5 Stories We’re Savoring

The stories our editors are reading, loving, and sharing this week. 

“Rebecca Solnit’s West” –> Slate

“Rebecca Solnit is one of the most interesting contemporary writers about California and the West—by turns quirky, opinionated, meditative. This overview in Slate does a good job of introducing readers to her.” — Peter Fish, editor-at-large

“Tart Gallery: 20 Reasons Why Sour Beer is Here to Stay” –> Weekly Pint

“Warm sunshine, soft little breezes, and flowers blooming everywhere—I love summer on the San Francisco peninsula. In summers past, my favorite thing to sip at the end of a summer day has been chilled rosé. But I think I have to branch out after reading this thirst-inducing newsletter from beer writer Christian deBenedetti.” — Margo True, food editor

“13 Outdoor Fabrics You’ll Want to Use Indoors” –> Pop Sugar Home

“As summer rapidly approaches, I’m spending more and more time in my backyard – and I’m coveting some new decorative touches to punch up my outdoor space for entertaining (and OK, I admit it, my own personal eye candy). I’m fond of my outdoor furniture, but not of its definitively un-summery earth-toned cushions. Time to reupholster! These fun outdoor fabrics are topping my wish list.” — Jessica Mordo, senior editor, Sunset.com

“Five of San Francisco’s Most Underrated Restaurants” –> 7×7

“I was ecstatic to see 7×7’s article this week about the 5 most underrated restaurants in SF. Every week, someone is opening a new “hot spot” and it can be exhausting to try and keep up with what’s new and also trying to get a seat there. This article was a great reminder that there are some really talented and hard working people in SF that just keeping doing what they do best, at the same old location, and aren’t getting the press they should anymore because the news buzz is gone. I thought every restaurant on this list deserved to be on it and I made reservations at all of them for the coming weeks. Thanks, 7×7, for reminding me that sometimes the ol’ standby needs to be rediscovered.” — Amy Machnak, recipe editor. 

“In Defense of Grafting Tomatoes” –> The New York Times

“I tried grafted tomatoes in Sunset’s Menlo Park test garden last year and found no real difference between grafted and not. But the hype is deafening, and sources I trust (aka Alice Doyle from Log House Plants) keep looking at me like I’m crazy. So we just planted another 7 grafted ones in that garden of ours. But I have to say, reading that the iconic Eliot Coleman also saw no difference isn’t helping to convince me that this craze is poised to be a game-changer. I’d love to be proven wrong…who doesn’t want double the tomato bounty? — Johanna Silver, associate garden editor.”