Travel

I have been so fortunate that my work has taken me all over the world. If you ever watch me on TV you will know my passion is Asia. 

So much of the writing for my cook books have been inspired by the places you see below. I have worked at some of the best hotels there, doing cooking promotions.

People always ask me "where should we go?" - well here is my list of the best places to sleep, drink, shop and eat.

If you are in these places at the same time as me you will most likely see me at one of my recommendations below!

If I could visit just 4 places every year for the rest of my life, they would be: Hong Kong, Bangkok, South of France and Miami.

Hong Kong

Wow, wow, wow! My 1st trip was 1991 and I have been over 40 times since...

Where to Stay

Peninsula, Peninsula, Peninsula. There are very few cities in the world that has just one outstanding hotel, above and beyond the rest. Well Hong Kong has it here. When you arrive you get a red carved box with soap, it is such a great gift.

It is ornate, dressy and just what this place is all about. The breakfast is to die for, delicate but a decent variety. Cleanliness and perfection is all over the show at this hotel.

Drinks

Felix at the Peninsula, go to the restroom for a view, I leave it at that. Expensive.

Aqua, 1 Peking Rd 
Outrageous views, go at sunset when they open at 6pm

Shangri-la Kowloon
Tapas bar
Great food and 2-4-1 on wines. Tuna sashimi is best as is the fresh oyster bar, as my friend Krist and I found out.

Restaurants

Jade Garden, Star ferry house
Great Chinese, river prawns are a must, & not expensive.

Spring Deer, Mody Road
Watch real Chinese families indulge in food and chatter, not smart but what HK is all about, not expensive.

Tokyo Joes, Lan Kwai Fong
Best tuna sahimi salad I have ever had, thank you Grace and Fanna for introducing me here.

Shopping

Sammy Tailor on Mody Road
I have been going for years now and they custom make the most beautiful shirts for such a great price, made to measure.

Shanghai Tang, Pedder building or 1st floor Peninsula Hotel
Fusion Chinese and western clothes with the best home fragrance ever called Ginger Flower. The store is sprayed with this every day in copious amounts.

Ladies Market
Great for copy bags

Granville Rd
Many shops that sell all cosmetics at half the price

Bangkok

Where to stay

Peninsula
Smart, wonderful service, great eateries, pool is not my favorite as I am a sun worshiper and you find it hard to get a chair. The staff have a way of remembering everyone. The manager of the barbeque is Mr Wamin - he is a star!

Shangri-la
Wonderful big hotel.
Well priced, but stay on Horizon level for drinks and snacks, plus breakfast
Lots of restaurants, always re-inventing.

Restaurants

Sirocco 
This is the place to be seen and eat, the top tower has views to die for. It is like nothing else on the planet. Expensive, and you need to book.

Indigo
Inexpensive, great little find near Patpong behind California Fitness. Great salmon and steak tartar, Bangkok has some of the best western food around and so so cheap.

Angellini at Shangri-la
Great Italiian food and good seafood.
Inexpensive for hotel food

Jesters, Peninsula
Best Fusion and moderate price.

v9, Soffital Hotel
Go with friends and have the platters, great price and on wine too which is hard to find, views are exceptional. My friend Laurent took me here 1st time.

Thai food - The tourist thing is Silom Village but I still like it.

Spice market intercontinental
Such brilliant Thai food, I had the best lunch ever with my dear friends, Yoon, Lee and Clive.

Food court at central Chitlom
Great for lunch, it's like Harrods food hall

Shopping

All over copy bags and jewelry..

Opposite Shangri_la is Praise Gems - Lertchai is the owner and I have bought from him for 17 years. He has a picture of me behind the counter, so say you know me for a deal.

Nett owns the bag shop next door, she will get you anything - mention me to her.

Go to a grocery store and buy all the Thai spices to take home, plus Japanese ingredients are so so cheap. I buy so much seaweed paper!

Kuala Lumpur

Where to stay

Carcosa Seri Negara
I was lucky to film at this oasis in the heart of KL, it used to be the old governor's house and consists of 2 buildings with only about 20 suites. It's like being a diplomat staying in a palace, and not too pricey either.

Mandarin Oriental
You will never stay at a Mandarin for such little money, spend a little more for the Exec level. Best one I have ever seen.

Westin
Bintang Walk
Great for shopping and restaurants, very inexpensive and new.
I did a promotion here, and a big thank you to my dear friend Jennifer.

Restaurants

Shook! lower level Marriott hotel, great fusion
Every place is inexpensive in KL

Pacifica, Mandarin Hotel
Did a promotion here and the food is great, fusion. My friend Anne loved it here.

Paris & the South of France

Cannes is my favourite...

Where to stay

The Carlton
It's not cheap, but the place to stay. When the film festival is in town, all the celebs stay there.

Restaurants

Mashou
Old part of Cannes
Same menu every day. A basket of veg and dips to start, and I mean a basket, huge with avocado, boiled egg and greens, then it's melon parma ham followed by beef or chicken, it is so unique.

Arena
Frejus
Little hotel, fab French food

Shopping

Well there is a French Fragrence called Comptoir Sud Pacifique. It is so exotic and can be found in Pharmacies in Cannes and all over Paris.

Galleris La Fayette in Nice, the food hall is a must, great gift ideas.

Paris

Where to stay

The Ritz
Just smells of money, oldy-worldy and the best

Restaurants

Le Bilboquet
Rue St Bennoit just off Blvd St Germain.
I could never go to Paris without a visit here. French Bistro, you get the table for the night, red velvet walls and turns into the best live Jazz venue in Paris, real jazz stars perform here. I have spent many a New Year's Eve here with flowing Champagne. My wife's and my favourite place. They do my favourite Steak tartar. It is not expensive and the most romantic place ever.

Shopping

Just make sure you hit Galleris lay fayette and have lunch in the food hall.

Hotels around the world...

Hotels around the world that stand out:

Mandarin Oriental Miami
One of the best American hotels I have stayed at

The Ritz Carlton Singapore and the Exec level is brilliant.

Doc Cheng's at Raffles Plaza Singapore is fusion Indian and like nothing else I have ever tried.

Phuket
Banyan Tree
individual villas, some with plunge pools

Florence
The Grand Hotel
Old Europe as we used to know it, personal service without waiting for the tip

My friends around the world...

I am so privileged to arrive in these cities and have the best friends who are always there, my thanks for being a friend...

Thailand
Yoon Lee and Clive, like family, my publishers and friends, dear people
Laurent, a lover of food and great fun
Nipphon, native social guy of Bangkok
McDang, the best Thai chef in the world
Jack and Na, they speak better English than me

Hong Kong
Fanna, she is drop dead gorgeous and the fashion Queen of HK
Krist and tom, we filmed together and HK is never the same again since
Grace, Miss Style
Partic and Liza, lovely hosts always

Kuala Lumpur
Jennifer Cheng, she is my biggest fan
Nacy Foo, Miss Malaysia, always
Jamal, a special friend who takes care of me in KL

South France
Mum and dad, I love every minute there with them

Miami
Mobley, a great friend

New York
The Mandel clan for being friends for life and Dear Rene, she is a second mum to me

Chicago
The Demunos, family friends forever, Jimmy is a star

Virginia
My Karen Honey, a friend since 7 years old and her mum and dad are very special people to me

Austin
Mr Layne, travels as much as me

London there are too many, but you know there are two special friends:
Nick, the best friend I could have ever asked for, since we were 16 years old. I used to always need him and still do.
Anne, she is family now
and my brothers Jonny and Andrew, my wonderful sisters in law Susan and Kate and the best kids ever, Alex, Nicky, Tamsin and Marnie
And the best hotel ever, the inlaws Jennifer and Tony.

Best of all.... Home with Jane and Eleanor