Badger Bevs is a soda and mixers brand that just released 750mL bottles of its core mixers, a line that includes club soda, tonic water, ginger beer, ginger ale, sparkling grapefruit and sparkling blood orange soda. All reviewed in my Distiller Magazine column: distilling.com/distillermag...

Sharing killer street food eats in Ensenada, I start with this open air taco kiosk beloved for their carne asada and al pastor, the latter shaved off a giant spit... In my Valle de Guadalupe guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/valley-de-...

Charred leeks in ravigote vinaigrette is a rarity I love. Le Rock, from the award-winning Frenchette team, does it right. Expect quality, balanced French food like onion soup gratinée, moules frites and escargot in garlic butter. In my NYC guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/nycs-gifts...

Post-sunset glow from my 38th floor room at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas during a great work weekend with new clients... the colors speak to me, the mountains cradle me

Gung hay fat choy! Delicious Chinese/Lunar New Year celebration at Happy Crane (a top new 2025 restaurant: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/san-franci...) on 2/17, w/ lion dance, Champagne, firecrackers +James Yeun Leong Parry's Year of the Fire Horse menu. virginiamiller.substack.com/p/sf-is-domi...

I'll write (again) about my beloved Sonoma County, incl. this magical ranch & historic inn, Beltane Ranch. Remembering my stay a couple weeks ago on this regenerative farm with its adorable donkeys, horses, longhorns, chickens, olive groves, gnarly oaks, green hills. theperfectspotsf.com/tag/sonoma

I'm thrilled to share our 2nd annual North America's 50 Best Restaurants awards will be held in my other US home, my long beloved New Orleans, on May 28. Laissez les bons temps rouler! www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/north-americas-50-best-restaurants-2026-new-orleans.html #NorthAmericas50Best

For 20+ yrs, I've been a proponent of culinary cocktails, pioneered by SF in that era. Elmer Mejicanos has a knack for them... in Jewish deli form at Super Mensch. Think Matzah Ball Soup Margarita, Bagel & Lox Martini, Borscht, Babka Old Fashioned: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/bay-area-d...

I'm crazy about Welsh rarebit & a great beef Guinness pie. At Dingles Public House—one of my Honorable Mention new restaurants of 2025—chef George & somm Anissa Dingle do modern British food righ, nailing both those dishes. 6 Exciting New SF Restaurants: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/korean-dri...

1) Known for his inspired Italian cooking, @CheFicoSF chef David Nayfeld tributes his Jewish-Italian heritage from a Russian immigrant family in Alameda with order-at-the-counter Bubbelah in Menlo Park. I wish it was in SF. As one of my 12 honorable mention openings of 2025...

iichiko shochu has done more than any other to introduce shochu to the mainstream outside Japan. The brand just launched its 5th expression, iichiko Shinwa, showcasing the ripe, bold, fermented silkiness of koji. Reviewed in my Distiller Mag column: distilling.com/distillermag...

Set in the relaxed Valle de Guadalupe of Baja California, Mexico, uni and eggs "toast" croissant... a beautiful way to do sea urchin... and much more at dreamy brunches in Bruma Wine Garden at Bruma Wine Resort. My Valle de Guadalupe guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/valley-de-...

1) Two dishes surprise & fascinate at husband-wife chefs Michael & Meichih Kim's new Yeobo, Darling in Menlo Park (of former Michelin-starred Korean restaurant, Maum): —Lu rou lasagna, inspired by lasagna & lu rou fan, a Taiwanese pork rice bowl, in chrysanthemum spinach pasta sheets #dokkaebier

From day into night, the soothing mountains, desert and vineyards respite (+ lavender fields) of Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California via Bruma Wine Resort... Valle de Guadalupe's Gifts to the World: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/valley-de-...

Of Danish curry smoked sturgeon smorrbrod & pastrami mustard rice "sandwich" puff beef tendons served on a longhorn bull skull—the kind of ambition & play from rising chef Julian Silvera at Tasting House in chill town of Los Gatos. In my Peninsula guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/where-to-e...

Fincasa Whiskey De La Tierra is a blend of Indiana-based MGP juice that is a special tribute to Latin and Caribbean communities from founder Michael Martinez as a tribute to his family’s Puerto Rican heritage... my review in Distiller Magazine: distilling.com/distillermag...

Endlessly spectacular coastal vistas, trees (Monterey/California cypress!) and flowers + a cozy home base of Carmel Beach Hotel in the magical village of Carmel-by-the-Sea... my Weekend-ing guide on where to eat, drink & stay: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/weekend-in...

Seafood towers, caviar service, crudo & oysters from both coasts... elevated to glorious paired with beautiful cocktails, Champagne, extensive absinthe, sherry, French wines. At modern-day legend, award-winning Maison Premiere... in my latest NYC guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/nycs-gifts...

In 2016 I dined and wrote about José Andrés Group’s Zaytinya... Zaytinya Palo Alto opened 12/25, the 1st NorCal location. Serving dishes from Turkey, Greece & Lebanon with Cali ingredients, here's my rundown of the 6th version of the restaurant: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/where-to-e...

With Ilis chef Mads Refslund, we took a road trip from NYC to Bangor, Pennsylvania, to visit Green-Walk Trout Hatchery: a sustainable, family-owned, multi-generation trout farm where they hand-breed the freshest trout for Michelin-starred NY restaurants: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/nycs-gifts...

Ryan Gilbertie’s LA-based Superlative Spirits does for rum what's done often for whiskies & mezcal. He imports & distributes additive-free, small batch spirits, including mezcal & whiskies, heavy on small batch & single barrel rums. More in my Distiller Mag column: distilling.com/distillermag...

#RestaurantBathrooms / #BathroomBreak: in my upcoming Savannah article, the lounge-y bathroom, complete with couch and cool wallpaper, at Municipal Grand virginiamiller.substack.com

Jules opened 2025 from Max Blachman-Gentile, former Tartine Bakery culinary dir. In a city flush w/ superb pizza, his bit of NY (not classic NY slice) w/ SF slant of seasonal, garden-fresh, is the most beautifully sour of countless sourdough crusts tried: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/san-franci...

A few nights ago driving over a hill into my neighborhood... a photo from my car does NOT do it justice: that stunning "arm" of fog in one layer coming through Golden Gate Bridge and over just a section of the city. #ILeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco

Unexpectedly savvy cocktails & expectedly strong wine pairings make my #1 new restaurant of the year, Wolfsbane, the “whole package" (cocktails feature blessed “deep cuts” spirits like blanche Armagnac, rhum agricole, aquavit!) Digging in & drinking up: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/michelin-s...

At 2 Michelin Aubergine in Carmel, James Beard-nominated chef Justin Cogley served a top fish dish I had all year out of thousands: kinmedai (golden eye snapper) with bok choy & koshihikari rice, touched with Chinese five spice, steamed in a banana leaf: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/weekend-in...

Two potentially-iconic dishes can push a great restaurant into accolade-worthy territory. A unique new tasting salon from chef Seth Stowaway, did that w/ bitter red Treviso cradling uni, hazelnuts, pomegranate, Bosc pear relish. The ultimate lettuce cup. virginiamiller.substack.com/p/michelin-s...

2 caviar courses that vie for top dish of 2025: 1) Wolfsbane's Tsar Nicoulai caviar in toasted nori “boats” w/ acidic green apple balanced by sweet maple. 2) Seth Stowaway's Lore: sweet potato custard & rice under caviar, sassafras, PX sherry, olive oil virginiamiller.substack.com/p/michelin-s...

A Jan. return to Atelier Crenn confirmed the evolving beauty of Dominique's menus, as I wrote about: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/a-new-era-.... My top dish inspired by Pacific Ocean sunsets: Monterey Bay black cod (sun wrapped in zucchini) in aromatic oils & jalapeno yogurt foam (crashing waves).

Atheras Spirits is one of my favorite new spirits lines: 6 amari & liqueurs made at a micro-distillery inside Bitter Monk cocktail bar in Brooklyn, founded by bartender Ektoras Binikos & photographer Simon Jutras... reviewed in my Distiller Mag column: distilling.com/distillermag...

My man Sinatra (Sicilian Jersey forever)... on the wall outside the new Equal Parts in North Beach. Fun fact: my first keychain in high school Jersey years was of the Rat Pack. Some NJ girl once asked me if that was a photo of my family!?! 😂

#EpicNights: On 2/4... Anderson .Paak, aka DJ Pee .Wee, gave us one EPIC show with amazing Maurice "Mobetta" Brown & none other than Too Short (!?!) as surprise guest in intimate 111 Minna Gallery. FAB night enjoying it w/ my bro-in-law. Here, musical highlights: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBnN_jJ5J14

Couldn't choose a fave: artful veggie or meat terrines from chef Jonny Black at Michelin-starred Chez Noir in Carmel. Green & white asparagus terrine w/ alliums, watercress, Delta crawfish OR quail & duck paté en croute w/ carrot rapée, pistachio, mustard? virginiamiller.substack.com/p/weekend-in...

Missy's This & That is #13 on Canada's 100 Best. Above a convenience store, it’s divey w/ drink geek staff, 350+ wines, fun bites. Cocktails aren’t as creative as I’d hope but dig Djarum Black: Green Chartreuse, Ango bitters, Fernet. In my Calgary guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/calgarys-g...

In coming months, I'll write my Atlanta & Savannah guides from recent Georgia adventures. One of the most heartwarming meals: Tio Lucho's in #ATL from James Beard-nominated Arnaldo Castillo. Surprise faves? Creamy seafood chupe (chowder) & ceviche mixto with lightly-fried, juicy Georgia shrimp.

Elements need work, which I get into, but Michelin-star Yingtao's staff+Jakub Baster's modern Chinese dishes show promise (e.g. deconstructed shumai dumpling: wonton sheet, red shrimp torchon, cured pork, Sichuan peppercorn chile oil, tobiko). My NYC guide virginiamiller.substack.com/p/nycs-gifts...

Two nights in my favorite SF neighborhood of North Beach with my dear Caroline. Another mild, sparkling night, we savored full SF magic dining at 90-year-old Tommaso's, followed by Tiffany Austin tributing the great Bessie Smith at Keys Jazz Bistro: youtu.be/leWJpjK4tZg

In a cozy apartment, Lore is a nurturing dining experience, from a team incl. pastry chef Gabrielle Pabonan (formerly The French Laundry, Osito, Tartine). Her mochi w/ coconut tapioca sago & smoky lapsang souchong tea. The most unique new restaurant in SF: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/michelin-s...

S’mores, baked Alaska-style, at cheery, new Stella in Kenwood … from the team behind one of Sonoma County’s best restaurants, Glen Ellen Star.

#BookoftheMonth: New, denim-covered book from my longtime Austin food writer friend @wellfedlife.bsky.social recalls my years of Southern road trips studying my barbecue styles +2wk trip across Texas. She tributes TX BBQ, region-by-region www.cidermillpress.com/products/texas-bbq-the-art-of-low-slow

I prefer Stephanie Izard's new Valley Goat at Treehouse Silicon Valley to Girl & the Goat Chicago, w/ our unparalleled ingredients & “healthier” vibe. Spicy handroll dip is addictive: deconstructed tuna, hamachi, chili sesame. Where to eat in the Peninsula virginiamiller.substack.com/p/where-to-e...

Forthave Spirits distillery in Brooklyn, makers of excellent liqueurs, amari, gin, etc. Oh, their vintage amari & liqueurs library! My Distiller Mag interview w/ founders Aaron Sing Fox & Daniel de la Nuez: distilling.com/distillermag... +my NYC guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/nycs-gifts...

4 newcomers +1 restaurant going Michelin-worthy next-level —modern Jewish comfort, to open air flow from famed Chicago chef, to modern Korean creativity — new delicious in the Peninsula/Silicon Valley: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/where-to-e...

What a game-changer for Rockefeller Center! If only all day French restaurant Le Rock had been there when I was a Jersey teen as we’d frequent Midtown. Their bread & butter service with radishes is a thing of beauty. In my latest NYC guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/nycs-gifts...

The California Coast is everything top to bottom. No exception: the breathtaking Monterey-Carmel-Pacific Grove coastline, dotted with flowers & haunting California/Monterey cypress trees. (Some pics taken in stunning Point Lobos Reserve) My Carmel guide: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/weekend-in...

Surprise elements "steal the show." At my #1 new restaurant of the year, Wolfsbane —from the Michelin-starred team behind Lord Stanley— a delicious green curry Maine lobster tail is just outshined by its accompanying fried tempura lobster claw lettuce cup: virginiamiller.substack.com/p/michelin-s...

1) At my epic Third Rail birthday party Saturday, my beloved Aurora Seigel created a fantastic cocktail menu in my honor featuring spirits by dear friends at @stgeorgespirits.bsky.social, Charbay Distillery & Tequila Tapatio + ice from Deepwater (thx, Carlos!!) Thanks, ALL!

Epic Saturday: my belated (12/25) birthday party at Third Rail #SF #Dogpatch. MANY to thank: 70+ people turnout!+contributors from afar. But FIRST: my dear friend of 2 decades, Aurora: her idea, her amazing party. 2nd, dear Jeff, who generously shared his bar & staff to serve us. Forever grateful.

Sad to be away for Atelier Crenn 15th annv. festivities, but made it for 1/28 Crenn+Atomix dinner. From chef Dominique, was reminded of the vibrant, high-acid, bolder-but-still-elegant new direction I wrote of virginiamiller.substack.com/p/a-new-era-..., here in tributes to oysters or French sauces.

1) Radiant dinner w/ chefs Dominique (Atelier Crenn) & JP (Atomix NY) at Crenn 1/28. Longtime Crenn pastry chef Juan Contreras wows w/ Baklava-inspired Citrus Pillow: citrus schmear, pomelo, limes, Meyer lemon zest, pistachios, huckleberry raisins, honey. virginiamiller.substack.com/p/a-new-era-...