Bourbon Steak crab cake “pop tarts.” Photo by Virginia Miller. These five restaurants — two new, one recently reborn, two quietly holding strong — do comfort food right. With a strong side of booze, whether exemplified in martini carts or martini menu sections. They might be a classic or modern steakhouse that also runs heavy on seafood, or a comfort… Read more →
From celebratory New Year’s bubbly to wintery whites and reds, here are 20 bottles to suit a range of palates, meals or occasions: Read more →
Casino de Monte-Carlo cacti view. Photo by Virginia Miller. Realizing I’m among the privileged who can say I’ve been to the French Riviera three times, the Côte d’Azur is as romantic and dramatic as you’ve imagined. Bustling “big” city Nice is more hectic, while crossing over to the Italian side offers a blessedly more humble, low-key coast — like the… Read more →
Maria Isabel’s sea urchin tamalito. Photo by Virginia Miller. Talented husband-wife chef duos are a special dynamic and business-life partnership common across the restaurant industry. In San Francisco alone, powerhouse couples run some of the best small restaurant groups in the city, like Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski (State Bird Provisions, The Progress, Anchovy Bar), Michael and Lindsay Tusk (Quince,… Read more →
Mendocino coast by moonlight from Inn at Newport Ranch. Photo by Virginia Miller. The term “thin place” is an ancient one, referring to places where heaven and earth come close or the veil between life now and the afterlife is especially delicate and permeable . On California’s breathtaking Mendocino Coast, easily some of the most dramatic, mystical coastline in the world,… Read more →
Restaurant Naides bread and chicken gizzard liver mousse course. Photo by Virginia Miller. Filipino fine dining is on the rise but is still far from mainstream. Chicago’s Michelin-starred, James Beard-winning Kasama and husband-wife chefs, Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, elevated the cuisine of the Philippines, playing with it in inspired ways (my review). As has chef Francis Ang in San… Read more →
Dreamy under the full moon dining at Marisella at Ritz-Carlton Santa Barbara. Growing up in Southern California, namely Los Angeles and Orange Counties — ages 6 to 14, and again 18 to 22 — the most idyllic coast for me was the cliffy beauty of Laguna Beach. Moving up to blissful NorCal at 23, that rugged Scotland-meets-Mediterranean I love most… Read more →
Reviewed in this article:
—Modern Indian Creativity from Veggies to Meat: Tiya
—At Five Years Ernest Remains One of SF’s Unsung Greats
—Two Michelin Magic: Saison
—Delicately Playful Dessert Tasting Menu: Nisei
—The U.S.’ Great Modern Guamanian Restaurant: Prubechu
—North African/Tunisian Treasure Turns 10: Barcha
—91-Year-Old Pizza & Pasta Legend: Tommaso’s
—Two Michelin Heights at 8-Year-Old Birdsong
—Asian Rooftop Delights: Good Good Culture Club
—Upscale Thai Offers a Steal of a Lunch: Hed11 Read more →
RT Bistro crab. Photo by Virginia Miller. Since Rich Table opened in 2012, I named it a top new restaurant and it has remained one of San Francisco — and the nation’s — best ever since. I was baffled as it ridiculously lost its multi-year Michelin star in 2021, though they’ve topped many “best” lists and been James Beard-nominated. At… Read more →
Lake Schliersee, Germany. Photo by Virginia Miller. The last time I visited Munch was backpacking around Europe as a girl in 1999. Whew! When currency was still Deutsche Marks and just before the new millennium. What a different visit this was a good 25 years later. I’ve been back to Germany a few times in between, namely to Berlin and… Read more →