“At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they see it can be done — then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.” — Francis Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Noma’s fruit butterfly, Copenhagen
What a summer it has been… from Sweden, Faroe Islands, Denmark, London to judging spirits with IWSC in Surrey, I’ve cherished my few short weeks home before August started with a bang: returning to Portland & the Willamette Valley in Oregon with the great House Spirits team.
Last week, I enjoyed learning from and reconnecting with drink industry friends in wine, beer, coffee, cocktails & spirits at BevCon, this time in LA’s cool Line Hotel Koreatown. I kicked off this three-day conference moderating BevCon’s opening panel with Paul Hletko of Few Spirits and Intelligentsia Coffee.
And as this goes out, I’m in New Mexico for a retreat, some brother and sister-in-law time and a little restoration in the mountainous towns of Albuquerque and Santa Fe…
Happy remaining days of summer, friends.
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Noma dining room post-sunset, Copenhagen
This issue:
Wandering Traveler — Noma 2.0: My review of the all vegetarian menu at the new Noma location in Copenhagen the week it launched.
The Latest — Top New Openings of the Month: Handmade, non-traditional pastas, neighborhood destinations, Cal-French freshness and irresistible bar food in my 3 best new restaurants of the month.
Wandering Traveler — Top 10 Restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico: My latest at Time Out National.
Imbiber — 11 Best New Bars in San Francisco: From SF to Oakland, the 11 newcomers you should visit if you haven’t.
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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
LINKS to Social Media & Articles:
Time Out Food & Drink
Liquor.com International
Table8, National Editor (2015-2017)
Wine Access Restaurant & Wine Column
Food Republic
Zagat SF Editor (2014-2016)
Editor, Distiller Magazine
Liquor.com Drinkwire
SF Bay Guardian Critic (2009-2013)
Where Magazine