I’ve been covering “the Windy City” via articles since 2009, but researching and digging deep in Chicago since 2000. Chi-town is one of the U.S.’ greatest culinary cities, a broad, deep metropolis of roughly 10 million, with over 2.5 million in Chicago proper. In addition to my recent 10 bars article at Distiller Magazine, here I cover 10 of Chicago’s newer standout restaurants I visited this past year: Read more →
It’s that time of year again: sifting through the hundreds of new SF Bay Area restaurants and bars I visited this year — plus a few hundred more internationally and across the U.S. Here are the newcomers that stand out most — 10 restaurants, 8 bars and 10 honorable mention eateries — opened between November 2023 and December 2024. Read more →
Change is hard, especially when a beloved restaurant, Gozu, morphs into something entirely new: The Wild, starting September 2024. Read more →
Reviewed this issue:
— MUYU Liqueurs
— Monkey 47 Distillers Cut: Caper Gin
— Wilderton Aperitivo Co. Non-Alcoholic
— Sun & Shine Cocktails RTDs
— Manojo Mezcal
— Luxardo Bitters
— Maen Japanese Whisky
and more Read more →
From celebratory New Year’s bubbly to wintery whites and reds, here are 14 bottles to suit a range of palates, meals or occasions… Read more →
These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from Peruvian to pizza. Alongside my latest restaurant reviews, these seven are also worth visiting: Read more →
Published in the Fall 2024 print issue of Distiller Magazine:
— 10 of Chicago’s best bars Read more →
Published in the Fall 2024 print issue of Distiller Magazine:
My interview with Zak McMahon & Jeremy Barrett of Lemon bar
—My interview with distiller Jamie Walter of Whiskey Acres Distilling just outside Chicago Read more →
San Francisco is blessed with some of the oldest and most storied restaurants in the nation, alongside historic dining leaders like New Orleans. Our 1800s through mid-century restaurants often veer seafood-heavy, one of our city’s strengths, past and present, given our sea and Bay, water-on-three-sides location. Here are four restaurant legends, decidedly old school but still well worth visiting and celebrating, dating from 1965 back to 1849. Read more →
Reviewed this issue:
— Luxardo Espresso Liqueur
— Spring Lake Korean Gin
— Acronimo Spirits Sotol
— Chamère “Emily in Paris” Kir Royale RTD
— YuzuCo Sudachi
… and more Read more →