P.S. Café

P.S. Café
28B Harding Road
T. 6479 3343

Brunch at P.S Café is good fun. The breakfast selection is delish – my favourite is the poached eggs with portabello mushrooms and wilted spinach. I also tried the egg sandwich but found it too “big” a meal for breakfast (There was enough for two!). The place is stunning. A great start to the weekend.

Borgo

Borgo
789 Bukit Timah Road
T. 6466 7762

What can I say, I came to Borgo with great expectations. It had been very well reviewed, not just by food writers but foodies too. Unfortunately, the meal I had was disappointing. Sure the antipasti was alright – but you can’t quite go really wrong with this if you use only the freshest of olives, cheeses and meats. For the mains, the sausages had little taste and a powdery texture which made me wonder if they were fit for eating, while the pasta was overcooked and covered in this nondescript wild boar sauce that tasted like a dryer version of the bolognaise. I was subsequently told that they actually specialize in pizzas. Even so, I am not sure if that is enough to bring me back.

The Counter, Los Angeles

The Counter
2901 Ocean Park Blvd Suite 102, Santa Monica
T. (310) 399 8383

This is slated to be my next favourite pitstop for burgers after Apple Pan. This modish restaurant allows you to create your own burger from its extensive selection of breads, patties (beef, chicken, turkey, tofu), toppings and dressings. One can practically create a over 500 burger combinations with this selection. For those on the Atkins diet, you can even choose to have your burger served in a bowl of salad!

I had the regular with grilled onions, blue cheese and marinated peppers with a side of bbq sauce. And a bucket of the most delicious, "cant stop eating" shoe string onion rings and sweet potato fries. Love this place.

Ale Jo, Los Angeles

Ale Jo
Strip mall on corner of Lincoln and Washington Blvd

This place is quite a hole in the wall – located on a strip mall and serving home-cooked pastas in the most gargantuan portions! I had the linguine with pesto that was good especially with the added texture from a generous sprinkling of pine nuts. But no matter how much I ate, the noodles didnt seem to get any less!

Disneyland, Anaheim

Disneyland, Anaheim

There is something magical about Disneyland (and this is not the marketing speak). I can never seem to get enough of it! The food they serve at their many theme restaurants are just as special. I had a pretty satisfying breakfast of scrambled eggs and crossaint when what I really was eyeing was the waffle, shaped just like Mickey, that the little girl sitting at the table across from me was tucking into.

Then there are the Mickey-shaped cookies, candy, chocolate, ice-cream bar and more.

Credit also goes to the menus they have created for each individual park, the cinnamon sprinkled churros (left) that is lighter than anything you can ever get here. The divine lobster sandwich and gumbo (below) from Adventureland. I just love Disneyland.

Maxwell’s Café, Los Angeles

Maxwell’s Café
13329 Washington Blvd, Culver City
T. (310) 306-7829

This place has been a favourite of mine from when I first started coming to LA. An old-style, no frills diner, it serves up some of the best home-cooked breakfasts ever (sure they have other meals on the menu too but I have only ever been here at breakfast time): fluffy pancakes with scrambled eggs and traditional bacon and eggs, spiced up with yacutan sausage. The ultimate is it's stuffed French toast - French toast stuffed with cream cheese and served with a pile of the freshest strawberries. Pity I was here midweek. The special French toast is served only on weekends.

On weekends, the lines can grow. To keep customers happy, they have at their counter and endless coffee pot and plenty of mugs that those waiting in line can help themselves to.

Joe's, Los Angeles

Joe's

1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice
T. (310) 399 5811

What can I say – this is a simply fabulous establishment tucked in Venice, serving some of the most delicious meals. Simple and fresh. We started with the crumbliest of breads that was almost like a cake with the freshest olive oils and butters. This was followed by a tasty lobster bisque and a simple pasta dish with kalian (broccoli leaves) and sweet meats. The fish selection was equally divine, fresh and moist yet crispy from the thin layer layer of potatoes that covered it. We didn’t stop there – the desserts continued to wow: chocolate cake, crème brulee, raspberry crumble. What a meal!

K Zo, Los Angeles

K Zo
9240 Culver Blvd, Culver City
T. (310) 202 8890

K-zo is part of this new dining trend where modern beautifully designed Japanese establishments serve a selection of small plates with an array of sake and other drinks. Similar to Orris in Sawtelle but more in keeping with traditional dishes, it features some truly delicious and superbly fresh selection of sushi, sashimi and cooked dishes. And some of the more familiar ones to cater to the general American tastebud. Defintely a must visit.

Bread Bar, Los Angeles

Bread Bar
8718 West 3rd Street, LA
T. (310) 205 0124

I love this place for its fresh loaves and fab sandwiches. Aptly named Bread Bar, you can have your pick of olive, sun-dried tomatoes, multi-grain, wheat… in the bread. They have also very cleverly designed their menu around them – with lovely breakfast dishes and hard to resist sandwiches. Our timing this visit gave us the perfect opportunity to try their pastries. They brought out trays of it, piping hot from the oven, just as we were tucking into our sandwiches. We had to have them of cause, the almond croissant and the apple turnover. The almond pastry was the stunner – with melt in your mouth sweet almond meal and the flakiest of pastries. It was divine.

Honey Pig, Los Angeles

Honey Pig
3400 W 8th Street, LA
T. (213) 280 0256
I have never seen a table top grill this big till I set foot in Honey Pig. This Korean bbq restaurant serves everything off its grill. From the two huge and ever so fresh steaks that we ordered to all the side dishes – kim chi (spicy Korean marinated vegetables), marinated sprouts, spring onion salad. And at the end of the meal, the rice. Toss it all together, it we are in Korean heaven.

Broadway Deli, Los Angeles

Broadway Deli
1457 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
T. (310) 451 0616

This is somewhat of a landmark in Santa Monica. Known for its tuna melts and meatloaf, it is also the backdrop to several Hollywood blockbusters. This brunch we picked breakfast from its extensive menu. I had a Mexican version of the eggs and sausage with guacamole, sour cream and salsa.

Versailles, Los Angeles

Versailles
10319 Venice Blvd, LA
T. (310) 558 3168

Garlic, garlic and more garlic. This place just reeks of it – not surprising it’s the central ingredient in most of its dishes. Garlic chicken or pork roast marinated with loads of garlic and practically falling apart are its specialties. Complement that with a side of rice, refried beans, fried plantains and loads of lemon sauce and I am in heaven. Garlic heaven that is.

Jin Patisserie, Los Angeles

Jin Patisserie
1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice
T. (310) 399 8801

I finally made it to this much talked about patisserie in the heart of Venice. Started by a Singaporean, it has been slowing wowing the locals with its delicate cakes in a variety of flavours and created to please the eye. A stark contrast from the huge slices of cakes we normally we get in an American coffeeshop. We tried the lunch set of finger sandwiches and quiche and a slice of the cake of the day. Nice and light. Served in the relaxing little garden that fronts the bakery. It was a really nice way to pass the lazy afternoon. The patisserie is closed on Mondays.

Tahoe Galbi Restaurant, Los Angeles

Tahoe Galbi Restuarant

3986 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles
T. (212) 365 9000

This is a truly amazing Korean bbq place. I love how the food keeps coming. And good stuff at that too. The oh-so-fresh kalbi (beef) that was totally addictive, an egg pancake that was packed with vegetables and seafood, Korean style chawanmushi (steamed egg) and the fabulously spicy cod soup. Oh, and the the to die-for cold noodles in a savoury broth accented with slices of pear. Add to this a dash of vinegar and mustard, it serves not just as a lovely way to cool you down from the heat of the bbq, but rounds off the meal very well with the contrasts of flavours and textures.

Yabu Restaurant, Los Angeles

Yabu Restaurant
11820 W Pico Blvd
T. (310) 473 9757

This has become a firm favourite of mine of simply delicious Japanese. This evening, straight from the airport, I had the delicious grilled miso eggplant that had a melt in your mouth consistency, a refreshingly satisfying cold tofu, and a house specialty, homemade soba noodles that was ever so springy with the duck broth. Totally satisfying.

Pizza at the Airport, Chicago

Nothing quite beats pizza in the US. Granted not all pizza joints are great but most of them are pretty good, just like this one that I picked up at Midway Airport while waiting for my flight – thin crust, chessy topping and thin slices of savoury pepperoni.

Sushi Samba, Chicago

Sushi Samba
504 North Wells
T. (312) 595 2300

The concept is interesting enough. Japanese dishes with a modern twist served in a funky bar that has a Latin feel to it. The food was delish: a trio of Japanese seaweed, crabcakes with tamarind sauce and a selection of sushi. The dessert too also has interesting flavours to it - the lemongrass custard was creamy with just a hint of the herb. As for the Latin in the name – but for the interesting cocktails and the Brazilian band, it was pretty much modern Japanese.