These three newer and one longtime restaurant confirm a French renaissance is underway… Read more →
Author: Virginia Miller
Calgary’s Gifts to the World
The edible, sensual and spiritual pleasures of Calgary (2 upscale + 5 mid-range to casual restaurants, 6 cocktail bars, hotel, bakery, market and more)… Read more →
DISTILLER Bottle Column: April 2025
Reviewed this issue:
— Stade’s Rum Beach Vat No 1
— Drumshanbo Gunpowder Brazilian Pineapple Irish Gin
— Yobo Spirits KTOWN Soju Grape+Ginger
— Common Ground Gin
— Ten To One Rum Reserve Cask Collection Trinidad
— The Lost Explorer Reserva Del Maestro Madre Cuishe Mezcal
… and more Read more →
9 Standout Restaurants of the Month
Reviewed in this article:
— Modern Lebanese and Levantine Pop-up at Buddy: Ilna
— New Neighborhood Spot Ideal for Groups & Families: Fifty Vara
— Cocktails & Bites with Seafaring Touch: Bar Maritime
— Persian Mexican Lounge: Movida
— Japanese Hot Pot Lunch Go-To: Potto
— SF Chron’s #3 Keeps On Wow-ing: Rich Table
— Two Top Female Chefs Keep This 32-Year-Old Shining: Boulevard
— Killing It With Bold Veggie Dishes: The Progress
— The Farm-to-Table Legend Since 1971: Chez Panisse Read more →
Peninsula Eats: New Standouts, Part Two
Published April 18 2025: From Spanish and Cal-French newcomers to a foodie, cocktail and coffee geek’s hotel… where to eat, drink and stay in San Mateo County now… (part one here). ARTICLE HERE: https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/peninsula-eats-new-standouts-part-45e Reviewed in this article:—Massive Cal-French Newcomer near SFO: Camber at The Hangar, South San Francisco—Gorgeous Spanish Newcomer: Macarena, Palo Alto—Overnight Getaway: BROMA and The Emerald Hour… Read more →
Los Angeles’ Gifts to the World
Reviewed in this guide:
—West LA’s Grand (But Hip) Dame: Melisse
—From 2 Michelin Spanish Chef, Somni is Reborn
—World’s 50 Best Modern Taiwanese Game-Changer: Kato
—Live-Fire Cooking Like No Other: Meteora
—Rare Modern Levantine food with Syrian-Italian Flair: Carmel
—Top Mexican Seafood Anywhere: Holbox…
and many more Read more →
DISTILLER Bottle Column: March 2025
My bottle review column (last month’s edition here) is about what is unique, standout, new and/or trending in spirits with my review ratings on a 1-5 rating scale. My 8 bottle reviews of the month: ARTICLE: https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/new-release-roundup-march-2025/ Reviewed this issue:— atōst California Spritz (Ventura, CA)— Santa Teresa 1796 Triple Aged Solera Rum (Venezuela)— KLEOS Mastiha Spirit (Chios, Greece)— Hendrick’s Oasium Gin… Read more →
SF Bay Area March Top Eats
Reviewed in this article:
—Modern Afghani Gamechanger: Jaji, Oakland
—Next-Level Sports Bar (and I’m Not into sports): Splash
—Ferry Building’s Latest Delights: Lunette, El Porteno, Ocean Malasadas
—Honduran-Yucatecan Heartwarmer: Catrachita Yucateca
—Glitzy Korean Steakhouse: AB Steak
—New Vegetarian Dishes Delight: Tiya
—14 & (Still) Fabulous: State Bird Provisions
—Tiny Cajun & Creole Go-to on The Hill: Po’Boy’s Kitchen Read more →
San Miguel de Allende’s Gifts to the World
Why Mexico’s UNESCO World Heritage city won me over despite my doubts: Read more →
A New Era for 3 San Francisco Fine Dining Greats: Atelier Crenn, Californios, Merchant Roots
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