I’ve dined a handful of times in New York’s Little Italy and Boston’s West End. But I’ve had hundreds of meals in my home town’s North Beach neighborhood. Famed for its family-run establishments, we left the 80-degree warmth of San Rafael, crossed the Golden Gate into San Francisco, and entered the foggy 60-degree climate of…
Every year at the end of July, tens of thousands of people gather in the town of Gilroy, AKA the “Garlic Capital of the World.” Located about 50 miles southeast of San Francisco, it’s the locale of the Gilroy Garlic Festival. As its Website proclaims, here, you can “feast on food laced with over two…
About 18 months ago, I was about to leave for London. My doctor’s British assistant said, “Oh, you simply must eat at Gordon Ramsay.” After I looked up his restaurant, I realized I couldn’t afford more than the appetizers here. So I passed. He since has become better known as the screaming, abusive chef on…
If you’ve ever camped or eaten during a road trip, you know it be a hassle. And messy. This Outdoor Meal Kit from a company called Light My Fire offers a complete kit with two plates, a spill-free cup, a colander/cutting board, and a spork. Plus, it’s all enclosed in a waterproof container for your…
To 99.9% of the world, honey is honey. Most of it comes from China or Argentina and tastes pretty much the same. But now, according to our friends at Springwise.com –– new business ideas for entrepreneurial minds –– the latest buzz in designer foods is artisanal honey. It’s become a “snobmoddity” like luxury cars or…
We’re going to take a road trip in a few weeks. So my wife told me about this great site called RoadFood.com. It focuses on “great regional meals along highways, in small towns and in city neighborhoods. It is sleeves-up food made by cooks, bakers, pitmasters, and sandwich-makers who are America’s culinary folk artists… The…
I’ve enjoyed snorkeling and scuba diving in Key Largo and Islamorada. But, someday soon, I hope to get to Key West and its most famous place to drink: Sloppy Joe’s Bar. Yesterday, this local establishment and internationally known bar held its annual ‘Papa’ Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. Since 1933, Sloppy Joe’s staff has welcomed patrons daily…
Hoi An is a World Heritage-listed list town 45 minutes’ drive from Danang and is a great option for a long weekend’s getaway. Being on a river and not far from the sea, the restaurants in Hoi An specialise in seafood, particularly crab and shrimp. One of the best places to enjoy the local fare…
Lunching at a trendy spot in Coral Gables, Florida, I found my senses being teased by aromas and tastes from another time and place. The place is called “Katrine” and even though the cuisine leans toward Italian-Mediterranean, the atmosphere is reminiscent of a quaint eatery you would find in any number of the classically chic…
Yesterday, I drank a few bottles of Voss Artesian Water from Norway. One was Still. One was Sparkling. Both were pretty good but its wicked cool glass bottle is the best thing about it. My friend Sharon said she paid $20 for a bottle of Voss at the tres upscale Michael Mina Restaurant in San…
Soft, sandy beaches, award-winning chefs and world-class concerts at 1970s prices: Milwaukee was not what I was expecting. My scant knowledge of the city was derived from Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley, and I didn’t even see one ringer for the Fonz. This cozy enclave of 600,000, snugged onto the western shore of Lake…
Today is Bastille Day to Francophiles everywhere. You can watch the Tour de France on TV. Or here in San Francisco, you can celebrate in a variety of ways: • Join thousands of revelers at Plouf and the other international restaurants lining the city’s newly named “French Quarter” on Belden Alley, between Bush & Pine…