By S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times

Practically every high-end restaurant you’ll ever go into has an award from Wine Spectator posted prominently on the wall. The venerable wine magazine gives out a lot of them. This year, 3,748 restaurants around the world, representing all 50 states and 81 other countries and territories, have earned Restaurant Awards.

But only 72 restaurants across the country can boast a Wine Spectator Grand Award. It doesn’t pass those out like peanuts. Only six restaurants were added to the roster for 2014, and four of them are from California.

In Northern California, the much lauded Saison in San Francisco, with one of the country’s most expensive tasting menus, got the nod. I was happy too, to see La Toque in Napa Valley added to the list. Ken Frank is one chef who’s always had a strong interest in wine.

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