Buko Nero (Singapore)

Intimate, unpretentious and absolutely delicious, it's not difficult to see why this teeny tiny restaurant is so popular. After much cajoling (well, frankly, begging) of Tracy (who takes care of the front of house while husband Oscar cooks out the back) we finally managed to find four spare chairs at the last minute. This personal favourite of mine constantly disproves the commonly held assumption that good food in Singapore must be expensive. Homely yet creative concoctions such as the staple Tau Kwa Tower mean you can comfortably dine on three courses for under $35, with wine on top. And the secret to getting a booking? There isn't one. Oscar and Tracy tell me it's advisable to be flexible with your dates (Friday and Saturday nights are obviously the most popular), ask to be put on the waiting list (which often opens up) and pray for some good luck. My advice: book first, arrange your life later. It will always be worthwhile.

Buko Nero, 126 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore, +65 6324 6225

One + Only Reethi Rah (Maldives)

I was very fortunate to spend a few days recently at One + Only Reethi Rah. I've been to the Maldives before, so I knew that with their one-resort-per-island tourism policy, there are certain things that can make all the difference between a good holiday and a great, magical, once-in-a-lifetime uniquely Maldivian holiday. Not being called Miss Piggy for nothing, for me, one of the most important elements is, of course, the food. And this resort didn't disappoint. Breakfast was a magnificent menu of healthy options, more traditional eggs and a few other interesting international specials thrown in. I had to be very selective to ensure that I got ample sampling of as much of the menu as I could fit in during the few days we were there. Dinner at their fine dining Japanese restaurant, Tapasake, was the gourmet highlight. We were impressed and delighted with the sampling of the chef's specials that were spread before us - I suggest it's best to just ask the expert to decide what's best to eat on the day. But do remember this is a resort called The One and Only and it is in the very prestigous location of the Maldives, so nothing comes cheap. At least one bottle of US$1000+ bottle of wine sells here a night (if you are a wino, they have a cellar of over 22,000 bottles to explore) and lunch for two including two (non alcoholic!) drinks came to a whopping US$150. It seems paradise comes at a very significant price.

http://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/flash.html

Saint Pierre (Singapore)

My favourite fine dining establishment in Singapore has to be Saint Pierre for it's immaculatly presented modern take on European food. Some might call the sometimes teeny-proportioned but always finely balanced courses pretentious; I say they show creative flair and culinary ingenuinty. The restaurant runs like an extremely well oiled machine and there is never the common problem of one diner's course coming out at a different time from everyone else. Service is always perfect. Last time I ate there the sommelier recommended some extraordinary wines to suit our palates and our pockets - at our request each was delicately priced below $100. But all this fancy pants delight comes at a hip pocket sacrifice which is worth noting if you can bill your meal to the company. When I was there in July to celebrate a very special occasion it cost us $350 per head ... but it was worth every penny. Always order the foie gras as it is their house specialty. And, if you can, experience the full degustation menu to truly appreciate the chef's genius. There is nowhere else worth booking to commemorate any milestone in Singapore than Emmanuel Stroobant's baby. Even if you are only in town for one night, don't miss this.

Saint Pierre, #01-01 Central Mall, 3 Magazine Rd, Singapore, +65 6438 0887
www.saintpierre.com.sg/restaurant/generalinfo