What it Means to be the Best: The Quandary of Restaurant Awards

What kind of establishment earns a spot on the World’s 50 Best or stars from the Michelin Guide? How does it influence our perception of food and restaurants as it interacts with culture, media, and travel? The perceived notoriety of these awards seems to reinforce a collective belief of what a world-class restaurant should be. This, however, may ultimately hinder both diners and chefs from enjoying the act exploration and moments of spontaneity in cooking and eating. Are guides and rankings worth all the fuss?

food writing, travel, restaurantsLiz MistickSeptember 22, 2019Belcanto world's 50 best restaurants, best restaurants in america, michelin restaurants, belcanto, murano, maydan, nightshade, gastronomyComment

A Night Under the Hay Moon: Beckon Presents a New Way to Dine in Denver

Beckon is the 8-month old sister restaurant to Denver’s popular day and night hotspot, Call. While Duncan Holmes maintains his vision to provide food that is fresh, vibrant, and craveable, Beckon’s seasonally-adatping menu challenges Coloradians’ to experience a restaurant as an artful and intelligent performance of food. In just eight courses, the team at Beckon may convince the people of the Mile-High that fine dining doesn’t have to be so stuffy, formal, or unrecognizable.

restaurant review, restaurants, travel, food writingLiz MistickJuly 25, 2019Beckoneater denver, beckon denver, duncan holmes, bon appetit hot 10, beckon denver review, beckon reservations, 5280 magazineComment

You Should Take Some Notes From A Young Black Chef Named Kwame Onwuachi

Chef Kwame Onwuachi has won the James Beard award for Rising Star Chef of the Year. His memoir “Notes From a Young Black Chef” documents his journey around the world—from Nigeria as a young boy to D.C. as a young man. He is vulnerable and authentic as he discloses both his failures and triumphs with humor and grace. At Kith/Kin, these stories manifest in a complex and tasty expression of cooking his African cuisine . Did I mention he’s only 29 years old?

food culture, food writing, restaurant review, restaurants, travelLiz MistickJuly 14, 2019Kith/Kinkwame onwuachi, kithandkin dc, kithandkin review, restaurants washington dc, james beard award, kithandkin reservation, notes from a young black chefComment

Dining Out on Thanksgiving: The Holiday Hotspots of NYC (for any occasion!)

If you’re coming to NYC for Thanksgiving, skip dinner in a tiny and cramped apartment and find your feast in the city that never sleeps.

restaurant review, new york city, food writing, restaurants, travelLiz MistickNovember 2, 2018fall, thanksgiving, nyceats, friendsgiving, memories, thanksgiving in nyc, restaurant guide, thanksgiving menuComment