I recently visited the beautiful city of Istanbul for my first time. While the trip was focused on a wedding and reunions, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to check off another World’s 50 Best Restaurant, Mikla. Mikla Chef Owner Mehmet Gürs is credited with helping establish the New Anatolian Kitchen – a food movement that… Read More New Anatolian Cuisine at Mikla – Istanbul, Turkey
I’m still kicking myself for not going to Californios right when it opened and the tasting menu was under $60. Four years and two Michelin stars later, I finally got to try this spot. Many of the rave reviews from people whose opinions I respect were from the earlier days. If the menu were about… Read More Elevated Mexican Cuisine at Californios SF
It seems like SF omakase spots have been popping up the past few years with no shortage of momentum. The newest of these is The Shota, Chef Ingi “Shota” Son’s namesake restaurant. With a background at Morimoto Napa, Hashiri, and Omakase SF, Chef Shota is well-versed in Japanese fine dining. For a reasonably priced $125… Read More Modern Omakase at The Shota – San Francisco
#3 – Atelier Crenn, San Francisco, USA Three years after my first experience at Atelier Crenn, my return visit reflected their evolution from good to great. The consistent dreamy presentation was done justice by new standout flavors. The team received their third Michelin Star this year – congrats! Atelier Crenn – A Poetic, Modern French Experience… Read More 2018’s Top Restaurant Meals
My 2018 was a great year for dining. There was so much competition for my annual list of favorite bites, that I added a runner up to each category. Too many good options to recognize! Without further ado, here are my winning bites of 2018. Best Dessert Runner Up – Rose Confit de Framboise Choux… Read More 2018’s Memorable Bites
Anomaly’s seasonal, modern California menu and communal dining style will likely draw comparisons to Lazy Bear back in the day. I thought that Chef Mike Lanham’s style was more refined right off the bat.… Read More Creative Familiarity at Anomaly SF Pop-Up
I am writing this half a year after my lunch at L’Arpège. Looking back, puzzlement is the best descriptor. If it weren’t for Ryan Sutton’s review, “The Crushing Disappointment of L’Arpège,” I would almost wonder if I went to the wrong restaurant. How could my experience be so far from what this vegetable-focused Paris institution,… Read More The Puzzling Mediocrity of L’Arpège – Paris, France
Part of the fun in a multi-course tasting menu is the interaction with the staff and the education of the elaborate process behind the final product. And at nearly every single fine dining spot we’ve been to, the staff is happy to engage with customers that show an interest in learning about their work at… Read More Dialogue Discouraged at Dialogue Restaurant – Los Angeles
One of my favorite meals this year took place in the manicured gardens of Epicure Paris in Le Bristol Hotel. This was the perfect trifecta of ambiance, excellent food, and the best(!) service I’ve experienced thus far. The staff absolutely nailed my core service checklist – timing, knowledge of ingredients, a clear passion for their… Read More A Dreamy Garden Dinner at Epicure Le Bristol – Paris, France
The two Asian fine dining restaurants Gaggan and Eight Tables both made my Top 3 Restaurant’s of 2017. How cool to see them come together for this fun popup charity dinner! This event supported Chef’s for Change. Good food for a good cause? Gotta love these win wins. We were served a condensed version of… Read More Gaggan Pop Up at Eight Tables – San Francisco