There is a light glowing softly, way out there on the leading edge of contemporary Australian gastronomy ….it’s chef Shaun Quade’s restaurant Lûmé. I am heading off to Melbourne, one of Australia’s most amazing food destinations. This time I’m flying solo. It’s a short trip so I have had to narrow down my food adventure opportunities to only the best. There is no question, it has to be Lûmé. I don’t think there is anyone in Australia doing anything quite […]
Category: Hat Tip
Anthony Bourdain
“When I die, I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of a sad list of people hurt, people let down, assets wasted and advantages squandered,” he wrote in Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly “I’ll be right here. Until they drag me off the line. I’m not going anywhere. I hope. It’s been an adventure. We took some casualties over the years. Things got broken. Things […]
L’Ambroisie – Paris – Refined Perfectionism
L’Ambroisie offers an exceptional expression of classic French Haute Cuisine, a continuous feast for the senses in the regal setting of a 16th century townhouse on Place des Vosges, Paris L’Ambroisie, Chef Bernard Pacaud’s 3 Michelin star Paris restaurant, proclaims divinity. Named for Ambrosia, the fruit of the Gods – exceptional delicacies capable of conferring immortality and reserved for divine beings. The name may be a nod to the Greek myths, but L’Ambroisie is one of the most traditional and […]
Le Calandre – Rubano – Italy – It’s True
Is what they say about Le Calandre true? In 2013 Andy Hayler said, “Le Calandre is without doubt one of the top restaurants of the world”. The folks at Michelin only give three stars because they say Le Calandre is a place of “Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey!” The fine tuned palates of over 5000 reviewing contributors for Opinionated About Dining Top 100+ European Restaurants 2018 say Le Calandre deserves to be ranked at No.10. The Oscars of the restaurant world, The Worlds […]
La Marine – Noirmoutier – France
Restaurant La Marine, a landmark food destination located off the west coast of France, in a sea port village on the island of Noirmoutier. France’s Gault & Millau Chef of the Year 2017 Chef Alexandre Couillon and his wife Celine, born and bred islanders, have taken the humble beginnings of his fathers mussels and chips holiday bistro and created a vibrant modern two Michelin Star restaurant. Passionate foodies from across the globe make the journey to experience the freshest seafood […]
Restaurant Kei – Paris – Resplendent
Named for the Chef, Kei Kobayashi, two Michelin star Restaurant Kei, in central Paris is today’s adventure. It is tucked away in a little side street only a few blocks from the worlds largest art museum the Louvre. Searching out breakaway chefs who have begun their careers in the big houses and are now establishing their own identity, leads us to Kei. We have been particularly enjoying the magic that Japanese chefs bring to French Cuisine and by all accounts […]
De Librije – Zwolle – Netherlands – Full Boer
Jonnie and Thérèse Boer – Passionate memory makers We are taking a very special journey to the northeastern part of the Netherlands, to the beautiful town of Zwolle, to explore the experience of dining with the venerable Jonnie and Therese Boer at their restaurant De Librije. The old prison building that’s now De Librije No matter where you look for guidance on exceptional dining experiences, restaurant De Librije, continually stands out as one of the best fine dining destintaion […]
Restaurant Pages – Paris
Restaurant Pages, is an unassuming Paris restaurant where Japanese chef Ryushi Teshima takes the art form that is French cuisine and blends it with Japanese food culture, applying the skill of a master craftsman driven by the quiet pursuit of perfection. This combination ultimately creates a wonderful Restaurant experience, so much so, that Restaurant Pages finds its way to the top of the Top Paris Restaurants in the pages of my journal. It is our fascination with finding and […]
The Fat Duck – Bray – UK
Quietly tucked away in the little UK village of Bray, The Fat Duck is Heston Blumenthal’s renowned restaurant. Yes there are three Michelin stars but there is so much more to be said about Heston Blumenthal than stars alone can convey. In my mind he stands apart, incomparable to anything else, so I wonder if in his case, stars or hats are meaningless attempts to categorise a chef who is simply not able to be contained, pigeon holed or defined. […]
Le Clarence – Paris
I’m not sure if there’s a more wonderful way to lunch in Paris but Le Clarence is up there. Set in a beautifully decorated French mansion, with all it’s old world frenchieness – Le Clarence leaves you feeling like you’ve just stepped back in time and into a fairytale. A beautiful setting, assured cooking and warm and friendly service make Le Clarence a top spot in Paris for lunch or dinner. Located just off The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, in the Triangle d’or, this elegant restaurant strives […]