January 1, 2020

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

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

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 →

December 15, 2019

THIS ISSUE:
— Toronto & Beyond: Why the region surrounding Canada’s biggest city is a culinary destination… exploring restaurants, farms, wineries, cideries and bars around Ontario.
— My Top 10 Nashville Bars: + Interviews with Nashville’s Nelson’s Green Brier distillers and Pinewood Social’s bar manager Matt Tocco.
— 11 Holiday Cocktails on National Menus Now: Unique holiday sippers on menus in SF, Denver, Nashville, DC, NJ, Columbus, Sedona, Aspen, Seattle, Louisville.

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Toronto & Beyond: Why the Region Surrounding Canada’s Biggest City is a Culinary Destination

Researching during a trip I took late summer with Ontario Culinary tourism and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ 50 Best Explores Ontario, I loved filming around Toronto/Ontario with chef Junghyun (JP) Park of NYC’s 2 Michelin Atomix and Atoboy and chefs Ignacio Mattos & Sam Lawrence of NYC’s Michelin-starred Estela. Here I am with JP tasting the best around Ontario… Read more →

Distiller Magazine: Top 10 Nashville Bars + Interviews with Nelson’s Green Brier Distillers & Pinewood Social’s Matt Tocco

The Fox Bar, Nashville In the Fall 2019 print issue of Distiller Magazine: My article on 10 of Nashville’s best bars (Bastion, The Patterson House, Pinewood Social, The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club, Henrietta Red, Woolworth on 5th, No. 308, Gertie’s Bar at The 404 Kitchen, Urban Cowboy Public House, Black Rabbit) here My interview with Nelson’s Green Briar Distillery… Read more →

December 1, 2019

THIS ISSUE:
— 6 Top New SF Restaurants of the Month: Whether unique brewpub food, modern Moroccan, vegetarian or Swiss food, these newcomers are worth visiting.
— A Unique Marriage Between Cognac & Ireland: My latest returns to Ireland and France exploring a collaboration between Irish Whiskey and Cognac from longtime families in both countries.
— The Mexican Spirits Tradition You Don’t Know About: Flavored Bacanora’s historic roots shine at this Mexico distiller.
— Spotlight on Nic Torres at True Laurel: Why this bar features some of the most humbly innovative drinks in the world.

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A Unique Marriage Between Cognac & Ireland: Irish Whiskey Meets Cognac

Published in my regular print columns at Haute Living Magazine, the November-December 2019 issue includes my feature on travels to Cognac, France (in depth on Cognac — how it’s produced, what the region is like, etc. here), and Lambay Island, Ireland, to explore a unique marriage between Cognac and Irish Whiskey between two spirits families. MY HAUTE LIVING ARTICLES— Wine… Read more →