I just discovered the most hysterical website that is chock full of crazy fun gifties that should provide a yuk for even your most highbrow of friends.It’s out of a store in Seattle that’s been around for about 25 years with a large cult following, called Archie McPhee. Here’s just a few food gifts that…
California caviar makers are following in the footsteps of sustainable agriculture by using only state-of-the-art housing and a top quality diet to ensure that the sturgeon are happy, comfy, and pampered to supply you with caviar that rivals the Caspian Sea’s finest. (Well, maybe not quite, but darn close. Plus, local is much less expensive…
Hotel Sax Chicago, the Windy City’s newest hip hotel, is offering guests the opportunity to experience how the celebrities live. Their Celebrity Rider Inspired Packages allow you to stay in an amenity-filled room inspired by rider requests of famous celebs. The four packages range from rock stars to old legends and range from $2,500 to…
The quality of London’s restaurants has become increasingly high profile over the last few years and London is now recognized as one of the great restaurant destinations of the world. But my pick for London’s Steamiest Chef is Brett Graham. Brett began cooking at the tender age of 15, where his first job was at…
I’m proud to call Amelia Saltsman my long-time friend. She’s just published The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook and the reviewers are absolutely gushing about it. Here’s what a few prominent chefs have said: “Amelia’s book is an amazing resource to have with you, a complete season-by-season handbook to guide you through the bounty of…
Earlier this year, my family celebrated a milestone birthday at Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, heralded by Traditions & Qualité in their 2007 Edition of Les Grandes Tables du Monde Guide as one of the world’s best French restaurants. This book highlights 140 venues for having “the most luxurious settings, the creativity of the…
Wow- I haven’t heard such buzz since Paris Hilton married Michael Jackson….just kidding! But really, the chatter has been virtually non-stop about the new San Francisco Yoshi’s. Will Yoshi’s Save Lower Fillmore? Is Yoshi’s the Rebirth of Cool in S.F.? Will tourists actually venture into the Western Addition to hear a little jazz,and while we’re…
As another month begins, we’d like to again thank our marvelous, magnificent and magnanimous sponsors who support our site with their ads throughout the year. They know they’re supporting a unique blog with content focusing on upscale travel, shopping, food and wine. So thank you, merci, gracias, danke and domo arigato to: • Ristorante Fior…
According to the annual PNC Christmas Price Index compiled by PNC Wealth Management, it would cost you $78,100 to buy everything from “a partridge in a pear tree” to the “12 drummers drumming, on each of the “12 Days of Christmas” in that favorite holiday song. But if you chose to buy these items online,…
When I read Mediterranean Kitchens succinct motto, I knew I’d hit pay-dirt. As an experienced food, wine and travel writer, this has always been my fave way to travel but it takes an enormous amount of time, energy and trade contacts. Therefore, I am thrilled to give my “Good Housekeeping Gourmet Seal of Approval” to…
I love chocolate. I love movies. I especially love eating chocolate at the movies. The Library of Mini Exotic Candy Bars from Vosges Haut Chocolat is a special treat to eat in a movie theatre because the darkened environment enhances the flavors. Vosges, an artisan chocolatier, has a motto: see…smell…snap…taste…feel. Each of these minimally packaged…
I’ve driven by Alegrias on Lombard Street in the Marina District for years on my way from Marin County to other San Francisco restaurants that were downtown, in Chinatown, North Beach and beyond. So I’m thrilled that I finally had a chance to sample their traditional Spanish cuisine featuring tapas, paella, Spanish wines and sherries….