Despite the suburban setting, the spirit of servers and food is authentically Italian at San Mateo’s Acqua Pazza. Owned by three Rosano brothers (out of nine children!) from Naples, they brought their Mama’s own recipes from Italia, as well as technique learned at Naples’ Scuola Albergheria and Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Vong in London. Amalfi Coast photography lines the hallway and the dining… 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 →
Top Tastes, rather than a list of all-time favorites (another thing altogether), are among the best eats since my last newsletter, often from new openings. Many don’t make the cut, being a revisit previously written about or simply not as stand-out as dishes mentioned. CHEAP EATS Parada 22 – Finally, there’s a new place around the corner from me (granted,… Read more →
COCKTAILS • Neyah does it again: when I asked for a cachaca drink at Nopa, he served Sagatiba Cachaca and Dimmi, with their own house Birch Beer Bitters. Birch beer and Dimmi’s herbal/floral/grappa notes melded into a beautifully unique coctail. While you’re there, try White Whiskey as it should be imbibed in a White Manhattan or Buck with your choice… Read more →
Back to Chicago… neighborhood by neighborhood, in a multi-part series, I’ve been covering some haunts during my last visit. Here’s my three previous columns on Chi-town. NORTHWEST SIDE Hot Doug’s – So much has already been said about this fairly recent addition to the Chicago dog landscape. I thankfully got to try about 8 dogs here and they were all… Read more →
OAKLAND Encuentro – One of three owners behind this new-ish Oakland vegetarian is Millennium exec chef, Eric Tucker, long a standard-maker in vegetarian cuisine. The food here is inventive, even if portions are tiny. Just a few blocks off Jack London Square, the high-ceilinged space is modern and airy, though a little stiff (as is service, in some ways), but… Read more →
Amidst the lush browns of Spruce‘s elegant, candlelit back dining room, I took part in a unique, intimate dinner hosted by Plymouth Gin on April 14th in honor of St. George’s Day. A small group of writers enjoyed an hours-long, five-course dinner from skilled Spruce chef, Mark Sullivan, paired with five stunning cocktails from their mixologist, Brandon Clements (plus classic… Read more →
It was my first time attending this annual event, Passport to Dry Creek (April 24-25), where locals come out en masse for themed parties, music, wine and food at each participating winery, closed to event attendees (here’s details about the event: $70 one day/$120 for two). In a brief summary of the weekend, it’s not so much about the wine.… 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 →
You may have been hearing about this brand new Embarcadero restaurant (I went opening week: 4/5) from Dissident Chef Russell Jackson, whose underground dinners have amassed a loyal following over the years. His long awaited restaurant is already getting buzz about the lack of an official menu (the chef changes menus and direction each day, not only depending on what… Read more →