#steveexplores2019

It's the last day of our Christmas escapade in Ho Chi Minh and the Breakfast Club is down to only three people. However, morale is high and we are continuing our search for delicious food by starting the day with a visit to the popular Nam Son which is renowned for its beefsteak.

As it’s our first time to this restaurant, we decided to order the Bit tet thap cam which is a combination of steak, egg, pate, and meatball. It turned out to be a terrific choice as the steak was lean and juicy, the pate was flavorful without being too overpowering, and the egg helps to bring all components of the plate together.

Each serving comes with a healthy serving of fresh vegetables and pickles, and not forgetting the national culinary symbol: Banh Mi.

After eagerly waiting for several days, I am finally back at Pizza 4P’s  to savor some of the best pizza and pasta in town.

Today's menu featured the Crab and Tomato Spaghetti, Smoked Burrata Bolognese Spaghetti, Burrata Parma Ham Margherita Pizza, and 3 Cheese Pizza.

For dessert, we indulged in a Chocolate Tart with House-made Mascarpone Lime Cream and Apple Pizza with Vanilla Ice Cream.

We absolutely loved the food, the atmosphere, and the attentive service. Thanks to Pizza 4P’s for yet another satisfying and comforting dining experience.

After a spectacular lunch, we indulged in more bubble tea fun at a Tealive cafe near Ben Thanh Market where overseas visitors can enjoy a special 1-for-1 drinks promotion.

Finally, it’s come down to our last traditional Vietnamese dinner in the city for this Christmas adventure and we choose to spend our time at the popular Ngon Restaurant.

Menu for the evening included rice rolls, salad, stir fried morning glory (kang kong), roast pork, spring rolls, and stir fried pork served with a plate of fresh vegetables and herbs to wrap in rice paper.

It’s time for dinner and we embarked on a special street food exploration around the city with the beautiful riders of Saigon Kiss Tours who are fun loving individuals eager to share their passion for the city.

First pit stop was at the Ho Thi Ky Flower Market to smell the flowers and sample delicious street food tucked away in its back alleys.

Menu for this area included Vietnamese Pizza (Banh Trang Nuong) with a rice paper base and Broken Rice with Grilled Pork Chop (Suon Nuong). I am simply in love with the freshness of the ingredients and the vibrant dining experience which reminded me of my childhood days sitting by the streets of Singapore savoring delicious delights from street food carts.

Second pit stop featured a walking tour around the historical apartment buildings of Nguyen Thien Thuat and sampling the delicious Banh Mi packed full of fresh vegetables, herbs, pork slices, and pate.

Next pit stop of the evening brought us to 335/11 Dien Bien Phu to sample Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Pancakes). The pancakes were oily and crispy, making them perfect for pairing with the day's freshest herbs and vegetables mixed with a dash of fish sauce and chili.

Last pit stop of the night with brought us to Saigon River to admire the beautiful landscape of the city while sampling Vietnamese Grilled Eggs (Truang Ga Nuong). These eggs were easily the best thing that I have discovered for the day. This delicacy was prepared by making a small incision at the top of each egg, emptying its contents, mixing it with seasoning, and pouring the mixture back into the egg to steam. After the steamed egg is cooked, simply move it to the grill for finishing touches.

A big thank you goes out to  Saigon Kiss Tours for showering us with your warm hospitality and friendship. We had such a wonderful time eating and riding our way through the city, and we welcome you to visit us in Singapore soon so that we can be good hosts and share our hidden culinary gems.

As we bid farewell to another day,  we celebratedour last night in Ho Chi Minh with a couple of drinks at Chill Skybar while taking one last look at this beautiful city as we wind down this short Christmas adventure.

It’s Day 3 for our Christmas adventure in Ho Chi Minh and we kicked off the day with a unique cooking experience by M.O.M Cooking Class. The cooking adventure began with a grocery shopping adventure at the Ben Thanh market to locate the freshest greens and herbs of the day.

After gathering all of the require ingredients, we made our way back to the cooking school to start whipping up a storm!

Today's menu featured freshly made spring rolls with prawns, morning glory (kang kong) salad, and pancakes (Banh Xeo) paired with fresh herbs and vegetables.

The cooking class was fun and insightful, and the head chef was firm and humorous. I would definitely recommend this fun cooking experience to everyone interested to dive deeper into the local culture through its culinary history.

It’s Day 2 in Ho Chi Minh City and I cannot wait to start our full day of adventures to uncover hidden culinary gems and fun spots to chill and relax.

The Breakfast Club reported for morning duties bright and early at a local eatery in Ben Thanh to savor some delicious glutinous rice with shredded chicken.

The next item on the menu was a legendary cup of delicious success at Trung Nguyen Legend Cafe.

As the clock stuck 12, we braved the blazing sun and the city traffic to enjoy a beautiful family lunch at Quan Bui Vietnamese Bistro. Each home cooked dish is exquisitely prepared and completely devoured within minutes.

After a short trek through the urban jungle, we were ready receive a terrific bone crackling experience at Golden Lotus Spa & Massage Club.

Feeling refreshed and energized, it was time to satisfy our craving for a bubble tea experience at Sharetea flagship store.

Tonight’s dinner menu featured a seafood fiesta at the famous QUAN OC DAO where we fought with the massive dinner crowd to earn some well deserved shellfish including clams, scallops, and oysters.

I am finally back in Ho Chi Minh, one of the most exciting cities in Asia, to continue to discover culinary delights with a bunch of merry friends.

First pit stop after our arrival in the city was a quick dinner at Nam Giao featuring prawn rolls, steamed flour cakes with toppings, and flat rice noodles in a clear broth and paired with a mixture of pork and beef cuts and a healthy serving of fresh herbs.

After a hearty dinner, it was time to take a leisurely stroll around the night market at Ben Thanh to soak up the festive atmosphere and to burn off some calories.

Next item on the itinerary was traversing through the busy Backpacker Street (Bui Vien) to grab front row seats to admire the hustle and bustle of the street food carts and performers.

Growing tired of the noise and traffic, my band of merry makers retreated to Hotel Des Arts Saigon to chill with great music and delicious drinks in a relaxing Social Club Above Saigon.

As the night winds down, we found ourselves back at the streets of Ben Thanh to  enjoy a warm bowl of pho laced with lots of laughter and humor around the dinner table.

Below is Part 2 of my recommended foodie list in Taipei for my 2019 Winter Adventure:

1.  雙月食品社 :  With so much amazing delicacies to savor in Taiwan, I will always find my way back to Shuang Yue Food 雙月食品社  @moon_moon_food. It is a cosy restaurant which retains its friendly service and comforting food despite the accolades received from Michelin Guide and numerous food critics.

During my visit today, I fell in love once again with its excellent culinary skills, turning freshly procured local ingredients into masterpeices that are a feast for my eyes and my hungry belly.

Each dish is expertly cooked and presented, without any fuss and extra garnishes that will distract a foodie's taste buds.

My personal favorites include 雙月油飯, 滷味 (粉腸, 雞胗, 嘴邊肉), 紅燒虱目魚肚, 紅燒虱目魚皮, 乾蚵, 蛤蜊燉雞湯, and 何首烏燉雞湯. Remember to order a cup of 檸檬愛玉 which helps to refresh your palate after each delicious masterpiece.

雙月食品社 @moon_moon_food , thank you once again for serving me a truly memorable meal. I will remember to come back more often to say hello to all of the friendly staff and savor all of my favorite dishes in Taiwan.

2.  時時香 RICE BAR :  Love my fun lunch gathering with great friends at 時時香 RICE BAR which specializes in locally produced grains from around the country, served with delicious Chinese cuisine drawn from various regions. 

Dishes for lunch include 霸王甘蔗蝦, 東方乳酪空心菜, 厚煎菜脯蛋, 超級麻婆豆腐, and 剝皮辣椒燉嫩雞.

Love the dishes, the company, and the fun conversation with amazing friends.

3.  艾樂比  Aluvbe Cakery : Savoring my tea time at 艾樂比 @aluvbe with delightful signature desserts including its refreshing lemon cheesecake and its mesmerizing strawberry cake filled with fresh cream and strawberries.

4.  良友小館 :  Thanks to recommendations from my local friend, I manged to find my way to 良友小館 to sample wholesome family cooking.

The restaurant fills up quickly during dinner time and the menu has no prices listed. Do not worry as the cook will adjust the serving and prices based on the number of diners in your table.

Select from the daily specials and you will be in for a treat. For today's dinner, I was fortunate to be able to enjoy Winter Melon with Pork Ribs, Pig Liver with Sesame Oil, Bamboo Shoots with Salted Egg, and Fried Fish.

Add this restaurant to your "must visit" foodie list during your next visit to Taipei!

5.  金雞母 Jingimoo : With room for desserts, I quickly rushed over to 金雞母 @jingimoo_tw to savor its creative desserts.

Each serving is a delight to enjoy, with twists and turns at every corner as the owner gives her own unique spin in her creations. I would recommend her matcha creations as its simply a feast for the senses.

Special thanks to the cafe for accommodating me as their last customer of the night.

Below is Part 1 of my recommended foodie list in Taipei for my 2019 Winter Adventure:

1. Kura Sushi : Love this conveyor belt sushi restaurant as it serves fresh, high quality sushi at affordable prices.

2.  阿桐阿寶四神湯 : After a long day of walking, I am always energized with a satisfying bowl of Si Shen Tang  at 阿桐阿寶四神湯 located near to Shuanglian 雙連.

3.  後站魷魚羹 :  Thanks to my friend's great recommendation, I was able to experience my first bowl of cuttlefish soup 魷魚焿 at 後站魷魚羹. I ordered my version with lots of cuttlefish, squid, and fried fish slices. The flavors were strong and hearty, perfect for the cold season.

4.  三五水餃 :  Love the juicy pork fillings and the firm chewy skin of the dumplings served at 三五水餃 which is located along Shuanglian 雙連. Definitely a great place to pick up a fast and delicious snack.

5.  品鱻100元熱炒 (品鱻生猛活海鮮) :  Fell in love with the delicious stir fried dishes 熱炒 by 品鱻100元熱炒 (品鱻生猛活海鮮) located near to 六張犁 train station.

I highly recommend dishes such as 蒼蠅頭 (Stir fried chopped chives with chili), 苦瓜鹹蛋 (Bitter gourd with salted egg), 五更腸旺 (Duck's blood and pig intestine), and 煎豬肝 (Fried pig liver).

If you visit Taipei, please do yourself a favor and report at this restaurant to get served with a delicious meal.

It’s been so long since my last visit to Jiufen and I was fortunate to be able to finally step into the wonderous world of Spirited Away with a visit to the famous A-Mei Teahouse 阿妹茶樓 which serves as the inspiration for Yubaba's building. I love the tranquil atmosphere early in the morning before tourists arrive and occupy the entire street.

After spending the morning at A-Mei Teahouse 阿妹茶樓, it was time to eat my way through the streets though my enthusiasm was curbed due to the long queues. In the end, I only managed to have small bites at two stores before making my way back to town for a proper meal.