In NoLa: "Bayona"
In California Wine Country try: "Cyrus" in Healdsburg.
Done "French Laundry" too many times. Last visit was uneven. It made it much easier to go to other places. "Redd" and others were closed for vacation when I was out in January (and missing Becky and Edward).
I want to do "Per Se" at some point (when someone else is grabbing the tab).
"NoBu" is yummie too (in the Village).