Food & Wine U.S. tour. Or how I put on 10lbs in five cities.

Recently I completed a dream assignment— I was tapped to be creative oversight on a video series collaboration between Ogilvy, San Pellegrino, and Food & Wine magazine. We travelled to five cities, hooking up with five famous chefs to discover their ‘taste’ — what it meant for food and also when exploring the city they call home. The highlight? Eating lunch at Matsuhitsa, the original Nobu, in L.A. I have eaten a lot of great sushi in my life, but the food brought tears to my eyes. Lowlight? The aforementioned weight I put on while on the tour.

Stop 1: New York Chef: Alex Stupak Restaurant: Emapllon

Stop 2: Chicago Chef: Stephanie Izard Restaurant: Duck Duck Goat Highlight: The restaurant had a separate vegetarian menu and the decor was some of the most beautiful and authentic I have ever seen!

Stop 3: Miami Chef: Michelle Bernstein Restautant: Michys Highlight: Dancing the evening away at the Ball & Chain in the latin quarter

Stop 4: San Fransisco Chef: Danny Bowen Restaurant: Mission Chinese Highlight: Seeing the Pacific coast, and going to the new Hawaiian restaurant 'Liholiho Yacht Club' and eating poke that made me feel like I was back on the North Shore, Oahu. Killer!

Stop 5: L.A Chefs: John and Vinnie Restaurant: Animal Highlight: Staying in the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills and secretly puking in my bosses toilet the morning after a particularly wild night out