“Even without canals, Charleston is the Venice of America. It’s an incredibly beautiful city on the sea, perfectly preserved, a living museum, but not at all Disneyfied like Colonial Williamsburg.” – William Stadiem, “Everybody Eats There” What a shock to come through the drab drive across South Carolina and Charleston’s seedy outskirts to find a city so pristine, museum-like. It’s… Read more →
(After describing a long, multi-course meal)… “The magic would have happened, and we’d sit for a long time with our elbows on the table, talking easily, hearing and seeing more than we had for some time because of the way we’d tasted more.” – M.F.K. Fisher (from “Shall it Be…Eating or Dining?”, 1944) Fall is ushered in with September… my… Read more →
BREAKFAST Luxurious brunch at my fave 1300 on Fillmore; order a generous entrée portion of Barbecue Shrimp & Creamy Grits (one of their best dishes, $14), perfect Scones (Three: Lemon, Blueberry, Raisin w/ Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves, $4), or a Hang Town Fry with egg, fried oysters (yes!), potato, bacon and toast ($9). SAVORY – VEGETARIAN At slick new Urban Tavern, I dined two nights… Read more →
You’re out in the ‘wilds’ of the Richmond, near the ocean or the Presidio, in the middle of housing grids where restaurants are infrequent and predominantly Asian. But there’s way more to the Outer Richmond than its fabulous array of authentic, cheap Asian food. Like just about every neighborhood in the city, Outer Richmond holds treasures aplenty, varied and affordable… Read more →
August led me to the tiny mountain town of Jackson Hole, at the entrance of the Grand Tetons near Yellowstone. Just landing in the airport, the only one inside a national park in the US, is a thrill. The Tetons’ jagged peaks pierce the bluest of blue skies, making a majestic line along the valleys of grass and wildlife below. Near this… Read more →
“Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air around you.” – Langston Hughes Summer races on with a slew of weddings, Summer festivals, Sonoma day trips, visiting friends, good books and lazy days. Every month, I share Top Tastes: favorite new dishes, drinks and bites from my culinary explorations. This month, in The Latest, I rate… Read more →
BREAKFAST Spongy sweet w/ a hint of savory: Lemon Thyme Donuts at Dynamo Donuts (24th at Hampshire). Beware, as they usually serve only two flavors a day and run out quickly. But on top of gourmet donuts (a, thus far, untapped market in SF), they serve Stumptown Coffee, soon to be our fabulous local Four Barrel. Good morning to you (open 7a-5p daily)! SAVORY –… Read more →
Though there’s never a reason not to have ice cream/gelato in my book, a great (if secondary) alternative is frozen yogurt. Not regular frozen yogurt, which I’ve always found bland and boring comparatively, but the ever-trendy tart, plain “froyo” (hate the term), healthy with cultures and probiotics… a guilt-free dessert. Southern California’s widespread Pinkberry chain may have started it all, but many SF… Read more →
Farmer’s Market (since 1934) Monday-Friday, 9 am-9 pm Saturday, 9 am-8 pm Sunday, 10 am-7 pm Some merchant hours vary 6333 West 3rd Street (and Fairfax) Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 933-9211 www.farmersmarketla.com The original Los Angeles Farmer’s Market started in 1934 with actual farmers selling produce from the back of their trucks in a dirt lot. Now it’s a… Read more →
“Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains…” – Diane Ackerman Another recent heat wave… though suffocating in my apartment (understand, SF buildings are not equipped for heat – often no air-conditioning as we don’t usually need it), I had the… Read more →