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 →
With more 3 Michelin-starred restaurants than New York City (a city with 10 times the population and nearly 7 times the size), San Francisco has been a giant and a pioneer in food and drink for decades, excelling in every sub-category beyond cities many times their size and jumpstarting farm-to-table, wine, craft beer and spirits movements literally decades ago. The… Read more →
Published in the November print issue of both Oakland and Alameda Magazines, my feature on highlights around Willamette Valley beyond wineries, including breweries and distilleries, food and dining, mead and cider producers, as well as a resort hotel — article here [**since Oakland Magazine went out of business, my article is noted below]. My other Oakland and Alameda Magazine articles… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The notable restaurant and bar openings of December were Flores, Sasaki, Duchess Oakland in Oakland, Single Thread in Napa, Finn Town, Hinata, Dip, Haight Ashbury Slice House by Tony Gemignani and Lucia’s Pizzeria in Berkeley. While I’ve been to all but two (I am about to visit… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. This year’s return to Denver brought more delights, whether a super cool food hall with downtown Denver views, Avanti Food & Beverage, or cold press juice fixes at Pressed Juice Daily. Despite my ever-extensive research to avoid it, there were a couple disappointments, from the uneven food… 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 →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. California pioneered the ethos of “come as you are”, though the trend has taken over the country in recent years. Especially in SF, LA and Napa, fine dining has leaned towards the casual for decades, even at its most refined. Whether movie stars or Silicon Valley moguls,… Read more →
Here are the 10 standout cocktails and new bars of the month I’ve been tasting around the Bay Area. 1. Saison’s Strawberry & Arms Dinner at 3 Michelin-starred Saison is always memorable — so is an hour spent at the bar with Anthony Keels’ exquisite cocktails, up there with the most inventive drinks I’ve had in London, Berlin or Tokyo.… Read more →
Per usual, I’ve been dining up a storm at many a newcomer, covered in my top openings and standout dishes of March. In addition, here are my five top tastes from three of SF’s best restaurants, one new bar menu and one pop-up dinner preview of an upcoming restaurant. 1. RICH TABLE’S FRIED CHICKEN MADELEINES Since opening in 2012, Evan… Read more →