The Hungry Bunny

Patara used to be my go-to for refined and elegant Thai cuisine at equally "sophisticated" prices. To me, it was a case of "you pay for what you get". The food was pricey, but generally well worth it. But its recently-launched Ala Carte Weekend Lunch Buffet ($44++) seems like a bit of a sell-out. In an attempt to pander to the mass market dollar, Patara 's food has lost that bit of polish which made the fine-dining stalwart a notable standout. The buffet, while extremely easy on the wallet and reasonably value-for-money, was clunky, and when held up against its ala carte menu, pedestrian. I thought the buffet was a poor showing of how well Patara usually does. My take is to stick to the ala carte menu, where the food tends to be markedly more finely-tuned. The Pla Gao Sam Ros , battered fried fish fillet with three-flavoured dipping sauce was amateurish but tasty nonetheless. One of the few highlights was the Goong Phad Cha , prawns stir-fried with c

Jakarta isn't a city one would immediately think of as a leisure travel destination. For sure, the infamous twin attacks on the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriot hotels 5 years ago didn't do much for the image of the Indonesian capital. BUT, having visited Jakarta recently during a whirlwind business-related trip, I found the city not quite as notorious as it'd been made out to be. In fact, the Indonesian capital reminds me very much of Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur; vibrant, organic, haphazard, but with a bit more chaos thrown into the mix.  The key, for a safe travel, is to keep a low, austere profile. Basically, don't be an ostentatious fool. Exercise prudence and caution as you would anywhere out of Singapore, i.e. watch your belongings and stay aware of your surroundings at all times. Here are my tips, gleaned from the locals, for a reasonably enjoyable trip. Immigration When booking a flight, reserve a front row seat for priority disembarkation. When checking in at th

Gordon Grill , like the iconic Goodwood Park Hotel where it is resident, is an institution of sorts. Serving up grilled meats and seafood for over five decades, the continental steak restaurant is classic and stately, if a bit dated. And like an antiquated monument that's well-preserved, the food was decent, but generally uninspired, compounded by its uncompetitive pricing. At about 200 per person, dinner should have blown us away. It was, in large part, caused by the unfortunate serving mistake that resulted in our steaks getting swopped. The Hubs, who'd ordered the USDA Black Angus ribeye, got served the Australian wagyu ribeye instead, while Addie, got the Hubs' order. That being said, the starters and sides were generally superb, reflecting a nuanced, contemporary finesse.  Chef Gan's Appetizer Platter ($48) was a sampling quartet of their signature starters. The refreshing Cold Capellini Pasta , was tossed in an aromatic truffle vinaigrette, and garnished

If staying at the Grand Hyatt in Jakarta, I strongly suggest you take up the executive rooms, which allow you access to the executive club lounge. Perched on the 22nd floor, the club lounge is a perfect pampering spot to kickstart your hectic schedule with hearty bites from their continental breakfast spread, or unwind with cocktails and canapes after a long hard day at work.  If popping by for breakfast, a tip is to ask for the window seats; they offer an expansive panorama of the cityscape. The obligatory but much appreciated coffee and hot drinks station, where the staff will happily whip up your favourite beverage and serve it right to your table. A veritable array of flavoured teas, from the standard english breakfast, to the girlie strawberry varietals. Loose konacha and green tea leaves, and chocolate pellets to lush up your hot beverages If you prefer your breakfast drink icy cold, there is fresh milk and juices (watermelon and orange), or coke (for a sugar-high