A TOUR FOR THE TONGUE
A sampling of Asian delights
WBANGKOK
hen dining out in Asia, we go high — and we go low. From haute cuisine to cheap eats on the street, there’s something to delight every palate.
Bo.lan – If Bangkok is bliss for Thai food lovers, Bo.lan elevates the experience to a new level. The wood-paneled warmth of the interior evokes both modern and ancient culture — just as the food, enhanced with a contemporary aesthetic, remains faithful to its Thai roots. Street food – Turn a corner in Bangkok and voila, street food. But you can’t go wrong at Yaowarat, the city’s Chinatown, or Old Town Banglamphu. You haven’t really tasted beef satay until you’ve had it street-grilled over an open flame.
SINGAPORE
JAAN – In Singapore, the food scene reflects its intersection of cultures. JAAN, one of its most exciting restaurants, has a French accent. They’ve just been awarded a Michelin star, and their artisanal tasting menu includes reinterpretations of classics like forest pigeon with cromesquis and saffron pumpkin tortellini. Street food – Michelin-starred street food? Yes, and for less than two bucks. This year, for the first time ever, two Singapore street stalls were each awarded one of the coveted stars: Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle. Now that they’re world famous, there may quite a wait, but it should be worth it.
BALI
Locavore – The restaurant is small and the décor casual, but don’t let that fool you. It’s been named one of Asia’s Top 50 Restaurants. The classically trained chefs personally select produce from local farms and create intriguing dishes like duck on a string with tamarind and Into the Sawah, composed of rice, snail, duck eggs, wildflowers and more. Street food – Some of the best street food in Bali can be found at hole-in-the-wall eateries called warungs. And unless you’re strictly halal, kosher or vegetarian, don’t leave without trying babi guling, whole pig cooked over a fire at the Babi Guling Pak Malen warung.
TOKYO
Tapas Molecular Bar – There are only eight seats in this Michelin-star restaurant, where dazzling molecular cuisine thrills the eye and palate. The creative Asian/Fusion menu awes and amuses with inventive flavors, textures and presentations prepared while you watch. Street food – You’ll find a festive, lantern-lit atmosphere and great cheap eats on Memory Lane, once so disreputable it was known as Piss Alley. Today, though, the air is fragrant with the aromas of sizzling yakitori as well as more adventurous fare like the battered octopus balls called takoyaki.
BEIJING
Duck de Chine – The ultimate Chinese delicacy is Peking duck, and in the dish’s namesake city, Duck de Chine brings refinement to the dish without sacrificing tradition. The duck is cooked to crisp perfection over Shanxi date wood for
exactly 65 minutes, carved at the table and served with paper-thin crepes and exquisite house-made dipping sauce.
Street food – For a fraction of its price at an upscale restaurant, you can enjoy Peking duck at the stands in Wangfujing Snack Street. The area is also famous for some of Beijing ’s most notorious dishes, like snake, scorpion and bugs on a stick. Try them if you dare.