Category: Intro Letter

“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.” – John Boswell   Happy New Year, friends! I’ve been out of town with family and recovering from sickness so this issue delivers a few stories from recent travels and meals prior to my Oklahoma trip. I wish you… Read more →

“I have learned to speak of these things, which once I brooded on in silence, these wishes to live and to die in gratefulness, if in no other virtue.” – Galway Kinnell, “These Are Things I Tell No One”   As I reflect on this incredible, full year, I anticipate a fresh one with untold experiences awaiting. Here’s my first… Read more →

“I’ll admit that I’d rather say country ham than almost anything if the person I was saying it to happened to be a waitress.” – Calvin Trillin Winter and the holidays are fast upon us… I wish you sweet memories with family and friends. I have begun writing “best of” lists for NBC’s new food site, The Feast, just launched… Read more →

“Give me books, fruit, French wine and fine weather and a little music out of doors, played by someone I do not know.” – John Keats After a rousing week in Guadalajara and Tequila, Mexico, then a welcome respite on the quiet North Shore of Lake Tahoe, I have done little local eating the past couple weeks. But there remains… Read more →

“For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.” – Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning As mentioned last issue, instead of the usual 1st (and 15th) of the month arrival of my newsletter, it’s a couple days early as I’m off to Guadalajara and Tequila, Mexico,… Read more →

“[On San Francisco]: I fell in love with the most cordial and sociable city in the Union… after the sage-brush and alkali deserts of Washoe, San Francisco was Paradise to me.” – Mark Twain In the throes of a warm, gorgeous San Francisco Fall, I want to let you know my next issue (out twice a month, on the 1st… Read more →

“The Morning Star hangs like a Lamp, beside the crescent, Above the greying horizon. The air warm, perfumed, An unseasonably warm…” – Kenneth Rexroth, “The Silver Swan” Fall… my favorite seasons is upon us. And with it, warm, balmy San Francisco days and nights. Top Tastes hits recent openings: B3, Cafe Des Amis, Ragazza and Plow, while returning to Prospect.… Read more →

“Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies. Nobody that matters, that is.” – Edna St. Vincent Millay Summer ends and San Francisco’s “summer” begins with pristine days and balmy nights spent sipping scotch on my front stoop with good friends (and the occasional cigar). Concerts in the park give way to SF Cocktail Week (9/21-9/27), while the truly awesome Hardly… Read more →

“It is not the brains that matter most, but that which guides them – the character, the heart, generous qualities, progressive ideas.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky I’m proud of the innovation and spirit in the Bay Area. As I visit old and new favorite distilleries like St. George and Old World Spirits, sample a preview dinner of Daniel Patterson’s upcoming Plum,… Read more →

“We are born for meaning, not pleasure, unless it is pleasure that is steeped in meaning.” – Jacob Needleman It’s been quite a week with the ongoing party of SF Chefs and more high profile restaurant openings (Commonwealth, Benu, Bar Agricole). At SF Chefs, besides attending numerous seminars, tastings & parties (recap in next issue), I was one of three… Read more →