“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done!” ? Vincent van Gogh, My Life & Love Are One You may have heard: I took on the job as Zagat Editor for San Francisco/Bay Area (sign up… Read more →
Top Tastes
My Food & Drink Recommends, New Opening Early Tastes, and More: May 1-15 Photos and article by Virginia Miller As I write a few articles a day in my new role as Zagat Editor, I will summarize and link to just some of this extensive coverage for easy access (you can sign up for Zagat’s weekly newsletter for the Bay… Read more →
Meet You at The Square
THE SQUARE, North Beach (1707 Powell St., 415-525-3579) [Note: Unfortunately, not too long after this review, Claire Sprouse was no longer at The Square and the menu format changed, too, so I can no longer vouch for its quality.] The Square surprised me. As the second incarnation in a historic North Beach space since the legendary Washbag (Washington Square Bar… Read more →
12 Food & Drink Destinations in ROME
My beloved Roma, my favorite city in the world. The most romantic. Ancient. Chic. Otherworldly. I cherished being back for the third time to Rome (fourth time to Italy) in October for my 10th anniversary. The Renaissance Man and I wandered Roma’s ancient, cobblestone streets from our apartment near the Spanish Steps, near where we stayed on our honeymoon for… Read more →
Bests from Whiskies of the World 2014
Every year I look forward to Whiskies of the World (WoW) on the San Francisco Belle docked in the Bay, held this year on March 29. Although it is one of the big whisk(e)y events in the country (also in San Jose, Atlanta and Austin), it remains more intimate than others; packed, yes, but more like a big party than… Read more →
May 1, 2014
“We do not expect people to be deeply moved by what is not unusual.” ? George Eliot, Middlemarch Fresh on my wonderful trip to New York with Tastemade, I’ve jumped right into the throes of writing and editing, writing a guide to food, drink and Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans for 7×7 Magazine, writing for and editing the… Read more →
The Latest: British-Influenced Phan
BRITISH-Influenced PHAN Photos and article by Virginia Miller THE COACHMAN, SoMa (1148 Mission St. between 7th & 8th, 415-831-1701) British-influenced food from Chef-de-Cuisine Ross Wunderlich (formerly at Bar Tartine, SPQR, A16)? Cocktails from one of the country’s great bar directors, Erik Adkins, and Bar Manager John Codd? Cocktail destination Heaven’s Dog closed and converted into a new restaurant and bar… Read more →
Celebrating Spring With Quince’s Artful New Menus
Here’s my May 1st photo slideshow and article on a few of the great dishes from Quince, a 2 Michelin-starred, Italian-influenced fine dining great in San Francisco, for Zagat: www.zagat.com/b/san-francisco/quinces-spring-menu-our-12-favorite-dishes-tastes. Read more →
Eleven Madison Park – One of the World’s Great Restaurants
Three Michelin stars, # 4 on Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants list (the highest in the US), a 28 rating for food, service and decor in Zagat, the accolades for Eleven Madison Park go on and on. Then there’s the impressive tome, I Love NY, a book released last year by Chef Daniel Humm and EMP’s General Manager Will Guidara.… Read more →
Lodi’s Lighter Side: White & Rosè Wines
In the heat-drenched valleys of Lodi, between Sacramento and Stockton, one expects big, jammy red wines and there are those. But there’s also a surprising number of deliciously affordable whites and roses, in a range of varietals, from the dry soils of the region. Thanks to Charles Communications, I’ve enjoyed a number of tastings with Lodi winemakers in recent months.… Read more →