As a Sacramento resident, you can count on many things in the summer: at least one week of unbearable heat, a ridiculous amount of news reporting on that obvious heat, a budget impasse, and fairly weak riverside dining.

When you travel to any of the riverside joints that promise great views, relaxed atmospheres, and top-notch food, you usually leave about two-thirds satisfied. Whether it’s Chevy’s, Crawdad’s, Joe’s Crab Shack, Delta King, or any of the other dozen or so eateries on the city’s riverbanks, the food is not what you’re going for.

Unfortunately, Pearl on the River lives up to the standard set by its neighbors. Continue reading “Pearl on the River Not Exactly a Gem” »

The new casual fare restaurant from Waterboy owner Rick Mahan is finally open. Called OneSpeed, it’s been in the “coming-soon” stage since prohibition, which of course leads to pretty lofty expectations. Can Mahan live up? Can he deliver unlike another Sacramento over-hyped project, Hot Italian?

Damn straight he can. Stand and deliver he can. Give it to ya’ with a swift, casual kick to the culinary crotch he can. Continue reading “OneSpeed” »

If you’re a loyal reader of this here ‘Rag, you know that we love Peet’s, and not just the coffee.  We love the stores, the employees, the posters, the immaculately clean restrooms, the not so subtle Bette Davis eyes that the fat guy at the Lyon’s Village store keeps giving me every time I go in – hell, we even love Peet’s teas, which is why we were excited to hear that Peet’s is launching a bottled tea line for retail sale and test marketing it in our fair city.  To help celebrate the launch, Peet’s “Tea Master” Eliot Jordan will be holding court at several Sacramento area locations over the next week, sharing his views, opinions, and — I’m quite sure — secrets about tea farming, harvesting, brewing, recycling, composting, and scrap-booking.  Here’s a schedule of Peet’s locations where you can find him in the next few weeks:

Wednesday, June 24- 9 to 10:30, 2oth & J, 1 to 2:30, Fountains at Roseville

Wednesday, July 1- 9 to 10:30 Alhambra and Folsom, 1 to 2:30, Pleasant Hill in Roseville

Wednesday, July 8- 9 to 11am, 20th & J

Starting tonight at 7:00 is a great new event in Rancho Cordova, Family Gameshow Night. Win prizes, test your mettle at trivia, spelling bees and other great events.  As a sponsor, The Sac Rag is happy to guarantee your enjoyment of Family Gameshow Night.  If you don’t have a good time, your full admission price will be refunded by our writing staff.

Family Gameshow Night- 7:00

Village Green Amphiteater- Rancho Cordova- Admission is FREE

…Judge Morrison England that is.

In a court ruling today, Judge England of Sacramento, dismissed a charge from a plaintiff that Quaker Cereals had blatantly misled consumers by labeling one of its products as “Crunch Berries” when in fact the product contained no real fruit. First of all, how dare someone try to impugn the character of retired naval hero Capt. Horatio Magellan Crunch. Second this person is obviously an attention seeking moron, who will now probably try to sue Kellogg’s for including no real smacks in its Sugar Smacks cereal. Third, and lastly, Judge England is awesome!

I was fortunate enough to sit in a jury in a trial adjudicated by Judge England, and it was truly impressive. First of all, he’s straight out of central casting: a barrel-chested, deep-voiced, African-American man with graying hair and a stern-but-fair disposition that some judges work their whole careers at creating. Besides that, he’s a fair, even-handed judge that runs his courtroom efficiently. But most of all, he seems to take no personal pleasure in the power that he wields as a judge. If there’s one mark against judges, it’s their somewhat transparent love of their own power. Not with Judge England. He seems to be everything the public looks for in a judge: fairness, toughness, and humility. Don’t be surprised to see him on the short-list of Supreme Court nominees one day.

Mrs. Eats and I ran into the head chef of the Sheraton Grand last night and he couldn’t have been a nicer fellow. (Ok, he could have been nicer but it would have involved full release.) He chatted with us about a number of things, but most importantly all the changes he’s bringing about at the Sheraton. The Mrs. has to go to the Sheraton a lot for banquets and other civic events, so she’s a good barometer in this regard. Apparently, the changes have definitely been for the good.

Everything is being made from scratch (no crappy prebattered frozen nuggets of reconstituted animal chunks), the chef is putting a limit on group size when more complicated dishes are ordered (like souffles and eggs Benedict), and the menu at Morgan’s, the oft-overlooked restaurant at the Sheraton, is slowly adapting to the local/fresh bandwagon that everyone else headed into town on a few years ago. If you haven’t checked out the Sheraton Grand recently, maybe it’s worth a stop. If you’re planning an event, it’s definitely worth a stop.

Also, I’ve discovered a little bar that feels like it’s in Philadelphia or Chicago but happens to be on J Street. It’s Scandal, the bar at Citizen Hotel. No, not the bar at Grange, the overhyped flagship restaurant, but a separate bar on the second story of the hotel. Walk in the front door of the hotel, take a right at the registration desk, walk up the stairs, and find yourself in a relaxed, sophisticated, adult drinking space. They’ve got a great cocktail menu and a neat lineup of California micros. The walls are paneled in dark walnut, the leather chairs look like came out of a East Coast men’s club, and the bookshelves (yes, that’s right, bookshelves) are lined with leather-bound legal tomes. You’ll feel like you’re having a drink with Adam Schiff. Give it a try if you find yourself by CC park; you’ll be surprised.

A few months ago I ate crow over Haines brother’s newest offering, Tre. It had a fantastic menu, filled with inventive, whimsical, and, most importantly, delicious dishes. So it was with a heavy heart that I read Chris Macias’s post over on the Bee’s Appetizers Blog about Tre overhauling its menu.

It appears that the same crowd who was showing up for the food wasn’t showing up enough to keep the kitchen humming, and the late-night crowd wasn’t much in the mood for risotto balls and ribeye steaks. So, the new menu will be filled with “American comfort food,” (basically upscale Chili’s fare) and gone will be the Cajun shrimp and cioppino. It’s really a shame, but I’d hope that the Haines bros take the successful menu and transplant it to a place that will work. No matter what though, you can count on the menu having french fries. Mmmmmm, Haines fries.

Bill Dendle/Eddie Erickson

It’s that time of year again: Memorial Day weekend. It’s a weekend of jazz, good weather, and a civic event that is older than time itself (or at least older than anyone in their mid-thirties) the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

The big news this year for Jubilee fans is the renaming of the festival to the generic and absolutely non-descript name of “Sacramento Jazz Festival.” Despite the name change, it’s still a great event, maybe a little smaller this year, and maybe a little lacking in international or New Orleans talent, but still a blast. This year’s emperor is one of the best trombone players of the last 50 years, Bob Havens. A vet of the Lawrence Welk band, Havens could always swing the hell out of songs that should have been undeniably square. Check out this video for proof. For those of you who have never been to Jubilee before, I highly suggest you read last year’s Jubilee Primer to get tips on where to eat, where to park, and what to avoid. It’s also filled with really good jokes. I mean, really good.

For this year, use the following suggested schedule to get the most out of the festival whether you’re going one, two or all four days. Check here for ticket prices and info. Continue reading “Your Sacramento Jazz Festival (Jubilee) Guide for 2009″ »

In today’s NBA lottery, the Kings, with a 25% chance to get the top pick in the draft, by far the best odds of any team, wound up with the lowest possible choice, #4, which, on the bright side, allows the team to avoid the shame and embarrassment of once again choosing Pervis Ellison.

Bobby Hutcherson

TONIGHT! 9PM, Shady Lady Saloon: The debut of the Free Badge Serenaders, Sacramento’s only and best novelty banjo/washboard duo. Come on by and tap your feet, clap your hands, and generally shake your money maker. 14th and R streets. Free entrance if appropriately attired in saloon prohibition regalia.

SUNDAY- 5PM, Red Lion’s JB’s Lounge: Shelly Burns, with Bill Dendle and Sacramento’s nicest man Shelley Denny. If you haven’t checked out the new lounge at the Red Lion, it’s really something special — great sound system, beautiful bar, neat vibe — a great place to listen to jazz. Come hear some of the best interpretations of American classics and kick off your Jubilee week right. Red Lion Inn, Arden Blvd and Business 80.

SUNDAY- 7PM, American River College: World renowned vibraphone player Bobby Hutcherson makes a rare Sacramento appearance. Playing with the Capital Jazz Project, Hutcherson will bring his 50 years of playing experience to bear on an exceptionally lucky audience. Tix are $20, $15 with student ID. It’d be worth it at twice the price.