Review: Atomix, New York City; Art of Hospitality

Intro Atomix NYC, a hidden elevated Korean tasting menu restaurant inside a Townhouse in the Nomad /K-Town neighborhood of NYC, is probably one of the hardest reservations to score in the city that never sleeps these days. Having experienced it now, following a stroke of luck with their waitlist, I can see why. Atomix most…

Review: Lunch at Odette Restaurant, Singapore

During my short visit to Singapore in May 2022, I had booked a lunch reservation at Odette. A fantastic French restaurant housed in the National Gallery in Singapore helmed by French Chef, Julien Royer. It has garnered quite of list of recognitions including #8 World’s 50 Best 2021, #8 Asia’s 50 Best 2022, and 3 Michelin…

Review: Emirates “Game Changer” First Class Suite on EK 231 DXB to IAD

As mentioned in my prior post covering the Gulf Air Falcon Gold Business Class experience, for Christmas 2021 I managed to secure a last minute award booking on the Emirates “Game Changer” fully enclosed First Class suite, unlocking yet another aviation bucket-list item. So began my whirlwind Christmas journey to Dubai. Worth it? Live up…

Review: SingleThread Farm and Restaurant, Healdsburg

In November 2021 I headed out to Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California. Not only to explore a bit of this wine country but for the main event: a dinner at Singlethread Farm – Restaurant – Inn. I honestly could not believe I managed to get a reservation, given my normally rotten luck with Tock reservation openings…

Quick Guide to Healdsburg, Sonoma County, USA + Valette Restaurant

Northern California. What a wonderful place to visit. Food, wine, outdoors, and all within fair and easy reach from San Francisco. California wine country is vast and diverse. You have the most famous one, Napa Valley, its more quaint but equally great neighbor, Sonoma, and the many other dotting the entire state like Paso Robles…

Review: Six Senses Douro Valley

Intro In September 2021, following a quick but delicious and productive 24 hours in Porto, I was off on a 2 hour train ride from Porto to Douro Valley, specifically the city of Peso de Regua, which is one of the biggest and main gateways to the valley. The 2 hour journey flies by as…

24 Hours Eating Through Porto, Portugal with Culinary Backstreets

In September 2021 I revisited Portugal, except this time I ventured to Northern Portugal to Porto and the Douro Valley. I can say that I like this part of Portugal more than Lisbon and its surrounding areas. They say Porto is the culinary capital of Portugal and I can certainly see why. It is also…

A Day in Woodinville, Washington and Stay at Willows Lodge

Background and Intro As mentioned in my prior post on The Herbfarm Restaurant, I spent Memorial Day weekend 2021 in Seattle. Part of the plans was to spend a night at Willows Inn in Lummi Island, 3.5 hours north of Seattle, but those dreams got dashed when the NYT Expose was published and we opted…

Review: The Herbfarm Restaurant, Woodinville, Washington

Background Over Memorial Day Weekend 2021 I visited Seattle for the first time, as in finally stepping outside the airport. I lucked out in the 5 days that I was there, sunny clear, occasionally overcast days, contrary to the stereotype rainy and gloomy weather expected of the region. Over all, I found downtown Seattle to…