Winter in California is a gorgeous affair, much like the rest of the year, with sunny, crisp days and nights interspersed with warm, summery waves. There are always nearby mountains when one craves snow for the weekend but winter leads into spring seamlessly and we drink refreshing cocktails as easily as spirituous drinks, thus all spirits flow year-round, from whiskey… Read more →
We just had another Whiskies of the World (WoW) on the San Francisco Belle, docked in the Bay and held on March 26 (last year and years prior here). Although it is one of the big whisk(e)y events in the country (also held in San Jose, Atlanta, Houston, Austin), it remains more approachable than larger whisk(e)y events, more like a… Read more →
This issue:
— 10 New February Openings: Which ones are most worth visiting… and why.
— Top 5 Bay Area Dishes, February Edition: Outside of new openings, here are the dishes wowing, from SF to Oakland.
— RN74 Revived: Why RN74’s new chef is breathing life into the longtime wine destination.
This is a preview of a regular column that will be part of the national Table8 blog we are about to launch this Spring — I will cover the Bay Area and am national editor over all cities/writers. The 10 top openings of February are: Starboard, Ijji, Mensho Tokyo, The Treasury, Antoinette in Berkeley, High Treason (more to come when… Read more →
Per usual, I’ve been dining up a storm at newcomers like Matador (tacos and tequila near Union Square), Cuban food in Oakland at Casa Cubana, French-inspired cuisine at Antoinette in the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley (from Dominique Crenn) or bagels at the new Wise Sons Bagel & Bakery. I’ve returned to established favorites, like vegan goodness at Nourish Cafe or… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. Hidden Gems: Here we highlight some of the best under-the-radar restaurants we find often get missed by the press or restaurants with notable changes (like new chef, menu or concept) that warrant a revisit. Since opening in 2009, RN74 has been a stellar wine destination with a… Read more →
— 10 New January Openings: Which ones are most worth visiting… and why (from New Haven pizza to a fantastic new Japanese izakaya).
— Hidden Gems: Bird Dog is (finally) a mid-range destination restaurant in Palo Alto.
— Eating & Drinking in Honolulu: Best bites, restaurants, cocktails, coffee, ice cream, chocolate and more in Honolulu now.
— Eating & Drinking Around Kauai: Best bites, restaurants, coffee, juice, cocktails and more on the north and south shores of Kauai.
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The year has been off to an intense start in the ever-dynamic Bay Area. There have been no less than a few openings a week, many of note, some downright exciting. The 10 most notable openings of January are: Volta, Nojo Ramen Tavern, Teleferic Barcelona in Walnut… Read more →
A preview of a regular column that will be part of the national Table8 blog we are about to launch this Spring (original article here) — I will cover the Bay Area and am the editor over all writers in other cities. Here we highlight some of the best under-the-radar restaurants we find often get missed by the press or… Read more →
Last month, I wrote a Zagat feature article on hot, newer restaurants in Hawaii, including a number of standouts during my fantastic 2 weeks in December on Oahu and Kauai to end 2015. In my Zagat feature, I cover a number of recommended restaurants — The Pig & the Lady (my top choice), Pint + Jigger, Mud Hen Water, Koko… Read more →