Zuma (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Zuma was founded in London back in 2002 by chef Rainer Becker and has immediately gained the reputation as one of the world's best contemporary Japanese restaurant.



Located in the heart of central district, Zuma Hong Kong is quietly building up a reputation comparable to its London flagship. In fact, it's been listed as one of the world's best 100 restaurants in the 2009 edition of the World's Best 50 Restaurants, which is quite a feat for the relatively "young" Japanese restaurant.

 

Zuma's sunday brunch is one of the best in the business. The brunch starts with all-you-can-eat appetizers including a wide variety of sushi and sushi rolls, along with other Japanese snacks. And it gets better with the main courses. 

The grilled lamb chops with exotic spices was one of the must try on the brunch menu.

 

A little less successful was the grilled sirloin served with onion and garlic chips.



The dessert platter is one of the more instagram worthy ones in town although looks could be a little deceiving.




Food Rating: 5.5/10
Price: $$$$
Address: 15 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Central / Hong Kong Station
Tel: +852 3657-6388
Website: www.zumarestaurant.com

Les Amis (Singapore, SINGAPORE) ★★★★☆

For almost two decades, Les Amis was considered one of the best fine dining restaurants in Singapore, if not the best. Powered by the Les Amis group, this flagship restaurant started a new breed of restaurants in Asia serving a unique brand of modern French cuisine with Japanese inspiration.



The 3-course set lunch with appetiser, main course and dessert offers the best value for money and that's exactly what we will be having.



Amuse bouche was a little dish of smoked salmon served on a thin slice of crispy bread (5/10).



Our lunch officially started and it started brilliantly with this hamachi with avocado puree (7.5/10).



The other starter, lobster ravioli in a beef consommé, was slightly less impressive (6.5/10).



Slow cooked salmon with spinach "pasta" was next and it was mouthwatering good. That buttery taste had me craving for more (7.5/10).

 

The veal was so tender and juicy. I wish they had given us a little bit more red wine sauce (6/10).

 

Dessert was good but not as impressive as our appetizers and main courses.

 

A little petite four and coffee before the bill.



Food Rating: 7/10

Price: $$$

Address: #02-15 1 Scotts Road, Shaw Centre, Singapore 228208

Closest Metro Station: Orchard
Tel: +65 6733 2225
Website: www.lesamis.com.sg
S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants: 60th (2009)


 
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Yet Con Chicken Rice 逸群 (Singapore, SINGAPORE) ★★☆☆☆

I first heard about Yet Con from one of my favorite food critics, Mr. Choy Lan (蔡瀾) who describes Yet Con's Hainanese Chicken Rice as the best Hainanese Chicken Rice he ever had in Singapore. So I'm here to find out whether it truly lives up to its billing.

Located on Purvis Street near Raffles Hotel, Yet Con is one of the few original Hainanese food joints who could stand the test of time over the years.



We ordered the set which included Hainanese chicken rice and a vegetable soup. 

I thought this was a little overrated. The chicken breast was plain and not overly flavorful.


 
Next time, I would definitely visit Chin Chin Eating House across the street to see how their Hainanese chicken rice stacks up against Yet Con's.


Food Rating: 3.5/10

Price: $$

Address: 25 Purvis Street, Singapore
Closest Metro Station: City Hall

Tel: +65 6337-6819