Dear Friends ~
Loss of a family member is brutal and in the midst of it these couple weeks, the sweet moments are all the sweeter. Grateful for being alive. I head to Valencia, Spain (and also Cordoba and Cadiz) next week for The World’s 50 Best Restaurant awards and all the excitement (and incredible eats and people) that surrounds this major event annually in different parts of the world.
I write of a couple events this issue, including Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience in Sonoma County. I talked about the weekend event — including Horn Barbecue, what makes legit BBQ, Lo & Behold & more — with my dear pal Liam Mayclem on his KCBS Radio Foodie Chap podcast here.
In addition to my regular articles at Medium, my weekly dining column reviews one restaurant each week. I welcome those interested to follow me, or even sign up for a membership for my articles at Medium, which partially goes to support us as writers. Follow or support. I thank you.
Per usual, I’m posting my daily research in dining and drink at @ThePerfectSpot on Twitter, Facebook (and why I’m boycotting Instagram here).
THIS ISSUE:
The Latest — May Eats Checklist: 6 restaurant and eatery standouts of the month, from Greek food to banh mi, fermented Japanese foods to modern Filipino.
Top Tastes — Two New Restaurants You Don’t Know, but Should: Pizza and global small plates with natural wines and vinyl at cozy Back to Back. And Xica, a modern Mexican restaurant in an airy, large space overlooking a fountain-lined square with order-at-the-counter casualness.
On the Town — San Francisco’s Inaugural AAPI Cocktail Week.
Imbiber — Distiller Bottle Column: This issue I review rum, sotol, gin, Scotch whisky, Cognac, RTDs juice mixers, American single malt, and more.
On the Town — Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience 2023: Top tastes and events over this leading Sonoma County food and drink event.
I am also available for consulting, moderating, leading classes and tastings and more (info at virginia-miller.com).
Cheers,
Virginia
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ThePerfect Spot Founder
The Worlds 50 Best Restaurants’ Academy Chair
Table8 National Editor/VP — ZAGAT SF Editor — SF Bay Guardian Critic
The Bold Italic Weekly Restaurant Reviews & Travel Column
**Judge or Lead Judge at ADI International Craft Spirits, SF World Spirits, Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, IWSC Spirits, Whiskies of World, New Orleans Spirits Competition, World Gin Awards, World Drinks Awards**
Regular Outlets:
— The Bold Italic — Liquor.com — Food Republic — WhereTraveler — Gin Magazine — Time Out Dining & Drink — Distiller Magazine — Bobcut Dining Column — Haute Living — Google’s Touringbird — Oakland Magazine — Wine Access
Freelance:
Alaska Airlines Magazine,Whisky Magazine UK, Thrillist, The Times London, Liquor.com Drinkwire, Paste Magazine Travel, Eater, Tasting Panel, PureWow, Drink Me Magazine, Spoonwiz, Citysearch, NBC’s The Feast, Blackboard Eats, Tasting Table, Grubstreet
Books: Pur in Spirit & Distilled Stories