Blackbird, Chicago 1997 – 2020 (RIP)
Chicago’s Blackbird has closed. The restaurant announced this week that they were closing permanently, unable to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. This sucks. I don’t live in Chicago anymore, so I…
Australia’s Winter Truffles are in Season. Get Some While You Can!
Although it’s summertime here in the United States, it is winter in Australia, where black truffle season is underway. The black truffle that grows so beautifully in Manjimup, Western Australia, is the…
Photo Diary: Eating and Drinking During the 2020 Quarantine
If there's a silver lining to the coronavirus lockdown of 2020, it's that I got the chance to rediscover my kitchen. Or at least the kitchen table. I ate more takeout than anything else. Here's a look back at some of my favorite memories of eating and drinking at home during the quarantine.
The Disappearing Art and Rhythm of Chinese Tea in Hong Kong
There is a mystical quality to the tea ceremony that becomes clearer only with practice and time, but the art of Chinese tea is fading. Sadly, most of Hong Kong’s traditional tea shops have disappeared. I’ve been thinking a lot about Chinese tea lately...
Photo of the Week: Isola San Giorgio (Venice), Italy
This is Isola San Giorgio, one of the lesser-known islands of Venice, Italy. Claude Monet frequently painted San Giorgio Maggiore, the Palladian church and monastery pictured here at the heart of San Giorgio. From this vantage point and time of day, it was easy to see what he saw.
Happy 10th Birthday to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands!
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since the opening of Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Instantly iconic, the resort’s rooftop infinity pool became a must-see attraction for jet-setters the world over.
Memories of a Mentor, and the Perfect Caesar Salad
I have often credited chef Frederic Castan as a key figure in my life who put me on the path that inspired me to open a restaurant and eventually to become a critic. He taught me how to make the perfect Caesar salad, among other things.
Cocktail Recipe: Jasmine Sour Martini from Taj Falaknuma Palace
If you've got a jasmine bush in your yard (and the jasmine is blooming throughout Los Angeles at the moment), or if perhaps your neighbor has one... Make this drink! This...