San Francisco is blessed with some of the oldest and most storied restaurants in the nation, alongside historic dining leaders like New Orleans. Our 1800s through mid-century restaurants often veer seafood-heavy, one of our city’s strengths, past and present, given our sea and Bay, water-on-three-sides location. Here are four restaurant legends, decidedly old school but still well worth visiting and celebrating, dating from 1965 back to 1849. Read more →
Reviewed this issue:
— Luxardo Espresso Liqueur
— Spring Lake Korean Gin
— Acronimo Spirits Sotol
— Chamère “Emily in Paris” Kir Royale RTD
— YuzuCo Sudachi
… and more Read more →
In this article:
—Stay & Dine at Michelin-Starred Auro at Four Seasons Napa Valley
—Still One of Napa Valley’s Very Best: Michelin-Starred Press, St. Helena
—Kansas City-Style BBQ in Napa Valley: Stateline Road Smokehouse, Napa
—New Napa Steakhouse: Ember Steak at Meritage Napa Read more →
Reviewed in this article:
—Vegetarian Indian Restaurant from Female Chef Stays Strong: Besharam, Dogpatch
—New Chef from Delhi at ROOH, SoMa Read more →
In this article:
—Steakhouse Extraordinaire: Niku Steakhouse, SoMa/Design District
—Playful, Modern Soul Food: Burdell, Oakland
—Thai Noodle Love: Khao Soi Shop Pop-Up at Nari, Japantown
—Michelin-Recommended Abura Soba Noodles: Kajiken, San Mateo Read more →
Published October 11, 2024, in my Medium column: For a lifetime I’ve been in love with American Southern food. Its ranges and its comforts, from Low Country to Creole or Cajun, and don’t even get me started on barbecue. Over two decades, I’ve taken countless road trips and repeat visits across the South to study its cuisines and its music. So it… Read more →
Japan is a land that perfects each native dish with restaurants entirely devoted to one item, from comforting okonomiyaki to delicately fried tempura. And often at a handful of seats in a tiny space. Enter Sobakatsu, a closet-sized restaurant with a max of 11 seats, no reservations and a sole focus on cold and hot soba, Japan’s silky, thin buckwheat noodles that are friendly to all gluten-free-ers. Read more →
Reviewed this issue:
— Fortaleza Tequila Reposado Winter Blend 2024
— Bacan Guaro Colombian Aguardiente
— OOLA Left Coast Gin
— Tres Tribus Mezcal Artesanal Joven Espadin
… and more Read more →
One of many things I adore about living in my beloved San Francisco for 23 years, far above my bi-coastal upbringing in the suburbs of LA and NYC and midwest Oklahoma and Kansas City roots, is the endless layers and beauty of tiny SF. Thus I am ever experiencing my City anew and rarely get “staycations.” I travel so much for dining and drink research, judging and consulting, it’s a gift when I am home, relishing the world class and unique joys abundant all around me.
However, it’s a privilege when I get a media invite to stay overnight to check out a hotel minutes from home after checking out a new menu or chef at said hotel. I recently visited two notable SF hotels offering feasts creative (Luce) or comforting (MKT). What worked (and didn’t) at each: Read more →
Raving about Merchant Roots’ wildly-changing, eight-seat dinners since chef Ryan Shelton launched the first themed menu in January 2019, I’ve felt this magical team and concept should have a Michelin star and more, though they are Michelin-recommended, thankfully. But it’s a whole “new bag” for the clever restaurant as they’ve just moved to a far larger, 4,500-square-foot space in SoMa, debuting August 23, 2024: Read more →