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).