Kachka – Portland
Bourdain’s “fixer” Zamir talked up Soviet food and I had to have some! Russian cuisine at Kachka was intoxicating, especially with vodka.
Bluestem – Kansas City
The dystopian 2020 restaurant environment leads me to a bittersweet farewell to Bluestem, a favorite Kansas City restaurant.
Commander’s Palace – New Orleans
Commander’s Palace is a landmark in the garden district and an important restaurant woven into the historical fabric of New Orleans.
Smyth – Chicago
The Shields opened Smyth-Chicago after five years in rural Virginia where they found their mojo and the name for their restaurant.
Arnaud’s – New Orleans
A visit to Arnaud’s must begin in the James Beard Award winning French 75 Bar, then finish in the dining room enjoying dishes developed over 100 years.
Fort Smith, AR – The List
Choosing “The List” is packed with pressure. We love many independent eateries in Fort Smith, but these stand out as my favorites!
Juno – Chicago
We were anxiously anticipating our last supper in Chicago, an omakase feast from Chef B.K. Park. Juno, is one of Zagat’s “Hottest Japanese Restaurants in America” and, of 200 sushi restaurants in Chicago, rated best by Chicago Magazine. Now you know why we were excited.
Galatoire’s – New Orleans
Galatoire’s is a destination restaurant. It’s one of the New Orleans “Grand Dames” because of it’s historical significance and excellence for more than 100 years.
New Orleans – The List
Hey Tim, what are your favorite New Orleans restaurants? I love to help friends dine well, so I decided to document my favorites
Le Pigeon – Portland
Le Pigeon is helmed by Gabriel Rucker, a two time James Beard award winning chef. He presents contemporary French inspired cuisine in a cozy space with a laid-back atmosphere.
Alinea – Chicago
Alinea in Chicago, in January. With the wind howling off lake Michigan it’s a very cold place, especially so this year. A polar vortex brought freezing temperatures far below normal. Who in their right mind would plan an excursion there in the dead of winter? Well I did, and the great salesman that I am, persuaded three friends to go with me. The lure was an opportunity to dine at Alinea. With amazing, imaginative food and theatre in equal measure, it’s a highly sought ticket.
Temporis – Chicago
It’s a lot of fun dining at three star michelin restaurants, but it’s even more fun dining at restaurants like Temporis. They have only one michelin star, but they have the heart and soul of a restaurant with four.