After many years living in and traveling around Italy as an American, just trying to understand the wine, a few keys—yet unanticipated— habits rubbed off on me. The biggest one: How to drink wine like an Italian. If you ask an Italian, there is a certain ceremony and order. I did not. But I might […]
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There will always be a place for old-school formal dining and phonebook-size wine lists that can tip the table. But if we’ve been reminded of anything over the past couple of years, it’s that our favorite restaurants foster a sense of connection, community, and discovery. These 50 establishments are doing things a little differently. They […]
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Tucked between the rugged ridges and redwood trees of Mendocino County, Anderson Valley has a well-deserved reputation for wine quality thanks to pioneering wineries like Navarro Vineyards & Winery, Husch Vineyards & Winery, Handley Cellars, and Roederer Estate. This 15-mile-long valley and its surrounding hills, just 2.5 hours north of San Francisco, are both a […]
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Juneteenth has always been special for Oakland chef Amina Robinson-Briscoe, also known as Chef Mimi. As a child, Chef Mimi and her family would attend Juneteenth festivals in the neighboring city of Berkeley every June 19. “Once I got older and realized what it was about in terms of the freedom and liberation of Black […]
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The Scofflaw cocktail was created in Paris at Harry’s New York Bar, named for a Prohibition-era term used to describe those who imbibed booze illicitly in the U.S. It’s one of several drinks tied to the legendary bar, including the Boulevardier, Between the Sheets, and possibly even the Bloody Mary. The drink’s name came about […]
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Every beer at every bar, restaurant, or backyard endures an arduous journey from brewery to customer. On this journey, bottled, canned, or kegged beer meets a series of touchpoints that, if mishandled, can alter its flavor from what the brewery intended. These are called beer faults. In most commercially brewed beers, chances are, the fault […]
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Easy and forgiving, homemade ricotta cheese is one of those culinary endeavors where the outcome far exceeds the effort. Even the hastiest, most inexpertly made version will have exponentially more flavor than supermarket tubs. It’s an ideal dish for DIY enthusiasts or anyone looking to impress at their next dinner party. “I think ricotta is […]
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Chenin Blanc is a versatile white wine grape from the Loire Valley of France. Excellent examples of this wine are grown worldwide and made in an array of styles. The Loire Valley’s cool climate allows winemakers to create some of the world’s most coveted Chenin Blanc. Producers in this region use the grape to make […]
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While our team loves to mix drinks—several of us are former bartenders, after all, and would never miss an opportunity to the point that out in conversation—there are times when only the best-canned cocktails will do. Backyard barbecues, beach days, picnics, and the like are great occasions to pop open a can of something tasty. We’re […]
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Winery names like Mondavi, Martini, and Sebastiani are household names among wine drinkers. Italian Americans established these wineries in California in the early 20th century, and their brands grew big over time. So big that they became acquisition targets for the largest wine companies in the country and lost their founding-family connections. Names like […]
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