Lunch at the newly opened John Dory Oyster Bar at the Ace Hotel.

Olive Tapenade at Fraiche in Culver City, Los Angeles.

Analog photos of Bar Bambino in San Francisco's Mission District.

The Pig Roast dinner at The Breslin in the Ace Hotel, New York.

Analog photos of Cranberries from the New Amsterdam Market.

Nashville-style spicy fried chicken at Peaches Hothouse in Bed-Stuy.

The smoked meat sandwich at Boerum Hill's Mile End Delicatessen.

No one has great things to say about airplane food. It's rarely good. I know this. But, when I saw "Todd English Selection" on the menu, I figured I ought to give the Olive's chef a second chance.

These mini tuna tacos at Bad Billy's in Aspen made with seared sushi-grade tuna. Wrapped in blistered, fried corn tortillas, they make an awesome one or two bite snack.

A neat trick lighting up things in a dark place.

The Bacon and Egg appetizer at Aspen's Lulu Wilson.

A glimpse of summer in these cold, snowy days. Soft Shell Crabs at Standard Tap in Philadelphia.

Yes, that's octopus -- on a pizza. And it's delicious.

Sloppy Joe Sliders at Rye House in the Flatiron district.

A bowl of Oxtail Parpadelle at Fraiche in Culver City, Los Angeles.

Koreatown also has some of the best 24 hour eateries in the area. The flavor and spectacle of strips and ribbons of meat grilled at your table beats out anything you're going to get at a greasy spoon.

In the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Honolulu, I found the only US branch of President Chibo restaurant we visited a couple years back in Ginza, Tokyo.

Bar 35 in Honolulu's Chinatown offers an odd assortment of pizza toppings including this one with Chinese sausage and sweet Thai chili sauce instead of the usual pepperoni and tomato sauce.

Mé Barbecue is a divey little takeout Korean place off the main strip in Waikiki. We found it on our first night in Hawaii and kept going back as an alternative to the pricey but not so good breakfast buffets at the hotel.

Quality Meats' offering for the New Amsterdam Market's WinterMarket were these delicious Hot Pockets filled with duck and cheese. Glorious.

The most amazing thing I ate at the WinterMarket was the "Hot Pockets" being sold by Quality Meats.

The bright fluorescent lights of the Papaya Stands around New York serve as welcome oases for revelers looking for a snack when the city that never sleeps seems to be taking a power nap.

I was a little dubious about the thick cut. The loin tends to be pretty lean and can dry out a lot unless it's pounded into oblivion a la Schnitzel. But this was meaty and juicy and the exterior had crunchy texture without dominating every bite.

When I was in High School and College, I loved wandering the street fairs every summer. The highlight for me was always the Italian Sausage stands. I could have Hot or Sweet, but always covered in a mountain of peppers and onions.

Taco Trucks are among the thousands of options available to snack on after a long night on the town. What do you crave after a night of revelry?

An iPod emergency sent me downtown during my lunch break, I took the opportunity to get some tacos from Pinche Taqueria, the wedge shaped shop in NoHo. I found the best al Pastor tacos I've had since I visited Mexico... More

After watching Anthony Bourdain's special, "Disappearing Manhattan", I found myself suddenly and deeply hungry. In scene after scene, Bourdain hit classics around Manhattan that I really, really wanted, none moreso than the glorious pastrami sandwich... More

The Chicken Parmesan, seen here, is the main attraction at Mondello. I've been coming here since I started working in the neighborhood five years ago and pretty much every time I've gotten this sandwich.... More

So you're in D.C. for the inauguration, huh? Lucky you. But where to eat and drink now that all the swearin' ins are over and out? Here are some serious eats (and drinks) in the nation's capital. More

I've discovered that I love French Onion soup. This shouldn't have surprised me, as it involved butter, onions and lots of cheese, but the soup we had at Au Pied Cochon was the best I've had.... More

Lechon Kawali: Filipino-style deep-fried pork belly.... More

The Hot & Spicy Combo at Bon Chon in Koreatown... More