Thoughtful Gourmet Blog

Pici, aka hand-rolled pasta dish at Alora, San Francisco restaurant

At Alora and other San Francisco restaurant newcomers like Dalida and Movida, Persian flavors are edging in alongside Mexican and dining rooms are becoming less lounge-y.

Cover of The Unofficial Yellowstone Cookbook includes images of the American West, a cowboy and dishes from the book

Food writer, recipe developer, and photographer Jackie Alpers was so inspired by Taylor Sheridan’s TV series Yellowstone, she crafted an entire cookbook around it.

A Silver Fizz cocktail at Starlite atop Beacon Grand Hotel in San Francisco

Once again an iconic cocktail bar, Starlite returns atop Beacon Grand Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square.

chef Marcus Jernmark headshot, of Habitué restaurant in Los Angeles

On January 30, a one-night Michelin pop-up features chefs from Napa’s PRESS, Chicago’s Esmé, and L.A.’s Habitué

raclette seasoning spices in a white dish

Raclette seasoning is sprinkled onto the melted cheese to enliven its flavor. Finding none in the US, I figured out how to make it from scratch.

thalassa dish at Luce restaurant San Francisco

I eat out a lot. These are the 14 dishes that made the cut to land on my Best Bites list of 2023.

roast chicken

Re-use leftover roast chicken and mashed potatoes in a reimagined chicken pot pie that is 100% gluten-free and delicious.

Corollary Wines of Oregon label for the 2017 Extended Tirage Cuvée

Pop a cork on a delightful sparkling wine or champagne before the calendar flips to 2024