Thoughtul Gourmet Blog

Auro restaurant menu with three plates of amuse bouche

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

uniformed server pouring a martini at Harris' Steakhouse

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.

San-Francisco_Mijote_beef-tartare-with-rhubarb

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.

Cinzano Prosecco in a tub of ice

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

Farmhouse Inn, Farmhouse restaurant dish of roasted root vegetables with culinary "sand"

Farmhouse Inn’s two restaurants – fine dining Farmhouse and casual Farmstead – are a reminder that local is delicious and exceptional.

A bottle of Loco Tequila in front of seasonal ornaments

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 […]

Holiday Gift Guide includes this basket of Spanish treats from Teleferic Barcelona

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 […]

Belgian endive salad with coriander-crusted tuna on the table at Credo San Francisco

A lively bistro in San Francisco’s Financial District, Credo is a neighborhood restaurant any neighborhood would be lucky to have.