To my 15,000 readers - from Ho Chi Minh City Airport
AN OASIS IN HO CHI MINH CITY - COMING SOON!
In an area just outside Ho Chi Minh City, An Phu, an oasis for expatriate professionals and international schools, there is a new spa and dining experience coming to market....it's called Dragon's Nest.
Owned by Philipp Hardegger and managed by Michael Kloster, Geoffrey Deetz, their F&B consultant and the same owner of Black Cat (see below) who gave me a ring to come by for a visit on their soft-opening day.
Feeling somewhat confident about spa cuisine and facilities since I had reviewed previously for TRAVEL & LEISURE Thailand's famous Chiva Som over a 3 day stay.....I quickly accepted the invitation and found my way there within hours.
Taking over an entire villa of about 6000 square feet, Dragon's Nest is nicely appointed with great design touches like Vietnamese made chandeliers and light shades. I've seen a lot of Vietnamese interior design in my time, but this was really beautiful stuff!
On soft-opening day, it was our luck to have the power cut off to those beautiful chandeliers, so most of Dragon's Nest offerings were on "hold."
Due to the power issue, I passed on the full spa treatment and luncheon. However, I did manage a freshly squeezed orange juice (only fresh fruit available that day) from an over zealous staff and a great massage by a well-trained professional named Hung.
Dragon's Nest promises to be the sanctuary which well-heeled residents and visitors will one day adore....a spa, restaurant, massage, chill out terrace, pool, bar (great reds from California which Michael helped me sample!), a gym and beauty, nail & yogo studios.
With Michael and Geoffrey involved, I had no qualms about giving away my discount vouchers to some of Ho Chi Minh City's most attractive working professionals.
Now, I'll wait for the grand opening and for the kinks to be worked out.....where I'll update you on the cuisine and the rest of the facilities and I'll review Vietnam's version of the Orient Express.....stay tuned to this blog in January!
PART TWO: THE BIG CHEESE COMES TO VIETNAM
Move over Big Mac......Whopper....here comes The Big Cheese!
I was searching for a friend of mine, Geoffrey Deetz, from the Bay Area who was consulting for a restaurant in Vietnam. I managed finally to track him down in Ho Chi Minh City.
Geoffrey, a very talented chef and brewmaster, now has his very own place called "Black Cat" (named by Geoffrey supposedly to offset all of the bad luck other restaurants have had in that very location at #13 Phan Van Dat in the city's famous District One.)
Besides being known for some delicious Vietnamese - American sandwiches (called Banh Mi in Vietnamese) and spring rolls, Black Cat has the distinction of serving, perhaps, the world's biggest - always on available - hamburger.
Measuring a kilo and a half in size, this burger called "The Big Cheese" is the biggest I've ever seen or tried. Costing about US$13 (again that lucky number!), it's made with lean Argentine beef and smothered with 4 slices of cheese, six slices of bacon, 3 tomatoes, one whole onion, a head of butter lettuce and one sliced pickle. All of this sits nicely on a custom-made sesame seed bun.
I liked it and I liked it even more when I was told the pickle and the ketchup was homemade!
(My only disappointments were the service staff and the french fries which could not have been homemade!)
The back walls of Black Cat are adorned with those who came, ate and survived The Big Cheese.
According to Geoffrey, "The Big Cheese was created for the expatriate businessmen in the region who were hungry for a good burger"......after this burger, Geoffrey is sure they wouldn't want to see another burger for a month!
If The Big Cheese is not quite what you want, Black Cat offers a number of Vietnamese style curries and a unusual Mexican Fried Rice as well as some soups and salads.
Be sure to call (08-829-2055) Black Cat to get directions and before the world descends on them since they were listed by CNN.com to be amongst the ten top restaurants to eat in the world!
So, what are you waiting for?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
NEW YORK - SINGAPORE - MACAU PLUS FIVE MORE CITIES IN THIRTY DAYS
It all began with a big craving for some New York City fun food......so, I found a ticket on United (big mistake!) and took off for JFK Airport......
I started with a stop near my old office on Park Avenue in the 50's.....
Who would ever think that some boiled cabbage in vinegar (saurkraut) and mustard on a foot long kosher sausage on a sesame seed roll (we call them hot dogs!) would taste so good! It filled the spot for a few hours as I walked through the galleries at the new Museum of Modern Art.
Then, as the magic hour approached and the rush hour crowds were beginning to thin, I decided to go just slightly upscale to Monster Sushi in the 40's near Broadway.....my usual sushi chefs whom I've been patronizing since I was with CNBC were all there.....all 5 of them!
So, out came the fresh maguro, hamachi, amaebi and uni....my ultimate favorites and I wasn't disappointed in the least! Don't miss this place!
Next day, I met some nice folks from Greenwich, Connecticut in line with me for "1/2 price tix"......after getting my tix for the evening Broadway musical, I agreed to introduce them to the Brasserie to try its famous french onion soup with its trademark half inch thick crust of gruyere chesse baked on top, served with a half baguette and a glass of wine. Who said New York was expensive? It was only $15. A perfect ending at midnight to a Broadway day!
After a stop for some John's Pizza on the way to the airport for my night flight, I flew to San Francisco, Berkeley & Los Angeles for what I thought would be two weeks of reunions and great meals .......don't miss Bui on Solano Avenue in Berkeley for some fine Vietnamese cuisine or Yank Sing in Rincon Annex in San Francisco for that great dim sum experience!
Then, after receiving a few urgent emails, I bought a brand new ticket back and returned to Singapore to work on some arrangements for a shoot in China.....
I was back in San Francisco (and Napa) for more reunions and wine outings a week and a half later.........
Then, I flew off to Honolulu, where I joined my older brother and his side of the family as we said goodbye to my niece, Jenny K, the actress in the family, as she flew off to see her new family in Sao Paulo.....
Doesn't anyone stay in one place anymore?
While in Honolulu, I stopped by Roy Yamaguichi's original "Roy's"......a bit disappointing as my Hawaiian relatives had warned....
.....Then, off to the Big Island of Hawaii for a second reunion (first one was in Mountain View a few weeks earlier) with CJ and her husband over pizza and wine at a local haunt called Cafe Pesto. With an the invitation from the new day manager of the Hilton Waikoloa, I revisited this resort which I would highly recommend for those who are looking to relax and slow down.........complete with monorail and boats which can take you to your wing and room....and, a path filled with Asian art which will make you forget that it takes 15 minutes to walk from your wing to the main lobby.
Within days, I was back again in Singapore for a night - without my luggage from United - and, off the next day (on SQ) to Hong Kong and Macau for a shoot with the National Geographic Channel......
On the first nite, we treated the crew to some great pizza at a little known place in Macau's Fisherman's Wharf called San Lorenzo.....order the long rectangular pizza which is the house signature dish with some Portugese red wine. It's a full meal!
And, on another evening, we had some fine dining at Macau's Military Club which is a throwback to the colonial era and open to the public now.
These are the two musts for those who are going to Macau! Enjoy!
(see archive blog articles for some fine dining tips in Hong Kong and Macau)
I stopped traveling a few days ago.......exhausted.
My next trip is back to Hawaii to meet the chef sensation, Olelo Pa'a (Faith Ogawa).
I started with a stop near my old office on Park Avenue in the 50's.....
Who would ever think that some boiled cabbage in vinegar (saurkraut) and mustard on a foot long kosher sausage on a sesame seed roll (we call them hot dogs!) would taste so good! It filled the spot for a few hours as I walked through the galleries at the new Museum of Modern Art.
Then, as the magic hour approached and the rush hour crowds were beginning to thin, I decided to go just slightly upscale to Monster Sushi in the 40's near Broadway.....my usual sushi chefs whom I've been patronizing since I was with CNBC were all there.....all 5 of them!
So, out came the fresh maguro, hamachi, amaebi and uni....my ultimate favorites and I wasn't disappointed in the least! Don't miss this place!
Next day, I met some nice folks from Greenwich, Connecticut in line with me for "1/2 price tix"......after getting my tix for the evening Broadway musical, I agreed to introduce them to the Brasserie to try its famous french onion soup with its trademark half inch thick crust of gruyere chesse baked on top, served with a half baguette and a glass of wine. Who said New York was expensive? It was only $15. A perfect ending at midnight to a Broadway day!
After a stop for some John's Pizza on the way to the airport for my night flight, I flew to San Francisco, Berkeley & Los Angeles for what I thought would be two weeks of reunions and great meals .......don't miss Bui on Solano Avenue in Berkeley for some fine Vietnamese cuisine or Yank Sing in Rincon Annex in San Francisco for that great dim sum experience!
Then, after receiving a few urgent emails, I bought a brand new ticket back and returned to Singapore to work on some arrangements for a shoot in China.....
I was back in San Francisco (and Napa) for more reunions and wine outings a week and a half later.........
Then, I flew off to Honolulu, where I joined my older brother and his side of the family as we said goodbye to my niece, Jenny K, the actress in the family, as she flew off to see her new family in Sao Paulo.....
Doesn't anyone stay in one place anymore?
While in Honolulu, I stopped by Roy Yamaguichi's original "Roy's"......a bit disappointing as my Hawaiian relatives had warned....
.....Then, off to the Big Island of Hawaii for a second reunion (first one was in Mountain View a few weeks earlier) with CJ and her husband over pizza and wine at a local haunt called Cafe Pesto. With an the invitation from the new day manager of the Hilton Waikoloa, I revisited this resort which I would highly recommend for those who are looking to relax and slow down.........complete with monorail and boats which can take you to your wing and room....and, a path filled with Asian art which will make you forget that it takes 15 minutes to walk from your wing to the main lobby.
Within days, I was back again in Singapore for a night - without my luggage from United - and, off the next day (on SQ) to Hong Kong and Macau for a shoot with the National Geographic Channel......
On the first nite, we treated the crew to some great pizza at a little known place in Macau's Fisherman's Wharf called San Lorenzo.....order the long rectangular pizza which is the house signature dish with some Portugese red wine. It's a full meal!
And, on another evening, we had some fine dining at Macau's Military Club which is a throwback to the colonial era and open to the public now.
These are the two musts for those who are going to Macau! Enjoy!
(see archive blog articles for some fine dining tips in Hong Kong and Macau)
I stopped traveling a few days ago.......exhausted.
My next trip is back to Hawaii to meet the chef sensation, Olelo Pa'a (Faith Ogawa).
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
How to Enjoy Jetlag and Frequent Flying
By now, my 15,000 dbase of supporters know that I do a fair bit of travel. Not as much as in prior years, but definitely enough....
Here are my ways of dealing with frequent flying and jetlag.......I will admit that my approach is quite different from what you may read and hear elsewhere.
Jetlag and Frequent Flying Tips
Don't Sleep
On a visit to Mexico City, I discovered how best to prepare for a 5:45am flight which for Mexico City means: be at the airport by 4:00am and leave my hotel at the obcene hour of 3:00am.......
The tip: don't sleep!
Pack the day before (I'm not kidding!) and leave your bags near the door. Arrange to go to a party (as I did) or a late dinner and drink and just try to leave for the airport from there.
My buddy, Ben, just tried it and he looked fine at 5am in the morning. He and I did drinks at Cuba Libre at Clarke Quay at 10pm. Watched the Latinos go at it on the dance floor till 1am. Then, moved over to the Ministry of Sound for the rest of the morning....
Ben left on time for Peru's Machu Pichu via Los Angeles without a single wink!
Do The Midnight Thing when Jetlagged
I don't mean that thing....
If you're like me, my biological clock needs a few days to adjust. So, why fight it? I just start up my "midnight jetlag" activities......
This includes:
1. "Window shop" at the 24 hour supermarkets.
In the USA especially, I find big, modern, well-stocked supermarkets to be very entertaining. I can spend at least an hour in a good supermarket just strolling the aisles as if I were on Via Spiga in Milano.
My favorite in San Francisco is the Marina Safeway which has an awesome view of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. But, don't expect to be left alone.....it's known as a local pickup place late at night by both men and women regardless if you're a man or a woman.....get my drift?
2. Walk the aisles at the 24 hour drug stores.
In New York City, you can find a 24 hours drug store in almost all neighborhoods especially the urban areas where hotels are located.
3, Sit at an all-night sidewalk cafe and meet all the insominacs you'd ever want to talk to....Paris has a few in the Saint Germaine district.
4. Try a 24 hour restaurant or diner....they can really be fun.
5. From you sidewalk cafe or all-night diner, surprise your staff and friends with emails at 3am in the morning!
6. Surf the web for deals on air tickets and hotels. Traffic is usually lower and websites are faster.
7. Get romantic.....catch the sun rising with someone special and talk excitedly about your dreams and travels over some 4 inch thich French toast in San Francisco, Huevos Rancheros (Mexico City), Eggs Benedict in London or Lox and Bagel in Manhattan....
8. Lastly, if you really want to avoid the midnight activities approach try this: 18 holes of golf with the sun beaming down on you and readjusting your biological clock!
Enjoy All 17 Hours of the Flight
The Singapore Air flight from Singapore to Newark, New Jersey is 17 hours long. The flight from San Francisco to Singapore is even longer if you count the transit time. So, relax........stop complaining and enjoy the time.
On my last long flight from SFO to Narita (that's 11 hours) , I had two mid-twenties Jewish women from Berkeley on my right one Japanese woman in her twenties (pretty cute, too, if she's now reading my blog!)
I watched 4 movies including a little known production called "Astronaut Farmer."
The movie was about a Texas man who had a dream to be an astronaut. It was just an O.K. movie, but at the end of the flick while the credits were rolling, Elton John's Rocket Man came on strong, loud and in beautiful stereo!
I couldn't resist it. So, with my earphones on, I joined Elton and belted out the song with him singing in my ears and did a few moves at the same time.
The performance was infectious. My two Jewish friends joined me, singing and moving - not just for that one time movie ending - but, each time the movie played....which was 4 times in 11 hours!
".....and, I think it's gonna be a long, long time.....rocket man!"
It was like a scene from Julia Roberts' "My Best Friend's Wedding" where at she and 7 other characters are having their rehearsal dinner in a crowded restaurant and the group breaks out in a song written by Burt Bacharach stunning the restaurant patrons........."I say a little prayer for you....forever, and ever...."
But, if you're not the singing type, here are some other ideas:
Read a book, you Harry Potter fans!
Read a bunch of magazines from cover to cover.
Read a complete newspaper like the New York Times page by page.
Bring along some fresh fruit like grapes, navel oranges or pomelo (you can't bring them into the countries, but you can eat them on the plane!) to complement your reading.
Entertain the flight crew. My friend, Tony, once invited the entire crew to dinner at the final destination!
Entertain your fellow passengers. I always thought that a networking event on a plane would work!
Do a week's worth of thinking and writing.
And, if you're on Singapore Airlines, tap into the broadband spine of the aircraft with your Skype and talk for hours with anyone....
Last Word
Fly Cathay Pacific, Royal Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines (if you have an agent or friend in KL who can help you with ticketing)....
AVOID UNITED AIRLINES AT ALL COSTS. THE FREQUENT FLYER MILES ARE JUST NOT WORTH IT!
Here are my ways of dealing with frequent flying and jetlag.......I will admit that my approach is quite different from what you may read and hear elsewhere.
Jetlag and Frequent Flying Tips
Don't Sleep
On a visit to Mexico City, I discovered how best to prepare for a 5:45am flight which for Mexico City means: be at the airport by 4:00am and leave my hotel at the obcene hour of 3:00am.......
The tip: don't sleep!
Pack the day before (I'm not kidding!) and leave your bags near the door. Arrange to go to a party (as I did) or a late dinner and drink and just try to leave for the airport from there.
My buddy, Ben, just tried it and he looked fine at 5am in the morning. He and I did drinks at Cuba Libre at Clarke Quay at 10pm. Watched the Latinos go at it on the dance floor till 1am. Then, moved over to the Ministry of Sound for the rest of the morning....
Ben left on time for Peru's Machu Pichu via Los Angeles without a single wink!
Do The Midnight Thing when Jetlagged
I don't mean that thing....
If you're like me, my biological clock needs a few days to adjust. So, why fight it? I just start up my "midnight jetlag" activities......
This includes:
1. "Window shop" at the 24 hour supermarkets.
In the USA especially, I find big, modern, well-stocked supermarkets to be very entertaining. I can spend at least an hour in a good supermarket just strolling the aisles as if I were on Via Spiga in Milano.
My favorite in San Francisco is the Marina Safeway which has an awesome view of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. But, don't expect to be left alone.....it's known as a local pickup place late at night by both men and women regardless if you're a man or a woman.....get my drift?
2. Walk the aisles at the 24 hour drug stores.
In New York City, you can find a 24 hours drug store in almost all neighborhoods especially the urban areas where hotels are located.
3, Sit at an all-night sidewalk cafe and meet all the insominacs you'd ever want to talk to....Paris has a few in the Saint Germaine district.
4. Try a 24 hour restaurant or diner....they can really be fun.
5. From you sidewalk cafe or all-night diner, surprise your staff and friends with emails at 3am in the morning!
6. Surf the web for deals on air tickets and hotels. Traffic is usually lower and websites are faster.
7. Get romantic.....catch the sun rising with someone special and talk excitedly about your dreams and travels over some 4 inch thich French toast in San Francisco, Huevos Rancheros (Mexico City), Eggs Benedict in London or Lox and Bagel in Manhattan....
8. Lastly, if you really want to avoid the midnight activities approach try this: 18 holes of golf with the sun beaming down on you and readjusting your biological clock!
Enjoy All 17 Hours of the Flight
The Singapore Air flight from Singapore to Newark, New Jersey is 17 hours long. The flight from San Francisco to Singapore is even longer if you count the transit time. So, relax........stop complaining and enjoy the time.
On my last long flight from SFO to Narita (that's 11 hours) , I had two mid-twenties Jewish women from Berkeley on my right one Japanese woman in her twenties (pretty cute, too, if she's now reading my blog!)
I watched 4 movies including a little known production called "Astronaut Farmer."
The movie was about a Texas man who had a dream to be an astronaut. It was just an O.K. movie, but at the end of the flick while the credits were rolling, Elton John's Rocket Man came on strong, loud and in beautiful stereo!
I couldn't resist it. So, with my earphones on, I joined Elton and belted out the song with him singing in my ears and did a few moves at the same time.
The performance was infectious. My two Jewish friends joined me, singing and moving - not just for that one time movie ending - but, each time the movie played....which was 4 times in 11 hours!
".....and, I think it's gonna be a long, long time.....rocket man!"
It was like a scene from Julia Roberts' "My Best Friend's Wedding" where at she and 7 other characters are having their rehearsal dinner in a crowded restaurant and the group breaks out in a song written by Burt Bacharach stunning the restaurant patrons........."I say a little prayer for you....forever, and ever...."
But, if you're not the singing type, here are some other ideas:
Read a book, you Harry Potter fans!
Read a bunch of magazines from cover to cover.
Read a complete newspaper like the New York Times page by page.
Bring along some fresh fruit like grapes, navel oranges or pomelo (you can't bring them into the countries, but you can eat them on the plane!) to complement your reading.
Entertain the flight crew. My friend, Tony, once invited the entire crew to dinner at the final destination!
Entertain your fellow passengers. I always thought that a networking event on a plane would work!
Do a week's worth of thinking and writing.
And, if you're on Singapore Airlines, tap into the broadband spine of the aircraft with your Skype and talk for hours with anyone....
Last Word
Fly Cathay Pacific, Royal Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines (if you have an agent or friend in KL who can help you with ticketing)....
AVOID UNITED AIRLINES AT ALL COSTS. THE FREQUENT FLYER MILES ARE JUST NOT WORTH IT!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
San Francisco Bay Area - Warm and Fuzzy All Over!
Warm and Fuzzy
Some of my best friends and memories are from the San Francisco Bay Area.
With the help of my two FF Fraternity brothers, Tony and Jackson and my friend-colleague from the Asian Busines League, John Jin Lee, I was able to reunite with many friends when I was there last week.
For starters, John and Jackson were able to convince 14 of my former Asian Business League directors and committee chairs to give up their Tuesday night and to drive 50 miles to the R&G Lounge (good Hong Kong cuisine) in Chinatown for a private banquet and lots of talking about ole times!
I was able to see old friends like Sandra, Sonny (also an FF brother) , Tom, Suzan, Andy, (also FF), Marc, Vic (also FF), Ray and Brother Tony. The night was filled with great talk and memories of our days leading the Asian Business League in San Francisco.
On another evening, Tony persuaded Susan and Audie Chang to join us at Rose Pistola, a San Francisco landmark not to be missed. We reminisced about ole times and talked with Tony a little about a house boat party that he and I helped organize for the fraternity and friends. It was a terrific memory of our "party animal" days.
I missed the FF brothers and the ABL team. I love them all.
As many people know, but I needed to be reminded....what makes the community of San Francisco so special is strong volunteerism and a sense of mission by my fellow Asians living in America.
This is something which I miss in Asia!
If you ever want that warm and fuzzy feeling all over....just live in San Francisco and join one of the many not-for-profit community organizations.
Later that week, Tony, one of the San Francisco Chinese Community's unsung heroes, set up several cigar sessions at the famed Shanghai 1930 which is owned by George Chen. Now, Shanghai 1930 is the place...Governor Arnold, the Gover-nater, smokes there, too!
In just a few puffs, Tony was able to re-introduce (Jackson did it first the day before) me to William, the author of The Eight Promise; Greg Chew, the Commmisoner of Film and the founders of several successful companies including a Hispanic television station, a medical website and a few tech companies. Nice cigar room, too. I highly recommend it.
Later that week, we had a family gathering at Bui on Solano Avenue in Berkeley. Tony came with his cousin, Lizzy, from London who's renovating a home in Tuscany and who invited me to a cruise in Austria in late November. (Hey, I'm really considering it!)
Lastly, I met up at a neighborhood place called El Paso Cafe with an FF brother's wife, CJ, who looked great and not a day older! Gary, her husband, who was probably watching us from above, would have been happy to know that she's doing exceptionally well and expanding her time to include more and more volunteer work in causes which she believes in. I admire her; and always have! Her son, Nicholas, was doing well, too, as a freshman at the Cornell, his dad's alma mater.
Travel Tips
When I was representing the Governor of California and in charge of promoting the entertainment and tech industries to Asia, I was quoted as saying,
"California is not just a place, it's a lifestyle."
And, the San Francisco's Bay Area is - I think - the best example of this.....both good and not-so-good.
The Bay Area is wonderful for food and wine......Napa Valley has no equal anywhere else in America!........true gourmands will love (my friends and I did!) The French Laundry, Bouchon, Martini House, Ad Hoc, Go Fish, Domaine Chandon......and, don't miss sampling at Opus One and Robert Mondavi.
The Bay Area is great for sports....all kinds of sports.......from sailing by the Golden Gate Bridge.....to cycling around Half Moon Bay......to a friendly game of softball with some old and new friends.
Which brings me now to an update on dining out in the Bay Area......
- My other ole acquaintance, George Chen, opened Shanghai 1930 a few years ago. Tony is a member of the cigar club. The restaurant & bar is buzzing with live jazz and is known for both it's speakeasy features as well as it's fine dining menu. Give it a try, it's at 133 Steuart Street just off Mission Street.
- Rose Pistole, a San Francisco landmark in North Beach at 532 Columbus. Tony is a regular there. Sit at the sidewalk cafe and watch the people go by. The gnocci and pizzas are terrific.
- Ozuma, a few doors away on Steuart Street from Shanghai 1930, was opened by an ex-pro American baseball player who fell in love with the Japanese culture while playing over there. Sashimi, sushi and a huge bar crowd awaits you!
- Wanna go local and try Chinese....give R&G Lounge a try...it's an ole favorite of the Hong Kong Chinese who want good value and good taste!
- Found yourself on the other side of the bridge? ....Don't fret...there's a new 4 star restaurant there called "Bui" which fuses Vietnamese and French cuisine to a new height.....it's on the hot food strip in Berkeley called Solano Avenue, off Ventura.
Now, this wouldn't be a balanced travel review if I didn't bring up some things to watch out for......
Be prepared to drive and drive and drive...... and be on those notorious California freeways and roads for at least 2 -3 hours a day.....but, don't miss driving those romantic hills of San Francisco or going over the bridge around the magic hour.....just magnificient!
During my stay in San Francisco, I clocked about 100 km a day and my car even suffered a dead battery after a cigar session with Tony at Shanghai 1930. My first experience in more than 15 years! But, thanks to William, Jackson, Greg, Russell and Tony, I was unmolested as I waited for the AAA truck guy to save my little butt! Oh, well, that's life in the Bay Area!
Some of my best friends and memories are from the San Francisco Bay Area.
With the help of my two FF Fraternity brothers, Tony and Jackson and my friend-colleague from the Asian Busines League, John Jin Lee, I was able to reunite with many friends when I was there last week.
For starters, John and Jackson were able to convince 14 of my former Asian Business League directors and committee chairs to give up their Tuesday night and to drive 50 miles to the R&G Lounge (good Hong Kong cuisine) in Chinatown for a private banquet and lots of talking about ole times!
I was able to see old friends like Sandra, Sonny (also an FF brother) , Tom, Suzan, Andy, (also FF), Marc, Vic (also FF), Ray and Brother Tony. The night was filled with great talk and memories of our days leading the Asian Business League in San Francisco.
On another evening, Tony persuaded Susan and Audie Chang to join us at Rose Pistola, a San Francisco landmark not to be missed. We reminisced about ole times and talked with Tony a little about a house boat party that he and I helped organize for the fraternity and friends. It was a terrific memory of our "party animal" days.
I missed the FF brothers and the ABL team. I love them all.
As many people know, but I needed to be reminded....what makes the community of San Francisco so special is strong volunteerism and a sense of mission by my fellow Asians living in America.
This is something which I miss in Asia!
If you ever want that warm and fuzzy feeling all over....just live in San Francisco and join one of the many not-for-profit community organizations.
Later that week, Tony, one of the San Francisco Chinese Community's unsung heroes, set up several cigar sessions at the famed Shanghai 1930 which is owned by George Chen. Now, Shanghai 1930 is the place...Governor Arnold, the Gover-nater, smokes there, too!
In just a few puffs, Tony was able to re-introduce (Jackson did it first the day before) me to William, the author of The Eight Promise; Greg Chew, the Commmisoner of Film and the founders of several successful companies including a Hispanic television station, a medical website and a few tech companies. Nice cigar room, too. I highly recommend it.
Later that week, we had a family gathering at Bui on Solano Avenue in Berkeley. Tony came with his cousin, Lizzy, from London who's renovating a home in Tuscany and who invited me to a cruise in Austria in late November. (Hey, I'm really considering it!)
Lastly, I met up at a neighborhood place called El Paso Cafe with an FF brother's wife, CJ, who looked great and not a day older! Gary, her husband, who was probably watching us from above, would have been happy to know that she's doing exceptionally well and expanding her time to include more and more volunteer work in causes which she believes in. I admire her; and always have! Her son, Nicholas, was doing well, too, as a freshman at the Cornell, his dad's alma mater.
Travel Tips
When I was representing the Governor of California and in charge of promoting the entertainment and tech industries to Asia, I was quoted as saying,
"California is not just a place, it's a lifestyle."
And, the San Francisco's Bay Area is - I think - the best example of this.....both good and not-so-good.
The Bay Area is wonderful for food and wine......Napa Valley has no equal anywhere else in America!........true gourmands will love (my friends and I did!) The French Laundry, Bouchon, Martini House, Ad Hoc, Go Fish, Domaine Chandon......and, don't miss sampling at Opus One and Robert Mondavi.
The Bay Area is great for sports....all kinds of sports.......from sailing by the Golden Gate Bridge.....to cycling around Half Moon Bay......to a friendly game of softball with some old and new friends.
Which brings me now to an update on dining out in the Bay Area......
- My other ole acquaintance, George Chen, opened Shanghai 1930 a few years ago. Tony is a member of the cigar club. The restaurant & bar is buzzing with live jazz and is known for both it's speakeasy features as well as it's fine dining menu. Give it a try, it's at 133 Steuart Street just off Mission Street.
- Rose Pistole, a San Francisco landmark in North Beach at 532 Columbus. Tony is a regular there. Sit at the sidewalk cafe and watch the people go by. The gnocci and pizzas are terrific.
- Ozuma, a few doors away on Steuart Street from Shanghai 1930, was opened by an ex-pro American baseball player who fell in love with the Japanese culture while playing over there. Sashimi, sushi and a huge bar crowd awaits you!
- Wanna go local and try Chinese....give R&G Lounge a try...it's an ole favorite of the Hong Kong Chinese who want good value and good taste!
- Found yourself on the other side of the bridge? ....Don't fret...there's a new 4 star restaurant there called "Bui" which fuses Vietnamese and French cuisine to a new height.....it's on the hot food strip in Berkeley called Solano Avenue, off Ventura.
Now, this wouldn't be a balanced travel review if I didn't bring up some things to watch out for......
Be prepared to drive and drive and drive...... and be on those notorious California freeways and roads for at least 2 -3 hours a day.....but, don't miss driving those romantic hills of San Francisco or going over the bridge around the magic hour.....just magnificient!
During my stay in San Francisco, I clocked about 100 km a day and my car even suffered a dead battery after a cigar session with Tony at Shanghai 1930. My first experience in more than 15 years! But, thanks to William, Jackson, Greg, Russell and Tony, I was unmolested as I waited for the AAA truck guy to save my little butt! Oh, well, that's life in the Bay Area!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
New York, New York - Still an Exciting Town!
I arrived in the Big Apple a few days ago and though I was suffering from a serious case of jetlag, I worked myself through this exciting city.
Here's a quick updated guide to how to enjoy this great city which I shared once with the editor of the Straits Times in Singapore and the 8 Days travel reporter.
TIME TO GO
This town was made for walking!
Wear the most comfortable walking shoes you have….prepare to walk between 3 – 10km per day or feel like you did!
Bring a friend with you!
PLACE TO STAY
- Waldof-Astoria (the Japanese love this place!)
- Hilton (near my tv broadcasters!)
- W
- Sherry Netherlands and the Carlyle (if your budget is unlimited)
Why?......because of their great locations......I like convenience and being near everything!
THINGS TO DO & EAT
-
-
- Guggenheim….really nice!
- Whitney
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-
Most of these great – and I mean – GREAT museums are in the upper crust neighborhoods…where good food comes with many digits….but, here are a few in the “hood’:
Every New Yorker loves a GOOD “mad cow” hamburger – and I don’t mean Burger King! Try Prime Burger near MOMA at
Feel like a kid in a grown up’s bra, stop by Serendipity and fill up that bra with a great banana split or ice cream sundae.…..or, sample some nice red or white at Best Cellars Wine, 1291 Lexington Avenue at 57th Street.
In the same neighborhood, if you’re into books plus…..and need free internet…try
Legs tired yet?…..make your way to
NYU is my old hunting ground with mostly Jewish, Asians and smart Spaniards taking the top academic honors! Watch out for the yellow fever jewish boys!
On the west side, Sullivan Street Bakery is still great for a $1 slice of pizza…….Corner Bistro at 331 W. 4th Street is notorious for more burgers at low prices….or the Cuban Café at 110 Thompson St in trendy Soho.
Try Samba Sushi and The Peanut Butter Company for something really different.
We have a comedy club called “Eating It” at 171
MUSIC AND MUSICALS
On the subject of theatre….DON”T buy your tickets at the theatre for any live shows….go to:
TKTS on Times Square – and stand in line….that’s right, and meet some people! I do this every visit….and I save 50% on great musicals….both matinees and evening performances……if I’m living nearby, I go after the evening tix and have a dinner at 1030pm or so….make reservations!…or, if I need to commute, I just do the matinees on wed and sat and have a late lunch nearby….…..now this is NYC style!
These are the shows to see: Hairspray, Chorus Line, Lion King, Producers, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables......and, if you're into Monty Python, try what I saw last Tuesday, Spamalot.
My favorite pizzeria is nearby – and since I make my own pizza – I mean favorite restaurant pizza….it’s John’s Pizza…..it’s about 3-4 blocks from TKTS on 44th Street off Eight Avenue! Don’t you dare leave NYC without one musical and one pizza!
On another day, keep walking or take the dreaded subway for once during the daylight…..visit the lower east side which is ethnically jewish but very interesting for asians…..lots of bargains for ladies' shoes and bags…..eat at kossar’s place and have your first bagel with lox at 367 grand….or, if you can’t find it, or you’re not persistent enough, walk to katz’ deli at 205 E. Houston Street and try a reuben sandwich or a pastrami sandwich…either will kill you, but you’ll be smiling all the way to heaven!
When you crave Chinese, do not think all Chinese taste alike….go straight to Chinatown at any hour of the day or night and you’ll have a 50/50 chance of being satisfied…..lots of underground restaurants around 17, 19, 21 mott street….and, some like big wong king at 67 Mott…..
Chinatown outgrew it’s boundaries in the 1990’s and spilled into Little Italy creating a little world war…but, things are better now as long as you don’t marry one of their pasta sons and sing West Side Story tunes….
SUNDAYS
On Sundays…..kiss, get up early, buy a Sunday New York Times….walk the quiet streets and make your way over to another icon called Zabar’s on the West Side….it’s in an architecturally interesting area, but it has good nyc brunch snacks and food…..
Another favorite is the old meat packing district…..try Spice Market at
DO YOU SHOP?
I must be crazy…….who doesn’t when they're in NYC?……but, avoid the chains that you can buy here in Singapore…..if you can still stand for hours searching for deals…. try Century 21, Conways, Bloomingdales, Barneys, Saks Fifth and Macy’s – that’s right – Macy’s, the world largest department store….the basement is my favorite place in Macy’s….you tell me why!
WHEN MONEY IS NO OBJECT
Ok. You get an sms that your rich auntie wong whom you’ve never met has died while eating a fake reuben sandwich in Singapore and has gone to heaven….she’s left you with an ocbc platinum card with a large credit balance…..
Immediately check out of the Big Apple Hostel and into the Carlylse
And, start seeing the other side of nyc….
Jean George’s Café at Trump International near
Caviarteria……somewhere near
Chanterelle…..only if you like silver and crystal….
Eleven
River Café for a view that would make any date happy
Waldolf Astoria’s Peacock Alley
Café Boulud or Daniel (Daniel Boulud was number one in 2005). He told me he'll be opening up a new place near my place on 1st Street and Bowery.
Payard on the Upper East Side on 74th Street on Lexington Avenue....recommend by my fraternity brother, Tony, who is a foodie and who had visited the place last month........it's known for it's desserts (won lots of awards!) and it's business lunch. Monsieur Payard is now opening up a new place in Vegas soon......
NEIGHBOR JOINTS
If you have the extra time - and some wheels - and you've found yourself out in the neighborhoods, try these spots:
Bayside, Queens - Gino's Trattoria, Bell Boulevard and 35th Avenue, near my greek partner's house! The wines and pastas are as good as Little Italy....but, the parking is easier!
Elmhurst - East Manor for Dim Sum in a setting with lots of buzz......if you don't like crowds, this place is not for you!
FINAL CHECK LIST BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT TO THE AIRPORT
Have you had a hot dog, jewish bagel and knish, 2 – 3 different slices of pizza….at least one hamburger, a meatball hero, baked ziti or oysters Rockefeller?
If not, you’ll just have to pick them all up on the way to the airport!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Real Men Don't Do Facials, Or Do They? aka How to Lose a Cold in 72 Hours
My last two past articles were about traveling and eating in Shanghai and Singapore (see past articles.) So, I thought I would digress a bit this week.....
First the Cold
I caught a cold - a really bad one - a few weeks ago and only lost it last week. That's almost 2 weeks! It had all the usual symptoms: a nasty fever, an unrelenting cough and all-round aches.
I was spent and not my usual self.
I seldom get sick.....perhaps once a year. But, with a heavy events, filming and travel schedule, it was bound to catch up to me. It did.
I tried everything. I even traveled up to Shanghai for 4 days with my frat brother, Dr. Lim, and that didn't help a bit! I guess the alcohol, cigars and late nights countered the effect of having a doctor by my side 20 hours a day!
So, I was ready for anything that worked.....I was ready for my own remedy.
First came a 1 hour steam bath at my club. In the steam, out of the steam, into a cool shower.....over and over again. Yeah, sweat it out. If it works for the Scandanavians, it should work for me.
Second, I soaked for another hour in the club's jacuzzi.....almost 40 degrees C......with all the jets pounding my aching body. Ah, hydro-therapy....it was beginning to work.
Third, I had a deep heat massage and brought my own bottle of Tiger Balm. This was a 45 minute trip to heaven!
But, all of this was still not enough.....what could I try next?
Off to the Spa
I've only been to a day spa a few times in my life. Once to a day spa in Hong Kong after one of my many pollution-filled trips to China.
Once to a terrific 10, 000 square foot weekend spa with it's own spa suites in Haikou, China, near the airport.
And, another time to the Queen of Spas, Chiva Som, in Thailand. So, I guess I'm not a novice with spas, but I'm not exactly a regular either.
I managed to find a day spa in Singapore after my Tiger Balm massage was about to wear off. It was located in the center of town at Ngee An City above the Takashimaya department store.
After side stepping their pitch to buy a few thousand dollars of treatment, I finally agreed to try a facial with all the works....the eyes, the neck etc!
Now, being in the TV business, I'm familiar with makeup and pruning. But, I never really thought real men did facials or if facials were really enjoyable until.......
First, there's was the microscope analysis by a sweet 20 something from Malaysia. My skin was wrecked. Too much sun from biking, hiking and beach volleyball; not enough sun block; and, not enough sleep! I didn't have the heart to tell her I was also sick as heck with this nasty cold!
Women will know this, but for the guys sake....treatment began with an icy, but soft facial scrub.....some tonic patted into the skin.......a full scale attack on the black heads and white heads......a massive collagen massage for my eyes, face and neck performed by some high tech penetrating tool......and, finally a heavy mask each with a great scent and cool temperature directly on my face with a thin gauze-like fabric placed over it and then a heavy layer of thick-as-mud ointment which weighed at least a kilo.....
I was left to sleep for at least 3o minutes while the mask worked without suffocating me.
It was a terrific experience.....probably something I wouldn't brag about with my jock friends from high school track or my iron pumping buddies at the gym, but it was 2 hours of pampering, a few zzzzzzzz and a great feeling afterwards.
After two more days of steam baths, jacuzzis and massages....the cold was gone, too!
Hey, fellas, the women have been holding out on us.....give it a try!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
SINGAPORE NIGHTLIFE FOR A SATURDAY - THREE TIPS
People Make It Fun!
I was back in town last Saturday night and lucky enough to attend another gourmet club outing by my friend, Mong Lin. It was the second outing that I've been able to attend.
15 hungry guests were waiting to start dinner at the "Codfish Village."
Cheryl, the Miss Earth Singapore event organiser, was there with her husband, Tom. Helen and Greg and their 3 friends from the Marina Bay Sands were also there. Thomas and his attractive partner, who are restauranteurs and regulars with the gourmet club were there, too.
Sally, a Hainanese (like Mong Lin and myself), who played a nurse in one of my tvc's and who just returned from a cross country drive in China was there with her boyfriend, Aneace.
Anthonia, a top private banker, and another nice Hainanese guy called Tun were also there to enjoy an evening at the hawker's.
You couldn't ask for a better looking group. I was guest number 16 and I was an embarrassing 30 minutes late (well, not everyone's perfect!)
The group was a great "going out to eat" crowd. There were lots of spontaneous laughter and even a few interesting remarks about male fantasies.
We even talked about traveling together to Hokkaido for skiing, Egypt for a birthday and Brazil for Carnivale!
I'm sure that the bottle of Swiss schnapps with gold flakes for aperitifs which I brought with me wasn't even needed, but it did seem that the laughter became more robust after a series of shots were downed by the guys and some gals!
Codfish Medley
"Codfish Village" located in Toa Payoh, Block 83 Lorong 2, was already famous before we made it our dinner stop. Several articles from the leading magazines and newspapers were posted around the restaurant praising it's repetoire of dishes.
These dishes included: curry fish head - which most of us loved, but stayed away from eating the eye and eye socket; baked fish head with cheese (who said Asians don't like cheese?) ; steam fish fillet with olives; salted egg (called "ham tan" in Cantonese) scented fish slices and crispy codfish tofu.
The chef only steered away once from the "all codfish" medley to serve a dish of stirred fried venison. It was worth the diversion - it was delicious!
The service for this hawker restaurant was really quite good.....they even washed our shot glasses so we could have a few shots of another bottle which I brought along f
or the ladies, "Godiva Liqueur." The ladies - and some of the guys - loved the Godiva!
So, put on your jeans, get a group of friends together and head over to Toa Payoh this weekend!
Tip Two: Xi Yan
All dressed up and no place to go? Well, up above I mentioned Thomas, the restauranteur....
My first gourmet outing which I attended with Mong Lin was actually at Thomas' place, "Xi Yan" on Craig Street.
It has no visible signboard from the street and reservations are needed for the fixed-priced menu. The restaurant originated in Hong Kong - my favorite place for good dining - and has been booked solid for a long time now.
Be sure to call ahead to check on the menu of the day and consider yourself lucky if they have the Japanese tomatoes on the menu!
Groups only are accepted....
Tip Three: Carnivore at Vivo City
Brazilan restaurants are known for their atmosphere, "all you can eat" roast meats and secret sauces, great salad bars and freshly-made caiparinhas!
I pulled a group of friends together for a casual lunch a few weeks ago at the newly opened Carinvore at Vivo City beginning with the Brazilian ambassador, to the charming owners, to some friends from BBC, AXN, Mediacorp and the Film Fest. Though it was just a weekday lunch, the lunch stretched to some 3 hours! The caiparinhas definitely helped us forget the time!
Now, if we had gone here on a Friday, Saturday night or even Sunday (Brazilians love feijoida on Sundays!) , when the place has live music, I'm sure that we would have had an even better time! Music is what the Brazilians live for!
Don't wait for next year's Carnivale, bring a crowd to this place now!
What to Do after Dinner on Saturday Night
Still raring to go? After Codfish Village, the gourmet group headed off to Clarke Quay and Attica....but, I would suggest:
1. Drinks and music at the piano bar on the top floor of the Swissotel
2. Champagne at Shangri-la's Blu
3. Intercontinental Hotel lobby for jazz
4. La Hacienda on Dempsey Road
Have fun on Saturday in Singapore!
I was back in town last Saturday night and lucky enough to attend another gourmet club outing by my friend, Mong Lin. It was the second outing that I've been able to attend.
15 hungry guests were waiting to start dinner at the "Codfish Village."
Cheryl, the Miss Earth Singapore event organiser, was there with her husband, Tom. Helen and Greg and their 3 friends from the Marina Bay Sands were also there. Thomas and his attractive partner, who are restauranteurs and regulars with the gourmet club were there, too.
Sally, a Hainanese (like Mong Lin and myself), who played a nurse in one of my tvc's and who just returned from a cross country drive in China was there with her boyfriend, Aneace.
Anthonia, a top private banker, and another nice Hainanese guy called Tun were also there to enjoy an evening at the hawker's.
You couldn't ask for a better looking group. I was guest number 16 and I was an embarrassing 30 minutes late (well, not everyone's perfect!)
The group was a great "going out to eat" crowd. There were lots of spontaneous laughter and even a few interesting remarks about male fantasies.
We even talked about traveling together to Hokkaido for skiing, Egypt for a birthday and Brazil for Carnivale!
I'm sure that the bottle of Swiss schnapps with gold flakes for aperitifs which I brought with me wasn't even needed, but it did seem that the laughter became more robust after a series of shots were downed by the guys and some gals!
Codfish Medley
"Codfish Village" located in Toa Payoh, Block 83 Lorong 2, was already famous before we made it our dinner stop. Several articles from the leading magazines and newspapers were posted around the restaurant praising it's repetoire of dishes.
These dishes included: curry fish head - which most of us loved, but stayed away from eating the eye and eye socket; baked fish head with cheese (who said Asians don't like cheese?) ; steam fish fillet with olives; salted egg (called "ham tan" in Cantonese) scented fish slices and crispy codfish tofu.
The chef only steered away once from the "all codfish" medley to serve a dish of stirred fried venison. It was worth the diversion - it was delicious!
The service for this hawker restaurant was really quite good.....they even washed our shot glasses so we could have a few shots of another bottle which I brought along f
or the ladies, "Godiva Liqueur." The ladies - and some of the guys - loved the Godiva!So, put on your jeans, get a group of friends together and head over to Toa Payoh this weekend!
Tip Two: Xi Yan
All dressed up and no place to go? Well, up above I mentioned Thomas, the restauranteur....
My first gourmet outing which I attended with Mong Lin was actually at Thomas' place, "Xi Yan" on Craig Street.
It has no visible signboard from the street and reservations are needed for the fixed-priced menu. The restaurant originated in Hong Kong - my favorite place for good dining - and has been booked solid for a long time now.
Be sure to call ahead to check on the menu of the day and consider yourself lucky if they have the Japanese tomatoes on the menu!
Groups only are accepted....
Tip Three: Carnivore at Vivo City
Brazilan restaurants are known for their atmosphere, "all you can eat" roast meats and secret sauces, great salad bars and freshly-made caiparinhas!
I pulled a group of friends together for a casual lunch a few weeks ago at the newly opened Carinvore at Vivo City beginning with the Brazilian ambassador, to the charming owners, to some friends from BBC, AXN, Mediacorp and the Film Fest. Though it was just a weekday lunch, the lunch stretched to some 3 hours! The caiparinhas definitely helped us forget the time!
Now, if we had gone here on a Friday, Saturday night or even Sunday (Brazilians love feijoida on Sundays!) , when the place has live music, I'm sure that we would have had an even better time! Music is what the Brazilians live for!
Don't wait for next year's Carnivale, bring a crowd to this place now!
What to Do after Dinner on Saturday Night
Still raring to go? After Codfish Village, the gourmet group headed off to Clarke Quay and Attica....but, I would suggest:
1. Drinks and music at the piano bar on the top floor of the Swissotel
2. Champagne at Shangri-la's Blu
3. Intercontinental Hotel lobby for jazz
4. La Hacienda on Dempsey Road
Have fun on Saturday in Singapore!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
SHANGHAI IN 72 HOURS
The visit started at 1130pm with a night cap organized by the tv and cosmetics icon, Yue Sai Kan, at her home high above Shanghai. Now, here's a woman who chased her dream in China 20 years ago and always maintained a positive attitude despite the ups and downs of doing business in China.
Surprisingly, there was a Singaporean friend there as well, Tina Tan Leo, from The Link, who was in town for her wedding show and to promote her new brand "All Dressed Up." Tina's another high achiever who told me during my CNBC talk show that she "never says die!"
It was a great beginning to my trip meeting several astonishing women, but in the end we were just 4 guys (frat brothers) wandering the streets of this great city over the long weekend just before the start of the Shanghai TV and Film Festival.
Shanghai is one of the 3 hottest cities in the world to do business and maybe the hottest city in Asia. There's no wonder!
Here are some tips on how to enjoy it when you're not working:
WHERE TO STAY
Pick someplace central.
I made City Life, a five star service apartment and The Four Seasons Hotel across the street near West Nanjing Road my bases, but there are good choices in every hotel category from 5 star to 3 star. The Shangri-la, Radisson, Marriott, Grand Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, JC Mandarin are all good choices with good locations.
THINGS TO DO
There are two "must" experiences in Shanghai which you ought to do on the first and second nights.
You must spend an evening at the Bund and see it's brightly lit 19th and early 20th century buildings and compare it to the ultra-modern development across the water in Pudong.
After the Bund, one shouldn't miss Xintiandi, the old French quarter, preserved, but revitalized by someone I know, Vincent Lo, from Hong Kong. Almost everyone meets outside of the Starbucks before walking through the cafes and nightlife. I really think that when I was there on a Friday night, there were at least several hundred thousand people sitting, drinking, eating and walking. It was Shanghai at its best - a people watching festival.
PLACES TO EAT, DRINK AND PARTY
Shanghai food is delicious and quite reasonably price. From the "ma and pa" dumpling shops to the fancy restaurants, I was seldom disappointed.
Here are some recommendations:
1. South Beauty 881........for the 5 star experience.
2. Shanghai Uncle........popular with both businessmen and tourists, this restaurant has good food and is good look to it, but don't expect great service! Be sure to have the river shrimp and the eel!
3. Home.........located at the latest in-spot called Julu Road, it's located in a new townhouse and is known for good value. A celebrity or two will inevitably come in and have dinner. The pan-fried dates are a specialty!
4. Din Tai Fung.......a chain of high quality restaurants from Taiwan has a branch in Gubei which is the Taiwanese ghetto. Great xiao long bao with dumpling skins that are thin yet hold the broth in!
5. Jazz Bar on 37 at the Four Seasons is a good choice if you're looking for a quiet setting with music and a view of the city or just a place to smoke a cigar and laugh with friends.
6. Sky Dome......located at the Radisson on East Nanjing Road......it has a revolving restaurant below it and has a nice medley of music that begins in the evening and ends around 1am. Great revolving views of the entire city!
7. Jean-Georges.......I know Jean-Georges and I've been to his celebrity dinners in Hong Kong and visited his places in New York. Totally fusion, but a great treat. Don't expect any deals here!
8. Latin music and salsa are in......there are several which specialize in latin: From Zapata's to 1 Club to Monsoon to even Trader Vic's! Or, you can just hit a traditional club like: ARK in Xintiandi, Mews and Attica.
If you have a special request, just send me your comment on this blog.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Would I Be Happy As A Taxi Driver? Would You?
Why do some people look like they actually enjoy going to work each day or are unfazed when their having a bad day?
Here's a story I heard from a friend in Hong Kong.
There were two taxi drivers working in New York City. Both were in their early thirties.
One of the drivers was driving a passenger along New York's stately Park Avenue. As he was driving, a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow passed his taxi and made the red light. As the taxi driver waited for the light to turn green, he hollered into the back of his taxi to his passenger "Who the hell does that Rolls think he is? I'm sure he robbed someone to get that car!"
A few hundred meters down that same Park Avenue, the second taxi driver was parked illegally at a fire hydrant and buying one of New York's famous street hot dogs for a dollar, a much sought after treat in the Big Apple if you can find the peddler.
As the same Rolls drove by, this second driver shouted to the strangers around him, "Look at that Rolls! It's beautiful! I'm going to get one of those for myself someday!" The people around him just shrugged and kept on walking.
What's the difference between the two taxi drivers?
Well, bluntly speaking, one had a negative attitude and one had a positive attitude. It's as simple as that.......a good attitude versus a bad attitude.
Each day I meet all kinds of people. What I look for first in them is their attitude. Are they positive or negative people?
It usually take a few days to identify the negative ones as their protective skins melt away. They are usually the ones who are the first to say, "we can't do that," "that's impossible," "why try?" or "I don't think it will work."
The positive ones are the team players, solution makers and the ones to keep around.
So, to answer the question posed in the title, "would I be happy as a taxi driver?"
My answer is "yes."
But, the real question is, "would you be happy as a taxi driver?"
Editor's Note: Landy is speaking from some experience. During Landy's school days at New York University, he drove a yellow taxi for several months and one entire summer. Landy got to know most of his passengers well enough to have them call him by his first name before leaving the taxi. One airline attendant would actually request the dispatcher to send Landy to pick her up in Manhattan for her trips to Kennedy Airport. She would pay for the extras.
Here's a story I heard from a friend in Hong Kong.
There were two taxi drivers working in New York City. Both were in their early thirties.
One of the drivers was driving a passenger along New York's stately Park Avenue. As he was driving, a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow passed his taxi and made the red light. As the taxi driver waited for the light to turn green, he hollered into the back of his taxi to his passenger "Who the hell does that Rolls think he is? I'm sure he robbed someone to get that car!"
A few hundred meters down that same Park Avenue, the second taxi driver was parked illegally at a fire hydrant and buying one of New York's famous street hot dogs for a dollar, a much sought after treat in the Big Apple if you can find the peddler.
As the same Rolls drove by, this second driver shouted to the strangers around him, "Look at that Rolls! It's beautiful! I'm going to get one of those for myself someday!" The people around him just shrugged and kept on walking.
What's the difference between the two taxi drivers?
Well, bluntly speaking, one had a negative attitude and one had a positive attitude. It's as simple as that.......a good attitude versus a bad attitude.
Each day I meet all kinds of people. What I look for first in them is their attitude. Are they positive or negative people?
It usually take a few days to identify the negative ones as their protective skins melt away. They are usually the ones who are the first to say, "we can't do that," "that's impossible," "why try?" or "I don't think it will work."
The positive ones are the team players, solution makers and the ones to keep around.
So, to answer the question posed in the title, "would I be happy as a taxi driver?"
My answer is "yes."
But, the real question is, "would you be happy as a taxi driver?"
Editor's Note: Landy is speaking from some experience. During Landy's school days at New York University, he drove a yellow taxi for several months and one entire summer. Landy got to know most of his passengers well enough to have them call him by his first name before leaving the taxi. One airline attendant would actually request the dispatcher to send Landy to pick her up in Manhattan for her trips to Kennedy Airport. She would pay for the extras.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
WE'RE ALL IDOLS! aka DON'T GET A JOB, GET A DREAM!
If you're anything like the one hundred million people who watch one of the many versions of American Idol, you're closer to understanding life.
Am I getting philosophical? No, I'm getting practical!
I believe in dreams. I've always believed in dreams. And, I believe in people with dreams.
Why are the thousands of people who auditioned for Idol like you? Well, for this simple reason: they took a risk......and, the finalists were going after their dream.
When was the last time you took a risk on a dream?
My Own Dream
I lived in a middle class suburban neighborhood in New York. From my home, I could look slightly west and see the Empire State Building. It became the symbol of my own dream for each of my 17 school years.
My dream was to live in the Big Apple. I dreamed of traveling the globe. I dreamed of meeting new people in new countries and making a positive impact on the world. I dreamed of making my mark on the world.
My father contributed to this dream in his own way. A seafaring man who ended his sea days as a cruise ship photographer, he talked about exotic ports and different cultures. He even married my mother a Cantonese-French gal from Brazil. And, I remember vividly his story of eating steak and drinking wine with the Argentine longshoremen on the Buenos Aires docks!
My dream became my single minded way of running my life. This dream dictated the movies I saw, the books I read and the things I taught myself. I was determined to pursue it.
One month after graduation, with my second paycheck from Citibank, I moved into The City on Park Avenue two blocks away from the Empire State Building. I'm still paying the price for this act with the loss of love from my younger brother who felt that I had abandoned the family.
One year later, I convinced the head of the international division at the bank to send me permanently abroad. After a nice bon voyage party with 100 family & friends, I was on my way. First stop, Nassau, Bahamas. Three continents, 30 cities and more than a thousand people later, I'm still pursuing my dream.
The story doesn't end there.
While still in New York, a friend and colleague, Norma, at Citibank, asked me to talk to her friend, Bikkit Tam, a processing clerk in the operations area. There was no reason given. No agenda. Norma just wanted me to talk to Bikkit.
Bikkit was from a modest background. I think she was born in Hong Kong. She may have been 2 years older than me. She spoke enough English to be understood, but not enough English to get ahead in a competitive environment. She was quiet and demure or what I would call a "typical Asian woman" profile.
I told Bikkit stories. Stories which I'm now sharing with you on my blog. I told her where I came from. How I convinced my interviewer to give me my first job. How I believed that anyone could do what I did.
I lost contact with Bikkit for several years. But, one day while I was living in Asia, she made contact with me. As her story goes, she managed to get her college degree and her MBA at night. She moved to Boston where she held a job in a bank as a manager which she liked. She eventually married. She was happy and felt that she was still pursuing her dream.
I thought to myself, "maybe Bikkit had already achieved it." I was proud of her.
So, what's my message? The message is you. Don't get a job.....get a dream. Even better, find a cause......join a cause.....set a bigger goal. Dream. And, believe in yourself!
Landy's Note: I refuse to let this be the end of the story. I'd like to hear about your dream, too. If I can help, write me through this blog.
Am I getting philosophical? No, I'm getting practical!
I believe in dreams. I've always believed in dreams. And, I believe in people with dreams.
Why are the thousands of people who auditioned for Idol like you? Well, for this simple reason: they took a risk......and, the finalists were going after their dream.
When was the last time you took a risk on a dream?
My Own Dream
I lived in a middle class suburban neighborhood in New York. From my home, I could look slightly west and see the Empire State Building. It became the symbol of my own dream for each of my 17 school years.
My dream was to live in the Big Apple. I dreamed of traveling the globe. I dreamed of meeting new people in new countries and making a positive impact on the world. I dreamed of making my mark on the world.
My father contributed to this dream in his own way. A seafaring man who ended his sea days as a cruise ship photographer, he talked about exotic ports and different cultures. He even married my mother a Cantonese-French gal from Brazil. And, I remember vividly his story of eating steak and drinking wine with the Argentine longshoremen on the Buenos Aires docks!
My dream became my single minded way of running my life. This dream dictated the movies I saw, the books I read and the things I taught myself. I was determined to pursue it.
One month after graduation, with my second paycheck from Citibank, I moved into The City on Park Avenue two blocks away from the Empire State Building. I'm still paying the price for this act with the loss of love from my younger brother who felt that I had abandoned the family.
One year later, I convinced the head of the international division at the bank to send me permanently abroad. After a nice bon voyage party with 100 family & friends, I was on my way. First stop, Nassau, Bahamas. Three continents, 30 cities and more than a thousand people later, I'm still pursuing my dream.
The story doesn't end there.
While still in New York, a friend and colleague, Norma, at Citibank, asked me to talk to her friend, Bikkit Tam, a processing clerk in the operations area. There was no reason given. No agenda. Norma just wanted me to talk to Bikkit.
Bikkit was from a modest background. I think she was born in Hong Kong. She may have been 2 years older than me. She spoke enough English to be understood, but not enough English to get ahead in a competitive environment. She was quiet and demure or what I would call a "typical Asian woman" profile.
I told Bikkit stories. Stories which I'm now sharing with you on my blog. I told her where I came from. How I convinced my interviewer to give me my first job. How I believed that anyone could do what I did.
I lost contact with Bikkit for several years. But, one day while I was living in Asia, she made contact with me. As her story goes, she managed to get her college degree and her MBA at night. She moved to Boston where she held a job in a bank as a manager which she liked. She eventually married. She was happy and felt that she was still pursuing her dream.
I thought to myself, "maybe Bikkit had already achieved it." I was proud of her.
So, what's my message? The message is you. Don't get a job.....get a dream. Even better, find a cause......join a cause.....set a bigger goal. Dream. And, believe in yourself!
Landy's Note: I refuse to let this be the end of the story. I'd like to hear about your dream, too. If I can help, write me through this blog.
Hong Kong Restaurants: Azure Restaurant Slash Bar, Hotel LKF, Hong Kong - Go There with Friends
Published in The Peak Magazine, Asia Edition, April 2007
I will always be in love with Hong Kong.
If New York is the “city that never sleeps,” then Hong Kong is the “city that never stops”... never stops growing, never stops changing, never stops entertaining!
I know. I lived there for eight years.
I still miss the one o’clock power lunches where harden deal makers conduct religiously their due diligence.
And, I miss the old fashioned hotel cigar stewards (usually female) who would dip my Cohiba into an aged cognac before handing it to me with a perfectly symmetrical five millimeter burn.
I learned about Azure Restaurant Slash Bar from my FF fraternity brother, Paul. Like all brothers, Paul is a bon vivant.
In his pitch to me, he cautioned me that only “those on the list could get in.” That was all I needed to hear! I decided immediately to check it out after Paul arranged for the owner to put me on the list.
My dinner reservation at Azure was on a Thursday night. The place was bustling.
Hip touches like the Azure's resident DJ (who spun tracks throughout my 3 hour long dinner) are indications that Azure is clearly the place to be. Nearly every table was filled by 9pm with Hong Kong’s rich and powerful and young.
I didn’t bother with the wine list and instead challenged Alex, the restaurant manager, by asking him to bring me the house wine. Alex gave us a few glasses of a full-body Shiraz from Sonoma’s famed Geyser's Peak Winery. It was a great red!
My Hong Kong dinner partner, Robert, a media mogul, liked his vegetarian tempura made from zucchini flour and stuffed with nicoise, pesto and smoked ricotta. I preferred my appetizer of tuna tartar with crab meat and basil and rocket leaves and salmon caviar.
We had a cold weather dish called cauliflower cream soup flavoured with white truffle oil and wild mushroom fricasse. It was a double success as both of us consumed our bowls in record time! (The main menu carries a carrot and coriander soup which my soup-loving friends swear by.)
One of our entrees was roast garupa with what Chef Cedric Alexandra calls a “virgin sauce” and linguini in saffron and roasted asparagus. I never did find out why it was called a “virgin sauce,” but I liked the saffron sauce better anyway.
That next entree was the grilled veal medallion with a mushroom Marsala cream sauce and sauteed radicchio. I thought it was better than the garupa. (I’ve heard a lot about the Boston lobster dishes… one on a papaya salad and the other with cannelloni and parmesan….....all of which I plan to try on my next visit!)
At dessert time, Nancy, a high powered talent agent, joined us as we were presented with a beautiful looking plate consisting of a chocolate cake in the shape of a Egyptian pyramid filled with molten chocolate and some banana caramel ice cream and brandy snaps on the side. This dish was made for chocolate lovers – which, surprisingly, I am not – so I eyed with envy the red berry millefeuille with ginger chibouste cream on the regular menu without ever taking any action.
In the best of Hong Kong tradition, the evening ended with us talking deals and nursing a few more glasses of the Geyser Peak Shiraz.
Azure Restaurant Slash Bar is well worth a quick trip to Hong Kong. Azure’s cool look, cool food and cool people make the place a cool hot spot not to be missed.
If you need to get on the list, just let me know when you're planning to go and I'll see what I can do.
Macau Restaurant Recommedation: Restaurante Il Teatro, The Wynn, Macau.....The First Choice in Macau for a Business Lunch or Romantic Dinne
Published in The Peak Magazine, Asia Edition, May 2007
I love Italian food. Who doesn't?
So, on one of my trips to Macau to film that city’s reinvention of Las Vegas, I decided to taste which culinary treats the Las Vegas casino kings were offering their high rollers, the ones who would actually stop gambling to eat.
I decided to try the newly-opened Wynn Macau. I made arrangements to go Italian at Restaurante Il Teatro and try its seasonal menu, which had been designed by Chef Aldo - a Sicilian who has worked in Monte Carlo, Shanghai, Tel Aviv, Moscow and recently, as executive chef for the Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta.
Il Teatro and its modern Italian selections have become quickly the businessman’s favorite venue for lunch or dinner, when they choose Western cuisine over Asian. Perhaps this is because Il Teatro makes everything from scratch… panne, grissini, focaccia... homemade mascarpone….and, of course, the pastas.
Steve Wynn is known for his attention to detail. You see this clearly when guests are seated. Anyone carrying a purse or even laptop is offered a tiny side chair about half a meter in height to rest parcels and whatever you’d like to keep in sight or use during the meal. A nice touch, Steve!
Though both VIP private dining rooms were filled that evening and the place was almost completely full, I was able to have a special menu of six dishes selected by Chef Aldo, one dessert and what I like to call a “palate cleanser.” All of the dishes were paired with great wines selected for us by Attilio, the personality at the door. (The food and wine pairings were outstanding!)
We sipped a flute of Cuvee Brut from the Taltarni vineyard in Victoria, Australia with our first appetizer of red prawns carpaccio which the Japanese would call “ama ebi sashimi.” (Supposedly, the high acidity of the sparkingly wine breaks down any fat found in the prawns, which were extremely fresh and according to Chef Aldo, they were flown from Italy and were not from China or Thailand.) Normally, the menu offers scallops instead of prawns, so this was a twist, but it worked!
A well-presented goose liver escallop with Italian Deliziia apple and a 25 year-old balsamic sauce was next. I thought that it was not seared long enough to give the centre portion of the liver a warmer feel to it when it touches the tongue.
Next was what the Chef calls a “typical ancient soup” made from eggs and white truffles was next. I’m not usually crazy about soup, but this soup was special. It was very smooth and delicate, with a wonderful aroma and flavour.
Great tasting tiny ravioli with beef, truffle butter and parmesan cheese followed, and was quickly praised by both Paul and myself. It was exquisite with a glass of Simon Hackett Brightview Chardonnay from the Barossa Valley in South Australia. The wine had a melon and white peach aroma, with almost a creamy butterscotch taste.
Then, we were pleasantly interrrupted by a refreshing lemon & grappa sorbet shot with orange zest.
A glass of 2001 Chateau Rolan de By, Medoc was offered to compliment a the roasted piece of wagyu beef tenderloin with grilled fresh lobster medallion in a light truffle sauce that followed. As opposed to earlier, when the goose liver was undercooked to the centre, this very sought-after beef was overcooked just a touch, which seemed to disappoint Paul since he was so looking forward had so looked forward to it. (Tip: ask for the beef to be undercooked or even rare!)
The barramundi - again an import from Italy and not Australia - was served with the best porcini mushrooms I’ve had in a long time. Another glass of Brightview Chardonnay went well with it.
We finished up with a – you guessed it! – tiramisu with expresso and frangelico “homemade” mascarpone cream.
So what are you waiting for? Get yourself to Macau and I’m willing to bet that Il Teatro will “wynn” you over!
Macau Restarants: Robuchon A Galera, Lisboa Hotel and Casino, Macau. - A Real Classic!
Original Version Published in The Peak Magzine, Asia Edition, March, 2007
While on a shoot with Hong Kong actress Karen Mok for Discovey Channel’s VIP Weekend, I overheard some friends bragging about what they described as “unbelievably great food.” Like a pedigree golden retriever when food is mentioned, my ears perked up immediately. What was it? Where was it?
I expected to hear about an inventive Japanese place or a cool Roman café. I didn’t expect my inside tip to be a classical French restaurant.
Were my Hong Kong Chinese friends lost in some kind of epicurean time warp? With French restaurants closing everywhere from New York to San Francisco to Hong Kong. I thought French was “out” and almost everything else “in”
Putting aside my initial pre-conceptions on the future of French cuisine, it’s rich wine sauces and heavier meat entrees, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this particular establishment was opened by the celebrity chef, Joel Robuchon.
The next surprise was that the Robuchon A Galera wasn’t even in Hong Kong, it was across the way in Macau!
Luckily, I had scheduled a visit to Macau to begin some research on the influx of Las Vegas casinos in the former Portugese enclave. I was already in a “pamper me” kind of mood and with another colleague, we were desperately looking for Macau’s culinary soul.
Joel Robuchon was a “kitchen god” to his fans and the industry in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was a successful chef, popular international cookbook author and emerging French tv food personality.
He won his first Michelin rating in 1984 at the age of 38 when, after only two years, his first Parisian venture was given three stars making Joel Robuchon the youngest three star chef in Michelin history!
Joel Robuchon’s culinary trademark was to make masterpieces from basic - sometimes mundane - ingredients. His philosophy was simple: respect the original flavor. He is known as the creator of such admired signature dishes that they are now duplicated widely by many of the very best restaurants in the world. Dishes like: gellee of lobster with caviar in cauliflower cream; black truflle tart and potato puree…….you really can’t get more mundane than cauliflower or potato, now can you?
I was surprised – again - to find out that Chef Robuchon located his restaurant in Stanley Ho’s Lisboa Hotel and Casino.
If you’re not careful it’s easy to fill up nicely on wine and the mini-French and specialty breads overflowing on the bread trolley. I counted at least 11 different breads and breadsticks on offer that evening. We were careful, but it wasn’t easy to control ourselves!
The restaurant offers two dinner menus. A “Degustation” menu of 16 items for HK$1600 per person for those who want it all and an a la carte menu. We decided to all go a la carte. We thought it would be more fun. We were right!
A devout fan of all styles of goose liver anywhere, anytime, I started with an order of the warm goose foie gras on egg plant with caviar and my guest had the signature millefeuille of tomato and crab meat. Feeling adventurous, we also had to try the fried pigeon eggs with caviar and salmon.
In a very non-French way, we shared all the dishes and I can say that all three appetizers were delicious.
I was craving the rack of lamb….and my colleague had the lobster. The lamb racks were made - the way I like them - medium rare. I dabbed them into some great Dijon mustard for that classic touch. It really did melt in my mouth.
I would order the lobster on ravioli skin made from turnips, flavoured lightly with nutmeg, rosemary and a tangy sauce again anytime!It was terrific!
And, then of course, there were cheeses and desserts in typical, classical French fashion and, again, served all on a trolleys. I think we tried all of them! There were more than a dozen!
Without a doubt in my mind, Robuchon A Galera was the best restaurant find in Macau to date. I definitely plan to go back!
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