Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas

I enjoyed a very nice meal here on a recent trip to Las Vegas.  The menu is enormous!  With so many tasty choices it is wise to engage your server for advice.  The prices are completely reasonable.  A stark contrast to what is being charged on the strip at the big hotels.  Standouts on our visit were the crispy pork with Chinese broccoli and the northern ginger curry.  The flavors are entirely authentic.  Without hesitation the kitchen will bring the heat, if you give them the green light of course. 

The wine list is voluminous and surprisingly affordable.  There are plenty of good German Rieslings that match perfectly with the Thai cuisine.  Take your pick of new releases or bottles with age.  We enjoyed at beautiful bottle of 2009 St. Urbans-Hof Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett.  If you are a fan of minerality in your Riesling, look no further than St. Urbans-Hof.  One of my favorite German producers.  

The best buys on the wine list are actually the big reds; Chateauneuf du Papes in particular.  2006 Clos des Papes for $125?  YES! 

Lotus of Siam is justifiably famous.  On my next trip to Vegas, I will definitely be back.   

Go! Go! Curry, NYC

I had a great lunch this afternoon at my favorite Japanese curry restaurant in NYC.  I've been frequenting Go! Go! Curry for years now and it is probably the best curry I've had outside of mother Japan.  This afternoon I had the Grand Slam, which is a rather large plate of food.  Don't worry, I didn't eat it all myself!  The curry is so rich and satisfying here.  It is not at all spicy.  The toppings are all moist and delicious.     

Niigata Sake Tasting at Sakagura

I had a great time last night at the Niigata sake tasting event held at one of NYC's very best bars, Sakagura.  I jumped at the chance to attend this tasting since I love sakes from Niigata, a region known for its excellent rice, water and sake.  There were 7 different brewers pouring 13 different sakes.  I made sure to taste all of them at least three times just to make sure they were drinking well.  Indeed they were.  The sakes were all fantastic as were the appetizers provided by the kitchen.  I loved chatting with all the brewers as well as talking to many of the people at the tasting.  All of the brewers are from families that have owned these breweries for several generations.   Each was proud to pour a glass and give a friendly Kanpai! 

My old roommate Keith Weissman showed up and got lots of attention with his stories of going to school and living in Japan on two separate occasions.  Mike Capilouto and his new bride Christine made it as well.  Mike and I used to go to Sakagura pretty often, it was great to be back at a sake tasting with him last night.  Christine brought a friend from Dartmouth and the two of them asked a lot of great questions about how sake is made.       

My favorite sake of the tasting last night was Midori Kawa "Green River" Daiginjo.  A beautiful sake that is aged for two years prior to release.  The flavor profile is so clean and precise with a lingering finish.  Dynamite stuff that I hope to enjoy again at Sasagin in Tokyo.  The rice is milled to 40%.  Alcohol is 17-18%.

 

Ben's Chili Bowl, Washington DC

After seeing this classic establishment on No Reservations with Tony Bourdain, it was on my must visit list for my next trip to Washington DC.  The visit to Ben's was a good one.  In general, I love visiting classic dining establishments and this was no exception.  If a restaurant can stand the test of time, it must be doing something right.

I found the signature Ben's chili rich and nicely spiced.  I could easily enjoy a whole bowl of it with some diced onions and bread.  I ordered the famous 'half-smoke' and the chili cheese fries.  The half-smoke was great, I polished the thing off in seconds and had to fight the urge to order another one.  The chili-cheese fries are good too but just too over the top for me.  On top of the good food and friendly service this is a great spot for people watching. 

Subway is home to the most flavorless sandwich around

I have been making an effort to eat healthier lately and I'm working to shed at least 10 pounds of fat.  I'm halfway to my goal, thank you very much.  Yesterday, I was looking for something light and healthy to stay on the program.  I hadn't been to Subway in maybe a year or more.  I figured it is cheap, fast and healthy so I came to try the new flat bread sandwich.  Unfortunately, it was as bland and tasteless as all of the other cardboard garbage on the menu.  The amount of protein you are given is a complete joke.  I had a small morsel of grilled chicken in my sandwich; perhaps 1 ounce.  The bread is awful and I'm happy to report the new flat bread is just as bad.

Subway could be the worst chain restaurant in America, right up there with Olive Garden, Pizza Hut, Papa John's and Burger King.  

Grilled Squid at NYC Japanese Street Food Block Party

Another highlight of the afternoon was the simply grilled squid served with Japanese mayonnaise.  The squid was perfectly grilled, fresh and extra tender.

NYC Japanese Street Food Block Party

I spent a lazy Sunday afternoon walking around among a plethora of delicious Japanese small plates at a NYC block party that happened to be right up the street from my apartment.  The highlight of the culinary offerings (and the longest line) was the grilled porkbelly on a stick dipped in spicy sauce and topped with sesame from Hakata Ton Ton.  Oishii!!

United Airlines merger with Continental Airlines

I've been hoping somehow this merger will fall apart.  As a loyal customer of United Airlines for many years, I'm fearful that my two favorite things about United will disappear: Economy Plus seating and Channel 9.  Economy Plus seating makes a huge difference on any flight.  You are talking about the delta between a 30-31 inch pitch for a regular economy seat versus 34-36 inch pitch for a United E+ seat.  Channel 9 just makes flying more fun.  I remember when I used to be a nervous flier, Channel 9 really made me feel better.     

I've had good experiences with Continental for the most part with the exception of the awful seats they use on the 737s.

Let's hope the new management team preserves the best parts of both companies. 

Reflections on my 4th trip to Bonaire

• The diving is fantastic and provides a ton of flexibility.  You can dive 24 hours a day if you wish.  You can dive from the shore or from a boat.  The conditions are always favorable.  While you generally will not see large animals, the amount of macro life is abundant.  The visibility was lower in September than other times of the year although the water was a very warm 83-84 degrees F.

• The food on the island is surprisingly good.  There are plenty of choices and the prices are really reasonable if you stay away from the ocean front strip of restaurants that are the most touristy.  Even after 4 trips to the island I'm still discovering new places to eat that are really good and offer good value. 

•  The Deep Blue View continues to be a can't miss place to spend a week.  Instead of sitting back and maximizing their profits, Menno and Esther continue to invest in their business.  The new dive boat is great and a clear step up over the old boat.  The pool area is being expanded.  The deck has been recently rebuild and expanded.  They continue to be wonderful hosts and have not lost any of their enthusiasm for hospitality.  Usco and Bully, now 9 years old, continue to be as sweet and lovable as ever.   

Bonaire Day 7

After passing on the night dive the previous night we set out on a shore dive that is an old favorite - Salt Pier.  The dive again did not disappoint in the least bit.  After a tough swim against the current to the first cluster of pillars we were rewarded with a thick cluster of sea life.  The tarpon were there as was a giant black grouper.  There was a friendly little turtle that swam with us for 10 minutes or so.  The view of the sun shining down through the pillars of the pier with so many fish in the water is spectacular.  This is my favorite dive on Bonaire.

For lunch we made the drive up to Rincon to visit the Rose Inn - home of the coldiest beer on the island.  The goat stew was terrific again as was the side of red beans and rice.  We spent the remainder of the afternoon around the pool at the DBV. 

Soon enough it was time to head out on Menno's boat for the sunset rum punch cruise.  I tried to go slow but ended up sucking down 5 glasses of rum and punch.

BBQ night at the DBV is always my favorite dinner of the trip and this one was no different.  Esther's spread of salads are over the top delicious.  We had some tasty grilled fish and chicken sate.  Lots of good conversation around the table from the guests and our gracious hosts.  I went to bed full and plenty boozed up. 

We flew back early this morning.  Another great week at the Deep Blue View.  This week seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.

Bonaire Day 6

Due to the fire we did 2 dives on Bonaire instead of up on the north side of the island.  The dives were nice but again there was nothing out of the ordinary.  We passed on the night dive last night that was part of our package.  I knew we would miss out on something good and we did.  Esther found 2 octopi.  One was quiet large and came out to play.  Instead we spent the afternoon and early evening relaxing by the pool with my two furry friends.

Had dinner last night at Pasa Bon Pizza.  It was much better than expected.  Tasty pizza and fast and friendly service.  I was glad to finally try this place after so many drive-byes.

We watched the Saints vs. Vikings at Lee's Bar downtown.  Lee is a very friendly Dutchman with a nice beer selection and the best satellite connection on the island.  The game was tighter than I expected.

Major fire on Bonaire - we had to alter dive sites today because of it

The flames from this fire were absolutely massive.  Shooting at least 60 150 to 300 feet into the air.  The smoke cloud is enormous....

(AP) – 7 hours ago

KRALENDIJK, Bonaire — A huge fire caused by a lightning strike has halted operations at a Venezuelan fuel terminal on the Dutch island of Bonaire.
Island Gov. Glenn Thode says crews have isolated the fire and should extinguish it by the end of Thursday.
The fire is visible across the small island in the southern Caribbean that is best known as a destination for divers. Thode says there have been no injuries or damage to other parts of the island.
Venezuela's state-owned petroleum company owns and operates the terminal for shipments abroad and the local market. Petroleos de Venezuela says operations have been halted by the fire that was sparked Wednesday when lighting struck a tank containing the oil product naphtha.

Menno's New Boat

Here she is...

Mi Banana, Bonaire

Tonight was my first visit to this local Bonaire restaurant serving Colombian food.  It was freakin' delicious.  I had the fresh snapper in creole sauce with rice and fried plantains.  Dave had the mixed grill - an enormous portion of beautifully seasoned beef, pork and chicken.  How good are fried plantains??  I love it.  The prices are rock bottom since this is a local place far from the downtown strip.  If you are in the mood for good Colombian food on Bonaire look no further than Mi Banana.  If you are in the mood for some adult entertainment after your dinner, Patchie's Place is conveniently located across the street.   A good opportunity to practice your Spanish with some friendly Colombians.

Bonaire Day 5

Today was 2 boat dives on Klein Bonaire.  Menno was having some ear problems so he just dropped us off in the water and picked us up.  The first dive was a drift dive.  The only special things we saw on that dive was a nice small turtle that I got very close to.  He was just eating and wasn't bothered by my close proximity.  The second dive was Carl's Hill, which is the small wall on Klein.  There were a few Horse-eyed Jacks swimming below us.  Beyond that nothing extraordinary to report.  We ran out of bottom time pretty quickly on the second dive.  A good reason to make the switch to Nitrox.  In fact, it seems that Dave and I are the only ones here at the DBV who are diving good old fashioned air.  I keep saying I'm switching to Nitrox but I haven't made the investment just yet.  I'll wait til I get a job. 

Enjoyed a lazy afternoon out by the pool with Usco and Bully.  They are enjoying the chicken wrapped dog treats I brought from Trader Joe's. 

Off to dinner soon at Mi Banana.  Perhaps a stop at Patchie's for a beer?

Plazita Limena, Bonaire

We had a solid dinner at the downtown Peruvian restaurant in Bonaire - Plazita Limena.  Due to the recent flag day holiday on the island there has been a shortage of locally caught fresh fish.  Last night the catch of the day was Mahi Mahi, which I strongly believe is not local.  I ordered the Lomito Saltado.  It was quiet tasty and just the right size.  We started with the traditional Peruvian ceviche, which was again excellent.  The service was timely this time.  On the way out we noticed they had Inca Cola in the fridge.  I was bummed because I would have ordered it.  

I was introduced to Lomito Saltado by Maybeth Francone.  Menno keeps calling her 'Marybeth' and has mentioned her several times.  It seems that she made quite an impression on someone!  He jokingly refers to Mark as 'the guy that travels with that good looking girl'.   

Just finished up my egg white omelet.  Today is 2 tank boat diving.  I'm hoping to dive Carl's Hill, which is a small wall off of Klein Bonaire.  After the dive we must immediately remedy the crisis in the refrigerator at the DBV - NO MORE BEER!

Bonaire Day 4

The 3 tank boat dive was really nice.  We start up north in the marine park for the first two dives.  There were a few big tarpon, a stingray and some large black grouper.  The reef was a different look up north.  Not as delicate as the more sheltered reefs.  The 3rd dive was off Klein and was a continuation of the 'turtle dive'.  I came upon a very large largerhead turtle.  He didn't move so I just hovered about him as he chilled out in a coral head.  There were a few other nice turtles on the dive including one that swam next to me for about 5 minutes.  The 3 tank boat dive pretty much sucked up the whole day.  We came back to the DBV and sucked down the remainder of our case of beer by the pool.  Major crisis!  We are out of beer. 

Dinner tonight at the Peruvian place in town although Dave is itching to get to Patchie's Place.

Morning in Bonaire

Just waking up with some coffee and waiting for the big breakfast decision.  Might have to mix it up today after 3 straight days of the egg white omelet.  Last night most of the restaurants in town were closed for Flag Day.  We ended up at our 4th choice which was Mona Lisa.  The food was good again there.  Dave had the catch of the day snapper and I had the rib eye steak.  Started with a very nice French Onion soup. 

Today we are doing a 3 tank dive on Menno's boat.  This is a new feature of the revised boat dive package.  I'm looking forward to it.  I haven't done a 3 tank boat dive in a long time.  I believe we will start up in the marine park up north.  I have not dived there so should be interesting.

Just put my order in for Dutch pancakes. 

Bonaire Day 3

Had a nice dinner at Capriccio last night.  The place was really packed and without a reservation we had to sit outside.  We had a nice Dolcetto from Elvio Cogno and split a pizza and a pasta.  Lola was running around and really stressed out.  Woke up to another great Bonaire morning.  Had the 'usual' for breakfast.  We got out earlier on the boat for 2 tanks of diving.  First dive was a fast drift on Klein.  It was Cozumel speed in the initial minutes with tons and tons of fish.  It looked like a river was flowing underwater.  There was a group of schooling Bar Jacks that were really a treat to see.  The second dive was Jerry's Reef which is the 'Turtle Dive' on Klein.  Also a drift but not as fast.  It took awhile to see the turtles but we saw a bunch of them.  Some small and some larger.  A few nice Baracuda, a couple eels and the other usual Bonaire fish. 

Spent the afternoon at the pool with a few cold Amstels.  Off to dinner now.  Perhaps the Peruvian place if it is open, if not Mi Banana (a Colombian place that gets high marks).

Bonaire Day 2

Woke up nice and refreshed after a long sleep.  Started the morning with Esther's wonderful egg white omelet and plenty of coffee.  We did 2 boat dives on Menno's new boat off of Klein Bonaire.  The new boat is really nice - pretty large for a dive boat.  The water this time of the year is nice and warm.  My computer was reading 84 degrees.  The first dive I missed the spotted eagle ray.  I hate when that happens.  The second dive I saw 2 nice small eels and a Wahoo swimming in shallow water.  This is the first time I have seen one.  The Wahoo is sleek looking.  Like a silver torpedo. 

Came back to the DBV and spent the afternoon by the pool.  Had the usual sandwich for lunch and a few Amstels.  Bully joined me for a swim briefly.  We are headed to Capriccio for dinner.  Since it isn't Mark's birthday we won't be bombing an Giacosa!    A very pleasant evening tonight in Bonaire.

Bonaire Day 1

The weather wasn't so good and we were tired from the overnight flight so we lounged by the pool all day instead of making some shore dives.  Had an early dinner at Bobbejan's BBQ.  The place was surprisingly empty.  Was really tired so went to bed early.  The power cut out sometime in the middle of the night and all of a sudden the room was roasting.  Sometime around 3:30am the power came back on and the room was nice and cool again. 

Arrival at Deep Blue View

After a quick 4 hour flight from Houston we arrived in Bonaire this morning.  Menno was there at the airport to greet us with a warm hello.  A trip up the hill and coffee was waiting for us.  Esther's famous egg white omelet was next with ham, cheese and mushrooms.  Dave is napping in the hammock and I'm thinking of where to dive.  The winds are a bit mild so it is hot and humid.  Might have to make an early visit to the pool.

USC vs. Hawaii

After a very delicious dinner of chicken fajitas at Lupe Tortilla in H-Town I settled in to watch the USC opener.  I felt a bit numb watching the game due to the extensive penalties levied against the Trojans by the NCAA.  The whole situation just stinks.  I hope Reggie Bush and his family are proud of what they have caused.

A couple of brief thoughts on the game, which barely held my attention:

- Matt Barkley looked very sharp and much improved over last year.  He can throw a spiral now! 

- Ronald Johnson looked like a man among boys.  If he stays healthy, he should have a monster season.

- Marc Tyler was awesome.  Great vision, power and speed.  Finally, we are seeing what made him such a highly regarded recruit out of high school at Oaks Christian.

- Robert Woods could be the best true freshmen WR we've had since RJ Soward.  The sky is the limit for this kid.

- The defense was horrible.  No run defense, no pass defense.  It could get ugly when we actually play a quality opponent.

- Why was the middle linebacker Devon Kennard #42 playing pass defense 30-40 yards downfield?  Makes no sense at all.  He was burned several times.

12 hours and change until Bonaire express departs H-Town!

Departing early for Bonaire to beat Hurricane Earl

Now that I have left NYC 24 hours early to avoid any problems with Hurricane Earl, I'm sure the storm will turn away and not threaten the NYC area!  However, I will feel a lot smarter if it shuts down LGA tomorrow.

I had a smooth flight down to Houston on a nice Continental 777.  Great video on demand system in the seat backs and the seat next to me was empty.  I enjoyed a Family Guy episode, some Lost in Translation as well as some Godfather II.  In addition, I took a little nap.

I'm getting a little hungry so I am going to head out for some Tex-Mex.  I'll try to catch the early part of the USC game at the bar.   I feel like a margarita and some fajitas.  So much for the diet!

26 hours until the flight to Bonaire departs!

Peter Luger Steakhouse, Brooklyn

A nice visit today on the lunch hour when the restaurant was quiet and civil.  We shared a cheeseburger and single steak.  We started with the sizzling bacon which is unlike any other bacon I have ever tasted.  It is more like a pork belly with its rich flavor and thick cut.  The bacon is a meal in itself and a must taste item!

I'm in love with Chobani Greek Yogurt

Dave O turned me on to this product on my most recent trip to Chicago.  It is insanely delicious, low in calories and packed with protein.  What is not to love?  I can see myself eating an awful lot of Chobani yogurt in the future.

Sapp Coffee Shop, Hollywood California

The best boat noodle soup that I have tried to date is at Sapp Coffee Shop in Thai Town.  I make a point to visit almost every time I come home to LA.  The boat noodles here are consistently aroi mak mak!  (Delicious in Thai).  The service is fast and friendly.  The prices are super low!  A bowl of boat noodles is only $5.50!  I love the rich flavor of the broth in this dish.  I look forward to trying boat noodles at Victory Monument next time I'm in BKK.  In the meantime I'll keep coming back to Sapp to enjoy its awesome 'blood noodles'.

Phil's BBQ, San Diego

I finally had a meal at Phil's BBQ, several years after my brother had recommended it.  I was taken back by the portion sizes.  There are just enormous!  I had a half order and could not finish it.  Mind you, I have a very healthy appetite.  Now if this was the South, I would understand.  However, this is San Diego!  Home to some of the most fit humans on the planet.  I thought the BBQ was good but I've had better in several different places.  This was not a surprise though.  San Diego is not known as the BBQ capital of anything.  While this is a cult classic in the area it didn't earn JO's stamp of approval.

Mother's Restaurant, New Orleans

I've visited this New Orleans institution several times over the years.  The food is consistently excellent and the feel is distinctively local.  I enjoyed a nice bowl of crawfish etouffee minutes after dropping my bags at my hotel.  Everything on the menu looked great including the signature Ferti Special po' boy, which I have enjoyed on prior visits.   Mother's is a can't miss spot for food in NOLA.

Katsu Pork Curry at Miyabi-Tei - Costa Mesa, CA

I enjoyed a tasty plate of katsu pork curry for lunch at Miyabi-Tei in the Mitsuwa Marketplace.  While it didn't make me forget about Curry House Coco in Tokyo, it was tasty Japanese lunch.  The food courts inside Mitsuwa are just fabulous. 

Diego Forlan is a complete stud

One of the best players in the 2010 World Cup was undoubtedly Diego Forlan of Uruguay.   Some of his free kicks were astonishing as was his long range blast against Holland to equalize.  He was a real joy to watch and Uruguay had a great run at this World Cup.  I'm still stunned by the end of the Ghana match as well as his goal in the 3rd place match.

Newport Beach 4th of July

Great times with RT and Dave O down in Newport Beach.  Perfect weather and the most activity that I have seen by far on 27th Street.  Lots of big Cali bombs consumed. 

Santouka, Costa Mesa

Within minutes of my arrival in Orange County my mom and I were on our way to the Mitsuwa Market in Costa Mesa.  We enjoyed two bowls of ramen - shio and miso.  The ramen was great of course.  I always enjoy a good miso broth ramen although I'll give the edge to the signature shio broth today.  After lunch I picked up 4 liters of my favorite jasmine green tea, a glass of sake and some cheese almond crackers.  Mitsuwa is a fantastic market.

I'll have to come back and sample a few more tasty Japanese treats from the food court during my stay in Newport Beach.   

Northern Lights

I just found this photo on my card.  I took this shot on my flight home from Asia - NRT to ORD.  I always love seeing the Northern Lights when I'm traveling home from Asia.  The picture, of course, doesn't do the real thing justice but it will just have to do until my next trip. 

Deep Blue View, Bonaire

Just booked my 4th trip to this magnificent dive resort.  The job market is awful and I'm not having much luck these days finding my next career move.  I don't want my dive skills to get rusty and I've been itching to get some good bottom time.  So it is time to go diving!  I'm hard pressed to think of a more enjoyable and relaxing place to spend a week of my life than at the Deep Blue View with Menno and Esther.  Perhaps we'll be celebrating the Oranje's first world title on Menno's new boat during the sunset cruise.  Yes, there are several great places to eat on the island of Bonaire as well as plenty of cold Amstel straight from Holland.  Much better than the Amstel Light we get in the States.

Newport Beach

Coming out to Newport Beach next week to celebrate the 4th of July and catch up with my family and friends.  I'll be doing my fair share of budget dining during my time there.  Of course I will be knocking back lots of beer and wine too.  Lucky for me there are lots of good dining choices in the area and I have an ambitious schedule of eats planned:

- Bear Flag Fish Company (daily dose of fish tacos)
- The Galley (chili cheese omelets)
- Santouka (shio ramen)
- Little Saigon (so many choices)
- Mama D's (let down potential is big)
- Big Belly Deli (is it as good as Casey and the Yelpers say?)
- Lots of home cooking from the General's kitchen
- Possible blow out wine dinner for the Stuman's 50th

I'm excited to see my family (including my Dad who is staying around instead of going to Lake Charles).  Dave O is coming out from Chicago.  Randy is looking to come down and ogle at all the amazing eye candy.  Hopefully the Godfather and Marybeth can come down after their big move.  Wheels up early morning Wednesday, June 30.  

Hotel Bich Duyen, Saigon

I stayed here for 6 nights on my recent trip to Saigon, Vietnam.  I booked it based upon the stellar reviews on TripAdvisor.com and its #2 hotel rating in all of HCMC.  The stay there was nothing short of great.  The manager is named Chanh and he speaks great English.  He can take can of anything you need in terms of tours, airport transfer or bus tickets to Mui Ne.  The facilities are spotless.  Nice bath, strong A/C and good beds.  There is free internet in the lobby and free WiFi in the rooms.  Not the fastest connection in the world but it gets the job done.  The location is on a small alley amid the urban jungle in the Pham Ngu Lao area.  My room could sleep 3 people for the all in price of $25 USD (tax and breakfast included).  It is deals like this that make me love SE Asia.  If you are looking for a good value room in Saigon, I highly recommend checking out Bich Duyen.  Bichduyenhotel@yahoo.com

Jangara Ramen, Akasaka

Some of the best ramen I have had in Japan.  This little place was tough to find but find it we did.  Amazing broth, pork and noodles.  A must visit for any ramen lover.

The look of perfect happiness

I love this pic of me at Coco in my favorite travel shirt.  Steve S - I wore this shirt for you!

Curry House Coco, Tokyo

Japanese curry is one of my very favorite comfort foods.  I often enjoy it in NYC at GoGo Curry with Nick Chong.  On my recent trip to Tokyo I had breakfast at Coco with Mark and Maybeth.  The flavors were just amazing! Nicely spiced too.

Ukai-tei Ginza, Teppanyaki

Lunch at Ukai-tei in Ginza was absolutely superb.  Every detail was flawless.  I was in awe walking into the restaurant.  The setting is absolutely beautiful.  The multi-course lunch was totally delicious.  The service was perfect.  The steak was melt in the mouth.  Once you are done with your beef and vegetables you are moved to a separate area for dessert.  I thoroughly enjoyed the macaroons, which I thought were on par with ones that I have sampled from the top shop in Paris.  On my next visit to Ukai-tei I will have to taste the live lobster that was looking over my steak lunch while on ice. 

Broken Rice With Grilled Pork, Saigon

One of the most flavorful (and cheapest) things I ate on my trip to Asia was the cơm tấm (broken rice) with marinated grilled pork.  I enjoyed this meal at Com Tam Bui Saigon located at 132 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street.  Very close to Pham Ngu Lao in District 1.  The first time I enjoyed the dish with a fried egg.  There is just something special about rice, protein and a fried egg together!  The second time I was full, so I just had the dish as depicted here.  This restaurant grills its pork right out on the sidewalk.  The smells are so intoxicating!  I highly recommend a visit to this place, which is open 24/7.

I hiked to Chote Chitr only to find it closed!!!

I walked from Wat Pho all the way to Chote Chitr.  I have been wanting to eat here for years now.  After a long and very sweaty walk I did finally find the place, which wasn't easy.  I was crushed to find it closed for the day.  It appears to be another casualty of the civil unrest in Bangkok.  Khoa San Road was empty as was Wat Pho.  I was in the temple of the reclining Buddha all by myself.  

Soi Polo Fried Chicken, Bangkok

I took a nice long walk down Wireless Road in Bangkok in the blazing summer heat to reach Soi Polo Fried Chicken.  I have been dreaming of the delicious fried chicken since my last trip to Thailand.  It definitely didn't disappoint me! Here you see my half chicken with a side of sticky rice.  The two different sauces to dip the chicken in are terrific.  I can't wait to come back next time with friends and have more off the menu.  Bangkok is one amazing food city!

Sasagin, Tokyo

I feel lucky to have visited this wonderful bar 3 times now on two separate trips.  I'm so happy that the Godfather shares my love for the place.  The owner Narita-san is a wonderful host who can guide you on the road to sake heaven.  If you are looking to sample some of the best sake in Japan you must visit this place.  It is conveniently located very close to the subway station in Yoyogi-Uehara.

Best Cha Gio in Saigon?

The best I have tasted was at Quan 94 in District 1.  They are stuffed full of fresh crab meat.  My Vietnamese friend said they were the best she has tasted anywhere in her life.  I haven't had a ton of cha gio but the ones I enjoyed at Quan 94 will stay in my memory for a very long time.

Quan 94, Saigon

I consumed a lot of amazing food in HCMC, but the single greatest tasting things were enjoyed at Quan 94.  The soft shell crabs with tamarind sauce are nothing short of amazing!!

Saigon is changing

My first visit in 2003 there weren't many cars.  This time there are many, many more.  Luxury cars can be seen quite frequently.  Mercedes and BMWs are easy to spot.  I did spot 2 Bentleys, one Lambo and one Ferrari.  Saigon is going luxury!

I dream of finding a time machine so I could experience the Saigon of the 1960s.  A beer at Eden Roc on Tu Do Street after a plate of good food at Cheap Charlie's would be awesome.  Perhaps a dip in the pool at Cercle Sportif?  One last beer at Tiger Bar before curfew?? 

It is always nice to dream.....

Saigon Cowboys!!

One my last afternoon in Saigon I witnessed an interesting scene on the street.  Two different motorbikes were roaring through the street against traffic and both had gun waiving passengers on the back.  I had a clear look at the guns.  The first one looked real to me and the second was definitely a fake.  Vietnamese citizens are not allowed to own guns.  So either these guys had just robbed someone or stolen some motorbikes.  Vietnam is generally a tightly controlled country that is very safe.  I was surprised by the lack of police presence there.  You see almost no police anywhere.  I compare this to NYC where there are police EVERYWHERE.  I talked to some Vietnamese about the police and they assured me there are secret police that we don't see.

All is well in Bangkok

I have spent just over 24 hours in Bangkok.  I hit the streets this morning and walked through some of the areas where there was violence.  Glad to report that all is well in the Thai capital.  The streets look great.  The only evidence of the violence was a few burned out vehicles on Wireless Road.  There is a noticeable police prescence with security checks on the Sky Train and subway.  No sign of the military on the streets though.  It was basically business as usual here with the exception of the curfew and the lack of foreign tourists.  I went to Wat Pho this afternoon and was there practically all alone.  This is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Bangkok. 

Bia Hoi in Vietnam

Bia hoi means fresh beer in Vietnamese.  It is brewed and delivered fresh daily.  The taste is very mild and it is served over ice.  It tastes a bit like water but is very refreshing in this hot climate during the summer months.  A liter of the stuff in a tourist bar cost me all of 60 US cents.  

Hard to top Ippudo in Tokyo

We missed you here Dave O.  My boy Nick Chong back in NYC would have been in heaven too.

Going deep on the food scene in Saigon

going very local.  not street food but basically I have been the only foreigner in the restaurants where I have been eating.  very Bourdain like!  things got a little loose this morning so I popped a Cipro.  within a few hours I was back in the game.  this is a wonder drug just like Ambian!  this is a picture of the main suspect.  Banh Xeo 46A.  Great food but things got a little uncomfortable after I rocked this place in the afternoon.