Chic New Italian Cocktail & Food Haven Hidden in the FiDi: Bar Sprezzatura

Bar Sprezzatura’s mortadella 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/chic-new-italian-cocktail-food-haven-hidden-in-the-fidi-bar-sprezzatura Us San Franciscans don’t normally hang out downtown and since pandemic, even less so. As the neighborhoods (which make up the majority of the city) we spend most of our… Read more →

January 15, 2023

THIS ISSUE:
— Top 14 New Restaurants & 10 New Bars of 2022.
— 7 Top London Restaurants Now.
— Akikos: A world-class new era for a reborn, decades-old SF sushi favorite.
— Cavallo Point: A stone’s throw (yet world’s away) from SF retreat with two new restaurants.
— DISTILLER Bottle Column: I review Calvados, French aperitif, shochu, mezcal, tequila, gin, Japanese whiskys, non-alcoholic wines, bourbon and rye whiskies. Read more →

A Stone’s Throw (Yet World’s Away) from SF Retreat with Two New Restaurants: Cavallo Point

One of the most enchanting lodging options literally a stone’s throw from San Francisco is Cavallo Point, tucked into Fort Baker cove at the base of the hills right off Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, gazing out at SF, the Bay and the Bridge. Besides its breathtaking views, it could almost be a part of the city, it’s so close. Yet it’s worlds away. Read more →

7 Top London Restaurants Now

As I am the W50 Academy Chairperson for W. North America, I was back in London July 2022 for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, hosted by the one and only Stanley Tucci. In addition to all the special events and meals surrounding W50B awards, I did the usual: packed in a number of restaurants and bars for research. I’ll outline top bars in another publication this year, but here, the 7 restaurant standouts this return to London. Read more →

Top 14 New Restaurants & 10 New Bars of 2022

Osito’s amuse bouche (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/top-14-new-restaurants-10-new-bars-of-2022 It’s that time of year again: I sift through the hundreds of new local restaurants I’ve visited this year (plus a few hundred more national and international restaurants), namely those opened… Read more →

DISTILLER Bottle Column: December 2022

My December bottle column covers trends and reviews international spirits and RTDs. This month includes:
— Boulard Grand Solage V.S.O.P. Pays d’Auge Calvados
— Carta de Amor Mezcal (Oaxaca, Mexico)
— Honkaku Spirits’ Shochu (Japan)
— Nikka Yoichi & Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022 Discovery Series Whiskies (Japan)
— ARC Archipelago Botanical Gin & Barrel Reserve Gin (Phillippines)
— Lili Non-Alcoholic Sparklers (Portola Valley, California)
… and more Read more →

January 1, 2023

THIS ISSUE:
— December Eats Checklist: 7 standout restaurants & newcomers of the month.
— New Orleans Guide: 18 places to dine now.
— San Francisco’s Delfina: Reborn & as it was meant to be.
— 10-Year-Old Capo’s Makes Deep Dish To Top Chicago’s Best: And kills It with Detroit-style pizza, too.
— Lyon & Swan: New live entertainment supper club with quality food & drink.
— 15 Wines to Celebrate the Holidays: Vino to suit every palate. Read more →

10-Year-Old Capo’s Makes Deep Dish To Top Chicago’s Best (& Kills It With Detroit-Style Pizza, Too)

Capo’s (Photo Courtesy of Capo’s) 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/10-year-old-capos-makes-deep-dish-to-top-chicago-s-best-kills-it-with-detroit-style-pizza-too Since 2009, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana has been the best all-around pizza restaurant in the U.S. I’d even say world, in terms of the place that perfects all major (and some minor) styles of… Read more →

December Eats Checklist: 7 Standouts of the Month

These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from Sebastopol (Sonoma County) treasures in Thai and pizza to SF gems in Creole/Cajun, Japanese and elevated bar food. Alongside this month’s full restaurant reviews of these exceptional spots, these seven are also worth visiting, with last month’s standouts here (as always, I’ve vetted, visited or ordered from each place reviewed): Read more →