L’Oignon (Strasbourg, FRANCE) ★★★★☆

When we returned to Strasbourg after a full day of activities in Colmar, it was already a little after 7 pm, leaving us very little time to explore the city’s historic centre. I thought, if there’s a place to soak up Strasbourg’s medieval charm with our remaining time here, it has to be Petite France.

Petite France (or Little France) is easily the most picturesque quarter of Strasbourg, located on the southwestern edge of the city’s central island. Best known for its fairytale-like atmosphere, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is highlighted by its winding canals, cobblestone streets, wooden bridges, and beautifully preserved 17th-century half-timbered houses.

We did our best to soak up the storybook vibe by visiting a few sunset viewpoints and aimlessly wandering around the main thoroughfare. Before we knew it, half an hour had flown by right into dinner time.

This was when we arrived at our dinner destination — L’Oignon, a local institution celebrated for its warm, cozy atmosphere and excellent Alsatian cuisine. We all thought it would be silly to pass up the chance to sit on the lovely outdoor terrace right along the narrow cobblestone streets and immerse ourselves in the area’s historic charm.

Alsatian snails (6 pcs, €12) — Little nugget specifically asked for these, so as expected, he ended up finishing them all.

As usual, the snails were baked with parsley butter. I just wish there had been more left (before this guy finished it all) so I could have used it as a dip for the bread.

French tarte tatin of caramelized shallots (€11) — I mistakenly thought this was the traditional French onion soup (the restaurant's signature dish), but it turned out to be something different. On top of the caramelized shallots was a pool of cream cheese with herbs. It had most of the elements of an onion soup, but without the delicious broth.

Traditional sauerkraut with five kinds of meat and sausages (€22) — With Strasbourg situated so close to the German border, it came as no surprise that the restaurants here boast some of the most amazing “homestyle” German dishes.

I didn’t exactly count how many different kinds there were, but it definitely included pork belly, knuckle, and sausage… and these were really, really tender and succulent.

Alsatian chicken supreme (€22) — The chicken fillets were pretty tender and were nicely complemented by a creamy oyster mushroom sauce.

Some roasted potatoes as a side dish.

Choosing to sit on the terrace was the best decision we have made in a while. To enjoy front-row seats to the neighborhood’s half-timbered houses, weeping willows, and the gentle reflection of historic architecture on the water, it was priceless.

And honestly, the night scene only got better as the evening went on. (Photo touched up with AI.)

Food Rating: 6.8/10

Price: €€€

Address: 4 Rue des Moulins, 67000 Strasbourg, France

Tel: +33 (0)3 8816-5981

Website: http://www.restaurantloignon.fr/

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 2:00pm (Mon - Thu), 12:00pm - 3:00pm (Fri - Sat), 12:00pm - 4:00pm (Sun), 7:00pm - 10:00pm daily

My First-Ever Vineyard Visit in Germany — Weingut Kopp

Stepping into Germany’s Baden region for my first-ever vineyard visit felt like walking directly into a postcard.

Nestled near the Black Forest in Sinzheim, Weingut Kopp instantly captured my imagination striking a perfect balance between sleek, modern architecture and deep-rooted tradition.

The estate is surrounded by gently rolling hills covered in meticulously manicured vines, stretching toward the horizon. Breathing in the crisp valley air, I knew right away that simply standing among these historic slopes would be an unforgettable introduction to European wine culture.

The highlight of the journey was exploring the unique terroir and landscape that make this boutique winery so special. Walking along the edge of the vineyards, I looked out over the distinct Feigenwäldchen and Altenberg slopes, learning how Baden’s volcanic and limestone soils shape the future harvest.

Little one got his first taste of vineyard life, getting up close with the vines and experiencing the magic of being surrounded by grapevines.

Even without a formal tasting, seeing where the grapes grow and observing the meticulous care given to the land provided a profound lesson in how dedication to sustainable viticulture becomes the foundation for world-class bottles.

Rather than a traditional glass in hand, my experience was defined by a sensory appreciation of the winery’s stunning architecture and serene atmosphere. The contemporary design blends seamlessly into the natural landscape, offering panoramic views of the Baden countryside — views that are worth the trip all on their own. Engaging with the passionate team and learning about their acclaimed Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) gave me a deep respect for the craftsmanship behind the cellar doors. It also reminded me that a vineyard’s story can be just as intoxicating as its wine.

Needless to say, I left with some of their most prized bottles in my hands.

Leaving the estate with a newfound appreciation for German viticulture, I realized that my first winery visit in Germany had set an incredibly high bar. Weingut Kopp delivered far more than a destination — it offered an authentic, visual connection to the land and to the people who pour their hearts into every vintage. For anyone hoping to discover the modern, exciting side of German winemaking, walking the grounds of this Baden gem is the perfect place to start the journey. I left feeling inspired, and genuinely eager to return for a pour in the future.

Price: €€€

Address: Ebenunger Straße 23, 76547 Sinzheim, Germany, Germany

Tel: +49 7221 803601

Website: https://www.weingut-kopp.com/

Opening Hours: 1:00pm - 6:00pm (Mon - Fri), 12:00pm - 5:00pm (Sat - Sun)

BellaVista (Ulm, GERMANY) ★★☆☆☆

The fact that Ulm is the birthplace of Albert Einstein had nothing to do with us stopping for lunch here this afternoon. With the historic city right in the middle of Kempten and Stuttgart, it simply made perfect sense to stop by for food, gas, and a little bit of sightseeing.

Our friend AI told me that Ulm is a tourist city, but the tourism part didn’t really register during our visit as we were the only notable tourists in the city centre. After parking our car in the heart of Ulm, we emerged from underground looking for our lunch spot.

BellaVista is a popular café, bar, and restaurant in Ulm, famous for its rooftop terrace that looks directly at the Ulm Minster, one of the tallest churches in the world and the undisputed top attraction of the city. The restaurant sits on the top floor of a six-story building on the edge of a plaza right next to the church. It was the main reason I booked this place in the first place.

With the hope of getting a closer look at the Ulm Minster, we decided to sit on the terrace.

Needless to say, we began taking selfies the moment we sat down at the corner.

The food menu is very short, highlighted by a couple of salad bowls, ramen noodles, and the daily specials.

This was when my day took a wild spin for the worse. While I was going through the menu, there were a few (under 10) wasps and bees 🐝 circling around me and little nugget (Jelloman was away to the toilet). It’s safe to say my boy has never been a fan of little flying objects and when he was constantly interrupted by them, he got really irritated and a little upset. He started swinging wildly with the menu, and this probably got one of the wasps upset. It settled on my arm (but why me? I had no clue) and bit me.

When I first saw the wasp on my arm, I didn’t react immediately. Two seconds later, I was already bitten. There was obviously excruciating pain at the spot where I’ve been bitten, and it quickly started to swell pretty badly.

I quickly told little one to go inside the restaurant and asked for help. One of the servers came and sprayed some chemicals on my wound, and without consulting Jelloman, we moved indoors. I was then handed an ice pack to keep the swelling down.

So, yes I didn’t really get to enjoy this meal as much as I would have liked.

Yatai ramen (€13.5) — Both ramen options are vegetarian. This one came with enoki mushrooms, pak choy, leeks, sugar snap peas, and fresh coriander in a soy sauce–based broth. The broth was very strong, with a rich soy sauce flavor. We were joking that with the broth already pretty salty, the chance of the bottle of soy sauce being used was probably next to none. 

Fried calamari (€17.9) — The fried calamari (which was really squid rings) was breaded and served on a bed of salad made with garden greens, rocket leaves, tomatoes, and capers. There was a Parmesan aioli on top to add to the flavors. Overall the dish was fine, although I thought the calamari would have tasted better without the added batter.

There were a few firsts for me today. First time visiting Ulm, first time having Japanese ramen in Germany, and yeah — first time being bitten by a wasp. I have to admit, a lot went through my mind in the few seconds after being bitten, including whether the wasp was poisonous. I was reassured by the staff that as long as I didn’t feel anything wrong (such as dizziness), I should be fine.

A gentleman from the table next to us came over to check if I was alright. What a class act! He went on to tell me that during the summer it’s common to see wasps and bees everywhere in Germany and that being bitten by one definitely isn’t rare. He concluded with, “This is Germany. Welcome to Germany!”

Even with my badly swollen forearm, I decided to check out Ulm Minster. 

Despite its massive scale and cathedral-like appearance, it has never been the official seat of a bishop. Go, figure....

Food Rating: 4.7/10

Price: €€€

Address: Münsterplatz 35, 89073 Ulm, Germany

Tel: +49 731 6026966

Website: https://bellavista-ulm.de/

Opening Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm (Mon - Thu), 8:30am - 4:00pm (Fri - Sat)

De nuit (Taipei, TAIWAN) ★★★★☆

I am going back to De nuit for tonight’s dinner and hoping to bump into one of my favorite chefs in Taipei — Hong Kong-born Executive Chef Kei Koo (古俊基), who refined his skills under Chef Maxime Gilbert at Amber and Écriture.

The intimate French fine-dining restaurant was a full house on a Friday night. With Chef Koo’s exquisite French cuisine, I bet there won’t be many empty tables on most nights.

I didn't have to wait very long to see Chef Koo in action. He recognized me immediately and graciously stopped by to share details about tonight's tasting menu.

Dinner started off brightly with the only amuse bouche tonight, a deep-fried potato ball filled with parmesan cheese, topped nicely with French black truffle. Nice, fluffy and packed with flavors.

Oyster, plankton, fennel – The first starter of the night was Normandie Oyster ice-cream with fennel cream and dabs of plankton that mimicked the tastes of seawater and seaweed.

With the dim lights, I mistakenly thought it was a real oyster for a moment but that turned out to be just a scoop of oyster-shaped ice-cream. I loved its temperature and the fresh, clean flavors. I remembered having something similar a few years ago at different French restaurants so it’s nothing new but this was a refreshing déjà vu.

Salmon, passion fruit, gooseberry – Next up, lightly cooked New Zealand king salmon, paired with a vibrant sauce of passion fruit and gooseberry (燈籠果), elegantly topped with salmon roes and edible flowers. An incredibly appetizing (醒胃) starter.

Two types of housemade bread, a sourdough and a flaky danish were served up at this point. 

To match the bread, we have two types of butter too, a traditional French one made in France and a homemade one infused with seaweed.

Crab, Jerusalem artichoke, clam – An elegantly plated dish featuring Japanese snow crab (松葉蟹) served in umami-rich dashi, combined with variations of Jerusalem artichoke, including espuma and crispy chips, all finished with Kristal caviar atop. 

This dish offered a wow factor, pleasing both for the eyes and the palate.

As instructed, I scooped up a spoonful of crab meat, dashi, and artichoke variations, ensuring a perfect balance of flavors.

Porcini, foie gras, kombu – Foie gras was served in a fish and kombu consommé, topped with delicate shavings of porcini artfully arranged like a flower. 

I would love the foie gras to stand out a little more but the depth of the broth was truly remarkable.

Pompret, girolles mushroom, mussel – Local pomfret (馬友) superbly pan-fried and paired with mussels and girolles mushrooms. A mysterious greenish sauce (forgot to jot down the actual ingredients) added herbal notes to the dish.

Pithivier, quail, morel, vin jaune – Chef Koo was back in center stage serving up the next dish tableside. It's his signature pithivier. 

Chef Koo told me to first start with the quail leg which was stuffed with morel mushrooms and chopped into small pieces like our Chinese preserved sausages. These came with very nice smoky flavors.

The star, however, was the pithivier itself, perfectly filled with quail breast, parsley, and finely diced morels. The pie was accompanied by three condiments — parsley purée, quail jus, and vin jaune sauce. Just love the minimal seasoning here allowing the ingredients to shine brilliantly.

Lobster, ginger, tarragon – My main course was charcoal-grilled Boston lobster topped with ginger-pickled beetroot and lardo, served in a rich bisque made from lobster coral, lobster oil (Chef Koo's secret recipe), sea urchin, and tarragon oil. 

There were crispy kale and pickled onion served on the side to add contrasting texture and flavor to the lobster which was perfectly mi-cuit.

Like many of Chef Koo's brilliant offerings, there were two dishes within a dish. The second serving of the lobster was a delicious dumpling of lobster and pork meat flavored with lobster oil, crowned with tarragon mayo and a buckwheat wafer.

The lovely smokiness in the dumpling tied everything up beautifully. Very tasty.

While I waited for pre-dessert, Chef Koo surprised me with an extra treat – an elegantly decorated French cream cheese, with fruit chutney and crispy pastry hidden underneath. I don't usually go for the cheese trolley as my dessert but this was a nice pre-dessert before the real pre-dessert. 

Pear, sake lees, ginger lily – Sake lees ice-cream with in-season pear (水梨), sake jelly, and ginger lily oil. A refreshing pre-dessert that served as a perfect palate cleanser.

Fig, cheese, komatsuna – The main dessert was one of my favorite dishes of the night, an artful creation featuring a ball of fig compote, cream cheese and fig cream. 

It was finished off with a sauce made with fig and Hibiscus (洛神花).

Light and airy, it was surprisingly packed with a mix of fresh, fruity notes. I didn't think I've had something like this before in my life. 

On the side, a scoop of komatsuna (小松菜) ice-cream was served with wasabi leaf on top, along with puff rice flavored with matcha. It was inspiration from Chef Koo's summer travels to Japan.

Our mignardises began with a melt-in-the-mouth bite filled with gooseberry juice.

It was followed by a mini persimmon tart with parmesan cheese and chocolate with hojicha. I told Chef Koo he's truly a master of persimmon, a consistent highlight in his offerings.

Once again, I was treated to a magnificent array of dishes, meticulously curated by Chef Koo and his team. Special thanks to him for taking care of me throughout the night. Despite being exceptionally busy and often seen flying around the dining room to ensure that guests were enjoying themselves, he still found time for his brief visits with me. 

I was thoroughly entertained tonight, as always at De nuit, and I truly look forward to my next journey with Chef Koo — hopefully sometime this year.

Food Rating: 7.7/10

Price: $$$

Address: No.175, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Da'an District, Taipei, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Xinyi Anhe

Tel: +886 2-2700-1958

Website: www.denuit.com.tw

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 3:00pm (Fri - Sat), 6:00pm - 10:30pm (Tue - Sat)