Tired of overbreaded, oversalted and overfried calamari? Well Melissa was too, until she found the Purple Cafe, which serves perfect calamari. The restaurant uses wild-caught Pacific squid and fries it until it is crisp and tender, then serves it with a spicy and tangy Moroccan dipping sauce.

On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Melissa D'Arabian delights in the sweet flavors of Chef Holly Smith's Rhubarb Sorbetto. Melissa applauds the sorbet where rhubarb stands by itself, without any strawberry sidekick. But before dessert, try the much revered Rabbit Braised in Arneis with Chickpea Gnocchi.

Husband-and-wife duo Rachel Yang and Seif Chirch opened Revel in Seattle, much to the dismay of New Yorkers like Frank Bruni, who revels in the asparagus rice bowl with grilled asparagus and a tangy pickled-onion-and-pistachio mix and egg yolk on top. For starters, try the short rib dumplings.

Chef Jeff Drew of Snake River Grill, the quintessential fine-dining spot in Jackson since 1993, offers a small plate of morels in spring and sometimes early summer, depending on availability. When morels are in season in Teton Valley, you’ll find both locals and chefs out in the wild foraging the coveted wild mushrooms. Drew allows the morels to shine, serving them simply in a delectable bath of buttery and herbed sauce, salted to draw out the earthiness. On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Giada raves about Snake River Grill's famous Eskimo Bars -- and it's no wonder why. They make these ice cream bars with artisanal Scharffen Berger chocolate and a rich caramel dipping sauce. For an equally dip-worthy dish, try the Branding Iron of Sweet Onion Ring

For Duff (who celebrates Hanukkah), Christmas means one thing: Peking Gourmet Inn. He does the happy duck dance for the Peking duck because it's crispy, smoked and includes homemade hoisin sauce and spring onions. As he says, "it's the best thing I ever ate. Period."

Alton may have sampled French food from all across the globe, but Seattle's Le Pichet serves his absolute fave: Raclette Savoyarde. The simple dish consists of melted raclette cheese drizzled over potatoes and tasty charcuterie. Add to your Francophile degustation with the grilled duck-pork sausage.

Known for his tapas restaurants all over D.C., Chef Jose Andres' Minibar goes a step further with expertly crafted cocktails and small bites like the Caprese Salad Injection. Made with a single cherry tomato, basil leaf and pipette filled with silky mozzarella, it's one of Giada's favorites.

On Giada's Weekend Getaway to Washington DC, she visits the famed Michel Richard at Citronelle. Known as Cap 'n Crunch, Chef Michel wows diners with his signature crunchy beet chips. Chef Michel also impresses with his Chocolate Degustation plate, a decadent display of chocolate done three ways.

As a famed ambassador of Spanish cuisine, Chef Jose Andres's multiple Jaleo restaurants have become a DC institution. With more than 30 "small plate" tapas to consider and as home to Marc Murphy's favorite paella (stated on The Best Thing I Ever Ate), Jaleo gets a hearty "Ole!" from DC locals.

This eatery takes its cue from a group of farmers -- 42,000 to be exact. Not surprisingly, every dish embodies the restaurant’s belief in farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients. On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Robert relishes in the "devilish" deviled eggs made with crab, lobster and smoked salmon.

As one of Seattle's foremost chefs, Tom Douglas has long been hailed as spearheading the movement for organic, sustainable and local cuisine. Giada loved the entire menu, which, from brunch to dinner, highlighted fresh seafood and produce. But you must save room for the made-to-order doughnuts.

If Melissa D'Arabian says something is a good deal, listen up. Her ultimate dream breakfast of cured pork cheeks with a confit hash costs an amazing $8. You'll wake up when you hear Toulouse Petit Kitchen's "Breakfast Happy Hour!" It means every breakfast dish is only $8, Monday through Friday.

On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Tyler Florence claims Serious Pie's mushroom pizza is so good it should be illegal. The cheese is infused with shaved Italian truffles and the pizza is baked in an applewood-burning oven. A Tom Douglas restaurant, the name Serious Pie is a perfect fit.

Ask Giada what her favorite fried food is and she'll skip the chicken and fries and go straight to the doughnuts. And Lola's made-to-order doughnuts with a vanilla mascarpone cheese and a creamy cranberry sauce are the best thing — ever. For a savory finish, try the braised lamb shank.

It's just not the holidays until Bobby gets his coconut gold bars from Fran's Chocolates in Seattle. Known the world over for her extravagant chocolate confections, Fran hand-makes these gold-wrapped bars of creamy coconut and white chocolate. As Bobby says, they’re dangerously addictive.