What are your options when you're traveling in India, but craving really good sushi?

Has this ever happened to you? You’re somewhere far-flung … say, China or Peru … and despite all the exciting culinary choices around you, you’re overcome with an inexplicable desire to go for Italian.

We say, give in and make an occasion of it. Here are some off-culture recommendations for a few major destinations.

Sushi in Mumbai. If the city formerly known as Bombay — an obvious center of great Indian food — has over-tandooried your tastebuds, then head for the Taj Palace Hotel to supp at Wasabi, the India branch of the ultimate authentic Japanese sushi house.

Prime Rib in Dubai. Once you’re had your fill of finger food, return to familiar knife-and-fork territory with Chef John Wood’s mustard-crusted prime rib of beef, complete with breathtaking view, at Al Muntaha atop the Burj Al Arab Hotel. (Start with the lobster Caesar.)

Mojitos in Ho Chi Minh City. After you’ve sampled your share of authentic Vietnamese food from those upbiquitous stand-up stalls, splurge for a sit-down dinner and consider indulging in what communist countries do best — providing genuine (and legal) Havana cigars for just a few bucks. Precede this with Cuban fare such as spicy meat balls and a strong Cuba Libre. La Habana is the place, near the Opera House.

Haute French Cuisine in Bangkok. Turns out the best French restaurant in Asia is at the top of the Oriental Hotel, which is why movie industry executives and the international diplomatic corps keep Le Normandie on speed-dial. The six-course degustation menu with optional wine pairing will make you genuinely thank your wife for sneaking your best dinner jacket into your luggage.

Whatever your off-culture inclination, avoid burger joints in far-off lands unless you’re hankering to hang out with the backpack crowd. Is that snobbery? Perhaps. But we’re dispensing advice about dinner, not about democracy. (After all, there is no such thing as equality among restaurants.)

Bon appetite!

Kimpton Hotels and Resorts cooks up a delicious approach to doing good this July.

Sometimes it’s just so easy to do the right thing.

In this tough job market, with so many people looking for work, imagine how difficult it would be to compete if you didn’t even have proper clothes for the job interview?

It’s an obstacle that keeps thousands of women impoverished. But you can change that, simply by eating ice cream in July — something you’re likely to do anyway — at a participating restaurant.

The idea is the brainchild of Kimpton Hotels and Resorts, who have long put a premium on giving back. They’ve paired up with the non-profit Dress for Success organization, who provide interview suits and training to help low-income women raise themselves up a notch. It’s good for them, and good for the economy, too.

Want to do a little good? Just eat some ice cream. (How easy can it get?)

For a list of participating restaurants, just go to the Kimpton page that describes it all. Thanks!

In Bergisch Gladback, Germany, the place now known as Castle Hotel Lerbach was first mentioned in a 1384 manuscript. It opened as a hotel in 1992 and is home to chef Dieter Muller, whose three-star-rated restaurant (named after him) is a highlight of any visit to Germany's wine country.

Is it one of your life goals to dine in the world’s best restaurants? Unlike the amateur review sites we mentioned in our last post, Michelin Guide writers definitely know how to find and evaluate excellent cuisine.

You might be interested to know there are only 85 restaurants in the world that enjoy Michelin’s (top) three-star rating. Most of these are concentrated in Western Europe; although the guide writers have recently put a strong emphasis on growing their list of brilliant dining experiences in Japan as well.

The 2010 distribution of three-star-rated restaurants is:

• Belgium, 2
• China, 3
• France, 26 (of these, 10 are in Paris)
• Germany, 9
• Italy, 6
• Japan, 18 (of these, 11 are in Tokyo, 6 in Kyoto)
• Monaco, 1
• Netherlands, 2
• Spain, 7
• Switzerland, 2
• U.K., 4
• U.S., 6 (of these, 5 are in New York)

Next time you’re traveling in these areas, plan to splurge at least one night in one of these restaurants. Reservations are definitely required in advance.

Bon appetit!

P.S. If you’d like to buy a Michelin Guide, save quite a bit off the suggested retail price at Amazon.com.

President and Mrs. Obama

We’d like to congratulation President Obama on having been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today.

Surely this means a trip to Oslo is in his future. As it happens, we’ve dined in Oslo three times this year and thought you might like to read a few reviews from local restaurants. Perhaps the President and Mrs. Obama will have an opportunity to enjoy the same meals we found so appealing.

Restaurant Det Gamle Raadhus
At first blush, Restaurant Det Gamle Raadhus, in Oslo, Norway, might seem a cliché of dusty splendor and stiff service, but lately, regulars have been raving about the revamped, local-inspired menu. The reindeer steak with a ragu of morels is a new take on an old dish – made lighter and given a little port reduction to brighten the flavors.

Any starter featuring the house-smoked red trout is worth ordering; it’s a salty, bracing fillet that’s just right with horseradish cream. Dinner for two, before wine, about $160.
Contact info: Nedre slottsgate 1. Tel: 47-2242-0107. www.gamleraadhus.no.
(Reviewed 4/07/2009 in Passport Newsletter.)

The Gamle Raadhus restaurant in Oslo, Norway.

Argent
Among Oslo’s many fine dining options, the Argent, at the Opera House, stands out. It’s a beautiful contemporary spot with a varied menu of selections that, in our experience, have been uniformly excellent.

Try the veal with mushrooms, the grilled salmon or the herbed glazed pheasant breast, and have alongside, the smoked vegetables. From a tempting array of desserts, we were very happy with a rich chocolate torte. Dinner for two, before wine, about $200.
Contact info: Kirsten Flagstads Plass 1. Tel: 47-21-422-142.
(Reviewed 3/10/2009 in Passport Newsletter.)

Oslo’s 18-month-old Opera House was designed by the same architects who created the Library of Alexandria in Egypt (where they were chosen from more than 1,400 other entrants in a design competition). Their Opera House design won the culture award at the World Architecture Festival in 2008.

Grand Cafe
The Grand Hotel’s Grand Cafe, a meeting place for artists and intellectuals for more than a century, offers a variety of Norwegian and international dishes, and its buffet is the largest in Norway. Dinner for two, before wine, about $100.

The Julius Fritzer, also at the Grand, is the more sophisticated dining room. Named after the founder of the hotel, the restaurant serves a five-course daily menu based on seasonal fresh foods from the market and has an extensive wine list. Dinner for two, before wine, about $170.
Contact info: Karl Johans Gate 31. Tel: 47-23-21-2000.
(Reviewed 1/19/2009 in Passport Newsletter.)

Mr. President and Mrs. Obama: Congratulations, and bon appetit.

– Peg Prideaux, CTC
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