Where chef Brian Malarkey likes to eat in these five cities

Chef Brian Malarkey, a judge on ABC’s new cooking competition show “The Taste,” has five restaurants in San Diego: Searsucker, Burlap, Gabardine, Gingham and Herringbone. Malarkey, who will lead a cooking demonstration Saturday at the Los Angeles Times Travel Show, shared his favorite food hangouts when he travels to these five cities:

Portland, Ore.: Pok Pok and Clyde Common are two of my favorite restaurants, but that’s not all. There are so many great up-and-coming restaurants and chefs. Portlandia is alive! I am proud to be from Portland.

Seattle: A day with Tom Douglas is always a treat! When I go, I always stroll through the market. And if you can find Salumi [Artisan Cured Meats], Mario Batali’s dad’s secret sandwich shop, you have stumbled upon gold.

New Orleans: Stay away from the tourist traps and hit Jacques-Imo’s for dinner and Elizabeth’s for brunch. Finding where the locals eat is the key!

Los Angeles: It’s not a secret, I along with the rest of L.A. loves Gjelina, the boys of Animal and Son of a Gun Restaurant stay true, and you can usually find me sitting at the counter at Tar & Roses eating my way through their small plates. I’d love to see my costar on “The Taste” open a restaurant ... do it, Ludo [Lefebvre]!

New York City: I am a sucker for that big red head in orange clogs! Love me some Mario [Batali]: Babbo, Casa Mono and Bar Jamon. I’m old-school, in the fact that I love to sit at the bar in Balthazar and read my paper while enjoying a couple of poached eggs. Danny Meyer is the King, and Jean-Georges is sexy! I have yet to explore my way through Brooklyn and cannot wait to do so.

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