for 72 hours this time. It has been awhile since I have been to the Guggenheim Museum so I decided to pay a visit on this trip. I decided to go back to Momofuku Noodle Bar for my first meal, as it has been years, compounded by the closing of its Toronto outlet. I also headed back to the one star Michelin rated Estela in SoHo. The arroz negra still tastes as good as I remember it. One new restaurant I tried is DomoDomo and ordered their “Domokase” tasting menu. Food and…
Þakka þér fyrir
Or simply said as Takk (thank you). I have several friends who have raved about this country, yet in many respects, it still feels like a well-guarded secret – likely because of its bountiful natural resources, empty roads that wind through vast volcanic landscape, or massive open land with nothing but horses and waterfalls for miles. No trip to Iceland is complete without bathing in a hot springs. I decided to skip the famous Blue Lagoon, as I heard it gets overcrowded, and went to the Sky Lagoon instead. Featuring an infinity edge geothermal lagoon with views of the Atlantic…









