Harvest Season Staycations: Support Our Beloved Wine Countries, Sebastopol Edition

by  on  in Around the Bay

Sebastopol is historically famed as a plum and apple-growing region, home to Gravenstein apples and good-as-it-gets plums.

As with everywhere in Sonoma County, wine grapes are now the dominant agriculture, but a few dear souls keep the apple and stone fruit orchards alive (where to go apple picking in town), alongside produce farms like Two Belly Acre Farm (more on that below). Cider producers, farms and the impressive Barlow complex dominate the small Sonoma town. Here are five+ standouts for food, drink and a hotel stay in (and near) Sebastopol:

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October 1, 2021

by  on  in Intro Letter

— 54 Mint: Reviewing San Francisco’s ultimate gastronomic escape to Rome.
— Serving Up Wanderlust: My Gin Magazine feature on bars, bartenders and their cocktail recipes inspired by regions outside their own — I feature Lisbon, Portugal; Taipei, Taiwan; and Brooklyn, New York.
— New Modern Filipino Destination, Abacá: Reviewing Fisherman’s Wharf new Abacá from celebrated chef Francis Ang of Pinoy Heritage with drinks by renowned bartender/owner Kevin Diedrich of PCH and Kona’s Street Market.
— Wine Time: Local canned wines, wine clubs and (yes, even) non-alcoholic wine worth drinking.
— 5 SF Rooftops for Dining & Drink: My Bold Italic feature on five SF restaurant with striking rooftops.

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Serving Up Wanderlust: International Bars & Cocktails Inspired by Far-Away Places

by  on  in Wandering Traveler

My latest print feature in Gin Magazine, issue 15/September-October 2021 (from the publishers of Whisky Magazine, which I’ve written for here). This issue I cover three bartenders and global bars, featuring their cocktail recipes inspired by and evocative of another region outside their own — with recipes — in the spirit of traveling from home:

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September 15, 2021

by  on  in Intro Letter

This Issue:

— 25 Lusk’s New Traveler Menus Offer Jaunts Around the World: In my weekly Bold Italic dining column, I review longtimer 25 Lusk and its inspired new drink-centric Traveler menus from chef Matthew Dolan and bartender Elmer Mejicanos.
—5 Newcomers and Tried & True Restaurants to Feast At Now: From three notable newcomers to two tried-and-true greats (one just turning a year old in pandemic), these are five top places to eat, feast and support now?—?plus three bonus eats.
— Redwood City’s Warung Siska: Is this newcomer already the Bay Area’s best Indonesian restaurant?
— Distiller Magazine Bottle Column: In my latest column, I review amaro, mezcal, gin, rum, bourbon, vodka, Irish whiskey, olive oils for cocktails and RTDs (canned cocktails/drinks).
— 5 Bay Area Restaurants With Sumptuous Views: My Bold Italic feature on five SF Bay Area restaurants with a view AND good food.

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