“Slavery is not an indefinable mass of flesh. It is a particular, specific enslaved woman, whose mind is active as your own, whose range of feeling is as vast as your own; who prefers the way the light falls in one particular spot in the woods, who enjoys fishing where the water eddies in a nearby stream, who loves her mother in her own complicated way, thinks her sister talks too loud, has a favorite cousin, a favorite season, who excels at dressmaking and knows, inside herself, that she is as intelligent and capable as anyone.” — Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Praying monk at Lungshan Temple, Taipei
In this intense, painful time in our country, I just returned from a rousing time of research in Baltimore and DC (more on both cities in upcoming newsletters) and a restorative weekend in Napa where some exciting things are brewing (also, more on that soon).
Learn more about the unique voice of Taiwan‘s food and drink in my latest Food Republic feature.
As national editor at Table8, here is our regular articles on dining around the country, as well as all my latest on Bay Area newcomers and bests. Here are my newest articles at one of my regular outlets, Liquor.com, including the top national cocktails of the month — and in addition, my Liquor.com Drinkwire articles on bars & drink around the world.
This issue:
The Latest — Top 3 SF October Openings: Whether crab porridge with Chartreuse slushies or frozen Irish coffees in a “go cup” with crawfish etouffeé in uni butter, these three newcomers show the most promise.
Wandering Traveler — Where to Eat & Drink Now in Taiwan: Covering the major cities of Taipei and Taichung, here are the fine dining restaurants, night markets, forward-thinking malls, cocktail bars and more that wowed in my latest Food Republic feature.
As your personal concierge who tells it like a good friend would, I also create personalized itineraries: trips, meals, explorations (under “Services“).
Virginia
LINKS to Social Media & Articles:
Table8, National Editor
Food Republic
Liquor.com
Zagat SF Editor (2014-2016)
Editor, Distiller Magazine
Liquor.com Drinkwire
SF Bay Guardian Critic (Weekly Column: 2009-2013)
Where Magazine
Freelance: Whisky Magazine UK, The Times London, Eater, Tasting Panel Magazine, The Whiskey Wash, PureWow, Spoonwiz, Drink Me Magazine, Citysearch, NBC’s The Feast, Blackboard Eats, Tasting Table, Grubstreet