Long Birthday Lunch at Zuni Cafe San Francisco with Marcel Giesen

The Wandering Palate was in San Francisco recently for a Robert Parker gig and had a wonderful LONG lunch for my birthday with legendary New Zealand winemaker, Marcel Giesen of Bell Hill and Giesen winery, pictured here at Zuni Cafe and immersing ourselves in freshly shucked local oysters and a bottle of Marcel’s single vineyard “The Fuder” Sauvignon Blanc – awesome pairing!

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The House of Roosevelt, Shanghai: Wednesday Wine Nights

If you are in Shanghai on any Wednesday, as a tourist, on a work trip or as a local, The House of Roosevelt will give you much more than a taste of Shanghai hospitality and warmth. You will get an entrée into the fast growing world of wine, which simply never stops in this bourgeoning city. Read More >

Another brilliant lunch at Carrick Winery, Bannockburn, Central Otago
I had lunch at Carrick Winery yesterday (Oct 15th) and can report that they are going from strength to strength with new head chef Gwen Harvie (previously Head Chef at Eicharts for many years) and she has clearly raised the bar with the food and menu. I also sense Carrick’s proprietor Steve Green has the place running in top form and the wines and vineyards all on song. Read More >
Another great lunch at The Town Mouse – Melbourne

A fleeting visit through Melbourne on the way back from Singapore allowed time for only one lunch, so a return to the Town Mouse seemed like a good idea, give the wonderful experience we had last time. And we had another great lunch, really enjoying some small plates to start and then a much larger plate to share for main course, this time a 900gram (more like 1.3kg) slow-roasted shoulder of lamb that was cooked to perfection, the dish further enhanced by a glass of Bella Ridge Estate Beau Pere 2005, a smoky, meaty, hedonistic blend of the best barrels from this most fascinating winegrower in the Swan Valley http://www.bellaridge.com.au  A full review on the Town Mouse in the pipeline and looking like a strong candidate for my restaurant of the year.  Read More >

The Wandering Palate Restaurant of the Year 2013 – The Quality Chop House, Farringdon Road, London

Admittedly, arriving at the ‘Wandering Palate Restaurant of the Year’ is essentially informed subjectivism; there is no avoiding the emotional and mental reactions of the individual; you will simply have to trust my palate and meta-ethics. Read More >

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Nahm Takes Top Honours at S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants

David Thompson – Nahm

Nahm in Bangkok has secured the No.1 spot at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014 awards in Singapore, earning the title of The S.Pellegrino Asia’s Best Restaurant. Opened in 2010, it is also named The S. Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Thailand. Read More >

The Best Fish-and-Chips in the World

It’s a curious thing, but I crave Fish-and-Chips, almost every week. I do try to constrain this addiction to a once a fortnight fix, although it’s a feeble attempt. Read More >

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Favourite Chicken Rice in Singapore – Wee Nam Kee New Premises

Having just visited the new premises of Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice today, 24 November, 2013, I can report that it is still my favourite Chicken Rice in Singapore and the new location at United Square more convenient and accessible than there old Novena location. Moreover, with a brand new, modern fit-out and much more space, the place feels a lot more conducive and everything more organized, and I sense that the move is a ‘breathe of new life’. Read More >

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Bus Stop Kirsty – The Wandering Palate Café of the Year 2013

The sphere of cafés, coffee culture and proliferation of the espresso coffee itself has become such a defining influence these days that it shapes cities and whole societies, exemplifying urbanity. Read More >

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Singapore’s Best Fishmonger, Greenwood Fish Market, Celebrates 10 Years

My favourite fishmonger in Singapore, Greenwood Fish Market, is celebrating 10 years of trading, which may not seem a long time if you come from a generation’s old Cornwall fishing family but surviving a decade in hyper-competitive Singapore is equivalent to a lifetime. Read More >