“Can’t you see me standing before you
cloaked in stillness?
Hasn’t my longing ripened in you
from the beginning..?
I am the dream you are dreaming
When you want to awaken, I am waiting.
I grow strong in the beauty you behold.
And with the silence of stars I enfold
your cities made by time.”
– God Speaks by Rainer Maria Rilke in The Book of Hours
Beef tongue bao at Liholiho Yacht Club, one Jan.’s top 2 new restaurants
February rushes in. With plenty of exciting change underway in my world, I hope good changes are unfolding for each of you in this new year ripe with promise.
Covering my unforgettable travels to Japanese distilleries and whisky bars in Japan, here is my first article for Whisky Magazine UK — in the current issue with a 4 page spread of all my photos in the print issue.
This issue:
Squid on squid ink tortillas at Taco Maria in OC (see Wandering Traveler)
Top Tastes – My Top 7 Dishes & New Openings for January: My 2 most notable new restaurant openings of January; out of dozens of dishes, the 7 best dishes of the month.
Wandering Traveler – The Best of OC: My girlhood stomping grounds of Orange County have generally been a suburban, culinary wasteland but there are more signs of life with each passing year: a few in food, cocktails & coffee.
Imbiber – Top Spirits, Wine & Beer in January: 3 wine standouts, a spirits standout and a mead (honey wine).
As your personal concierge who tells it like a good friend would, I also create personalized itineraries: trips, meals, explorations (under “Services“).
Virginia
Editor, Distiller Magazine
SF Bay Guardian Critic (Weekly Column: 2009-2013)
Spoonwiz
Freelance: Whisky Magazine UK, The Times London, Eater, PureWow, Drink Me Magazine, Citysearch, NBC’s The Feast, Blackboard Eats, Tasting Table, Grubstreet, Where Magazine
**Unless otherwise noted, all photos by Virginia Miller (all rights reserved)**