a little bite of everything

A Brazilian & Lebanese brunch

This is an unsual place, owned by an unsual couple, full of unusual people. First, the place. The restaurant is decorated with style: an imposing bar, neo-baroque chairs, colourful walls and adjacent tables. It's famous for its wild ambience on soccer games nights, as much as for its hype Saturday night parties. Now the couple. Lydie from France and Edouard from Lebanon met in Brazil and combined their respective cooking talent and people skills to open the only restaurant in Paris that dares to offer a double menu (Brazilian dishes on one side and Lebanese on the other side of the menu). Finally chances are, you're going to be seated next to Brazilian journalists, artists, film makers or French models and actors. All of them are friends or relatives of the couple. Even on your first visit, you'll be treated as a friend. Then you'll go back again and you'll surely become a fan, and a friend. On top of that, the magnificent all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch (including orange juice and mint tea) only costs 24 euros.

L’Area

10 rue des Tournelles

Paris, France

A moqueca de Peixe

A moqueca is Brazilian seafood stew made of dende oil and coconut milk. Like many of the typical dishes from Bahia state, moqueca has been influenced by African traditional cuisine. It is usually served with white rice and "farofa de dende" (manioc fried in palm oil), and the indispensable spicy red beans. I remember this dish vividly and fondly, not only because its smell is strong and unusual to me, but also because it felt like a reward after a long, incredible, unexpected journey. There was no Plan A, so I can hardly say that Morere was a Plan B. How did I get there? By taking all the possible public transportation available: fishing boats, tractors, 4x4, horses. When no public transportation was available, I would walk. Traveling under such conditions (no Lonely Planet coverage, no map, no plan, no ATM, 50 euros in my wallet) is an amazing privilege. I didn't find the way to follow, it found me and lead me to this memorable, well-earned meal.

A continental breakfast

I' ve traveled 11 000km to get here and yet, I feel home here. Why do I immediately feel comfortable in some cities and not others? It's easy to understand. Perhaps it's because I have a friend living here. When J. went to Quimbombo for the first time, his first thought was "Sirivan would love this place". The elegant, minimalistic interior reminds me of my own place. There's a view on the city's residential buildings. And the soundtrack is Jack Johnson's album entitled "In between dreams"... indeed, the place has instant appeal to me. The breakfast is just fine. Fresh, refilling, varied, cheap (to European standards, ie 5 euros) and nicely served. You could also try one of the tasty Indian or Thai-inspired vegetarian dishes. Ambience is casual, chic, cosy. It's place where I can relax and think and write while waiting for my friend to show up. As I said, it feels just like home.

Quimbombo

Costa Rica 4562

Buenos Aires, Argentina

A "nutriceutical" salad

The Nude Restaurant takes great pride in creating authentic "nutriceutical" cuisine that emphasizes nutrition and pharmaceutical benefits. Here’s a sample of it: a well-balanced low-fat salad that is high in fibre and filled with essential minerals, provided for by an abundance of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. I am a huge fan of this "Luang Prabang Salad", not only for its name obviously but also for the lovely Chef who’s created it. The ingredients are the freshest, the sauce is light and flavoursome and all blend together tastes like summer in one’s mouth: totally refreshing. Eating fantastic food prepared by someone who makes you feel as if you were his very special guest while enjoying good live music al frescoe? Perfect happiness.

The Nude Restaurant

Wisma Atria

435 Orchard Road, Singapore