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 →
As with the past decade plus, here are my top 14 new Bay Area restaurant openings of 2019: Read more →
In my latest Time Out column, my top openings of the month join other standout newcomers for a top 15 on where to eat now (article here). Merchant Roots’ Fire course in the Elements dinner: a delicious dry-aged ribeye, sunchoke coals, red wine reduction, horseradish cream and leek ash And in recent years, more and more people are having these days.… Read more →
In my latest Time Out column, nine of San Francisco’s best tasting menus that are under $100, many of them of fine dining quality (article here): www.timeout.com/san-francisco/restaurants/affordable-tasting-menus-san-francisco In a region rich with fine dining, Michelin-starred greatness — not to mention supreme produce year round — tasting menus abound. But many are past the $100 mark. These 10 restaurants, from SF to the… Read more →
In my latest Time Out column, my top openings of the month join other recent standout newcomers for a top 10 on where to eat now (article here): Che Fico 838 Divisadero St., SF, 415-416-6959; chefico.com. Tuesday-Thursday 5:30–11:00pm, Friday–Saturday 5:30pm–1:00am. Che Fico is the new “it” spot (and one of the toughest reservations) in town, garnering national press and celebrity… Read more →
Last year, the unforgettable S.Pellegrino Grand Gelinaz! Shuffle entailed some of the best chefs in the world switching places/restaurants around the globe for one night only, with my dinner at Coi cooked by none other than the chef of Mugaritz in San Sebastian, Spain. On July 11, they did something different but similarly exciting. Last night’s Gelinaz! Walk With Us… Read more →
The holidays swiftly approach and in my annual round-up of book releases of the year (past years here), I’ve dug into recipes and relished stories from a range of books, whether cooking bright citrus beauties in Citrus by Valerie Aikman-Smith and Victoria Pearson, perusing the austere loveliness of Donabe: Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking by Naoko Takei Moore and… Read more →
August was quite a month for notable new openings from Oakland to SF, including restaurants like The Keystone in the Mosser Hotel (my Zagat feature on the opening here). I also visited months-old spots, like the solid-though-not-overwhelming Buttermilk Southern Kitchen, or savored old school torta comfort (a steal with massive tortas) at Tortas Boos Voni. On the cheap eats front,… Read more →
If you save up your funds to dine at Pellegrino’s World’s Best or Michelin-starred restaurants as you travel — or at home if you’re privileged to live in a city where you’re surrounded by them — S.Pellegrino Presents THE GRAND GELINAZ! SHUFFLE is a one-night-only event you geek out about. This year, it took place on July 9th. 37 international… Read more →
Here’s a few highlights in photos of another SF Chefs, San Francisco’s food, wine, spirits “classic” or week-long festival in tented Union Square, a whirlwind of excellent bites, drinks, wine, demos and parties. There’s high points every year, but no party has yet been as memorable as… Read more →