In the land of beer and cheap rum that is Southeast Asia, it's sometimes better to not drink at all than drink something awful. ...which is why for two months I barely had a drink. While in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam I went to three rooftop bars and had a couple of overly … [Read more...] about Saigon’s Best Wine Bar: Wine Embassy
Restaurant Reviews
Exquisite La Porte Restaurant in Montreal
"Can we go to that place you sent me last time?" Designing food itineraries for friends and family travelling to Montreal is like giving a kid a firecracker—dangerous and fun. Last time my mom was in town I dropped her off at La Porte for a solo dinner I couldn't stay for, sad … [Read more...] about Exquisite La Porte Restaurant in Montreal
Salt-Grilled Fish, a Night Market and Living Near BTS On Nut in Bangkok, Thailand
The second the woman said "It's near a night market," I was sold. I was sitting in a bamboo shaded rooftop cafe ("on" a rooftop cafe?) in Ton Sai, Thailand, trying to figure out where to stay when I got to Bangkok. A lot of the hostels seemed that they were downtown and a lot … [Read more...] about Salt-Grilled Fish, a Night Market and Living Near BTS On Nut in Bangkok, Thailand
Sustaina and Khun Churn Restaurants: Vegetarian, Organic and Macrobiotic Food in Bangkok
There aren't a whole lot of vegetarian restaurants in Bangkok, despite the amount of Buddhists. There's even less certified organic produce, meat, and dairy. Why would you spend more money? And especially why would you spend it on vegetables? Macrobiotic was the last thing I … [Read more...] about Sustaina and Khun Churn Restaurants: Vegetarian, Organic and Macrobiotic Food in Bangkok
Montreal’s Best New Restaurants
You go away for a couple months and all of a sudden Montreal has a bajillion great new restaurants—all local and sustainable and with biodynamic wine lists, of course. Nudding wrong widdit! as my honorary Newfoundlander of a father would say. All this newness sure makes me think … [Read more...] about Montreal’s Best New Restaurants
Sornthong Seafood in Bangkok
I have to give Sornthong Restaurant points for service. A lone gluten-intolerant foreigner comes in and asks what she can eat in a Chinese-run seafood restaurant. Disaster, right? What should I expect? A feast? Everything has soy sauce. And if it doesn't, it has oyster sauce and … [Read more...] about Sornthong Seafood in Bangkok
Hue Cuisine at Dong Pho Quan Hue Restaurant
Is it possible to get sick of caramel chicken? I'm doubtful, but I gave it a rest for a day in Ho Chi Minh City to find out more about Hue cuisine at Dong Pho Quan Hue restaurant. Located next door to mine and Anthony Bourdain's favourite rice-throwing restaurant, Com … [Read more...] about Hue Cuisine at Dong Pho Quan Hue Restaurant
Top Ten Foods in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Home to Winter, and One Last Shaved Ice
There are these handy tools here in Vietnam for crushing ice. You hold a huge chunk of ice in your hand (like a 1990ès cellphone size) and then whack it with a flat-bottomed mallet. The ice shatters. Voila, Vietnamese shaved ice. That's what I've been doing with the ice I make, … [Read more...] about Top Ten Foods in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Home to Winter, and One Last Shaved Ice
Throwing Charcoal-Grilled Rice, Caramelizing Fish, and Other Brilliant Food Ideas at Com Nieu Sai Gon Restaurant
If you're going to throw rice in a restaurant, this is how you do it... To give credit where credit is due, Anthony Bourdain hit this place first. He knows the female owner, respects her (and is possibly, sensible afraid of her), and loves sincerely all the food that … [Read more...] about Throwing Charcoal-Grilled Rice, Caramelizing Fish, and Other Brilliant Food Ideas at Com Nieu Sai Gon Restaurant
Home in District Three, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
After a gorgeous weekend in Mui Ne and a stress-inducing bus ride with an awful company (Phuong Nam—never use them! Take Phuong Trang instead), coming back to Ho Chi Minh felt like coming home. All I wanted was my bed in my apartment in residential district 3. I wanted to say hi … [Read more...] about Home in District Three, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam