I eat out a lot. Sometimes too much. In a sea of mediocre restaurants, few experiences have stayed with me. Here are some truly memorable ones:

1. Incanto in San Francisco. The chef is passionate about offal and funky old recipes from rural Italy. His food is simple, crazy and tasty, all at the same time. In fact I’d place Incanto in my all time top five best eating experiences. Period.

2. A glass of Clos Roche Blanche L’Arpent Rouge (Pineau d’Aunis) at the Slanted Door in San Francisco. This was the best glass of wine I had in California. After drinking big wines in Napa, Sonoma and Lake County that hovered at 15 % alcohol, I almost cried with joy when I got to drink this on my last day.

3. Raw Fish Meze at Anthos. I love Michael Psilakis’ food. He’s bold and applies his own signature to food that tastes like a personal narrative of his Greek roots and Greek diaspora upbringing.

4. Monday Room (inside Public restaurant). Loved the laid back atmosphere, the wines and you’ve got to love the sommelier.

5. PDT. The hidden cocktail sanctuary behind Crif Dogs on St. Marks.

6. The new cocktails at Craft. The wine director has taken it upon himself to create drinks that are seasonal and complex.

7. Insieme. I ate the heavy Lesso Misto con Condimenti Tipici (boiled meats with salsa verde, horseradish cream), in July when it was almost ninety degrees outside. It was entirely inappropriate for the weather but enjoyed every bite. Now it’s winter I dream of daily portions of this dish.

8. Allen and Delancy. A truly classy and cute restaurant that serves up honest old-world nosh with a sophisticated twist.