Listopedia: Billy Law’s Greatest Food Moments

I’m sure we all can agree that food is rather subjective. It’s rather difficult to define one’s greatest food experience since it all depends on personal feelings, tastes and preferences. It can be a romantic candle-lit dinner with a loved one or perhaps a simple home cooked meal with the family; whatever it might be, food will always play a big part in our lives when we sit down and share that memorable dining experience together. So, here are some of my greatest food experiences to date.

Eat fresh and locally – Tasmania, Australia

It is undeniable that some of the best produce in Australia comes from that little ‘apple isle’ down south that we call Tasmania. These days everyone is talking about food sustainability and fresh local produce but Tasmanians don’t just talk about it; they live it. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you where their food came from. Be it oysters from Bruny Island, crayfish from Stanley, salmon from Kingston, organic flour from Callington Mill, cheeses from King Island, prime beef from Cape Grim, crisp apples from Huon Valley or a glass of sparkling from the Tamar Valley, they’ve tried it. It’s not about eating the best, but eating smart with the freshest produce around – that’s makes Tasmania one of the best food destinations. Check out my blogs on Tasmania for more info.

Brunch in Dubai – UAE

Brunching in Dubai can easily be a sporting event worthy of the Olympics. On every Friday (the first day of the Arabic weekend), major hotels throw open their doors and welcome visitors for “champagne brunch”; and I’m not talking about the lazy mid-morning 11am-ish café breakfast/lunch.

Brunch in Dubai is an extreme sport, an exercise in excess, with bottomless buffets and free-flowing alcohol. Even elastic waist pants won’t save your over-indulged soul. The JW Marriott Marquis sets the bar extremely high with an a-la-carte style brunch that includes table service and free-flowing French champagne – not to mention the complimentary panoramic view of the Dubai skyline from the 68th floor.

Street food heaven at Jalan Alor – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Find a greasy table, grab yourself a plastic stool and be prepared to douse yourself in tasty street food at legendary eat street Jalan Alor in Kuala Lumpur.

Back in the 80s this street was once infamous for drugs and prostitution, when the food stalls were set up to provide cheap eats for late night regulars. The council cleaned up the exploitation in the area a long time ago, but the food culture remains. Every night the whole street comes to life. It’s bustling and chaotic; hawkers are competitive and feisty, touting and handing out menus in an attempt to lure you in for a meal.

Apart from the usual satay sticks and char kway teow (stir fried rice noodle); Hokkien noodle, bak kut teh (herbal pork belly hotpot) and grilled stingray are just a few other Malaysian delicacies you should try. There’s always a stall selling durians for those brave enough to give that pungent King of Fruits a go.

Multi-sensory experiences at Alinea – Chicago, USA

The 21-course degustation marathon at 3-Michelin-starred Alinea in Chicago is definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Fine dining can be pretentious and is extremely subjective, so you’ll need an open mind when walking into this restaurant. Be prepared to expect the unexpected. The 4-hour dining experience is simply mind blowing and beyond imagination; from inhaling an edible helium balloon and picking shellfish from a piece of driftwood to scraping dessert off the dining table, each course will flirt with your taste buds and emotions. This memorable experience will set you back around $320 per person (not including wine), but I guarantee you’ll leave the restaurant feeling both bewildered and inspired at the same time.

Home cooking with the less fortunate – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Sometimes the most memorable food experience can be when you least expect it. The best way to eat like a local is to cook with the locals and enjoy the meal together. In Cambodia, apart from submerging oneself in the UNESCO historical sites, it’s wise to take some time out to help the needy. Poverty is a major issue in this part of the world. For just a small donation, it is a privilege to spend a day with landmine victims. Along with learning about daily life, you’re invited into their home to prepare lunch together and taste the simplicity of home cooking. Your kindness will not only put food on their plates but facilitates a money-can’t-buy experience that will inevitably change your perspective of life; it sure did mine.

All you can eat buffet, Wynn Hotel – Las Vegas, USA

The word ‘buffet’ is enough to make some hurl in disgust – unnecessary gluttonous indulgence is not for everyone. I admit I usually don’t go to a buffet expecting exquisite food; it’s about the experience. I’ve sampled hotel buffets around the world, but the one that takes the gong has to be the bigger than Ben Hur buffet at Wynn Las Vegas.

Here you can have your own ‘Man vs Food’ challenge, eating your way through the 15 live-action cooking stations. Yes there is enough food to feed a small village in Africa. Piece of advice, go in for the kill but at the same time, be sensible and only take what you can consume because barf bags are not included. And it’s sad to see the food wastage when visitors leave the whole plate untouched after only a few mouthfuls and then go back for more, simply because they can. Well, you don’t want to be that douche.

Kaiseki dinner at Shibu Onsen – Nagano, Japan

The traditional Japanese village of Shibu Onsen near Nagano is a hot spring resort with more than 1,300 years of history. Many flock here to escape the chaotic city life, exchanging the bustle for serenity and a soak in the remedial hot spring. It’s also a popular spot for photographers keen to capture the snow monkeys in their natural habitat during winter. Soaking aside, a trip to Shibu Onsen isn’t complete without a formal Kaiseki dinner in a traditional ryokan setting, especially at Kokuya Ryokan.

Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course dinner (usually 11 courses). It’s an art form; each course is beautifully presented, with the perfect balance of taste, texture and colour. The Kaiseki dinner menu changes according to the seasons, with strong emphasis placed on local produce and regional specialties.

Food carts in Portland – USA

Food carts or food trucks are still relatively new-ish here in Australia, but if you want to embrace the whole food cart culture, then Portland in Oregon is where you want to be. More than 600 food carts (and counting) roam (mostly parked) around the whole CBD, so it’s almost impossible to go hungry in this city.

Unlike other cities’ mobile food trucks, most food carts here in Portland are actually parked at permanent locations in groups dubbed “pods”, similar to hawker stalls in Asia countries. The food choices are endless, from sandwiches and burgers to Thai, Korean and Egyptian. The only limitation will be your stomach space.