UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Those of you who read my Las Vegas restaurant reviews know that good food is important to me. Cruise ship food is mostly mediocre and unadventurous, so I try to eat well when I'm off the ship. Here are some of the good ones.

Miami Beach
Michael's Genuine Food and Drink. 130 NE 40th Street, Atlas Plaza, Miami Design District. This place is a short drive from South Beach, and is well worth it. It offers very good food in a casual atmosphere, at prices that are quite reasonable. For a full review of my meal, click here.
Nobu. 1901 Collins Avenue, in The Shore Club Hotel. Sometimes described as having Peruvian Japanese food, I have mixed feelings about this place. Located in the ultra-hip Shore Club, it tries to be equally hip. I can ignore this, but it's harder to ignore the prices. Try the omakase - basically, chef's choice; get an accompanying flight of five kinds of sake. The food was good, but given the prices they charge, I'm not sure if I'll return.
South Beach Wine & Food Festival. On the beach about 13th Street. This isn't a restaurant, but it is a premier food event. If you're lucky enough to be in town when it's held (usually in mid February), are farsighted enough to buy tickets the previous October before they sell out, and rich enough that you can afford the price, I highly recommend it. For details, see their web site.


Vancouver
Tojo's Restaurant. 1133 West Broadway. Eat at the sushi bar and order omakase - pretty much chef's choice. This is arranged for when you make a reservation. You'll be asked to specify allergies and any foods you dislike. Leave everything else in the chef's hands. It's quite an experience - with a bill to match. When I was there, some of my courses were: squash blossom stuffed with scallop, fried tempura style; albacore toro; salmon smoked in a parchment wrapper with mango, mushroom and asparagus.