One of my favorite hobbies is eating, so I definitely travel the world to learn and eat great foods.
Food
As a product person myself, I see many correlations between product management and the world of restaurants, from the entire experience to plating and the taste.
These are the places I’ve visited around the world!
Michelin-starred Restaurants
3 Stars
Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau, Switzerland
Geranium in Copenhagen, Denmark
L’Effervescence in Tokyo, Japan
Waterside Inn, in Bray, United Kingdom
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester in London, UK
L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Hong Kong
Enrico Bartolini al Mudec in Milan, Italy - visited in 2019 when 2 stars
2 Stars
Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Terrytown, NY - is the best Michelin place in the US!
JAAN in Singapore
Restaurant Allen in Seoul, Korea
Mingles in Seoul, Korea
Comme Chez Soi in Brussels, Belgium
D.O.M. in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Aquavit in NYC - the Arctic Bird’s Nest is what you go here for!
Pujol in CDMX - visited in 2017 before they became a Michelin
Quintonil in CDMX - visited in 2017 before they became a Michelin
1 Star
Pavillon in Zurich, Switzerland
Lyle’s in London
MIKLA in Istanbul, Turkey - also visited before they got the 1 star in 2018. Always go for lamb here.
7th Door in Seoul, Korea
Shin Yeh in Taipei, Taiwan
Shisen Hanten in Singapore
Candlenut in Singapore
Tim Ho Wan in Hong Kong
Le Pavillon in NYC
Tuome in NYC
Oiji Mi in NYC
Claro BK in Brooklyn
Sepia in Chicago
Sud 777 in CDMX - visited before they got the 1 star in 2017
Kinoshita in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Non-Michelin Favorites
My non-Michelin favs.
Italy
Dongiò in Milan
Ratanà in Milan
Erba Brusca in Milan
Ginmi in Milan
Trippa in Milan
La vita è bella in Como
France
Maison des Tanneurs in Strasbourg
Maison Kammerzel in Strasbourg
Les Haras de Strasbourg in Strasbourg
Rest of Europe
Nüetnigenough in Brussels, Belgium - waited 2 hours in the rain and it was good!
Ristorante La Cucina in Lucerne, Switzerland
Whymper-Stube in Zermatt, Switzerland
Breda in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Restaurant Floreyn in Amsterdam
16th. Marits Eetkamer in Amsterdam
Betty’s in Amsterdam
Broeding in Munich, Germany
32nd. Sesamo in Barcelona, Spain
Langouste in Belgrade, Serbia
Enso in Belgrade, Serbia
Lotiz Lounge & Hookah in Istanbul, Turkey
Singapore
Esquina
Lucha Loco
Burger Labo
Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak
Open Farm Community
South Korea (Seoul)
STAY - used to be a 1-star Michelin place, still a favorite.
Vatos Urban Tacos Itaewon - one of the best tacos in the world outside Mexico and LA, no joke.
Paris Croissant - the mango/orange and Muscat shine tarts are to die for.
Colombia
Leo in Bogota - Interesting concept (FYI no vegetarian/vegan options).
El Chato in Bogota
Pajares Salinas in Bogota
Resturante Rio in Bogota
Cacio & Pepe in Bogota
Criterión in Bogota
Castanyoles in Bogota
CASA in Bogota
Al Agua Patos in Bogota
La Puerta Falsa in Bogota
BACU - one of my favorite spots in Bogota! I go here for lunch most days.
Carmen in Medellin
Restaurante la Provincia in Medellin
La Cevicheria in Cartegena
Malagana Cafe & Bar in Cartegena
Platillos Voladores in Cali
Mexico
Máximo Bistrot in CDMX
Nicos in CDMX
Choza (on Monterrey 194 - this one is hard to find on Google Maps)
Pascal in CDMX
El Vilsito in CDMX - this place upon first glance might give you major sickness but is by far the greatest taco shake in the world.
Rest of Americas
August in New Orleans
Ai Fiori in NYC - visited multiple times when they were 1 star
L'Industrie Pizzeria in Brooklyn - arguably the best pizza in NYC
Chapeau! in SF
Don Julio in Buenos Aires - the best steak house in the world. Just remember to take USD cash there.
I will eventually write a blog about my food adventures. I have several notebooks for each region (e.g., Europe, Asia, NA) and write down my experiences, notes, and thoughts about almost every restaurant experience.
So far out of all the experiences what are the memorable and stands out the most?
Schloss Schauenstein, Geranium, and Waterside Inn (tied)
L’Effervescence
Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Aquavit (tied)
Coffee
My love for coffee started the day I landed in Bogota in early 2017.
Currently, I use:
Chemex (6 and 8 cups)
Nucleus Paragon Pour Over Stand + Chilling Rocks
Acaia Lunar scale (used to use Hario V60 drip scale)
Stagg EKG Pro Studio Edition
Baratza Forté™ BG (I used to use an Encore grinder for many years)
These are my favorite places I source beans:
Colombia
Café San Alberto, Bogota - I really like their Corazon Gesha
Varietale, Bogota
Xue Café, Bogota - I really like their Geisha coffee
Colo Coffee, Bogota
Libertario Coffee, Bogota
Hija Mia, Medellin
Pergamino, Medellin
Urbania, Medellin
I think some of the best coffees come from Colombia!