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| • Dear Food Lover |
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| Thailand's Northeast Isan region tantalizes with the flavors of neighboring Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. |
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| Its food is some of the kingdom's best -- from delicious gai yang grilled chicken, to som tom green papaya salad, herbal tom som curry, delicious jaeow chili jams, and all served with glutinous or sticky rice (pictured above). |
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Khon Kaen, Isan's largest city, plays host to next year's Isan Food Festival & Thai Cuisine Masterclass weekend. To coincide with these World First events, Globetrotting Gourmet® has VIP reservations in March '08. The Sofitel Raja Orchid, host of the masterclass, is a veritable oasis of luxury, and we count it among our personal favorite hotels! "Worth a detour," as Michelin would say. Details are progressively posted on the festival's wesite: www.isanfoodfestival.com
THAI TASTINGS FoodTOUR MARCH 7-16, '08 CLICK HERE
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• JAPAN |
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 Michelin Guide publishes its first guide to Tokyo restaurants in November. Its debut comes amid moves by the Japanese government to judge overseas restaurants billing themselves as authentic Japanese, but who would fail rigorous standards applied back in Japan. Our advice: taste for yourself, and go to Japan NOW, while the Yen is artificially low. It's set to rise like a rocket. |
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• BURMA EATS |
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After returning from Burma/Myanmar in January, we readily agree that it's one of Asia's best travel destinations. Still undiscovered by mass tourism --but that is changing quickly -- and it certainly boasts the friendliest people. We personally see how tourism dollars helps transform the impoverished lives of so many there, but for those concerned about Myanmar's economic embargo, read
River of Lost Footsteps by Thant Myint-U.
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| During Burma on a Plate, we were especially impressed with chef Boris Grange's cooking at Le Planteur, and his New Year's Eve menu of Swiss-French delights like foie gras, gravlax, lobster and beef fillet. And we adore his wine list - certainly the best in the country, and better than most in Bangkok! www.leplanteur.com |
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In April, Boris plans moving from his garden setting in the capital's suburbs, to fresh premises in town. Stay tuned. As well, our group inaugurated Boris' new eatery on Inle lake, in the country's hinterlands. The Viewpoint serves "enlightened" Shan fare, from huge "boats" filled with individual bowls of local specialities. Very smart, and delicious. We were so chuffed, we're returning in March '08 to celebrate Buddhist lunar festivities. On our final evening, our food group feasted in style at The Strand, the country's oldest and most celebrated hotel. There, dynamic young chef Sandro Zimmermann wowed us with quail stuffed with an onion-turmeric farce, pomelo sorbet and chips, and a passion fruit demi glace with grilled okra, just to name a few highlights. Join us next year, when our group returns to The Strand -- for both lodging and meals!
CLICK HERE FOR BURMA TASTINGS DETAILS, MARCH 17-22, 2008 |
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• DIET |
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| Failing to loose weight? Try blaming the container, instead of its food. Mounting evidence on "endocrine disrupters" links obesity to PVCs, plus certain fungicides and synthetic hormones. Research is still controversial, but a Japanese study found a correlation between fat build up and exposure to bisphenol-A in plastic bottles. Even extremely low concentrations of common synthetic chemicals may alter genes' activity, interfering with the body's ability to deal with glucose in the blood. Many scientists contend that caloric intake and exercise levels have not changed sufficiently over the past two decades to explain today's obesity epidemic. |
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• HALAL |
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 Halal can be loosely described as the Moslem equivalent of Jewish Kosher. Its dietary proscriptions include pork and alcohol, but new evidence also links it to improved health. “It’s time to project Halal food as better for everyone, not just Muslims, as is misunderstood,” concludes the first International Halal Science Symposium, held in Bangkok last September. Its rituals specify bleeding during slaughter, and less blood in the carcass means slower bacterial growth. Surprisingly, in a nation of some 96 per cent Buddhists, 70 percent of Thailand's meat is Halal. Unlike Kosher, it does not require a religious official's certification. |
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• CAMBODIA |
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| Siem Reap, home to Ankor Wat, is a great destination. But the capital's abandonment 500 years ago is still a mystery. Why did its 700,000 inhabitants go? University of Sydney archaeologists speculate the empire collapsed from a water crisis, during the transition from the Medieval Warm Period (AD 1000-1270) to the Little Ice Age (1350-1850). Which is unsettling, if not surprising. Siem Reap's rapid growth from humble hamlet to city, leaves its water table today at risk. Because the water main is undependable, new hotels (and other businesses) regularly pipe in directly to aquifers, but experts worry this may cause temples to sink and collapse. Or worse. We hear rumors that some hotels "bleach" water before piping it to paying clients. Close your eyes in the shower! |
| And on another vein, Siem Reap's prestigious One. Only one hotel room, of pure luxury, in the heart of the market district. |
| Since its opening almost two years now, it's rated highly in international publications from Conde Nast Traveller, to Wallpaper, and Luxe. We now hear from proprietor Martin Dishman that he's expanding, and while One remains branded in exclusive singularity, two new hotel rooms will be on offer under a different name and pricing. There's also a planned wine emporium, boutiques and gallery. It's only at the planning stage, but contracts have been signed. Remember, you read it here first! www.theonehotelangkor.com and www.lingabar.com |
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• COFFEE |
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Move over East Timor. While the world’s newest state boasts great coffee beans, new competition comes from remote Laos. Resurrected plantations on the Boloven Plateau, centered around Pakse in the south, are ideal. These grounds haven't seen a harvest since French colonial days, and newly meet a world-wide demand for terroir-based beans. Add a cool micro-climate with plenty of rain, and you’ve got the perfect perk.
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• BAGGAGE WEIGHT |
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Round the world passengers, beware: Your 32 kg/70 lbs per bag allowance can be invalidated by individual airlines -- even those in the same loyalty program. After numerous complaints, British Airways has rescinded its new 22 kg/50 lb per bag guidelines -- but only for six months. Worse, US carriers have already lowered domestic weights on check-in bags, and some on international routes as well. Considering the average empty suitcase weighs 7 kg, there's little left for contents! Coincidentally U.S. airline passenger's complaints about lost or mishandled baggage jumped more than 80 percent last year.
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• UPCOMING |
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Join us Thailand & Burma/Myanmar March 6-22, 2008
VIP reservations at the world first Isan Food Festival plus masterclass weekend in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Learn from the kingdom's top chefs & culinary authorities! Plus silk weaving & ancient Khmer temples Visit Hua Hin, royalty's official summer residence; see the colorful Floating Market; taste Phetchaburi's famous desserts; learn about tropical fruits & vegetables at Bangkok's largest food market; day trip to ancient Nakorn Pathom. Accommodation at 5-star Sofitel Raja Orchid in Khon Kaen, host of the masterclass sessions; Sofitel Central Hua Hin; guaranteed deluxe upgrades at Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok Join our 5-day Burma Tastings to colonial Rangoon/Yangon, staying at The Strand hotel.
Fly to colorful Buddhist lunar celebrations on Inle Lake: Pindaya's cave festival, home to 8000 Buddhas; the colonial hill station Kalaw; Kakku's colorful party held amongst its ancient orchard of stupas.
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| further details on www.asianfoodtours.com |
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• IN OUR NEXT ISSUE |
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| Chicago Eats, Singapore Slings & Thai Tongue Tantilizers... |
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Cheers,
Robert & Morrison |
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