Art Nouveau & The Abbey

In the late 19th century, Brussels was a centre for avant-garde design and architect Victor Horta created a new style, later labelled Art Nouveau. Featuring sensuous curves elaborated in wrought iron, mosaics, stained glass, murals and woodwork. Today, his former house has been transformed into a museum. Brussels, and Belgium for that matter, has an impressive array of haute cuisine choices – without the Paris prices, as one commented to me. I stayed at The Dominican in Brussels. A converted Dominican Abbey has found new life as a hotel that is a member of the Design Hotel group. It…

Ghent

February 25, 2016March 12, 2016 Categories: Belgium · Food · Ghent · TravelTags: Belgium · Ghent · Travel

A day trip to Ghent from Brussels proved to be quite rewarding, despite the rain. A city rich with medieval buildings and treasures inherited from its days of a prosperous trading centre. First stop was the St. Bavo Cathedral which houses one of the greatest cultural treasure in Northern Europe – Jan Van Eyck’s “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb“. This huge polyptych is a 12 panel former altar masterpiece, that has been moved to a side room for preservation. Stopping for lunch at Coeur d’Artichaut is highly recommended. An elegant old mansion by the canal serving high standard cuisine….

Flemish Art, Food, Etc.

February 23, 2016March 20, 2022 Categories: Accommodations · Art · Belgium · Bruges · Food · TravelTags: Art · Belgium · Bruges · Food · Hotel · Travel

Two museums in Bruges that house some of the world’s finest collection of Medieval and Flemish art are the Groeningemuseum and the Sint-Janshospital. Both museums contain an impressive collection of Hans Memling and Jan van Eyck. For food lovers, there are quite a number of excellent restaurants in Bruges. Many serving Flemish cuisine. There are also tea rooms that dot the city, serving tea, coffee, pastries, and of course, Belgian waffles. I stayed at the Grand Hotel Casselberg Brugge, consisting of a 19th century building and a new wing, with rooms that face the canal. The hotel…

Food and Rest at the Cape

October 18, 2015 Categories: Accommodations · Cape Town · Food · South Africa · TravelTags: Aubergine · Cape Cadogan · Cape Town · La Petite Ferme · South Africa · Test Kitchen

Cape Town has established itself for its world-class fare, combined with great views and historical venues. It is quite unfortunate that I only had three full days in this city to try out its food. Three restaurants that I had my agent book a month and a half prior to my arrival are Test Kitchen, Aubergine and La Petite Ferme. Opened in November 2010, Test Kitchen is the 30-seater restaurant of celebrated chef Luke Dale-Roberts. British-born, Luke trained in Switzerland and England before heading to Asia for a five year stint, launching restaurants in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and the Philippines. Today, Test…

Dublin Eats (& Sleep)

July 10, 2015July 11, 2015 Categories: Accommodations · Architecture · Dublin · Europe · Food · Ireland · TravelTags: cafes · Dublin · Food · Ireland · Restaurants · The Westbury · Travel

Dublin is one serious food lover’s destination. Chalk it up to pure ignorance, but I was delightfully surprised at the number of excellent restaurants and eateries in town. My very first stop after I landed and checked into my hotel was to have the hotel concierge book me a late lunch at The Greenhouse located off St. Stephens Green. Chef Mickael Viljanen, who was crowned the Best Chef in Ireland 2015, prepares innovative Irish cuisine that is both sublime and “art” in itself. Etto on Merrion Row was added to the Michelin Bib Gourmand list that recognize restaurants that offer…

NYC Gastro Weekend

May 17, 2015May 16, 2015 Categories: Food · New York · USATags: Estela · Food · Gato · Lady M · Maison Kayser · Marta · Momofuku · New York · Travel

There was some major catching up to do with old friends in New York last weekend — all the while we enjoyed libations and one excellent meal after another — from crochette di baccala, rabbit meat balls with ricotta, smoked duck with sour cherries and pistachio, garrotxa, red prawns, chorizo crepinette, whole boneless porgy ssam, heritage farms pork chop, salted cod and potato croquettes with aioli, and the list goes on…. and before I forget, the Popcorn Cake! Inspired by a rustic Roman pizzerie, chef Nick Anderer‘s Marta is definitely a must try – outstanding food, polished service and beautifully designed space! After…

Mangiare e Dormire

March 13, 2015March 13, 2015 Categories: Accommodations · Europe · Florence · Food · Italy · RomeTags: Cibreo · Eataly Roma · Florence · Food · Gelato · Hotel · Italy · Restaurants · Rome

“Eat and Sleep” Good food and good wine are plentiful in Italy. Even a simple pasta dish with just olive oil tastes extraordinary. Here are a few restaurants I tried — mostly recommended by friends and locals. Osteria Del Cinghiale Bianco (the White Boar) in Florence serves good reliable typical Tuscan cuisine. Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina is a quaint wine bar located across Palazzo Pitti that also serves traditional and modern Italian cuisine. They specialize in small production, high end wines. I was at Cibreo Trattoria when I last visited Florence 13 years ago and the experience was…

Another Gotham Weekend

October 12, 2014October 13, 2014 Categories: Accommodations · Architecture · Food · New York · Travel · USATags: Blue Bottle Coffee · Bryant Park Hotel · El Colmado · Gotham West Market · Ivan Ramen · New York · Pearl and Ash · The Spotted Pig · Van Leeuwen

Another weekend of what felt like an unending gorging in New York! My first stop was the Gotham West Market. A retail and food destination that opened late last year in New York‘s Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood and features eight food purveyors. It was a paella lunch at El Colmado – Seamus Mullen’s classic Spanish tapas bar. And an after-lunch cup of mocha at Blue Bottle Coffee. Located in East Village is Van Leeuwen artisanal ice cream store. Again, I just came across this place while wandering around. Van Leeuwen started out with two ice cream trucks in 2008 and has…

New York Weekend

August 24, 2014May 15, 2015 Categories: Food · New York · Travel · USATags: New York

A weekend in New York. Lucked out as the weather was quite comfortable for the season. Two good restaurants I tried out are Ignacio Mattos’ easy and fun place Estela and Wylie Dufresne’s neighbourhood spot Alder, which served excellent casual dishes and well-crafted cocktails. A friend of mine invited me to dinner at BLT Steak New York, the flagship location of this restaurant that operates in other cities, including one in Hong Kong. Billed as a modern American steakhouse, they also served a selection of seafood and blackboard specials. For coffee lovers, Birch Coffee is a must-try. They have several locations in the city. And for…

Good Eats

July 19, 2014July 19, 2014 Categories: Food · New York · USATags: Blue Bottle Coffee · Blue Hill · Bouchon Bakery · Eataly · Felidia · Food · Morgenstern's · New York · Pok Pok

No visit to New York is complete without eating your way around the city. I was able to try new food places during my last visit, but also got to return to some of my favourites. The first one I checked out was Andy RIcker’s Pok Pok Phat Thai. After watching Andy Ricker play host to Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown in Northern Thailand, it got me more than curious. The Lower East Side Rivington Street location is a simple “hole in the wall” with only stools and counters that serves a limited menu of Phat Thai and Kuaytiaw dishes – worth a visit nonetheless. …

where's gary

Category: Food