“The List”

Over the years I have loved pushing the boundaries of my food experiences. Nowadays, I travel with a “bucket list” of eating destinations in mind. I have had the good fortune of dining at several notable restaurants around the world. Below is where I’ll keep a running list of places I’ve been.

3 Michelin Stars

  • Alinea (Chicago, IL) - 2009 “Best Restaurant North America”

  • Azabu Kadowaki (Tokyo, Japan)

  • Benu (San Francisco, CA)

  • Core by Clare Smyth (London, UK)

  • Eleven Madison Park (New York, NY) - #1 on 2017 “World’s 50 Best Restaurants”

  • Grace (Chicago, IL)

  • Hajime (Osaka, Japan)

  • Helene Darroze at The Connaught (London, UK)

  • Hyotei (Kyoto, Japan)

  • Kagurazaka Ishikawa (Tokyo, Japan)

  • Kashiwaya Senriyama (Osaka, Japan)

  • Kikunoi Honten (Kyoto, Japan)

  • Le Bernardin (New York, NY)

  • L’Osier (Tokyo, Japan)

  • Per Se (New York, NY)

  • Saison (San Francisco, CA)

  • Sezanne (Tokyo, Japan) - #37 on 2023 “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” & #1 on 2024 “Asia’s 50 Best”

  • Ryugin (Tokyo, Japan)

2 Michelin Stars

  • Acadia (Chicago, IL)

  • Belcanto (Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Charlie Trotter’s (Chicago, IL)

  • Chihiro (Kyoto, Japan)

  • Fujiya 1935 (Osaka, Japan)

  • Jungsik (Seoul, South Korea)

  • Kikunoi Roan (Kyoto, Japan)

  • Kwonkooksoo (Seoul, South Korea)

  • Mingles (Seoul, South Korea)

  • Providence (Los Angeles, CA)

  • Shunsaiten Tsuchiya (Osaka, Japan)

  • Soigne (Seoul, South Korea)

  • Sumibi Kappo Ifuki (Kyoto, Japan)

  • Sushi Harasho (Osaka, Japan)

  • Vila Joya (Albufeira, Portugal)

  • Zurriola (Tokyo, Japan)

1 Michelin Star

  • Blackbird (Chicago, IL)

  • Commis (Oakland, CA)

  • Konjiki Hototogisu (Tokyo, Japan)

  • Kusakabe (San Francisco, CA)

  • Dill (Reykjavik, Iceland)

  • HIDE (London, UK)

  • Kenzo (Napa, CA)

  • Knife Pleat (Costa Mesa, CA)

  • Longman & Eagle (Chicago, IL)

  • Peter Luger’s (New York, NY)

  • Rebel Omakase (Laguna Beach, CA)

  • milpa (Osaka, Japan)

  • Schwa (Chicago, IL)

  • Shigetsu (Kyoto, Japan)

  • Solbar (Napa Valley, CA)

  • Sushi Matsumoto (Kyoto, Japan)

  • Takashi (Chicago, IL)

  • Topolobampo (Chicago, IL)

  • Trishna (London, UK)

  • Valle (Oceanside, CA)

  • Yonemura Gion Honten (Kyoto, Japan)

Notable Restaurants

  • 112 Eatery (Minneapolis, MN)

  • The American Restaurant (Kansas City, KS)

  • Azuki to Kouri (Tokyo, Japan)

  • Bar Tartine (San Francisco, CA)

  • Bar La Grassa (Minneapolis, MN)

  • Bluestem (Kansas City, KS)

  • Bottega (Yountville, CA)

  • Canlis (Seattle, WA)

  • Central Restaurant (Lima, Peru) - #6 on 2018 “World’s 50 Best Restaurants”

  • é by José Andrés (Las Vegas, NV)

  • Fat Rice (Chicago, IL)

  • ink. (Los Angeles, CA)

  • ITO (Las Vegas, NV)

  • Joel Robuchon (Las Vegas, NV)

  • Maido (Lima, Peru) - #7 on 2018 “World’s 50 Best Restaurants”

  • MIL (Moray, Sacred Valley, Peru)

  • Piccolo (Minneapolis, MN)

  • Senia (Honolulu, HI)

  • Spoon & Stable (Minneapolis, MN)

  • Sushi Sho (Honolulu, HI)

  • Travail Kitchen & Amusements (Minneapolis, MN)

  • Vintage Cave Club (Honolulu, HI)

  • Willow’s Inn (Lummi Island, WA)