Published October 8, 2021, in my The Bold Italic column and weekly restaurant reviews, my review of Michael Mina’s new colorful escape to Mykonos, Greece, in his former Michael Mina Restaurant (and Aqua) space.
Top 5 Hit List of the Month: Restaurant Newcomers + Better-Than-Ever Favorites
Published October 7, 2021 at The Bold Italic: From two notable newcomers to three tried-and-true greats (one just reopening, one just gaining its first Michelin star) plus one bonus new bar, these are five top places to eat, feast and support now?.
DISTILLER Bottle Column: September 2021
At Distiller Magazine, my bottle column covers trends and reviews international spirits and RTDs, with taste ratings for my top 12 bottles of the month here:
Turntable at Lord Stanley: A Rotating Showcase for Top Global Chefs
My review of Michelin-starred Lord Stanley’s reinvention as Turntable at Lord Stanley, showcasing award-winning and up-and-coming global chefs. In this initial fall run of Argentinean chefs, most of them are female, all making waves in South America.
Harvest Season Staycations: Support Our Beloved Wine Countries, Sebastopol Edition
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:
October 1, 2021
— 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.
54 Mint: San Francisco’s Ultimate Gastronomic Escape to Rome
Published September 24, 2021, in my weekly restaurant review column for The Bold Italic, this review features arguably our best “escape to Roma” in SF, from pastas to suppli, cocktails to rare Italian spirits.
Wine Time: Local Canned Wines, Wine Clubs & (yes, even) Non-Alcoholic Wine Worth Drinking
The canned wine “game” keeps getting better. Not only are each of these canned wines or wine clubs of high quality to please the wine geek, they’re approachable for all. One is the best non-alcoholic wine we’ve yet tasted, another contributes to environmental change — and all are (yes!) locally based.
New Modern Filipino Destination, Abacá — From Chef Francis Ang & Bartender Kevin Diedrich
This review features brand new Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant and modern Filipino cuisine destination, Abacá, from celebrated chef Francis Ang of Pinoy Heritage and drinks by renowned bartender/owner Kevin Diedrich of PCH and Kona’s Street Market.
5 SF Rooftops for Dining & Drink
From a brand new pizza/pasta destination to a longtime Mexican favorite, five standout rooftops for dining and drink around San Francisco. I’ve vetted, visited or ordered from every restaurant reviewed here: