Domaine de la Noblaie

On a recent trip to Paris, I had the pleasure to visit Domaine de la Noblaie in the Chinon region of the Loire Valley. The winery has in the recent years begun to produce organic wines. The switch in growing method requires many years for the old soil to rid of the previous years’ use of pesticides. My prenotion on organic wines is, of course, that it is better for the drinker, but the owner’s main reason for the change is less so for the drinker and more for the workers who are handling the grapes and in contact with the vines season after season. Great wine can be produced either way (and no, I don’t think you could taste the difference between the two), but the grape growing method chosen by the winemaker reveals much about their values & philosophy.

My favorites were their whites and the above Domaine de la Noblaie Chinon Cabernet Franc 2011.

Mug for Rabbit

Seoul has no shortage of cafes and they have really brought ambience & decor to the next level since my last visit in 2012. Mug for Rabbit  is a cute, industrial chic 2-level cafe on the famous tree-lined street Garosugil in Sinsa-Dong.  A great place to rest up, people watch & nibble on bunny-adorned desserts & coffee (though just average in my opinion) during the non-stop shopping journey.  It tends to be crowded on the weekends so try to visit on the weekdays instead.

On the second floor, you will find a relaxing, spacious seating area with seats by the window for people watching or if you want to fit right in, it’s a great spot for selfies as well.

 

Adorable chocolate syrup drawing in the shape of their logo made up for the average coffee, but then again, one is not here for the coffee right?

Address: Gangnam-gu, Sinsa-dong 534-25 (서울 강남구 신사동 534-25)
Telephone: 02-548-7488

Portofino

A resort fishing town by the sea, Portofino is as picturesque as it gets.  We stayed at the Splendio Mare by Orient Express down by the waters, but its more upscale branch higher up on the mountains – Hotel Splendido is worth a visit for the breathtaking view.

   

Langoustines are a must here, fresh and sweet!

There’s a few cute boutiques to check out as well.

Relais San Maurizio

San Maurizio is in the Piedmonte region of Italy, where wine and truffles are plentiful.

Relais San Maurizio is an old 1600s monastery that was converted into a luxury hotel in 1997.

Guido da Costigliole, the restaurant located in the lower floor of the hotel, is a must try.

White Truffle Hunt

Giorgio and Natale of La Casa del Trifulau “The House of Truffles” come from a long lineage of truffle hunters.   When we arrived,  Natale introduced us to the world of truffles while Giorgio, his brother, preps the specially trained dogs to take us on the hunt.

And the hunt starts! Who knew these woods would be full of pots of gold..

Giorgio brought his two trusty dogs – Diana & Brio (or Pluto) to “assist” us  or rather, sniff out the truffles!

After an hour of hunting and discovering a few, lo and behold… our biggest discovery!

The results – not bad for a day’s work

Last but not least, we got to enjoy some black and white truffles while sipping on a great local wine.

Ristorante il Cascinalenuovo

At the suggestion of our hotel for a lunch spot on the way to Milan, we tried Il Cascinalenuovo, a michelin-star restaurant in Isola d’Asti.

Its outlook made us wonder, are we going to a hotel? an apartment?

Inside, the restaurant is minimally decorated but still exudes a calm, relaxing  atmosphere.

Chef Walter Ferreto greeted us warmly and chatted with us. Having had three straight meals with White Truffles, we pleaded with Chef to make us Pasta Pomodoro.  And it was just what we needed, simple, yet still incredibly delicious pasta.

Next time, I’d love try their dinner and tasting menu.

Rosenberg Castle

    

Geranium

Copenhagen has been on top of my bucket list for many years and since we finally made it here this year, we wanted the full experience, including a meal at the two michelin-starred restaurant, Geranium.

Best part of the meal was the visit to the open kitchen, where you could see the action happening. Cleanest kitchen I’ve ever seen, that’s for sure.

Next visit, Noma?

Jacques Genin

The caramel mille-feuille was perfection, crisp and heavenly albeit a bit sweet for me.  The mango passionfruit caramel was excellent as well.