Flutes at the National Museum, Singapore

On a previous trip to Singapore I remember loving Flutes at the Fort, so on my most recent visit I decided to book it again. I had my whole family with me, and I was looking forward to the laid back atmosphere of the Queenslander style building I'd enjoyed so much before. We had my niece with us, who is just under 18 months old, so a relaxed lunch with a nice outdoor area was going to be perfect.

Taking the taxi to Flutes, I started getting the impression that I was headed to a slightly different place. After walking around the museum, and through the gift shop, I found out to my surprise that I'd booked a different restaurant all-together to what I was expecting. At the time I wasn't sure the story here - whether Flutes moved, or whether there are now 2 Flutes.... As it turns out, the restaurant moved locations in 2013 as a way of 'coming out' as a hidden treasure. We happily sat down in a beautiful white space and proceeded to enjoy a great afternoon!

The Singapore National Museum is a charming colonial-style building which has been lovingly modernised, sitting in the hillside of Fort Canning. The high ceilings, modern lighting and white walls make the whole place feel majestic and historically significant, yet uncluttered. Flutes has a wonderful mix of modern and classic, with unique colourful artwork, crisp white linen and french style cabinetry. The dining hall is flooded with light, and backs onto a floral courtyard (very handy when baby needed some chill-out time to fall asleep!)

We ordered champagne to celebrate (by the bottle - the per-head brunch special is $90SGD for all you can drink! Too rich for me.... and potentially too much champers :-)) and all settled in to select our 3 course set lunches. I started with a light salad and then a pasta dish. They were light and tasty - perfect for lunch. We finished with a desert platter for the table to share. A celebration for my graduation.... lucky girl am I.

The lunch was very nice, however didn't leave a lasting impression of innovation or flavour. Good food done well, and a beautiful atmosphere. We may need to try dinner again to enjoy all the pleasures Flutes has to offer.

Add: The National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd
Tel: +65 6338 8770
Web: http://www.flutes.com.sg

Skylon, London, England

Last time I was in London, I spent a long day wandering the streets, enjoying every little nook and cranny. It's a beautiful city, even in the rain, with plenty of parks to explore and creative sights to see. But after a day in the town, I was feeling a bit worn out, and needed to retreat from the street. I was meeting a friend for drinks later that evening, and decided to take a quite moment for dinner at the South Bank Centre beforehand.

For those of you who know South Bank, you may be thinking: "a quiet moment?". True - it's a buzzy place, with students chatting, people plugged into their iThings on every ledge, public music and theatre (some hot, and some in my opinion... not), families with balloons and babies en masse, and at this particular time there was a food festival on outside, so there were plenty of 20-30-40 somethings enjoying the afternoon sun with their plastic cups of beer in hand. It's a great community site, but nevertheless, I was in the mood for a quieter place to recharge my introvert batteries.

Skylon's Grill menu had exactly what I was looking for. A nice veggie ravioli with pine nuts and pumpkin, a side salad of kale, and a glass of wine to ease me into the evening. Because I didn't have a reservation, I couldn't sit and try the usual a-la-carte menu, but on first glance the smaller grill menu seemed to have more veggies anyway. The service was lovely, and because it was early evening I practically had the place to myself, except for a few couples quietly chatting. I remember beautiful flowers, and of course a lot of light - one whole side of the restaurant opens up onto the Thames.

This is a gem, right in the middle of one of the most popular spots for weekend festivities and the arts in London. There's not a lot of veg choice, but what I had was done well, and perfectly timed as far as my own collisions with restaurants in the universe goes. I'll be back again.

Add: Royal Festival Hall, London
Tel: +44 020 7654 7800
Web: http://www.skylon-restaurant.co.uk 

Hostellerie La Briqueterie, Vinay, France

If you're planning an excursion to Epernay to taste the champagne, I can certainly reccommend  Hostellerie La Briqueterie as a charming hotel. You're right amongst the vines, and the hotelier is a real gentleman. If however, you happen to be a vegetarian and wish to eat in their acclaimed hotel, you'll be well-advised to brace yourself.

When we booked the restaurant a few weeks ahead, I said: "I'm a vegetarian. Will the chef be able to make something for me?" to which I received a resounding 'yes'. When we checked in, again I mentioned at reception: "I'm a vegetarian. Can you please remind the chef we're coming this evening? I'm happy to try anything in season that they wish to make", to which I received reassurance that it was no big deal. I'd had some apprehension about being veggie in France (I'd gone vegan for lent, but luckily that 5-6 week period was finished just before we arrived in Paris. Not eating cheese OR meat in France might have made the whole trip simply impossible! :-)). I really felt like I was going to offend someone by not eating meat here... I wonder why? Nevertheless, I felt I'd given enough notice that I was coming, so surely they'd be able to rustle up a couple of French veggie dishes for me...

Anyway, my concerns of being an alien in a foreign land had been soothed and we set out for a beautiful day of champagne tasting. It wasn't too busy in Epernay and the sun was shining - we had our pick of the champagne houses, and got a good education on 'real' bubbles from the locals! If I wasn't already a convert, I certainly returned back to the hotel that night as a true believer in the medicinal powers of champagne.

We sat in the traditional restaurant, which is a large round room with beautiful bay windows and heavy drapery. The style is older and has more gold gilt and tassels than the usual place I would find myself... but, when in France, right? The waitress introduced herself, and we easily agreed to have another glass of champagne to start off.

All was going well, until... well, as I'm sure you can guess, since I've been leading up to it through this whole post... I 'reminded' her that I was vegetarian, and that I'd messaged ahead to the kitchen. She looked equally panicked and revolted at the same time, and then quickly regained her cool before leaving us to consult with the kitchen. A few moments later she returned, and it was immediately apparent that they didn't have anything up their sleeve. "Do you eat fish?" she asked. I replied that I don't (I found that my definition of 'meat' and the French definition are different... where I mean "all colours" they mean "red and white"...). She was muddled and was thinking what could be done for me in this impossible situation when the Matre'd came over and offered to assist. He was a very large, but young man, who had been chatting with us about our champagne. The waitress explained in French: "She doesn't eat meat" to which he replied, also in French: "Then tell her to go outside and eat the Tulips"....

Here's a picture of the Tulips outside, which I'd been enjoying earlier that day....

I scoffed with embarrassment. To which he said in English: "Oh, you understand me?" I guess English and French aren't so different after all.... yes, I understood.

They re-consulted with the kitchen, and I was served an entrée and a main which were both lovely, but essentially remodelled from the same ingredients, key of which was buttery mashed potato. The meal was nice, but clearly they were scratching together a few side dishes and essentially gave me the same thing twice.

My friend had a foie gras mouse, and said it wasn't as good as she'd expected. Knowing what foie gras is, I was trying to think of a way to gently encourage her not to order it in the moment, but I was so flabbergasted by my own experience that I let it slide for another day. How do you say that to a friend without making them embarrassed and wrecking the conversation anyway? Hopefully since she didn't like it in the end, perhaps a duck somewhere in this world will benefit without me having to be high and mighty at the dinner table.

Overall, what can I say? I tried to warn them I was coming.... since then I've eaten plenty of nice French-style vegetarian meals, so I don't know what the big fuss is about. Perhaps if you're a meat-eater places like this can fly through on pomp and circumstance. Ask them to be inventive, and you have little chance of dinner being a contributing factor to your nice evening. Luckily I was still blissed out on champers and the conversation with my best friend carried us through....

Add: 4 Rte de Sezanne, 51530 Vinay, France
PH: + 33 3 26 59 99 99
Web: http://www.labriqueterie.fr/en/table.html

Tamarind Hill, Singapore

This is one of the best experiences I've had in Singapore.

The best thing about Tamarind Hill... the food, decor and hospitality are all impeccable, but the DESERT was my favourite. More on that to come...

The most troubling thing about Tamarind Hill: finding the place! I made the mistake of catching the MTR to the Labrador station - it looks pretty close on the map! However after walking around for a while, making a few calls to my Husband who was already sitting there waiting for me (he had caught an Uber taxi there, and he and the driver had also explored the area for a while before getting lucky). I finally asked some taxi drivers who were standing around - they didn't know where it was, but they were convinced it wasn't walking distance, so I jumped in the cab with one of them and we went hunting for my dinner. At first he dropped me off at the back kitchen door (where I was refused entrance :-)) so he kindly drove me another 40 meters or so around the front, and then watched me walk inside before he drove off. It really was a strange experience getting there, but as soon as I stepped inside it was all worth it.

Tamarind Hill is an old colonial building, with extensive verandahs and an impressive central bar with piqued roof. Everything is white with small details and quirks to be found around every corner. The beautiful hardwood floors creak with each step, and the law lighting creates a perfectly ambient mood. The lemongrass cocktail waiting for me on arrival was the perfect welcome before we moved out to sit on the wide verandah and enjoy the Singapore breeze.

The vegetarian menu was quite extensive. There was a page of options, all Thai curry style, and beautifully presented. We stared with rice paper rolls with apple and mint. These were fresh, and I'd say just fine. The menu description had my mouth watering for them, but actually without the sweet chilli they would have been left wanting. But we had a treat in store for our mains.

Lush green beans, chunky tofu and creamy curry never go amiss in my books! We enjoyed a red and a green curry, served with garlic rice and a beautiful white wine. We ate Chinese style, from shared bowls across pressed white linen napery, and the hostess was readily on hand to replenish our fresh rice stocks. Even seeing these photos again takes me back to the warm embrace of the food coma that I was enjoying - not because we were too full or the food was too heavy, but simply because the aromas lulled me into a mid-week relax. Tamarind Hill is known for its beautiful spas around the region too, with a new location opening in Singapore soon. Simply sitting on that wonderful verandah, drinking in the atmosphere and enjoying the subtle spices gave me a sense that this team takes relaxation seriously, down to every little design detail.

Bust as mentioned, desert was the final touch on an already fantastic evening. We ordered a mango dish which was nice, but by comparison to the pink diamond, it simply didn't stand up. I ordered the pink diamond mostly because of the name to be honest, and I was happily surprised to find out that it's a small pink fruit, which I'd describe as a mix between a lychee and a water chestnut. It has crunch and sweetness, and left Mr Lamb and I politely elbowing each other out of the little cup it was served in. 

Once you know where you're going, Tamarind Hill is simply one of the best dining experiences in Singapore. The waitstaff were personal, invisible at all the right times, and had a casualness to them which made the whole concept feel real. I'll certainly be going again - a new favourite, and with so many cousin restaurants around asia to visit too!

Add: 30 Labrador Villa Rd, Singapore

Tel: +65 6278 6364

Web: http://www.tamarindrestaurants.com/tamarind-hill-singapore.html 

Bo.lan, Bangkok, Thailand

Prepare to be wowed. Also... prepare to have smoke blowing out of your ears.

I found myself in Bangkok with my best friend and Mr. Lamb in January. Yep, right in the middle of the political unrest, when International SOS and Australian Smart Traveler were advising us not to go.... We'd had the trip booked for months, as an opportunity to meet up with my friend on a stop-over in Asia. Despite the closed roads and heavy traffic, we were very safe, and actually benefitted by being able to make a couple of last minute reservations - one of them being at Bo.Lan.

Walking in to the cool, dim, open restaurant floor, we were met by beautiful staff demonstrating the best of Thai hospitality. We immediately felt comfortable and excited, even more so when we discovered a vegetarian tasting menu. Fantastic - we'll have three of those. I love those easy decisions when I fell completely welcomed and catered for in a top restaurant. No uncomfortable questions or inconveniences.

We were in Bo.Lan's hands, from speciality martini's to sweets - and at each bight we were wowed by speciality Thai spices and fruits. We'd asked for two 'mild' and one 'medium' heat sets, and each plate resonated with unique flavours, many of which we couldn't put our finger on. When it came to the coconut milk curry, I was salivating and ready to enjoy the creamy, round flavours. I took a nice spoon full.... and had an immediate reaction to the chili. So hot! I think this dish was pre-made and simmering in hot, hot chili for some time. I was immediately embarrassed by my reaction in the middle of this lovely dining room, but I had really been taken by surprise! My weak chili tolerance aside, we were so impressed and enjoyed every moment of this experience. A true recommendation for vegetarians looking to enjoy the best of Thai cuisine.

Add: 42 Sukhumvit 26 Soi Pichai Ronnarong Songkram Klongtoey Bangkok 10110, Thailand ~ MOVING!!
PH: +66 2 260 2962
Web: http://www.bolan.co.th

Yen, Taipei, Taiwan

A trip to Taipei for my birthday, and our 5 year wedding anniversary, was a perfect reason for a booking at Yen, the Cantonese fine dining restaurant at the top of the W Hotel.

Upon making the reservation, we were pleased to know that a vegetarian set menu was available, however when we sat down I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by the list before us. There was fungus, fungus, and white fungus in each and every plate. I actually thought the veggies on the a la carte menu looked more interesting, but was encouraged to stick with the set. So fungus it was.

The stand-out feature at Yen is the view. We were lucky to have a window view, although not looking over the famous Taipei 101. We'd had a nice drink in the bar before hand, and watched the sun go down over the mountains surrounding Taipei. Instead, from our table, we watched the hoards of scooters buzzing around on the streets below. From the arial view, the traffic looks exceedingly uniform and rule-abiding, which seems counter to what you'd expect on a back-drop of a very Chinese looking city. Taipei was wonderful - the people were so friendly, and the Putonghua so clean and easy to listen to. We had a great time walking around, finding our way to various temples and coffee shops. There's a calmness, and an easy buzz to the streets, which are teeming with design stores, food stalls, and leafy, open-air shopping. I reflected on the fact that I could live here happily as we sat and watched, chatting, waiting for our food.

The meal was very nice, and had the characteristic lightness of Cantonese fare. We had blanched vegetables, soup, a rice dish, and yes, plenty of fungus. For a restaurant famous for it's duck, they'd done a nice job of a vegetarian banquet. However I found myself more impressed with the decor and our own company, as opposed to the food itself. The wait staff were friendly and professional, but as we were sitting at the far end of the restaurant we received little attention apart from when new food arrived. A nice evening for sure, but I found myself writing home about the vegetarian restaurants we'd discovered on the streets of Taipei, rather than Yen!

Phone: +886 2 7703 8887
Address: The W Hotel, 31st Floor, 10 Zhongxiao East Rd, Section 5, XinYi District, Taipei
Web: http://www.yentaipei.com/en/

Millennium, San Francisco, USA

A quick google search tells you that Millennium is a vegetarian institution in San Francisco. History seems to tell us that it was the first fine dining vegan restaurant of note in the area. Having read some other reviews on the place, we were eager to try it out for ourselves.

Millennium is on the ground floor of a hotel in downtown SF. Even though we had a booking, we waited for 15 minutes or so in the hotel lobby, which doubles as the entrance to the restaurant. It's cosy and a little dated. The other diners looked equally as intrigued and hungry as us - we were a strange mixed bag huddled in that lobby together! All walks of live come together over good veggie food in Millennium!

Once inside, I got the sense that the restaurant had once been an old Irish pub, or something similar. The big bar in the centre of the room is a feature, and they seem to have attempted to strip some of the pub feel back by draping curtains. It was an odd mix, but somehow just added to my sense of the ad hoc experience.

Our waitress was European, with plaits curled around the back of her head, and had no sense of humour at all. She reprimanded me for not speaking loudly enough when I ordered, but then she seemed to soften up after that. So much for all vegetarians being jolly, life-loving souls. Turns out we take all types!

Due to said waitress I was too scared to take pictures of my food, at risk of enduring another reprimand from this quirky institution that seems to take itself quite seriously, so hence this is a very straight forward post! The food was nice and imaginative, and we left full and satisfied. I can say I've had better, but I've also had worse. Nothing to write too much of a post about...

Being in Millennium, I sensed it was all vegan hype - I know what it's like to have mediocre standards, simply because you want to be encouraging of the movement, but at some point we need to be honest that it's just not that great by broader industry standards. Power to the vegan fine dining establishments, and more of them I say! Perhaps that will make places like Millennium a little more competitive on decor and service, rather than just resting on the niche of being a vegan haunt. It's touted as fine dining, and you're asked to dress nicely, but apart from some nice food it's really not worth the online reputation it enjoys (humble opinion!).

Give it a go if you're vegan, in town, and keen to see for yourself, but there are true fine dining restaurants out there in SF who I found will gladly accommodate you with some notice.

Add: 580 Geary St, San Francisco, CA
PH: 415-345-3900 
Web: http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/restaurant/index.html 

Townhall, San Francisco, USA

Town Hall is amazing. After some hit-and-miss experiences in SF, Town Hall came through with the goods for an awesome date night with Mr. Lamb.

We had a fantastic experience, from the online booking right through to the time we finished off our night caps and whistled out the door.

Despite having a menu heavily focused on meat, the kitchen seemed more than happy to build 3 vegetarian courses for us (we'd told them we are veggie while booking, which was just the same day, and they didn't batt an eyelid about making up a special request). Looking at the menu, there were quite a few options for starters, so it was just the mains we had to get creative with. We arrived to soup and salad, had a great rice dish, and enjoyed old-fashioned cocktails made with flair all the way through.

I admit, we were pretty limited for main course options, but the great food and buzzy atmosphere made a fantastic evening for us. We didn't get a sense of their creole speciality (evidently their fried chicken is not-to-be-missed for meat eaters!) but knowing creole isn't the most veggie-friendly of cuisines, this was to be expected. Would love to see someone do vegetarian creole come to think of it! The smells and spices make me jealous!

Town Hall has a beautiful interior, with exposed bricks, and feature bar, and warm atmosphere. Tables are fairly close together, and people seem to go here for good cheer and hearty food, so it can get fairly loud - all adding to the vibrant experience. Definitely recommend!

Add: 342 Howard St, San Francisco, CA
PH: (415) 908-3900
Web: http://www.townhallsf.com/