Category: Intro Letter

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 →

THIS ISSUE:
— The New, Dark, Moody, Lush, Unique Aphotic Restaurant: Wildly sustainable seafood and house-distilled cocktails in one of the most exciting new openings of the year thus far.
— April Eats: 8 SF & Oakland spots winning with cocktails AND food.
— Eating & Drinking Around Raleigh-Durham: My 12-stop North Carolina restaurant and bar guide.
— Rare Isaan Thai Platters Hidden Off A FiDi Alley: The new Hed VeryThai reviewed.
— DISTILLER Bottle Column: This issue I review rum, shochu, gin, Scotch whisky, mezcal, RTDs (ready-to-drink canned/bottled drinks), port, bourbon whiskey. Read more →

THIS ISSUE:
— Juniper & Starter Bakery: Two new bakeries already set to stand among the Bay’s best.
— Coho: In sleepy Mill Valley, a surprisingly quality land-to-sea newcomer.
— St. Louis Dining Guide: 13 Places to Eat & Drink Now.
— Staycation Palo Alto: A Spanish-themed hotel & two newer restaurants.
— DISTILLER Bottle Column: This issue I review rum, sherry, gin, non-alcoholic wines, Australian whiskies, soju, ciders, American single malt and vodka. Read more →