In September, Jimmy and I were asked to help cater a wedding in Vermont, a five-course tasting menu for 150 people, outside, on a very chilly night. No easy feat! But we had a blast cooking with ingredients from nearby farms, just how we like it. And Vermont in September? Unreal. I’m convinced the foliage there has no rival.

The real highlight, though, was sneaking in a long weekend in Montréal - just a two-hour drive away and about as close as you can get to Europe without leaving North America. Charming doesn’t begin to cover it. We ate well (of course), but a few spots stood out:

Bar St-Denis — My favorite meal of the trip. Run by an Au Pied de Cochon alum, but with a lighter hand. The blue cheese martini was like our Freyja’s eccentric, old, stinky aunt, but in the best possible way. Razor clams, whelk, and classic French fare done right: comforting, unfussy, and perfectly executed. Hits all around.

Épicerie Pumpui — A break from all the foie with a spicy, vibrant Thai lunch. Fresh salads, creamy coconut milk, and some of the best chicken wings I’ve ever had (and I don’t say that lightly). Truly, no notes.

Badin — A tiny cocktail bar with speakeasy vibes, thoughtful drinks, and a killer sound system. Just steps from our Airbnb and right down the street from Joe Beef. My mirepoix cocktail? Unexpected magic.

Fairmount Bagel vs. St-Viateur Bagel — Of course, we had to try both. Honestly, the difference is minimal, both are great. The cream cheese situation was the real surprise: retail tubs of Philadelphia! Who knew? I’m an “everything” bagel girl, but the all dressed won me over. Slightly sweet, a little chewy, and best eaten warm, ripped open on the street. A beautiful thing.

I had the pleasure of being in my absolute favorite city twice this fall: yep, San Francisco, the one and only. One weekend was for fun, the other for a Hayward × Frances collaboration dinner that was an absolute blast. Cooking with Melissa Perello will always be one of my favorite things.

And truly, I’m not just biased, it was the best culinary weekend I’ve had in ages. A perfect blend of old San Francisco treasures and a few new kids on the block. Every meal, every snack, every bite was stellar. Here’s the hit list:

Verjus
Fresh off the plane, straight to Verjus. It was a vibe, a true party with simple, classic, exquisite French food. The mussel escabeche on toast was dreamy, the omelet (I know, shocking coming from me) was lights-out, and the sausage was perfect. I love when you order a bottle of wine and half the staff cheers you on—it feels like being part of the team. We even ran into them later at a bar. Couldn’t have scripted it better.

Breadbelly
These guys have been crushing it since day one in the Richmond, and their new location is five times the size, all sunshine and energy. We sat outside and ordered nearly everything. If you think you’re going for sweets, think again, a bright California salad with crispy chicken karaage, a mortadella sandwich with thick tomato slices (and later, a mushroom tapenade that I loved), and the shrimpwich of your dreams. That plain croissant, though, better than any I’ve had in Paris. Riddle me that?!

Anchovy Bar
Starting a night here has become a bit of a tradition. Find me a better seafood tower and anchovy toast. I’ll wait. With a crisp glass of Eastern European white, it’s unbeatable. I’m not picking favorites, but Anchovy Bar might just be my favorite Atomic Workshop restaurant. Their chilled seafood dishes are always bursting with flavor, and the hospitality? Timeless.

Four Kings
The one and only. Our second visit and somehow even better. I tell myself not to order the whole menu, but who am I kidding? It’s a beautiful chaos of flavor. Mapo spaghetti (I could eat it daily), crispy fried chicken, small cold salads, and that katsu with tomato, cheese, and rice… the ultimate comfort. Don’t hold back, just let it happen.

Saigon Sandwich
Breakfast of champions. I go combo or meatball every time, and never skip the iced coffee, it saves the day.

Outta Sight Pizza
A quick slice turned into a small obsession. Hot dog, it was good. I’m already planning my return.

True Laurel
Afternoon cocktails, cards, and friends; this place nails it. Sit outside, share drinks, and soak in the city.

Rintaro
Somehow, I’d never been during my six years in the city. It’s still just as packed, just as special. Rintaro is where Japan meets California, perfectly balanced and deeply inspiring.

Octavia
Dinner here was extra special. Jeremy Fox was in town celebrating his new book, On Meat. I worked mostly at Frances, but Octavia still feels like a version of home. The meal was everything you’d expect from those two chefs: full of meat, yet light and graceful. Whoever made that habanada ketchup, I’m still thinking about it.

San Ho Wan
Wow. I’d heard the hype, but this was next level. A pristine, elevated take on Korean BBQ from Corey Lee that still feels soulful and warm. Every cut of meat was perfection, the banchan endless, and those perilla leaves…come on. But the real shocker? Dessert. I finished the tiramisu myself, and as Soren pointed out, he’s never seen me finish a dessert before.

San Francisco, keep being your best self. You change, you grow, and somehow, you still feel like home (sorry, Portland). I’ll always love coming back.

Los Angeles — what a crew: me, Jimmy, Soren, and Lyndsay Dyk, our fearless PR leader. We headed south for The Chef Assembly, and I’m so glad we did. I’d never experienced anything quite like it - it was small, intimate, and incredibly inspiring. We heard from every corner of the industry: legendary chefs, beverage directors, writers, and media folks, all speaking honestly about what they do and why they do it.

If you’re in the industry and have been on the fence about attending something like this, go. It’s worth every minute. It doesn’t hurt that the food was some of the best of the trip. Imagine tacos so good you’d normally drive all over L.A. to find them, only this time, they were cooked right in front of us. Unreal.

Stir Crazy
The owner had spoken on one of the panels, so of course we had to check out her spot. It’s tiny, with a wine list that feels ten times bigger than the space itself, and a menu made for lingering: leek toast, snack plates, celery salad. The kind of food that begs for another glass, and another. You could easily lose a few hours there and be better for it.

Koreatown
Did we end the night with karaoke and way too much food? Absolutely. Was it the best decision? One thousand percent.

Sonoratown
Yes, it’s famous. Yes, there’s always a line. And yes, it’s still completely worth it. The tortillas are perfection, soft, warm, smoky, and everything that goes in them is just as good. I find a reason to go every time I’m in town, which is really just an excuse to eat another taco.

Now Serving
My first visit after hearing about this place for years, and it lived up to the hype. The owners, who also spoke at the conference, were gracious and sharp. The shop is a dream: shelves stacked with food and beverage books, aprons, spoons, magazines, and thoughtful tools that make you want to cook (and read) more.

L.A. has this way of reminding me how much creativity there is in the world of food. Messy, ambitious, joyful, and alive. I came home buzzing with ideas (and, honestly, a few tacos still on my mind).

What’s a work trip without a little late night karaoke?

I had the joy of ending last year and starting this one in Thailand, on my honeymoon, no less! Two weeks across the country wasn’t nearly enough, but we squeezed in as much as we could, thanks to an incredible list of recommendations from Sam and Eric of Yaowarat in Portland.

Our trip started in Chiang Mai, drifted south to the island of Koh Tao for a few blissfully plan-free days, and wrapped up with New Year’s Eve in Bangkok.

Vacations are always a bit of a personal challenge for me. I don’t drop into “relax mode” easily. While listening to Chris Cosentino’s podcast featuring Andy Ricker of Pok Pok (because of course I was researching where to eat), Andy said something that stuck with me: when you spend every day getting out of bed like a shotgun, mind racing before sunrise, it takes a long time to unlearn that rhythm. Slowing your body while your brain keeps sprinting? That in-between can be wildly uncomfortable.

So this trip was my reminder to let go of expectations. No self-discovery checklist, no productivity goals, just rest, exploration, and food. And it was exactly what it needed to be. Turns out, proper expectations are a beautiful thing.

Chiang Mai
Possibly my favorite food of the trip. We rented a scooter, zipped up the mountains for khao soi that ruined me for all others, and ate enough grilled chicken, salads, and sticky rice to last a lifetime. The spice built dish by dish, the sun was bright, and somehow, I didn’t burn. Every cocktail bar greeted us with the same bartender and the biggest smile. Chiang Mai is warmth personified.

Koh Tao
Getting there took a plane, ferry, and car, but five slow, sandy days were worth every transfer. We rode scooters, paddle-boarded, snorkeled, played cards, drank from coconuts, and watched way too much of The Crown. Sure, it’s touristy (most Thai islands are these days), but eating pad kra pao on the beach after a swim? Hard to beat. Yes, I got a little sunburned, but Jimmy’s was worse, so I’m calling that a win.

Bangkok
Our final stop, and the one I still can’t stop thinking about. We stayed near Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road, an absolute sensory overload, in the best way. We wandered for hours through alleys packed with vendors selling everything from woks to sweets to curries bubbling in steel pots. Every bite was incredible.

It was such a joy to trace the inspiration behind Sam and Eric’s Yaowarat Portland menu. Seeing firsthand where those dishes were born. Bangkok defies description: sprawling, alive, endlessly layered. Cats nap in doorways, shopkeepers leave out water bowls for them, and street food is cooked right in front of you by someone who’s probably been doing it for decades.

And yet, there’s this modern edge too—cocktail bars, young chefs, new perspectives. That’s the beauty of Bangkok: tradition and innovation living side by side, both telling Thailand’s story in their own voice.

On the Road. A mini travel guide from Chef Kari.