February 15, 2023

THIS ISSUE:
— Anchovy Bar Reviewed: Tiny fish heaven… With vermouth, wine and sherry.
— Drink Pairing Inspiration from California’s Endless Produce & Grape-Growing AVAs: My interview with Lazy Bear beverage director Jacob Brown.
— Original Joe’s Westlake: Red sauce Italian legend south of SF in Daly City.
— January Eats Checklist: Four Standouts of the Month, from a nature-rich tribute to California’s majestic trees in edible form, to healthy, chic, nuanced at-home delivery food.
— DISTILLER Bottle Column: This month I review amaro, vermouth, tequila, gin, bourbon, non-alcoholic spirits, RTDs (ready-to-drink/canned) and cocktail mixers. Read more →

Red Sauce Italian Legend South of SF: Original Joe’s Westlake

I’ve been dining at Joe’s sister, Original Joe’s Westlake, under prior owners for the last two decades. Bruno Scatena opened Joe’s of Westlake in 1956, which was eventually run by his daughter, ​Melinda Scatena, who worked there since she was 14 years old, selling it as she ran into health problems. My husband, Dan “The Renaissance Man,” and I adored it in those years and it was perpetually packed as if it were the hottest new restaurant. Read more →

Tiny Fish Heaven… With Vermouth, Wine & Sherry: Anchovy Bar

Anchovy Bar anchovy platter from an early visit (Photo Credit: Virginia Miller) Opened by Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski of Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions and The Progress in October 2020 on Lower Fillmore Street, The Anchovy Bar was a brave entrant in a brutal year. It was easily among my top few new restaurants of that year — and my top two next… Read more →

February 1, 2023

THIS ISSUE:
— Chic New Italian Cocktail & Food Haven Hidden in the FiDi: Bar Sprezzatura.
— January Eats Checklist: 5 Standouts of the Month, from a nature-rich tribute to California’s majestic trees in edible form, to old school American-Italian red sauce comfort, to healthy, chic, nuanced at-home delivery food.
— A Former Laundromat Turned Idyllic Neighborhood Hang: for Detroit pizza, sips & bagels.
— Top 10 Bars Vancouver, B.C.: My Distiller Magazine guide.
— Vancouver Interviews: I interview Satoshi Yonemori of Grapes & Soda and Alayne & Jason MacIsaac of Sheringham Distillery. Read more →

Former Laundromat Turned Idyllic Neighborhood Hang for Detroit Pizza, Sips & Bagels

The Laundromat’s broccoli rabe and Calabrian chile pizza (Photo Credit: Virginia Miller) COME SEE OUR NEW HOME — The Bold Italic has a new home online, and this story has moved! Read it here: https://www.thebolditalic.com/former-laundromat-turned-idyllic-neighborhood-hang-for-detroit-pizza-sips-bagels Opened November 2022 in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond neighborhood, The Laundromat SF is, yes, housed in a former Laundromat. It’s also a block away from one… Read more →

Top 10 Bars Vancouver, B.C.

In the Winter 2022-2023 print issue of Distiller Magazine:

—My article on 10 of Vancouver’s best bars

—My interviews with bar manager Satoshi Yonemori of Grapes & Soda here; Alayne & Jason MacIsaac of Sheringham Distillery

— Bars reviewed: Bar Susu, Grapes & Soda, Bar Chickadee, Published on Main, Laowai, Botanist at Fairmont Pacific Rim, L’Abattoir, Como Taperia, Lobby Lounge at Fairmont Pacific Rim, Acquafarina Read more →