Cliff(y) Goes Dining

Free-flowing Vietnamese sticky rice, anyone? Without having done any prior research, I couldn’t help but find it amusing that the hotel I stayed at happened to share a similar name with the lounge I visited at Tan Son Nhat International Airport before flying back to Singapore. With such a tasteful ambience, I was curious to see if the food and beverages would be just as delightful.

When childhood candy dreams hop into mooncake reality! As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches on 6 October, it's time once again for the annual tradition of this blog: delving into a selection of mooncakes. While snowskin varieties have often taken the spotlight, I'm turning to the baked classics this time round, and what better way to do so with something that stirs up childhood nostalgia: the beloved White Rabbit brand!

Vietnamese sticky rice for breakfast! I had a quick stopover in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam before flying home with Singapore Airlines the next day. For the night, I stayed at Le Saigon Hotel (3*), which is located not too far from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The stay came with a buffet breakfast that offered quite a good spread for a simple hotel.

Gelée glimmers, sky-high shimmers~ It was my first Business Class experience with ANA, flying from Narita International Airport to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Passengers could choose between a Japanese or Western set menu for dinner, followed by a variety of lighter dishes and snacks available that can be ordered at any time throughout the flight.

How much do you like ANA's signature curry? I arrived at Narita International Airport early before my flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, giving myself enough time to stop by one of ANA's bigger flagship lounges for Business Class passengers. Besides the buffet spread, guests can also enjoy freshly prepared dishes from the noodle bar.

A taste of Japan's most luxurious lobster! Since I was in Mie Prefecture, I couldn't pass up the chance to to try one of its culinary treasures:  ise ebi (Japanese spiny lobster). What makes it truly special isn't only its exquisite taste, but also the cultural significance it carries. In Toba City, Kagetsu is one of the restaurants where visitors can savour this celebrated seafood.

Trying Ise 'udon' for the first time! Welcome to another prefecture of Japan: Mie! Before heading to the revered Ise Grand Shrine, I stopped for lunch at Okunoya. It was there that I had the chance to sample not only Ise udon  (Japanese wheat flour noodle), but also Matsusaka beef, one of the top three varieties alongside Kobe and Omi beef.

Sweet and sour chicken with a confused identity... Back in Nagoya, I stayed at Nagoyaeki Access Hotel (3*) that's located just 300 m from Nagoya station. While the hotel doesn't offer buffet breakfast, guests who book a room with the breakfast plan get to choose from a small selection of set dishes. Rice, soup and drinks are available free-flow at the self-service corner to complement the meal.

"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.

Virgin experience with cheesy hot cross buns! Blessed Easter Sunday! It's a cherished tradition of mine to indulge in hot cross buns for the occasion every year. This year, I bought some from Marks & Spencer, a British multinational retailer founded by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in 1884. Also included in this blog post are a few other treats from the store.

Moreish deep-fried chicken chunks atop a bed of cold 'soba'! Managed by Gourmet Kineya, Oraga Soba is a casual chain restaurant that prides itself in serving handmade soba (Japanese buckwheat noodle) at wallet-friendly prices. Besides offering a selection of hot and cold soba , the atmosphere shifts slightly in the evening with additional offerings like kushikatsu (Japanese deep-fried skewers) that pair nicely with drinks.