When Stephanie Bender, chef and owner of Korean street food pop-up Seoul Chikin, is in Little Rock, she stops by this quaint spot serving ingredients sourced from Arkansas farms. While her favorite dish is the curry chicken salad, Bender is confident nothing on the menu will disappoint, from the house-made biscuits and burgers to the salads with seasonal produce and dressings. “Sit in one of their quirky container patios for the full charm,” she adds.

Though po’boys may be the classic sandwich of New Orleans, Parnass Savang, chef and co-owner of Talat Market, hits up this quirky sandwich shop for “textures and unique flavors that you wouldn’t usually find in a sandwich.” The fried bologna sandwich, served with potato chips inside, as well as the wedge salad, sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning, is one of his favorites.

Miles Macquarrie, beverage director and partner at Kimball House, can list any number of cocktail spots he enjoys in New Orleans, but finds that Jewel of the South in the French Quarter packs “tons of well-executed history in the glass.” He cites the popular New Orleans cocktail, the brandy crusta, as the muse of the bar, which is co-owned by renowned bartender Chris Hannah.

This more upscale spot serves a seasonal tasting menu and earns the stamp of approval from Claudia Martinez, executive pastry chef at Miller Union. “I really love the hospitality there,” she says. “It kind of feels like you’re outside of Nashville.” Plus, she says the meal isn’t too heavy despite the number of courses — 10 to 12 — served.

“While it might be a few minutes off the beaten path, their beer is top-notch,” says Jonathan Baker, co-founder of Monday Night Brewing. Baker isn’t just a fan of Ferus’ lagers and sours. He also recommends the food here: “Get those chicken tenders.”

This bar serves crisp, classic German-focused beer out of a house and feels like “drinking in your cool neighbor’s garage,” according to Ticonderoga Club co-owner Paul Calvert. “I’ve been on a road trip, stuck in a town halfway from here to somewhere, and wished for a bar like this one to materialize,” he adds. “Every suburb needs a Nachbar.”

Serving tamales with organic non-GMO corn masa, locally sourced free-range meats and produce from farms in the area, Good Golly Tamale is a stop-worthy destination for Seoul Chikin’s Stephanie Bender. “They make delicious tamales from scratch with limited-edition fillings like Thai chicken and butternut squash,” she says. “Bring a cooler to take some frozen ones to go.”

While there’s no shortage of barbecue in the South, Talat Market’s Parnass Savang always enjoys the pulled pork and atmosphere at Buxton Hall Barbecue, which operates out of a historic Asheville building. “I would say a lot of the fixings really helped make the food experience complete there,” he adds.

This truck stop and grill is a favorite for Glide Pizza owner Rob Birdsong when he’s en route to coastal Georgia. He makes the stop for “home-cooked Southern food, pastries and assorted treats made by nice people” and recommends the potato salad.

This nautical, “super fun and kitschy” raw bar in historic downtown St. Augustine gets the stamp of approval from Miles Macquarrie, beverage director for Kimball House and Watchman’s Seafood and Spirits. “They have all sorts of like frozen mojitos, Miami vices, and [it’s] just a super fun kind of Florida cocktail bar,” he says.

To get excited about a wine list is a pretty big deal for Sarah Pierre, owner of 3 Parks Wine Shop, since she’s constantly tasting wine as a retailer and sommelier. And she found herself eager to try multiple wines from this award-winning Savannah restaurant during her last visit to the city. “The Grey 100% has a thoughtfully curated list, but that’s not geared towards tourism,” Pierre says.

Working with tropical flavors, Antonio Bachour is one of the best bakers in the U.S., says Claudia Martinez of Miller Union. “You can get a great croissant or a Danish, or if you want to go more elegant, he has really beautiful petite fours or glazed desserts that are great,” she adds.

This shop and bar pairs good music with good wine, and Sarah Pierre of 3 Parks Wine Shop dubs it “the perfect wine place.” Grab a bottle off the shelves to open at the shop bar or peruse the by-the-glass menu. “It is literally what any wine shop or wine bar should be in the 2020s,” Pierre says.