Southern food has a profound hold on me. No, I am not a Southerner. Having grown up in the Midwest, and mostly East and West coasts, it seems to be the major US region my family didn’t move to. Yet few cuisines the world over elicit in me such yearning and comfort. Whether road tripping through numerous states in the… Read more →
From my many articles a week as Zagat Editor, I summarize and link to some coverage highlights here – you can follow along on Twitter @ZagatSF, where I post daily, or on my own @ThePerfectSpot via Twitter or Facebook. New SF Openings First Look: ALEMBIC’s new kitchen opens – what to eat on the new menu 7 things to order… Read more →
My latest article for The Bold Italic, published June 25, 2021 (my regular Bold Italic articles here), covers 5 of the Bay Area’s best queer-run restaurants and cafes:
San Francisco Bartender Bret Sylvester has done the somewhat impossible: created a line of fruit-infused brandies to please the spirits and non-spirits drinker alike. I recently tested out his sparkling line on visiting family and friends. My wine drinking and even some generally teetotaling family members all loved Drink Verbena, while I and other spirits drinkers found the line complex… Read more →
AMAWELE’S SOUTH AFRICAN KITCHEN, SoMa (Rincon Center, 101 Spear St. between Mission & Howard, 415-536-5900) There’s no “sit down” at Amawele’s South African Kitchen. In fact, it’s a counter in the Rincon Center open only during the week for lunch so unless your office is nearby, order a few items to go. Amawele is the Zulu word for “twins”, chosen… Read more →
Top Tastes is my usual run-down of tastes over the past two weeks. Rather than a list of all-time favorites (another thing altogether), it’s highlights since my last newsletter, often from new openings. Many don’t make the cut, being a revisit written about before or simply not as stand-out as dishes mentioned. SAVORY – SEAFOOD • I’ve long… Read more →
BREAKFAST Luxurious brunch at my fave 1300 on Fillmore; order a generous entrée portion of Barbecue Shrimp & Creamy Grits (one of their best dishes, $14), perfect Scones (Three: Lemon, Blueberry, Raisin w/ Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves, $4), or a Hang Town Fry with egg, fried oysters (yes!), potato, bacon and toast ($9). SAVORY – VEGETARIAN At slick new Urban Tavern, I dined two nights… Read more →