Feinkost Böhm Restaurant (Stuttgart, GERMANY) ★★★★☆

Feinkost Böhm is Stuttgart’s high-end gourmet market, offering an extensive selection of premium meat, seafood, wines, and desserts. I joked with the team that they’re the “Citysuper of Stuttgart”. (if you happen to live in Hong Kong, you know what I'm talking about...)

What sets Feinkost Böhm apart from a typical market or supermarket is that it also has two in-house dining options. An upscale sushi bar and a gourmet restaurant serving curated European dishes made with the store’s top-notch ingredients.

Since we didn’t have dinner plans tonight, we decided to try the gourmet restaurant which, at first glance, looked every bit like a fine-dining establishment.

We started off with an amuse bouche, a tomato gazpacho.

Since we’ve all been eating a little too much of late, we decided to skip a full appetizer–main–dessert format and ordered a few dishes to share instead.

Beef carpaccio (€22.5) — A timeless combination pairing the paper-thin slices of raw beef with rocket leaves, parmesan chips, and pine nuts. It was a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Tagliolini with prawns and truffle sauce (€40) — This tasted pretty good. The al dente pasta was matched with a truffle sauce that was light and not overpowering. The prawns were nicely cooked working well with the dish.

Pan-fried cod (€42.5) — I picked something from the sea.

The cod was served on a pool of Arctic shrimps, along with sea asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes, and artichoke, all in a vegetable-based sauce. Not bad.

This was a pretty enjoyable meal. I was happy we didn’t end up with more typical German dishes like sausages or breaded veal escalope. Everyone seemed tired of the same flavors and presentations already.

Stuttgart is more of a major industrial and business hub than a hardcore tourist destination like Berlin or Munich. We only had time for a few of the attractions nearby including the Palace Square (Schlossplatz), New Palace (Neues Schloss) and Königstraße this time around. Would I come back to Stuttgart for a third visit? Highly unlikely at this point.

Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: €€€€

Address: Kronprinzstraße 6, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany

Tel: +49 711 227560

Website: https://feinkost-boehm.de/pages/gourmet-restaurant

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 7:00pm (Mon - Thu), 9:00am - 7:00pm (Fri - Sat)

T-yoogee PAFC Mall 平安金融中心店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★★☆

It’s my second visit to T-yoogee, the popular European-style bistro and tapas bar at PAFC (平安金融中心). We’ve got about an hour to spare before our train departs, so I thought it’d be a good spot to bring my team in for some snack time. After all, no one can afford more walking today.

After a short wait, we were finally seated at the bar. 

To my pleasant surprise, little nugget didn’t complain about the high chair (Yeah, his hair looks awful).

It’s been a few months since my last visit, and it’s obvious they have shortened the food menu here. In come more fusion dishes (mostly spicy ones) and out go several of the tapas. That leaves me with very few options to kill our snack time.

Little nugget started off with a sip on his pineapple drink.

Shrimp and abalone toast with aioli and fish roe (鮮鮑虎蝦迷你吐司) (¥78) — This tapa-sized toast is topped with a small prawn and a slice of abalone, finished with an eggy aioli and parmesan shavings. It’s exactly what little nugget was looking for: something filling and satisfying at the same time.

Fermented tofu Basque cheesecake (腐乳巴斯克) (¥49) — This one was for daddy.

On the left was the fermented tofu Basque cheesecake itself.

Interestingly, it was served with a cube of fermented tofu on the side.

They didn’t prep me on how to eat the two together but I would assume that take a small portion of the fermented tofu and pair it with the cheesecake, a little at a time.

Honestly, I think it would’ve worked better if the cheesecake itself weren’t already flavored with fermented tofu. The combination was a little weird, but I liked the idea. Of course, the execution could’ve been far better.

Food Rating: 5.7/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop NLG05B, Level LG PAFC, 5033 Yitian Road, Futian, Shenzhen, China

深圳市福田区福田街道福安社区益田路5033号平安金融中心NLG05B 号铺

Closest Metro Station: Shopping Park (購物公園)

Tel: +86 (755) 8656-6066

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 9:30pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/15/oSYk

Daap (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

I am going back to Sheung Wan this afternoon to scratch an itch which has been bothering me for more than a year. Daap, helmed by chef Luke Chan, has been wowing guests with his fusion dishes for a few years now. I had the pleasure of visiting this hidden gem in Sheung wan twice in 2024 but never quite found the time for a return trip in 2025. Today, all the stars are finally aligned.

As usual, I found a quiet corner at the counter table where I can enjoy watching the chef at work.

Roasted chestnut soup — The soup was, once again, silky smooth with a wonderful, delicate chestnut flavor. Its thickness reminded me of a traditional Chinese chestnut sweet soup, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The only part of the soup that didn't quite hit the mark was the pan-fried morel mushrooms, which were slightly on the hard side today.

150-days grain fed M4+ oyster blade steak — My first time having anything other than the chef’s great pasta dish. The steak from Australia was really tender, and meltingly juicy.

I liked the buttery black bean beurre blanc but I thought the black bean could have been a little more pronounced to make it stand out more.

So happy to finally scratch this itch at last. I am taking the afternoon off from work so I have all the time in the world to explore the old streets in SoHo. I heard there have been many exciting changes lately.

Food Rating: 6.4/10

Price: $$$

Address: G/F, Wai Hing Commercial Building, 20 Wing Kut Street, Central, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Sheung Wan

Tel: +852 9680-7456

Website: www.instagram.com/daap.hk/?hl=en

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, 6:00pm - 10:00pm (Tue - Fri), 10:30am - 4:00pm, 6:00pm - 10:00pm (Sat - Sun)

T-yoogee PAFC Mall 平安金融中心店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★★☆

My relaxing afternoon in Shenzhen is about to draw to a close but I still have one last destination to visit before my trip back home.

Last night, while searching for an afternoon tea spot in Futian, I came across T-yoogee, a newly opened European restaurant/Spanish tapas bar at PAFC Mall (平安金融中心), specializing in tea (more like coffee), brunch, grill, and more. Raving reviews have been flooding in from social media, especially Dianping (大众点评), so I thought it was worth the stop.

I arrived at T-yoogee slightly after 5pm and found the place buzzing. Judging from people flashing their cameras and taking selfies of their snacks, I guessed that they were mostly KOLs enjoying a new restaurant opening.

Black sesame oatmilk (黑芝麻燕麥奶) (¥28) — I had absolutely zero interest in any of the fruit teas on the menu so I went with this one. It was very milky with subtly rich black sesame flavors. A comforting hot drink perfect on a chilly afternoon in Shenzhen.

Carabinero prawn and ham (紅魔蝦火腿小吃) (¥39) — Thin slices of Spanish ham and a Carabinero prawn tail resting on a bed of savory mayo and butter brioche. This wasn't bad for the price, but I thought they could do much better. First and foremost, the mayo could have been infused with something from the sea to elevate the prawn — perhaps prawn bisque or sea urchin. That would have really been a nice finishing touch.

Salmon roes mini-toast (魚籽迷你吐司) (¥58) — This is more of a butter brioche topped with a layer of lightly flavored black truffle mayo and salmon roes.

I was expecting a bit of an "explosion" from the roes but that didn’t really materialize.

I like the relaxing vibe of this place. It’s very nice for both solo and group diners to chill out. I just wish there were places like this in Hong Kong so I won’t have to travel so far just for the vibe.  

Food Rating: 5.7/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop NLG05B, Level LG PAFC, 5033 Yitian Road, Futian, Shenzhen, China

深圳市福田区福田街道福安社区益田路5033号平安金融中心NLG05B 号铺

Closest Metro Station: Shopping Park (購物公園)

Tel: +86 (755) 8656-6066

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 9:30pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/15/oSYk

Landau's Trattoria (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Another prominent member of our leadership team is retiring in just a couple of weeks. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him for the past decade, and while I’m genuinely happy that he’ll finally get some quality time on the golf course, it’s still bittersweet to see him leave. His presence on the team will certainly be missed.

To mark the occasion and to pick his brain one last time before his well-earned retirement, I decided to get him to join me for lunch at Landau’s in Wanchai.

Broccoli salad – A refreshing starter with a nice crunch from the broccoli, paired with chopped onion and egg, all brought together by a savory pancetta dressing.

Tagliolini prawns – The tagliolini was tossed in a prawn bisque sauce with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. I was hoping for more depth from the bisque, but aside from the tomato, no particular flavor really stood out.

Tiramisu – A classic combination of mascarpone cream and ladyfingers, topped with a dusting of espresso powder. The flavors were all there but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Then again, I have pretty high standards when it comes to tiramisu.

It was nice to see my colleague and friend one last time before my holidays start in a couple of days. I wish him all the best in his retirement life and if I'm lucky enough, perhaps I will join him on the golf course in a few years' time.

Food Rating: 5/10

Price: $$$

Address: 2/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Wanchai

Tel: +852 2808-0882

Website: https://www.epicurean.com.hk/restaurant/landaus/

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 11:30pm daily

Tomacado One Avenue 花廚 卓悦中心店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Like Dagefan (大鴿飯), Tomacado (花廚) was an itch I was waiting to scratch for a long time. As one of the most popular dining spots among Hongkongers visiting Shenzhen, Tomacado has numerous locations across the city. In recent years, they have also opened south of the border in Causeway Bay.

The branch of Tomacado I visited is nestled in the atrium of One Avenue (卓悦中心) and it is decorated like an enchanting garden with floral decorations all around.

The food menu leans heavily towards fusion dishes, with a focus on dishes that are healthy, sustainable, and beautifully plated.

Tuna tataki salad (金䱽魚能量沙律) (¥98) – This came with lettuce, beetroot, beans, sautéed mushrooms, soft-boiled egg (which isn’t too soft-boiled), pumpkin seeds, parmesan chips and of course, sesame crusted tuna tataki.

It wasn’t bad but the vinaigrette dressing and moisture from the veggies have made the salad way too soggy.

Tomato soup with pan-seared prawn (“花開富貴” 酸湯大蝦) (¥48) – Billed as a Guizhou-style (貴州) spicy tomato soup, I had first imagined something bold and refreshing like a gazpacho. Instead, it arrived lukewarm.

The soup was beautifully presented, with the seared red prawn placed prominently at the center, surrounded by egg yolk and prawn crackers arranged in a delicate, flower-like pattern. The flavor was pleasant though it didn't quite pack the punch I anticipated.

Roasted three yellow chicken with herbs (香草烤三黃雞) (¥98) – The signature three yellow chicken came in a small package similar to the size of a spring chicken. There was a hint of rosemary lending to a faintly smoky aroma but for me not quite enough to warrant a house specialty.

Grape Oolong tea (“荷塘月色” 葡萄烏龍凍) (¥58) – With all the savory dishes out of the way, it was time for the main event which would be Tomacado’s signature desserts.

The playful grape and Oolong tea dessert arrived with a dramatic swirl of dry ice, setting the stage for what looked like a miniature "steamy" pond. It was a visually stunning dish but I thought the jelly ("the pond") made with Oolong tea and grape didn’t hold a ton of flavors and same goes for the frozen grapes.

Almond cake with chocolate and coconut (杏仁巧克力椰香蛋糕) (¥58) – A layered cake with a chocolate base topped nicely with almond, coconut cream, and almond chips.

The texture of the cake was very much like an ice-cream cake with a wonderful collection of flavors and textures.

It was nice to finally cross Dagefan and Tomacado off my list this month. Both of them, I thought, are well worth a second visit.

Food Rating: 5.7/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address:  Shop L143, East Zone, Level 1 One Avenue, Fuhua Road, Futian, Guangzhou, China

深圳市福田区福华路卓悦中心商场东区1层 L143号铺

Closest Metro Station: Gangxia (岗厦)

Tel: +86 (755) 18026947555

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/73/Z9s

 

Le Pristine by Sergio Herman (Tokyo, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

Chef Sergio Herman is one of my favorite chefs from Europe, and one of my biggest dreams has been to dine at one of his establishments. The closest I got was in 2011 during a tour of the Netherlands and Belgium but we were unable to secure a table at his three-Michelin-star restaurant, Oud Sluis, which later closed in 2013. So, when I heard he was opening the first international outpost of Le Pristine in Tokyo back in December 2023, I immediately marked it down on my calendar. It ultimately took me more than a year to bring this plan to fruition.

The casual fine dining restaurant is located just off the lobby of the Hotel Toranomon Hills.

Lunch is a simple two or three-course affair where guests can choose from a selection of starters, mains and desserts. We all decided to go with just the starter and main this afternoon.

Salad Le Pristine – Kicking things off was the house salad with green asparagus, burrata cheese, sweet potato, basil, tomato, potato, Taggiasca olives, broad beans and toasted pumpkin seeds all hidden underneath a simple garnish of baby gem lettuce and red endive. The ingredients were tied up neatly by a savory-sweet quince vinaigrette. There was some nice smokiness coming from the toasted seeds adding another dimension to the dish.

The salad was followed by a small basket of homemade bread including some baguettes and sourdough.

These were working well with the French butter.

Hokkaido scallop, green apple, gherkin, buttermilk, basil – Everyone went with the scallop starter. 

Small pieces of lightly seared scallops were matched with slices of green apple, crispy croutons, lettuce and green peas. The sauce made with the same green apple and buttermilk brought some nice acidity to the mix.

Le Pristine seafood orecchiette – Some of us had the restaurant's signature seafood orecchiette featuring roasted langoustine, clams, squid, Nduja, fennel flower and parsley. 

I thought the sauce was a little too intense and salty for the seafood and pasta to handle but we all loved the generous portion. This was an extra plate full of langoustine, seafood and pasta waiting on the wing for us.

Grilled Japanese Akaushi beef "Rossini", Jerusalem artichoke, Italian black truffle – With hindsight, I should have gone for the grilled Akaushi beef since I love the breed of cattle so much.

The beautifully cooked Akaushi beef fillet was elegantly topped with Italian black truffle and served with a purée of Jerusalem artichoke. The madeira wine sauce provided the dish with a well-rounded finish.

This toasted brioche with shaved foie gras reminded me a little of the famous "French Toast" from the now-defunct Frantzén's Kitchen.

We didn't opt for dessert so just two small mignardises to wrap things up. The yuzu pistachio macaron was packed with lovely acidity.

And there was the mini lemon tart which was bursting with zesty flavors.

I finally got the chance to enjoy a cup of tea. 

Despite there being only three tables of guests this afternoon, I thought that the young and seemingly inexperienced service team struggled to deliver the level of hospitality expected from a restaurant of its caliber. There was even a few lengthy stretches when the entire team seemed to be missing from the dining floor leaving us totally unattended.

While the dining experience itself was decent, the service fell short of creating a memorable impression. I'll definitely think twice about coming back for another visit.

Food Rating: 6.9/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: G/F Hotel Toranmon Hills, 2-6-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan

Closest Metro Station: Toranomon

Tel: +81 3-6830-1077

Opening Hours: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (Mon - Sun), 6:00pm - 10:00pm (Mon - Sat)