The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Food & Wine
Spells of the Season
Don’t Fear the Fun
As the mornings turn crisp and the night sky fills with wisps of smoke and moisture, you might find yourself craving the coziness that can only be found in darkness and the subtle titillations of fall’s enchantments. This Weekend, why not begin the immersion with a pinch of this and dose of that?
Go See a Play
‘The K of D: An Urban legend’ at B Street Theatre runs through October and straight into November. http://www.bstreettheatre.org/
Hit a Round for Charity
10th Annual Fairways to Fairytales takes place in Folsom this Friday, benefitting Fairytale Town. http://www.fairytaletown.org/events/fairways-to-fairytales-golf-tournament/
Celebrate the European Way
Sacramento Turn Verein’s 45th Annual Oktoberfest will melt away the stress.
http://www.sacramentoturnverein.com
Spook Yourself Silly
Old Sacramento Ghost Tours will enchant, entrance or chill to the loveley bones. http://www.historicoldsac.org/programs/programs-ghost.asp
Visit the Big Screen
Sacramento Horror Film Festival promises to get the adenaline pumping. http://www.sachorrorfilmfest.com/index.php?profile=shff
Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will expand your worldview. http://www.siglff.org/wordpress/index.php
Get Seriously Creative (or Creatively Serious)
Dia de los Muertos creative classes and colorful celebrations are cropping up all over the city. http://sacramento.downtowngrid.com/events/index.php
For more events, information and autumn enchantments visit http://www.sacramento365.com/search/results
Fun, Frivolity, Wine & Retro Things
Good Times Ahead!
Are You Up for a Weekend of Fun, Frivolity, Wine & Retro Things?
If so, pack your vintage-inspired bathing suit and get your taste buds ready for a rollercoaster ride of an experience. Oh, and make sure you have a place to rest up – before, between and after – as these events are sure to require some energy and enthusiasm on your part. And while you’re at it (if you can handle more excitement), ask for your Gold Card (at participating hotels) – your ticket to even more fun and extra savings around town. [http://www.discovergold.org/visitors/goldcard/]
Friday, September 21
A TASTE OF SACRAMENTO – 14th Annual Easter Seals benefit featuring unlimited wine, beer and food tastings. Sacramento Convention Center, Downtown, 5:30-9pm, $40. http://www.myeasterseals.org/events/a-taste-of-sacramento.html
NATIVE HARVEST FESTIVAL TASTING – Seasonal Native American-inspired foods, entertainment and trunk show. Inside Ancient Future, Midtown, 6-8pm. Ticket pre-purchase required, $30.
(916) 476-3754, http://sacramento.downtowngrid.com/events/index.php?events_id=8571&tk=d79dbf1b6378939e57e9&event_on=09%2F21%2F2012
Saturday, September 22
A MAD MEN INSPIRED POOL PARTY – Contests, cocktails, food trucks, DJ music, classic cars, shopping, proceeds to various charities. The Greens Hotel, Uptown. 2-6pm, $8. http://sacramento.downtowngrid.com/events/index.php?events_id=8766&tk=d79dbf1b6378939e57e9&event_on=09%2F22%2F2012
Eat, drink and be merry. Be there or be square.
Sunday’s Best
Spend Easter at Enotria or just another Sunday...
EASTER SUNDAY – April 8th, Enotria Sunday Brunch
Join Enotria Restaurant & Wine Bar for a springtime brunch with fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared by Chef Lance Carlini. Featuring Champagne, Mimosas, and a Bloody Mary Bar with House-infused Vodka selections. Dining in the courtyard is available weather permitting, serving hours are 10:00AM to 3:00PM, the cost is $30 per guest, and reservations are recommended. http://www.enotria.com
STAY: The Greens Hotel (http://www.thegreenshotel.com)
UNIQUE SUNDAY – April 15th, Sews & Bows
Bows & Arrows Beginning Sewing Classes begin, 5-8PM, $25. http://www.bowscollective.com
STAY: Amber House Bed & Breakfast (www.amberhouse.com)
BOUNTIFUL SUNDAY – Ongoing, Cerftified CA Farmer’s Market
8th & W streets, 8AM-noon. And be sure to click on the link ‘To Your Health’ for immunity tips, energy boosts, fresh recipes, and much more! http://www.california-grown.com/Market-news.html
STAY: Residence Inn at Capital Park (www.marriott.com)
Enjoy the fine weather, fresh bounty and fun, ecletic things to do in Sacramento~
Good Dharma, Good Karma
A Good Egg: You are what you eat!
These are challenging times, and some of us may feel compelled or even forced to give up on certain things… But our actions will always have consequences – and whether personal or professional – I think we owe it to ourselves and others to not let the outer turmoil drown out the voice of the conscience.
While mine may be working on overdrive in some areas and being neglectful in others of which I’m not even aware, considering the re-actions to our actions can become a habit that easily sticks. For instance, since I’m such an animal and Earth lover, I try to mostly buy containers that can be recycled and products that do not do animal testing. I attempt to locate humane-certified meats wherever and whenever possible, and I have even begun (to my own surprise) experimenting with vegan products. There’s much more where that came, but the point is that all of our efforts really do help create a better world; and in the least, it’s a really good feeling being able to feel good about oneself. In addition, I think it’s not only important to patron socially responsible businesses, but to acknowledge the efforts of others. So I’m going to start a Kudos Korner to do just that, starting here and now.
Cafe Bernardo – In the Sutter District of Sacramento sits Cafe Bernardo, a restaurant that’s been serving it up fresh and local for (27?!) years now. Just ask chef Shannan Berg how passionate they are about both deliciousness and doing good. And they happen to use eggs from my second Kudos Karma nominee, Vega Farms…
Vega Farms – From the small farming town of Dixon comes a small family-owned farm that treats its hens with the highest of standards and gets their eggs to market within 36 hours of hatching. How do they do it? They work with UC Davis labs to ensure efficiency, healthfulness and safety.
While it’s just the tip of the haystack when it comes to California Grown and Savoring Sacramento, saying “thank you” just never goes out of style. And in this case, you can do two good deeds in one by stopping by Cafe Bernardo Midtown for some of the most scrumptuous food around.
Irish the Weekend Would Come Sooner…
See that green-hued rainbow overhead? It may not be obvious yet but it’s building momentum. And you know what’s on the other side… So are you gonna bah humbug the little Leprechauns already hard at work or are you going to join their merriment, song and folly this St. Patty’s Day?! It’s Saturday, March 17. No need to be saint or stick in the mud to join the communal festivities~
Got Family?
Join the Old Sacramento St. Patrick’s Day Parade – 2nd & L streets, 1PM. http://oldsacramento.com/events-and-activities-detail.php?id=189
Or get your green (tennies) on at a St. Patrick’s Day Nature Hike – Several different hikes will be offered for different energy levels and age groups. http://www.sacramentovalleyconservancy.org
Or sing your heart out with the Sacramento Master Singers at Celtic Connections III – A collection of new and old music from Ireland, Britain and Scotland. http://www.mastersingers.org
Got Thirst?
Various Pub Crawls are occurring around the area, including one in Midtown Sacramento and one in Downtown Woodland
http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/317062278352743/
Got a Little Commute?
Stop off in Winters for a hearty St. Patrick’s Day celebration in a tiny but mighty town – Wine and cheese tasting, live music, green gifts, and finally, that proverbial pot of gold~
No need to be green with envy. Join some of the fun (and get your own green tongue!).
It’s Raining Restaurants…
... and food that will melt in your mouth
Dream Life Scenario: Wouldn’t it be fun to try a different restaurant each night of Sacramento’s restaurant week? Ok, maybe that’s just wishful thinking for most of us, but how about just one restaurant a year – Each Dine Downtown Restaurant Week, try a new place or re-visit an old favorite! For you visitors out there, FYI, this is a really good time to visit or schedule “meetings”, because you can’t cook for yourselves, now can you?
My husband and I were recently given a “prevue” of The Melting Pot’s DDRW menu. Neither of us had been there in a few years, and we were looking forward to “date night”. We met Lea, our easygoing sever/”personal chef”, ordered a couple glasses of Boeger’s Barbera, and then let all of the above work their magic. My mouth literally began to water as Lea mixed the ingredients for our first fondue, and soon we were dipping, scooping and sampling away. We loved it all, although Granny Smith and the Mexican cheeses seemed to cancel each other out a bit.
Next up: Our salads. Tom ordered the spinach and mushroom, and I, the crisp greens with candied walnuts. Both salads and dressings were delicious – an overall delight to the senses – but my candied walnuts were all “candy” and little walnut (pleasing my inner child but disappointing my adult tastebuds). Onto our third course: Generous portions of fresh prawns, filet mignon, chicken breast, salmon and sirloin sat patiently waiting to be dunked, sizzled and served up hot. While the filet mignon didn’t have that melt-in-your-mouth quality you might expect, the rest of the meats more than made up for it. (Not a meat-lover? The breads and vegetables were heaven when dipped in the Melting Pot’s rich, creamy cheeses! And the dessert menu? I wish for you on this 7th Annual Dine Downtown Restaurant Week room in your belly…)
The math on this one certainly added up in sweet savings for us, and the opportunity alone – to try something new or enjoy an evening on the town – should be gobbled up before it’s gone. Dine Downtown Restaurant Week starts this Monday, January 9th and ends January 18th. Thank you, Melting Pot and the other 29 Sacramento-area restaurants for participating in such a generous, delicious event. Now it’s up to us to don our best bonnets, pick up the reins, and ride that sleigh into town!
Reservations are recommended and can be made at http://www.downtownsac.org/dinedowntown. Be sure to ask for the DDRW menu if you’re just dropping in. Also check the website for all 30 participating restaurants. The event is brought to you by Downtown Sacramento Partnership.
Salud & Bon Appetit~
Scenic Drives: Chico, CA
You either love it or not so much – Sierra Nevada Brewery’s signature green-label pale ale. But if you visit the brewery/restaurant/gift shop/tasting room, there’s really something to love for everyone. For instance, the truly scrumptious food and handful of beers on tap, the lively, inviting indoor ambiance and large outdoor patio, the hour-plus-long guided tour and friendly staff. But there’s plenty more to love about Chico, whether you’re an outdoorsy type, partygoer or mom-n-pop shop peruser.
Although Chico and I have a long history together, it had been at least 15 years since I’d been there. Chalk it up to fewer friends of college age… but Chico is still more than worth the hour-and-change drive from Sacramento.
First stop: Downtown. With plenty of boutiques, bars and restaurants, this is a good place to start. We didn’t get to explore Bidwell Park this time around, but hope to do so in any other season (than winter). Later in the evening, the Irish pub beckoned us from across the street, and we were sure glad it did because we discovered the best fish tacos to date! Now we were primed for some really loud music and LaSalles is the place, not to mention they have the coolest trees in the back (which mesmerized me nearly as much as Banshee’s fish tacos). Nighty night was spent walking distance to downtown at the Quality Inn, and I’ve got to say – quite clean and classy for a motel just off the main drag (and we hear the restaurant next door – Paradise Cafe – is delicious).
There’s certainly more culture and history to Chico than I’ve touched upon here, but perhaps you will be inclined to discover it for yourself.
Next Stop: Sacramento’s Dine Downtown Restaurant Week 2012… Yum!
{Photo courtesy Sierra Nevada Brewing}
Good Intentions, Great Gifts – Fresh and Local!
Practical, Healthful, Thoughtful Gift Ideas
A GIFT OF GOOD HEALTH: Food is medicine too, and many winter fruits are packed with enough natural vitamin A and C to knock out winter colds with a one-two punch. Try a Christmas stocking filled with satsuma mandarins or tangerines and fuzzy kiwi fruits. Add a mug with lavender or dried herbs for soothing tea, and throw in a couple of lemons and a little jar of local honey.
BIG BREAKFAST GIFT BASKET: If you’re staying at the home of your holiday hosts, show how much you appreciate their hospitality. Line a large container with pretty dishtowels and fill it with all of the fixings for a yummy omelet breakfast: California cheese, little red potatoes, gourmet mushrooms, garlic, green onions, fragrant herbs and farm fresh eggs. Carry in a big bag of oranges along with a bottle of bubbly and assure your hosts that brunch is on you.
INDOOR PICNIC: A sweet gift idea for the cute couples in your life is an indoor picnic basket. Line a basket or box using any fabric item with a red-checkered motif. Fill with an assortment of California grown snacks, such as olives and tree nuts. Fresh apples pair well with sharp dry cheeses, and dried fruit, such as medjool dates, pair well with soft fresh cheeses. If you choose, you might include a fun music mix, a deck of cards, and a malty microbrew or beautiful local wine.
For some great holiday decorating ideas inspired by Mother Nature and information on the area’s farmers’ markets, visit http://www.california-grown.com and stay awhile.
Eat, Drink, Walk & Be Merry
Turn Verein, a fine example of Sacramento’s rich and ongoing immigrant contributions
What’s fun to do in any season? Whether enjoying the body-temp warmth of summer, the beautiful blossoms of spring, the brilliant foliage of fall or the crisp blue-sky days of winter, Local Roots Food Tours will provide you with a full-bodied and full-bellied experience.
I recently joined ‘Gals on the Go’ from El Dorado Hills for a tour of the Sutter District and East Sacramento areas. Among others, it included delicious French toast and private chef talk at Café Bernardo, as well as mouth-watering lunch options in Centro’s sunny “paper flower” room. In between stops, we walked and talked about some of the area’s lesser-known history, and checked out the breathtaking fall foliage in East Sac’s Fab 40s neighborhood.
All in all, we tried some Czech beer, Italian pizza, Mexican food, Middle Eastern cuisine and coffee/pastry samples. We learned a bit about each chef’s niche of expertise and what makes each restaurant unique. We learned about coffee bean roasting, local humane food products, haunted places and Sacramento’s brewery past. We got to know Lisa Armstrong, the founder of Local Roots Food Tours, and chit chat as we walked Sacramento’s sidewalks.
From breakfast, lunch and appetizers to cocktails, dessert and coffee; from history, haunting and architecture to walking, talking and sightseeing… these tours (there are 3 different options in all) are certainly an enjoyable, comprehensive and distinctive Sacramento experience.
Way to create something both timely and timeless, intimate and expansive, Lisa!
http://www.local-food-tours.com, (800) 838-3006
Decades of Dinky Dining Deliciousness
Jim Denny's Outdoor Patio
What the best thing about Jim Denny’s is can surely be debated. Could be the food, could be how hard you have to work to get the food. Could be the nostalgia, could be all the Food Network attention it gets. Could be watching the gals behind the counter operate like a (fairly) well-oiled machine, could be sitting outside on a warm, lazy morning. Could be the charming retro vibe, could be that the small but mighty structure stands out like a sore thumb amongst a set of otherwise-numb fingers.
Sad to say it was my first visit to Jim Denny’s in Downtown Sacramento, especially since I was born and raised here. What excuse do I have other than being a creature of habit and allowing most of my younger-year decisions to be made by others?! Anyway, what matters now is that I’m a bit more “in the know” when it comes to this long-held tradition and establishment.
Saturday morning, 10:40am, November 19
We were able to find a seat right away because a couple of barstools opened up right as we walked in, and we got to watch the cook juggle Hubcap pancakes and monster omelets right in front of us. But then we had to wait nearly an hour to actually eat anything. In hindsight I think it’s good to know this kind of thing ahead of time, so you don’t bite someone’s head off if you happen to stumble in starved from the get-go.
We got the Works Omelet, which they recommend sharing. Loaded with meat, cheese and veggies, and served with toast and potatoes on the side, it was a nice hearty meal. We both agreed, however, that my husband could have eaten it all himself (if I’d be willing to roll him home, that is). And the $11.50 price tag seemed a little high, but we’re probably paying for TV-worthy food at this point. Still, steaming and delicious, it hit the spot and then some.
Founded in 1934, Jim Denny’s certainly has a certain charm, and I had the urge to back up the truck, hook it up and take her away with us. Overall, the staff was friendly but not sweet-as-pie. Curiously, I’d say at least half of the diners were out-of-towners. The place is mostly counter seats because the back part of the “building” (if you can call it that) is for food prep, dish washing and what-not. There’s more to the story of course – check out their website and reviews on Yelp - just don’t believe everything you read. The website says they’re closed Saturday and Sunday. (I found this to be half true).
816 12th Street (between H & I), 916-443-9651
[P.S. If you do eat the whole thing yourself, there are plenty of hotels nearby to fit any budget. Check out the hotel finder on http://www.DiscoverGold.org
There is something special about Sacramento; the rich land upon which it was built, the rivers that flow through, the bounty around it and the people who make the Sacramento area their home.
Life is good in California’s Capital City for many reasons, including climate and geography, community and amenities, nature and wildlife, and so much more. It’s hard to imagine a warmer feeling than a sunshine-drenched morning here, an easier feeling than a refreshing post-rain spring day, or a more engaging experience than a night on the town with friends or family.
There’s truly something here for everyone and every mood, for Sacramento is a shifting entity itself, with four distinct but relatively mild seasons, diverse neighborhoods and people, a ripening food and restaurant scene, year-round events and outdoor fun, and daytime and night-time adventures. Its magic is a blend of history and tradition, vision and reinvention. And there’s so much pleasure to be had here – with family and friends, food and wine, adventures and experiences – that they’re likely to create the kind of fond memories that might seem so familiar… but aren’t quite like any other.
