Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia – August 2019

HIS LE BERNARDIN IS STILL one of the hardest tables to snag in New

York, thanks to its pitch-perfect seafood with minimally invasive

cooking techniques that coax out maximum flavors. The highlights

at this Michelin three-star are sundry, but the sea trout and the

baked lobster are revelations, and the genial service makes even

first-timers feel like treasured regulars. Turns out that’s trickle-

down hospitality from the boss himself. We caught up with Eric

Ripert at the World’s 50 Best awards in Singapore recently, where he

discussed his take on good kitchen karma—basically, trust your

people, be a mentor, and don’t yell. A practicing Buddhist for 30

years who has cooked for the Dalai Lama at Le Bernardin, he says he

loves traveling to Asia, especially China, India, Japan, Korea and

Taiwan. On the plane, he trades chef ’s whites for business-class

black, as pict ured here. le-bernardin.com; prix fixe menus from

US$90 for lunch, US$160 for dinner and US$170 for vegetarian.

World Gourmet

Eric Ripert may be one of the globe’s most highly lauded

chefs, but he stays grounded with daily meditation—and

keeping things simple on the road. BY JENINNE LEE-ST. JOHN

TRAVEL UNIFORM

1. Loro Piana Portland cashmere and silk-blend zip-up hoodie "I love this. It's very warm, which helps me sleep well on planes." (loropiana.com)
   2. Adidas Stan Smith "I usually spend a lot of time walking wherever I travel." (adidas.com) 3. Nannini folding reading glasses "I like to read
   airline magazines while waiting for take-off. These fold up super flat and are inexpensive." (nannini.com) 4. Rains Field Bag "This backpack is
   great: it's a simple design and it fits all the items I need on the plane. It's also mostly waterproof." (rains.com) 5. Vacheron Constantin Overseas
   watch "This is a staple of my everyday uniform. I'm often changing time zones so it's important my watch is reliable." (vacheron-constantin.com)


2. 7 For All Mankind Ronnie slim-fit jeans "Jeans are my go-to for travel as I prefer to be casual." (7forallmankind.com) 7. Rimowa Classic Cabin
   "I love this case because it's durable and looks good. I try never to check luggage so I can leave the airport quickly when I land." (rimowa.com).

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TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM / AUGUST 2019 27