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On October 29Todd English answered the question:
What are Todd English's favorite hotels?
The Aman Group does an amazing job with their hotels, I was just at the one in Turks & Caicos and it was pretty spectacular. The service is amazing, but when you go in and you experience something, you feel the zen, you feel the calmness, you feel all the things they’re representing. The Grand Hyatt and the Park Hyatt in Tokyo — both amazing hotels, and so is Four Seasons Milan. -
On October 22Todd English answered the question:
What are Todd English's favorite hotels?
The Aman Group does an amazing job with their hotels, I was just at the one in Turks & Caicos and it was pretty spectacular. The service is amazing, but when you go in and you experience something, you feel the zen, you feel the calmness, you feel all the things they’re representing. The Grand Hyatt and the Park Hyatt in Tokyo — both amazing hotels, and so is Four Seasons Milan. -
On October 22Todd English answered the question:
What are Todd English's favorite hotels?
The Aman Group does an amazing job with their hotels, I was just at the one in Turks & Caicos and it was pretty spectacular. The service is amazing, but when you go in and you experience something, you feel the zen, you feel the calmness, you feel all the things they’re representing. The Grand Hyatt and the Park Hyatt in Tokyo — both amazing hotels, and so is Four Seasons Milan. -
On October 22Larry Stone answered the question:
What are Larry Stone's favorite hotels?
I know people like to go to elegant hotels and have these luxury experiences, but for me it’s a useful place to drop my stuff off and go explore. But one of my favorite hotels is the L’Hôtel De Beaune in the town of Beaune in Burgundy. It’s a great little hotel — it’s beautifully appointed and small and quiet. And it’s right on the town square, so I’m in the heart of things once I get there.
I love Turtle Inn, one of Francis Ford Coppola’s resorts in Belize. It’s right on the water, and you can walk out the door and get someone to take you on a boat to go scuba diving or you can lounge on the beach. It’s very quiet — there are no modern phones or televisions. Turtle Inn has that rustic, peaceful calm about it.
If I’m going to stay in a big hotel in New York or Tokyo, I’ll stay at the Four Seasons, the JW Marriott, or a Ritz-Carlton. I used to work for Four Seasons, so I have a special affinity for them. Otherwise I look for individual little hotels. I stayed in The James recently in New York and it’s a wonderful little place downtown not far from Canal Street. It’s got a great staff and is very peaceful — it gave me the small hotel feel in a sophisticated way. And it’s right near SoHo, so you can get to Balthazar, or Corton or David Bouley’s restaurant. -
On October 22Larry Stone answered the question:
What are the best Chinese restaurants in San Francisco?
The two best Chinese restaurants for dim sum in San Francisco are Ton Kiang on Geary between 22nd and 23rd Streets, Yank Sing, the perennial favorite in Rincon Center. For ordering off of a menu lunch or dinner, R & G Lounge is also good, especially for the salt and pepper crab but also for other treats. Near the airport is Hong Kong Flower Lounge, which specializes in fresh seafood and shellfish — choose something from the tanks. I love the Szechuan food of Z & Y Restaurant on Jackson Street in Chinatown — but approach with caution. -
On October 22Larry Stone answered the question:
What are Larry Stone's favorite Chinese restaurants in San Francisco?
The two best Chinese restaurants for dim sum in San Francisco are Ton Kiang on Geary between 22nd and 23rd Streets, Yank Sing, the perennial favorite in Rincon Center. For ordering off of a menu lunch or dinner, R & G Lounge is also good, especially for the salt and pepper crab but also for other treats. Near the airport is Hong Kong Flower Lounge, which specializes in fresh seafood and shellfish — choose something from the tanks. I love the Szechuan food of Z & Y Restaurant on Jackson Street in Chinatown — but approach with caution.
Larry Stone
Tastemaker
Sommelier
Napa
Larry Stone is a Master Sommelier and the only American to earn the title of French Master Sommelier from the Union de la Sommellerie Française. More than 20 years ago, Stone won Best International Sommelier in French Wines at the prestigious Grand Prix de Sopexa in Paris. After winning this title, he continued on as a restaurateur and sommelier, opening Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago and then developing a renowned wine program at Charlie Trotter's (1989 to 1993). Wishing to be closer to vineyards, Stone moved to San Francisco to open Rubicon with restaurateur Drew Nieporent and chef Traci Des Jardins. Stone received the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Wine Service Award in 2000, and in 2005 he was named the general manager of Francis Ford Coppola's Rubicon Estate. In 2012, Stone joined Huneeus Vintners as the estates director of Napa Valley’s Quintessa and Chile’s Neyen. He's also the dean of wine studies at The International Culinary Center.
