2014 travel

Places visited in 2014:

HHI, SC
Maldives (Park Hyatt - Hadehaa)
Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
London
Imabari, Japan
Melbourne and Sydney (incl. Phillip Island and Picton), Australia
Da Nang, Vietnam (Hyatt Regency)

Best hotel (ever): Park Hyatt - Sydney
Best food: Pizza at Hugo's (Manly, NSW)
Best kids experience: Mowbray Park Farmstay (NSW) / Phillip Island Wildlife Park
Best tourist experience: March of the Penguins at Phillip Island
Most relaxing: Park Hyatt - Maldives

Update - South Carolina - 2013/2014

Restaurants

Veritas

CharBar Co.

Also went to: Mellow Mushroom, Truffles, Fiesta Fresh, Wild Wing Cafe, Five Guys, Sea Shack

Kids activities

The Sandbox

Island Playground (new ownership)

Chaplin Community Park

Update - New York City - December 2013

Restaurants

- Le Barnardin (3 Michelin star, excellent but not so innovative food - wished they had experienced a bit more - but the food was really consistent - everything was good, perfect and fun service. All inn all a great night out.)

- Gotham Bar and Grill (So underwhelming, both the food and the service.)

- Preserve 24 (Ok brunch, but we had better brunch at our hotel - the flavours just didn't come together that well.)

- The Shop (Andaz 5th Avenue) (Wow, this was just the best breakfast/brunch food I have had in a long while, plus the coffee was excellent too. I loved the egg and aspargus dish, while Tom loved the lemon poppy seed pancake.)

Hotel

Andaz 5th Avenue (What a great hotel - maybe the best place to stay in NYC? Free hot cider, coffee and the best brunch place in the same building.)

Southeast Asia - travels

Places visited 2012/2013:

- Singapore
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Nikoi, Indonesia
- Yangon and Naypyidaw, Myanmar
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Mersing and Rawa, Malaysia
- Tokyo, Japan
- Swan Valley, Freemantle, Perth - Australia

Favorites

Best food: Singapore (CUT at Marina Bay Sands and the Lagoon Village hawker center)
Best for kids: Swan Valley - Australia
Best city: Tokyo
Most interesting: Myanmar
Worst vacation spot ever: Rawa Island

Singapore 2012/2013

Restaurants we have tried so far:

Western Food: 

- Margarita's (on Dempsey Hill) (great margaritas, cute location, ok food - but not great and a little pricey. huge portions though)

- Quinze Bouteilles (lunch with the very nice owner Charlotte - awesome wine!)

- Crust (weird kind of gourmet pizza but the flavor was really good)

- Riciotti (nice but not very note-worthy Italian. ok for a quick lunch)

- Oriole Cafe & Bar (at 313@Somerset, ok food if you are in the mood for nice outdoor seating and  somewhat upscale American. good Cuban sandwich and ok burger meat - great dessert menu)

- Piedra Negra on Haji Lane (excellent Mexican food, but odd selection)

- Dallas (@ Boat Quay) (just ok. American food, kind of)

- Cafe Iguana at Clarke Quay (very close to the Mexican food you get in the US. good food, enormous portions, good service and nice atmosphere on the river)

- Smokeys BBQ (the best American food in Singapore. awesome ribs. love the outdoor atmosphere)

-  4 Fingers Crispy Chicken (best wings in Singapore. slightly cripsy. both flavors equally good)

- Marina Bay Sands - Ku De Ta (tourist trap - nice view)

- Backyard at Dempsey (the food was just ok, the outdoor seating was nice enough)

- Marche at 313@Somerset (i love this restaurant for how kid friendly it is. nice playground and good deal for breakfast. quite yummy too. great bread to take home)

- Bistro du Vin at Claymore Hill (very nice French bistro. good value for your money.)

- Don Quijote at Dempsey Hill (tapas restaurant. nothing to write home about... some of the food seemed not very fresh)

- CUT at Marina Bay Sands (just wow, even with the expensive price. awesome meat and great side items, plus good service and wine list. will be back)

- db Bistro at Marina Bay Sands (great lunch spot. maybe a bit over priced, but their French food is definitely great)

Luke's Chop house (amazing food and good value for money. try their lobster roll and fried. or steak or tuna tartar)

Sky on 57 at Marina Bay Sands (not that great, and not a good value - almost like a tourist trap with a great view)

Absinthe at Boat Quay (great prix fix menu for lunch - get the chef's table)

Enoteca L'Operetta at Boat Quay (ok Italian food, nice lunch menu)

Burlamacco (ok Italian food)

Esquina (best tapas in Singapore - very innovative and loved the dining at the bar with a view of the kitchen)

- Rocks Urban Grill + Bar (perfect lunch spot. lovely complimentary bread/bun)

- Bodega y Tapas (love the atmosphere and the food is decent too)

- Baker and Cook (very good coffee, ok cafe food)

- Omakase Burger at the Grand Stand (hands down the best burger in Singapore - well worth the price)

Nassim Hill Bakery Bistro Bar (this place has such yummy food - and what a great reuben!)

Hawker Centers / Food Courts:

- Holland Village Food Centre (hawker centre - no ambiance but great food (yummy chicken rice) and very cheap)

- 313@Somerset Food Junction (we actually didn't eat here, we just let Alaric play at the cute playground while I had a soda, the food court looks really good though)

- United Square Mall food court (awesome black pepper chicken, ok orange chicken)

- Wisma Atria Food Junction (we both ate noodle soups(?), one with pork ribs (xiao mian) and one with some kind of fish, I think anchovies, and minced pork (ban mian), the pork ribs soup had a more complex flavor, the ban mian was a little boring but supposedly one of the healthier choices. we also had some dumplings - always good ;))

- Toast (found in several food courts. kind of western, but Alaric liked their toast. I think their shops are really cute, but avoid the raw eggs (or half boiled as they call them))

- Tian Xin Wanton Noodle @ 5 Coleman Street / SideWalk at Funan (excellent and very good dumplings/noodles. my favorite cheap lunch spot. get there early or stand in line forever...)

- East Coast Lagoon Food Village (nice view, ok hawker centre food)

Asian food (restaurants):

- Lagnaa (barefoot dining. touristy, but very friendly staff and nice spice levels)

- Zam Zam (awesome murtabak (Indian quesedilla with eggs) 

- A-Roy Thai at Funan (we all shared lots of dishes at this round table. everything was yummy)

- Yan Ting at St. Regis Tanglin (mmm, no. upscale Chinese is apparently not my thing. everything was jiggely and bland)

- Peach Garden at Chinatown Point (mmm, no, still don't really like upscale Chinese food, but nice enough I guess. liked the salad toss.)

- Din Tai Fung (efficient service, kid friendly, amazing pork dumplings and fried rice. love this place!)

- Kinki (ok sushi (although, I know people love their food), nice looking restaurant, cool rooftop bar)

Paris, France

Best restaurants:
- Aiyala (Really yummy Thai food. The dumplings were awesome.)
- Le Balancoire (Fun and low-key French restaurant. Excellent service. Amazing drinks.)
- Chez Grenouille (More traditional French food. Amazing meat. Great service.)
- Le Cafe Qui Parle (Excellent brunch - no bacon though...)

Best tour:
- Blue Bike Tours

Honorable Mention:
- Cooking class with "A World in a Pan"

Update 2012 - New York City (with a toddler)

NYC with a toddler: 

• Best kid friendly hotel: Affinia Gardens on the Upper East Side (get the huge rooms with a kitchen and a patio - excellent for kids)
• Best babysitter service: Babysitter's Guild
• Best kid friendly car service: Legends Limousine (car seat for $8 - reasonable fare rate)
• Best playground: Heckscher in Central Park
• Best meal: Gramercy Tavern (incredible meat and superb service)
• Best cheap eat: Shu Jiao Fu Zhous (yummy and cheap dumplings - no line, stroller friendly)

Other places tried: China Fun, Pinche Taqueria, Schnitzel & Things, Ritz Diner, Pizza Park, La Cremeria