Save This List: Where Famous Chefs Eat When They Visit The South Beach Wine & Food Festival

I hate to disappoint people by recommending the same places I showed in the Miami episode of "Bizarre Foods," but I produce my show, so those are my favorite places. I had Michelle Bernstein take me Palacio de los Jugos, which was great. I still think she's the best chef in South Florida. She can taste food in a way few people can. I also love the Nicaraguan restaurant Fritanga Montelimar. I never come to Miami without eating at Joe's Stone Crab. It's a classic for a reason. I also love Michael's Genuine and what the team is doing at Azul at Mandarin Oriental. What else? La Camaronera on Eighth Street--David [Garcia, the owner]'s dad and the other fisherman bring the fish right in and gets cooked right there. They really do keep house-made bottarga under the counter.

There are two places I must visit every time I am in South Beach. Both are run by Italians, of course. One is Scarpetta; whenever I need the best Italian food in town I go there. The chef, Scott Conant, is a good friend of mine and I am always blown away by his food. The other is Casa Tua. Fantastic stuff. All the guys there are Italian, so they do it right. And if you get a little too excited about the drinks and the wine, they have a hotel upstairs. If you are among the few VIPs that can get a room, you can just sleep there!

I always hit Michael’s Genuine and Michy’s when I’m in Miami. Michael Schwartz and Michelle Bernstein are two of my favorite chefs in America.

I want to go to Macchialina. The chef, Michael Pirolo, was the chef at my restaurant [Scarpetta at the Fontainebleau] for seven years. His food is honest and soulful. Now he's doing his own thing--that's awesome.

Last night, we went to Michael's Genuine and really loved it. I cooked last year with Hedy Goldsmith, [pastry chef at Michael's Genuine] so it was fun to see her desserts in their actual, natural habitat. We're going to Yardbird--looking forward to that. My Ceviche has been recommended to us, as well as El Palacio de los Jugos and El Mago de las Fritas.

I'm hoping to eat at Michy's. End of story. She's a lovely person. I've eaten at her restaurant several times. I go every chance I get. 

I'd like to return to Salumeria 104, because [chef] Angelo Masarin is so passionate about his food. I feel like I am in Italy in his place. He uses such simple quality Italian ingredients. Also, D. Rodriguez Cuba-- Douglas Rodriguez's food was the first non-Italian food that I ever tried and I fell in love with. I have never been to his restaurant in Miami and I am so happy to try it.

I'm most excited about visiting other barbecue-influenced restaurants like Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, SUGARCANE Raw Bar Grill and Sparky's Roadside Barbecue. While they are not new, I always like to see how Miami’s local chefs are reinterpreting and putting their signature touch on Southern fare."