Foodle

DiverXO - Madrid (Spain)

Not much remains to be said about @diverxo. It is the flagship restaurant of @dabizdiverxo‘s empire and where his geniality and creativity are at full display.

DiverXO is the type of restaurant that made me only book my hotel room and train tickets in town after securing a reservation there. It was the main reason for my trip to Madrid afterall.

But it not only represents Madrid, with inspiration coming from pretty much any of the chef`s experiences. From Asia to Yucatan. The only thing that matters here is how the end result feels on the palate.

Each dish comes with a card with drawings that symbolize Dabiz`s thought process behind it. And every single course is memorable, intense and unlike anything found outside of there. There is absolutely nothing similar to DiverXO, and that is what makes it so special.

And speaking of symbolism, the whole restaurant is full of it. The playful decoration is not by chance and has a clear message behind every item. The giant ants represent teamwork and pay tribute to the whole staff, while the flying pigs are a memory from Dabiz`s childhood, when his father used to say that he would only fulfill his aspirations of becoming the best chef in the world when pigs would fly.

Well, if that is the case, at DiverXO pigs can certainly fly.

(Versão em Português nos comentários) Less

Casa Dani - Madrid (Spain)

Tortilla de patatas was one of those classics that I could not finish my trip to Spain without having a great one at least once.

So I headed for breakfast at @casadanimadrid, inside the Mercado de la Paz. The place was packed, as expected, by people from every background possible, united for that brief period of time for a single purpose - to indulge one of the finest tortillas in the city.

Casa Dani`s version uses caramelized onions alongside the eggs and potatoes combination, adding a gentle sweet touch to that gooey beautiful mix.

With my cravings now properly satisfied, I could finally start my day the right way.

(Versão em Português nos comentários) Less

StreetXO - Madrid (Spain)

Located at the top floor of a department store, StreetXO is, at least in theory, the most casual establishment of @dabizdiverxo`s empire.

For those who could not get a reservation at DiverXO, StreetXO is not to be missed. But for the lucky ones who, like myself, found their way into Dabiz` flagship restaurant, StreetXO is also a must.

The restaurant is loud, colorful and young, with creative cocktails that add to the overall energy of the place. The food matches that atmosphere, pushing boundaries with exotic flavors and exciting combinations that intrigue the clientele.

I must confess however, that upon arriving I kind of wished that there was a tasting menu alternative, as I felt that I would miss out on many hits when picking dishes from the menu.

Those thoughts quickly dissolved as I further embarked on this crazy journey that is a meal at @streetxo.madrid.

(Versão em Português nos comentários) Less

OSA - Madrid (Spain)

@osa.restaurante is one of the hottest tables in Madrid at the moment. Located a bit away from the city center, the restaurant offers a long and meat-heavy tasting menu that will please the more adventurous eaters.

OSA combines a variety of interesting techniques, especially involving aging and smoking, with exotic ingredients and a variety of different animal proteins.

With an intimate interior and such a modern and bold cooking approach, it is easy to understand why OSA took the Madrid singing scene by storm so quickly.

(Versão em Português nos comentários) Less

Recommended bowl: Unique niboshi

This shop serves a unique new-school style clear niboshi soup, somewhat different from most ramen out there these days. The main offering contains a broth made using tai niboshi (dried Japanese sea bream) and salt. Noodles are ordered via Tamura Seimen. Topped with a large piece of boneless stewed pork, similar to Okinawan style sōki. Rice bowls to accompany your ramen on the side are a popular add-on amongst customers. Run by master Tanaka-san, who trained at the well-known shop Shibasakitei. Open since June 1, 2020. IG: @tanaka.lobo Less

Chef Manav Tuli of Leela HK never fails to amaze me with his talent. He especially shines when collaborating with chefs of other cuisines; because he seems to seamlessly incorporate their style into his.

This time around, Manav flew to Penang to cook with local star, Chef Su Kim Hock of Au Jardin.

The bulk of the evening’s menu belonged to Chef Manav; but the chemistry between the two flowed like vintage champagne.

There were Indian inflections as well as Pan-Asian leanings (a Penang trait) in the dishes. If it all sounds overly ambitious, fear not. The flavours were well balanced—while still retaining boldness and spiciness.

Bravo to you both—chefs Manav and Kim Hock.
#chef #restaurant #penangeats #penangfoodie #food #foodlover #foodgasm #foodies #foodislove #foodporn #foodpics #foodlovers #foodstagram #foodoftheday Less

Before my visit to India, I did some digging into Chinese food in the sub-continent.

Apparently, in the late 18th century, a community of Hakka Chinese migrated to Kolkata. The cuisine they brought with them changed over time, as all diasporic cuisines do—and the result became known variously as “Chindian" fusion, Sino-Indian, and Desi-Chinese. Designed to appeal to Indian tastes, these Chinese dishes were modified by the addition of indigenous oils and sauces, and spices like coriander, ginger, garlic, and chili powder.

On my last night in Mumbai, I dined at a 80-year-old restaurant run by a 2nd-generation Chinese man. The food was recognisably Chinese; yet almost every dish was laced with a hint of earthy or pungent spiciness, and even citrusy notes. These were Chinese flavours I knew—yet not the same. And because of this sense of “familiar strangeness”, it was a food experience I won’t soon forget. Less

Another causal remark about breakfast and we ended up with a feast. What you saw was definitely far less than what was actually presented to us during the meal.
#潮州糜 #打冷 潮州早餐 #teochewporridge #breakfast #teochewfood #eating #shanghaieats #shanghaifood #shanghairestaurant #eat #[instagram] Less

“At Satoyama Juyo —a modern ryokan housed in a lovingly refurbished 150-year-old farmhouse in Niigata—the first ritual is the bath. As I lower myself into the open-air onsen, bounded by whispering trees, the setting sun paints the mountains in amber hues. Though just over an hour from Tokyo, this place feels a world away. Later, as evening deepens, I make my way to the nearby river where a flutter of fireflies performs a luminescent ballet.

After nearly two decades of calling Tokyo home, Japan continues to reveal itself to me in layers. The capital’s labyrinthine sprawl—more a patchwork of village-like neighborhoods than monolithic metropolis—remains endlessly fascinating, with izakayas tucked into narrow alleys and century-old shops wedged between gleaming towers. But it was during the pandemic’s forced stillness, when the borders shut for three years, that I began venturing deeper into Japan’s peripheral spaces.”

There’s so much to discover in Japan. It’s no surprise that the country was named the #1 travel destination for the third consecutive year in the 2025 @cntraveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards.

But if you’ve only visited Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, consider this your invitation to venture further. The depth of culture, cuisine, and landscape in lesser-known regions is staggering. I wrote an essay about my newfound excitement for exploring the countryside, inspired by recent visits to places like @engawa.yamanakaonsen @hanamurasaki_official @satoyamajujo @tenkunomori @sanei_1933 and more.

Link in bio and:
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/uncovering-japan Less