Wine Tasting for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
“Nobody is grading you at a wine tasting. The only wrong answer is pretending to like something you don’t.” — Elliot Kallen Every single person who has ever walked into a tasting room for the first time has had the exact same quiet worry: am I going to look like I don’t belong here. Tammy […]
20 Los Angeles Food Experiences Every First-Time Visitor Should Try
”People ask me what Los Angeles tastes like, expecting one answer. I never give them one, because the honest answer is that it tastes like Oaxaca on one block and Seoul three blocks later, and that contradiction is the actual food scene here.” — Elliot Kallen Every first-time visitor to LA lands with the same […]
The Best Time to Visit Napa & Sonoma for Wine, Food, and Events
“Every month in this valley argues its own case for being the best one. February makes its case in mustard flowers. October makes its case in smoke and sugar. I’ve stopped trying to declare a winner and started just telling people the truth about each one.” — Elliot Kallen, There’s a version of this question […]
How to Plan a Napa Wine Country Trip on Any Budget
“People hear ‘Napa Valley’ and immediately assume it’s not for them. Too expensive. Too fancy. Too far out of reach. I’ve heard that for years. And I’ve spent just as many years proving it wrong.” — Elliot Kallen, EatSipGo.com Let me paint you a picture. It’s a Tuesday morning in late October. The fog is […]
15 Common Napa Trip Planning Mistakes to Avoid
(Yes, I’ve Made Most of Them) Elliot Kallen Let me tell you about the first time I planned a trip to Napa Valley. I booked a hotel in the middle of August. I didn’t make a single winery reservation. I scheduled five tastings in one afternoon. I drove myself. I had no idea that harvest […]
Michelin-Star Restaurants vs Local Favorites: Which One Fits Your Night?
“I’ve had the seven-course tasting menu. I’ve also eaten standing up at a counter with three stools. Both nights ended up on my list of the year’s best meals — for completely different reasons.” — Elliot Kallen, A star on the door changes everything before you even sit down. You stand up straighter. You expect […]
The Perfect First-Time Napa & Sonoma Weekend Itinerary
I’ve gotten this text more times than I can count. “Elliot — going to Napa for the first time next month. What do we do?” And every single time, my first instinct is to ask them one thing back: How much do you want to remember it? Because there are two versions of a Napa […]
Restaurants Worth the Wait: Places That Truly Live Up to the Hype
“San Francisco has no shortage of restaurants people tell you to try. What it lacks is honesty about which of those tips actually hold up once you’re at the table.” — Elliot Kallen, Type “best restaurants in San Francisco” into a search bar. You’ll get more confident, contradicting answers than almost any other city gives […]
Best Restaurants by Occasion: Date Night, Family, Brunch, Solo & Business Dining
People ask me where to eat in San Francisco the way they ask their doctor about symptoms — they want a straight answer, and they want it from someone who actually knows. I’ve been eating my way through this city for over forty years. I’ve taken clients to the wrong places and learned the hard […]
The 10 Best Restaurants in San Francisco You Need to Try
“I’m also a foodie. My tolerance for average is low. Food, ambiance, noise level, and service all need to be right. If one of those is off, the whole experience drops.” — Elliot Kallen, EatSipGo.com People ask me for a San Francisco restaurant list more than almost any other city, and I understand why — […]