Umami Mart

Oops, I did it again. Some of you may remember my report from last year on my first class flight on American Airlines, and the experience was surely memorable and comfortable. First class has bigger and longer seat, and you can stretch out like you are in your own bed. Food was somewhat ok, but […]

It’s not very often I go to fancypants restaurants but that doesn’t mean I don’t love the excitement and taste sensations that often accompany these forays into high end dining. I love them and I wish my pockets were deeper. For Christmas this year, we went to Roganic, the two year pop-up restaurant that’s been […]

Though I created such a scene when I wrote about a certain four-star restaurant some time ago, I must write about my experience at Eleven Madison Park. Why?  Because it was above and beyond my expectations, and made me fully understand Daniel Humm‘s genius-ness. Plus it was lunch, over a glass of wine, hence I […]

When you are in Chicago, aside from going on the architecture boat tour, or spend unnecessary amounts of money on the Magnificent Mile, where I stayed (it was basically like 5th Avenue in Manhattan. By the way, sales tax in IL is whopping 9.75%!!), one thing you should enjoy is the food. People say New […]

Recently a surge of concept stores and boutiques have marked our larger cities, the world over, from Paris to São Paulo, all bringing a bit of something new and curated. Concept shops like Paris’ overtly “cool” Colette throbs with waves of tourists, often fall short as many want to escape the untz-untz pouring from the […]

A meal at the James Beard House in New York prepared by chef Lorenzo Polegri from the restaurant Zeppelin in Orvieto, Italy. Sun-Dried Tomato–Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Grappa-Soaked Dried Apricots, Red Cabbage, White Turnips, and Garlic Fondue. See more photos from the dinner, here. Photo by Erin Gleeson.

Roasted sweetbreads and braised beef cheeks with root vegetable gratin, shallot marmalade, with a Pinot noir reduction at the James Beard House. Prepared by the chefs from Wynn in Las Vegas. Photo by Erin Gleeson.

You might have heard of a foul-mouthed chef named Gordon Ramsey. No? Just turn on the tv and you’ll see him either swearing his head off at some poor sous chef or cosying to some celeb. I’ve heard his food is amazing but I’m too poor to eat at his restaurant at Claridges and I’m […]

I don’t like vegetables that much. I am not keen on vegetarianism. I am not that into organic vegetables. I hate cooking for vegetarians since I have no idea what to do. Though I buy quite a few items at the Greenmarket, I don’t even care  if they are soaked in chemicals– I taint my […]

Matt left it up to me to decide where to go for our one fancy meal in Chicago. Oh dear. So many options and places to try in so little time! Friends had suggested Sepia, a chic restaurant in an old printing studio, and of course there was Alinea (sigh). I finally decided on Blackbird, […]