Moving from Southern California to New Jersey at age 14, New York first revealed to me what a true city is. When in that NY state of mind (Billy Joel playing in the background helps), I miss its boundless energy, frank people, eclectic neighborhoods and brownstones, and, yes, East Coast-style Italian. Both in the city and Jersey suburbs where I… Read more →
Thanks to Napa-based Perfect Puree for a recent intimate dinner celebrating Perfect Puree neighbor Charbay Distillery’s new spirits releases at Jasper’s Corner Tap. The ever talented Kevin Diedrich (bar manager at Jasper’s) crafted three drinks using Perfect Puree’s fresh, bright purees. In typical Diedrich fashion, subtlety and balance wove together each, from a Thymely Fashioned, vivid with Charbay White Whiskey,… Read more →
I recently returned to my old stomping grounds of So. Cal. for yet another long weekend. This time I stayed at funky, restored motel, The Farmer’s Daughter, gazing over a pool filled with giant rubber duckies, the hotel’s birds greeting me each morning in the lobby. Colorful and quirky, the hotel (with welcoming, engaging staff) is a worthwhile home base,… Read more →
“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” – Flora Whittemore Literally just back from Portland and Mexico, I’m warmed by the sun (at the latter location) and the joy of travel and friendship, now returning to mountains of work and deadlines. In between trips, I was delighted to stumble across a brand new market… Read more →
Fish makes me happy. Raw, grilled, seared, any which way. One new restaurant and one established favorite are glorifying the fish, and seafood in general, in many formats. LOCAL’S CORNER, Mission (2500 Bryant St. at 23rd, 415-800-7945) Local’s Corner just opened in March on a mellow corner of the Mission’s East side. The sunny space is mostly white, evoking a… Read more →
From Berkeley to Sausalito, new restaurants to old, here are a handful of drinks to put on your warm weather, spring radar – and accompanying bites to go with. COMAL, Berkeley (2020 Shattuck Ave., between Addison & University, Berkeley, 510-926-6300) Downtown Berkeley (as opposed to the rest of Berkeley) has never overwhelmed on excellent dining options, much as I’ve combed… Read more →
NAMU GAJI, Mission (499 Dolores St. at 18th, 415-431-6268) Though Namu Gaji is brand new, the presence of Namu and the Lee brothers, Dennis, David and Daniel, has been felt in San Francisco for years. Since 2006, the Lee Brothers have been weaving Korean, Japanese and a mixture of Asian cuisines with California spirit in the original, now shuttered Richmond… Read more →
Kentucky: land of bourbon, the Derby and Mint Juleps. I’m ever delighted to return to the South, even as I’m connected to some areas more than others (ah, New Orleans, my love). I recently spent a week in Louisville, on the judging panel for ADI’s (American Distilling Institute) annual awards. It was an honor to judge with key spirits and… Read more →
Article & Photos By Andi Berlin To celebrate an extensive, month-long revamp, Berkeley Marina institution Skates on the Bay staged an evening of old school decadence. “Raw” was the word of the night: although more comfortable furniture and updated carpeting had been put in, mouths were buzzing about the new raw bar offering fresh Miyagi oysters, Dungeness crab and nigiri… Read more →
“Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artist has experienced.” – Leo Tolstoy This issue is action-packed… time for this to be split up once a week vs. bi-weekly, eh? There’s a slew of new and classic recommends this issue, both at home and afar. Top Tastes – Sushi East & West: Explore new Noe… Read more →