Umami is present in almost all savoury foods and is one of the five primary human tastes, along with salty, sweet, bitter and sour. It is often conspicuous by its absence, like the lack of meat taste in vegan stock. The word “umami” was coined in 1908 to describe the flavour discovered by Japanese chemist … Read more
On the banks of the Kinugawa River in central Japan, a row of abandoned, crumbling hotels stands like a relic of a forgotten past. A destination that once thrived as a hot spring resort during Japan’s bubble economy era of the 1980s, many parts of Kinugawa Onsen have now fallen silent. But a revival is … Read more
1. Tara Margarita of Bourke’s wine bar in Hong Kong on putting simple human love back into cooking Margarita, head chef of Bourke’s in SoHo, shares her journey from corporate life to the culinary arts, emphasising simple, refined bar food. Avoiding the burnout so often found in fine-dining kitchens, she is now fostering a positive … Read more
This summer, Hideaki Sato closed his fine-dining restaurant Ta Vie in Hong Kong, which received its third Michelin star in 2023, for several weeks, reopening it only at the beginning of September. While done primarily for renovations and redecoration following nine years of almost non-stop operation, another reason for the pause was for the chef … Read more
Hongkongers love all things Japanese, from going on frequent trips to Japan to queuing up for hours at the myriad of sushi restaurants in Hong Kong. Not only did such a love chart the careers of Keita Wu, Eummie Chik and Kiu Au – which all have to do with Japanese culture – it also … Read more
Brand new Mercedes, state-of-the-art 4x4s, even Teslas: high-end modern cars have started appearing in the Cuban capital Havana, a city whose image is intricately linked to the numerous classic American sedans and Soviet-era Ladas that cruise its streets. The influx has come despite a biting economic crisis on the communist island, where the average monthly … Read more
With the unstable weather in Hong Kong as of late, is there anything more comforting than nursing a hot cup of coffee in the comfort of a cafe while the rain lashes against the windows? These days, we are fortunate to have an abundance of options, each venue with its own character and vibe to … Read more
Kumi and Naoki met at university and founded the band in 1997, and now have eight albums under their belts. Fans can look forward to a live performance of their terrific new single, “Forgive Me Not”, which was released in May. “Love Psychedelico – Live in Hong Kong 2024”, MacPherson Stadium, 38 Nelson Street, Mong … Read more
Paris: All too familiar with the pain of being disqualified over a few extra grams, Japanese Olympic champion Rei Higuchi offered his support to Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was debarred from her final in the Paris Games for being 100gm above the prescribed limit. Higuchi, the gold-medallist in men’s 57kg freestyle event, was eliminated … Read more
The excitement is palpable. Tamago sando love runs deep among foreign travellers to Japan, though that may befuddle locals. It is often the first thing I grab when I get off the plane in Tokyo to stave off hanger while I head to my hotel, and sometimes I hoard one the night before an early … Read more
