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San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
A reader seeks a quiet Bay Area restaurant. Here's what our critics recommend
Associate restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez and I often field highly specific requests from readers. Where can I book a private dining room for a holiday party? How can I make a good first impression on my girlfriend's gluten-free parents? Where do I find the best cinnamon rolls in Marin County? We respond when we can (and if we haven't answered your particular query, our apologies, please send all complaints about workload priorities to our editor) but recently we've been thinking: Shouldn't we be sharing this intel with a wider audience? Maybe you too have a girlfriend with gluten-free parents? So today we decided to open the mail bag and respond publicly, and if there's demand, we'll continue to do so every now and then. Could you use a restaurant recommendation for a specific dining occasion? If so, hit us up using this form, and we might answer your question in a future installment. I enjoy your reviews tremendously but keep looking for a mention that I can't find — communal tables. Are there any? A place where you can eat alone but with others? There must be more singles like me that would be interested. Even couples for that matter. I know the bar is always an option but it's not the same. — Eva You're right, Eva, the bar is not the same — although when I'm dining solo, I personally will take the bar over a communal table any day. But this is about you, not me! I would recommend checking out Galinette, a French 'beach bistro' in the Outer Sunset that opened last year. The front room and sidewalk have individual tables, but a second room is dominated by a large communal table that can fit 16 cozily. And a bonus recommendation for you: My former colleague Soleil Ho recently wrote an essay for Best Food Blog about experiencing social anxiety in communal dining situations, and they shouted out Jules, where 'reservation-less riffraff can still dig into nori guanciale pull-apart buns and sourdough pizza at the communal table.' — MacKenzie Galinette. 3554-3560 Taraval St., San Francisco. I have two recommendations: one is sleek and the other lively. Ilcha in San Francisco has a shared table that runs across the dining room, and it's the soul of the restaurant, filled with patrons gleefully nibbling on fried chicken and sipping soju. Shan Dong in Oakland's Chinatown, meanwhile, has three round communal tables outfitted with Lazy Susans. When I sat at one recently, the man sitting to my left was transfixed by my order of eggplants in a gleaming sweet-and-spicy sauce. I felt him salivating, so I offered him some, and he nearly leapt with joy. In exchange, he gave me a vegetarian dumpling, and the person across from us offered to share his spicy chicken. Since Shan Dong can get packed, staff offer smaller parties the quicker option of huddling up with others at a communal table. It's the best seat in the house. — Cesar I'm a Baby Boomer. Yesterday I had lunch with a friend who is also a Baby Boomer. She lives near San Jose and I live in San Francisco. She said she seeks out quiet restaurants wherever she is, and I've noticed a huge difference in my ability to hear when in a restaurant that has carpet on the floor. Could you do a search for the quietest restaurants on the Peninsula — approximately equal distance for both of us? The Boomers, and probably even younger people, will love it. — Christina If you and your friend are down for dinner instead of lunch, I would book a table at the Mountain House in Woodside. The front bar area, complete with taxidermy and a roaring fire, can have raucous roadhouse vibes, but the dining rooms in back are marvelously hushed with plenty of space in between tables. One of the rooms — almost entirely glassed-in, giving the illusion of dining among the redwoods — even has that coveted carpet. Don't miss the flourless chocolate cake. — MacKenzie If you're looking for a lunch spot (and your San Jose friend doesn't mind a slightly longer drive), check out Rasa in Burlingame. Specializing in contemporary Indian cuisine, the restaurant reopened last year after closing in 2022. Try to sit on the mezzanine level, which is styled with tropical wallpaper. It's much quieter during the day than at night. — Cesar A friend is in a new relationship, and I'd like to get her a gift certificate to celebrate a fresh chapter. Can you suggest a romantic, under-the-radar spot? — Laurie By some metrics, Aziza is definitely not under the radar; it's on our 2025 list of the Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area, and except for an extended closure from 2016-2019, it's been around since 1999. But the Moroccan restaurant's location in the Richmond District gives it the aura of an undiscovered secret. It can be found on a stretch of Geary that teems with excellent food, from Russian bakeries to destination dim sum, but most of the neighboring restaurants range from unfussy to extremely casual. I think your friend and her new paramour will adore the romance of stepping off the busy street, through Aziza's distinctive corner door and into the warmly lit dining room. They should have a drink at the Moroccan-tiled bar before requesting one of the tables with banquette seating. Also, if you're still reading, Eva — there's a communal table! — MacKenzie Aziza. 5800 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA. In my view, there's nothing more romantic than saving money. Sfizio in Oakland cares deeply about making its food accessible, offering a Cal-Italian menu where nothing exceeds $20. That means a couple could have a nice dinner filled with an appetizer, spaghetti with meatballs and a glass of wine for a sensible price. Extend the date with dessert by walking over to Tara's Organic Ice Cream for a scoop; my go-to: lavender on a black sesame-flecked cone. — Cesar
Daily Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
'The way I gasped!' Aussies gobsmacked over Gen Z's way of doing their tax returns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. A Gen Zer has left older Aussies gobsmacked after revealing how she submitted her tax return this year. In a revelation that would blow the mind of any Baby Boomer, Melbourne woman Paije recently divulged that she does her taxes each year using nothing but her smart phone. 'I just saw a video on my for you page where they were talking about that thing where some purchases you can do on your phone but big purchases have to be on your laptop,' the 28-year-old explained. 'I would like everyone to know that I did my taxes on my phone. I do everything on there.' Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. The 28-year-old worker received a lower tax return than previous years. Picture: @princesspeeny/TikTok For more stories like this, visit: Everything is on the phone The laptop Vs phone debate has gained traction in recent years. For Gen Zers who grew up as digital natives, they wouldn't think twice about making big purchases or completing in-depth tasks on their phone. For Millennials and other generations, things they consider 'major' tasks, such as purchasing a plane ticket, are reserved for the laptop, with the idea of being left with nothing but their mobile enough to send them into a panic. So, when Paije made her tax return confession, there were plenty of older Aussies who couldn't comprehend how she could complete such a significant task without whipping out her laptop. 'The way I gasped. Not on your phone,' one person said, with another joking, 'this feels illegal'. 'I didn't think anything at tax time could be worse than people saying getting a return just means you paid too much during the year, then I saw this,' another said. One person branded it 'criminal', adding that flights, tax and online furniture shopping are all laptop tasks. Another added: 'No way, that's definitely a desktop job.' However, there were plenty of people who saw no issue with it, with others claiming it is easier to do your taxes on your phone, particularly if you use the ATO app. 'I haven't opened my laptop since high school in 2019, I use my phone for everything,' one person said. Speaking to Paije said she wanted to tap into the running joke that older generations think some activities should only be done on laptops. 'I suppose I fall into that more Type B personality type and my attitude is that a phone is just a mini computer now,' the 28-year-old said. She also noted that the ATO's myDeductions app has become increasingly user friendly, making it really easy to do your tax return with nothing but your phone. In another video, Paije revealed she was getting a $921 refund after submitting her tax return, a figure she says is the 'worst' she has ever received. While the young worker understands that getting a smaller or no return means you have paid the correct amount of tax throughout the year, she noted that 'it still hurts'. In previous years, after submitting the same kind of deductions she did this year, her return would be in the $1500 to $2000 range. She also touched on her increasing HECS-HELP debt, which is currently sitting at almost $92,000. On June 1, indexation of 3.2 per cent was applied to all student loan debts. RELATED: Easy way to minimise the amount of tax you pay Paije said doing your taxes on your phone is a lot easier than people think. Picture: ATO Hecs and tax - what students need to know While there have been welcome changes to the way indexation occurs, with the lower of either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wage Price Index applied, there is still a lot of contention around the process. While payments towards your HECS debt are taken out of your pay in real time, that money is not coming off your debt at the same rate. Instead, the ATO holds these funds as a credit until you file your tax return on or after July 1. But, because indexation occurs before this on June 1, your past contributions are actually applying to the higher indexed rate, despite coming out of your pay much earlier. Because of this, many people with student loans feel like they will never see their debts reduce. 'The indexation from the last few years means that you're not really paying anything off because it just gets added again,' Paije said. She has two bachelors degrees and is currently doing her Masters and says the idea of paying off the debt doesn't even cross her mind anymore. 'I don't see it ever happening and so the best thing to do it just ignore it. Since the payments come out of my pay each fortnight I never see the money anyway, so I am kind of just choosing peace and pretending it doesn't exists,' she said. 'It would be too much mental effort that I don't have to care about it.' Originally published as 'The way I gasped!' Aussies gobsmacked over Gen Z's way of doing their tax returns
Herald Sun
22-07-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
'The way I gasped!' Aussies gobsmacked over Gen Z's way of doing their tax returns
A Gen Zer has left older Aussies gobsmacked after revealing how she submitted her tax return this year. In a revelation that would blow the mind of any Baby Boomer, Melbourne woman Paije recently divulged that she does her taxes each year using nothing but her smart phone. 'I just saw a video on my for you page where they were talking about that thing where some purchases you can do on your phone but big purchases have to be on your laptop,' the 28-year-old explained. 'I would like everyone to know that I did my taxes on my phone. I do everything on there.' Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. The 28-year-old worker received a lower tax return than previous years. Picture: @princesspeeny/TikTok For more stories like this, visit: Everything is on the phone The laptop Vs phone debate has gained traction in recent years. For Gen Zers who grew up as digital natives, they wouldn't think twice about making big purchases or completing in-depth tasks on their phone. For Millennials and other generations, things they consider 'major' tasks, such as purchasing a plane ticket, are reserved for the laptop, with the idea of being left with nothing but their mobile enough to send them into a panic. So, when Paije made her tax return confession, there were plenty of older Aussies who couldn't comprehend how she could complete such a significant task without whipping out her laptop. 'The way I gasped. Not on your phone,' one person said, with another joking, 'this feels illegal'. 'I didn't think anything at tax time could be worse than people saying getting a return just means you paid too much during the year, then I saw this,' another said. One person branded it 'criminal', adding that flights, tax and online furniture shopping are all laptop tasks. Another added: 'No way, that's definitely a desktop job.' However, there were plenty of people who saw no issue with it, with others claiming it is easier to do your taxes on your phone, particularly if you use the ATO app. 'I haven't opened my laptop since high school in 2019, I use my phone for everything,' one person said. Speaking to Paije said she wanted to tap into the running joke that older generations think some activities should only be done on laptops. 'I suppose I fall into that more Type B personality type and my attitude is that a phone is just a mini computer now,' the 28-year-old said. She also noted that the ATO's myDeductions app has become increasingly user friendly, making it really easy to do your tax return with nothing but your phone. In another video, Paije revealed she was getting a $921 refund after submitting her tax return, a figure she says is the 'worst' she has ever received. While the young worker understands that getting a smaller or no return means you have paid the correct amount of tax throughout the year, she noted that 'it still hurts'. In previous years, after submitting the same kind of deductions she did this year, her return would be in the $1500 to $2000 range. She also touched on her increasing HECS-HELP debt, which is currently sitting at almost $92,000. On June 1, indexation of 3.2 per cent was applied to all student loan debts. RELATED: Easy way to minimise the amount of tax you pay Paije said doing your taxes on your phone is a lot easier than people think. Picture: ATO Hecs and tax - what students need to know While there have been welcome changes to the way indexation occurs, with the lower of either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wage Price Index applied, there is still a lot of contention around the process. While payments towards your HECS debt are taken out of your pay in real time, that money is not coming off your debt at the same rate. Instead, the ATO holds these funds as a credit until you file your tax return on or after July 1. But, because indexation occurs before this on June 1, your past contributions are actually applying to the higher indexed rate, despite coming out of your pay much earlier. Because of this, many people with student loans feel like they will never see their debts reduce. 'The indexation from the last few years means that you're not really paying anything off because it just gets added again,' Paije said. She has two bachelors degrees and is currently doing her Masters and says the idea of paying off the debt doesn't even cross her mind anymore. 'I don't see it ever happening and so the best thing to do it just ignore it. Since the payments come out of my pay each fortnight I never see the money anyway, so I am kind of just choosing peace and pretending it doesn't exists,' she said. 'It would be too much mental effort that I don't have to care about it.' Originally published as 'The way I gasped!' Aussies gobsmacked over Gen Z's way of doing their tax returns
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Gen Z reveals how she did her tax return this year, leaving older Aussies gobsmacked
A Gen Zer has left older Aussies gobsmacked after revealing how she submitted her tax return this year. In a revelation that would blow the mind of any Baby Boomer, Melbourne woman Paije recently divulged that she does her taxes each year using nothing but her smart phone. 'I just saw a video on my for you page where they were talking about that thing where some purchases you can do on your phone but big purchases have to be on your laptop,' the 28-year-old explained. 'I would like everyone to know that I did my taxes on my phone. I do everything on there.' The laptop Vs phone debate has gained traction in recent years. For Gen Zers who grew up as digital natives, they wouldn't think twice about making big purchases or completing in-depth tasks on their phone. For Millennials and other generations, things they consider 'major' tasks, such as purchasing a plane ticket, are reserved for the laptop, with the idea of being left with nothing but their mobile enough to send them into a panic. So, when Paije made her tax return confession, there were plenty of older Aussies who couldn't comprehend how she could complete such a significant task without whipping out her laptop. 'The way I gasped. Not on your phone,' one person said, with another joking, 'this feels illegal'. 'I didn't think anything at tax time could be worse than people saying getting a return just means you paid too much during the year, then I saw this,' another said. One person branded it 'criminal', adding that flights, tax and online furniture shopping are all laptop tasks. Another added: 'No way, that's definitely a desktop job.' However, there were plenty of people who saw no issue with it, with others claiming it is easier to do your taxes on your phone, particularly if you use the ATO app. 'I haven't opened my laptop since high school in 2019, I use my phone for everything,' one person said. Speaking to Paije said she wanted to tap into the running joke that older generations think some activities should only be done on laptops. 'I suppose I fall into that more Type B personality type and my attitude is that a phone is just a mini computer now,' the 28-year-old said. She also noted that the ATO's myDeductions app has become increasingly user friendly, making it really easy to do your tax return with nothing but your phone. In another video, Paije revealed she was getting a $921 refund after submitting her tax return, a figure she says is the 'worst' she has ever received. While the young worker understands that getting a smaller or no return means you have paid the correct amount of tax throughout the year, she noted that 'it still hurts'. In previous years, after submitting the same kind of deductions she did this year, her return would be in the $1500 to $2000 range. She also touched on her increasing HECS-HELP debt, which is currently sitting at almost $92,000. On June 1, indexation of 3.2 per cent was applied to all student loan debts. While there have been welcome changes to the way indexation occurs, with the lower of either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wage Price Index applied, there is still a lot of contention around the process. While payments towards your HECS debt are taken out of your pay in real time, that money is not coming off your debt at the same rate. Instead, the ATO holds these funds as a credit until you file your tax return on or after July 1. But, because indexation occurs before this on June 1, your past contributions are actually applying to the higher indexed rate, despite coming out of your pay much earlier. Because of this, many people with student loans feel like they will never see their debts reduce. 'The indexation from the last few years means that you're not really paying anything off because it just gets added again,' Paije said. She has two bachelors degrees and is currently doing her Masters and says the idea of paying off the debt doesn't even cross her mind anymore. 'I don't see it ever happening and so the best thing to do it just ignore it. Since the payments come out of my pay each fortnight I never see the money anyway, so I am kind of just choosing peace and pretending it doesn't exists,' she said. 'It would be too much mental effort that I don't have to care about it.'
NZ Herald
20-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
AI adoption low among NZ SMEs despite positive impacts, survey reveals
MYOB chief customer officer Dean Chadwick said emerging trends in the use of AI locally focus on driving awareness and sales. 'Our insights show SMEs are primarily employing AI tools to bolster marketing efforts – helping with the copywriting of marketing materials and press releases (39%) or generating social media posts (31%),' Chadwick said. 'A consistent voice in market is key for businesses to stay top of mind for their audience, particularly in an economic environment when every dollar of revenue counts.' Chadwick explained that the use of AI aligns with the top skills SMEs identified would be the most important to their business over the next five years, namely customer service (40%) and marketing (32%). Kiwi SMEs are also proactively using AI tools for copywriting technical documents, reports and training materials (25%), customer service support including chatbots and virtual assistants (21%), and for analysing markets, trends and risks (21%). One interesting insight from the survey highlighted that younger generations of business owners are leading the way when it comes to AI adoption. Almost all of the Gen Z business operators surveyed (93%) and more than half (59%) of millennials polled had started using AI tools in their businesses. This is compared with Gen X and Baby Boomer business owners, who sit at 28% and 17% respectively. 'In taking the heavy-lifting and time investment out of some of these tasks, the efficiency gain AI provides to SMEs not only ensures business owners can focus on higher-value tasks, it also offers a reprieve on workload. 'Alongside cashflow concerns, workload is the top business-related factor that has negatively impacted the mental wellbeing of a third of local business operators in the past two years. Intelligent tools that can help ease this burden will likely improve employee engagement and well-being as a result.' As to why adoption is not as high, 39% of SMEs surveyed felt AI tools weren't needed or appropriate for their business, with 30% of this group believing they don't know enough about it. Some respondents were more specific, with 18% believing there weren't any AI tools specific to their business needs. However, almost a fifth (19%) still don't trust the new technology. 'Knowledge and confidence play a big role in the adoption of new technologies. It's understandable that a portion of SMEs are hesitant to embrace AI in their businesses.' 'However, given the integration of AI in a range of everyday systems, from autocompleting sentences in email, to reminders and forecasting in business management software, it's also possible many business owners don't realise they're already using AI.' Chadwick said SME owners who are still hesitant should discuss the topic with a business mentor or speak with other businesses to learn how they are benefiting from the technology. The MYOB Business Monitor is a national survey of more than 1000 New Zealand business owners, managers and directors, from sole traders to medium-sized companies, representing the major industry sectors. Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
