Dream Dinners: Chefs Share Their Fave Restaurants

If you could dine anywhere in the world, where would you make a reservation? Katie Button, Susie Jimenez, Miguel Aguilar, and other Latin chefs would fly over mountains and cross oceans just to crack open a menu at these renowned restaurants. Some of their choices might surprise you, so grab your passport and come hungry as we take a look at dream dining at its finest.

Susie Jimenez: REDD

Chef and TV personality Susie Jimenez has always dreamed of eating at the California hotspot, REDD. “It’s an Asian fine dining restaurant, and the chef, Richard Reddington, worked at Jardiniere where I interned,” said Jimenez. “If he learned anything from Traci or the chefs there, he knows good technique and flavors.”

Jimenez is planning to visit her family in September, and is looking forward to dining in Napa Valley. “When people can place a fusion of flavors perfectly it works, so I have high expectations, but I know that it will be an amazing dinner and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Jimenez. “Especially the Sonoma duck with mustard jus.”

Miguel Aguilar: Noma

If Miami chef Miguel Aguilar could take time off from work at Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, he would book a ticket to Copenhagen. “If I could have dinner at any restaurant around the world I would choose Noma in Denmark because it’s one of the top dining destinations in the world and it’s inspirational,” said Aguilar.

At Noma, ranked number one on The World's 50 Best Restaurants List, chef René Redzepi serves a tasting menu only in a cozy (and always sold out) 45-seat restaurant, made of Nordic ingredients often foraged or scavenged.

Next, we head to Scandinavia… [pagebreak]

Rene Ortiz and Giorgio Rapicavoli: Fäviken Magasinet

Miami Chef/Owner of Taperia Raca, Giorgio Rapicavoli would head to Scandinavia for the meal of his dreams. "I would love to try Fäviken Magasinet in Järpen, Sweden,” said Rapicavoli. “Chef Magnus Nilsson is really changing the game."

Austin’s Chef Rene Ortiz is about to open his new restaurant Launderette this winter, but he would take time off dine alongside Rapicavoli at Fäviken.

“I love Fäviken for its philosophy in following seasonal traditions and commitment to their community,” said Ortiz. “Magnus is a great chef who is young, full ‎of great energy, and has redefined a global culinary scene.”

Fäviken always harvests what grows on local land during the summer and autumn seasons, allowing for the freshest taste and highest quality.

“Aside from the restaurant, I hear the accommodations are super amazing,” said Ortiz, who wouldn’t mind spending a night or two. 

Cesar Zapata: Sukiyabashi Jiro

Cesar Zapata, Chef/Owner of The Federal Food, Drinks & Provisions in Miami is a fan of Japan. He would fly to Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo tomorrow for a stunning meal of fresh sushi. “I love Japanese flavors, ingredients and cooking, and I would be thrilled to dine there,” said Zapata.

The Michelin Guide has awarded the restaurant three stars and it's even been the subject of the wildly popular documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. 

Victor Albisu: D.O.M.

Chef Victor Albisu knows a thing or two about Latin cuisine. His restaurant Del Campo, is an upscale South American Grill, with flavors from Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. But lately, Albisu has been craving something Brazilian.

"I've been dying to go to D.O.M. in São Paulo. It's a world class restaurant serving something truly different,” said Albisu.

The restaurant is ranked second in Latin America and seventh in the world and there chef and owner Alex Atala serves Brazilian gastronomy with ingredients from the Amazon and the surrounding region. “It's all Amazonian food – a cuisine born in South America that is uniquely found in South America,” said Albisu.

Next, Sue Torres, Ingrid Hoffmann, and more… [pagebreak]

Sue Torres: Aponiente

Chef Sue Torres has been keeping busy with her new Connecticut restaurant, Tierra. But when Dan Barber, co-owner and executive chef of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns invited her to the French Culinary Institute to hear Chef Ángel León speak, the chef of Aponiente, she was there in a heartbeat.

“I was overwhelmingly impressed with Spain’s ‘chef of the seas,’” said Torres. “He cooked a fish using the pits of olives for fuel and made a plankton risotto that was outstanding.”

Chef León’s sea inspired menu includes a wide selection of clams, fish, shrimp, roe, and seaweed dishes. As for her dream dinner, Torres would love to spend the day with the chef she so admires.

“I'd like to spend a day at sea fishing with Chef León, followed by a meal cooked by him at his restaurant,” she said.

Katie Button: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

As chef and owner, Cúrate and The Nightbell, Ashville’s Katie Button has had many opportunities; pleasing to her career and her palette. When asked where she would sit down for the meal of her dreams, Button’s response was bittersweet.

“My first obvious response to this question was elBulli,” said Button, who chose the spot because she worked there over two seasons, first as the first American server in the front of the house and then in elBulli’s pastry kitchen. “My experience there changed my life and while I was able to have my hands in preparing the food, I never had the opportunity to dine there.”

The restaurant has since closed its doors, forever remaining the one place that Button has always dreamed of dining at, but never had the opportunity. One restaurant that is still on her fantasy list is Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in London.

“I am intrigued by how they researched old classic English dishes and then created new and exciting versions of them,” said Button, who is taking a similar view on her food at Nightbell. “By twisting American classic dishes, we haven't made it quite as historical or as dramatic as Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, but I got a lot of my inspiration for our concept from the cookbook he released for that project.”

Ingrid Hoffman: El Celler De Can Roca and 1884 Restaurante

Chef and TV personality Ingrid Hoffmann recently fulfilled her dream of dining at El Celler De Can Roca in Girona, Spain, but that doesn’t mean she is out of dream dining options.

“El Celler De Can Roca is the second best restaurant in the world,” said Hoffmann. “It was a multi-sensory emotional, operatic, and delicious meal with outstanding food made with so much love that you could feel it!”

Next on Hoffmann’s list is Francis Mallmann’s 1884 Restaurante in Mendoza, Argentina.

“I love his recipes and shows and I can’t wait to try his food,” said Hoffmann. “I admire his rustic-open fire approach to cooking. He does it all on the grill from meat to salads to desserts.”

Jose Enriqué: Sébastien et Michel Bras

Puerto Rican chef José Enrique is coming off one heck of a year. With three restaurants keeping him busy, Enrique has returned home to Puerto Rico, but would love his next trip to be to Michel Bras’ restaurant in Laguiole, France.

"I have to pick just one?!" said Enrique of his dream dining spot. “I am a huge fan of the chef, Michel Bras. He's a rebel – in a good way.”