chEAT SHEET Memphis: Charles Vergo's Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs

Rendezvous is responsible for Memphis' moveable feasts, all thanks to their world-renowned dry ribs. 

Missing it is close to impossible albeit being juxtaposed in a basement and in an alley downtown.  Just follow your nose.  It's chute emits the most aromatic barbecue scent the South has to offer.

Allow me if I may, humble brag about the fact that I was lucky enough to know a few well-connected people downtown.  We actually got the chance to reserve tables which never happens at Rendezvous.  They don't take reservations any given time of day and this goes without saying, even during the Annual World Barbecue Championships which excite just about every single barbecue expert in the world.

First things first.  Have some sausage...

Then gumbo...

Then have the main thing... a full order of charcoal-broiled ribs (first photo up above) with a side order of slaw and beans.

Magically moist, tasty, and soft to the bite, I want to eat these ribs at least once a month for the rest of my life.  Mmmm... I need a time machine.  

Charles Vergo's Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs

52 South 2nd Street, Memphis

(901) 523 2746

chEAT SHEET Chicago: Longman & Eagle

Gastropubs abound but there are hardly any that have the energy, miles away from anything despondent at that, in Chicago's Logan Square.  The window outside boldly screams what this place is all about...

EAT, SLEEP, WHISKEY

...which pretty much put into words the state I was in at the time I ate there.  I was hungry, jet lagged, and felt like having a stiff drink to help me overcome the long haul flight I endured from Bangkok via Tokyo. 

I was amongst chefs, all of us, tasked to do a week-long research trip in Tennessee; and Chicago somehow fell into my lap as my "get-rid-of-your-jetlag-here" point.  This sort of perk definitely made my business trip worth remembering.  What with a michelin-starred restaurant that looked more like a hipster's joint with an overdose of coolness -- the food was definitely elegant.

Brunch is the name of the game and by no means should this stop you from having a drink or lots of it at night.  The bonus is that, there are several rooms above the pub because the owners probably decided they needed a few rooms up there that would serve as a hotel.  Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!

Everything on the brunch menu screamed EAT ME and choosing an array of definitive dishes was quite the battle, so we opted to order what seemed to be more than we could all handle.  Everything was just delightfully delicious, it came to no surprise that we finished it all.  In my perfect world, I can eat lunch twice -- just so I could try everything on the menu.

Their ingenious ability to bring the whole thing together from farm to fork is enough reason to hit town again and again.  And true to form, even the smallest of captions on their menu glared right back at me... 

Longman & Eagle

2657 N. Kedzie Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60647

chEAT SHEET Kuala Lumpur: Village Park Restaurant

Village Park Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur's Petaling Jaya area is not to be missed when in search for authentic Malaysian food.  Known for several dishes such as Nasi Dagang, Nasi Lemak, as well as it's Ayam Rendang, it's fair enough to make the assumption that there will always be a queue during meal times.  

Village Park always finds itself on my list whenever I reminisce my favorite spots in KL replete with sentimentality.  It's comfort food at it's best and by no means is it pretentious; I need not state the obvious that the chef or cook behind this zestful place is a master at his craft.

Village Park Restaurant

5, Jalan SS21/37, Damansara Utama

Petaling Jaya, Selangor

chEAT SHEET Singapore: Hinoki

Chef Gary Ng is a genius.  Chef Gary Ng is unpretentious.  Chef Gary Ng will blow your mind and your senses in the few hours you allow him to at his restaurant.  Chef Gary Ng owns and runs the best kept secret Japanese restaurant Singapore has to offer.  Yet, Chef Gary Ng remains to be humble about his craft.

The seafood here is flown from Japan twice or thrice a week.  The flavor combinations will take you to another place you've never been.  I try not to speak with profanities, but this is absolutely f*$%-ing good.  Think chawan mushi with foie gras and more of that same foie gras with shrimp.  How can plates and plates of pretty little things that look so insanely simple have such complex and deep flavors?  Ah... there lies his genius.  Bite after bite, one wonders, how does he do it?!  

My secret posse of 3 chefs ate here for a good 3 hours and wish that we had the luxury of time to eat more.  Believe it or not, I ate everything you saw in this post.  

Get on a cab and head to Hinoki.  You will thank me for this as I continue to thank the chef that took me here.  Don't think twice about it and just do it.  Once you try his dishes, you would want to eat here every single day of your life.  As Chef Gary told me, GARY stands for "girls always remember you..."  

I'll never forget you Chef Gary!

Hinoki

22 Cross Street

China Square Central (South Bridge Court)

Singapore 048421

Reservations: 6536 7746

chEAT SHEET Singapore: Antoinette

Saying that I love sweets would be an understatement.  There are days when I wonder why I did not delve into the wonderful world of pastries.  I've been toying with the idea of taking pastry arts for a few years now, and maybe, just maybe, when I have the time, I probably will.  


Antoinette was recommended by a very dear friend, who happens to be an accomplished and gifted artist; one of the heavy weights in the pastry world in the Philippines.  Where do I even begin?  The atmosphere in this cafe dictated what was to come.  And as the famous saying by Marie Antoinette goes..."let them eat cake."  And so we did.  I was completely floored by the chefs renditions of classical pastries and couldn't help but revel in his flawless execution.

Antoinette's Baba aux Fraises is by far, the best I've had in Southeast Asia.  It's consistency of being in between bread and cake, refreshing strawberry coulis, and the airiest whipped cream, is worth noting.  The Antoinette and Bread & Butter Pudding are also worth having.  The desserts my friends and I shared after a week-long exercise in all things savoury in a professional kitchen was just what we needed to usher in the weekend. 

I need a time machine.  I don't think I'll ever tire of their sweets.

More about Antoinette here.

chEAT SHEET Singapore: DB Bistro Moderne

Well-executed dishes with flavors so authentic, the kind where you know they don't have instant or powdered stock behind the kitchen, this restaurant should always be on your list when in Singapore.  It's as if you were eating in one of Chef Daniel Boulud's restaurants in the US.

Chef Stephane Istel cleverly carries out dishes in a manner that is simple yet elegant.  Classical French dishes are sent out of his kitchen one after the other, in visually arresting plates.  

The front-of-house staff are also worth noting.  Highly-efficient, warm, and more importantly, their attention to detail leaves no room for an unhappy meal.  

DB Bistro Moderne

2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972

Reservations:  +65 6688 8525

http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Restaurants/Celebrity-Chefs/DB-Bistro-Moderne/

chEAT Sheet Singapore: Breads, Pastries, and Coffee

(iPhone Photography for this post)

I spent an entire day in my friend's professional kitchen for a day.  We got experimental with several savoury flavor combinations for a few concepts we were working on and naturally, after a day full of umami, we craved for bread and pastries.  It's always like that with chefs... those that work with pastries tend to want to eat savoury and vice versa when they're done with their shift.  Chef Dennis brought me to Takashimaya so we could cover a lot of places in a few hours to fill our needs after a wonderful late lunch at Din Tai Fung in Paragon Mall.  

We headed straight into the basement where the newly-opened Boulangerie Donq Francaise of Japanese-fame can be found.  If not mistaken, it's where the old Heistand Boulangerie was located (I used to buy bread there when I was working for The British High Commission in 2003).  You can actually smell the goodness of their breads wafting through the basement floor; I couldn't help but hand carry a few with me all the way Bangkok just so I could share all the goodness with my daughter.

About ten steps away is Kaffe & Te, where you can buy Kahl's Swedish coffee.  I couldn't resist and bought a few bags.  The lady was too generous, she even gave me free peppermint tea.  How I missed this when I spent 6 weeks in Sweden in my early 20s baffles me.  I wish I knew of this brand then!

A few more steps and we found our way towards our favorite Hokkaido Ice Cream.  I always go for the Salt Caramel which transports me back in time, when I brought Dennis there for the first time, in 2008.  Little did we expect then that he would move to Singapore a year later and that he would be the one taking me to places I've not dined in.  I consider myself lucky since Dennis is one of the most famous pastry chefs in the Philippines to say the least.

Salt Caramel is a good transition from savoury to sweet.  And so, we found ourselves walking towards Pique Nique, known for their cupcakes and macarons.  

A few floors above, was Paul.  One of my all-time favorite places for bread.  I first came across this wonderful shop in Paris in 1999.  Since then, when I get the chance to come across it in other countries, I make it an effort to visit... Dubai, London, and now Singapore!

Last but not the least, was Antoinette.  It's actually in a hotel beside Takashimaya, called the Mandarin.  It's quaint yet opulent vibe screams indulgence from the get-go!

I really wish I had more time to eat my way through but I only had a day in Singapore.  Someday, I'd like to bring The Young Tongue in one of my favorite dining destinations in Asia.  

chEAT SHEET Mississippi: Huey's Blues, Brews, & Burgers!

Met a motley crew of cool chefs in Mississippi over fried pickles, tamales, kabobs, burgers, nachos, and spirits.  Unpretentious and downright all-American, Huey's was the go-to place around the corner.  Jet-lagged, I actually forgot to take photos of the other items we ordered, but noteworthy for my taste buds were the fried pickles.  

I must confess I didn't know what to expect but that burst of sour, salty, umami goodness made me order another basket!  Why don't we have these in Asia and where have you been all my life?!

Huey's

7090 Malco Blvd. State 101

Southaven, MS

chEAT SHEET Chicago: The Purple Pig

Jet-lagged and pressed for time, The Purple Pig did not disappoint.  It was my last meal in Chicago before heading South for the Memphis in May World Barbecue Contest (more on that later).


Known for their tapas-style fare, their Rabbit Panzanela with Mixed Herb & Lettuce, Crispy Capers, Pickled Fiddlehead Ferns & Black Truffle Vinaigrette was a sure winner (photo on the lower left-hand side).  The Burrata Pugliese with Peas, Radish, Celery, Spring Micro Greens & Aceto Balsamico (lower right-hand side) was also refreshingly brilliant in it's simplicity.  I also enjoyed the Salt-Roasted Beets with Whipped Goat Cheese & Pistachio Vinaigrette, off-setting the flavors from the earlier perfect bites I had.

I skipped the smears part of their menu and went straight into a la Plancha etc. and ordered the Wagyu Sirloin Tip with Fingerling Potatoes, Red Onions, Olives & Bone Marrow Vinaigrette and as cliche as this may sound, it was really "to die for."  Moist, juicy, deliciousness -- I wish my stomach was not on Bangkok time -- which was like eating all this at 1am.  I wanted some seafood and tried the Mussels with Pancetta, Creme Fraiche & Marjoram, and I'll just settle in saying, they were fresh.


I want to go back.  The chefs of this place rock and are insanely talented.


Cheese, Swine, & Wine... Need I say more for the ultimate cure for jet lag? 


The Purple Pig
500 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
more info here


And oh, they don't take reservations.

chEAT SHEET Shanghai: Jesse 天平路41号

I met Candice in Shanghai in 2006.  Her love for food, the need to be highly organized, and her humor instantly bonded us from the get-go.  Whenever I visit town, I ask her to update my eat sheet, and for some catch up time.

Jesse came highly regarded with the all-but-necessary 3-days-before-you-dine reservations.  It is a very tiny two-storey restaurant; the photos above captured all the tables they had.  Somehow, I was wishy-washy with my schedule and Candice managed to snag a reservation for dinner without any fuss.  Do not try your luck like Candice did though, for only Candice has the uncanny ability to persuade the man on the other line for a table for five on a Friday night.


I left the daunting task of ordering food to Candice, after all, this was her "find."  On her must-have list are:


Ban Mien (Noodles in Scallion and Oil)

Hong Shao Rou (Braised Pork in Sweet Soya Sauce)

I forget the Chinese name of the next dish, but in my simplistic English, it's Chili Prawns and Chicken...

And, the Shanghainese experience won't be authentic for a few order mishaps.  We were aiming to get the Crispy Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish but ended up with the tasty and succulent Mandarin Fish with Steamed Egg...

Yet another order mishap, we were gunning for Sweet Fried Crispy Freshwater Eel but ended up with Braised Eel, which also did not fail us...

Satiated?  Fret not.  Their tea will help you with the digestion...

Jesse
41 Tianping Road by Huai Hai Road

天平路41号

近淮海西路

chEAT SHEET Shanghai: 1221 延安西路1221号 (近番禺路)

The first time I set foot in Shanghai was in 2004 and one of the best meals I had then was in 1221.  I was delighted by the experience, so much so that I've always made an effort to visit this restaurant whenever I'm in town.

Several trips through the course of 8 years (and hopefully more to come), their quality remains to be in place, and service in tiptop shape.

Always the perfect place for a quiet lunch or a prelude to a long night in the city; reservations may be necessary especially on weekends.


For starters, I highly recommend the following items:

Kaofu

Cucumber with Vinegar

Tofu with Century Egg


Try to eat here with other friends so that you get a good selection of dishes.  They say three's a crowd, but somehow, I wish we had more company so that we could have ordered other items like their Crispy Eel (one of my all-time favorites here).


Make room for the Crispy Duck (not Peking Duck)...

Spicy Beef with Bread (definitely not photogenic but tasty)...

and the Stewed Pork with Tofu Skin...

They also serve tea from elongated spouts...

and give complimentary dessert (Banana sticky rice).

1221

1221 Yan'an Xi Lu (near Panyu Lu)

延安西路1221号 (近番禺路)

62136585

Open: 11am-2pm, 5pm-11pm