The latest food and drink news in the region

ITALIAN GRAN

For hearty Italian fare, head to Singapore’s La Nonna trattoria (76 Namly Place, tel +65 6762-1587) in the upmarket Bukit Timah area. The restaurant’s name means “the grandmother”, and the inviting décor, residential estate location and delicious home-style meals exude an unmistakable granny’s kitchen appeal.

Standouts on the menu are the Classic Carnaroli Risotto with Prawns and Green Zucchini and the distinctive Nera pizza (above) – made with seafood and squid ink.

For a perfect pairing, manager Vincent Vellani recommends enjoying these with a chilled glass of 2005 Niedermayr Pinot Grigio from the restaurant’s cellar.

FLOYD’S PHUKET

British celebrity chef and BBC TV host KeiThFloyd has opened up his first eatery in Asia, Floyd’s Brasserie at Burasari Phuket (18/110 Ruamjai Road, Patong, tel +66 (0)76 292929, www.burasari.com).

The appetising menu features a variety of interesting Thai and French dishes – all with Keith’s international influences. Look out for the Lobster Thermidor, French Onion Soup au Gratin and Red Duck Curry with Lime Zest.

FULL MOON

For a souvenir with a delicious difference, bring home a box of mooncakes and enjoy a unique taste of Asia. During the Mid-Autumn Festival (celebrated on the 15Thday of the eighThLunar month, falling on September 25Ththis year), Chinese families across the world gather together to eat the sweet baked pies (below) that are as round as the full moon.

The traditional versions are made with lotus paste and an optional salted egg yolk inside, but modern twists include chocolate, liqueur and even coffee fillings. Here are four places you can buy them across the Bangkok Airways route map:

1. Singapore
Raffles Hotel – Try their original recipes like Champagne Truffle Ganache or Macadamia Gianduja (sweet chocolate) and Sesame Seeds. 1 Beach Road, tel +65 6412-1122, www.ra.#64260; es.com

2. Bangkok
Shang Palace – Flavours run the gamut from mixed fruit and nut to red bean and durian. Mini-mooncakes are also available, for a quick bite-sized snack.

Shangri-La Hotel, 89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road, tel +66 (0)2 236-7777, www.shangri-la.com/bangkok

3. Hong Kong
Kee Wah Bakery – This family-run cake shop has been going since 1938 and has now developed into a household name. Their traditional-style mooncakes can even be ordered online. 30 Wellington Street, Central, tel +852 2537-0178, www.kee-wah.com.hk

4. Guilin
Sheraton Guilin Hotel – Try fillings like pineapple, sweet corn, water chestnuts and black sesame seeds. Higher-end packages come with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. 15 Bin Jiang Road, tel +86 (0)773 282-5588, www.sheraton.com/guilin

FOR ALL SEASONS

Australian chef and international restaurateur, Christine Manfield is famous for her signature pan-Asian flavours.

In her third book Spice: Recipes to Delight the Senses (Periplus Editions, 2007), she explains how to use zesty food flavourings like asafoetida and turmeric. The dishes are bound to impress – Vietnamese Crab and Pork Rice Paper Rolls with chilli is a favourite. Priced at US$39.95 from all leading bookstores and online at www.tuttlepublishing.com

PIERING IN

The latest swish eatery to thrill diners on Koh Samui is The Pier (Fishermen’s Village, 50 Moo 1), a breezy, seaside restaurant and bar on Bophut beach that serves a mix of Western and Thai dishes, as well as a wide range of fruity cocktails and mocktails.

This stylish spot is designed by Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag who, inspired by the ocean’s vastness, aimed to give the building a feeling of being “exposed” to the elements. Incorporating sultry colours and eye-catching furniture, Bunnag describes The Pier as “sexy” – and he’s not wrong.

CITY SLICKER

When Paul Walsh moved to Hiroshima in 1996, he only planned to stay for a few months. But 11 years on, he’s still there, and as one of the editors of online magazine GetHiroshima (www.gethiroshima.com), he’s the local authority on where to wine and dine. Here, he shares some of his favourite places.

Where do you go for Japanese food?
Ippu for udon (11-4 Hatchobori, Naka-ku, tel +81 (0)82 228-7821) and Iizuka (17-10 Tenma-cho, Nishi-ku, tel +81 (0)82 234-0789) for soba. They are boThfamily-run and the noodles are made right in front of you!

What’s the must-try food here?
Okonomiyaki (above right), which is a fried pancake of batter, noodles, and other toppings. My favourite restaurant is Lopez near the Yokogawa train station (1-7-13 Kusunoki-cho, Nishi-ku, tel +81 (0) 82 232-5277) Their jalapeno and cheese version is pure genius.

And what about bars?
Meet cheerful Bom and his staff at laid-back Koba (Level 3, Rego Building, 1-4 Naka-machi, Naka-ku, tel +81 (0)82 249-6556). Lime Cay (Central Gate 4, Block 13, 2-8 Yagenbori, Naka-ku, tel +81 (0)82 546-1525) serves Red Stripe beer and plays reggae music while Hana Wine (4-28 Kami-Hatchobori, Naka-ku, tel +81 (0)82 222-6687) has an excellent selection of reds and whites at very reasonable prices.

What’s the drink of choice?
There are over 600 kinds of local jizake (rare, premium sakes made by boutique breweries) made in Hiroshima. Chokotto-ya (12-26 Kanayama-cho, Naka-ku +81 (0) 82 245-7770) serves many varieties.

What phrase must every visitor to Hiroshima learn?
In the local dialect of Hiroshima-ben, “Bari umai!” (bah-ree oo-mai) means “amazingly delicious!”. It will always crack up your fellow diners and is a sure-fire way to break the ice.