Cafe Boheme, Cannes, Southern France

Noticed this new comer in Cannes and gave it a try. Was impressed and a few days later I brought my colleagues to try it. I took their dinner set at around Euros 36+. I chose a half dozen of live oysters as appetizer. So fresh that it has some crunchy texture. So as to make it less guilty, I ordered a side order for a green salad. Then I took a veal escallop as main course. Very tender and a very nice rocket salad with light olive/lemon dressing. Check photo 6 grilled tuna. It's the best tuna steak I have ever tried! Note that there isn't any sauce on it, simply because it's so fresh. I took their house made ice cream. Very nice texture and not so sweet. Their creme brulee is very aromatic. I'll put this new restaurant in my future eating agenda in Cannes.

Au Riche-Lieu restaurant, Cannes, Southern France

This restaurant is one of the very few that I have seen them still surviving in business. It also reminded me of a very good old business friend. He brought me to this restaurant 15 years ago, as he knew that I like small run restaurants. I recall we shared some comments and one is still fresh to me as "don't look down on small and new restaurants, as we were also small and once young. Looking down them means looking down our past.". He was a very senior person and often told me not to stress out myself since he noticed on my hectic meeting schedules in Cannes. He saw his younger time from my shadow making him recall how he was way back in the 70's of Cannes. He sighed "I did make much money but now I use this money for medicine to live on. You have to grab your time to see things other than your job....". I used to buy him some ginseng products on those years of trips to Cannes. Unfortunately for some reason, he got serious sick 10 years ago and we lost contact....

This restaurant Au Riche-Lieu serves some very local dishes. During lunch time, they have a Euros 9.5 lunch set for a main course plus coffee. FYI, taking one main course in many restaurants in Cannes can cost at around Euros 12-20. Tried their steak (photo 1) and seafood pie (photo 2). Both are superb, especially in considering the price. This restaurant is a very solid professional cooking uncle to me after all these years.

Lunch break at Domaine Lintillac, Rue St. Augustin, Paris

When my sister was about to have her Summer European trip and that they will have Paris as the last stop of the trip, I strongly urged them to come to this restaurant (near Opera House) in Paris. They spent some time on looking for the restaurant though I drew them a map for the location (as the streets in Paris are in diverse directions). They told that the shop was so nice to welcome them even it's close to 2pm for lunch. Also they got recommended to try their super bargain lunch set at about Euros20 something, covering an appetizer, main course, dessert, cafe and a glass of wine. All these can cost over Euros70-80 at this restaurant. I am so glad that they visited this one and really miss their duck dishes and foie gras on toast. Their pan fried potatoes with duck fat and sea salt is very nice! Their choco. mouse is awesome too.

Back to Mine with my best friends, at Le Normandie, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Finally I could bring my high school friends to this place. I was under the pressure if Le Normandie could deliver a good job. On the food, it did and surprisingly it's in quite a big portion as compared to the past. The lobster bisque (photo 8), foie gras mango mouse (photo 6) are awesome. However, there was a slight mistake. They often mixed up the ordering of the dishes to be served. Though for the first round, they claimed "they won't do it wrong", but then the mistake repeated. Anyway, this isn't a big deal but since I was responsible for the group, I gotta bring it up for the manager's attention. The manager responded quickly to the issue and so as to make up for the mistakes they offered some dessert wine. The group didn't take wine. So he came up with a raspberry sorbet. Again, while we act to be a reasonable complainer, we ought to be a considerate customer. So we enjoyed the sorbet. This place is still my favourite.

2011 Spring Review: Le Beaulieu, soi 19 Sukhumvit BKK

If you prefer some savoury Southern French cuisine, Le Beaulieu is a good place for you. It serves some 3 course lunch menu ranged from about THB599 to 799++. Price-wise, it's a bit more expensive but in terms of size, a bit more filling. This time they surprised me with a big appetizer Tuna on veggie salad with horseradish dip. Furthermore, the grilled tiger prawn in risotto with lobster sauce is very nice. Some very nice white truffle oil is in it, bringing some magic to the dish. Dessert and coffee in such a nice Southern France (Mediterranean) eating environment, especially on a sunny afternoon.