My article on 10 of Cincinnati’s — and neighboring Covington, Kentucky — best bars…
Category: Wandering Traveler
Gin Magazine: Pandemic Pivots Around the Globe
Travel Memories & Honoring Cultures: Peru
… it was an unexpected surprise when visiting Peru in 2013, the great country all the way at the tip of South America, that I learned much more of the Latin country’s deep Asian roots… and fell hard for La Perla del Pacífico (The Pearl of the Pacific)…
Travel Memories & Honoring Cultures: Paris
Paris… adored by millions but a struggle for me since my first visit in 1999. With high girlhood, romantic dreamer expectations, I FELT the idea of Paris in my bones. But in my first weeks there, this was no Années Folles, or artistic 1920s heyday I dreamed of. Beautiful, yes. But it felt cold, caustic, arrogant and unflinching. Certainly cynical.… Read more →
Travels in Chengdu, China: Why Sichuan Cuisine Is Widely Misunderstood
When you hear the word Szechuan (aka Sichuan), most think of mind-numbing heat and red chile oil. While both are certainly a staple, what many consider China’s most complex cuisine —and therefore one of the most complicated in the world— Sichuan merely begins at spicy. This is a cuisine where key flavors start at 24. Yes, there are at least… Read more →
Gin Magazine: NYC’s Top 10 Bars
My latest print feature in Gin Magazine, issue 10/Mar-May 2020 (from the publishers of Whisky Magazine, which I have also written for here). Obviously, this was written pre-pandemic so here’s wishing support and lifelines for these greats bars through it (check the websites and social media for each if you live in NYC to see if they’re doing home delivery or takeout).… Read more →
12 of the World’s Most Inspiring Bars
My latest article for London/the UK’s lovely The Cocktail Lovers print magazine in Winter 2019-2020, Issue 34 (my article on pages 66-69). Having visited over 20,00 bars around the globe, choosing merely 12 of the greats is just a scratch on the surface. But for The Cocktail Lovers’ Inspire issue, I choose these 12, which are among the world’s most… Read more →
Bar Spotlight on Jeremy Allen of MiniBar, Hollywood
The latest in my NEFT Vodka column, which spotlights California’s best bartenders and bars — including a special cocktail recipe from each bartender featuring this Austrian alpine-distilled vodka. Why Jeremy Allen’s welcoming crew at the unassuming MiniBar (hidden in a Hollywood Best Western, no less!) draws in musicians and music industry with its retro-yet-modern vibe and beautifully-crafted cocktails here. Other NEFT Spotlights:… Read more →
Distiller Magazine: Top 10 New Orleans Bars + Interviews with Roulaison Distiller & Barman Chris McMillian
Cane & Table In the Spring 2020 print issue of Distiller Magazine: A decade plus of my New Orleans dining & drink recommends/articles here. ______________________________________ My other Distiller Magazine features (top 10 bars, local distiller and bar manager interviews in each city): Read more →
The Magical Italian Alps: Edible Adventures in Italy’s Dolomites & Alto Adige
For lovers of Italy’s food and wine and Switzerland and Austria’s Alps, Italy’s South Tyrol/Alto Adige region is your place. Set against the striking Dolomites mountains, South Tyrol’s Italian-Germanic culture makes the happiest of combinations. Here, wineries marry the best of Italy and Austria/Germany wine styles, alongside luxury alpine lodges, an annual ethical chefs event bringing together the region’s (and… Read more →