Cafe Central | SIEM REAP

Before each New Year, I look back at my journal and write a recap. It usually consists of how I feel about the year coming to a close & a new one beginning, my most memorable moments & significant events and things I was most grateful for. The last part of my entry is dedicated to goals and continuous dreams -if they haven't come true yet!- for the New Year. Each year there's a section about travel, I always want to visit new cities and explore new corners of the world with either J, my family or my bestest friends. Lucky me, 2 weeks into 2012 and I'm already visiting a new city -country, actually!- with my best friend.

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

My trip started off with VIP service, Aileen was at the international airport in a tuk-tuk ready and waiting for my arrival. There's a very comforting feeling being greeted by a familiar face in a sea, and city, of strangers. I spotted my bestie right away and we were off to our hotel in a matter of minutes. We didn't stay long as it was getting a bit late and we didn't want to waste any time... The plan for the night was to feel out the Old Market area and find a restaurant to have dinner at. After walking around, we decided on Cafe Central - a spacious, breezy all day cafe. Their menu has everything from the usual breakfast suspects, coffee -my favorite Illy!-, options for hearty or light lunches, great snackies, cocktails and lots of choices for the dinner crowd. Aileen and I shared a bacon/chicken/broccoli pizza and the mezze platter, both of which we finished with ease ;)

KU DE TA | Bali

Ku De Ta always seems to make it on the "list" when people ask what to do/where to go in Bali... For good reason, too! Ku De Ta is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your vacation. This beach club in hip spot Seminyak is a restaurant/lounge/bar all rolled into one (in my opinion, they are lacking a pool, i hope they get one). Jon and I went during the day, we were lucky and snagged the cabana lounge chairs right as a couple was leaving. We ordered some drinks and a pizza from their grazing menu. Our Romeo & Juliet pizza -grilled zucchini, white anchovy, dried chili, candied lemon parmesan- was served on a wooden board, we didn't have to move an inch from our perfect sunspot. Ahhhh, vacation :)

Pizzeria Mozza | SINGAPORE

Fun {italian} Facts from MOZZA

Pizzeria Mozza | SINGAPORE

From LA to MARINA BAY -- Oh you fancy huh!!

PIZZERIA MOZZA

Vergnano Italian | MACAU

It's nice to know that Dad thought "the kids" were decent enough to bring to dinner with some business colleagues. It was the one night where no dinner meetings were held, so everyone was free to plan their own evening. We went to an Italian restaurant in the heart of St Mark's square; the area of the hotel where the ceilings are painted to replicate the sky and the canals are built to make you feel as if you're enjoying an al fresco meal in Venice. A fun, vacation-like atmosphere indeed. Jon, Chris and I sat at the end of a long table - so we were kind of in our own world, talking about our own thang. I got the chance to blog about our food; not everyone else's. Pictures below :)

Jon, Chris & I got a pizza to share for appetizer... 4 Cheese

Chris got Lobster Risotto, one of his fave dishes when eating out

Got myself a big bowl of Angel Hair Aglio Oglio

Jon got a nice cut of steak... Chris and I helped him finish this

Thanks for the family pic, Jon! PS this was not in the St. Mark's Square area.

Keste Pizzeria | NYC

If you're going on a pizza tour in NYC -how fun does that sound!- you best make sure you stop at Keste. My friend Rich told me about this pizzeria; he went with a chef friend who was doing some research on the best pizza in the city. Now, it's Rich's go-to spot for pizza. That's saying a lot, he's an avid foodie that just happens to live a block away from Lombardi's... Anyways, back to Keste. They have a sick oven in the back - all the pizzas are made fresh to order. I can't even type this whole blog post without acknowledging the pizza craving I have right now... All I want is the buratta pizza! Take me back!

Tomatoes, Artichoke, Mushroom, Mozzarella

Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Prosciutto di Parma, Basil

Burrata, Cherry Tomatoes, Basil

K

K is for Kitchen [Greenbelt 3]

*First blogged on my Powersnet account

ARIA | BORACAY

My favorite restaurant on the island : ARIA

[i've blogged about it before here]