Back in 2011, a Harvard Business School economist named Michael Luca crunched Yelp data for Seattle restaurants and found that one extra star pushed an independent place’s revenue up by 5 to 9 percent. Chain restaurants didn’t budge. So a lot of money rides on a number that tells you...
Chicken simmered in adobo flavours with liver spread, garlic, onions and a subtle touch of curry for a rich savoury gravy. A familiar Filipino favourite takes an unexpected turn here, with tender chicken covered in a rich, savoury gravy that is earthy, tangy and incredibly comforting. That little touch of...
A budget-friendly Hanoi favourite serving crispy bánh xèo, Nem Chua Chiên Xù, fresh herbs and rice paper wraps near the Old Quarter. Tiny plastic stools, fresh herbs, crispy pancakes and one unexpected pork dish made this one of our favourite affordable meals in Hanoi. Sometimes the smallest restaurants deliver the...
Spaghetti with crab, taba ng talangka, tomato, cream and butter, finished with soft ricotta for a rich seafood pasta. There are dishes you taste while travelling that refuse to leave your head. This one followed me all the way home from Vietnam. Sweet crab, silky tomato sauce, a touch of...
Tiệm Chè Tika serves colourful Vietnamese chè with mango, pudding, taro, coconut milk, caramel, jellies and chewy toppings. When one good chè shop suddenly becomes two. We stumbled across this bright pink Hanoi dessert shop packed with locals and found the chewy jelly we had been searching for since Hội...
Mixed greens, cucumber, carrot, pomelo and crispy dried shrimp tossed in an orange, fish sauce, ginger and rice vinegar dressing. You can tell summer is coming when my bowls of soup start disappearing and big bowls of greens take their place. But if I am eating salad, it needs character:...
Penne with pistachios, porcini mushrooms and crispy guanciale in a creamy Parmesan sauce, finished with extra cheese and nuts. My creative juices were flowing with this one. I started with an idea that sounded good in my head, combining nutty richness, deep woodland flavours and salty crisp pork, then discovered...
Late at night in Hanoi, sitting on tiny plastic stools with a glass packed with beans, jelly, coconut and crushed ice. This was the simple Vietnamese dessert experience we had been looking for. Chè Cô Huệ in Hanoi serves inexpensive traditional Vietnamese sweet soups with beans, jelly, coconut, mung beans...
Beetroot Mozzarella Salad with rocket, toasted pine nuts and creamy mozzarella, finished with a simple balsamic and olive oil dressing. Sometimes using up one awkward leftover ingredient leads to something worth making again. Creamy cheese, earthy roots, peppery greens and toasted nuts make this one especially festive. #BeetrootMozzarellaSalad #BeetrootSalad #MozzarellaSalad...
A dedicated Hanoi dairy shop packed with Vietnamese milk, yoghurt, flavoured drinks and ice cream in a surprising range of flavours. We walked in expecting a simple milk shop and discovered an entire world built around one of Vietnam’s most recognisable brands. The variety alone made this an unexpectedly fun...
More
