From mid-January to mid-February, here are the 8 standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1 & 2. Bywater’s Frappe & Bywater Gibson The fact that this is a casual, New Orleans-centric restaurant from 3 Michelin-starred Manresa chef/owner David Kinch and Partner Andrew Burnham (just opened January 12) makes The Bywater a major Bay Area… Read more →
This Winter saw the release of numerous new whisk(e)y releases, ranging from American whiskies (bourbon, rye, wheat, etc.) to Scotch and a Mexican whiskey (yes, you heard right, Mexican whiskey). Here are 9 whisk(e)y stand-outs and why they make an impression. ST. GEORGE Lot 15 SINGLE MALT WHISKEY St. George’s newest, Lot 15 Single Malt Whiskey may be my favorite… Read more →
From mid-December to mid-January, here are the 10 standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1 & 2. Bear Vs. Bull’s (at Alamo Drafthouse) Surf Club Mangareva & Great Silence Isaac Shumway (who formerly made the revamped Tosca Café worth visiting for his drinks) has worked his magic at brand new Alamo Drafthouse bar, Bear… Read more →
From mid-November to mid-December, here are the 10 standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1 & 2. El Capitan’s Port of Call & Maximon Recently returning to El Capitan (festive on a Friday night with Christmas lights and a convivial crowd), the food is better than ever, from silky crudo to fry bread tacos.… Read more →
My Fall 2015 feature for Distiller Magazine on San Francisco, with a 12-page print spread, my photos and three articles: (Bars featured in the 10 SF Bars article: Comstock Saloon, Alembic, 15 Romolo, Third Rail, Mosto, Burritt Room, ABV, Holy Water, Odd Job, Royal Cuckoo Organ Lounge). More of my SF food recommends here and bar/cocktail recommends here. ______________________________________Past issues… Read more →
From mid-October to mid-November, here are 6 standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1. 15 Romolo’s Miraculous Milk Punch With in-house sherry expert Ian Adams and an impressive collection of over 500 spirits, 15 Romolo has been one of SF’s greatest bars for over a decade. Their sherry collection is one of their strengths and… Read more →
My 7th year attending Whiskyfest San Francisco (also held in Chicago and NYC annually) and like any other year, the event held many revisits of favorite whiskies (here are last year’s standouts), from Scotland, Japan, Ireland, Canada and the US in the massive underground ballrooms of the SF Marriott Marquis. Between re-tasting greats like Aberlour’s A’bunadh and Hibiki’s gorgeous 21… Read more →
From mid-September to mid-October, here are the 10 standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area — and it’s quite a season for stellar cocktails. I had a tough time calling out the best overall this month but specifically from a few of these menus where there were a number of stars. Mourad’s Curry & MilkEver-talented… Read more →
Almost daily, I’m tasting a wide range of spirits, wines and beers, whether at restaurants, bars, distilleries, wineries, breweries or as samples crossing my desk. This Summer, here are 10 memorable wines I tasted on menus around the Bay Area, best for different purposes from value to uniqueness. 2013 Terlan Quarz Sauvignon Blanc at Michael Mina The wine list at… Read more →
Through September, here are the standout cocktails and new menus I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. This is an article I wrote for Blackboard Eats, published September 22, 2015. 1. Black Sands’ Quinine & Pine Brand new Black Sands is a brewery and restaurant (with a killer cheeseburger and bites) but thanks to a cocktail menu created by Nicolas… Read more →