The Perfect Spot

09/16/2026

Too much me, I know, 😬 but I couldn't stop trying to capture one of the best sunsets of my life from my rooftop room deck at MontRubí in Spain's Penedes. It was the moment I fell in love with Spain's Catalonia region...

Highlights across the region, from Barcelona to seaside towns:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/catalonias-gifts-to-the-world

Catalunya Experience

09/16/2026

Standouts at Noe Valley's Grand Lake Kitchen, the spring opening & first SF location of the Oakland favorite? Their take on a creamy egg salad sandwich: open-faced, touched with crispy chicken skin, grain mustard vinaigrette and fresh dill on New York rye toast. Also, unexpectedly, their play on eggplant parmigiana.

Beyond Steak, Seafood & Martinis... 5 Old School-Style Restaurants Keeping It Fresh:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/beyond-steak-seafood-and-martinis

09/16/2026

Chris Beyer of San Francisco-based Veso Vermouth has done it again with this special Trick Dog collaboration Veso Fig Leaf Vermouth...

Reviewed in my Distiller Magazine column:

https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/new-release-roundup-august-2026

American Distilling Institute

09/15/2026

: Jamon Iberico and pan con tomate — two of God & humans' greatest food gifts — hail from Spain.

Now settling into its 2nd year, Palo Alto’s modern Spanish Macarena has both & has become one of the Bay Area's best Spanish restaurants, especially as many of SF's best have closed (Bellota, Contigo, Barcino. Aaxte, though thankfully, Canela Bistro Bar is still going strong in the Castro).

Also pictured: Macarena's Melón con Jamón cocktail of dry fino sherry fat-washed with Iberico ham, bright with cantaloupe cordial.

This and 5 other SF Peninsula restaurants reviewed:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/where-to-eat-in-the-sf-peninsula

09/15/2026

Tomato basil "cocktails" and sardine toasts started things off right in the kitchen at Michelin-starred, 1969, family-run institution, Can Bosch Restaurant, in the working-class seaside town of Cambrils in Spain's Catalonia region.

Chef Arnau Bosch’s food is pristine, delicious and soulful, as his parents graciously walk around the dining room greeting guests... I was crazy about dishes like smoked eel from their local delta with one-year-pickled figs, warm foie gras port cream, bitter orange gel and corn. Or a nurturing stew of prawns, crab, lobster essence, tapioca, potato and hot romesco sauce.

Where to eat, drink & stay in Barcelona's home region:
https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/catalonias-gifts-to-the-world

09/15/2026

All Dia is a new RTD cocktail from a husband-wife team Sasha and Ailee Petrovic that launched in Austin in May 2026 & quickly expanded to 33 states. At a mere 2.5% ABV, the base is a real tequila from Jalisco distillery Casa Maestri Tequila with flavors like grapefruit, lemon, lime and cucumber.

Reviewed in my Distiller Magazine column:

https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/new-release-roundup-august-2026

American Distilling Institute

(📸 Photo courtesy of All Dia)

09/14/2026

That massive, over 200-year-old ficus tree that weaves through the building & bursts out of the wine cellar basement alongside a very deep well enchanted me at Villa Retiro Grup.

Besides its Michelin-star restaurant, the 1892 mini-”castle" and modern villas are a special place to stay in Spain's Catalan countryside.

Where to eat, drink & stay in Catalonia:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/catalonias-gifts-to-the-world

09/14/2026

YES to citrus olive, eel and herbed butters!

And to a palate cleanser of lemon cream, nitrogenated apple foam, apple infused with Chartreuse & mint gel.

From bread + butter & olive oil course to dessert cart, visuals are striking at the food at Michelin-starred Villa Retiro Grup in the Catalan countryside of Spain:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/catalonias-gifts-to-the-world

09/14/2026

The spirits and whisk(e)y selection at The Inn at Little Washington is another of its many strengths... and the Madeira selection was the perfect ending to our feast.

09/13/2026

Twin Peaks always wows… and these pristine days signal HOPE in the midst of endless loss

09/13/2026

Korean & Taiwanese mashup at Yeobo Darling restaurant in Menlo Park, deftly weaving from seasonal vegetable dishes to elevated Korean BBQ and banchan...

My latest SF Peninsula dining guide:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/where-to-eat-in-the-sf-peninsula

Hodo

09/12/2026

Mini-Danish smørrebrød, beet powder-dusted wagyu tartare & taleggio pani puri shell, blissfully savory mignardises (dessert bites) like plankton furikake white chocolate macaron (!) or chicken skin marzipan.

“NYC Delicatessen” is a delightful course nodding to chef Julian Silvera's Jewish-American youth, served on a dramatic custom plate displaying his childhood NYC neighborhood in 3D form. He’s crafted a play on a classic NYC deli breakfast sandwich, converting the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich into a soup dumpling-like bite in kaiser roll breadcrumbs and dots of Sriracha jalapeno "ketchup.”

Exploding with flavor, it’s a prime example of chef Silvera’s whimsy and technique at the new Vicinity hidden inside Tasting House in the sleepy, affluent town of Los Gatos.

Where to eat in the SF Peninsula now:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/where-to-eat-in-the-sf-peninsula

09/12/2026

As I prepare to check out Lu Lopez (Vegas' best!) new Cobra Clutch bar when I'm back in LV this week, I post about his bar great, James Beard Foundation-nominated Nocturno ...

in my Distiller Magazine article on 10 Top U.S. Bars Showcasing Craft Spirits:

https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/10-top-u-s-bars-showcasing-craft-spirits

Tempus Fugit Spirits

09/11/2026

Lofty ceilings,window seats (among my most beloved reading nooks in one childhood home), lush bathrooms + a birds, trees, plants & butterflies wallpaper.

Our 1700s Cardinal’s Nest cottage at the enchanting The Inn at Little Washington was both historic and pampering, traditional and fresh.

With chef Patrick O'Connell's magic conversion of the tiny hamlet of Washington, Virginia, into a community and village of excellence, the surrounding Shenandoah hills and valley cradle this one-of-a-kind stay, centered by his two Michelin, superb restaurant.

Touring our 1700s Cardinal’s Nest cottage:

Lofty ceilings,window seats (among my most beloved reading nooks in...

09/11/2026

Labor Day weekend joys: family, friends, Half Moon Bay beaches, Shakespeare in the Park, seals birthing, watching planes land over the Bay, fresh-baked German pretzels & sausages, Twin Peaks views and fiery sunsets.

Amid ongoing grief & new trials, the crow has often come up as one of my personal, spiritual symbols. Parrots, too. Birds in general, my favorite of all animals. Also, one of my lifelong nicknames and my beloved pets (parrotlets) of over 2 decades.

So it's appropriate these crow statues from local artist Jack Champion popped up near my home in the SF Panhandle. I often stop to say hello on my walks.

09/11/2026

Barcelona's Disfrutar Bcn not only holds 3 Michelin stars but won #1 restaurant in the world at The 50 Best Restaurants in 2024... I remember that remarkable moment at the awards near their 10-year anniversary as chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas’ gave inspired speeches of thanks.

Last year, I finally made it in. Though I did not sit down and dine for a full meal (caveat!), I did have the privilege of spending time with the chefs and tasting through some of their signature dishes over the years (I also dig through the recipes in their beautiful, textbook-thick cookbooks at home).

More in my guide to Spain's Catalonia region:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/catalonias-gifts-to-the-world

09/10/2026

No, the horrendous heat & humidity (95°F/35°C) didn't welcome last week, but the people of D.C. sure did.

Colleagues from chefs & restaurant owners, to PR & fellow writers, bar owners & bartenders, gave me a warm welcome across the board... I left with new friends.

And that insane, nonstop lightening storm viewed the last night from my 8th floor perch at with a view over the Jefferson Memorial!

09/10/2026

Unreal: the view and my corner suite at Faena Miami Beach. This next-level hotel is so thoughtfully curated down to every detail. It's an art (and whimsy) lover's retreat in my signature red designed by none other than one of my fave directors (especially for "Moulin Rouge" & "Romeo & Juliet") Baz Luhrmann and his wife, Oscar-winning Catherine Martin with Faena founder & fashion designer Alan Faena, who I had the pleasure of meeting while visiting.

Immersed in the explosion of color, textures and caring service that is both wild and bold as it is tasteful and elegant, the ocean views soothed, even if the weather was way too hot and muggy to enjoy being outside.

A tour through a corner suite at Faena Miami:

Unreal: the view and my corner suite at Faena. This next-level hote...

09/10/2026

This weather calls for ceviche, Pisco Sours and rooftops... 7 sunny brunch spots, including Chotto Matte's chill rooftop brunch with DJs:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/7-brunch-spots

09/10/2026

THIS amazing crew: Moon Rabbit by Kevin Tien's Susan Bae, Kevin Tien, Judy Beltrano & Thi Nguyen!

After watching them sweep awards at The 50 & James Beard Foundation + dining at a hometown collab meal in SF at Restaurant Nisei, I FINALLY made it to Moon Rabbit on their home turf for a meal in D.C. last week.

Fantastic! From chef Kevin & Judy's amazing food to Susan's herbaceous & savory desserts, then Thi's cocktails & a vibrant, fun wine list. Love the glow & casual, soothing vibe.

More in my future D.C. article but a shoutout to the crew and my intrepid dining companion, master somm June Rodil!

09/09/2026

One of my top meals in Spain's Catalonia region was Can Bosch Restaurant (Michelin starred for a crazy-impressive 40 years!), a family-run, multi-generation restaurant in the working-class seaside town of Cambrils... also involving a fish market visit & auction with chef Arnau Bosch, pictured here.

The most mind-blowing dish of my meal? An ajoblanco cold soup, which originates from Andalucia. In a base of crushed bread, almonds, garlic and olive oil, teems braised, sweet white Cambrils prawns, cantaloupe, pickled celeriac and melon. A finish of prawn essence oils from the shrimp’s head is poured over. It was a glorious, cool melange of contrasting flavors and textures I started craving again as soon as the meal ended.

Where to eat, drink & stay in Barcelona's home region:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/catalonias-gifts-to-the-world

09/09/2026

Ladino is easily San Antonio’s best modern Middle Eastern restaurant, with a quality level that keeps up with the greats around the country. Chef Berty Richter’s cuisine is a tribute to his Turkish mother (whose roots are in Italy, Bulgaria, and Greece) and the Jewish-Balkan food he grew up with.

Ladino's thoughtful cocktails intrigue, playing culinary with Middle Eastern ingredients and condiments like a lively green schug margarita or Santorini Bikini, a tzatziki-infused vodka cocktail with cucumber, lime and aloe juices, aromatic with fresh dill.

10 Top U.S. Bars Showcasing Craft Spirits at Distiller Magazine:
https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/10-top-u-s-bars-showcasing-craft-spirits/

American Distilling Institute

09/08/2026

More to come in my upcoming DC guide at virginiamiller.substack.com, but here last week with the talented team at DC's 2 Michelin Jont restaurant with chef de cuisine Tyler LeBlanc, sous chef Emmy Hieatzman & GM Neev Behal, who I know from SF Quince & Verjus days...

(LOVE the chef's counter-only kitchen glow and their array of gorgeous chopsticks to choose from + multi-colored Cutipol silverware)!

09/08/2026

Retro all-day, breakfast-y diner that glimmers in gold and pink with old school floor tiling and a 1970’s vibe that’s fully “my jam,” down to rosy pink bathroom walls with sparkly gold flooring.

And on the drink side, local, female-founded Lady Falcon Coffee Club espresso drinks and coffees, banana cold foam cold brew, Vietnamese coffees and espresso tonics...

Goldenette, from WesBurger's Wes Rowe & Eddie Naser of Toast Eatery...

Reviewed in my 7-spot brunch/breakfast guide:

https://virginiamiller.substack.com/p/7-brunch-spots

09/07/2026

Making friends with a moose and falling in love with the historically-preserved design across 200+ year-old cottages around the The Inn at Little Washington village... and all those striking wallpapered or painted ceilings!

Including a gorgeous house in tribute to — and lived in often by — Craig Claiborne, the The New York Times' first dedicated restaurant critic starting in 1957, credited with inventing the modern food critic.

When I first became a restaurant reviewer at the Bay Guardian, followed by Zagat and Time Out editor and reviewer roles, I read every historic critic I could get my hands on, from the pre-critic food writing of A.J. Liebling and my lifelong hero, M.F.K. Fisher, to Mimi Sheraton and, of course, .reichl.

I also dug into bios on Claiborne and have first editions of some of his NY Times cookbooks. What a joy to walk through this stunning house, lovingly tributing him, and hear a bit of the many storied, famous guests who have stayed here, part of chef Patrick O'Connell's wonderful world.