Quick Look: Niner Wine Estates, Paso Robles
The Niner Wine Estates in Paso Robles is nestled into the dramatic lower slope of Heart Hill, a picturesque vineyard of cabernet sauvignon, malbec and petit verdot.
Motel Review: Stables Inn, Paso Robles
The team behind Hotel Cheval in the heart of Paso Robles have opened a much more casual offshoot, the Stables Inn, a vintage 18-room roadside motel just a few blocks from the heart of downtown.
Dish of the Week: Kohada from Sushi Ii, Newport Beach
It is often said that sushi chefs judge each other by their kohada, or gizzard shad. And the kohada at Sushi Ii in Newport Beach is surely the envy of sushi chefs everywhere.
Quick Look: Presqu’ile Winery, Santa Maria
Presqu'ile Winery is a must-stop on any serious tour of northern Santa Barbara wine country.
Motel Review: Skyview Los Alamos
Skyview Los Alamos, a vintage roadside motel on California's Highway 101 outside the tiny town of Los Alamos, has finally become the beacon for weary travelers it was always meant to be.
Blackbird, Chicago 1997 – 2020 (RIP)
Chicago’s Blackbird has closed. The restaurant announced this week that they were closing permanently, unable to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. This sucks. I don’t live in Chicago anymore, so I…
Australia’s Winter Truffles are in Season. Get Some While You Can!
Although it’s summertime here in the United States, it is winter in Australia, where black truffle season is underway. The black truffle that grows so beautifully in Manjimup, Western Australia, is the…
Photo Diary: Eating and Drinking During the 2020 Quarantine
If there's a silver lining to the coronavirus lockdown of 2020, it's that I got the chance to rediscover my kitchen. Or at least the kitchen table. I ate more takeout than anything else. Here's a look back at some of my favorite memories of eating and drinking at home during the quarantine.
The Disappearing Art and Rhythm of Chinese Tea in Hong Kong
There is a mystical quality to the tea ceremony that becomes clearer only with practice and time, but the art of Chinese tea is fading. Sadly, most of Hong Kong’s traditional tea shops have disappeared. I’ve been thinking a lot about Chinese tea lately...