English Countryside Charm: Holbeck Ghyll

I'll be sharing about the two Michelin restaurants I brought my family to during our Summer road trip in UK last year (Part II coming up!).  I had been to both before with my own group of friends in Easter of 2013 and decided that they would make great stops for the family when they came up to visit.

I much prefer the Michelin restaurants outside of London because they are the perfect excuse to take a day trip out to enjoy what the English countryside has to offer, and their meals are generally very value for money without being too theatrical or pompous.  Just good ol' fresh ingredients, cooked really well and served in decent portions that would keep the men happy.

Date of Visit: 31 May 2014

First up is Holbeck Ghyll, the Michelin restaurant in a small hotel of the same name seated atop a hill with lush and tranquil surroundings.  It's the perfect kind of place for a getaway and to have the full experience of warm British hospitality.  It's also the one place that I confidently recommend to friends who are making a trip down to the Lake District, because I know the quality of their food and hospitality is consistently good.  If I were having my future wedding in the UK this would definitely be a top contender but too bad I have no such budget for that haha.  Okay enough talking, time to share the good stuff!

The winding road leading up to the hotel grounds

GRUB, Singapore

Date of visit: 5 July 2014

K and I are 'westies' who are perfectly fine with staying within our side of Singapore since there's plenty of good food to be found nearby, so for us to have made a trip down to Grub on a Saturday morning and actually thought it was well worth it, is quite a big deal.  

I can see why this new café has been the talk of the town and why it deserves the attention it's been getting.  It's now on my list of cafés to return to for comfort food and a relaxing brunch with loved ones :)  Indeed, it's legitimately delicious food that I would be proud to serve in my own home, just like what they'd hoped to achieve.

LP+Tetsu Singapore

Date of visit: 12 December 2013

This fine-dining restaurant is a collaboration between one-Michelin-starred Chef Laurent Peugeot and Singapore's F&B Lifestyle company Food Junction Holdings Limited.  K and I celebrated our anniversary here and we were glad to have found such a gem in Singapore that restored our faith in the local fine-dining scene.

Simply LP+TETSU

6-course menu

$98 per pax

Chez Bruce

Date of visit:  15 February 2013

Early this year, two friends of mine and I went to Chez Bruce for a nice lunch to celebrate Valentine's Week.  I know it's only meant to be Valentine's Day, but when celebrations of love are in order, why not extend it to a week, especially since there's going to be good food and company?  ;)

The three of us unanimously agreed that it has to be one of the most value-for-money Michelin meals we've had.  It may have only gotten one star in the Michelin guide, but good food doesn't have to be expensive and/or come in tiny portions.  It was a bonus for us that the restaurant is located between Zones 2 and 3, so it was somewhat a half-day trip out.  It provided some respite from the hustle and bustle of Central London and a short break from the rigour of our university course!

Exterior of the cosy restaurant