• The Bay Side Buffet $$ at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas — Great food, and Da Guy’s favorite for an over-the-top breakfast..
• The Buffet $$ at the Bellagio, Las Vegas — The best, top-of-the line buffet you’ll find anywhere. Always an exciting lunch, dinner, or weekend champaigne brunch — with something to please everyone, and something you have likely never tried before..
• Cafe Bellagio $$ — Da Guy’s favorite 24-hour classy “whatever you want, when you want it” place on the Strip, just off the lobby through that awesome conservatory that you’ll only find at the Bellagio on the Strip in Las Vegas
• Mesa Grill $$$  — Bobby Flay‘s place at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
• Olives $$$ — Todd English‘s casual but upscale place at Bellagio, Las Vegas — with a super fantastic view on the terrace overlooking the fountain show
• Roy’s – Las Vegas $$$  — just off the Strip a few blocks down Flamingo toward UN.
• Spago $$$  — Wolfgang Puck’s original in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. This is the one that started the Las Vegas culinary craze and it’s still da best! Da Guy loves this place for mid-afternoon lunch and frequents the place as much as possible when he’s in town..
• Trattoria del Lupa $$$  — Wolfgang Puck’s place at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas. Wow.
• Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill $$$  — MGM Grand, Las Vegas. Now run by the same folks as Spago at Caesars and the service is much improved, but still not as top-notch as at the original in the middle of the Strip.

• El Cholo $$ — on Western Avenue in Los Angeles — it is THE classic and Da Guy’s #1 favorite Mexican food place anywhere in the world! Green corn tamales in the summer or “a Taste of History” combo the rest of the year, and a LA Lemonade goes down smoothly any ‘ol time. The neighborhood is a bit daunting as Korea Town has grown up around da place, but don’t let that stop you.  Thank goodness for valet parking!
• Erik Schats Bakery $ — in Bishop on the left just before the curve on 395. Sheepherder and chile cheese bread to die for.
• George’s at the Cove $$$ — La Jolla. ALWAYS fabulous — Fine dining in the evening, or the more casual Pacific View Bar or Ocean Terrace Bistro overlooking the cove.
• Jake’s Del Mar $$ — now part of “T’s Restaurant” chain that makes something about it awfully familiar if you’ve spent any time in Hawaii, especially when you see that mud pie on the dessert menu! A great casual place with good food, right on the beach.
• Julian Pie Company $ — in Julian and Santa Isabel, but also at some markets in the San Diego area. The fresh blackberry pie is to die for!
• L&L Hawaiian Barbecue $ — growing all over the place in Southern California when you need that plate lunch fix. Go for the Katsu Chicken or BBQ Mix!
• Lawry’s The Prime Rib $$$ — in Beverly Hills
• The Loft at Montage Resort & Spa $$$ — in Laguna Beach — when you want to treat yourself for an upscale terrific luncheon, California style.
• The Marine Room $$$ — La Jolla.  Spectacular — consistently duk’in it out with George’s as Da Guy’s #1 favorite in San Diego. You can’t beat this view, especially on a moonlight evening during high tide, that’s for sure!
• Napa Rose $$$ — at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa in Anaheim. Award winning California-style cuisine with a wine list that does not stop, along with a large comfortable bar area. For a special occasion with parties not exceeding four, sit at the Chef’s Counter for something a bit more casual, watch the action, and interact with the chefs. “The Vinter’s Table” 4-course chef’s tasting menu with matching wine flight is stellar and changes weekly. definitely one of Da Guy’s favorites, anywhere around the globe …and no, you don’t need park admission to get in.
• Peohe’s $$ — in Coronado with a killer view looking across the bay at that extraordinary San Diego skyline. It’s da place to go when you’re craving a bit of Hawaiian Paradise and can’t get there by car.
• Roy’s – La Jolla $$$
• Roy’s – Newport Beach $$$
• Sammy’s Wood fired Pizza $ — it all started in San Diego
• Scoma’s $$ — San Francisco at Fisherman’s Wharf.  A classic, and always jam-packed.
• See’s Candies $ is the original California classic — NOTHING better! Yum!
• Sheerwater $$ at the Hotel Del Coronado for a great outdoor lunch. Be sure to explore the environs while you’re here. as you’ll find, “some like it hot!”
• The Shores $$ — a more casual version of the Marine Room by the same management and executive chef team. Located in the La Jolla Shores Hotel (formerly the Sea Lodge Hotel) — a great place for breakfast, lunch, and yes, Thanksgiving Buffet!
• Spago $$$ — is Wolfgang Puck’s original (now in its second location) place. Hob-nob with the stars and upper class in this stellar restaurant in Beverly Hills. It won’t disappoint.
• Studio $$$$ at Montage Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach — when you want a first-rate, elegant and very upscale dinner on a bluff in Laguna with that wonderful California coastline.
• Tony’s Jacal $$ — near the race track in Solana Beach.  Da Guy’s #1 Mexican restaurant in San Diego.
• Trader Joe’s $ — What a store. An eclectic selection of great things at reasonable prices: vitamins, wine, fruit, produce, cheese, frozen wonders and more.

• AJ’s Fine Foods $-$$ — Yummie everything!
• Different Pointe of View $$$ — Pointe Hilton Tapitio Cliffs
• Roy’s – Scottsdale $$$

When Da Guy is at a decent restaurant (not a fast food joint), it really ticks him off when:

1. Young children don’t have basic manners. Practice makes perfect before they get to go out to a nice place, just as it was with Da Guy before he got to go to his parents favorite restaurant, The Magic Lamp, so many years ago. …or why not get a Sitter in consideration of others? Some parents don’t need to train their children at other patron’s expense.
2. People are on their cell phone for extended periods. Do people really need that thing plugged in their ear 24 hours a day? Why can’t some people either turn it off for a while, put it on mute, or get up from their table and go somewhere else if the call is of any length?

Big Island

• Big Island Candies $ — some of da best cookies you’ve ever eaten
• Roy’s – Waikoloa $$$

Kauai

• Roy’s Poipu Bar & Grill $$$
• The Beach House Restaurant $$$

Maui

• Humuhumunukunukuapua’a $$$ at the Grand Wailea
• Longhi’s $$ — Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner – it’s always great at the original on Front Street. This is Da Guy’s favorite early morning breakfast spot. It can’t be beat for a quiet time with the local paper, a piece of the special fritatta of the day and perhaps a home-made sticky bun. The crowds start coming later in the morning, but you’ll have a good time for lunch or dinner where you must save room for dessert. His newer place in Wailea isn’t shoddy either!
• Roy’s – Nicolina $$$
• Roy’s – Kihei $$$
• Roy’s Kahana Bar & Grill $$$

Oahu

• Alan Wong’s $$$ — oh my, oh my, outstanding in every way except for the view (what view?) — each and every time! A DO NOT MISS spot.
• The Hau Tree Lanai $$ at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel is off the beaten path for most tourists — on the end of Waikiki beach you see in those postcards at the base of Diamond Head. Great breakfast and lunch place!
• Honolulu Cookie Company $ — the most stellar flavored shortbread cookies — the perfect gift or mail order treat.
• House without a Key $ at the Halekulani is the place to be for drinks at sunset with an elegant Hawaiian style
• L&L Drive-In $ — Throughout the islands. It’s all about the Katsu Chicken or BBQ Mix plate lunch with a super sweet Hawaiian Punch, please!
• Le Mer $$$$ at the one and only Halekulani in Waikiki when nothing but the best will do
• Leonard’s Bakery $ on Kapahulu — it’s all about the hot malasadas …and you mainland guys thought Krispy Kreme’s were da best. HA!
• The original Mai Tai Bar $ at the Royal Hawaiian — two and you’ll be under the table!
• Matsumoto’s Shave Ice $ — The original in Haleiwa.  A Hawaiian Special with Ice Cream. Awesome. Once you have one, you’ll swear off those California beach snow cone things for life!
• Ray & Nancy’s Place — sorry, by personal invite only!
• Roy’s – Hawaii Kai $$$ — It’s the original, just an ear shot away from one of Bert’s “old” Places in Hawaii Kai.

• The American Bar $$ — at the Savoy. On The Strand in London. A classic!
• Restaurant Gordon Ramsay $$$$ — on old Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, London. You’ve never had food or service like this in your life.
• Tamarind $$$$ — the BEST Indian food on earth in Mayfair, London.
• Wilton’s $$$$ — Seafood since 1742 in St James, London. Save some time to check out those men’s shops in the neighborhood.

• California Grill $$$ — Walt Disney World – 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort
• Jiko $$$ — Walt Disney World – Animal Kingdom Lodge. Da Guy’s #1 on-property pick and one of the best anywhere.
• Wolfgang Puck’s Cafe $$-$$$  — Walt Disney World – Downtown Disney West End
• Rainforest Cafe $$ — Walt Disney World – Marketplace & Animal Kingdom
• Roy’s – Tampa $$$
• Victoria & Albert’s $$$$ — Walt Disney World Grand Floridian. What an experience.

…so, if you don’t quite get the picture, Da Guy has some of his very favorite restaurants of ANY place at Walt Disney World. No, it’s not all about fast food and burgers, but they have some mighty good ones.

Here is a baseline of some of Da Guy’s favorite vineyards and his recommended finds — both the everyday and for those special occasions. It tends to be all about California wines along with some of those tasty Oregon and Washington State varieties added in for good measure. Clear on the other side of globe though, he’s found a couple tasty picks from New Zealand and several from South Africa that he was introduced to at Jiko — his #1 restaurant pick at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

What you won’t find here are references to those so-called wines that come in boxes and should be used only with 7-Up or Sprite in a backyard summer spritzer, or those with liquid contents that likely cost less than the bottle and shipping/handling costs to get it to you. Da Guy would rather have a nice cold glass of water, please!

Your trivia for the day: Jiko is the #1 US importer of South African wines. Go for it, Disney! Who says you’re just for kids?

• Canoe $$$ — Oh wow! Still Da Guy’s #1 in Atlanta!
• Cracker Barrel $ — all over the place, especially in the South.  What a breakfast!
• The Grape $ — in Vinings
• Krispy Kreme $ — How did they get on THIS list?  You have to admit, there is nothing better when that light is on, and they are hot out of the fryer!
• Ray’s on the River $$$ — very consistent.  Between the 285 interchanges with 75 and the 400
• Roy’s – Buckhead $$$
• The Vinings Inn $$$
• Williamson Brothers Bar-B-Q $ — yes, a BBQ joint – and boy, is it great!

Michael Chiarello

His NapaStyle empire — Da Guy loves that California virgin olive oil! Watch Michael on the Food Channel.

Julia Child

A personality. An icon. Easy-going — a regular person. A spy. Love. Interesting. Inspiration. Unique. The first celebrity chef. Hilarious. That voice. Passion. Would hate to clean that kitchen afterwards! PBS – Johnny Carson – GMA – Saturday Night Live. A Peabody. An Emmy. No product endorsements. Funny. Devoted to Paul. The kitchen in the Smithsonian. Butter. Forever. Julia.

Bobby Flay

Da Guy has been to his Mesa Grill in both NYC and Vegas … it’s all about flavor, textures, and presentation. Wonderful! On the Food Channel.

Tyler Florence

Practical and down to earth cooking. Watch Tyler on the Food Channel.

Ina Garten — The Barefoot Contessa

Awesome in every single way. See her on the Food Channel.

Maida Heatter

She’s both a cookbook author and friend of Wolfgang’s. She bakes, and it’s all simply fabulous — especially the cakes and cookies! Da Guy has never had a failure or disappointment. As Da Guy’s brother says, “they’re not icky sweet!” Yes, always, just right! If you need the right bakeware, including some not so readily available pans, check out Bridge Kitchenware.

Wolfgang Puck

He’s Da Man. Love every bit of it!

Gordon Ramsay – London, US, and around the globe

Holy cow — did you see him on Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word, or the British and US versions of Kitchen Nightmares? This is one perfectionist, and Da Guy will never forget that memorable dinner at his intimate restaurant in London. Watch for him on BBC America and FOX.

Charlie Trotter – Chicago

Da Guy has not been here yet, but some day he will!

Alan Wong – Honolulu

Simply outstanding in every way.  Da Guy’s #1 choice on Oahu.  Not to be missed.

Roy Yamaguchi – US, Asia and the Pacific

Da Guy who started it all with his Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. If you’ve seen the Favorite Restaurants articles, you must have seen the trend the guy has for California and Asian-inspired food, or that Da Guy has been to more than a dozen different Roy’s Restaurants around the world. There must be something to this guy, wouldn’t you say?

…and then of course, Da Guy’s personal favorites:

• his Mom
• his Grandmother — that’s Da Guy’s Mom’s Mom, aka “Mimi” to her grandsons. Check out a Little Guy at her place with his favorite past time before he could really help-out in the kitchen
• A great friend, Nancy — and I bet you don’t have a personalized recipe book from Ray & Nancy, do you? You should be really jealous, because Da Guy isn’t sharing.