Caracol De Mar, Mexico City, Mexico

This is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. We stayed in the Condesa neighborhood on our recent trip to Mexico City, and this was an easy walk from out apartment. Chef Gabriela Camara’s hospitality and vision shine the brightest at the newest iteration of the restaurant (it apparently had moved), which welcomes guests with bar seating and cocktails on the first floor and a stunning salon filled with natural light on the top floor. The downside of the space is that it has a lot of hard surfaces and is really quite loud. The culinary ethos remains, with sustainability and seasonal seafood at the core and all-time menu favorites in tow. Order the green mole risotto and the fish tacos—they were both delicious, and the side sauces are a high point.

This is recommended, especially if you want to lean into seafood, and the sound level didn’t sound like a negative. Of the two seafood restaurants we ate at, this one was more upscale and had more memorable accompaniments to the dishes.

Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico

We had the taco omakase at Pujol, Chef/owner Enrique Olvera’s seminal dining room that has long stood as one of the country’s most famous addresses. This breezy, contemporary space is a constant hive of activity, thanks to the 95 elegant servers who circulate throughout the equallyelegant space. In the introduction we were asked about insects 🐜. Our neighbors said no, then, well if you can’t see them, maybe? No, he was quite clear, you can see them. We started and ended in the garden—which is brilliant from a table management focus but also it is such a pleasant spot.

A foodie friend asked:How did you enjoy? The restaurant creates a ton of buzz! I replied that we were glad we went but it a one and done for us. The food is impeccably prepared, some exceptional flavor bombs and like nothing we have had before. It is always a win when you have an experience like no other. It is next level, but next time? More taco stands, less fine dining

Contramar, Mexico City, Mexico

It was our first night in Mexico City, and even though there wasn't much of a time change from home, we had to get up early to get there, so an early dinner was in order. Thank goodness we had a reservation because the place was completely packed at 4:40 in the afternoon--perhaps aided by a World Cup game, which could be seen (and heard) from every corner of the large restaurant with closely packed seating. This is not a quiet place at the best of times, but if you like a lively festive environment and do not need to hear yourself think, this is a great place to eat seafood. My favorite dish was the shrimp tostada and the signature dish of the restaurant is the whole fish, grilled and then served half with salsa verde and half with salsa rojo. The whole meal was excellent and I would recommend it. The chef Gabriela Cámara has served as a culinary advisor to a former Mexican president, so not like we discovered this place!

Qui Plume La Lune, Paris, France

Our last meal in France! We made it a good one, walking the mile or so from our hotel right outside Le Gard Notre train station, so we got a chance to experience the city a bit, even though I was still a bit under the weather from my shoulder replacement surgery, and not up to the usual marching about we do. Paris is a beautiful walking city and so well worth doing at least a bit of that. This is a wonderful place, with great atmosphere as well as food. Here is what they say on the Michelin website: Qui plume la Lune boasts two very different interiors: one with bare stone walls and natural materials and the other a riot of colour and dried flower compositions. The chef executes a creative score that showcases the season’s finest ingredients: fillet of croaker, risotto of tapioca pearls; tender beef fillet with mash and roast celery; poached pear and muscovado sorbet. The dishes are artfully plated and indulgently served, the cooking is spot on and the flavours and seasonings exquisitely balanced: just the ticket for a good meal in a warm, elegant setting. We were seated in the more formal half of the restaurant, pictured above, and very much enjoyed the meal.

La Grand Cerf, Villers-Allerand, France

We wended our way back towards Paris after a week in Alsace, and this part of the Champagne region is much more charming than staying in Reims proper. I had wanted to stay there, to see the famous church that Monet painted, but did not need to go back, and this restaurant was spectacular, well worth finding if you are in the neighborhood. Here is what they have to say on the Michelin web site: At the foot of the Montagne de Reims and on the road to Épernay, this imposing inn unabashedly brandishes its opulent style. Come evening, the elegant dining space done out in pale wood takes on a romantic air – the perfect setting for fine classic French cuisine delivered by chefs Dominique Giraudeau (who shone for many years in the kitchens of Gérard Boyer at Les Crayères) and his associate, Pascal Champion. On the menu, top-notch produce, from John Dory to free-range milk-fed veal, as well as game, lobster and truffles. We opted for the mid-sized menu--not the plat du jour, but one step up from that, and it was really lovely. The table ware was particularly nice, not fussy but quite pretty.

La Relais de la Poste, La Wantzenau, France

We ate on the patio at this one star Michelin restaurant for my birthday-- the nice thing about it, besides that it was a beautiful day and the patio is spacious, is that we were the only North Americans in the place and all the tables were occupied. They say that the chef and his team offer precise cuisine, elegant presentation, a discerning selection of locally sourced ingredients, and creative, flavorful dishes.

We couldn't agree more. I love the spring foods--aspagagus, spring peas, rhubarb, strawberries are all some of my favorites, and in this land locked region, the fish is from the river or the lake. I never quite got it before, but the terroir is finally something that I can taste--took years, decades really--before I really felt I knew the difference. We in the US have come to that party late, which left us with no sense of it, but as tariffs in the US rise, gas prices rise, and the availability of food that travels becomes less affordable, maybe the silver lining is that we develop the ability to grow and appreciate our own. This is a restaurant well worth going to celebrate, and they will talk about where they source their food, some of it from across the street.

Restaurant A L'Etoile, Boersch, France

This is a Michelin noted restaurant, and here is what they have to say about it: Tucked away in a small Alsace village on the Mont Sainte Odile road, this traditional hostelry, opened in 1920, is today run by the fourth generation. A warm welcome and honest, homely recipes, starring market-fresh produce and a slate menu.

The menu changes daily and is written on a slate board--so it is short and fresh. I am not a fan of offal, but if you are, about 1/3 of the menu consists of that, and but all of it is more French leaning than the traditional Alsatian food we had in some places we ate on this trip. I had a whole trout, very simply prepared by poaching it whole and then serving with browned butter with slivered almonds. My spouse had veal tonnato that was possibly the best version of that dish we have ever had. Overall it was very reasonably priced and deliciously prepared food--the menu is limited but varied, and I would recommend it.

Au Table du Gourmet, Riquewihr, Alsace, France

This was one of the most intensely herbal meals I have ever had and I loved it. They have a massive garden and they are not afraid to use it. The chef, Jean-Luc Brendel, describes himself as a chef, a gardiner, and a poet. All of this is evident in the food on offer at this gorgeous restaurant. From their own website: A chef's total commitment to sustainable and responsible gastronomy, in homage to nature and to his land of Alsace. Because the expression "cultivating one’s own garden" could have taken root here, Jean-Luc Brendel does a lot of the gardening, composts, selects, raises chickens and produces honey. He is the author of a spontaneous, fresh and free cuisine, a cuisine of the essential, of cultivated or wild products, of emotions and travels, and he signs his plates in green. Emotional upheaval and eco-responsibility.

The town itself if worth exploring and there are places to try the regional wines just around the corner from the restaurant. Riquewihr is a picturesque medieval village in the Alsace region of northeastern France, famous for its well-preserved 16th-century architecture, colorful half-timbered houses. So very cute, if also remarkably crowded with tourists, at least the older part of the town is pedestrian only. Really lovely, despite not having been discovered by us

La Grand Georgette, Reims, France

This was our first stop after landing in Paris. Originally we had planned to take the train to Alsace and rent a car from there, taking advantage of both the high speed nature of train travel in France as well as having an opportunity to nap a bit after a relatively sleepless night. Unexpectedly, between buying the airplane tickets and the actual trip I had a shoulder replacement surgery. It was perhaps both equal parts optimism and naïveté to follow through with with long ago planned travel to France when I was 7 weeks post-op, but after 5 weeks of doing not much but nurse my bum shoulder followed by 3 weeks of struggling to be back at work, I was ready for a bit of a vacation. Concessions were made and instead of taking a train to Alsace we opted instead to drive to Champagne (less chance of jostling on public transport) and we chose Reims! All I knew of the town is the 30 or so paintings Monet did of the cathedral here—I had postcards of 2 of them in my office forever after seeing them in a Monet exhibit long ago. What I did not know was that he was commissioned to paint them after it was bombed in WWI. The cathedral dates back to the 5th century and the current restored is a great example of Gothic architecture —with over 2,000 statues.

So it is all about the church--we stayed a block away and we ate in a restaurant in view of it. The meal was a bit fussier than what we usually aim for on the first day, and it was slow going between courses--a blessing and a curse when you are trying to stay awake, but this was a very good meal, well prepared, and with a glass of champagne each, of course. We were definitely not up for a bottle and what they had by the glass was less unique than their bottle selections, but overall I would recommend this.

Sadler Restaurant, Milan, Italy

This is an elegant place with excellent food--not only did the chef grace our table, he sat and ate with the two women who were about his age who were sitting next to us--we all opted for the tasting menu. For us, it was our last elevated meal in Italy and we wanted it to last. This is a one-Michelin star dining establishment housed in the Casa Baglioni hotel, a beautiful Art Nouveau building dating from 1913, this restaurant has a contemporary feel with an elegant dining room featuring colourful armchairs. The cuisine is precise and distinctive, with a harmonious balance of traditional and innovative flavours thanks to the top-quality ingredients used. This was an easy walk from our hotel, and from here we walked to the Duomo and to an upscale store to buy cheese to bring home.

Ristorante Borgo Sant'Anna, Monforte d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy

The restaurant is housed on a vineyard, so the dining room has spectacular 180 degree views of the UNESCO World Heritage wine growing region that are breath taking all on their own. The chef here, Pasquale Laera, is originally from Puglia but has long made Piedmont his home, embracing the traditions and codes of its regional cuisine while enriching them with his own vision. His offering includes tasting menus (one dedicated to game in season) and an à la carte selection that reflects a colorful, generous style, where the choice of ingredients clearly sets flavor above appearance. Special care is given to vegetables, which Pasquale, true to his southern roots, knows how to elevate to their best, carefully sourcing them not only from his own garden but also from trusted suppliers.

The game menu was on offer, but we opted for one that was more vegetable and seafood forward, and while the meal over all was perfect, we loved each dish and there were a number of highlights, this one stood out. This was the BEST zucchini I have ever had. The broth is olive oil and lemon, the fresh zucchini floating it it picked up this sauce, which was flavorful and coated them. On the bottom of the pile in the middle was grilled zucchini, topped with a packet of ground zucchini and ricotta, and atop that some vert small poached zucchini and a fried zucchini flower. The small side dish had a pickled. tiny pan patty. Amazing!!!

Crizia, Buenos Aires, Argentina

We had some spectacular food on a recent trip to Argentina, and this was my favorite meal. While Argentinian beef is world reknowned, it really isn't my thing, and what you might forget in all the hype about the parilla grill, the gaucho, and the grasslands is that it has hundreds of miles of coastline. This restaurant is all about things that come out of the water. Owner-chef Gabriel Oggero works with small-scale independent producers, fishermen and farmers in order to source the very best seasonal ingredients (the restaurant also has its own rooftop city garden). Oysters are a particular speciality and fish-lovers will delight in a menu which is completely focused on seafood and shellfish.

I live in a very land-locked place, so having a dozen small plates of this kind is amazing to me, and then there is the presentation--there is an emphasis on natural things, with stones and wood featuring prominently as the vehicle for each dish, and then the ceramic plates and bowls are impressively gorgeous as well. The attention to detail is special, and I would definitely return here should we be in Buenos Aires in the future. As a bonus, it was a few minute walk from our hotel, where I would also return.

Chez Noir, Carmel, California

I picked this out for the big splash dinner on my recent trip to the north end of the central California coast (spoiler alert--I prefer the sourthern end of the central coast--the north is just a little bit rich for my taste), and it did not disappoint. Unbeknownst to me, one of my dining companions doesn't care for high end dining. It often makes her feel belittled, which is not the look I was going for--and luckily, that did not happen here. The restaurant is actually on the first floor of the Craftsman-style house that chef Jonny Black and his wife, Monique Black, who manages the front of the house,live in. They make you feel as if you're being invited into their own home because it is their home.

The cooking draws upon French bistro fare and showcases the bounty of the California coast, with seafood, like spot-on sea bass and swoon-worthy abalone, making a big impression. If selecting from the many delectable dishes proves too difficult, opt for a set menu offering a tour of the greatest hits. For me, the abalone was unforgetable, the very best I have ever had, and I would go back to have it again and again. It is something to dream about. The next best was the agnolotti--which was on the vegetarian option side of the fixed price menu, and did not disappoint. And make sure you do not skip the the ethereal vanilla-scented canelés with an ideal balance of crisp caramelized exterior and creamy, custardy interior--better than most I had in Bordeaux!

Gaya Pierre Gagnaire, Paris, France

This was our last lunch of the trip (which has been a stellar food trip, no doubt about it). I like to have a lot of things from the ocean when I travel to places that abutt the sea, and this was an especially accommodating menu for that goal. The Michelin website says: Chef Pierre Gagnaire has a focus on good food in a bid to cater to modern French sensibilities with a seafaring slant (carpaccio of seabream, pink radishes and grapefruit; giant langoustine, cream of Paimpol beans, scallion onions) and a fondness for veggies.

The seafood platter for deux. There are about 40 tiny cockles sprinkled throughout that with some difficulty and a little finesse we were able to use the red topped toothpicks to get out the innards. One of my favorites—teeny tiny flavorful morsels! We really enjoyed this as the show stopping part of the meal, but there was much to love about this restaurant from start to finish.

La Ribaudière, Bourg Charente, Cognac, France.

Our late spring trip to France featured a number of restaurants that have a Michelin star and this was one of them--it was my husband's favorite meal of the trip. The , chefs Thierry and Julien Verrat (father and son) create fine cuisine where invention goes hand in hand with La Ribaudière’s natural surroundings. The owner of a vineyard and a truffle field, Verrat is passionate about the Charentais region, which is a real land of plenty. Here, he creates dishes that bring out the best of his excellent ingredients with delicacy and conviction, using the full panoply of local produce, ranging from Cognac and Pineau des Charentes to wild snails and fish from the nearby Atlantic.

Practically by default it has become the go-to place for VIPs that are in the area visiting the Cognac houses. La Ribaudière encompasses a main dining room, terrace, private salon and a bar that offers its own menu of reasonably priced bistro dishes at lunch. The outdoor seating, and the tables near the floor-to-ceiling windows, present views of the pastoral countryside and the Charente River, which was a bathing spot of the beloved King Francois I. Inside, touches of whimsy are added to the mostly white décor via colorful glassware and a chime decoration made from kitchen utensils.

Then there was the food. It was explosively flavorful and also thematic. My spouse's favorite course was the duck course, which featured a smoked duck egg custard, a duck neck stuffed with fois gras, cured duck, dried duck and so on. As we neared the end we got one of our favorites, the cheese selection, and of course we had cognac. When we return we will have to do some additional tasting of that and then bring some home to share.

Restaurant Le Tertre, Saint-Émillion, France

This is a Michelin selected restaurant in Saint Emilion which is situated mid-way up a street with about a 25% grade and a railing in the middle to help haul yourself up or prevent tumbling down, depending upon your direction (see menu cover—true depiction). We were seated in a small nook street-side, where we could both watch people of various skill levels navigate the terrain and also to be observed and commented upon ourselves. The meal was spectacular and well worth the 1/2 hour trian ride from Bordeaux.

We opened the meal with a squid dish and followed it with hake wrapped in seaweed with a ponzu sauce, a side of seaweed, radish slices, wasabi topped with teeny tiny mushrooms, and flowers! There was a cheese course at the end that was quite good, alongside a dessert featuring fresh strawberries, but the langostines (a favorite of mine) atop a spring carrot mash, in a pea broth was, in my opinion, the best dish. My spouse would argue that the duck was excellent, and he would be right about that.

La Tupina, Bourdeux, France

We ate here for a late lunch/early dinner on a Sunday, a day where the open restaurants are limited. It is a Michelin noted restaurant and it serves very traditional French country food. A genuine institution, it champions dishes of yesteryear--such as Sanguette (blood pudding), macaronade (pasta with beef and tomato sauce), chips fried in duck fat (which we had alongside our roast chicken). I also loved how the plates and the woven linens had matching patterns.

The other aspect is that local produce is promoted with conviction in hearty dishes from South-West France, but also seasonal vegetables and meat roasted in the hearth. The fine produce on the counter certainly whets the appetite. We had the white asparagus because it was in season and on offer--I discovered that I really do prefer what for me is the more flavorful green variety, but that was only made possible by trying both side by side during this meal. The people watching was exceptional--several multi-generational French families, who were having uber-traditional meals as well. This is not my favorite French food, but this was a godd experience, especially on a day when there were few options.

Influences, Bordeaux, France

My spouse and I arrived in Paris in hte morning, made our way to our train station in the afternoon, and arrived in Bordeaux in the early evening, which of course felt like the middle of the night interspersed with fitful sleep. As as result of our bleary thinking, and not being content with the pre-dinner hour fare at various bistros, we managed to not make a decision until it was practically time for dinner. It was a happy error, because we went to this wonderful restaurant that was just around the corner from our apartment hotel. The best news is that it is open on both Sunday and Monday nights, both of which are lean for restaurant choices. This was an exceptionally organized and prepared meal.

Michelin notes: In a quiet street just a stone's throw from Place Gambetta, this inviting façade has a pleasant surprise in store. A French-American couple – chef Ronnie (who has worked in some decent establishments in California) and pastry chef Aliénor – work in tandem to serve up delicious aromatic dishes that are meticulously plated in a friendly atmosphere. Fresh and subtle fare! The dish at the top is not much to look at but Wow, possibly the best asparagus I have ever had. The foam is smoked herring and the red dots are reduced strawberries. Another memorable dish is just abobe--the langostine, grilled on one side and served in a sauce of crab and langostine cream reduction. It was not unique but the execution was perfect.

Dim Tu Tac, Saigon, Vietnam

Saigon is an overwhelmingly large city, with 12 million people, and while people drive slightly less crazily than in the rest of Vietnam, and it is easier to cross the street here than anywhere else we were, we were still committed to walking to dinner, and trying to make it a 1/2 hour radius around our hotel. There are a number of well reviewed European restaurants in Saigon, but we were interested in staying in the Asian food realm, and chose this one, which is Cantonese food with a Michelin Bib Gourmand rating.

The restaurant is continuously open in the afternoon to evening, which is another plus, because we enjoy eating our last meal of the day earlier than most these days. We do not have even an acceptable Chinese restaurant in our town, so this was a real treat for us. The duck, which is a favorite of my spouse, was the highlight, but every dish we got was excellent, and we would highly recommend this if you were willing to veer off the Vietnamese cuisine path for a meal.