Zack Fernandes Contributor Profile

Hold my stein: Here’s The Six Fifty’s guide to Oktoberfest 2022

For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oktoberfest, the fabled beer festival held in Munich, Germany, has returned. If you haven’t booked your flights to Munich for the real thing, you can always indulge in some of the local Oktoberfest festivities taking place right here on the Peninsula.

How a Polish immigrant built a vodka brand that’s supporting relief efforts in Ukraine

Dariusz Paczuski’s early memories of vodka at the dining table are a throughline to his Polish heritage, with shots of vodka serving as the de facto beverage pairing and perfect foil for the salty, rich and meat-laden cuisine he grew up around. Decades later, Paczuski and his business partner, Ukrainian immigrant Dmitry Lipkin, are channeling their memories of Eastern Europe as they lead fundraising efforts for Ukrainian relief organizations through ...

Say cheers to SF Beer Week at events throughout the Peninsula

From tap takeovers and a festival to limited-edition releases, celebrate SF Beer Week without having to leave the Peninsula at these local participating establishments.

Inside Fogbird, San Mateo’s newest cocktail lounge

Fogbird cocktail lounge in San Mateo aims to craft approachable cocktails in a friendly atmosphere built for the post-COVID social scene.

Hot drinks for cold weather: A guide to the SF Peninsula’s best toddies, teas and mole’d wine

It’s time to ditch the cold brews and ice-cold pints in favor of warming mugs of tea, hot cocktails, and exceptional coffee. Don your scarf and check out one of these 10 splendid options for hot drinks on the Peninsula.

Bitter? Sweet!! How to make the most of Negroni Week on the Peninsula

Order up the classic cocktail (or a modern variation) in support of a good cause.

Cheez(steak) Whiz: A Philly transplant’s guide to the Peninsula’s best cheesesteaks

Steak + grilled onions + liquid cheese= edible East Coast magic

Craft cocktails without pretension? Bar Zola says they have the recipe.

The long-awaited Palo Alto project is now open on Bryant Street, with French food from next door and drinks that are fun, complex and sometimes alcohol-free.

Mix it up: 10 locally made cocktails for your post-quarantine comeback

Seek out these creative twists on classic drinks from Peninsula bartenders.

The Peninsula’s cure to cocktail conformity: Tiki Thursday at Timber & Salt

Let the master of obscure syrups, sticky citrus and rare rums take you to a faraway island. Brian Matulis strains a mai tai at Timber & Salt in Redwood City. (Photo by Adam Pardee) Every Thursday, Brian Matulis, the bar manager at Timber & Salt in Redwood City, offers his customers a “vacation in a glass.” For one night a week, on “Tiki Thursday,” Matulis serves cocktails of his choosing from the ...