Surprise! You'll have no idea what's in store for you at these restaurants!

Are you the kind of person who despises surprises? If so, you may as well stop reading right now. Because these restaurants--culled from our Best 100 Wine Restaurants list in Wine Enthusiast Magazine--know how to shock and confuse diners, in the best possible way.

(This surprise from CityZen in Washington, DC is prettier than a bouquet of flowers)

Sometimes the chefs at these restaurants surprise themselves with their creations! I don't know about you, but I think this is very postmodern and exciting. Yes, I said postmodern. (Are you surprised?)

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/June-2013/Element-of-Surprise/

What is a Pop Up? Chef Ludo Lefebvre Explains

If we had to vote for the most ubiquitous dining term of 2012, it would be "pop up." But does that mean the pop up trend is dead??

Mais, non! At least, not according to Chef Ludo Lefebvre of LudoBites, and of LudoBites America fame, the hit Sundance Channel TV show chronicling the chef's ascent in the dining world.

Read about the past, present and future of the pop up in this piece for Wine Enthusiast:

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/The-King-of-Pop-Ups/

Hot 7: New Orleans Restaurants

There's a lot of hot stuff going on in Nola these days, especially in our restaurant scene, as I was happy to report in this round up for Fodor's.

Wondering which hot 7 New Orleans restaurants made the cut? Which eatery had a chef shuffle and which new restaurant offers "face bacon"? Scope the list here:

http://www.fodors.com/news/7-restaurants-to-watch-in-new-orleans-6260.html

How to Pair Wine with Herbs

No, this isn't a story about how herb is legal in several states. But cheers to that!

This piece for Wine Enthusiast Magazine delves into the plethora of plants Mother Nature has provided us...from basil and thyme to lemon verbena, adding spice and depth of flavor to cuisine for centuries. This Pairings story ponders the age-old question, how can we approach wine when we've got so many kick-ass flavors?

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Best-Of-Year-2012/A-Wine-Lovers-Guide-to-Herbs/

We talked to top chefs and their sommelier cohorts around North America about how to match wines to any herb-centric dish, and scored their secret recipes. Mission accomplished.