Dining in a Michelin starred restaurant is not an everyday affair and it goes beyond the food experience (given the price of such meals are often not cheap). Even though I have only dined in a small number of Michelin starred restaurants, I enjoy the experience of having knowledgeable waiters share with you how each dish is meticulously created by the chef and the specially chosen seasonal ingredients. The climax then comes when each mouthful is a burst of flavours that are unexpected and bordering on inconceivable. Perhaps to justify the price, the duration of such meals are often longer than usual (~3 hours), hence it is often the dinner table conversations that complete the meal.

My itinerary for Warsaw came together really quickly (credits to D's super prompt turnaround on recommendations for edits + the perks of travelling solo) and in my research for food places to visit, I came across Senses Restaurant. I initially held apprehensions over dining solo in a Michelin starred restaurant - Would it be weird? What am I to do in between courses? Will I be judged?

Pushing those thoughts aside, I bit the courage pill and called the restaurant to make a reservation for one. During the call, the waitress asked if I was celebrating a special occasion. Not expecting that question, I responded with "well.. (thinks really hard)..it is my first time in Warsaw?" That literally came out as a question. Even though I am still embarrassed with my answer, now thinking back, this is a sign of good service, isn't it?

Back to the actual dinner. D and the rest of SG were asleep after I had found the restaurant and settled into my seat. Given that I was dining alone, I spent most of my time observing, reflecting and conversing with the waiters. Hence, I would like this post to be beyond the amazing food that I had tasted, and instead be about my dinner table reflections.

Reflection 1: A dinner table brings together a family of people. Take the time to enjoy each other's presence and to engage in meaningful conversation.

A well dressed family of three (father, mother and son) were in the restaurant when I arrived. One can tell that they are from the upper class given their dress sense and that their presence instigated a personal greeting by the head chef. They were perhaps regulars there. However, it was sad that during their entire dinner, the father was engaged on his smartphone whilst the son was either playing on his iPad Pro in between courses or gobbling down his food in order to earn his time on the iPad Pro. It is a pity to see that even though they are wealthy in material sense, that does not seem to extend into their relationship with each other at the dinner table.

D and I discussed this the next day, and I am glad to hear his views. Agree that it may not be easy to constantly be engaged in conversations with people that you meet everyday, but that should still not be a natural escape for one to prefer technology over the pure simple joy of enjoying each other's presence.

Reflection 2: Celebrate good meals beyond your other half and family. Do it with your friends, especially the ones that you hold dear to.

There was a table of two ladies sat diagonally across me. Whilst I did not know their story, it was clear that they were there for a celebration. Fine dining is probably not something they do often. Well, just based on my sense, really. This sight made me think about the meals that I have with my best friend, G. We often enjoy indulging in meals, creating occasions deserving of a celebration. And given that work has now pretty much taken over our lives, we eat well beyond just for occasions. That said, I do miss our weekly or bi-monthly dinner catch-ups now that I am here in Poland, even though I still do enjoy pretty good meals and with a mix of different people.

D and I both hold our friends really dear to our heart, and I think that is something that will not change over time.

Reflection 3: It is endearing to see old couples sharing conversations lovingly, giggling over each other's jokes and genuinely enjoying each other's company.

There were a few tables with old couples and it is indeed heartwarming to see how they still treat each other with that much love, patience and kindness. They probably fulfill the definition of what our generation would call #relationshipgoals. I believe that this is something we are no stranger to. Knowing is one thing, executing is another. And for sure, this is something we are constantly working on and I hope that you readers also share the same goals with your other half!

Senses Restaurant's version of a bespoked cocktail -
A mix of passion fruit, lychee, Belvedere vodka, vanilla and two other ingredients which I can no longer recall.

A fancy bread platter to kickstart the meal.

Senses is out to surprise you with what is not shown on the menu.
The first amuse-bouche served to tickle the palette.

And then the second amuse-bouche served.

No, it does not end with two or three..

Just as you start craving for more, this is the last amuse-bouche served.

First course of the degustation menu: Sea Trout - Cucumber Salad - Cultello

Second course of the degustation menu: Pierogi Ruskie - Red Prawn - Smoked Cream

Third course of the degustation menu: Pork Cheek - Tomato - Pea - Black Caviar - Herbal Ricotta

Fourth course of the degustation menu: Seafood - Goulash - Lard - Yuzu - Rapini

Fifth course of the degustation menu: Beef - Polish Korma - Leek - Potato - Mushrooms - Artichoke

Sixth course of the degustation menu: Apple Pie

The meal does not end with one dessert, or two, or three, but at least six to ensure you leave satisfied.

A creative and meticulous creation, which leaves one craving for more.

Yes, another dessert and the meal is not ending.

Just when you think the surprise is over, Senses tops it up with a dry ice on 2 more desserts,
which leaves the rest of the customers in the restaurant wondering.

A "cigar" to end the meal. Nicely smoked and beautifully put together.
You would think you are having a cigar, but truth is, this is a lot healthier on the lungs!

To the next foodie adventure.

xx,
L

It has only been about two weeks since I arrived in Krakow and I am bubbling in excitement to plan for my weekends and holidays. A small voice in my head works a constant reminder, this year will fly by, treasure it before it is gone. D had been extremely supportive and encouraging towards my adventures as my soundboard (read: itinerary suggestions provider / proofreader and activator to the muscle on my finger to click “purchase” on train and flight tickets – yes, I need that validation sometimes), with safety and concern being his top priority. With that, I booked my train tickets to Warsaw without hesitation and embarked on my first solo adventure last weekend.

Breakfast / brunch is my most favourite meal of the day. Arriving early on Saturday morning, I made sure to visit Aromat Bakery which is touted for its French artisan baking techniques, before checking into the hotel and heading into the Old Town for a walking tour.

A quick breakfast bite at Aromat Bakery.

Following a really positive experience with the “Free Walking Tour” in Krakow’s Jewish Quarter, I signed up for their “Old Town Walking Tour” in Warsaw. The free walking tour took about two hours and was conducted in English by a certified local guide. The tour began with a comparison of Warsaw vs Krakow, and how both cities do not get along. Krakow used to be the capital of Poland before the decision was made to shift the capital to Warsaw due to its more centralised location for decision making purposes. With ~90% of Old Town destroyed in World War II, most of the existing structures seen have undergone reconstruction, hence making Warsaw’s Old Town the youngest in Europe.

Bird's eye view of Warsaw's Old Town from St Anne's Bell Tower.

Beyond the facts, my favourite sights and stories from this walking tour include:
1. Royal Castle Square
Reconstructed after World War II, the square was beautiful, full of European-style flavour and was bustling with activity.

2. “Wishing Bell”
It was shared that if you want a simple wish to come true, hop on one leg around the bell for a single round. For a larger wish, you will need to make three rounds. Note, that you are only limited to one wish a day!

Everyone wants a go at the Wishing Bell.

3. Story about the poor wise man
There was a beggar who was bestowed with some cash to build a home. He was however, faced with a longer term issue of paying taxes. Taxes back in the day were calculated based on an estimation of how big one’s house was. To circumvent that, he built a house with the narrowest entrance, but the house expanded backwards like a trapezium. This way, he achieved the biggest house and yet paid the smallest amount of tax as the tax estimates were calculated based on the size of his front door, which was a lot smaller than his neighbours!.

If you are keen for an enriching travel experience in Warsaw, do sign up here. The organisation also provides other walking tours in Warsaw (e.g. Jewish Ghetto, Warsaw in War etc.) and also provides free walking tours in other major cities in Poland, including, Krakow, Wroclaw and Poznan!

As the weather appeared slightly positive after the walking tour, I decided to head up to St Anne’s Bell Tower for a panoramic view of Old Town. I would recommend a visit, which comes at a small price of 5 zloty!

A hearty lunch of baked potato with toppings galore. A pitstop that led to a prize find!

Two museums are highly recommended for a visit here. The first of the two is the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which received the accolade for European Museum of the Year. The museum is split into eight galleries, with each depicting a different chapter of Polish Jews through images and artifacts. It is also situated in an area converted by the Nazis into the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, and commemorates the thousand year history of the Polish Jews. Entrance to the museum is free on Thursday, but if not, it only costs 25 zlotys to enter and 10 zlotys to add on an English audio guide, which I would highly recommend!

An illustration of the Polish Jews' newspapers.

An illustration of how the interiors of a synagogue looks like.
A synagogue is a place where the Jewish prayed.

A mock-up of how the streets looked like back in the day.

Chopin was born in Warsaw and part of my recent interest to learn the piano was due to the strong music education available here in Poland. Despite my short weekend stay in Warsaw, I managed to attend Time for Chopin, a one hour piano concert, which showcased a selection of Chopin’s famous pieces, held on the grounds of the Royal Castle. A great inspiration and motivation to keep going with my piano classes!

Time for Chopin.

Mid-break Mead during Time for Chopin.

A lovely setup playing in the castle square - this photo was taken from my seat.

After a full days’ worth of activities, I headed off for dinner, for which I had made reservations at the highly acclaimed one Michelin star accredited Senses Restaurant, a full write-up of the experience I shall leave for a later blogpost.

Day Two kickstarted with brunch at Bulke Przez Bibulke. But well, before that, I was lazing in bed for abit whilst Facetiming D. A nice cozy cafe, just around the corner from the hotel.

The beautiful interiors of Bulke Przez Bibulke cafe.

Bulke Przez Bibulke cafe's hearty brunch of scrambled eggs and toast.

The most iconic structure that first greeted me when I stepped out from Warsaw Central Station on Day 1, was the Palace of Culture and Science. It left a deep “wow” effect. Standing as the tallest building in Warsaw, it boasts a panoramic views of the city. However, I decided to give this a miss as it was slightly cloudy, and I doubt it would beat the views I came across from Old Town’s St Anne Bell Tower the previous day.

Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science 

Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science

My last major sightseeing spot was the Warsaw Uprising Museum. This museum is dedicated to the fight for Poland’s independence during World War II. It filled me with great sadness as I went through the various images, artifacts and simulations. A very much worthwhile trip even though this was located some distance away from Old Town. Tourist Tip: Admissions to this museum is free on Sundays.

The Warsaw Uprising Museum is filled with mock-ups and extracts from Poland's fight in the World War II. 

The Warsaw Uprising Museum is filled with mock-ups and extracts from Poland's fight in the World War II. 

The Warsaw Uprising Museum is filled with mock-ups and extracts from Poland's fight in the World War II. 

There is often a lot of excitement exploring new cities and having an insight to a local's life. I never knew I would one day fall in love with visiting museums and reading / learning more about a country's history. I know it is still pretty early on for my stay here, but I am looking forward to the next trip planned up!

Till the next adventure,
L

Before L departed for her year-long placement in Poland, we decided to complement her final days in Singapore by spending some quality time together. Some of you may recall that we previously had a staycation at the Fairmont Hotel in Singapore, which we had a great time owing to impeccable service.

True to that, there were a couple more days to spare and hence L decided to book a night at the Fairmont Hotel again. This time round, she managed to use her free room upgrades in conjunction with the complimentary stay - funny because we were not allowed to utilise this the last time round, but we got the free upgrade regardless and the room was an absolute treat! However, this time the upgrade entitled us to a suite and we held great anticipation.

A photo of us in our last Fairmont Hotel staycation back in October 2016.

The day of the staycation came about quickly enough - and accordingly the day that L departs for Poland. We had previously requested for an early check-in and so we decided to head in pre-lunch in hope of obtaining access to our room and to drop off our bags before heading off for lunch at Vatos Urban Tacos, which L had previously raved to me a year back and re-ignited following our Valentine's Day meal at Super Loco.

L posing with her freshly-gifted stalk of rose.

Unfortunately, the room was not yet available but we nonetheless managed to leave our belongings with the concierge, and L was pleasantly surprised with a rose stalk from the friendly counter staff. Always nice to receive personalised service wherever we go! After which, we took a short stroll across the road to the new South Beach Quarters, a spanking new office tower which houses the likes of Facebook (for now) and McKinsey, built around a number of conserved military buildings, where Vatos Urban Tacos was located. Not before a scoop each of an ice cream and sorbet from Tom's Palette in Shaw Tower, being the greedy souls that we are.

Tucked away in the historical ground level of the historic armoury building, Vatos Urban Tacos is a Korean chain that really heated up the scene in Seoul with its Korean take on Mexican street cuisine. Restaurant was moderately packed for a Saturday afternoon but what struck me was the casual vibes that were being given off, although the place was rather dimly lit. That said, we very quickly decided on having tacos that afternoon and with the help of the friendly staff got right into things.

Our spread of lunch tacos. 

We started off with portions of the Korean Pork Belly tacos and the Baja Fish tacos. The pork bellies were where the Korean influences really came through – akin to having a bbq’ed marinated pork belly and paired with an onion / ginger garnish, this dish went down a treat! I was expecting the fish tacos to made up of grilled / pan-fried fish, so as to allow the fresh flavours to come through, however they came with a beer-battered crust instead. Despite that, I thought the dish held together relatively nicely flavor-wise, although I would defer to Superloco’s take on its Taco Pescado Snapper anyday.

Baja Fish tacos. 

Mid-way through the above two sets of tacos, our hungry tummies craved for more and we called for an extra serving of the Galbi Short Rib tacos which wasn't all that bad.

L posing with our Vatos Ritas - Margarita with an upturned bottle of craft beer. 

However, the highlight of lunch, in my opinion, was the signature Vatos Ritas, outsized margaritas served with an upturned bottle of craft beer. The simple contraption used to hold the upturned beer bottle set the scene for a revisit to physics lesson for L. I enjoyed testing out various physics theories as well - a throwback to engineering days. More importantly, the margarita was fantastic, with a great balance of sweetness and the flavours of the craft beer - definitely something worth going back for!

The Grand Piano in our Fairmont room, overlooking the living and dining room. 

We then proceeded back to Fairmont to check into our room and were pleasantly surprised by the multiple room upgrades applied - I guess we hit the ceiling of upgrades because the room assigned was the Penthouse Suite, the highest tier in the entire hotel! A full equipped room with a living and dining area, kitchen, bedroom, and an oversized bathroom with an in-built sauna. The icing on the cake was the grand piano in the corner of our living room which added that extra touch of classiness!

My selection of canapes paired with a glass of Moet & Chandon. 

I had planned for an evening of bar hopping to surprise L during our staycation, with the first port of call being a nearby rooftop bar which I used to frequent whenever I returned to Singapore for holidays - the Loof at Odeon Towers, given L's love for rooftop bars. However, due to the inclement weather, we decided to head for Fairmont's Executive lounge instead, where they were hosting a drinks and cocktail reception. The area was surprisingly crowded and the required dress code meant that everyone was relatively well dressed and looking dapper! We were welcomed by the friendly staff and took a corner seat with a view of the Marina Bay area, before proceeding to raid the spread of nibbles.

Our slightly boozed up selves at the Executive Lounge, overlooking the Marina Bay Area. 

I liked the scallops and prawn fritters that were served while L tried out the various cheeses on offer. We had a great time sipping on champagne while trying out an IOS game recommended by L - which saw us making a little fool of ourselves that evening. This meant that we were relatively boozed up by the time dinner came knocking.

Stay tuned tuned for a second post around our staycation.

To be continued...
D

CZEŚĆ ("Hello" in Polish)! It has been about a week since I arrived here in Kraków, Poland. Overall it has been great and I am glad that everything has pretty much ran smoothly - I moved into an apartment which I would call "Home" for the next one year, set up a bank account, bought a local SIM card, checked into the office - attended the general onboarding and met my new team, visited Old Town & Jewish Quarter, and went for my first piano lesson. All that in a week, is quite an accomplishment! However, I shall leave the details of my settling in for another post. 

Today's focus will be on my recent business trip to Seoul, South Korea, where I managed to squeeze in some small bits of city exploration. I have not visited South Korea before but have heard aplenty from girlfriends who absolutely love this country. Hence, most of what I did on this 4D 3N trip were based on recommendations from a close girlfriend.

"Hanbok" (traditional Korean costume) experience is one not to be missed.

I arrived in the late afternoon on Day 1 and decided do a little roaming around near the area where the hotel was located (Myeongdong) to check out the area and search for some snacks. O'sulloc (a girlfriend's highly raved recommendation) was round the corner from this area and so I decided to pop by for their Green Tea o Fredo (Matcha latte ice blended, topped with matcha ice cream), and a swiss roll. I would recommend this drink (image below) and their charcoal green tea swiss roll in their Myeongdong outlet! However according to a colleague, the Jeju version is apparently better. Perhaps because the green tea is sourced from Jeju!

O'sulloc - A must try for matcha lovers.

A simple Korean dinner rounded up Day 1 where we randomly picked a restaurant along the busy Myeongdong streets. Roaming around Myeongdong, I could see why this was more a place for girls / women - with the streets lined full of cosmetic stores. Take this example as an analogy, you walk down the street, spot an Innisfree store, walk 5 stores down and will you see another Innisfree, another 5 stores down, you will see the Innisfree flagship store. This place is cosmetic shopping paradise!

The busy streets of Myeongdong

Each store may offer a slightly different discount so buyers' beware. I recall the Innisfree flagship store offering a better discount if you paid by credit card, which may result in one ending up buying more than one normally would have - I, for one, fell victim to this marketing ploy. Other great shopping paradise destinations for skin care or cosmetics are Lotte Duty Free, Shinsaegae Duty Free and Olive Young. Do remember that free samples are also given for each purchase! I felt instantaneously educated and more knowledgeable on the subject of skincare post this trip.
Tourist tip: Shinsagae occassionally distributes 10,000 Korean Won vouchers for tourists, which you can use without any minimum spending!

Day 2 was mainly spent on business-related activities. We had a team dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant which specialised in beef and pork. It is typical here that the service staff barbecue the beef, pork and vegetables on the charcoal grill for you, so that you can enjoy the food, see the freshness of the food, and continue to enjoy conversations with the people on your table.

Team dinner on Day 2 at a Korean BBQ spot.

After dinner, we went for a really entertaining local show - Nanta. Set in a restaurant kitchen, it is a non-verbal comedy show which incorporates beats and rhythms from the beating of pots and pans, exuberating the high stress environment in a chef's kitchen.

Day 3 started with a great breakfast view of the city! 

Lotte Hotel Seoul - Breakfast with a view!

This day was mainly spent on a team-based event: an amazing race with the theme of exploring local cultures and sampling local foods. We were first led to a street market which specialises in raw octopus (no, we did not try that!), but we did manage to try some local snacks - Korean pancake, rice cakes (Tteokbokki), Korean sushi (baby gimbap) etc.

Korean Pancake.

Korean rice cake. Korean sushi roll. "Ingots".

Lunch was served at a Bibimbap specialty restaurant - Gogung. I would recommend a visit if you enjoy bibimbap! Post lunch was another series of street food hunts before we got a chance to experience the traditional "Hanbok" costume. As good round-off to a food coma - we ended the amazing race segment with some pretty legit Korean Fried Chicken and Beers along a street which only serves fried chicken.

Creative "rose" ice cream.

Tallest ice cream (32cm) spotted!

Ending the "work" element for this trip, we also managed to explore Namsan Seoul Tower. I would recommend a trip to this spot! We took the cable car up because this was situated atop a mountain and it would have been too cold during winter to trek up, although we did see some ambitious people embarking on treks!

Namsan Seoul Tower - Love locks that line the rails whilst walking a short distance to the peak.

Namsan Seoul Tower - a nicely lit pavilion at the top.

Namsan Seoul Tower

On our final day, we visited a palace - Gyeongbokgung. This is the main royal palace during the Joseon Dynasty. As the palace was not well furnished with information narrating the various sectors in the palace, I would highly recommend tagging on to a local english guide (it is free anyway). The tour is about an hour long and will leave you much enriched compared to exploring the area yourself! In addition, Gyeongbokgung has a daily change of guards ceremony which you might not want to miss. Check online for the timeslots and make sure you get a good spot to view this ceremony.

Gyeongbokgung.

Finally ending the trip with a nice hot pot of Korean Army Stew. Surprisingly, I was still not sick of Korean food at the end of this trip, even though it was largely centred on a "bean" paste marinade. Perhaps this was due to the variety of food that we had tried - Ginseng Chicken, Tofu Stew, Bibimbap, Army Stew, Korean Fried Chicken, you name it!

Budae Jigae (Korean Army Stew) - A hot pot of comfort food is the best during winter!

This trip, albeit short, was a pretty amazing one. I can finally put a memory to this place which has been highly raved by quite a number of my girlfriends. Would I visit Korea again? I would! Though I would much love to venture out of Seoul and Myeongdong, to perhaps Jeju, Busan, and the very intriguing DMZ area.

xx,

L