Thoughtful Gourmet Blog

I don’t know if Oscar Wilde, the writer of “The Importance of Being Earnest” and many other works, could have dreamed up a chatbot but I do know that AI tools do not understand the art of writing, do not have souls and certainly are lacking a sense of humor. Good writing is human writing. […]

A curated guide for how to plan a getaway wine tasting weekend with kids in Anderson Valley and Mendocino.

Chef Garcia’s five-course tasting menu reveals exacting French techniques while peppering each dish with signature flavors and a soupçon of Mexican spirit.

I don’t want every meal I eat to be an experiential zigzag. Sometimes, a great meal is one that meets you where you are that day.

A highly personal list of the best dishes I ate in 2022. I eat a lot. Only a few dishes made the cut. These are just some of my favorites.

Nothing expresses the expectant exuberance of the new year like bubbly. I’ve narrowed it down to 5 sparkling wines to celebrate 2023.

The West Coast is a hot spot for finding exceptional boozy gifts with sparkle, style and plenty of charm. ‘Tis the season for gift guides and end-of-year lists. I am piling on with my own guide to the best bubbles, cocktails and spirit-forward beverages that can be delivered or hand-carried to someone’s door. I could […]

Seven highly curated, West Coast-inspired gift ideas that are a little out of the ordinary but just right for the foodist in your life. ‘Tis the season for gift guides and end-of-year lists. I am piling on with my own guide to the best treats and fun eats that can be delivered or hand-carried to […]