When it comes to the best fried chicken wings and fries in Richmond, my go-to spot is Manchu, a New Orleans original that recently opened its second location right here in Virginia’s capital, more specifically the Northside neighborhood.

I know many good spots in my city, but I’ll be the first to say I don’t know them all. I was introduced to Birdie’s over the summer and had been hearing great things about it. Looking for Christmas-y things to do, I was surprised to find that Birdie’s creates an annual pop-up called The Evergreen that transforms the space into a winter wonderland with extravagant decorations that are sure to bring you holiday cheer.

Nestled in a relatively quiet area of downtown Miami, lies a quaint Vietnamese restaurant called Tâm Tâm. I had never knowingly had Vietnamese food, but one look at the menu and I knew it was a place I needed to be. If you could measure a restaurant's worth by entry, the line outside suggests an upcoming acclaimed experience. Modest in size, Tâm Tâm is the definition of a local treasure and the kind of place I prefer to find myself when it comes to food.

Chicago is full of food gems, and each time I visit the city, I make it a point to try new restaurants, preferably black-owned. Chicago is a city in which you’ll find many Southern restaurants because The Great Migration brought the food I’m so accustomed to in Virginia up north and then across the country. Dining at these restaurants always feels familiar in that way, but I also have come to expect and enjoy the surprises that evolution and a geographical change can bring to such classic and time-honored dishes.

Big Jones in Chicago was mentioned on one of my favorite Netflix series High on the Hog, so you know I had to add it to my list. If you can find any type of cuisine in Chicago, it’s Southern food, thanks to the great migration, and Big Jones beautifully marries tradition with a fresh approach to Southern cuisine.

Eating a black-owned restaurants whenever I travel feels particularly important to me, because it’s an experience that makes me feel at home and reminds me of my culture. We may all be in different places, but food connects us by the continuation of traditions that define Southern cooking, and I’ll always be grateful to places like Virtue for that.

Sampan is a modern Asian restaurant offering a unique experience through its small plates concept. Instead of ordering a single entree, it's infinitely better to try and even share several dishes mixed and matched from different sections of the menu. The Kim Chee Fried Rice and Crispy Shrimp are to die for among other delicious menu items.

Elegant Cuizines is a completely dairy-free restaurant that also caters to the vegan and gluten free communities. Chef Headen’s recipes are vegetable heavy and soy, salt, and sugar free. If you’re thinking no to all of that, rethink your presumptions. Immediately. This collection of dishes will outmatch some of your most coveted favorites from any other restaurant and, on top of that, will be infinitely healthier for you.

Lula Cafe is a 2024 James Beard Award Nominee for outstanding hospitality and 2020 Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, given to restaurants with best value for money. Having now been, I can attest to both and have been super excited to write this review.

Let’s be very clear. I’ve not tried very many soul food restaurants in Chicago, but I don’t imagine the others being better than Soulé. Chat with me about my experience.

The Museum of Ice Cream is a series of installations packed with treats and interactive games that can make you forget you’re an adult with actual responsibilities. It’s a fun opportunity for photos and the perfect opportunity for play time. Does it get any better than this?

I heard that Sant Ambroeus had the best hot chocolate in New York City, so I had to see (or taste) for myself. Sant Ambroeus is a Milanese cafe chain known for its pasta and pastries with several locations across the city. This cozy, family-first dining experience on Madison Avenue was the perfect way to end my Christmastime trip to NYC.