From celebratory New Year’s bubbly to wintery whites and reds, here are 14 bottles to suit a range of palates, meals or occasions… Read more →
From Peruvian to Pizza… November Eats: 7 Standouts of the Month
These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from Peruvian to pizza. Alongside my latest restaurant reviews, these seven are also worth visiting: Read more →
10 Top Chicago Bars
Published in the Fall 2024 print issue of Distiller Magazine:
— 10 of Chicago’s best bars Read more →
Distiller Magazine Interviews with Chicago/IL’s Zak McMahon & Jeremy Barrett of Lemon bar & Jamie Walter of Whiskey Acres Distilling
Published in the Fall 2024 print issue of Distiller Magazine:
My interview with Zak McMahon & Jeremy Barrett of Lemon bar
—My interview with distiller Jamie Walter of Whiskey Acres Distilling just outside Chicago Read more →
OG San Francisco: Four Historic Restaurants Dating from 1965 back to 1849
San Francisco is blessed with some of the oldest and most storied restaurants in the nation, alongside historic dining leaders like New Orleans. Our 1800s through mid-century restaurants often veer seafood-heavy, one of our city’s strengths, past and present, given our sea and Bay, water-on-three-sides location. Here are four restaurant legends, decidedly old school but still well worth visiting and celebrating, dating from 1965 back to 1849. Read more →
DISTILLER Bottle Column: October 2024
Reviewed this issue:
— Luxardo Espresso Liqueur
— Spring Lake Korean Gin
— Acronimo Spirits Sotol
— Chamère “Emily in Paris” Kir Royale RTD
— YuzuCo Sudachi
… and more Read more →
Napa Overnight: 4 Places to Eat Now
In this article:
—Stay & Dine at Michelin-Starred Auro at Four Seasons Napa Valley
—Still One of Napa Valley’s Very Best: Michelin-Starred Press, St. Helena
—Kansas City-Style BBQ in Napa Valley: Stateline Road Smokehouse, Napa
—New Napa Steakhouse: Ember Steak at Meritage Napa Read more →
Modern Indian Duo: Female Chef Holds Vegetarian Strong at Besharam & New Chef at Longtimer ROOH
Besharam spread. Photo Credit: Eric Wolfinger. Vegetarian Indian Restaurant from Female Chef Stays Strong: Besharam, Dogpatch In the sleepy (at night)-but-special Dogpatch — next door to multi-room Minnesota Street Project art galleries, which sustains local artists — is Besharam, one of San Francisco’s best modern Indian restaurants. Excellent as Copra, TIYA, ROOH (below) or newcomers like Bombay Brasserie may be, none have a female… Read more →
October Eats: 4 Standout SF Restaurants of the Month
In this article:
—Steakhouse Extraordinaire: Niku Steakhouse, SoMa/Design District
—Playful, Modern Soul Food: Burdell, Oakland
—Thai Noodle Love: Khao Soi Shop Pop-Up at Nari, Japantown
—Michelin-Recommended Abura Soba Noodles: Kajiken, San Mateo Read more →
Prelude brings modern southern comfort to the Jay hotel
Published October 11, 2024, in my Medium column: For a lifetime I’ve been in love with American Southern food. Its ranges and its comforts, from Low Country to Creole or Cajun, and don’t even get me started on barbecue. Over two decades, I’ve taken countless road trips and repeat visits across the South to study its cuisines and its music. So it… Read more →