Day 17 - San Diego. I found a little place that serves fish tacos in town that redefines what you normally think Mexican food should be. Pacific style fish tacos are crispy and tart and have very little spice. They are Baja's great delicacy, transported up North to be enjoyed by Californians of all types. I won't blog about the place because I don't want anyone to visit and to ruin it but the adventure of discovering a place like this is half the fun.

Day 16 - Philadelphia. I was speaking on a panel, talking about user-generated content at a Wharton Technology Conference. The night before the session, I had a free hour in Philadelphia around dinner time and decided to go to the very spot where I proposed to my wife. The Striped Bass is a posh fish restaurant on 15th and Walnut in the heart of the swankiest part of Center City, not too far from where we lived when she was at Wharton. The big evening four years ago involved an early seating, Opera tickets to Carmen later that night, a vase of orchids, a story, a Chinese character (double happiness), and a ring. It was obviously a magical evening and to reminisce without my wife seemed hollow. But the signature black bass was, as usual, to die for.

Day 15 - Cannes. The fish soup called "bouillabaiise" is one of my favourite foods. The region where it was invented is the Cote d'Azur in the South of France. It has, hands down, the best bouillabaisse on the planet. After having truied pale imitations in places like Minneapolis (at the Sofitel), Singapore, and even my hometown of Montreal, nothing can compare to Gaston et Gastounette, the little Cannes favourite not far from the Palais des Congres. Treated by ex-colleagues, the meal was so satisfying and yet so large that the waiter was aghast that I had made such a small dent in my soup bowl. Quel horreur! He was right; I should have done better; but oh, the silky feeling of that saffron-laced broth as it was savoured by my palate on that first sip will stay with me until the next time I'm in Cannes.