Bistro Jeanty

24 Feb
2010

6510 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599 | +1.707.944.0103

jeanty-sweetbread

Why Here?
This French style bistro uses great local produce in each dish, creating simple and flavorful food. The outdoor dining is also lovely.

The Good
The Sweetbread with Mushroom sauce dish (pictured above) was delish, as was the Crepe Suzette dessert.

The Bad
I’m not sure there was anything we had here that was bad. The beautiful weather probably didn’t hurt that perception either.

The Ugly Truth
5.0/5.0 – Yummy and reasonably priced, too.

Unkai

23 Feb
2010

20 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong | +852.2369.1111

unkai_hongkong

Why Here?
I visited this little-known institution on my recent unscheduled stopover in Hong Kong in January. When we were kids, my parents would bring my sister and I here EVERY weekend because we would demand to be fed sushi. And not just any sushi, dammit. GOOD sushi. This is where it all started.

The Good
I ordered a sushi set, which consisted solely of nigiri, and was pleasantly surprised to find that my memory hadn’t failed me. The fish was incredibly fresh. The ebi (shrimp) was incredibly tender and the ika (squid) was so fresh that it was soft with no trace of the gumminess that typical accompanies it at lesser establishments. Seeing as these are probably my least favorite pieces of nigiri in a set, words can’t even begin to describe how the rest of it tasted.

And let’s not forget the best part – the green tea ice cream! The green tea ice cream here has been my favorite since the age of maybe six. Nothing else compares. It’s perfectly icy (not creamy) while still maintaining the rich taste of matcha. Definitely don’t miss this!

The Bad
Be forewarned: this place is NOT cheap, but it’s worth it!

The Ugly Truth
5.0/5.0 – This place is amazing, and like all restaurants worth going to, allows the food to speak for itself. There’s no celebrity chef or ridiculous PR gimmicks. The food is just GOOD. Revisiting this place makes me thankful I have such generous (and tasteful) parents.

Naughty Nuri’s

16 Feb
2010

Tromol Pos No. 219, Ubud

naughtynuris_bali

Why Here?
I passed this incredibly crowded shack of a restaurant on my way to a restaurant that had been recommended by the hotel I was staying at in Ubud. Upon finding that restaurant closed, the driver of a private van approached and recommended this place. We had a short wait to grab a table, and hey – as every New Yorker knows: the longer the wait, the better the place (for the most part).

The Good
We ordered every meat dish on the menu: the ribs, the steak, the lamb, the chicken AND a plate of nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) to split. ALL of it was delicious! The meat was moist and lip-smackingly flavorful. There were also posters around advertising the restaurant as having the “best dirty martini” in Bali, so I had to order that too. I’m not a martini connoisseur by any means, but it tasted pretty damned good to me.

The Bad
I don’t think anything we ate was bad here, though the place was pricey for the informal shack that it was. I guess you get what you pay for.

The Ugly Truth
5.0/5.0 – Yup, going with the full marks on this one. If you’re ever in Bali, this is a MUST TRY!

Calderazzo

28 Jan
2010

59/6 Soi Lang Suan, Phloenchit Rd, Bangkok 10330, Thailand | +662.252.8109

calderazzo_bangkok

Why Here?
In the interest of full disclosure, my family happens to own a majority stake in this haven for Southern Italian food in Bangkok. That said, we’re consistently featured in guides and magazines, and the food is GOOD.

The Good
Standouts among the dishes served here would be the lobster bisque, the foie gras salad, any of the seafood pasta dishes and any of the beef or lamb main courses. All the pasta is made fresh daily and come with a spicy oil on the side that has been simmered over a stove for an entire day – perfect for the Thai appetite for spice!

The Bad
Not sure I would be the best person to comment on this. Just beware sitting on the third level here during dinner – a small outdoor smoking balcony means that mosquitos can be plentiful in some seasons.

The Ugly Truth
5.0/5.0 (or pretty damned close) – Then again, I’m biased.

Warung Dobeil

27 Jan
2010

Jl Srikandi, Nusa Dua

warungdobiel_bali

Why Here?
The Lonely Planet Bali & Lombok guidebook would have you believe that this is one of two places on the island to get really, really good suckling pig. Suckling pig is essentially deep-fried pork fat eaten over rice, and I did not want to miss this traditional delicacy.

The Good
It took over an hour for my family and I to find our way here, what with the ambiguous directions that seem standard for all Balinese. One thing I will say, though, is that everyone did seem to know this famous “warung” (food stall), and upon arrival the place looked sufficiently local and authentic.

The Bad
The warung was almost sold out of this stuff by the time we got there. We ordered a plate each of suckling pig over rice, and I have to say I was a little disappointed. Visually, the plate wasn’t much to look at. Normally, this is something I get past fairly easily (what with my fetish for off-the-beaten-path street food) but I couldn’t get past how DRY and TASTELESS this stuff was! I discovered that there isn’t much good food in Bali, but can this be some of the best they’ve got??

The Ugly Truth
1.5/5.0 – Not worth the effort. In fact, if you do go to Bali, there doesn’t seem to be very much good food to be had. One other random travel tip: do NOT buy the Lonely Planet guidebook. Stick with the Luxe Guide to Bali and you’ll be much better off.

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