Travelogue around Asia Pacific Part II

Ho Chi Minh City - We went to this iconic Jazz club that charges quite high for entrance fee.   It had a jazzy feel to this club, small clique of people were strolling in and soon the club was filled.   We were waiting for the encore of experience jazz players to arrive and most notably Tran Manh Tuan Iconic Sax N Art Jazz Club Then the famous Tran Manh Tuan arrives and the Jazz club atmosphere lightened up and the music flow like beautiful 'water down a stream'. Tran in white and long hair His music was worth the long wait for his expected arrival.  

HCMC - It was a short taxi ride from my hotel and we arrive on this long stretch of Dinh Tien Hoang Road at number 94.  That is the name of this famous crab restaurant.   They are so famous that a copy cat opened a restaurant just a few stores down and called it 94. We were standing there wondering which restaurant was the correct one and it dawn on us to look at the exact house number 94 Dinh Tien Hoang, Q1 .   The fake restaurant had 94 crab restaurant but their house number was 87. It was a non nondescript restaurant but the crabs are delicious and value for money. fried rice with crab  This dish had generous portions of crab meat and tasted so delicious. Black chicken herbal soup salt and pepper crab

HCMC -  The front desk recommended this restaurant   Address: Viet Pho Restaurant @ 47-49 Le Quy Don, District 3.     The entrance looked expensive because they had many live seafood tanks displayed near the entrance of the restaurant.   The menu reflected our instinct as many of the seafood indicated had market price indicated.   So, we ordered what we think was value for money. blanched ladies fingers It is a simple dish with blanched ladies fingers and fermented bean curd. fried bee hoon triple layer pork wrapped This is a self-wrapped triple layer pork dish.   Pick a paper wrapped, lettuce, add the triple layer pork, add mint, cucumber and basil, rice noodle some sauce and wrapped it up. Grilled pork ribs Nicely and tendered to the taste with a slight spice added.    This restaurant is not worth another of my visit as it's over priced on simple dishes.  

Tokyo - After my meeting I took the subway to Kappabashi.   From Toyocho station, I took the Tozai line and changed at Nihonbashi station to the Ginza line bound for Ueno station.   It was quite straight forward and Japanese are very helping in pointing the correct directions. I finally reach Kappabashi after a good 20 minutes of walking from the Ueno station.   It was surreal to find both sides of the street with shops selling every culinary requirement to set up a restaurant.   From kitchen knifes, plates, lacquer ware, notice board, uniform, fake food, etc... all kitchen stuff uniform for sale dinning ware fake food 'unreal' food Fake Food sold here.. Fake seafood The weather was cool and easy on the walk down this long row of shops.   After about an hour of looking around; it was backtrack to the subway bound for the hotel to check out.  I have a red eye flight to catch home.

Tokyo - This restaurant was tucked in a corner of a street.  Upon reaching; we had to climb a steep flight of steps to reach this restaurant but the effort paid off in the good food and service rendered by the owner and chef. wide selection of food to choose I was surprise when the chef came with the spread of fresh seafood for us to choose and also how it was to be cooked.   It was a nice gesture because Terry knows the owner of the restaurant through a close friend introduction. The attention paid to our table was exceptional. apetitisers Small plates of apeitisers from Lotus root, anchovies, soya bean and special Japanese mushroom. Sashimi prawn and clams special fish only during this season Abalone and innards Chicken Yakitori Wagyu beef to be cooked in Sukiyaki Desert - Green tea ice-cream with red bean paste It was a delicious dinner....

Jakarta -  This is one satay chain that is new to me - Te Sate.   The food is very good and tasty.  The interesting dish was Serabi Solo which was prepared near the entrance of the restaurant. preparation of Serabi Solo Chocolate Serabi Solo Sayur Lodeh This is an Indonesian popular dish cook with lots of vegetables. 3 flavours There were 3 flavours - coconut, chocolate and tapioca topped with vanilla ice-cream.   It tasted so delicious. Winged bean vegetable dish Chicken satay A must have at a Satay restaurant - we had chicken and mutton satay.  The mutton meat was too tough but the chicken was juicy and tender dipped into peanut sauce it was really good.

Jakarta - Staying at Ascott Jakarta has many advantages and one of them is the convenience of 3 nearby malls.   We walked to Grand Indonesia level 5 for our dinner @ Jun Njan seafood restaurant.   The steam Gurame was not fresh and had a stale smell to it and maybe the reason many of the Gurame sold by restaurants are deep fried. Kailan with Oyster sauce Crab cooked in salted egg It tasted good and we tried to order another dish but was told the kitchen is closed. mini mantou The food is so-so and not worth a revisit again....

Bangkok - After our meeting we went to this impressive and grandeur restaurant - Koh Lana restaurant which was very near to the airport.   I could literally see planes landing every 5 minutes - making Suvarnabhumi airport one of the busiest in the world. Entrance to the restaurant The owners of this restaurant must love horses as it was represented everywhere around this huge landscape restaurant. still the entrance Dining area with a surrounding lake Band playing in the background Crab dish This restaurant food falls badly behind the grandeur appearance and the only dish I like was this crab dish.

Manila - There were many good reviews and raves about Zuni restaurant so I decided to go and have a dinner today.  The waitress were very attentive to our dining needs. Blue swimmer crab & Cod croquette Seafood Risotto Lesley's choice and he love this dish so much..... Lamb rack My choice and one of the best rack of lambs I had tasted.  The lamb was cooked to perfection; very juicy and delicious. Assorted Macaroons Some of the Macaroons outer layer was soft; it should be nice and crispy.

Manila - Been to this restaurant many times and the food is consistently good.  It is no wonder they were awarded one of the best restaurants in Philippines. standard apetitisers Sago Gulaman Wing bean cooked in coconut sprinkled with dried shrimps Lechon Lechon (roasted pork) topped with grilled green apples dripped in cinnamon. Mixed vegetables with 3-layered pork The vegetables gave a unique taste because it was stir-fried with long beans, egg plant, bitter gourd and wing bean.