indonesia - bali: biku

tommy digs breakfast at biku...

bubur ayam - chicken rice porridge

green smoothie: spinach, papaya, banana, mango, strawberry & orange

soft poached eggs, cheddar & chive buttermilk scones served with wilted spinach and hollandaise sauce

tommy says:  the porridge was the favorite - very flavorful, and they also give small sides of two different hot sauces to adjust the taste to your liking. the green smoothie was a first, and was actually good.  the eggs were really great as were the scones, which had a different texture than most other scones, but the hollandaise sauce was thin and bland.  very very affordable.  a no brainer if you're in the area.

biku
jl. raya petitenget 888
http://bikubali.com/

indonesia - bali: naughty nuri's warung

tommy experiences disappointment at naughty nuri's...

porn corn and pork ribs

tommy says: over hyped.  corn was bland and ribs were dry.  the sauce on the ribs was actually good, kind of a sweet soy-based sauce.  seems to be more of a night-life kind of place, so probably tastes better after 3 or 4 drinks.

naught nuri's
jalan batubelig, 41
http://www.naughtynurisbali.com/

indonesia - bali: sea circus

tommy joins the sea circus in bali...

snapper ceviche

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fish tacos

tommy says:  the snapper ceviche was tasty and refreshing.  the salad was good, but way too much dill.  the fish in the tacos were fried beautifully, but the tortillas were flour, which didn't taste quite right - wished for corn.  overall a cute little place to relax and get a bite, just don't expect any indonesian food.

sea circus
22 jalan kayu aya [oberoi rd]
seminyak, bali
http://seacircus-bali.com/

singapore: red house seafood

tommy drowns in seafood at red house seafood...

braised spinach tofu & honshimeji mushroom topped with crisp conpy

crispy cereal prawns

black pepper crab

chili crab

steamed whole scallop with minced garlic

steamed scottish bamboo clam with minced garlic

tommy says:  what a great meal!  tofu was very tasty and had good texture.  black pepper crab was very, very peppery and spicy.  chili crab wasn't that spicy and on the sweet side, but had good flavor - be sure to sop up the sauce with the rolls.  cereal prawns were just ok.  favorites were the clam and scallop - the garlic flavor was so good!  beer is not cheap here, and this actually may have been the priciest meal eaten in singapore, but no regrets - yummm!!

red house seafood

60 roberston quay

singapore 238 252

+65 6735 7666

http://www.redhouseseafood.com/

singapore: toast@work

tommy gets another day started with kaya toast at toast@work...

traditional set: kaya toast, soft boiled eggs, coffee

tommy says: good, but maybe not quite as good as ya kun.  a little more work is involved as you are required to coax your own eggs out of the shell, but the labor is rewarded with your tasty meal.  again, thick slabs of butter unite with kaya spread on toast and are dipped into the soft-boiled egg with sweet soy sauce. yum.

toast@work
1 kim seng promenade
#81-16/17
great world city
singapore
http://www.foodjunction.com/toastatwork/

singapore: paradise dynasty - legend of xiao long bao

tommy gleefully eats xiao long bao at paradise dynasty...

dynasty 8 flavours: (clockwise starting with green) ginseng, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, szechuan, original (in the middle)

original xiao long bao

tommy says:  the noodle soups were good, the beef soup was very rich and hearty, but the reason to come is for the xiao long bao (soup dumplings).  the different flavors are interesting, but they don't all necessarily work.  call me a fuddy duddy, but original is the way to go.  the original is really, really delicious and so full of soup!  

paradise dynasty: legend of xiao long bao
ion orchard
2 orchard turn #4-12A
singapore
http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/

singapore: tian tian hainanese chicken rice at maxwell road food centre

tommy digs the chicken rice at tian tian hainanese chicken rice and other dishes from the hawker stands at maxwell road food centre...

chicken rice

variety of dishes from several of the hawker stands

tommy says: fantastic and cheap eats (a plate of noodles went for one dollar!)!  the most popular stall is definitely tian tian, and for good reason - the chicken rice is tender and tasty. lines for tian tian get quite long so be prepared to wait.  this is food court seating so divide and conquer responsibilities: someone to wait at tian tian, someone to grab a table, and the rest to pick up other random goodies.  enjoy!

tian tian hainanese chicken rice
stall 10, maxwell food centre
singapore
http://www.tiantianchickenrice.com/

singapore: ya kun kaya toast

tommy falls in love with kaya toast at ya kun in singapore...

kaya toast set: kaya toast with soft boiled eggs

tommy says:  a simple, yet decadent way to start the day. toasted bread is slathered with sweet kaya spread (coconut jam) and very thick slabs of butter and served with two soft-boiled eggs which are drizzled with a sweet soy sauce.  the combination of the sweetness from the kaya spread with and salty buttery goodness dipped into the creamy egg was absolutely delicious!  good morning indeed!

ya kun kaya toast
various locations: http://www.yakun.com/singapore.aspx

cambodia - siem reap: chanrey tree

tommy has his first encounter with cambodian/khmer food at chanrey tree in siem reap, cambodia...

fresh spring rolls: minced pork, chicken, river shrimp, pineapple, cucumber, rice noodle, lettuce, chive, khmer herbs served with peanut dressing

crispy stick rice with natang sauce: minced pork, shrimp, coconut milk, peanut served with crispy sticky rice

chicken salad

beef lok lak: local free-range thinly sliced beef tenderloin, garlic, pepper lime sauce and wilted green leaf

fish amok: traditional cambodian curry with steamed bar fish and green gno leaf

roasted khmer chicken: free-range khmer chicken roasted with honey and rice brandy, young jack fruit and lemongrass served with prahok dipping sauce and fresh crudite

khmer delecacy

mango and sticky rice

tommy says: not sure how "authentic" the dishes were (some of the dish names are the same as dishes from other nearby countries, and in this day in age with everyone's food evolving/modernizing, who knows what "authentic" even mean anymore), but no matter because this was a great meal!  very flavorful dishes.  fish amok was the favorite - very nice curry flavor.  

chanrey tree
pokombo ave
siem reap, cambodia
(855) 63 76 79 97
http://www.chanreytree.com/

los angeles: troi mec

tommy manages to get a ticket to troi mec...

buckwheat popcorn

sunchoke chip

garlic bread

avocado, citrus, crab ceviche, buckwheat popcorn

nantucket bay scallops, tandoori, sesame, cauliflower

grilled cabbage, smoked almond milk anglaise, miso flan, fennel pollen

potato pulp, brown butter, bonito, onion soubise, salers

beef, charred broccoli, smoked peanut butter, crispy shallots

apple butter, creme de brie, toasted barley, hay

mignardises, marshmallow, sunchoke sorbet

tommy says:  the garlic bread and crab ceviche were both really tasty.  the grilled cabbage was also inventive and the miso flan that came with it was silky smooth.  scallops and the apple butter dessert were not really my cup of tea.  the potato pulp was good, but felt like it should've been a side or something else should've been served with it.  the beef with smoked peanut butter was reminiscent of beef satay with thai peanut sauce. the mignardises were a funky tasting. with the exception of the mignardises, nothing was truly bad, but troi mec left me a bit unsatisfied. there was no wow factor, and the fiasco of the reservation process (hitting refresh on my computer for over an hour only to keep getting an error message, and then dates that are available one second disappearing the next, and that is just the tip of the iceberg) would lead one to think they were in store for something amazing.  all the positive press given to troi mec perhaps also led to very high expectations, and perhaps the disappointment is the result of the over hype. 

trois mec

716 n highland ave

los angeles, ca 90038

https://www.troismec.com

los angeles - beverly hills: nozawa bar

tommy finds delicious fish and a new friend at nozawa bar...

japanese jellyfish

japanese live octopus, hawaiian bigeye tuna, japanese wakame

ecuadorian bigeye toro nigiri

japanese sumi ika (squid) nigiri

alaskan king crab nigiri

santa barbara uni nigiri

hokkaido scallop nigiri

japanese tatiuo (hairtail) nigiri

japanese katsuo (bonito) nigiri

yamaimo ume shiso handroll

kusshi oysters

ankimo (monkfish liver)

boston sawara (sierra) nigiri

japanese akamutsu (ruby snapper) nigiri

mirugai (giant clam) nigiri

japanese shimaji (stripe jack) nigiri

japanese kamasu (barracuda) nigiri

maine lobster handroll

japanese anago (sea eel) nigiri

tamago (apricot lane eggs) nigiri

mandarin sorbet and farmers market berries; hojicha tea (roasted green tea)

chef fujita with his new bff

tommy says:  a very private, fun, and delicious meal!  at the back of the beverly hills sugarfish, is a private 10-seat room, details of the rules (yes, there are rules) are on their website.  the restaurant has nozawa's name, but it is chef fujita who masterfully serves up the goods.  all of the fish were pretty amazing! the yamaimo ume shiso handroll was served as a palette cleanser, and not really my cup of tea, and the sauce on the ankimo was a little thick and a touch too sweet for my taste.  king crab, scallop, uni, lobster hand roll, and dessert (delicious sorbet!) were personal favorites; really excellent sushi overall.  chef fujita keeps the mood light which made the experience all the more memorable.  

nozawa bar
212 n canon dr 
beverly hills, ca 90210
(310) 276-6900
http://www.nozawabar.com/