We live in one of the great culinary cities of the world – and certainly the US – graced with many a Michelin-starred restaurant from Napa to the South Bay. While I have dined at 30 of the 38 Michelin-starred restaurants in the Bay Area, and many more around the world, I’ve recently had a heavy dose of restaurants graced… Read more →
Mendocino coast by moonlight from Inn at Newport Ranch. Photo by Virginia Miller. The term “thin place” is an ancient one, referring to places where heaven and earth come close or the veil between life now and the afterlife is especially delicate and permeable . On California’s breathtaking Mendocino Coast, easily some of the most dramatic, mystical coastline in the world,… Read more →
Reviewed in this article:
—Modern Indian Creativity from Veggies to Meat: Tiya
—At Five Years Ernest Remains One of SF’s Unsung Greats
—Two Michelin Magic: Saison
—Delicately Playful Dessert Tasting Menu: Nisei
—The U.S.’ Great Modern Guamanian Restaurant: Prubechu
—North African/Tunisian Treasure Turns 10: Barcha
—91-Year-Old Pizza & Pasta Legend: Tommaso’s
—Two Michelin Heights at 8-Year-Old Birdsong
—Asian Rooftop Delights: Good Good Culture Club
—Upscale Thai Offers a Steal of a Lunch: Hed11 Read more →
Bon Delire’s star dish: oeufs mayonnaise. Photo by Virginia Miller. Bon Délire debuted October 22, 2024, along the Embarcadero from restaurateur Kais Bouzidi, who owns Sens and Barcha (my Barcha review here). Whereas his Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants are directly correlated to his North African roots and Tunisian father, this newcomer nods to his childhood on tiny Ile Saint-Louis, the… Read more →
Reviewed in this article:
—So Brilliant, This 2 Michelin Should Be 3: Lazy Bear
—Still Shining in Its New Era: Saison
—Back to its Original Format but Refreshed: Lord Stanley 2.0
—Seafood & Drink Glories Like No Other: Aphotic
—Asian Art Museum-Inspired: Gilda’s Salon Dinners at the Proper Hotel Read more →
San Francisco’s limitless brunch options can reach religious fervor here with long waits for no-reservation spots. Here are 10 restaurants that (mostly) take reservations, across a range of cuisines and price levels. All offer something to please mom, from colorful cocktails to heartwarming dishes (and they’re great brunch options any time of the year!) Read more →
Juniper bakery’s choux. Photo by Virginia Miller. COME SEE OUR NEW HOME — The Bold Italic has a new home online, and this story has moved! Read it here: https://www.thebolditalic.com/two-new-bakeries-already-set-to-stand-among-the-bays-best-juniper-starter-bakery Few U.S. cities have a fraction of the world class bakeries that line San Francisco, a city that has led the baking renaissance of the past 20 plus years via Tartine… Read more →
Sons & Daughters’ kusshi oyster in a daikon shell (Photo Credit: Virginia Miller) COME SEE OUR NEW HOME — The Bold Italic has a new home online, and this story has moved! Read it here: https://www.thebolditalic.com/new-chef-with-stockholm-london-roots-at-reborn-michelin-starred-sons-daughters/ . . . . . . . . . Since first visiting Michelin-starred, intimate fine dining gem Sons and Daughters (S&D) when it opened in… Read more →
COME SEE OUR NEW HOME — The Bold Italic has a new home online, and this story has moved! Read it here: https://www.thebolditalic.com/mendocino-fort-bragg-magic-soulful-foodie-weekend-getaways FORT BRAGG: the Surreal Inn at Newport RanchThin places — where heaven and earth come closer or the veil between the here and the otherworld is especially thin — is beloved lore for thousands of years. On California’s breathtaking Mendocino Coast,… Read more →
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 →