January 15, 2020

by  on  in Intro Letter

THIS ISSUE:
— Fresh Feasts & OG Offerings: January’s best new Bay Area restaurants & old-school classics, from SF to Napa and Marin.
— Iconic Drink Moments in Classic Film: My first feature for London’s Cocktail Lovers’ magazine on classic cocktail scenes you do and don’t know about.
— An Ode To Obscure Eats: Unsung dining in San Francisco, my new Bob Cut dining column.
— Bar Spotlight on Karri Kiyuna of Wildhawk: Why this SF bar is an example in team spirit, service and exceptional cocktails.

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An Ode To Obscure Eats: A Take On Unsung Dining in San Francisco (My new Bob Cut Food Column)

by  on  in Top Tastes

Enter my new dining column at the beautiful print and online magazine, Bob Cut. This week, I get into my philosophy on SF Bay Area dining and food and the places worth supporting. Next week, my top new openings of the month alongside longtimers of similar style or category (a “new-old, both-and” approach explained in this article): www.bobcutmag.com/stories/2020/1/5/an-ode-to-obscure-eats-our-newest-food-writers-take-on-unsung-dining-in-san-francisco At Oma… Read more →

Bar Spotlight on Karri Kiyuna of Wildhawk

by  on  in Imbiber

The latest in my NEFT Vodka column, which spotlights California’s best bartenders and bars — including a special cocktail recipe from each bartender featuring this Austrian alpine-distilled vodka. Why Karri Kiyuna and the team she leads at Wildhawk in San Francisco set an example in team spirit, service and exceptional cocktails here. Other NEFT Spotlights:— Nicolas (Nic) Torres of True Laurel, San… Read more →

January 1, 2020

by  on  in Intro Letter

This Issue:
— The 12 Top New Bay Area Restaurants of 2019
— Charmed by Santa Maria Valley: Talking the original 1800s barbecue style of the west: Santa Maria barbecue, as well as wineries, bars, coffee, bakeries, cider producers and restaurants/food around California’s Santa Maria Valley.
— The Rise of Vermouth: The ongoing rise of vermouth/vermut, from its Italian, Spanish, French roots to its US producers and pioneers.

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Charmed by Santa Maria Valley

by  on  in Wandering Traveler

My October 2019 print article in Oakland Magazine and Alameda Magazines, covering the original 1800s barbecue style of the west: Santa Maria barbecue, as well as wineries, bars, coffee, bakeries, cider producers and restaurants/food around California’s Santa Maria Valley from Orcutt to Los Alamos. Article here. My other Oakland and Alameda Magazine articles include romantic getaways in Beverly Hills and Santa… Read more →

The Rise of Vermouth

by  on  in Imbiber

Lustau Rose Vermut (Photo courtesy of Lustau www.lustau.es) Published at NYC’s new Barcademy, my feature on the ongoing rise of vermouth (vermut in Spain) internationally, from its Italian, Spanish, French roots to its US producers and pioneers (starting with California’s Quady Winery in the 1990s). I also hear from Spain’s Lustau Master Blender and Quality Director, Fernando Pérez, on vermouth/vermut… Read more →