Cliff(y) Goes Dining

"Cheese Meat Mania!" While searching for a restaurant in Gifu City to satisfy my gyukatsu  (lit. beef cutlet) craving, I stumbled upon KU-DETA. Just a few minutes' walk away from JR Gifu station, this cozy eatery caters to not only meat lovers, but also fans of rich, cheesy dishes. Though I didn't drink during my afternoon visit, the restaurant also boasts a curated selection of wines and cocktails.

Do their signature chicken wings live up to the hype? Yet another popular delicacy in Nagoya that one should not miss is deep-fried  tebasaki (lit. chicken wings). Since its humble beginnings in 1980 with only 13 seats, Sekai No Yamachan is a name that stands out among locals and visitors alike, offering delectable chicken wings with bold flavours.

The best espresso jelly I've ever had! Starting as a humble shop by the river at Robertson Quay in 2009. Kith Café has since expanded to no less than ten outlets across the island. The founder is a firm believer in feng shui (Chinese geomancy), seen in the cafe's logo with auspicious elements: 18 black and 18 yellow spaces arranged in an octagonal shape, symbolising prosperity and success.

Pancake x  soufflé originated from Tokyo! Hailing from Japan, Flipper's is a chain café renowned for its fluffy, jiggly soufflé pancakes. While I've never had the chance to try the pancakes in its country of origin, I was excited to finally experience them at the Westgate branch here in Singapore, which has been drawing long lines of eager patrons.

Indulging in delicious Chinese noodle with 'wok hei'! You might think I'd dive straight into local food upon reaching Bogota, the capital city of Colombia. However, the very first thing that I had was actually Asian cuisine. Since 1998, Wok has taken pride in introducing a diverse range of Southeast and East Asian dishes, from the bold flavours of Indonesia to the refined delicacies of Japan.

Frequent offer: 50% off Japanese high tea! Describing itself as a gastrobar, Ohayo Mama San at 313@Somerset serves a delightful array Japanese and fusion dishes in a brightly lit setting with predominantly blue and orange tones. While I'd been there twice for dinner, particularly intrigued by its cocktail selections, I recently decided to try its Japanese high tea offering with a friend.

"A true farm-to-table experience!" A culinary gem in the heart of the Niagara Falls area, AG Inspired Cuisine is proudly named one of Canada's top fine-dining restaurants. Helmed by Executive Chef Cory Linkson, the menu celebrates contemporary Canadian cuisine that highlights the freshness of seasonal ingredients. My BFF and I went for the Three Course Menu priced at  C$99.00 (~S$97.90)  per person.

Yummy pizza, but too sweet a spaghetti dish... Born as a food truck store in Seoul's Yeouido Night Goblin Market in 2016, GOPIZZA rapidly expanded to 30 pop-up stores at top department stores across South Korea within half a year. Today, it has surpassed 100 outlets in four countries. I found myself compelled to try its offerings when I was at Suntec City Mall.

I'm already missing the cherry pie! The very first meal that my BFF and I had in the capital city of Azerbaijan was nowhere near traditional cuisine. As usual, I'm always interested in trying at least one fast food chains whenever I go overseas, and the choice was McDonald's for dinner. We ordered a few items that can't be found in Singapore.

Of 'laksa', 'pulut hitam' and 'teh C'! Hi, folks! It's been a while since my last update. I'm still in the midst of tidying up the photos from my last trip, so stay tuned! For today, let's talk about McDonald's again. In conjunction with Singapore's 57th National Day this year, our local Golden Arches decided to infuse local elements into some of their items. 

Bring out more of the explosive Red Hot Firecracker! Happy Lunar New Year to those celebrating this joyous occasion despite the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic! May the courage and the strength of the Water Tiger carry us through our journey ahead. For reunion dinner, I went back to one of my favourite vegetarian restaurants two months after Christmas in 2021 with friends. Say hello to panda-in-bamboo for making its debut here! No, it's not the elusive Bao Bao in Google Pay.

Do you fancy deep-fried ice cream? Nestled inside one of the conserved pre-war shophouses near the flagship national library of Singapore, Yummo Chow is a cosy little restaurant that you may want to go to if you feel like having deep-fried ice cream. It may not have too obvious a sign from the outside, so it's easier to look for Hotel NuVe Heritage that houses it.

Ever had turkey breast with 'buah keluak'? Sharing the same building with Hotel Clover in the Kampong Glam area, Brine is a small, cosy restaurant with an open kitchen concept. I reckon a number of dishes served at the restaurant, which celebrates contemporary cuisine, involve brining - a process of submerging food into a solution of salt.

Have you tried mayonnaise infused with passion fruit before? The Coastal Settlement is a lovely restaurant decorated with all things of the past, from antique memorabilia to vintage vehicles. Tucked away in the quieter side of Netheravon Road, which isn't too far from the abandoned Changi Hospital, the building was previously used by the Royal Air Force for fault control during the British occupation.

"Where friends become family" Chug Chug is a gastrobar located in the heart of Tanjong Pagar. As the owner is a lover of fusion food, it's "constantly experimenting and coming up with new dishes, keeping [its] menu fresh for customers." Needless to say, it also offers a wide selection of alcoholic drinks, but I found myself chugging a non-alcoholic beverage instead during my visit.

My first taste of French fries ice cream paired with caviar! Iggy's is a fabulous restaurant housed inside Hilton Singapore (5*) that continues to push culinary boundaries. Established in 2004 by a local restaurateur named Ignatius 'Iggy' Chan, the modern European restaurant has been awarded One Michelin Star since 2017. Iggy's has also previously made it to the list of The World's Best 50 Restaurants.

Where Shirley Temple beat Tom Collins~ Let's continue to look at the food and drinks served at the Club Lounge at InterContinental Singapore (5*). Besides offering afternoon tea from 3.00pm to 5.00pm, the lounge also dishes out canapés with alcoholic beverages daily from 6.00pm to 8.00pm. After the so-so afternoon tea, I was certainly hoping that the evening treat would make up for that.

The birthplace of 'champon'! Nagasaki, Japan was one of the few port cities that were opened to foreign trade under the Tokugawa Shogunate from the 17th to the 19th century.  Champon  is a soupy noodle dish originating from the region, which was invented by Chin Heijun who migrated from Fujian, China to establish Shikairou in 1899.

Delicious dinner with an aerial view of Nagasaki! In the city of Nagasaki, Japan, my BFFs and I made it a point to go to the summit of Mt. Inasa, which offers one of Japan's three best night views, by taking a ropeway. We had a lovely dinner with a view at the one and only restaurant at the observatory, which offers a small selection of local dishes.

Have you tried Sasebo's specialty dish of lemon steak? It was fun doing the VR rides and games, as well as exploring the grounds of Huis Ten Bosch in Kyushu, Japan. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner. My BFFs and I decided to have our meal at De Rode Leeuw, a restaurant situated in the Tower City section of the theme park that serves Sasebo style lemon steak.