15 Chefs on the Places They Can’t Believe They Haven’t Visited
“I haven’t been to Noma. I know, right? As a modern, new chef, how have I not been to Noma?”
—Richard Blais, author, Try This at Home
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“El Bulli. Since I worked there, people speak to me about their meals there as if I also had the opportunity to sit down and enjoy a meal there, too. It’s always embarrassing to admit that I never got the opportunity, and now that it’s closed, I never will.
But I make sure to visit the restaurants of chefs that owned or trained there, so that I can get glimpses and memories of the ideas that came from that amazing restaurant. Like one of Albert Adria’s empire of restaurants he is developing in Barcelona; or Disfrutar in Barcelona or Compartir in Cadaques—all by Eduard Xartruc, Uriol Castro, and Mateu Cassanas, the three head chefs at El Bulli when I was working there. Or Dos Palillos, an Asian-fusion-Minibar type restaurant in Barcelona run by a former head chef of El Bulli.”
—Katie Button, Curate, Asheville, NC
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“I haven’t gotten a chance to truly explore food cities Paris and London. I know—I just need to go.”
—Paul Qui, Qui Restaurant and East Side King, Austin.
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“The city of Charleston, South Carolina.”
—Gail Simmons, “Top Chef,” author, Talking With My Mouth Full
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“Prague. And it’s a place where my beautiful wife, Lori, has wanted me to take her, and I keep letting her down.”
—Michel Nischan, CEO, Wholesome Wave
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“I’ve never been to Asia, Australia or Africa—yet! And I’m dying to go to Etxebarri in Spain.”
—Zoi Antonitsas, Top Chef
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“Las Vegas. Never been. And no real need to go.”
—George Mendes, Aldea, New York City
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“I don’t know, man. I’m so food obsessed, I kind of try to go everywhere, but a place that I’m kind of ashamed that I haven’t been in a long, long time? I haven’t been to L.A. in probably 15 years. I’ve heard there’s such amazing stuff going on over there, and I can’t wait to get there.
But a place that I’ve never been is Bordeaux, because I’m a wine fanatic and I’ve been all over France drinking wine, all over the world drinking wine, but I’ve never been to Bordeaux. So probably the spot I really need to get to is Bordeaux.”
—Ken Oringer, Toro, Boston and New York City
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“Almost all of my friends do restaurants that I haven’t been to yet. I’m going to say Kin Shop in New York City. I was with Harold (Dieterle) the other day, and he was like, ‘Really? Still?’”
—Johnny Iuzzini, author, Dessert FourPlay and Sugar Rush
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“I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never been to Per Se in New York City.”
—Jamie Bissonnette, Toro, Boston and New York City
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“Ashamed? None at all. I have desires to go lots of places, but for many, many years I worked and dedicated my life to kitchens, working for not a lot of money. It wasn't part of my world to truly travel for pleasure. Now, filming my new show, 36 Hours, I finally get to see the world with a true sense or curiosity and amazement.”
—Kristen Kish, co-host, 36 Hours