I've missed this blog space so much! I last blogged about the end of my babymoon. Now that baby is here, and life is finally getting back to some degree of normal, I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences again.

A couple of months back, my husband and I went to Nozawa. It's a cute little sushi bar inside Sugarfish, a fairly large sushi restaurant in Beverly Hills. Nozawa only does an omakase menu. There are about 10 seats, so the sushi chef is very attentive. He also happened to have a great sense of humor. The courses kept coming, until I was literally stuffed. I thoroughly enjoyed the scallop, albacore, toro, and skipjack. Skipjack, which I'd never had before, is in the tuna family. It was buttery and delicious. The sushi rice, by the way, was melt in your mouth perfection. The lobster hand roll was also a standout.

More recently, I tried Coni'Seafood with some friends and neighbors who'd been raving about it (the punctuation is theirs). Clearly, I was late to the party. Coni is a tucked into a nondescript corner of Inglewood, but the first thing I noticed was a wall full of accolades from the likes of Jonathan Gold and LA Weekly. Good start. The food was phenomenal. The ceviche was yummy, and I could have eaten two orders of the marlin tacos. I also tried (and loved) aguachile--raw shrimp marinated with lemons and peppers. My favorite though, was what I will call el grande pescado. A huge grilled fish served with onions, limes, and tortillas. It was really some of the best fish I've ever had--equal parts flaky and flavorful. It was more than enough for our party of four to enjoy.

Nozawa and Coni both have a permanent spot in my Los Angeles restaurant Hall of Fame. I can't wait to go back. More to come!

Bali is a gorgeous and fascinating place...the beaches and culture are intoxicating. The food was good, overall, but there were definitely a few standout experiences. In addition to fantastic views, Ku de Ta in Seminyak had great gourmet pizzas and amazing lamb tacos. 

Brunch at the St. Regis was on another level. The Sunday Brunch at the resort's KayuPuti restaurant was unlike any I've seen before or since. Aperitifs, champagne, and canapes start before brunch officially begins. Guests are first served caviar, then freshly baked bread, followed by an elaborate charcuterie. There is an oyster course, a soup course, a salad course. There are ceviches and tartars, followed by a sushi and sashimi selection (which sadly, I couldn't enjoy). Then there is a foie gras course...yes, course! Prime rib and cheeses are brought tableside. Each guest then makes a pasta selection, and a main course selection (including lamb chop, peking duck breast, and fresh seafood selections). Of course, any good brunch ends with great desserts. It was so delicious and filling that it was a struggle to check out and get to the airport immediately afterwards. I know where I'll be on any given Sunday in Bali...

Cambodia is a must-see for the celebrated historical sites, like Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Both worth seeing, for sure. Quite honestly, I wouldn't spend more than a few days in the country. I can't rave about the food or the natural beauty, although I have tremendous respect for the Cambodian people and what they've endured. 

I did have the interesting experience of seeing Phare, the Cambodian circus. Located in an open-air space in Siem Reap, the circus has become a big draw. The performers, all local talent, are impressive. I enjoyed the acrobatics and pyrotechnics. The concession stand was also a favorite. The popcorn was pretty good, and the local ice cream was outstanding. If you do find yourself in Siem Reap for a night or too, I'd suggest going.

I had no idea what to expect in Vietnam. I'd heard a lot of good things, and a few bad. Without any warning or expectation, I fell madly in love with Hanoi. It is a completely unique city, both European and quintessentially Vietnamese, stunningly beautiful yet still gritty at times. 

More than anything else (including the gorgeous buildings, friendly residents, and widespread availability of inexpensive tailors making custom made clothing) , I became addicted to the food. I like Vietnamese food stateside, but this was on another level. The crab and asparagus soup and the steamed snowfish at Ly Club were both incredible. My overall favorite was the cheap and cheerful New Day, where my husband and I had a field day. The cucumber and tomato salad was fresh and delicious, the fried noodle with prawn was suitably yummy, and the sweet and sour soft shell crab was genius. Of course, you can't leave Vietnam without having banh mi. Banh Mi 25, a cart on a nondescript street, was the best I've ever had. The bread was so fresh, and each component was perfectly selected, coming together to make the sandwich of all sandwiches.

When leaving Hanoi, I was asked when I planned on returning. Without hesitation, I replied "soon."

Thailand is a culturally rich land with natural wonders and ornate temples...but let's face it, who doesn't love Thai food? 

Bangkok has delicious seafood, especially crab. Curry crab was one of my favorites, but black pepper crab trumped them all. My good friend had recommended Sornthong Pochana, and she was soooo right! It was so good that one wasn't enough. Sornthong also had some of the best mango with sticky rice, the perfect dessert to cap it all off.

I wasn't as wowed by the food in Chiang Mai, but I enjoyed visiting the local markets. The food at the tiny restaurants in the market was better than anything I had outside. 

I would say I miss Thai food, but thankfully I live in a city full of yummy Thai restaurants.

Kyoto is now one of my favorite cities in the world. I loved every minute of my experience there. It is beautiful, well-designed, and full of culinary delights. 

The department stores in Japan are like none other. They are gigantic, sometimes seven to ten floors, with everything you can imagine...from the highest end designer goods to local delicacies. I especially loved Takashimaya, where I enjoyed soba noodles on the top floor and candies and chocolates on the bottom floor. I can't overemphasize the variety--every type of candy you could possibly imagine, all in one very large, very upscale basement.

Snacking in Kyoto was a pleasure. I because addicted to wasabi peanuts. The produce was some of the freshest I've ever tasted. The strawberries were ridiculously sweet and juicy. 

Tripadvisor and just about anyone you speak to will suggest going to a geiko/geisha show. The two words are used interchangeably in Kyoto, where the tradition is still strong in some areas. My husband and I went to a show, and I have mixed reviews. It is, of course, set up for tourists. The food is not great, and it isn't an authentic Japanese dining experience. On the other hand, the young women spend ten or fifteen minutes interacting with each table, and it was fascinating to ask questions about their training and practices and hear their answers (with some translation). We were still starving afterwards, and we were lucky enough to find some great shabu shabu around the corner. 

Kyoto is also known for wagyu beef. Hafuu Honten was recommended, and it did not disappoint. It was some of the most tender, flavorful beef I've had in my entire life. Eating beef stateside has just not been the same. Tempura is another specialty, and the place to go is Yoshikawa Tempura. Dinner reservations are almost impossible to get, but lunch is first-come, first served. I like tempura generally, but I've never been crazy about it. If I had a Yoshikawa nearby, I would eat tempura at least every few days. The chef reigned over our table of ten, doling out flavorful, fresh, and ever-so-delicately fried deliciousness. The meal included local vegetables, pumpkin, fish, and shrimp. The miso soup served with the meal was also very good.

Then there's dessert. I am a fan of old-school soft ice cream (probably because of my Midwestern upbringing and my love of Dairy Queen, but I digress). Kyoto has some of the best. Instead of a standard vanilla, they have a milk flavor. It's creamy and refreshing, without any excessive sweetness. Amazingly, I also found a yummy cookies and cream. Soft ice cream cookies and cream! Who knew?!

I would go back to Kyoto in a heartbeat. Eating my way around the city would be a dream getaway. I should mention that the temples are awe-inspiring, and I side trip to Nara was fascinating. Mostly though,

I ate.

A quick word on Japan's train system...amazing. The trains were clean, fast, and efficient. I even saw Mount Fuji on the way from Kyoto to Tokyo. Highly recommend!

Tokyo is vibrant, interesting, and full of great food. My favorite Tokyo experience was the Tsukiji Fish Market. I wanted to visit the famed tuna auction, but it was a fail. The auction starts at 5:00 a.m., and apparently you have to get there by 3:30 to have a chance of getting in. I enjoyed just walking around and taking in the sights and smells. The market is huge--a large part of it is where commercial fish sales take place, where the ground is wet and the smell is what you expect. Then there are small vendors selling everything from seafood to fruit to coffee to knives. Then there are the restaurants. Sushi breakfast sounds strange, but it is delicious. Since my husband and I were on our babymoon and I have to abide by the fun pregnant lady dietary restrictions, I only had one "cheat" piece. According to my husband, it was all yummy. I can also vouch for the miso soup, which was amazing. 

The Ueno neighborhood is great for lunch. There was a fantastic hole-in-the wall Japanese barbeque place with some of the best pork belly I've ever had. Shibuya is fun for dinner. There was a kobe beef restaurant that was really good (though not as good as kobe beef in Kobe, according to my husband). I was amused and delighted to find a Krispy Kreme in Shibuya after our dinner. I don't know how, but I swear it was better than any Krispy Kreme I've had in the states. 

I didn't get to fully partake in Tokyo's nightlife scene, but the New York Bar at the Park Hyatt was a standout. Despite the cheesy name, it's a solid jazz bar with great food. The fries cooked in duck fat were especially memorable. The only caveat is the smoking--we couldn't stay long because people were lighting up left and right, and there is not a segregated smoking section. 

New Year's in Cartagena is a big deal. There are amazing parties throughout the city to choose from. Or, one can party like a true local, in the cobblestone streets. The Sofitel Santa Clara, in a prime Old City location, and said to be the perfect location to view the fireworks after midnight, is where my husband and I rang in 2015.

The decor was stunning. The atmosphere was very festive, with dancers adorned in costume and music galore. The food was ok...there were lots of stations, but nothing was really special. I did appreciate the cotton candy station. 

At midnight, we were encouraged to partake in the tradition of eating twelve grapes, for good luck in the new year. Then the fireworks began. From where we were, they were spectacular. Overall, it was a beautiful night. The party went until dawn. We made it until 3:00, which I thought was pretty impressive. 

Guess who ended up in a Colombian newspaper? Yes, your EDT Girl. I was photographed with my husband and our table mates (and new friends), and found out that it actually made the paper. That is what I call a good party.

On to ringing in 2016...I'll have to find something to top this night.

I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to my food. I've tried a lot of things. Until last month, I had never really thought about eating an insect. My friend Kike had been raving about these amazing ants in the Santander region of Colombia (hormigas culonas--ants with a large posterior). When we encountered a vendor selling them on a country road, I declined. After a few minutes of thought and not wanting to miss out, I decided to give it a try. I popped one into my mouth, and...crunchy, salty, with a bit of an off aftertaste. The aftertaste reminded me that I was eating an ant, so I decided to stop there..but overall, not bad. 

At least I tried, right?

I love traveling with locals. It makes me feel like an insider, when I'm granted access to people and places I'd otherwise never have the opportunity to meet or see. That's what my husband and I experienced recently, in the beautiful city of Bucaramanga, Colombia. 

Good friends of ours were kind enough to invite us to a plethora of family gatherings. They all included what Bucaramanga is known for: delicious steak. Since avocados are plentiful, yummy variations of guacamole were also served often, to my delight. I also fell in love with caldo, a traditional Colombian soup eaten with arepas and said to be a hangover remedy. 

On our last day in Bucaramanga, we were fortunate enough to attend a huge family gathering, complete with two bands (see the mariachi, above). I realized that what I love most about the Colombian people is their warmth, and general sense of fun...if you have the chance to go, do it!

Every once in awhile, a meal becomes something more than a meal. It becomes an event, a feast for all of the senses. I had that experience recently at El Cielo in Medellin.

The evening began with a tiny white object that looked like a large pill. When put into water, it expanded into a refreshing hand towel. The first taste was a crunchy creation with a spiced cream cheese, presented in a wooden box with greenery and music sprouting from it. Next was a hand wash with delicious smelling yogurt that felt like Play-doh. It was pure fun, and my hands felt fantastic. This was followed by a traditional creamy Colombian soup--delicious. Next, there was a warm cheese-filled bread presented on a wire tree with a sauce made of onion, tomato, and coconut milk. The next course was a deconstructed shrimp tamal...wrapped in Swiss chard, filled with chorizo and a cornmeal concoction. The tamal was followed by tilapia over pureed yucca, then chicken and rice in a beet sauce...both solid, but not knockouts. 

Then came the pork belly, which was ridiculously good. It was on a bed of spinach in a delicious fruit-based sauce, cooked to perfection. There was a beef dish that was not especially memorable, but good. Then came the desserts...the house made ice creams were standouts, as were the chocolate truffles filled with pina colada flavoring. Throughout the meal, the palate cleansers were also innovative and yummy--lemon sorbet infused with vodka was my personal favorite. The night ended with a fun and surprising twist on Pop Rocks.

Unfortunately, the photos from that night didn't come out so well, but please trust me: El Cielo is a must for any visit to Medellin. I definitely plan to return.

Some of the best experiences I've had while traveling have been in other people's homes. Those are the moments you can't recreate. On a recent trip to Colombia, my new friend Diego invited my husband and I to his mother's house for lunch. It was truly a special meal.

We had a delicious bean dish. The beans were cooked for hours, then served with a salad, avocado, tostones, sweet plaintains, and chicharrones. What a yummy combination! The salad and avocado, so fresh and delicious, worked perfectly with the warm creaminess of the beans. The occasional bite of tostones, plaintains, and chicharrones capped it all off perfectly. 

Having a family meal in Medellin is something I'll always remember.