Bay Area Overnights: Sausalito

by  on  in Around the Bay

In my series of Bay Area/NorCal overnights (like these recent visits to Sonoma, Napa, Yountville), it’s a joy to hit somewhere so spectacular less than 20 minutes from home. Enter The Inn Above Tide in Sausalito. This enchanting seaside community village…

The Inn Above Tide is one of our most special local getaways (or destinations if you’re coming from afar) for Bay views and an intimate respite in the City’s backyard that feels worlds away in a Mediterranean-esque village. Here are three places to eat nearby: Read more →

Pizza with a view: Che Fico at Thrive City

by  on  in The Latest

A tough reservation to snag ever since it opened in 2018 in San Francisco’s Western Addition neighborhood, Che Fico remains a destination for chef David Nayfeld’s inspired pastas and unique take on pizzas with sourdough crust done in certified Neapolitan style.

I wrote of the restaurant being reborn in pandemic, then in November 2023, their gorgeous Menlo Park location opened, along with Che Fico Mercato, a market, wine shop and gelateria. Now there is a fourth entrant — and third restaurant — in the growing Che Fico family. Nayfeld and Matt Brewer of Back Home Hospitality opened Che Fico Pizzeria in Thrive City October last year; part of a growing web of new restaurants surrounding the Chase Center. Read more →

Modern Japanese Bar Iris serves some of the most ambitious cocktails around (and fab food)

by  on  in Top Tastes

Since Michelin-starred Nisei opened in August 2021 and its neighboring Bar Iris in October the same year, the modern Japanese duo has faced both acclaim and tragedy. Beloved Iris bar manager Ilya Romanov died tragically at the end of 2022, leaving a void in the team. As Nisei evolved, so too has Bar Iris risen from heartbreak, thanks to its strong team and visionary talent of current bar manager Timofei Osipenko. Read more →

DISTILLER Bottle Column: December 2024

by  on  in Imbiber

Published January 2, 2024, at Distiller Magazine, my bottle review column (last month’s edition here) is about what is unique, standout, new and/or trending in spirits with my review ratings on a 1-5 rating scale. ARTICLE HERE: https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/new-release-roundup-december-2024/ Reviewed this issue:— Burdekin Wild Child Rum (North Queensland, Australia)— Oishii Sake (Virginia, USA)— Local Motion RTDs (Mill Valley, CA)— Socorro Tequila (Texas and Jalisco, Mexico)— Middle West Spirits Vim… Read more →

Chicago Eats: 10 Standout Restaurants Now

by  on  in Wandering Traveler

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 →