ArcaMax

A. Every time I travel I am looking for new inspiration, new stories to tell through food. For example, when my team and I were planning to open China Chilcano in Washington D.C., a few years ago, we spent a lot of time in Peru to learn about the history of Peruvian cuisine, as well as the influences of Japanese and Chinese immigrants. The restaurant tells an immigration story. We have dishes from the Criollo Peruvian background, as well as from the Chinese Chifa and Japanese Nikkei cuisines. It is an amazing restaurant. You should go sometime!

Q. What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A. Life starts at the end of your comfort zone!

Q. If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A. Nearly every year, I go home to Spain to visit my family and my wife's family. It is really the best time to go because the seafood is so incredible in December and January. All year long I look forward to eating the most amazing sea urchin -- oricios -- that we have in the north of Spain, in Asturias where I was born. To eat a sea urchin is like kissing the sea and then you wash it down with the best cider in the world.

Q. What are your five favorite cities?

A. I live just outside of Washington, D.C. It (is) my favorite, because it has been my home for 25 years and it is where I met my wife and raised my daughters. I grew up in Barcelona and love going back to visit every year. It is more and more vibrant and exciting every time I go back. The food in Tokyo is absolutely mind-blowing. Eating sushi there is one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I love Los Angeles and New York. L.A. is so energetic and always exciting. And New York! It was one of the first places in the U.S. I ever visited when I was a young sailor in the Spanish Navy and it continues to be a magical place for me. I first moved there with $50 and my knives after leaving Spain and finally now I am going back with my first major project in New York City at Hudson Yards! It will be incredible. You will have to wait until late 2018, but I promise you it will be worth it!

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow "Go Away With..." on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.)

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