In this article:
—Stay & Dine at Michelin-Starred Auro at Four Seasons Napa Valley
—Still One of Napa Valley’s Very Best: Michelin-Starred Press, St. Helena
—Kansas City-Style BBQ in Napa Valley: Stateline Road Smokehouse, Napa
—New Napa Steakhouse: Ember Steak at Meritage Napa Read more →
Modern Indian Duo: Female Chef Holds Vegetarian Strong at Besharam & New Chef at Longtimer ROOH
Reviewed in this article:
—Vegetarian Indian Restaurant from Female Chef Stays Strong: Besharam, Dogpatch
—New Chef from Delhi at ROOH, SoMa Read more →
October Eats: 4 Standout SF Restaurants of the Month
These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from modern soul food to Japanese aburasoba noodles. Alongside my latest restaurant reviews, these four are also worth visiting, with last month’s standouts here. As always, I’ve personally vetted and visited each:S Read more →
Prelude brings modern southern comfort to the Jay hotel
Published October 11, 2024, in my Medium column: For a lifetime I’ve been in love with American Southern food. Its ranges and its comforts, from Low Country to Creole or Cajun, and don’t even get me started on barbecue. Over two decades, I’ve taken countless road trips and repeat visits across the South to study its cuisines and its music. So it… Read more →
Sobakatsu, a legit closet-sized noodle shop opens in Japantown
Japan is a land that perfects each native dish with restaurants entirely devoted to one item, from comforting okonomiyaki to delicately fried tempura. And often at a handful of seats in a tiny space. Enter Sobakatsu, a closet-sized restaurant with a max of 11 seats, no reservations and a sole focus on cold and hot soba, Japan’s silky, thin buckwheat noodles that are friendly to all gluten-free-ers. Read more →
DISTILLER Bottle Column: September 2024
Reviewed this issue:
— Fortaleza Tequila Reposado Winter Blend 2024
— Bacan Guaro Colombian Aguardiente
— OOLA Left Coast Gin
— Tres Tribus Mezcal Artesanal Joven Espadin
… and more Read more →
SF Staycation — Luxury Hotels with New Menus: Luce at Intercontinental SF & MKT at Four Seasons San Francisco
One of many things I adore about living in my beloved San Francisco for 23 years, far above my bi-coastal upbringing in the suburbs of LA and NYC and midwest Oklahoma and Kansas City roots, is the endless layers and beauty of tiny SF. Thus I am ever experiencing my City anew and rarely get “staycations.” I travel so much for dining and drink research, judging and consulting, it’s a gift when I am home, relishing the world class and unique joys abundant all around me.
However, it’s a privilege when I get a media invite to stay overnight to check out a hotel minutes from home after checking out a new menu or chef at said hotel. I recently visited two notable SF hotels offering feasts creative (Luce) or comforting (MKT). What worked (and didn’t) at each: Read more →
September Eats: 7 Standouts of the Month
IN THIS ARTICLE:
—New Modern Indian Respite Downtown: Bombay Brasserie at Taj Campton Place
—9-Year-Old North African/Tunisian Treasure in the FiDi: Barcha
—All-Day Mexican Food & Rotisserie Haven in Noe Valley: Todo el Dia
—Tyler Florence Classic with NY Vibes: Wayfare Tavern
—Noe Valley Cozy Comfort: Mr. Digby’s
—Reborn Inner Richmond Breakfast “Diner”: Eats
—New Union Square Greek Gem: The Parthenon Read more →
Little Original Joe’s Marina: Italian comfort with a modern touch
Little Original Joe’s in the Marina has been a full house from the get-go in May. This is the latest outpost from siblings John and Elena Duggan, who have carried on the family’s long-standing tradition of Italian-American comfort food with a modern twist. Known for running the iconic Original Joe’s and its spots in North Beach, Daly City and West Portal, the Duggans have turned their focus to this stylish Marina location, bringing the same warmth that’s kept their other spots buzzing. What’s the “secret sauce” making the Duggan’s restaurants beloved? Read more →
Los Angeles Eats: 8 Places to Dine Now
Back again in my old stomping grounds of Los Angeles, I ate sipped and feasted well, as always. Fueled by coffee from special Silver Lake cafes like Coffee Memes and Dayglow (with their creative coffee cocktail-esque drinks), I dug into multiple spots. Highlights from eight LA restaurants, covering the gamut from handroll bar to seafood haven: Read more →