My quotes are taken from a talk so sound a bit "casual" but I talk advice for getting into spirits (+advice in general): don't let lack of education or experience stop you. Educate yourself! Alongside 9 drink industry women I respect in @Distilling Mag:.

I’ve been writing about @Radhaus_sf with Bay & Golden Gate Bridge views from its @FortMasoninSF perch since opening 2018. Their kasespatzle got a refresh. loaded with gruyere, ementaler, munster, jarlsberg cheeses, caramelized onions, parsley chive oil: .

Perfect it’s not. Some rooms of Casa Habita are a bit dark & sterile with those cement floors. But the cafe+courtyard, sweet staff & prime, walkable location make this affordable, hip boutique hotel a regular in Guadalajara. Where to eat, drink & stay:

Casa Malca —an avant-garde art hotel/spa—was Pablo Escobar’s mansion compound. It's an eclectic layout where you walk barefoot in the sand from villa to pools to white sand beach, dotted with dramatic art, paintings, sculpture & fabrics. In my Tulum guide.

Pigeonhole is a good stop in Calgary for breakfast, brunch & comfort food plus seafood platters, Alberta beef tartare w/ horseradish aioli & simple but whimsical cocktails like an unlikely combo of cachaca, @Campari & pineapple Fanta (!). My Calgary guide:.

While it's a mixed bag at new Ethiopian-Dominican SF restaurant Meski, especially in cocktails, service is gracious & downstairs lounge seductive (opened by @Warriors' @Money23Green w/ Sobre Mesa/alaMar chef Nelson German & Guma Fassil of Meskie’s). More:

Restaurants, hotels, bars ready to turn good to unforgettable: I've developed a service w/ @EllipsesPR for hospitality businesses. Their 60-Day Accelerator is AI-driven, next-level strategy. My role? On-site evaluations, a global critic in your back pocket

Founders Amaryll Schwertner & Lori Regis: “we’ve offered. a small & steady practice—a modest yet deeply heartfelt gesture in service to the. intricate web of CA’s food producers." Sad to hear of Boulettes Larder closing after 20 years in @FerryBuildingSF.

The new rooftop-sized slice of Cuba at brand new Cubita, reviewed. House cocktails are good but not overly complex. Classics or modern day classics like an Old Cuban or their take on a Carajillo, fare best. Where to Eat Now. 7 Hidden Gems to Viral Hits:.

Global hospitality clients, I’d love to work with you via my new site I’ve been consulting for years in spirits+ beverage blending, menu+drink/food/product creation & honing, authentic storytelling, “trend whispering,” leading tastings, speaking & beyond.

No, new Bar Darling isn’t worth crossing town for — & better spots abound in the Marina. But its handheld-only bar bites shine: think sesame chicken endive cups + rock shrimp kushi skewers á la ABV/ @TrickDogBar. 7 Newcomers, Hidden Gems to Viral Hits:.

It's gorgeous, vibrant & an expansive rooftop where I've experienced cigar rolling & live Cuban jazz set to Cubano sandwiches and Mojitos. Yes, a little slice of Cuba at SF's brand new Cubita in the Mission. Where to Eat Now: 7 Hidden Gems to Viral Hits:.

The Pathfinder's new non-alcoholic RTD spritz features Pathfinder’s Hemp and Root elixir with citrus zest. Reviewed in my Distiller Magazine column: . @drinkthepathfinder

Chef Paco’s cooking has grown so, it’s exciting to taste the evolution. #12 @LatinAmericas50 2025 & just awarded #51 in @TheWorlds50Best, @RestAlcalde is Guadalajara’s best. Take this lamb head stuffed with sweetbreads, herbs & rice! My review & GDL guide

. @TylerFlorence’s @WayfareTavern is reborn in a new space after 14 years. Bar bites hold the most fun, like ham hocks croquettes w/ egg yolk jam & pickles, or smoked skipjack tuna dip ball with olive oil Saltine crackers. 7 new restaurants of the moment:.

Admittedly, the label isn’t great on Tequila Dama Fortuna, but this 100% Blue Weber Agave is a solid sip from Scotch whisky industry’s Euan Shand, a former cooper (barrel maker) & warehouseman at the great @Glendronach. My Distiller Magazine review:.

Opened within days of my visit, Mecenesbar debuts from celebrated Tulum chef/ownerJose Luis Hinostroza of ARCA. Expect his vibrant dishes & making almost all spirits themselves with a local distiller+subtle but pleasing cocktails. In my Guadalajara guide:.

Angiday #SF is a sleek, new Vietnamese cafe. Though a touch sweet, their coffees are delicious, incl. Hà Nội egg cream coffee, ube hazel, pandan salted cream. But it's the bánh mì menu (fish cake!) I go for. Hidden Gems to Viral Hits— 7 places to eat now:

Just released May 2025 from @BoannDistillery in County Meath, Ireland, exploring three different cask-finished whiskies, one a San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold medal winner (where I am a lead/blind judge). My Distiller Magazine review:.

Fried & fabulous, families surround Quesadillas de María Lopez’ humble oil vat under a tent downing these quickly-fried pockets of delight. Gracias, Alcalde chef Paco, for sharing best street food spots as a Guadalajara native. explored in my GDL guide: