Food
Some of my best memories are tied to food and beverage and friends, and whenever I travel, I try to find great restaurants that will help me experience the local cuisine, and if I can, I’ll shoot for ones that are frequented by locals as opposed to tourists. That said, many places do a great tourist service and I have had many an outstanding experience. I find that food enhances the memory. Often, Al and I will say, “Do you remember that great ___ we had at ____?” and it will bring up some wonderful reminiscences of our travels. I’d love to hear your recommendations for your favorite places to have a sip or a bite.
Tori's "Best Of" Awards
Ceviche
I’ve fallen in love with this amazing dish. When I spent two weeks for work in Panama City, Panama, I think I had it pretty much daily. This restaurant was my favorite, hands down!
Octopus
For the longest time, I wasn’t a fan. Then my friend Maureen invited me to spend a weekend with her and another friend in New York City and she took us to one of her favorite haunts in Hell’s Kitchen. It’s been the benchmark for my octopus dishes for a decade.
Oysters
Another one of those dishes it took me a few years to fall in love with but now, well, I’m always on the lookout for a great place.
New Orleans:
https://www.dragosrestaurant.com/
https://acmeoyster.com/
Old Town Alexandria (VA):
If you end up here, sit at the bar - the mixologists are amazing!
https://hanksoysterbar.com/old-town/
Raleigh:
And if I end up downtown for work and it’s rush hour, it won’t hurt my feelings to end up here:
https://www.42ndstoysterbar.com/
Latin Heritage
Orlando, FL
Cabo San Lucas
I wish I could give you a web site, but they don’t have one. We had the BEST fish tacos at this place on the marina walk called Fisherman’s Landing. It’s near the end of the marina en route to Medano Beach.
Eastern/Asian
Las Vegas, NV
The. Best. Ever.
https://lotusofsiamlv.com/
Charleston, SC
The Masaman Curry
http://www.eatatbasil.com/charleston/visit/
Las Vegas, NV
Oh, love the food carts!
https://www.yongkangstreet.com/
Raleigh, NC
Comfort food
https://www.saigonphorestaurant.com/
Fine Dining / Steak and Seafood
Las Vegas, NV
For the carnivore in you, Chef Andres delivers.
https://www.thebazaar.com/
Charleston, SC
Las Vegas, NV
Believe it or not, the best thing we ate here was the arctic char. DELISH.
https://emerilsrestaurants.com/delmonico-steakhouse/
Meat and Cheese plates
Los Angeles, CA
Duff said this was the best he’d ever eaten and it’s definitely on my list too:
https://church-state-la.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral
Cagiari, Sardinia, Italy
We found this place in Cagliari in the summer of 2019… went there THREE times. Amazing.
https://buffhousewinetherapybistrot.business.site/
Tapas
Wake Forest, NC
How lucky are we that this place opened up just down the street???
https://www.bodegawakeforest.com/
Vegetables
San Francisco, CA
The best purple cauliflower - EVER
https://lamarsf.com/
Raleigh, NC
Love Brussels sprouts? Me too. And these guys are LOCAL to us!
https://www.coquetteraleigh.com/
Cocktails
Panama City, Panama
The Pisco Sour
http://www.nazca21.com/
San Francisco, CA
The Pisco Sour
https://lamarsf.com/
New York City, NY
Pretty much every cocktail we tried here in New York
https://www.craftrestaurant.com/
Las Vegas, NV
How about some sangria in Vegas?
https://www.hexxlasvegas.com/
Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
Want to get an Aperol spritz in Cagliari? (Their local Sardinian Vermentino wine is excellent too)
https://buffhousewinetherapybistrot.business.site/
Solo Meal
Las Vegas, NV
Sit at the bar and ask for the “special” menu - you can thank me later!
http://morelslv.com/
Chicago, IL
The bone marrow, if nothing else:
http://www.cochonvolantchicago.com/
Go-to Wines
By itself, with Thai, sushi, oysters… pretty much anything really.
https://www.cupcakevineyards.com/wine/sauvignon-blanc/
https://www.nobilowines.com/
Special Meal
Sometimes you want a really fancy event, memorable, over the top.
This one I did with a friend while we were in Vegas. It was a four-hour extravaganza. We had our own waiter, sommelier, and got personalized menus to take home. It was dear but I remember it to this day as one of the best ever. https://mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com/en/restaurants/joel-robuchon-french-restaurant.html
And a trip to Vegas Gordon Ramsay restaurant would be a good option too. I used to love the Hell’s Kitchen tasting menu at Steak before he opened his Hell’s Kitchen restaurant. I tried the new tasting menu at Steak - it was “truffle” when I went - and it was phenomenal. Try the pairing, or not, but it’s gonna be a bit pricey (not as much as the Robouchon though)
Raleigh and Durham have had a renaissance and our taste buds have been the beneficiaries. We went here for a date night recently. We were NOT disappointed. https://ac-restaurants.com/death-taxes/
Desserts
Santa Barbara, CA
At a wine tasting at Grassini’s tasting room, we had these lovely craft truffles. I loved them so much I asked for a big box for Christmas. Amazing combos.
https://www.jessicafosterconfections.com/
Las Vegas, NV
Still one of my favorites, Gordon Ramsay’s sticky toffee pudding.
https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/hells-kitchen-caesars-palace/
Raleigh, NC
Chocolate Chess Pie
http://www.angusbarn.com/
Breakfast
Las Vegas, NV
If you’re in for a hearty breakfast and you’re in Vegas, try here:
https://www.hashhouseagogo.com/
Or if you’d just like a bistro and the opportunity to people-watch:
https://www.monamigabi.com/las-vegas/
Cherokee, NC
Because mountains. We love to stop here and enjoy looking at the river while pigging out on breakfast.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peters-Pancakes-Waffles/175631575802084
Airport Food
Miami, FL
When in Miami, this is a must.
https://www.versaillesrestaurant.com/uncategorized/3-airport-restaurants-with-top-flight-dining