Every autumn, the city of Alba in the Piedmont region of Italy attracts gourmands from all over the world to indulge in the captivating flavours of white truffles – not only to satisfy gustatory desires, but also to experience the fun of following truffle hunters on their quest for these elusive delicacies.

Alba, located in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, is not only known for its white truffles but also for its rich autumnal produce such as hazelnuts and fine wines. Although white truffles are no longer exclusive to Alba, the annual ritual of tasting the freshly unearthed aroma before winter sets in is a global gourmet event. However, due to climate change, it seems that the peak of white truffle season is slowly moving from the end of October to November. It is almost unthinkable that even in January of the following year, one can still witness the allure of white truffles, which is generally unheard of in the past.

China's thousands of years of history have nurtured a diverse and beautiful cultural treasure. With the refinement of Chinese cuisine, the catering industry is stillexploring how to present Chinese aesthetic, which cannot be achieved fortnight and for some people, it is a lifelong endeavour. This year's newly-awarded Michelin one-star Sichuan cuisine restaurant in Guangzhou – Yong – is a pioneer in this regard. In its first year of operation, Yong has not only developed its own style but also created a memorable dining space where Chinese culture is perfectly interpreted through the art of food.

After three years of anticipation, The Chairman and 102 House once again joined forces in Shanghai at the end of this August, marking their third collaboration. The first time was at The Chairman in Hong Kong, the second at Den in Tokyo, and this time at 102 House Shanghai with the theme of Huangpu River-inspired Cantonese Flair.

Over a decade ago, three chefs who worked together at El Bulli in Spain joined forces to open a restaurant - Compartir - in Cadaqués, Catalonia, a small village 2 hours drive from Barcellona. They aimed to offer modern Mediterranean cuisine rooted in the tradition of sharing. Their dream was to replicate this concept in Barcelona, but for various reasons, they ended up opening the avant-garde Disfrutar instead. Last June, after years of anticipation, they finally fulfilled their promise and brought Compartir to the streets of Barcelona, offering a more accessible price range while maintaining the level of fine dining, allowing more people to experience the spirit of sharing in Spanish culinary culture.

This year, I came across a short documentary on YouTube called "Evolution of the Snow Country", where a crisp, monochrome, ink-painting-like world created by winter snow that blankets Niigata looks the most impressive when the train passes through those tunnels.

In 1986, a 17-year-old named Quique Dacosta stumbled upon the doors of El Poblet restaurant in the coastal town of Denia near Valencia, Spain, by a serendipitous chance. Little did he know that behind those doors lay his future and destiny. El Poblet not only became the cradle of his culinary skills but also deeply influenced his cooking style.

What used to be an old cable car station at an altitude of 2,275m on the summit of Kronplatz in the Dolomite Mountains became AlpiNN, a restaurant standing next to Lumen, a museum dedicated to mountain photography. The restaurant was designed by Martino Gamper, a designer of international fame, to become a convivial space where he combined naturalness of the mountains with clean, modern lines.