Published February 116, 2023, in my The Bold Italic column: You may think you know Korean barbecue. Unless you’re Korean, live in the U.S.’ heaviest Korean communities, namely across California, Honolulu and New York, or have dug into Korean BBQ in Seoul, you likely have just scratched the surface of the category’s range. Article Here: https://medium.com/@virginiamiller_29308/eating-raw-beef-off-the-side-of-a-cow-ancient-hot-cold-cooking-techniques-more-in-elevated-287a221e1d56 Eating raw beef off the side of a cow from butcher & fine dining Korean beef destination, Born &am ..read more

Dear Friends ~ Al Carajo’s cochinita pibil tacos Just back from Portugal, on to a couple days’ local retreat and other self care needs in the midst of an ever rich but nonstop work schedule, I am reveling in pristine Bay Area winter beauty before heading on for a brief research trip in Las Vegas for some up coming articles. In addition to my regular articles at The Bold Italic, my weekly dining column reviews one restaurant each week. I welcome those interested to follow me, or even sign up for a membership for my articles at Medium, which partially goes to support us as writers ..read more

Published February 10, 2023, in my The Bold Italic column: I’ve been dining at Joe’s sister, Original Joe’s Westlake, under prior owners for the last two decades. Bruno Scatena opened Joe’s of Westlake in 1956, which was eventually run by his daughter, ​Melinda Scatena, who worked there since she was 14 years old, selling it as she ran into health problems. My husband, Dan “The Renaissance Man,” and I adored it in those years and it was perpetually packed as if it were the hottest new restaurant. Article Here: https://medium.com/@virginiamiller_29308/red-sauce-italian-legend-sou ..read more

Published February 1, 2023, at Distiller Magazine, my bottle column covers trends and reviews international spirits and RTDs, with taste ratings (last month’s column here): New Release Roundup January 2023 Reviewed this issue: — Sennza Finne Amaro (Seattle, WA) — Boissiere Sweet Vermouth (Turin, Italy) — Volans Tequila (Jalisco, Mexico) — Feather & Folly Gin (Columbia Valley, WA) — Sheringham Distillery Seaside and Kazuki Gins (Vancouver Island, B.C.) — Basil Hayden Red Wine Cask Bourbon (Kentucky) — Kentucky Owl ..read more

Methodology home meals These newcomers or new menus cover the gamut, from a nature-rich tribute to California’s majestic trees in edible form, to healthy, chic, nuanced at-home delivery food. Alongside this month’s full restaurant reviews of these exceptional spots — Bar Sprezzatura, The Laundromat SF, Akikos, Cavallo Point’s Sula and Farley’s — these four are also worth visiting, with last month’s standouts here (as always, I’ve vetted and visited each place reviewed): Article Here: https://medium.com/@virginiamiller_29308/january-eats-checklist-5-standouts-of-the-month-51ba97821c87 In this ..read more

Dear Friends ~ Bar Sprezzatura’s mortadella pizza I am here in Portugal: in Lisbon and south of Lisbon on lake Alqueva in the Alentejo region. Back for the first time since 2016 and delighting in the growth of the dining and cocktail bar scenes since I was last here… but especially the country’s amazing, warm people and my new friends (per usual, future articles to come in the coming months). In addition to my regular articles at The Bold Italic, my weekly dining column reviews one restaurant each week. I welcome those interested to follow me, or even sign up for a membersh ..read more

Published February 3, 2023, in my The Bold Italic column: Opened by Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski of Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions and The Progress in October 2020 on Lower Fillmore Street, The Anchovy Bar was a brave entrant in a brutal year. It was easily among my top few new restaurants of that year — and my top two next to Belinda Leong, Michel Suas and John Paul Carmona’s Routier… Having dined since Anchovy Bar opened, both my late 2022 and my January 2023 visit have been the best yet. Article Here: https://medium.com/@virginiamiller_29308/tiny-fish-heaven-with-ve ..read more

In the Winter 2022-2023 print issue (Vol. 18. Issue 3) of Distiller Magazine: My article on 10 of Vancouver’s best bars below (online here) My interviews with bar manager Satoshi Yonemori of Grapes & Soda here; Alayne & Jason MacIsaac of Sheringham Distillery here — Bars reviewed: Bar Susu, Grapes & Soda, Bar Chickadee, Published on Main, Laowai, Botanist at Fairmont Pacific Rim, L’Abattoir, Como Taperia, Lobby Lounge at Fairmont Pacific Rim, Acquafarina Top Ten bars: Vancouver, British Columbia My Distiller Magazine features since 2013 (10 bars, distiller ..read more

In the Winter 2022-2023 print issue (Vol. 18. Issue 3) of Distiller Magazine: My article on 10 of Vancouver’s best bars (here) My interviews with bar manager Satoshi Yonemori of Grapes & Soda here; Alayne & Jason MacIsaac of Sheringham Distillery below and online here My Distiller Magazine features since 2013 (10 bars, distiller, bar manager interviews in each city/ region): BALTIMORE BOSTON Northern California Wine Country (Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino Counties) CHARLESTON CHICAGO CINCINNATI DALLAS DENVER HONOLULU LONDON LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES 2022 LOUISVILLE 2015 ..read more

Published January 20, 2023, in my The Bold Italic column: The new Bar Sprezzatura — opening November 2022 — is in an easy parking post-6pm area, quiet at night. In fact, the restaurant is only open lunch and dinner, Monday through Friday, so it’s ideal for workday meetings, European-esque long lunches and evening gatherings, from bites and drinks to a full meal. Visiting twice now, once for lunch, once for dinner, I had to name it one of the top 14 new restaurant openings of 2022. Article Here: https://medium.com/@virginiamiller_29308/chic-new-italian-cocktail-food-haven-hidden-in-th ..read more