New Indian gem TIYA opens in SF’s Marina District

Published August 16, 2024, in my Medium column: We’ve lost some of our best modern Indian restaurants in recent years in San Francisco, like August 1 Five and Taj Campton Place. Thankfully, we just gained the brilliant new TIYA in San Francisco’s Marina District from chefs and brothers Sujan and Pujan Sarkar. ARTICLE: https://thebolditalic.com/new-indian-gem-tiya-opens-in-sfs-marina-district-a167258d0af1 Read more →

Hed 11 in SF’s Japantown: New, Creative Thai Tasting Menu from Bangkok Chef

Opening May 3, 2024, in San Francisco’s Japantown, Hed 11 is a unique entré in a city rich with incredible tasting menus and a neighborhood rightly dominated by Japanese food. The exception a couple blocks away is Michelin-starred Nari, one of the nation’s great upscale Thai restaurants. Hed 11 is the refined sister to Hed Very Thai in the FiDi (Financial District), which I reviewed after Bangkok native and owner Naruephon “Billie” Wannajaro opened it in 2023. Read more →

DISTILLER Bottle Column: July 2024

Published July 1, 2024, at Distiller Magazine, my bottle review column (last month’s edition here) is about what is unique, standout, new and/or trending in spirits with my review ratings on a 1-5 rating scale. ARTICLE HERE: https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/new-release-roundup-july-2024 Reviewed this issue:— Nomadica Rosé Yuzu Spritz (Los Angeles, CA)— Crystal Head Vodka Cosmopolitan and Espresso Martini RTDs— Mommenpop Vermouths (Napa, CA)— Lighthouse Gin  (New Zealand)— Junipero Rosemary Gin (San Francisco,… Read more →

Alora: New waterfront dining on the Embarcadero

A six-day-a-week modern Mediterranean waterfront restaurant that serves quality food, cocktails, wine and is open for lunch and dinner on the Embarcadero? Open at the tail end of January 2024, Alora fits that bill… and fits it with surprising affordability compared to the average downtown newcomer. Amid a number of mezze (shared small plates), only a duck liver mousse exceeds $20, while larger plates hover $25 to $39 and only two beef dishes above that. Read more →

Bay Area Overnights: Magical Places to Eat & Stay in Sonoma County Now

Published June 25, 2024, in my Medium column: This month, I review five notable restaurants and three luxurious-yet-relaxed resorts across Sonoma County, all resorts with remodels and two of them with notable restaurants. The restaurants range from high to low, sushi omakase tasting menu to order-at-the-counter Lebanese food. Here, eight places worth visiting now for a day trip or overnights in ever-magical… Read more →