Category: Intro Letter

This Issue:
— Where to Eat & Drink Now: Five newcomers or reborn spots for food and cocktails.
— Chefs & Restaurants Transforming Fine Dining Across the U.S. Now: My interview with Junghyun and Ellia Park of Atomix in NYC and with chef Peter Hemsley of Aphotic in San Francisco… and other national restaurants talking about the state of fine dining in the U.S. now.
— Palm Springs Bar Guide: My Whisky Magazine guide to 10 of Palm Springs’ best.
— SF’s Korean Wave Continues as Michelin-starred SSAL Matures.
— Distiller Magazine Bottle Column: This month I review forest liqueur, shochu, orange liqueur, gin, agave spirits, non-alcoholic RTD/bottled cocktails, tequila, Scotch, etc. Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Yokai: Japanese food and vinyl records come to life in SoMa with superb skewers and plates, rare Japanese whiskies and elegant cocktails in one of my fave new SF hangouts.
— Aromas of Turkey and SF’s Presidio Park: Eastern Mediterranean magic at the new Dalida.
— Top 10 Charleston Bars Now: My latest at Distiller Magazine.
— Las Vegas Dining Guide: 15 places to eat in Vegas now, from upscale to casual + where to stay.
— 13 Harvest Time Wines to Suit Every Palate: From rosé and sparkling to natural wines and complex reds, 13 bottle recommends now.
— New Healdsburg dining and drink destination that defines Sonoma Wine Country now
— My Tenderloin Eats Guide
… and more articles Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Adriano Paganini’s Corzetti Comes to Downtown SF: A major San Francisco restaurateur and Italy native brings new Ligurian-Italian life to Union Square.
— Absinthe Turns 25: The craft cocktail pioneer and all-day, classic French restaurant retains old school French spirit with refreshed lightness in their new menu.
— London Cocktails: My Gin Magazine guide to 9 of London’s most interesting bars now.
— Distiller Bottle Column August: This issue I review brandy, tepache, agricole rhum, mezcal, gin, Scotch whisky, tequila, port, Japanese whiskies, RTDs, and more.
— Distiller Bottle Column July: This issue I review rượu dế Vietnamese spirit, rum, Japanese whisky, gin, Scotch whisky, tequila, cider, vodka, American whiskies, and more. Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Matty’s Old Fashioned: Black-owned, refined tribute to diner food at this new Oakland restaurant from a barbecue master.
— A Pie Shop to a Legendary SF Dessert Reborn: 5 food standouts of the month.
— Lisbon: My Whisky Magazine guide to 10 of the Portugal’s city’s best bars.
— Where to Eat with Your Family in San Francisco: 8 under-the-radar spots to eat with kids, from a game parlor with waffles to Asian chicken boxes covering a few country’s style of street food chicken. Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Little Shucker: Sunny, chic New oyster bar with low-ABV cocktails & irresistible seafood opening today.
— From Sushi to Gelato, Fresh Pastas Shop to Seafood Outpost Near the Ocean: 6 new SF food standouts.
— El Mil Amores: All-day brunch at this female owned Mexican breakfast newcomer.
— 10 Top Las Vegas Bars Now: My Distiller Magazine guide to top Vegas cocktails bars.
— Top 7 Tastes at Outside Lands 2023: Food and cocktails we’re ready to order again and can get year-round. Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Noodle in a Haystack: Ramen-inspired tasting menu from self-taught chefs.
— Portugal’s Dining & Lodging Scene Now: And chef José Avillez’ new Casa Nossa retreat, in my VOICES magazine feature
— Che Fico is a Restaurant Reborn Post-Pandemic: They also still serve unique pastas & one of the ultimate, much-copied pineapple pizza
— New Orleans Bar Guide: My latest 10 top Nola bars guide in Gin Magazine
— Interview with Lost Spirits’ founders Bryan Davis & Joanne Haruta & distiller Mary Dempsey: My interviews with the Jammyland Bar Team in Las Vegas
Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Charleston Dining Guide: Where to eat and stay now in South Carolina’s Holy City.
— SF’s New Gambit Lounge: A wine bar with rare Central & Eastern European eats.
— Brand New Flour+Water Pizzeria Hits North Beach in the Old Rose Pistola Space: And it’s packed from day one!
— Is the $100 Pho Worth it at Inner Sunset’s New Gao Viet Kitchen? We’re not sure, but many other Vietnamese dishes here are worth going in for (and far more affordable).
— Distiller Bottle Column: This issue I review rum, aperitifs, gin, Scotch whisky, tequila, awamori, American whiskies, and more. Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Mexican Brunch to Upscale Indian Food: 7 SF restaurant standouts now.
— Cocktails to Eat By: Three standout bars with food in San Francisco, both new and establish.
— A Pizza Master Opens Her First Place in Berkeley: Pizzeria da Laura + Original Joe’s North Beach reviewed.
— Minimalist-But-Lush Fine Dining at SF’s New Kiln
— Interviewing Robert Dawson of Kō Hana Distillers, Oahu: My Distiller Magazine interview with Hawaii distiller.
— 12 Summer Sips: Wines to suit every palate. Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— May Eats Checklist: 6 restaurant and eatery standouts of the month, from Greek food to banh mi, fermented Japanese foods to modern Filipino.
— Two New Restaurants You Don’t Know, but Should: Pizza and global small plates with natural wines and vinyl at cozy Back to Back. And Xica, a modern Mexican restaurant in an airy, large space overlooking a fountain-lined square with order-at-the-counter casualness.
— San Francisco’s Inaugural AAPI Cocktail Week.
— Distiller Bottle Column: This issue I review rum, sotol, gin, Scotch whisky, Cognac, RTDs juice mixers, American single malt, and more.
— Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience 2023: Top tastes and events over this leading Sonoma County food and drink event. Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Popi’s Oysterette: An idyllic new, all-day neighborhood SF-style oyster bar.
— Mattina: A new all-day cafe that doubles as idyllic neighborhood Cal-Italian restaurant.
— East Meets West: Old world wines paired with Japanese food at two Michelin-starred restaurants in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Read more →