The Manhattan Cocktail Classic is in full swing this weekend as the city of New York hosts the annual celebration of spirited culture.

You wanna guarantee yourself a great meal? Beeline to one of the most highly-acclaimed restaurants in town, sit down with a James Beard award-winning chef and have them describe the dishes and cocktails for you while you dine. Does it get any better than that? If you’re sitting across from chef Stephen Stryjewski at New Orleans’ inimitable Cochon (930 Tchoupitoulas St) the answer is an emphatic ‘no.’

Marvin Allen has seen it all. As head bartender at one of the premiere bars in the French Quarter, can you imagine the stories he has to tell? If you want elaboration, you’ll have to make your way to the Carousel Bar (214 Royal St) in New Orleans’ historic Hotel Monteleone. As for now, I’ll just tell you about the cocktails.

Today is one of the most popular dining days of the year. Moms do so much, they deserve to be treated to a nice meal on their own special day. But no holiday is complete without that certain celebratory cocktail. As an added treat for your momma, put together one of these delicious drinks. Or ask a professional to do it for you…

New Orleans, Lousiana holds a very special place in my heart. It’s a city always celebrating something. Life as it should be. Never is this more obvious than during the Jazz and Heritage Festival, held annually for two glorious weeks every spring. If you’ve never been, approximate it near the top 3 on your Bucket List. Because the music in this town never stands alone. It’s continually served alongside some of the most precious cuisine and cocktails on the planet. I made a pilgrimage far beyond the fairgrounds of Jazz Fest in order to find the city’s most outstanding outposts for fine dining. Over the next few weeks I’ll share them all. But remember, as the music from 2013 Jazz Fest has dimmed, the real festival forever plays in New Orleans.

Italy is a proud land steeped in serious tradition. Berkeley is an ever-evolving town determined to break the rules. The two seemingly incongruous cultures find their common ground in a mutual admiration for great food and drink. Build (2286 Shattuck Ave.) is at the crossroads.

New Orleans is known for great music, strong cocktails and insanely rich cuisine. Bourbon street, whiskey drinks, candied pecans and everything in between. The Crescent City brings it all together, which is precisely why it’s my favorite place on Earth. When I can’t be in the Big Easy, I need to find a way to weave all these magical elements together in a fitting homage to glorious excess. The surest way to do this: quality booze.

The name Dublin is derived from the Irish phrase, ‘black pool.’ But this world-class cosmopolis is nothing but a bastion of brightness, offering access to some of Europe’s most refined culture; a treasure trove of culinary creations.