Category: Intro Letter

“I was… an ex-newspaper reporter who had found God in the details of uni sushi and truffled fettucine. ” – Gael Greene, “Insaitable” I’m moving… into my first house, or rather, in true city fashion, condo. It’s a beautiful 1890’s Victorian house in the Haight, completely redone. Though not large, my unit is lovely. By next issue, I’ll be just… Read more →

“Some diners find the concept of an unknown menu to be frightening… I’ve seen the stricken look on their faces. But to me, a restaurant with no menu, headed by a chef I trusted, would be ideal. in such a utopia, guest could specify death allergies, hunger level, and time constraints, but then would unfurl their napkin and surrender.” –… Read more →

I lustily ate my way through Chicago half of the last two weeks yet still have a slew of new Bay Area openings and dishes I must share with you. Chicago adventures are forthcoming – only a series will contain it all. Top Tastes reflects the best new places, dishes, drinks and bites from my culinary explorations since the last… Read more →

“If I read a book, and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.” – Emily Dickinson Wow, has it been another overly full couple weeks… I am in Chicago as… Read more →

“If I read a book, and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.” – Emily Dickinson As I am still in Oklahoma visiting family (where beef is the one culinary… Read more →

“Poets are innocents, they belong to the ether and the earth. They don’t… as ‘writers’ do, [prove] in their mean-spirited way that the earthlings are filled with greed and envy, that the world is a spiral of small-minded gestures. Poets… celebrate beauty. They make much of little. Flowers, birds, the names of things are important to them.” – The Florist’s… Read more →

“It takes a long time to grow young.” –  Pablo Picasso A beautifully full Summer already, I am worn out, albiet with good things, continuing to find Top Tastes, best new places, dishes, drinks and bites from my culinary explorations. I’ve had the privilege of hitting RN74 a few times now for The Latest. Have five food/drink/travel-loving friends sign up… Read more →

“Do you have a body? Don’t sit on the porch! Go out and walk in the rain! If you are in love, then why are you asleep? Wake up, wake up! You have slept millions and millions of years. Why not wake up this morning?” –  the poet Kabir There are just always too many Top Tastes, best new places,… Read more →

“If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches…” – Rainer Maria Rilke It’s June! Top Tastes (best new places, dishes, drinks and bites from my culinary explorations) is mighty full again. Bibliophile highlights Sir Kingsley Amis’ classic collection, Everyday Drinking. In Around the Bay, it’s… Read more →

“Yet still the unresting castles thresh In fullgrown thickness every May. Last year is dead, they seem to say Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.” – “The Trees”, Philip Larkin What’s another issue of The Perfect Spot doing in my inbox so soon, you might be thinking? Well, as I briefly mentioned in my last issue, I’m experimenting taking the few articles… Read more →