A Toronto favorite is the Butter Burger at The Stockyards, topped with owner Tom Davis' concoction of bone marrow, butter and blue cheese. Other popular dishes are the Bat sandwich (Tom's take on the BLT) and the fried chicken, which Guy thought was ''all the things fried chicken should be.''

Lakeview Restaurant is a 24-hour diner that serves the basics with a twist. Take the freedom Freedom toastToast, which is an egg-dipped baguette stuffed with Le Bacon Peameal (Canadian bacon), or the cornflake chicken sandwich. But what Guy loves is the apple pie milkshake, which features half a slice of pie.

Tourists and locals alike head to Can Vilaro to load up on traditional Catalan dishes. Run by the same family since the 1960s, this unfussy spot specializes in slow-cooked classics such as cap i pota, a warming veal stew.

Guy stopped by this beachside spot, which he deemed a “rocking tapas and paella joint” to sample the signature dishes. He was left impressed by the surf and turf paella.

This tiny tapas joint doesn’t skimp on the flavor, as evidenced by the menu of small plates cooked up in the classic style of Galicia, Spain’s northwestern coastal region. Guy headed here to introduce pro football player Marcel Reece to a popular Galician-style dish: pulpo (aka octopus). Tender morsels of octopus are dusted with both sweet and smoky paprika, then slicked with a generous squirt of olive oil and paired with potatoes. “It’s like the most-tender lobster you’ll ever try,” Guy declared.

Don’t be fooled by this spot’s plain exterior. Step inside and you’ll find “a righteous tapas place,” as Guy describes it. In addition to standard Spanish tapas such as croquettes, you’ll find unexpected culinary gems on the menu. Guy raved about the fork-tender quail cooked in vinegar.

Sitting down to a meal at this vibrant mom-and-pop restaurant is like breaking bread together at a friend’s house. Massimo Iacopini charms the customers with his outsized personality while his wife, Sonia Pascucci, churns out hearty dishes that channel the rustic flavors of Italy’s countryside. The Spaghetti Mangiafuoco warms the stomach and the soul. Al dente pasta is combined with garlic, capers, anchovies, tomatoes, chile pepper, basil and Italian parsley to create this comforting dish.

Crowds head to this homey restaurant to dig into classic Catalan dishes, such as snails. Even snail skeptic Guy was left impressed by this dish. The snails soak up plenty of flavor when they’re cooked in water seasoned with chile de arbol, herbes de Provence and thyme. They’re served in a white wine sauce studded with ham and chorizo, which kicks the flavor up even further. "Super tender," Guy said. "There’s good spice from the chorizo; the broth itself is dynamite. It’s a lot of big flavor."

This cozy spot draws the crowds with its beauteous bocadillos (that’s Spanish for sandwiches). Served fresh off a searing-hot panini press, they come stuffed with regional meats. A standout is the Carn D’olla, which features a hefty baguette that’s heaped with caramelized onions and grilled pork sausages, then doused with a spicy housemade sauce. Gluten-free options are available as well, with Guy pointing out that "no matter how they make 'em, these sandwiches are all about Old-World flavor."

Tomahawk is the oldest family-run restaurant in Vancouver, and there’s a reason it has stuck around. Guy devoured an entire plate of the organic roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Other must-try dishes: Tomahawk Style Beef Dip, and the Steak and Mushroom Pie.

This taphouse is known for their selection of hard apple ciders, but the food in their kitchens is not to be missed either. Chef Ryan Hickey incorporates the cider into every dish, including the hot wings, which are made with the Dirty Mayor, a ginger-infused cider. "This wing sauce is outrageous," Guy said.

A day on the slopes in Burlington is the perfect way to work up an appetite for a big BBQ meal. At Bluebird you can warm up and refuel with hearty dishes like poutine with pulled pork, barbecue seitan on a brioche bun or a Nashville Hot sandwich (fried chicken with Nashville hot sauce, pickles and ranch dressing that comes in your choice of spicy or not). Wash it all down with a Vermont beer or cider before you move on to the s'more-like chocolate pie with graham cracker crumble. Don’t count the calories; you can ski them off the next day.

Owner Kortnee Bush and Chef Jaclyn Major are no strangers to fine dining, having worked respectively at Twin Farms in Vermont and Savoy in New York City. They use their experience to craft elegant New American dishes that show off what Vermont has to offer, but cultivate a friendly, relaxed atmosphere that makes Butch & Babe's feel more like a neighborhood hangout.

Everyone in Burlington knows Ms. Hong, thanks to her legendary dumplings. In addition to making classic Chinese versions like pork, she puts an American twist on some, like the chicken and cheddar cheese dumplings. All of them are served with her homemade dumpling sauce. "I want to buy it by the gallon," Guy joked.

You don't need to go south for great Mexican food anymore: Guy swears by the tacos at this Vermont college-town joint. The pork for their Al Pastor is spit-roasted to give it a super tender texture. "This is the closest I've had to authentic Al Pastor outside of Mexico," he said. Another standout is the Grandma's Beans tacos.