Category: Intro Letter

“Having found myself on business in New Orleans – or… having found it my business to find business in New Orleans…” – Calvin Trillin I returned a mere few days ago from my adored New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail (yes, I found myself finding business there), where I averaged three hours of sleep a night, met wonderful people… Read more →

“I write to discover what I know.” – Flannery O’Connor Summer riches surround me with a Wine Country wedding, BBQs, film nights in the park and visiting family. I am off to New Orleans in a few days for Tales of the Cocktail, so you know more is on its way from one of my favorite cities! Top Tastes runs… Read more →

“… there is only the unattended Moment, the moment in and out of time, The distraction fit, lost in a shaft of sunlight, The wild thyme unseen, or the winter lightning Or the waterfall, or music heard so deeply That it is not heard at all…” – T.S. Eliot, “The Four Quartets” The past two weeks have kept me hopping… Read more →

“I believe that the great American burger is a thing of beauty, its simple charms noble, pristine. The basic recipe… is, to my mind, un-improvable by man or God.” – Anthony Bourdain, “Medium Raw” As I sip Ritual Coffee prepared with Italian family flair from Potrero Hill’s charming new corner cafe, Caffe La Stazione (I’m delighted they plan to soon… Read more →

“Love, with very young people, is a heartless business. We drink at that age from thirst, or to get drunk; it is only later in life that we occupy ourselves with the individuality of our wine.” – Isak Dinesen Is it really Summer? Just returned from a bustling trip to New York, this issue is NY-centric with Manhattan Cocktail Classic… Read more →

“One by one the nights between our separated cities are joined to the night that unites us.” – Pablo Neruda As this hits your inbox, I’ve just arrived in New York for the Manhattan Cocktail Classic and eight days of food, drink and dear friends. Back in my beloved Big Apple, the city that first awakened me to the world… Read more →

“Adventure is not outside man; it is within.” – George Eliot This April, the Bay Guardian came out with their special food & drink FEAST magazine, and I wrote an article on herbs and produce in cocktails for the issue… plus my usual twice-weekly Guardian column (see articles below). But for the Perfect Spot, there’s plenty more. Top Tastes include… Read more →

“People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen.” – Don Miller, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” Hold on… we’re going to run a wide gamut this issue – there’s something for everyone. The Latest visits new waterside wonder, Lafitte. Around the Bay highlights the best pizza… Read more →

“The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity, than the discovery of a new star… all ranks and grades are forgotten together in the great manufacture of life.” – Brillat-Savarin I’m blissfully exhausted… and couldn’t even fit in all I want to share with you. This issue my focus is more heavily around the Bay area, from… Read more →

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain It seems there’s never enough time and space to share all the daily joys of taste. In Top Tastes, I share some. Then, two Napa meals in Around the Bay: Redd and brand new Farmstead. Wandering Traveler hits LA’s cocktail scene, from The Varnish to The Association. Imbiber highlights… Read more →