Haute Kitchen

AUBREY ABOUT TOWN

Rick’s Café Américain: A Casablanca Fantasy Photo credit: Drew Altizer Photography It’s 1941, two years into WWII, and it has been nearly a year since Nazi Germany invaded Paris. Many who could…

Keeping It Classic at Sam’s Grill

The Sam’s Grill entrance on Bush Street is modest, but step inside and the atmosphere shifts. Curtained, private booths line wood-paneled walls. The waitstaff wear tuxedos. Conversations carry softly above the clink…

North Block Hotel: Napa Luxury, Elevated by Cuisine

In the heart of Yountville, North Block Hotel offers a quietly luxurious base for discovering Napa Valley’s most refined pleasures. With just 20 guest rooms arranged around a tranquil, tile-adorned courtyard, the…

A Stay at The Lodge at Sonoma and a Taste of Wit & Wisdom

Sonoma County and its bounty of riches are best appreciated from a comfortable perch. The Lodge at Sonoma offers such a perch. The Autograph Collection property is just a short walk from…

Discover Café Sebastian at Transamerica Redwood Park

In a cuisine-rich city as vibrant and eclectic as San Francisco, it’s not often that a restaurant surprises. With so many culinary gems scattered throughout the city, it feels like a rarity…

Bon Délire Gives Parisian Vibes Along the Waterfront

San Francisco’s Embarcadero waterfront has long been a hotspot for tourists, but in recent years, a new wave of restaurants and bars has reshaped the area into a lively and dynamic destination…

Violetto at Alila Napa Valley Elevates Italian Cuisine

The Napa Valley has more than its share of Italian restaurants, so the addition of yet another might easily elicit a shoulder shrug. Yet, Violetto is different. Offering the only prix fixe,…

Empress by Boon: A San Francisco Chinatown Culinary Jewel

I first dined at Empress by Boon upon its opening three years ago, and was enchanted by both the beauty of the restaurant’s interior, and by the presentation of the multi-course Cantonese-centric,…

Bar Crenn’s Le Comptoir is Culinary Theater at its Best

Le Comptoir translates to “the counter,” a more-than-humble moniker for Michelin-starred Bar Crenn’s multi-course dining experience. Imagined by the inimitable Dominique Crenn, the maximum 10 seat, one service-nightly (Wednesday – Sunday), two-hour…

Alora Invites Diners on a Coastal Culinary Journey

Having enjoyed Anu and Vikram Bhambri’s ROOH Progressive Indian in Palo Alto and their newer Pippal in Emeryville, I imagined Alora to be a “sure thing.” And I was right. The newest…

The Bungalow Kitchen is the Bay’s Community Clubhouse

Whatever the occasion, The Bungalow Kitchen offers the perfect venue. Be it a romantic date, a birthday party, a family reunion, or a business meeting, the waterfront Tiburon restaurant offers a convivial…

Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Culinary Renaissance

From freshly foraged seafood to Korean fried chicken to grass-fed, artisan beef burgers, diverse cuisine thrives in enchanting Carmel-by-the-Sea. Several new restaurants made their debut in Carmel Village this past year, joining several…

Visit Italy Without Leaving the Bay: Eataly Silicon Valley

If you’re an Italophile, or simply one who loves quality cuisine, Eataly Silicon Valley is your mecca. Located within Westfield Valley Fair shopping mall in San Jose, the Italian food emporium features…

Michelin starred restaurants in Northern California

6 Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Northern California for 2024

Acclaimed chefs provide insight into their success. Northern California is home to some of the most exquisite and diverse culinary experiences in the world. With its fertile land, ideal climate, and vibrant…

One Big Table

On September 30th, people gathered together at One Big Table, a celebration for and with The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s community of generous supporters. Their support enables the Food Bank to continue…

HOLY MOLE. Colibri Mexican Bistro is that good!

TACO about being loyal …. Since it opened, I’ve been frequenting Colibri, established by owners Eduardo and Sylvia Rallo, whose desire is to share Central Mexican plates from their childhood. Oftentimes, I…

Michelin Magic: San Francisco’s Sons & Daughters

San Francisco’s Sons & Daughters has long held Michelin acclaim, yet the popular Nob Hill restaurant was recently bestowed with yet another honor from the revered restaurant guide. Executive Chef Harrison Cheney…