With my brother and sister-in-law living there for years, I’ve been exploring Denver (plus Boulder, Fort Collins, Aspen, Breckenridge and beyond) for some time now, savoring the riches available in Colorado food and drink. With my five top new food destinations this visit here (recommends over past years here), these are the top five new bars that have opened since… Read more →
As ever, San Francisco remains a cocktail paradise, the pioneering city that has reached excellence across the board: at restaurants, hole-in-the-walls and cocktail dens, there are too many great drinks to count. But I am counting and here are 12 cocktails, in bars/restaurants from SF to Oakland, worth drinking now. 1. A Boozy, Citrus-Free Mai Tai at P.C.H. Wherever Kevin… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. More on Chicago food recommends here. Chicago ever remains a great drinking town. My recent return to visit family, friends and attend the James Beard Awards, yielded more worthwhile spots. I appreciate the vibe and the gracious service at Tiki favorite, Lost Lake, especially post-fire with their… Read more →
This article was first published here at Table8 where I am national editor. The 9 key restaurant and bar openings of June are Louie’s Gen-Gen Room, Tawla, Dum, In Situ, Two Birds/One Stone in St. Helena, P.C.H. (Pacific Cocktail Haven), Tratto, Duke’s Spirited Cocktails in Healdsburg and Agave Uptown in Oakland. Corridor, which opened at the end of the month,… Read more →
San Francisco was a pioneering city on the current sherry scene. Though sherry is still a spirits’ geek and bartender favorite more than it is a mainstream imbibement, there are now SherryFests and sherry-centric cocktail menus around the US, in keeping with the growth in popularity of spirits and fortified wines everywhere. A decade ago as I dug deeper into… Read more →
My Winter 2015-2016 feature for Distiller Magazine on San Diego, with a 10-page print spread, my photos and two articles: My article on 10 of SD’s great bars An interview with Coin-Op Game Room bar manager, Leigh Lacap Both articles here. More of my SD recommends here. ______________________________________ Past issues (top 10 bars, local distiller and bar manager interviews in… Read more →
My Fall 2015 feature for Distiller Magazine on San Francisco, with a 12-page print spread, my photos and three articles: (Bars featured in the 10 SF Bars article: Comstock Saloon, Alembic, 15 Romolo, Third Rail, Mosto, Burritt Room, ABV, Holy Water, Odd Job, Royal Cuckoo Organ Lounge). More of my SF food recommends here and bar/cocktail recommends here. ______________________________________Past issues… Read more →
My Summer 2015 feature for Distiller Magazine on Los Angeles, with an 11-page print spread, my photos and article: ______________________________________Past issues (top 10 bars, local distiller and bar manager interviews in each city): Save Read more →
My Winter 2014-2015 feature for Distiller Magazine on Louisville, KY, with a 11-page print spread, my photos and three articles: All three articles here. More of my Kentucky food and drink recommends here. ______________________________________ Past issues (top 10 bars, local distiller and bar manager interviews in each city): Save Read more →
In December 2014, I wrote this print feature, with Whisky Magazine UK entitled The Orient Expression, on Japan’s distilleries, past and present, and its top whisky bars following my research trip in Japan. Save Save Save Read more →