These 3 restaurants boast everything from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants status to Michelin stars, but what they’ve evolved to is bold flavors & unexpected fun:
—3 Michelin, World’s 50 Best Great Reimagined at 14: Atelier Crenn
—The Only 2 Michelin Mexican Restaurant in N. America Turns 10: Californios
—Of Eggs & Broken Things: Humpty Dumpty Experience at Merchant Roots
Published January 7, 2022, in my The Bold Italic column and weekly restaurant reviews: 10 years old this month, I revisit one of the world’s best restaurants (and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants), Atelier Crenn.
A strong concentration of the US’s cutting-edge chefs are right here in the Bay Area. Widely acknowledged in food publications and amongst global diners, there’s been an uptick in Bay Area creativity buzz in recent years. Collaborative dinners between local chefs and with chefs from countries beyond uniquely showcase the forward-thinking cooking coming out of our region. I’ve been privileged… Read more →
An old school temple to steak, San Francisco’s Harris’ Restaurant keeps classic steakhouse, martini and live jazz spirit alive: Read more →
On a crisp, clear, wind-less February night, we bypassed the line to get in with a reservation at brand-new KAIYŌ Rooftop atop the Hyatt Place Hotel. It was clear immediately from the line down the sidewalk to the bustling, Latin music-tinged party on the rooftop that this is already one of the hottest newcomers in town. Read more →
These five notable, mid-range newcomers cover the gamut, from sushi whiskey lounge to a Salvadoran family spot. Alongside this month’s full restaurant reviews, these new restaurants are worth dining at now (as always, I’ve vetted, visited or ordered from every restaurant reviewed here): Read more →
THIS ISSUE:
— Atelier Crenn: One of the world’s best restaurants turns 11 years old.
— Live-Fire Cooking Like You’ve Never Experienced Before: At brand new Osito.
— Distiller Bottle Column: This month I review vermouth, Cognac, gin, rum, tequila, Irish and American whiskies, RTDs (canned, ready-to-drink cocktails, soju, cider).
— South Lake Tahoe: Where to eat, drink and stay now.
— Bluestem Brasserie Is a Slice of Comfort in Downtown SF: Reimagined a decade since opening.
My dining column in Bob Cut magazine covers standout newcomers and longtimers worth supporting.
I’m covering outdoor and indoor dining, takeout and delivery restaurants, all of which I’ve vetted, visited or ordered from. Here are this month’s 10 standouts: Read more →
This Issue:
— February’s Top 10 Bay Area Restaurants: 10 Bay Area newcomers and longtimers, from SF, Oakland, Sonoma and the Peninsula, including standouts in modern Indian, Peruvian, sushi, pizza, sandwiches, Caribbean/Trinidadian, New American, Japanese, Argentinian and butchery.
— Distiller Magazine Bottle Review Column: This month I review amaro, vermouth, cachaca, RTDs (canned cocktails), gin, rakija/fruit brandy, rum, Irish whiskey, non-alcoholic spirits, saké.
— 5 Magical Dining Options to Celebrate a Pandemic Valentine’s: Top celebratory meals anytime, whether escapes to Italy or Japan, or whimsical themed dinners.
— My Michigan interviews with Long Road Distillers in Grand Rapids & bar manager of Kiesling in Detroit.
— The Ever-Shifting Future and Flavor of Chinatown
My latest article for The Bold Italic, published February 5, 2021, covers 5 of SF’s best for takeout, meal kits or outdoor dining Valentine’s (or other celebratory dinners) in pandemic: Read more →