Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2024/25 i Esquire

LAST SUMMER, I WAS TUCKED INTO A CORNER AT A BAR-becue in my suburban New Jersey town, struggling to make conversation with the fellow dads. One of the worst things about get-togethers with parents in their forties and fifties is that they can resemble a high school party: There are cliques. Upon arrival, my daughters vanished into the backyard with the other kids; my wife mingled at my side for a few minutes before breaking off with her friends. And then there were the dads, left alone to find common ground. I’m sure you’ve been in a similar situation. The dads surrounding me included a contractor, a lawyer, a physical therapist, and a guy with a job in sales or possibly marketing. As far as I could tell, their interests…

AS WE CONTEMPLATE THE light-amber liquid in our longstemmed tasting glasses, Shinji Fukuyo uses a surprising word to describe the delicate flavors in his latest creation: antique. Fukuyo is the chief blender for House of Suntory, the esteemed Japanese whisky producer perhaps best known to nonaficionados as the brand that brought Bill Murray to Tokyo as its pitchman in the 2003 movie Lost in Translation. Here in an elegant hotel dining room in midtown Manhattan, it is very much Suntory time again. And my lucky fellow tasters and I are about to sample a rare new bottle—with a price tag that’s hard to fathom. Fukuyo has come to New York to introduce the Hibiki 40-Year, the oldest “expression” ever offered of Suntory’s premium blended-whisky brand. It combines five different whiskies from…

LORO PIANA IS ONE OF THE WORST kept secrets in fashion. Riding high on the quiet-luxury trend, the brand, which this year celebrates 100 years in business, is reaching new audiences—and age groups—with its opulent-feeling but surprisingly subtle-looking clothing. Here’s another poorly kept secret: Quiet luxury is actually not a trend. It’s a lifetime commitment. Kendall Roy may have amped up the fashion fan base for Loro Piana, but the brand has been making cool, calm, and impossibly expensive stuff for pretty much its entire existence. Why weren’t many people aware of it until now? Because of Loro Piana’s roots as a maker of fine fabrics. For decades, the only place you’d see a Loro Piana label was inside a bespoke suit, placed there by the tailor as a guarantee of…

THIS IS A TIME FOR familiar smells and nostalgia: fires burning, spices roasting, pine needles needling. One whiff and you’re transported to a raucous holiday party or a cozy family gathering. But enjoying a seasonal scent and wearing one are two very different things. When spraying on a winter cologne, don’t get too literal. The secret is wearing something that takes holiday classics like sugar, spice, and wood but twists them into something new. These five fragrances hit just the right note(s). 01_SUGAR ARQUISTE ALMOND SUEDE Sweet scents sound good in theory but often end up as saccharine, one-note assaults on your nose (case in point: those gingerbread holiday candles). This warm, rich, deeply layered fragrance breaks from the pack by pairing bitter-almond and sugar notes with a base of smooth…

The story OF HOW JANNIK SINNER, A GENERATIONAL TALENT, VAULTED FROM being a virtually unknown teen tennis prodigy to a global superstar goes like this: In 2018, at the age of sixteen, the Italian went pro. A year later, while still ranked a lowly 546th in the world, he entered a tournament in Bergamo, Italy, as a wild card—and won the whole thing. Not long after, he competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals against the best players twenty-one years old and under. He won that tournament, too, and burst into the top hundred. Suddenly, everyone in tennis was paying close attention to Sinner. Just a few years later, in 2023, he carried Italy to its first Davis Cup victory since 1976 and became a national hero. The opportunity was there…

ALMA FONDA FINA DENVER Johnny Curiel stands behind the counter at Alma Fonda Fina like he’s ready to pounce. There’s more than technique guiding his movements as the chef assembles the pieces of a tuna tostada with smashed avocado, salsa macha, and dollops of mayonnaise infused with the nutty tang of chicatana ants. Curiel’s got the brassy smile and the coiled energy of a man on a mission: He’s all taste this and try this and I want you to know about this. He was born in Guadalajara and became so determined to bring Mexican excellence to Denver that he and his wife, Kasie, sold their house to raise money for the restaurant. (The gamble paid off: About a year after opening, the restaurant landed its first Michelin star.) In…

BUDONOKI LOS ANGELES Everything about Budonoki seems to say, “Seriously, do not take us seriously.” The menu is full of frolicking cartoon bears, and there’s a cocktail that costs $150 if you steal the penguin mug. The room is dark. The bar is vast. Obviously you’re here to drink. But then the food starts coming, and it’s no joke. Chef Dan Rabilwongse may sidestep a traditional approach to izakaya staples, but it’s hard to complain when you can’t stop scooping spicy tuna into sheets of toasted nori and when the au poivre sauce that accompanies his Wagyu zabuton shimmers with so much flavor. —J. G. TOLO NEW YORK On the menu, seek out “little rice noodles with XO sauce.” Order that. It doesn’t look like much when it arrives: soft…

__ I TAKE THINGS in stride. Maybe a lot of it is maturity. When I was a lot younger, in my late twenties, I was a tyrant. I would go off the handle quite easily. That doesn’t really happen today. __ SHIT HAPPENS. If a guest has a bad experience, I can only control that so much. I can’t control the human element of how people receive it. __ THE DIFFICULT THING these days is staffing, both front and back of the house. What’s challenging is just getting people. After Covid, I don’t know where everybody went. They seem to have disappeared from the workforce. __ I’VE GOT PEOPLE who’ve been with me a long time and they don’t take things for granted—meaning just because they’ve been with me twenty-five…

STORE INFORMATION For the items featured in Esquire, please consult the website or call the phone number provided. The Blueprint, p. 32: Bugatchi jacket, bugatchi.com. P. 39: Thom Browne brogue, thombrowne.com. P. 40: Esquivel brogue, georgeesquivel.com. Santoni brogue, santonishoes.com. Allen Edmonds brogue, allenedmonds.com. Church’s brogue, church-footwear.com. Brunello Cucinelli brogue, brunellocucinelli.com. P. 44: C. P. Company cardigan and trousers, cpcompany.com. Sunspel T-shirt, us.sunspel.com. The Frye Company boots, thefryecompany.com. For a Good Time . . ., p. 86: Bell & Ross watch, bellross.com. TAG Heuer watch, tagheuer.com. Omega watch, omegawatches.com. P. 87: Tudor watch, tudorwatch.com. Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, jaeger-lecoultre.com. P. 88: Vacheron Constantin watch, vacheron-constantin.com. Tiffany & Co. watch, tiffany.com. TAG Heuer watch, tagheuer.com. Porsche Design watch, shop.porsche.com. P. 89: Rolex watch, rolex.com. Breitling watch, breitling.com. P. 90: Bulgari watch, bulgari.com. Montblanc watch,…

Standing in my kitchen chatting with my mother in law, it struck me how much I enjoy seeing her wear pieces of jewelry that we have given her over the years - a necklace from our first holiday, a ring for a birthday. Better than the moment we gave her each piece, seeing her style them and make them her own makes them truly precious. Jewelry and watches are my love language. They are deeply meaningful works of art that combine the best of what earth has to offer with our ingenuity and craft. They endure long after the celebration, and in fact take on more meaning over time. At Ben Bridge, precise craftsmanship, our discerning quality control, the passion of our team, and our ability to offer ongoing service…

Some of our favorite pieces are those that grow with you, ignite memories and become heirlooms that embody your journey. Timeless classics like Tahitian pearls, diamond bands, bangles and studs are the types of jewelry that just get better with time and lend themselves to stacking and styling in any way that strikes your fancy.…

Don’t shy away from the personality of bold rings that stand out with a vibrant pop of color from gemstones in an array of hues. An impact ring with smooth, comfortable contours pairs perfectly with a classic watch on a leather strap. When it comes to men’s fashion, choose pieces that you can wear in the office, out to dinner or at a laid-back weekend barbeque.…

IN OUR NOVEMBER 2002 ISSUE, ESQUIRE RAN A LIST OF “THINGS A MAN SHOULD NOT Know.” The list served as a strict and imposing doorman, a Patrick Swayze keeping the undesirables out of the Double Deuce that is the sophisticated man’s mind. We gave a thumbs-down to knowing both “the date on which the Olsen twins become legal” and “what happens to the little cows before they become the delicious veal on his plate.” We eighty-sixed information out of male panic (“how to cross-stitch”), out of practicality (“his best friend’s salary”), and out of equal parts of both (“a single lyric from any song by O-Town”). We stand by this list. One thing a man for sure did not know in November 2002 was how much information his brain would soon…

BROGUES HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEIR DAYS IN THE WET-lands of Ireland and Scotland. Once considered country-only shoes, they’ve become a staple of the modern-footwear pantheon—more likely to be spotted in a crowded cocktail bar than in a bog. Still, they maintain an unfussy appeal that their unadorned cousins just can’t muster. That’s thanks to the perforation in the upper, the “broguing” that gives the shoes their defining feature. The story goes that the holes originally let water drain out. Today, they’re just there for looks—and to knock the formality factor down a notch. Which isn’t to say you can’t wear your brogues with a suit. You can. And should. But they’ll look equally at home with jeans or frayed-atthe-hem cargo pants. That’s the beauty of brogues: They…

THE OTHER DAY MY SON JASPER ASKED ME WHAT sounded like a simple question: “Dad,” he said, “what is American food?” Jasper is six years old, and we live in southern California, which meant that in the course of the preceding week he and his twin brother had encountered Sonoran-style tacos, Lebanese kebabs, Vietnamese spring rolls, and several iterations of pizza. It’s customary for first-time visitors in Los Angeles to remark on the multicultural multitude of the city’s restaurant landscape, but only when you live here do you realize (as did the late California food critic Jonathan Gold) that the scope of its globe-hopping is immeasurable, that you can roll along miles and miles of boulevards such as Pico and Venice marveling at shopping centers that read like culinary maps of…

AMY’S PASTELILLOS PHILADELPHIA Amaryllis Rivera Nassar sells pastelillos—pas-te-LEE-jos—out of a brightpink corner shop with no seats. She’s Amy, a Diasporican chef who’s the youngest of five siblings and the only one not born on La Isla. (Philadelphia has the secondlargest Puerto Rican population in the U. S., after New York.) The pastelillos in question are half-moons of crinkly fried dough. They might come stuffed with succulent stewed pork in a homemade guava-barbecue sauce or a flawless picadillo. Fresh like a favorite thing, as welcome as a love letter, they burst with flavor and, let’s face it, love. —J. D. S. MAE MALAI THAI HOUSE OF NOODLES LOS ANGELES Microdosing is cool and all, but have you tried Thai boat noodle soup? Because for eight bucks and change it’s hard to…

Are you going to eat that? If you are nearly finished with your Aperol spritz, a slice of perfectly ripe orange remains wedged onto the rim of your glass, and your dining companions have any sense, you ought to expect this question. Yet the humble garnish gets a bad rap. Garnishes are gross, the critics say, germy, old, inedible. They use dirty knives to slice the limes for your vodka soda! They don’t wash the pineapple rind! To that we say: If the knives they are using at the bar where you’re drinking are unwashed, then you have bigger problems than the garnish. Around here we’ve never met a snack we didn’t like, especially oranges—and especially, especially oranges we didn’t peel ourselves. Same goes for martini olives—it should be a crime…

Getting to know Molly and Russell is no doubt one of the best experiences I’ve had working with Ben Bridge. I’ve been their Personal Jeweler over the years, and it has shown me just how important you can be to your customers and how much they mean to us. Recently, we were getting new pieces in for a special event, and they were the first people that came to mind. I knew their 30th wedding anniversary was coming up and that Russell would want to find something special for Molly (he loves to pamper his wife!). I invited them to the show and texted Russell separately so we could start to brainstorm what Molly would truly love. As I went through ideas, an incredible earring, necklace, and ring combo jumped…

Your dream rings come alive with Bella Ponte! Gorgeous modern yet timeless designs that will woo you and are crafted from recycled gold. Looking to customize your ring? Our Personal Jewelers are here to guide you through the process using 3D technology that you can see in-store and take home! We are here to help you incorporate family heirloom stones, explore diamonds and gemstones, and play with exactly how it all comes together with your engagement and wedding band. Want your ring to match your partner’s? Create your set together and add an engraving and details that hold the most meaning for your love story.…

LOOK AT THIS DOWN JACKET— this very particular shade. It’s mustard. Dijon, to be precise. The color lends it a sun-faded, vintage vibe, setting it apart from the hyper-technical, brandspanking-new look of so many jackets designed to battle the elements. Also: It’s functional. Throw it over anything from casual rigs for weekend coffee runs and dog walks to layers of luxurious knitwear—another Bugatchi specialty—for a day at the offce or a night on the town. And if you’re meeting someone for the first time? Just tell them to look for the guy in Dijon.…

THERE’S SOMETHING NOS talgic about corduroy. Perhaps it’s the richness of the fabric; its lofty texture and signature wales feel a world away from the polyester sheen of modern athleisure. Or maybe it’s simpler than that: We’ve all seen too many movies about New England prep schools and their elbowpatched instructors. We’re not knocking nostalgia, but it’s important to remember that the vibe can tip—sometimes treacherously—into the old-school if you’re not paying attention. Careful, professor. If you’re aiming for urbanity and grit, the solution is as easy as adding a pocket—and a lens. Italian sportswear specialist C. P. Company is a masterful remixer, known for blending classic styles with tactical components to create something familiar but fresh. In this case, it’s cords crossed with cargoes, then finished with a single goggle-lens…

CAMÉLIA LOS ANGELES Ease into one of the leather banquettes and glance at your table setting. To the left, across a folded napkin on top of a plate from Utsuwano-Yakata in L. A.’s Little Tokyo: a pair of chopsticks designed by Yota Kakuda. To the right, resting on a handmade ceramic ridge: a fork and a sharp knife from Sabre Paris. There are no accidents in this tableau. “A thousand details add up to one impression” is the mantra of the writer John McPhee, and if you pay attention, you’ll see how every gesture at Camélia is meant to contribute to a narrative. The story is a romantic one, a love affair between France and Japan. So a chicken is roasted with koji and surrounded by a seaweed-flecked cream, while…

KULTURA CHARLESTON Caring for others has always been Nikko Cagalanan’s ethos, but working as a nurse began to take a toll on him. Finding comfort in the recipes of his lola, his grandmother, he took a leap of faith and started a Filipino pop-up in Charleston. After gaining national attention, he opened Kultura, where the menu qualifies as a proud asseveration. In tribute to both Filipino cuisine and the southern city he fell in love with, the chef weaves local ingredients into traditional dishes. My favorite? Arroz caldo, a comforting plate that I’d eat every day if I could. Cagalanan cooks down rice in a flavorful broth, then tops it with trout roe, XO sauce, fried garlic, chile crisp, and a soft-boiled egg. Oh, and what’s that purple milkshake? It’s…

A.D.2024 — THE UNITED STATES. Twenty-seven degrees in a Port-A-Jon, the seat freezing my ass. I’m in the dark with a little flashlight. Chemically treated feces and urine splash up onto my anus. The wind howls, shaking the plastic structure. My hands go numb. 3:00 a.m., parked in a public lot across the street from the town beach in Westerly, Rhode Island. Just woke up, sleep evasive. It’s my first week out here. I pour an iced coffee from my cooler. I’m walking around the front of the 2013 Toyota Corolla I’m now living in when a car pulls into the lot, comes toward me. I see only headlights illuminating my fatigue and the red plastic party cup in my hand. Must be a cop. Someone gets out and approaches.…

At Ben Bridge, we are uncompromising when it comes to jewelry and luxury watches. Every person we partner with works hard to ensure our jewelry positively impacts every person it touches, is responsibly-sourced using the highest quality natural stones and metals, and is crafted to be enjoyed for generations. Our Personal Jewelers are here to connect you with dazzling natural diamonds and gemstones from our exclusive fashion and bridal collections, along with jewelry from the most premium brands of the world. Looking to invest in a luxury watch? We have experts with access to the most coveted watch brands to complement your collection. At Ben Bridge, we bring you the best jewelry the world has to offer. Connect in-store or online and find what they’ll wear and love, every day.…

This season, our Personal Jewelers are intrigued by pieces that find you in your element and punctuate your narrative. Comforting classics in yellow gold that embody the spirit of boldness, laughter and warmth. Moody metals and black diamonds that give everyday elegance the perfect touch of edge. Timeless treasures to love for a lifetime. This year, we’re excited to turn the key and open up your style with pieces meant to be worn and loved, every day.…

Yellow gold embodies the warmth you feel when you’re wrapped in your most comfortable sweater and among the people you love most. Bold pieces that showcase the rich, warm glow of gold and flow with contours of pure artistry are like a cheat code when it comes to easy, go-to style. From 80s-inspired glam to understated elegance, nothing brings effortless impact and everyday versatility like a statement chain or oversized hoops.…