April 15, 2019

“The gate of heaven is everywhere…” — Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander

Hello, friends —

Udon Time


The glorious, sunny days of spring are here and I’m basking in them, as I ready for family in town for Easter and travels around California next week for more work research.

Virginia’s Top Picks of the Month (notable upcoming food events):
April 26-28: I’m looking forward to checking out the 2019 Lexus Culinary Classic at gorgeous Cavallo Point Lodge And Spa with national guest chefs, winemakers, cycling and racecar figures, wine blending and a private dinner at Skywalker Ranch. Individual event or full weekend tickets here.
May 10-12: I am eager to return to the breathtaking, restorative Mendocino Coast & Little River Inn (past Mendo love/articles here) amid ocean cliffs & redwood forests for the Forage & Ferment Experience. More than 3,000 kinds of mushrooms thrive here, like rare, sweet candy cap mushrooms. Would love to see you there for a weekend of cooking demos, foraging, picnic lunches and eating Mendo’s spectacular seaweed, urchin, scallops, rockfish, etc. plucked straight from the ocean. Book here.

This issue:

Moongate Lounge, SF

The LatestYour SF Dining Checklist: Six new restaurants worth visiting now from a modern Mediterranean/Middle Eastern spot with high tech ordering system to a (FUN) temple to A5 wagyu beef.
Imbiber11 Gin Cocktails on National Menus Now: Standout drinks and menus at these bars/restaurants from Nashville to Huntington Beach, New Orleans to Louisville, San Francisco to NYC.

As your personal concierge who tells it like a good friend would, I create personalized itineraries; provide food and drink consulting for restaurants and bars; and classes at companies for the layperson wanting to dig deeper in food and drink (more info here).

Virginia

ThePerfect Spot, Founder — The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants Academy Chair

Table8
 National Editor/VP — ZAGAT SF Editor — SF Bay Guardian Critic — IWSC Spirits Judge

Regular Outlets/Columns: 
Liquor.com — Time Out Dining & Drink — Distiller Magazine — Food Republic —  Where Magazine — Gin Magazine — Wine Access — Books Pur in Spirit & Distilled Stories

Freelance: 
Alaska Airlines Magazine,Whisky Magazine UKThrillistThe Times LondonLiquor.com DrinkwirePaste Magazine TravelEaterTasting Panel, PureWow, Drink Me MagazineSpoonwizCitysearch, NBC’s The Feast, Blackboard Eats, Tasting Table, Grubstreet