Published February 1, 2022 at Distiller Magazine, my bottle column covers trends and reviews international spirits and RTDs, with taste ratings (last month’s column here):
February 1, 2022
— This Japanese Restaurant Casually Schools Patrons on Sake & Sushi: Pabu.
— Staycations, Santa Cruz Edition: Where to Eat, Stay & Drink Now.
— Forget Dry January: 7 Standout Non-Alcoholic Cocktails & Wines Worth Drinking All Year.
— When Two Michelin Italian Masters Open A Casual Italian Spot: My Sorella review from Acquerello owners.
— Support Our Beloved Wine Countries, Healdsburg Edition: The latest to eat, drink and stay in Sonoma County’s most chic town.
Forget Dry January: These 7 Standout Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, Aperitivos & Wines Are Worth…
7 Standout Non-Alcoholic Cocktails and Wines Worth Drinking All Year We could all use some kind of drink, right about now (and in the future) Photo: Courtesy of For Bitter For Worse I was never into the Dry January concept — or “feast or famine,” all-or-nothing habits in general. As someone who grew up in a teetotaling household, never went through a party/drinking phase and… Read more →
This Japanese Restaurant Educates Patrons on Both Sake and Sushi
Pabu’s okonomiyaki with Perigord truffles in season. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Virginia Miller) It’s no small thing when I can trace a huge source of learning over the past eight years to one place and person. Stuart Morris at Pabu is one such touchstone. And it’s also one of San Francisco’s best sushi destinations, thanks to partner Ken Tominaga, also of… Read more →
Support Our Beloved Wine Countries, Healdsburg Edition
Over the past 20 years, I’ve spent countless hours in the popular Sonoma town of Healdsburg, whether overnights or stops when passing through (past recommends here and here). I have dear friends based in the town and numerous favorite spots in what is one of the best towns to eat and drink in expansive Sonoma County. I’m here to tell you about some notable newcomers, old faves and a lovely hotel — and with three Michelin-starred /The World’s 50 Best SingleThread’s new plant-based restaurant, cafe and wine shop, Little Saint, coming this Spring, there will be even more reasons to return. Here’s your latest Healdsburg checklist.
Sorella Is Casual Italian Bliss in San Francisco
Sorella’s timballo. (Photo Credit: Virginia Miller) Over the years, I’ve been a bit surprised by the number of locals — and even food writers — I know who have never been to Acquerello. Not only is it a two Michelin-starred, Italian San Francisco treasure since 1989, chef/co-owner Suzette Gresham remains one of our great national chefs. She’s a dedicated powerhouse who has turned out stunning… Read more →
January 15, 2022
THIS ISSUE:
— Atelier Crenn: One of the world’s best restaurants turns 11 years old.
— Live-Fire Cooking Like You’ve Never Experienced Before: At brand new Osito.
— Distiller Bottle Column: This month I review vermouth, Cognac, gin, rum, tequila, Irish and American whiskies, RTDs (canned, ready-to-drink cocktails, soju, cider).
— South Lake Tahoe: Where to eat, drink and stay now.
— Bluestem Brasserie Is a Slice of Comfort in Downtown SF: Reimagined a decade since opening.
Live-Fire Cooking Osito Is Something You’ve (Probably) Never Seen Before
Osito‘s first round of bites — Photo Credit: Virginia Miller Two years in the works, a restaurant as ambitious as Osito is a daunting task, especially when those two years are pandemic. Just opened late December 2021, chef Seth Stowaway’s first restaurant has crowd-sourced investors, a labor of love tested in pop-ups, where people can invest at all levels (even as little as… Read more →
Staycations, Santa Cruz Edition: Where to Eat, Stay & Drink Now
As COVID rages on, local trips and overnights beckon for easy, close-to-home getaways that don’t require flights. It was 2011 when I last wrote about Santa Cruz highlights, though I’ve stayed there and passed through numerous times in between, including visiting the chill town of Aptos, eight miles down the road. Here is my guide to a few highlights in the laid back, surfer city of Santa Cruz (SC), a brief 70 miles south of San Francisco.
Atelier Crenn, One of the World’s Best Restaurants, Turns 11 Years Old
Atelier Crenn, One of the World’s Best Restaurants, Turns 11 Years Old Atelier Crenn’s French onion soup variation. (Photo: Courtesy of Virginia Miller) Hyperbole can seem overdone when you’re talking about one of the world’s best restaurants and chefs. Atelier Crenn is 48 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, among three from the Bay Area in the top 50, equal to New… Read more →