This Danish restaurant served Jesse one of the top three meals of his life. No wonder it’s one of 157 restaurants worldwide with a rare three Michelin Stars. “Chef Eric Kragh Vildgaard is a magician,” he says. “You are eating works of art.” There’s no meat on the menu, just the most outstanding seafood and vegetables. “Each dish is meticulously designed to deliver flavor and texture at specific stages. You’ll be left totally bewildered by what you’ve just experienced,” Jesse adds.

With chef Mary Attea taking the helm in 2020, this Nolita favorite became totally women-run—a rarity in the culinary world. The menu may change with the seasons, but the top-notch cooking and chic but cozy interior remain evergreen. Once heavily New Zealand–inspired, Attea’s The Musket Room features omnivore and vegan tasting menus that pull from influences all over the world, including her own Lebanese heritage.

Some of the best food can be found in the unlikeliest of places—like the New York City subway station that houses Nōksu, an underground (literally) hot spot that requires a secret code to enter. It’s become a standout of 32nd Street’s Koreatown. Headed by South Korea–born chef Dae Kim, who is only in his late twenties, this 15-seat counter offers some of the most exquisite fine-dining bites in the city, blending Asian ingredients with classic French methods.

“I probably think about Cariño more than any other restaurant from the show,” Jesse says. “Unbelievably delicious, Mexican-inspired food that deserves two Michelin Stars, in my opinion.” This uptown, currently one-Starred Chicago eatery offers a tasting menu and a taco omakase. It’s the brainchild of chef Norman Fenton, who uses Latin American flavors to create sensational textures and distinctive dishes. But above all, Cariño is Fenton’s love letter to Mexico, where he met his wife.

Never has “a feast for the eyes” felt more apt than at this restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Dining here is comparable to visiting a museum, as the restaurant collaborates with local artists for decor. And the menu? Also a masterpiece. Chef Jenner Tomaska makes high-conceptual cuisine with interactive touches, from tableside service to a “puzzle” dish that brings extra drama to the dining room. Expect dinner and a show rolled into one.

An old sawmill turned restaurant in a remote Swedish forest by the Nissan River, Knystaforsen offers an unforgettable culinary experience thanks to the husband and wife duo Nicolai and Eva Tram, who had an incredible vision for the renovation. “It’s one of the most beautiful restaurants you will ever visit,” Jesse says. “And Chef Nicolai wears his heart on his sleeve and on his food.” According to Jesse, the duck heart cooked on the fire outside is one of the most memorable dishes from the show.

Rustic and intimate is the Wilson’s way. With only 24 seats, which chef Jan Ostle serves personally, this small spot located in the Bristol suburb of Redland sources almost all its ingredients from the farm run by Jan’s wife, Mary Wilson. Jesse calls it “extremely personable.” He adds, “The cuisine can be described as modern British with a strong emphasis on seasonality and harvest cycles. It’s understated elegance, and I wish I lived closer.”

“The cheese cart is worth the trip alone,” says Jesse of this breathtakingly scenic spot in the alpine foothills of Lombardy, Italy. Now run by siblings Nicolò and Alice, this family business was first opened in 1989, by their father Ferdy, who still harvests ingredients in the mountains and milks the cows and goats. The cheeses have “an unbelievably broad range,” according to Jesse. Their environmentally conscious approach earned them Michelin’s Green Star for sustainability.

Chef Emily Roux comes from a family of Michelin Star winners. No pressure. Following her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, the French chef has also made a name for herself in the world of fine dining in the UK. Along with her chef husband, Diego Ferrari, she opened this Notting Hill spot, turning a former pub into a must-try destination that serves sophisticated European fare. Their dedication to flair and flavor got them their first Michelin Star.

This Copenhagen restaurant is one of the fastest Michelin Star earners: They were awarded one just 81 days after opening, and chef Nicky Arentsen received Michelin’s Young Chef Award at only 29 years old. Aure is the creation of Arentsen and his partner in life and business, Emma Nørbygaard. Located in a converted 18th-century gunpowder store, Aure is a complete charmer with a warm atmosphere, a kitchen visible behind a glass wall, and superb, elevated Nordic dishes.