It's been an awesome 2018 for me with lots of food discoveries here and (mostly) abroad. Sharing my Top 12 Restaurant Picks for 2018:
1. One of my most memorable dessert experience during my first trip to Siem Reap was in Blue Pumpkin and that was in 2014. I fell in love with their Chocolate Caramel Tart and chocolate pudding and cakes that I passed by the store to buy my daily stash during our stay there. So when we visited Siem Reap summer of 2018, it was on my list of places to eat. And it did not disappoint although my daughter and I skipped the chocolate tart and ordered gelato instead.
P.S. I discovered a few years back that the chocolate tart form Hill Station in Baguio City is almost similar in taste to that of Blue Pumpkin. ;)
2. My daughter and I just had dinner and wasn't really keen on eating anymore but when we passed by Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan-fried Buns along Lock Road in Hong Kong, we can't help ourselves from ordering the Pan-fried buns with Truffle. And we did not regret making the decision.
3. Another yummy discovery is the Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun at Jin Xuan Hong Kong Dim Sum in Lot 10, Kuala Lumpur. Must-eat while it's still hot.
4. A food blogger friend introduced me to Jyukai and everything at the restaurant tasted great! Even my daughter is smitten by their Curry Katsudon because the meat is not oily. Can't wait to dine there again.
5. My daughter had her first Nandos when she visited Chicago last July. So I got curious and ate at Nandos in Bugis when I went to Singapore. And it was really good so during our semestral break vacay in Kuala Lumpur, we had another round at Nandos and even bought take-outs.
6. Eating noodles with fresh leaves from a nearby tree was my strangest food experience last year. Happen to see this lady selling noodles to Siem Reap locals when we visited a temple so I wanted to taste it. Read more about my interesting Noodles at Neak Pean Temple experience.
7. I love Vietnamese food and one of the restaurant that serves authentic tasting Vietnamese noms is O' Bahn Mi in Gateway Mall.
8. If ever I will visit Singapore again, I'd love to dine at Old Nanyang Coffee and enjoy a big bowl of laksa. It was super delish!
9. Singapore must have played a big role in my food adventures because Paradise Dynasty introduced Chili Crab Xiao Long Bao at their SM Aura Premiere branch. And it was definitely worth the long drive.
10. Tenth on my list is another Vietnamese restaurant in Power Plant Mall- Phat Pho. I am currently in-love with their cold noodle salad.
11. We don't usually visit Starbucks when we travel abroad but Starbucks Duddell Street in Hong Kong is one of the few exceptions. The interiors will transport you back in time and you won't even think that you're in Starbucks.
12. We love the ice-cream creation at Swensen's so we were a bit sad when they closed shop here in Manila. Luckily, there's Swensen's in Siem Reap so my daughter and I had some ice-cream there.
Upon writing my Top 12 Restaurant Picks for 2018, I realized that I haven't been posting much of my food discoveries during my travels. Will post soon so please do come and check my blog again. Happy New Year and Bon appetit!