Owner: Traveller's Tales URL:http://www.shantanughosh.com Join Date: Sun, 02 Dec 2007 07:53:58 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: My First Impressions, Musings, and Lasting Impressions of Food and Places Around the World Site statistics:Click here
Quick Trip to Chennai 2007-12-09 19:46:00 Last Friday, I drove out at 4:30AM to catch a morning flight from Mumbai to Chennai
. It was a cold, wintery morning and there was an accident on the expressway. Two trucks had collided in the opposite lanes, and all incoming traffic from Mumbai was backed up for miles.I reached Mumbai airport in two hours and thirty mintues without the driver over-speeding; see how much time you can save if the Mumbai traffic is absent from the streets?Mumbai is one airport where almost every newspaper is available for free for passengers! I don't remember which one of them began this trend, but now every one of the national and business dailes are there for your reading pleasure! The Jet Airways flight that took me to Chennai was the first one I have ever boarded that did not have a Premiere section. All seats were done up in brown leather (different from their older blue colored interiors). Seems like this is the new color scheme we will see in their newer aircraft. Matches well with their new canar Read more:Quick
Norwegian Troll Visits Pune 2007-12-08 22:44:00 A troll came visiting today from distant Norway. My blog-friend, RennyBA, had sent him my way! Renny is a prolific blogger and a strong believer in the power of social networking and the Internet: He blogs about life, food and culture of his country, Norway. He even met his wife online, and his blog was recently rated as among the top three European blogs of 2007.Fellow muggles who don't know much about trolls, here's a quick starter course for you:1. Troll
s have long crooked noses, only four fingers and toes on each limb, and most of them have a bushy tail.2. Trolls live in the icy mountains of the North, and only come out after sunset. Sunlight makes them crack or turn into stone.3. Trolls can be big (almost gaints) or small: mine is a small fella, as you can see in the picture here. :-)4. Trolls have super-natural abilities and sometimes lure men by turning themselves into beautiful young girls. Tip: When in doubt check their behinds, because they are unable to hide their bushy ta Read more:Norwegian
The New Black...Is In Your Plate! 2007-12-05 00:52:00 From cocktail dresses to the iPod and now onto your plate! Black
is chic, even when it comes to gourmet food: check this article in the latest issue of Time magazine. I had never heard of black chicken or black carrots before.Intrigued, I researched some more. The sudden interest in ebony colored food by gourmets is attested by the fact that even the New York Times ran a recent article on this trend."The craze for ebony-tinged foods can be traced to Asia, where inky ingredients have a long and illustrious tradition. The nutty flavors and raven tones of forbidden rice were once reserved for Chinese emperors.", says Time.Silkie chickens originated in Asia, where they are valued for their deep gamy flavor. US chefs are more interested in the novelty factor that this meat offers. This chicken -- which has white fluffy feathers but black bones, meat and skin -- is also being touted as the new 'health food'.The Scotsman reports, "Black-bone silky fowl have been used as a "folk invigorant" Read more:Plate
Train Journeys in India 2007-12-03 23:51:00 A long time ago, I looked forward to summer vacations when schools would close for a month. Every year at this time we went to Calcutta, Allahabad or Kanpur to visit my many aunts, uncles and grand-parents. We would travel by railroad for two days to cover the 2000 kms distance from Mysore. This wasn't unusual; very few people took a flight when traveling within India
those days.The long train journey was a joyful experience. I was absorbed by the fascinating sights and sounds during the train ride. Air-conditioned coaches were rare, which meant open windows (and dusty faces); we kids could stick our faces against the windows in an attempt to see the rest of the train winding its way through hills, valleys, forests and creeks. Photo credit: Train
in the rains by Bramha.I don't think I have seen as much of India as I did during those train journeys, albeit through a child's eye. When I was older and travelled alone, I would get down at every station to stretch, sip tea from earthen c Read more:Journeys
The World's (New) Culinary Capital 2007-11-30 07:01:00 I had blogged about Michelin's first venture Eastwards. But who could have guessed the result? Tokyo has unseated Paris as the world's culinary capital. Michelin's Tokyo guide awarded 191 stars to 150 restaurants in the Japanese capital, the most number of stars awarded in any city. Previously, Paris had the most stars, at 65. Eight restaurants in received Michelin's highest three-star rating, and this included two sushi eateries. But Paris can still claim to have the most 3-star rated restaurants, with 10 (France overall has 26).At the press conference, Michelin also crowned 82-year-old Jiro Ono of Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant in central Tokyo the world's oldest three-star chef.A team of three undercover European and two Japanese inspectors spent a year and a half visiting 1,500 of Tokyo's estimated 160,000 restaurants to decide on the ratings, according to Michelin. The famed guidebook series rates establishments on excellence in cooking, service, decor and upkeep.Read mor Read more:Culinary
, World
Not Just Parathas 2007-11-26 05:49:00 During childhood days in Mysore, I rarely ate out. Food was always freshly cooked at home and served hot. While lunch consisted of rice with meat or fish curry, dinner almost always consisted of chapatis that were served with dal and subzi (vegetable dishes). On special occasions, we would have pooris or parathas.On those very rare occasions when we did eat out, it would be dosas at the popular Dasaprakash hotel.Chapatis are the most popular Indian bread made at home, followed by parathas and pooris. Chapatis (also called roti or phulka) make no use of oil, unlike prarathas and pooris. Note: Picture of Naan by mind2mind2mind, and Chapati by Aaplemint. Rice has been the staple for those who lived in the Coastal regions of India, while North Indians traditionally ate wheat-based breads. Now-a-days people tend to eat a little of both at home.It was only when I began travelling and eating out that I realized there were an infinite variety of breads waiting to be discovered in India. Saturd
O Jerusalem! 2007-11-24 08:10:00 I like planning my vacations way in advance. I love the process of getting to the actual trip, especially if it involves a country or a city I have never visited before. As I begin planning my next trip abroad, I have been asking myself, "After Europe, what?"The obvious choices are Africa and Australia. I haven't set foot on these continents thus far. While my initial impulse was to do a real African Safari, I have been recently contemplating visiting Morocco and/or Egypt instead. But there is one place that fascinates me no end but I am wary of planning a family vacation in: Israel. Note: Jerusalem
picture by Sam Rohn.I read an interesting article on Israel in the Hindustan Times recently. Completely different from the usual stuff you read about continuing hostilities, the killings and the tragedy.The author, Samar Halarnkar, begins with this funny observation: First, let's get this out of the way. Israeli women are not just stunning and fit but very stylish. Come to think of it, th
Full Circle 2007-11-20 09:20:00 There have been a spate of articles - and even books - in recent times on the resurgence of India and China. Yet, not everyone realizes that we are only coming a full circle. Both China and India led the world in scientific endeavor before the 15th century.Here are some excerpts from a recent article in The Economist (read the original article in full here). TOWARDS the end of the 11th century, while tardy Europeans kept time with sundials, Su Sung of China completed his masterpiece: a water clock of great intricacy and accuracy.Clock-making was only one scientific endeavour in which China and India comfortably led the world before the 15th century. China outstripped Europe in its understanding of hydraulics, iron smelting and shipbuilding. Clean your teeth with a toothbrush, rebuff the rain with a collapsible umbrella, turn a playing card, light a match, write, pay—or even wipe your behind—with paper, and you register a debt to China's powers of invention.India's genius, then as Read more:Full Circle
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Michelin Arrives Early in LA And Vegas 2007-11-15 10:38:00 Michelin's first ever restaurant guides for Los Angeles and Las Vegas
were accidentally leaked on their website a week early. Apparently, this is the first time such a leak has happened in Michelin's 100 year history; they have also confirmed the authenticity of the leaked list. LA gourmets may feel a little miffed with no restaurant getting three stars; however, Las Vegas now has one certified three-star restaurant, Joël Robuchon. Surprisingly, Thomas Keller's Las Vegas restaurant didn't get a star. While the guides become officially available on Nov 20th, here's an early look at those which earned the coveted Michelin stars :LA Michelin Three Stars (signifying exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey) :None.LA Michelin Two Stars (means an excellent cuisine, worth a detour) :Mélisse, Santa MonicaSpago, Beverly HillsUrasawa, Beverly HillsLA Michelin One Star (meaning a very good restaurant in its category) :Asanebo, Studio CityCut, Beverly HillsJoe's, VeniceLa Botte, Santa Read more:Early
, Michelin
The Best American Food 2007-11-13 01:18:00 Many American
friends are stumped when I ask them about traditional American fare. Americans have had exposure to global cuisine for a long time thanks to immigrating people from every corner of the world; in fact, many would consider Italian staples such as pasta American. I recently discovered an article on the Best American Food
at Conde Nast Traveller by Alan Richman that made me smile. This is how he begins:Before we were able to pay attention to food, Americans had to perfect democracy, settle the West, free the slaves, crush the Nazis, and fight the commies. Meanwhile, we ate whatever was at hand. We stewed squirrels. We turned turtles into soup. Food was secondary. Oh, we had raw materials aplenty: fields of waving grain, herds of juicy protein, oceans of non-farmed fish. We just didn't know what to do with it all. Note: Barbeque picture by LennieZ.Our first uniquely American restaurants appeared in the fifties and sixties. We called them Polynesian, even though none of us kne
Worth Flying First Class? 2007-11-08 12:35:00 With flat-beds becoming ubiquitous in business class, I have wondered if flying first class is any longer significantly better. When I checked in at the Lufthansa counter in San Francisco recently to catch a flight to Frankfurt, I got a chance to evaluate for myself. Lufthansa had decided to bump me up to first class. So here are my observations:On Lufthansa's 747 lang-haul aircraft, the first class cabin is in the upper deck. Pros: the first-class cabin is segregated from the rest of the cabins; people from elsewhere will not keep the toilets occupied! Cons: you have to climb the staircase to and from the upper deck with your luggage.The seat seems luxurious and wide; however the new business class seats on Singapore Airlines and even Virgin are almost as good; I wouldn't pay extra for the seating comfort.The entertainment system sucks. The TV screen is very small compared to the newer cabins in Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, etc. Actually, even Lufthansa's business class cabi Read more:Worth
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Happy Diwali! 2007-11-07 07:01:00 Tomorrow the country will light up in celebration of Diwali. A corruption of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning ‘row of lights’, this is probably South Asia’s biggest festival and certainly one of the biggest in India. Note: Diwali pictures in this post by greeshma, yashrg, one hot stove.During Diwali, homes are decorated with rows and rows of oil-lamps in the evening and the night skies explode with fireworks. Unfortunately, more people now-a-days are choosing convenience over tradition: you see more fancy electric lights and candles instead of the prettier, and traditional, oil-lamps.In Diwali, it is common for people to buy new clothes and visit friends and family to exchange greetings and gifts. Diwali is also an auspicious time to move into a new house or buy a new car. In fact, like Christmas season in the USA, Diwali shopping accounts for a big chunk of the annual sales of many consumer goods in India.Two Goddesses in particular are celebrated at Diwali: Lakshmi and Kali Read more:Happy
The Best Restaurant in the USA? 2007-11-07 03:57:00 Gourmet magazine's Top 50 Restuarants in the USA puts Alinea at #1. This Chicago-based restaurant is owned and run by chef Grant Achatz who once worked as Thomas Keller's sous-chef at the French Laundry and even spent a week cooking at El Bulli (check my post on The World's Best Restaurant).Says Gayot, "Alinea should charge you just to tour the place, to soak up the atmosphere and pick up some very smart decorating tips. But it’s not the décor that causes foodies to fly in to dine here. This is kaiseki dining Western-style from chef Grant Achatz. In other words, multi-courses of magnificent morsels that are cunningly (and sometimes whimsically) crafted, elegantly presented, and joyfully consumed in a setting that is so comfortable that it squeaks." Here are some pictures of the work of art you are expected to eat in this restaurant. Alinea seats 70 people at 20 tables; meals consist of either a 12-course tasting menu or a 24-course "tour," and can last up to four hours. The 12-co
Durga Puja 2007-11-05 23:39:00 When I was in the USA a few weeks back, my family was celebrating Durga Puja (or Durga Pujo like we Bengalis pronounce it). While most of India celebrates Dussehra, Bengal celebrates its biggest annual festival with great pomp and ceremony. In Eastern India and particularly West Bengal, Durga Puja is more important than any other festival. This festival is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and a celebration of victory of good over evil. In Kolkata alone, almost two thousand pandals are setup where people can participate in community celebration and worship the Goddess. Over a period, this festival has also turned into an event to showcase the talent and creativity of local artisans, who create awe-inspiring pandals and idols of the Goddess. Here are some pictures from this year's Durga Pujas in Kolkata.The idols of the Goddess (usually made of clay) are immersed in the Ganges after a week-long celebration. The pandals are also temporary and are taken down after the festival. B
And Now Tokyo 2007-11-04 22:49:00 After America, the folks at Michelin have turned eastwards. Tokyo
chefs are eagerly watching the countdown to the November 22 launch of Michelin's Tokyo guide. Note: Pics of kaiseki in this post by squaylor and gnufThe Financial Times recent ran a great article on gastronomic Tokyo, but the online version requires subscription. Some excerpts:...A new attitude and a convergence of trends are propelling the city to the fore of the global gourmet circuit. While ¥150,000 meals and ¥900,000 wines are still readily available in today's sophisticated Tokyo, what inevitably surprises - and delights - visitors is the growing diversity, and quality, of culinary experience available on any budget.Whether it is a Michelin three-star chef's exquisite creation in an imposing chateau, or a humble but perfectly chargrilled chicken skewers for ¥600; or a delicate kaiseki feast - traditional haute cuisine - served by kimonoed waitresses in an ancient wooden house, the offering can beguile even sea
The Immigration Question 2007-11-02 01:41:00 During a recent conversation with another world traveller, we were debating the pros and cons of people migrating across cultures and countries. Travellers to distant places have always done the most in bringing peoples together. Since ancient times, immigrants have helped bridge cultural gaps, foster better understanding and tried bringing their home country and their country of origin closer.On the downside, immigration has diluted tradition and homogenized the population. When travelling to distant lands today, you find more things that are common than those that are different. Food, clothing, and even the TV programs we watch seem to be be progressively converging. There are times when I wish I were a traveller in the 18th century rather than now... :-)Speaking about immigration, the New York Times recently ran an article on Polish immigrants in Britain. Since Poland joined the EU in 2004, an estimated 1.1 million Poles have come to Britain. They are today, after India and Ireland, Read more:Question
The Sofitel and Amber 2007-10-31 20:37:00 Before flying back to India, I had to be in Redwood City for a few days, where I again stayed at the Sofitel. The Sofitel's Bay 223, a French restaurant overlooking the lagoon, is a great place for a business lunch.The salmon I ordered for lunch was tasty as were the crepes with fresh strawberries I ordered for breakfast on the day I was flying out. In addition to it's many charms, The Sofitel is probably among the few hotels in the US which provide a free bottle of water every day!This was also one of those rare times when I actually went out to eat Indian food while in the US. I did this primarily because a friend strongly recommended I try Amber
in Santana Row. This Zagat rated restaurant has a very interesting ambience with simulated stars on an indigo background and sanskrit shlokas printed all around. Smartly dressed waitresses in indigo uniforms and tea candles on the tables all match the upscale feel to this restaurant.I ordered the Basil and Three Cheese Tikkis for starters
Work or Play, Pune Rocks! 2007-10-30 22:50:00 The Economic Times' survey today rated Pune as the #1 city in western India to live and work (Mumbai is #2). As per today's ET, the city tops the list in the earnings category (ie., per capita income, job opportunities, employment growth), as an investment destination, and is the 2nd most favored place to live in. The survey underlines what we (who live here) already knew! This city with a population of 5.13 million is now one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Of the 100,000 people coming into the city every year, about 30% join the manufacturing sector, while 60% enter new-economy industries (IT, biotech, etc.).
Read more:Rocks
Michelin Stars in the Bay Area 2007-10-29 01:30:00 Two years ago, Michelin
began rating restaurants in the USA. Michelin stars carry so much weight in Europe, that losing a star has been known to drive chefs to suicide. The French tyre company has been publishing its restaurant guides for Europe since 1900. Michelin's first guides for the US released two years ago covered New York and the Bay Area. In November they will release their first guides for Las Vegas and Los Angeles.This year, 27 Bay Area and Wine Country restaurants recieved at least one Michelin Star. Here's the list for those of you who are interested; the ones marked new! made it to this list for the first time in the 2008 Guide.Michelin Three Stars (signifying exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey) :The French Laundry, Yountville (I am not surprised; you can find a brief mention in one of my earlier posts here)Michelin Two Stars (means an excellent cuisine, worth a detour) :Aqua, San FranciscoChej TJ, Mountain View new!Cyrus, HealdsburgManresa, Los GatosMichael
The Melting Pot 2007-10-25 18:02:00 I was in Redwood City for a two-day offsite meeting at the Sofitel. In addition to those who work in the Bay Area, we had people from Southern California, Virginia, Florida and Canada. In the evening we drove down together to a newly opened fondue restaurant called The Melting Pot in San Mateo. It is part of a national chain, but I have never come across one before.Dinner turned out to a very interesting experience indeed. For one, the restaurant is located right next to the train station and the rumble of the trains speeding past makes for an unusual setting. Second, the concept of sharing fondue and cooking entrees at the table is a lot fun and different from the usual dinner experience.Dinner began with Cheese Fondue. The one in front of me was a Spinach Artichoke fondue that was prepared at the table over electric heaters built into the table itself. We dipped fresh breads, green apples, and veggies into the creamy fondue. I actually enjoyed this fondue much more than the one I had
New World Latin Cuisine 2007-10-22 20:05:00 Dinner at Americas in Houston, my second time here. The day was unusually windy and chilly, and since I was staying at the Hilton Post Oak, the only place I dared venture out for dinner was this restaurant right across the street. The entire block here is being reconstructed and only Hermes of Paris and Americas are open in this block. Americas is the place to go for fine South American dining. The place has a funky interior, very unlike Churrascos which I had reviewed in my previous visit to this city, and which shares the same owners! I ordered a glass of La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir with my starter, a Peruvian style Ceviche that contained sushi grade seafood served in a carved pineapple. The ceviche was very fresh and tangy and went very well with the wine.I ordered Churrasco for my entree, an 8 oz medium-rare beef tenderloin; the meat was most tender and flavorful.I ended my dinner with the The Original Tres Leches, a cake soaked in three kinds of milk. So moist, so wonderful! Read more:New World
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Cambodian Cuisine 2007-10-22 10:30:00 After hunting for something exotic to eat during my last day in Cupertino, I finally found Chez Sovan. This family-run restaurant serves authentic Cambodian food. Cambodian food is similar to Thai but has unique flavors and taste. Initially we were a little unsure if this place will turn out to be a hole-in-the-wall, but the restaurant turned out to be a nice and airy one, with a very homely feel. The Sovan family seems to actually live in the section behind the restaurant, and we could see young kids playing and studying the room behind. Like I said, homely... :-)If there is one thing you should eat here, it has to be the catfish amok. Absolutely fabulous and unlike anything I have eaten before. This dish is a kind of fish loaf steamed in a banana leaf with curried lemongrass and coconut milk and served piping hot. I loved the taste, texture and flavors: catfish has never tasted this nice!Before the Amok we had started with Tom Yum soup which was sort of like the Thai version, but con Read more:Cuisine
Tapas And Paella at Picasso's 2007-10-21 00:43:00 Yesterday, a friend and I drove down to Picasso
's restaurant for a taste of Spain. This small eatery in downtown San Jose specializes in Tapas
and Paella
s. Being a Saturday night the restaurant was packed and we were lucky to get our table almost immediately. The walls, no surprise, are decorated with prints of Spain's most famous cubist painter whose name adorns the restaurant. Like everyone else in the restaurant we ordered Sangria for drinks. Sangría is a wine punch from Spain. The word sangría comes from the Spanish sangre meaning blood. It typically consists of red wine, chopped fruit (in our case, apple), a sweetener such as honey or orange juice, a small amount of added brandy, triple-sec or soda. Interestingly, the locals will never order Sangria in a bar; it is something you will only serve in house parties. So, bar sangria in Spain is aimed almost exclusively at tourists.We ordered some small plates from the Tapas menu. The Salteado de Champinones y Setas was an assortmen
Awesome Persian Fare 2007-10-19 23:10:00 Arya Global Cuisine: Persian
, Italian and American says the banner. Hmm, interesting combo methinks as I walk into this restaurant on Stevens Creek and Blaney, Cupertino. Turns out this new eatery has opened only about five weeks back.The Persian owners ran an Italian restaurant in the Orange County area before they moved to the Bay Area, which explains the rather unusual combination of cuisine they serve here. However, I must warn you that the menu is mostly Persian with some Italian dishes and hardly anything that seems American! The decor is beautiful and classy: the colors, the paintings, the granite, etc. Everything is bright and new right now, as you can expect.Starters include the Tadig, which is a crispy rice dish topped with three different sauces of Gheimeh (tomato, yellow split peas), Ghormeh (leek , parsley, spinach, coriander), and Fesenjoon (walnuts and pomegranate). Entrees include staples such as the Chelo Kebab Soltani, Lamb Kebab, Baghali Polo which is stewed Lamb Sha
Of Breakfasts, Quick Lunches & the Wii! 2007-10-19 08:35:00 For some reason, the concept of eating breakfast outside your home hasn't caught on in India yet. In the US, it's pretty common to see people eating out or picking up food on their way to work. The only ones you see at places that open early for breakfast in India are students and retired people. Also, Indian breakfast places are almost always idlis, dosas, and vadas. Therefore it is not surprising that even McDonald's doesn't have a breakfast menu in India.The last two days were busy and full of meetings held in different locations within the Bay Area. On days like this, I start with a good breakfast, so I can skip lunch if schedules are very tight. Park Place at the Cypress offers good breakfast options, but I prefer walking down to Le Boulanger which is right next door. I highly recommend the Vegetable Medley omtette on sliced sour dough.After a quick meeting in San Francisco downtown yesterday, I popped into The Flytrap but only ordered a dessert. Also, when I was passing the V Read more:Wii
, Quick
Manipulative Restaurant Menus! 2007-12-18 02:35:00 Forbes Traveller ran an interesting article on 'menu psychology'. Here's an excerpt:"Smart chefs (or their menu consultants) know that when most of you open a menu, your eyes go right to the top of the page on the right side. And, armed with that knowledge, chefs place the menu item that will give them the most profit at the top of the page. Hence, it soon becomes their biggest seller. Then, your eyes normally drift to the center of the page. That's where many chefs place their absolutely most expensive item. They do that not because they expect you to buy that item, but because the psychology of menus indicates you'll probably then look at the items immediately above and below the high ticket item and order one of those. Again, those two items rank second and third for generating profits"Read the original article in full here.
Read more:Menus
The Other Side of Diversity 2007-12-16 18:50:00 A few years back, Robert Putnam, one of the world's most influential political scientists revealed some bleak side-effects of ethnic diversity on society. Putnam found that living in diverse communities makes us worse neighbours and citizens: "Immigration and ethnic diversity tend to reduce social solidarity and social capital...Trust (even of one's own race) is lower, altruism and community cooperation rarer, friends fewer," he wrote. Putnam's controversial book, Bowling Alone, details his research on diversity and American society; his subsequent work found similar patterns in European and Asian societies too. You can read some more about his work on Wiki.Science is making other uncomfortable discoveries. As The New York Times warned in a front page story last month, the DNA era is raising "new worries about prejudice". In the article, Marcus Feldman, a Stanford biologist, explained: "There are clear differences between people of different continental ancestries. And i Read more:Diversity
Unlimited Kababs To Heaven 2007-12-12 23:42:00 The heady flavors of spices seduces you even as your teeth begins to sink into the well-marinated meat. You savour the sensation of expertly cooked meat -- fresh from the tandoor. The crunchiness of onions, and the icy freshness of mint chutney mingling with the juicy meat in your palate. You are now certain -- heaven can't be more pleasurable than this!This evening almost didn't happen. I and a colleague had earlier planned a drive to Fisherman's Cove, a seaside resort in Chennai with an excellent open-air restaurant. We changed our plans at the last moment and decided to have dinner at a place closer to our hotel instead. What better place to choose than The Great Kabab Factory (TGKF) at Radisson.The Concept: TGKF only opens for dinner and has a fixed menu. You are served six varieties of kababs with a variety of Indian breads. Multiple servers in factory uniform serve kababs directly onto your plates. Kababs are followed by two kinds of dal, biryani and five different types of d Read more:Heaven
Top Pune Eat-Outs 2007-12-22 22:31:00 In an earlier post, I had listed my top five favorite restaurants in Pune. However, for new visitors to Pune, here is a larger list of eating options which I frequent, to give you a flavor of what's available (and good!). Please note that I am partial to restaurants located in the Camp Area. Also, I am only covering mid-range restaurants in this post which are 'safe enough' for our friends from abroad. The locations and phone numbers of all restaurants mentioned here are provided at the end of this post.Indian foodBy default when someone says Indian food, it usually means North-Indian food. The menu will include kababs, curries, and common breads such as Naan and Roti.Sigree has a better lunch buffet (now) than the Bombay Brasserie and therefore would be my top choice for a business lunch. Bombay Brasserie easily makes the best kababs in town and will be my top dining choice for Indian food. They also have a sit-down buffet option outdoors during the evening which includes unlimited
More Bangkok Goodness 2008-03-09 22:36:00 Ever notice how the best American-owned hotels are located in Asia? I had written about the Grand Hyatt in Beijing and the Sheraton in Ho Chi Minh City, both far more luxurious and larger than hotels in the USA. During this trip to Bangkok
I stayed at the Conrad Bangkok Hotel located in the heart of the embassy area in Bangkok. A Mercedes Benz S-Class - gleaming with polished wood and leather - drove me from the airport to the hotel. The girl from the front-desk was waiting for me at the door and within seconds I was whisked away directly to my room where she completed the check-in formalities.Wonders! I had been upgraded to their Executive Suite. And what an opulent hotel room that was. A large living area, a large bedroom and a large bathroom with a free-standing tub and a shower stall. Read more:Goodness
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