Author: Virginia Miller

October 15, 2021

by Virginia Miller on October 12, 2021 in Intro Letter

— Estiatorio Ornos: My full review of brand new hyperlocal Greek escape to Mykonos from Michael Mina.
— Turntable at Lord Stanley: My full review of a Michelin-starred restaurant reborn, offering a rotating showcase for global chefs with a powerhouse fall lineup of mostly female chefs from Argentina.
— Harvest Season Staycations, Sebastopol Edition: Where to eat, dine and drink in this hip Sonoma County town.
— DISTILLER Bottle Column: My drink reviews of the month cover grappa, Japanese sake vermouth, Scotch, mezcal, rum, sake, old tom gin, gin, Japanese whisky, RTDs (canned cocktails), kombucha and bourbon.

SF’s Estiatorio Ornos Is a New Hyperlocal Escape to Mykonos from Michael Mina

by Virginia Miller on October 8, 2021 in The Latest

Published October 8, 2021, in my The Bold Italic column and weekly restaurant reviews, my review of Michael Mina’s new colorful escape to Mykonos, Greece, in his former Michael Mina Restaurant (and Aqua) space.

Top 5 Hit List of the Month: Restaurant Newcomers + Better-Than-Ever Favorites

by Virginia Miller on October 7, 2021 in The Latest, Top Tastes

Published October 7, 2021 at The Bold Italic: From two notable newcomers to three tried-and-true greats (one just reopening, one just gaining its first Michelin star) plus one bonus new bar, these are five top places to eat, feast and support now?.

DISTILLER Bottle Column: September 2021

by Virginia Miller on October 4, 2021 in Imbiber

At Distiller Magazine, my bottle column covers trends and reviews international spirits and RTDs, with taste ratings for my top 12 bottles of the month here:

Turntable at Lord Stanley: A Rotating Showcase for Top Global Chefs

by Virginia Miller on October 1, 2021 in The Latest, Top Tastes

My review of Michelin-starred Lord Stanley’s reinvention as Turntable at Lord Stanley, showcasing award-winning and up-and-coming global chefs. In this initial fall run of Argentinean chefs, most of them are female, all making waves in South America.

Harvest Season Staycations: Support Our Beloved Wine Countries, Sebastopol Edition

by Virginia Miller on October 1, 2021 in Around the Bay

Sebastopol is historically famed as a plum and apple-growing region, home to Gravenstein apples and good-as-it-gets plums.

As with everywhere in Sonoma County, wine grapes are now the dominant agriculture, but a few dear souls keep the apple and stone fruit orchards alive (where to go apple picking in town), alongside produce farms like Two Belly Acre Farm (more on that below). Cider producers, farms and the impressive Barlow complex dominate the small Sonoma town. Here are five+ standouts for food, drink and a hotel stay in (and near) Sebastopol:

October 1, 2021

by Virginia Miller on September 27, 2021 in Intro Letter

— 54 Mint: Reviewing San Francisco’s ultimate gastronomic escape to Rome.
— Serving Up Wanderlust: My Gin Magazine feature on bars, bartenders and their cocktail recipes inspired by regions outside their own — I feature Lisbon, Portugal; Taipei, Taiwan; and Brooklyn, New York.
— New Modern Filipino Destination, Abacá: Reviewing Fisherman’s Wharf new Abacá from celebrated chef Francis Ang of Pinoy Heritage with drinks by renowned bartender/owner Kevin Diedrich of PCH and Kona’s Street Market.
— Wine Time: Local canned wines, wine clubs and (yes, even) non-alcoholic wine worth drinking.
— 5 SF Rooftops for Dining & Drink: My Bold Italic feature on five SF restaurant with striking rooftops.

54 Mint: San Francisco’s Ultimate Gastronomic Escape to Rome

by Virginia Miller on September 24, 2021 in Top Tastes

Published September 24, 2021, in my weekly restaurant review column for The Bold Italic, this review features arguably our best “escape to Roma” in SF, from pastas to suppli, cocktails to rare Italian spirits.

Wine Time: Local Canned Wines, Wine Clubs & (yes, even) Non-Alcoholic Wine Worth Drinking

by Virginia Miller on September 23, 2021 in Imbiber

The canned wine “game” keeps getting better. Not only are each of these canned wines or wine clubs of high quality to please the wine geek, they’re approachable for all. One is the best non-alcoholic wine we’ve yet tasted, another contributes to environmental change — and all are (yes!) locally based.

New Modern Filipino Destination, Abacá — From Chef Francis Ang & Bartender Kevin Diedrich

by Virginia Miller on September 17, 2021 in The Latest

This review features brand new Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant and modern Filipino cuisine destination, Abacá, from celebrated chef Francis Ang of Pinoy Heritage and drinks by renowned bartender/owner Kevin Diedrich of PCH and Kona’s Street Market.