Those who read my blog know that from time to time I will highlight exceptional hotels and restaurants I frequent in the course of my travels. Mostly I do so in case one of the physician members of iMedExchange is travelling and wants some advance scouting on places to stay or eat.

This week I spent several days in South Florida meeting with sharp physicians from all walks. Florida is an important health care market and a very high percentage of the state's physicians are members of iMedExchange.

While I vary my food selections, I always have to try the local sushi favorite when I am in a coastal town. (as a general rule I don't eat sushi or fish when I am not in a coastal area) Based on several recommendations, I gave Sushi Maki in Coral Gables a try. (there are also locations in South Miami and Palmetto Bay) Myself and my physician compatriots all came away feeling like the place lived up to its reputation.

Located across thr street from the Collonade on Ponce De Leon the restaurant isn't flashy, but it does have a subtle design flare. The service was superb. Most importantly, the sushi was extremely fresh, creatively displayed and terrifc tasting. Even the menu was creative including lessons in writing haiku.

When visiting Miami for your next society conference, make time for Sushi Maki.

Komi came highly recommended and in some DC circles is currently rated the hottest restaurant.

The experience started out on a humorous note. My very close friend, in fact my college roommate, suggested we go for sushi. Never one to turn down sushi I was prepared to see what sushi in the District was all about. Komi is located in the trendy Dupont neighborhood of DC and is a low key, clean simple place.

Upon receiving the menu my companion mentioned we were in the mood for some quality sushi. The waiter wasn't quite sure how to respond except to inform us Komi was a greek restaurant. The sushi mix up may have been the result of the fact that some dishes involve raw fish. This is akin to saying that Thai food is basically the same as Italian because some dishes involve noodles.

Komi is very simple....and very expensive. You choose from one of three main dishes. Aside from that, everything is selected for you. They begin almost immediately serving bite size dishes called Mezzethakia that do include lots of raw fish oriented treats. The main dishes are a selection of rustic meats or fish that are truly unique.

All in all, Komi is interesting...not a place I would frequent on any regular basis...especially considering the prices ($125+ per person with one glass of wine). I also wouldn't claim to have liked every single morsel. However, the dishes were one of a kind and for a once every few years experience, Komi should be on your list.

From time to time I like to share great restaurant, travel or hotel experiences with readers of this blog. I hope you find them useful when you are conducting your own travels. I just returned from Dallas and experienced a relatively new hotel (almost 1 year old) that is immediately one of my top 5 favorites in the world! Regardless of price.

The Joule, owned by Tim Headington and part of the Starwood Hotel chain and is located in the middle of downtown Dallas. It's a renovated space with a 1920s neo-Gothic facade and a very hip interior. This hotel is to genuine what the W is to fake. Despite the terrific finishes, service and experience, the prices are not over the top...competitive.

Top 5 things I love about the Joule:

There is no mystery to the fact that I am a huge Mexican Food fan. Growing up in Denver we used to look forward to outings at Casa Bonita. The place is a bit crazy...cliff divers in front of your table, a treasure chest room where kids get prizes and flags at your table to alert wait staff of pending needs. Fast forward 20-some years and the place is far tackier than it seemed as a kid...but I digress.

Denver actually has some of the best Mexican food outside border states. They range from terrific dives to better than average chains. On our current visit however, we tried Tamayo...considered by some to be one of the top restaurants in the city. We had to find out for ourselves.

Tamayo is part of the Modern Mexican family of restaurants that are the product of Chef Richard Sandoval. Other members of the family include: Isla, La Sandia, Pampano, Zengo and Maya.

The Setting: a great tiled mosaic covers an entire wall behind the bar and sets the tone for an artistic but warm setting. (see picture)

The Food: Terrific! The guacamole and margaritas were better than average but nothing to write home about. The main course, on the other hand, was superb. We started with a lobster enchilada appetizer and then had the Pipian De Puerco (pork shoulder) and Enchiladas De Salmon Ahumado (smoked salmon + fried quail eggs + goat cheese). Myself and my colleague both loved our dishes and would highly recommend any iMedExchange members stop by Tamayo for an unusual and worthwhile Mexican experience in Denver's Larimer Square.