Saturday, December 22, 2018

Best of the Best 2018

Saturday, December 22, 2018    No comments

Which are the best restaurants, spas, and travel destinations? At the end of 2018, I am rating the following (in order of best to worst) based on my personal experience.



Restaurants

Even though Michelin has not rated it, Mama's Fish House on Maui is our favorite restaurant worldwide. Mama's Fish House combines an authentic Hawaiian atmosphere with exceptional cooking and a magnificent tropical setting (overlooking Maui's North Shore, near the famous Ho'okipa Beach) to create an unforgettable dining experience using only the freshest fish caught on Maui.
  1. Mama's Fish House, Maui, Hawaii 
  2. The Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
  3. Lagoon Restaurant by Jean Georges, St. Regis, Bora-Bora, French Polynesia 
  4. Manresa, Los Gatos, CA (3 Michelin Stars)
  5. Solbar, Calistoga, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
  6. Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA  (1 Michelin Star)
  7. Ristrot Guivol, Turin, Italy
  8. Weinstube Baldreit, Baden-Baden, Germany 
  9. Plachutta, Vienna, Austria 
  10. Humuhumunukunuku'apua, Maui Hawaii 
  11. La Foret, San Jose, CA (Michelin Rated)
  12. Bouchon, Napa, CA  (Michelin Rated)
  13. Eataly, WTC, New York City (and Munich)
  14. Araxi, Whistler, BC

Dishes

Pizzeria

We have had pizza everywhere in the United States (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, etc.), France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan. So far, our favorite pizza restaurant is Pizzeria Scugnizzo in Turin, Italy. We also had fantastic pizza in Japan - at Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli in Tokyo. In addition, there was an excellent small pizza restaurant in Paris with the most incredible pizza in Paris - but I cannot recall its name. I heard that the absolute world's best pizza is to be found in Naples, Italy - but I have not been there yet.
  1. Pizzeria Scugnizzo, Turin, Italy
  2. Waikiki Pizza Restaurant, Bardonecchia, Italy
  3. Bricks Restaurant Pizza, Turin, Italy
  4. Keste Pizza, Greenwich Village, New York City (Keste #1)
  5. Eataly, World Trade Center, New York City ("Capricciosa" pizza)
  6. Eataly Lingotto, Turin, Italy
  7. Pizzeria Mar-de Napoli, Tokyo, Japan ("DLC winner" pizza)
  8. Juliana's Pizza, Brooklyn, New York City (#1 Special)
  9. Pizza My Heart, Los Gatos, CA (especially "Manresa" only available on Sundays)
Gelato and Ice Cream

Our favorite gelateria was in Bologna, Italy. We also tried many exceptional gelaterias in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, and Lucca.
  1. Gelato in Bologna, Italy (near Piazza Maggiore)
  2. Gelato in Florence, Siena, Lake Como, Venice, Lucca (Italy) 
  3. Bella Gelateria, Vancouver, BC 
  4. Grom Gelateria, Turin, Italy
  5. Grom Gelateria, New York City (also in Florence and Siena) 
  6. Kamakura Gelato, Kamakura, Japan
  7. Eataly, New York City (and Munich)
  8. Gelateria La Romana, Turin, Italy
  9. Lappert's Ice Cream, Maui, Hawaii

Spas

Our favorite spas have been in Baden-Baden, Germany, but we've also heard of exceptional spas in Austria (which we have not tried yet).
  1. Aquadome, Langenfeld, Austria
  2. Friedrichsbad Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany 
  3. Caracalla Therme, Baden-Baden, Germany
  4. Alpentherme Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Austria 
  5. Miri-Miri Spa by Clarens, St. Regis, Bora-Bora 
  6. Scandinave Spa, Whistler, Canada 
  7. Tabacon, Costa Rica 
  8. Spa LaQua, Tokyo, Japan
  9. Spa World, Osaka, Japan
  10. Solage, Calistoga, CA 
  11. Indian Springs, Calistoga, CA 
Books (2018)

My favorite book for 2018 is "The Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer. I have never read such a blistering account of World War 2 from the enemy's point of view.
  1. The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer
  2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
  3. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
  4. The Rational Bible: Exodus by Dennis Prager
  5. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan Peterson
  6. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
  7. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
  8. Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
Rock/Blues/Jazz Albums (2018)

There were not many rock albums I liked in 2018, but here are my favorites.
  1. MTV Unplugged - Summer Solstice by A-ha
  2. Golden by Kylie Minogue
  3. MTV Unplugged - Listen Without Prejudice by George Michael
  4. Men of Steam by Bourbon Street Stompers
  5. Redemption by Joe Bonamassa
  6. Black Coffee by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa
  7. Southern Blood by Gregg Allman
  8. Look Up Child by Lauren Daigle
  9. Delta by Mumford & Sons
  10. Down the Road Wherever by Mark Knopfler
  11. Hymn by Sarah Brightman
  12. Si by Andrea Bocelli
  13. Origins by Imagine Dragons
  14. Simulation Theory by Muse

Rock Concerts

My favorite rock concert was Elton John's Made in England Tour at Tacoma Dome. It was my first Rock concert and a truly fantastic experience. I have been to his other concerts, i.e., the Red Piano in Las Vegas, but they did not have the same atmosphere and intensity.
  1. Elton John's Made in England Tour, Tacoma Dome, Washington on 9/9/1995 
  2. Leonard Cohen, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 11/7/2012. 
  3. The History of the Eagles, HP Pavilion, San Jose, 1/29/2013 
  4. Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road SAP Center, San Jose, 10/19/2019
  5. Postmodern Jukebox, The Warfield, San Francisco, 12/13/2015 
  6. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Harrah's Hotel and Casino, 5/30/2015 
  7. Carlos Santana, Shoreline Amphitheater, 2002
  8. Elton John's Million Dollar Piano, The Colosseum, Las Vegas, 10/13/2011
  9. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Uptown Theatre, Napa, 2/23/2019
  10. The Gipsy Kings, Mountain Winery, 8/27/2014. 
Opera

My favorite opera is Carmen by Georges Bizet, due to the fantastic music and dramatic story. I am also partial to Puccini, especially Madame Butterfly.
  1. Carmen, Houston Grand Opera
  2. Madame Butterfly, Houston Grand Opera, 1993
  3. Marriage of Figaro, San Francisco Opera, 6/21/15
  4. Barber of Seville, San Francisco Opera, 11/23/13
  5. La Traviata, Houston Grand Opera
  6. Don Giovanni, San Francisco Opera
  7. La Boheme, San Francisco Opera,  11/22/14
  8. The Magic Flute, San Francisco Opera
  9. Lucia di Lammermoor, Houston Grand Opera
  10. Elektra, Houston Grand Opera
  11. Salome, Houston Grand Opera

Musical Theater

My favorite musical is Chicago (most recently seen at Ambassador Theater on Broadway), but I am a massive fan of Kander & Ebb musicals (which also include Cabaret, Liza with a Z, and Fosse). I like Cole Porter's musicals (Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate!) and George Gershwin's (Crazy for You) most.
  1. Chicago, Ambassador Theater, Broadway, New York City 12/18/2016, 9/25/2018
  2. Fiddler on the Roof, Broadway Theater, New York City, 12/23/2016 
  3. Cabaret, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
  4. Anything Goes, Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco, 1/19/2013 
  5. My Fair Lady, Vivian Beaumont Theater, New York City, 9/22/2018
  6. Grease, Orpheum Theater, San Francisco 
  7. Monty Python's Spamalot, Orpheum, San Francisco 
  8. Kiss Me, Kate, Orpheum, San Francisco 
  9. Saturday Night Fever, Orpheum, San Francisco 
  10. 42nd Street, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, 7/15/2017
  11. Mary Poppins, Orpheum, San Francisco, 5/12/2013 
  12. The Book of Mormon, San Francisco, 1/7/2014 
  13. Showboat, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 6/13/2014 
  14. Aladdin, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 4/17/19
  15. Mamma Mia, Orpheum, San Francisco
  16. Phantom of the Opera, Orpheum, San Francisco, 8/21/2015
  17. Cats, Neil Simon Theater, New York City, 12/24/2016 
  18. The Lion King, Orpheum, San Francisco
  19. Les Miserables, Orpheum, San Francisco
  20. Avenue Q, New World Stages, New York City, 9/24/2018
  21. Hello Dolly!, Orpheum, San Francisco
  22. Mathilda, Orpheum, San Francisco, 7/23/2015
  23. Fosse, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
  24. Annie, Portland, Oregon

Theater (Drama & Comedy)

I am incredibly partial to William Shakespeare's dramas, especially Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear. Having seen them long ago, I don't have any exposure to more recent productions.
  1. Emma, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 12/4/2015 
  2. Les Liaisons Dangereuses, New York City, 12/22/2016 
  3. Disgraced, Berkeley Rep, Berkeley, 12/12/2015 
  4. Cyrano, TheatreWorks, Mountain View, 4/24/2016 
  5. Outside Mullingar, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, 10/7/2016 
  6. The Hard Problem, Geary Theater, San Francisco, 10/19/2016 
  7. Daddy Longs Legs, Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto, 12/3/2016 
  8. Oleanna, Houston, 1992

Hiking Trails

Half-Dome was the longest, most challenging hike I have done. It has fantastic overlooks of Yosemite Valley. However, the other hikes in Silver Falls State Park in Oregon are also great.
  1. Half-Dome, Yosemite, CA 
  2. Silver Falls State Park, Oregon 
  3. Dipsea Trail, Sausalito, CA 
  4. Big Basin Redwoods, Boulder Creek, CA 
  5. Castle Rock State Park, CA 
  6. Mt. Shasta, CA 
  7. Point Lobos Natural Reserve, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 
  8. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mineral, CA 
  9. Huddart County Park, Woodside, CA

Ski Resorts

My favorite place to ski and snowboard is Whistler, near Vancouver, British Columbia. Whistler usually has great snow with minimal elevation gain, excellent, inexpensive restaurants, and a tremendous youthful vibe (with many other nearby activities such as tubing, ice skating, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, & snowmobiling). It also has a fabulous Scandinave Spa!
  1. Whistler/Blackcomb, BC, Canada (best resort) 
  2. Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, CA
  3. Verbier, Switzerland
  4. Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe, CA (best local powder)
  5. Mount Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood, Oregon 
  6. Mt. Bachelor, Bend, Oregon 
  7. Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe 
  8. Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, CA 
  9. Mt. Rose, East Lake Tahoe, NV 
  10. Sierra-at-Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, CA
  11. Bardonecchia, Turin, Italy
  12. Sugar Bowl, Lake Tahoe, CA (closest resort) 

Mountain Biking Trails
  1. Almaden Quicksilver County Park, San Jose, CA
  2. John Nicholas Trail, Los Gatos, CA
  3. Saratoga Gap & Long Ridge, Saratoga, CA
  4. Santa Teresa County Park, San Jose, CA
  5. Joseph D. Grant County Park
  6. Limekiln Trail, Los Gatos, CA
  7. Monte Bello OSP
  8. Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA

Off-Road Motorcycling Trails

My favorite place to ride off-road dirt bikes is in Hollister SVRA. I have taken classes with Brian Garrahan and have ridden multiple 4-stroke and 2-stroke motorcycles.
  1. Hollister Hills SVRA, Hollister, CA
  2. Carnegie SVRA, Tracy, CA
  3. Metcalf, San Jose, CA

Windsurfing Spots

My all-time favorite place for windsurfing is on the Northern shore of Maui. However, I also enjoyed windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge (aka "The Gorge" near Hood River, Oregon) at Sherman Island in Rio Vista and Coyote Point and Crissy Field in San Francisco.
  1. Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
  2. Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz, California
  3. Swell City, Hood River, Oregon
  4. Rowena, Hood River, Oregon
  5. Sherman Island, Rio Vista, California
  6. Crissy Field, San Francisco, California
  7. Event Site, Hood River, Oregon
  8. Coyote Point, San Francisco, California

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