Fall 2023
RESTAURANTS | AUSTIN, TX
Barley Swine | The tasting menu is excellent and their team is wonderful. As always, I prefer a bar seat.
Birdie’s | Continues to get national attention. They’re clearly doing something right.
Ezov | From the team at Emmer & Rye, it’s the spot I want to try next.
Nixta Taqueria | Have not heard a single bad review.
Suerte | Alternatively, pop into Bar Toti for a taste of the group’s flare.
Underdog | I haven’t been and would love to try. They got a bit of attention during opening.
Yellow Bell Tacos | From the team at InterStellar BBQ comes Yellow Bell, with a formal opening date teed up for late summer or early fall.
RESTAURANTS | NEW YORK, NY
Bar Americano | Brand new to Greenpoint, this is next on my list.
Double Chicken Please | They continue to receive incredible feedback from a range of people and organizations. Go for a cocktail and dinner.
Gage & Tollner | I rarely spend my money at a traditional American spot, so let this be the exception. Begin with baked clams and a martini. Afterwards, visit Sunken Harbor Club on the second floor.
Hudson Clearwater | Ideal back patio, ideal front patio, and an interior that’s perfectly cozy for winter.
The Musket Room | I hope a fresh Michelin Star is enough to convince you. Invite me if you go—I haven’ tried it and would love to.
Public Records | I have a total crush on this spot in Gowanus. Grab a table on the patio for a bottle of wine. If you’re there early enough, you can guarantee a spot for 4-6.
Red Hook Tavern | Spend a day in Red Hook beginning here, venturing to Lucali for a res and visiting Pioneer Works somewhere in between.
Semma | I tried it. I loved it. Michelin star added to their reasons to brag on themselves.
TIDBITS
Acid League added hot sauces to the market.
I read Anything that Moves last month. Couldn’t put it down. If you’re interested in America’s food culture, read it.
Tess Bryant Selections is new to my radar.
Gabrielle Glas International is Corner Bar’s glassware of which the Somm spoke highly.
The BA Test Kitchen shared their spicy food favorites, including Aji Amarillo hot pepper paste.
I love Dashi Okume so much. If you’re into Japanese culture or cuisine, explore that stretch of Greenpoint.
Believe it or not, you should care about the oil in your pantry. There’s quite a bit of talk about that right now, and I ended up subscribing to orders of the Chosen Foods avocado oil after much research.
Pina Pro lamps are all the rage in New York right now. Restaurants with outdoor seating depend on them for table lighting. The price point is steep, but I have one on my wishlist.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS
“The degree to which a person can grow is directly proportional to the amount of truth they can accept about themselves without running away.” — Unknown
“Risk is the tariff paid to leave the shores of predictable misery.” — John Poley
“Many people leave our what they don’t know because they mistakenly think it shows ignorance or a lack of hard work. Asking the question ‘What don’t I know?’ is not the same as throwing out an ‘I don’t know.’ In truth what you are saying is, ‘No one right here right now knows, and I was observant enough to notice this important fact and open it up for others to help me find the answer.’ If we reframe our attitude about it, others will follow.” — Amy E. Herman, Visual Intelligence