I’m surprised the butter chicken was good in Japan. I’ve been there many times and it seems that the restaurants make major changes to ethnic food to make it palatable to the Japanese. Of course, all countries do this to a certain extent but the Japanese are known for doing it to the extreme. On our last trip, I did have good ethnic food bought from stalls at street markets but they were operated by cooks from that ethnic group. Because the population in Japan is decreasing rapidly, they are bringing in immigrants that start their own food businesses.
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The “Hawker Stalls” in Singapore are extra great fun, varied foods & good value, and very safe to eat.
The best Nepalese food I had was in Edinburgh, Scotland, not in Kathmandu. Once again, quality of ingredients.
skinny chickens are stringy….even when well seasoned & prepared.
I heart 
exotic ethnic foods.
My kids had “live” Cobra in Vietnam. I will not discuss the canine cuisine….
It’s Christmas Eve! Cheers 
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funny, I did EBC in 2010, over Christmas. for Christmas day they bought, butchered, and cooked up a chicken for us (likely at about the same altitude). Tough? Maybe a bit, but man was it good!
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Lot 525, day 2: A definite improvement over the 1st day.Tannins are softer so its in better balance. Bouquet is still subdued and flavors somewhat closed but quite tasty. Now thinking I should have done a 24 hr decant. In any case, I think you’ll all be pleased with your purchases. My prediction is that the best drinking window starts in 2027.
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Japan is an international travel destination and the bigger hotels cater to that, and additionally many Japanese folks there eat American breakfast at these vast buffets at these larger hotels, just sayin its a reality
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Cheers Scott
thanks for skipping the details in Vietnam, dirtiest place I’ve been except for the G&Ts
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You havent been to many places if you think Vietnam is dirty. Some of the best street food in the world in Vietnam.
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I guess not then
not a street food guy anyway
thankfully not been to dirtier places
Ha Long Bay was fantastic
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I’ve been to a number of those huge buffets in Japan; they usually have both American and Japanese food. The best 1 had all you can eat NY steak. You’re right about the tourists. Decades ago, there were a lot less and it was much harder to find good American food.
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I went to Vietnam using a tour package that included 2 buffet meals a day at the hotel with American and Vietnamese food. It’s a poor count4ry so you have to be able to view real poverty if you want to enjoy being there. The people are polite and friendly; they don’t have stuff but seem happy - maybe happier than most Americans. There was a lot to see and we really enjoyed our week there. One of the highlights was riding in a rickshaw through the streets packed with scooters whizzing around us. My wife and I weigh over 300 pounds together but the little 120 pound driver managed to pedal us around for a 15 minute drive. I remember that we never saw any animals. No dogs, cats, birds or even rats. We didn’t eat street food or in restaurants but my wife did pay $1 for a large roasted grub and ate it. I passed on that.
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This wine has gotten poor reviews here, but good reviews on the dN website. Any recent experiences?
Hope that everyone had a great holiday!!
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Original lot 450 write-up:
Today, our Cabernet hunt takes us back to the higher elevations. One of the tiniest sub-appellations within Sonoma, the Sonoma Mountain AVA contains only 800 vineyard acres, planted on steep hillsides lifted high over the fog line almost 2,000 ft above sea level. One of the rare AVAs that grows both Cabernet and Pinot Noir of outstanding quality, the Cabs in particular are known for being powerful, yet elegant. Lot 450 comes to us from a single vineyard source on the northeast slope of the mountain, made by a producer whose bountiful '23 harvest led them to make some of their '22 batch available – as always, we were happy to pounce on it for our list. With the original price of entry being $70/bottle, $840/case before shipping charges, today it’s an absolute steal for our readers at a savings of over 70% OFF. Our Offer: $229/case DELIVERED. $19/bottle to your door. The Sonoma Mountain AVA is a unique harmony of sun, wind, and elevation, with sudden changes in topography allowing for grapes like Cabernet and Zinfandel to thrive in close proximity to cooler climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The microclimates formed by these irregular pockets and crevices nestled within its elevated slopes make it one of the few US regions that offer such a dramatic range of varietal offerings. It’s also home to a rich history – from the earliest European settlers who recognized its growing potential to the modern-day winemakers who combine the latest techniques with an understanding of the land going back generations, this region is steeped in tradition and innovation alike. Lot 450 was meticulously crafted and aged in 30% new French oak barrels for 15 months, exhibiting layers of complexity and depth in a classic expression of mountain fruit grown in volcanic soils. Great attention and detail were paid to the barrel regimen to complement (and not overpower) a Cab with this level of structure, and the result is a dark, concentrated wine that’s a sure bet to please both “Parker-style” fans and purists alike. The wine draws you into the glass through intense aromas of dark fruit and cassis, intermingled with hints of herbs. A deep, focused palate contains richness and depth from start to finish, showcasing medium-grained integrated tannins and a medium acidity that strikes a fine balance between fruit and oak, with fruit overtaking spice from the barrel influence by the slightest of margins on the finish. Not brooding or overly tannic, the taste of black fruits resonates long after the last sip. Any way you slice it, it’s a fabulous mountain Cabernet under $20 that delivers incredible value without compromising on quality. Need we say more? 13.4% alc
Happy Boxing Day! 
Ahhhh, golly folks!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the various recent posts on food, cooking & travel.
Very enjoyable topics for me. I enjoy a wide array of varied foods. Always have.
My tastes in wine has become more provincial (USA west coast CS’s & PN’s), mainly.
Over my 68 years I have been to 31 different countries, none for business, all for pleasure!
Cheers
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Don’t believe ANY of the reviews on the website. You get $5 to write a review. I just wrote reviews. No clue what I wrote or why. Not intellectually dishonest cause I’ve liked all the wine I’ve bought. But I also have no palette.
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Such a waste to go to Vietnam and eat at a buffet. The greatest food there is served by tiny restaurants with tiny plastic chairs outside. Their food culture is incredibly rich and diverse.
I go to Vietnam maybe 4-5 times a year and food is the thing I look forward the most. Nothing better than sitting on a small plastic chair on the street devouring an amazing bowl of pho, or bun cha, or whatever you wanted to try that day.
Anthony Bourdain once said that for his last meal on earth, he would choose a bowl of pho.
Now Im hungry again.
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I have ”No Reservations” saying that Anthony Bourdain was awesomely Fun!
Some very extra great food can come from a one burner kitchen with a Wok, and a Talented cook.
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Your post helped me remember that we did eat at those little restaurants with the small plastic chairs that look like they’re for children. The buffet was only for 2 meals a day, I think, so we would eat out for lunch usually. It’s been 10 years or so since I was there so memories fade.
On a related note, i asked a Vietnamese guy at work for some advice before our trip. He told me that when he lived there, he said something negative about the government and was put in a forced labor camp for 2 years. Eventually he escaped the country by boat and has never been back since. He said he’ll never go back as long as the government there is the same. One of the benefits to traveling is seeing how good we have it here.
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Some of the greatest meals I’ve had were from street kitchens. Often doing just one thing, but doing it to an incredibly high level.
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I’m not brave enough to eat at buffets in Asia. I don’t want food poisoning that badly.
My company had a guy die because of hotel breakfast.
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let’s just say you have a unique opinion from a unique part of the world
I love Bourdain’s ability to eat anything anywhere with anyone, fantastic
please don’t equate all breakfast “buffets” as equal, Japan has some great ones
BTW 523 is still available on dN