One thing I know to be true about the California State Fair is that there are so many booths, tents, lean-tos, shacks, plazas, pavilions, and chuck wagons, that it would be impossible to eat everything. So, let’s start with the things that I didn’t even bother trying: Mexican, Chinese, Greek, Thai, soft serve, cheesesteaks, onion rings, ribs, and corn on the cob. Why, you ask? Because, I respond, there’s very little point in chomping down on stuff that’s really, really easy to get anywhere in the city at any time of year. You only have so much room in your tummy, and I won’t endorse binging and purging (unless it’s for charity), so I suggest that spend your limited stomach resources on the truly unique and special meals. Here are those things, in no particular order: Continue reading “Fair Fare”
Month: August 2007
The heat is…on
A few weeks ago sac-eats wrote a post “encouraging” folks that read this here web log to vote for it as “Best Local Blog” and/or “Best Local Website”. Local blogger FFT commented that this effort to garner votes was “shameless”. Well, via FFT, we learn that there is “a major upset brewing” for Best Blog. Jeff, over at Eyes for the Brambles, picked up on this post as well.
I can’t guess the upset. Sacrag and hecksac won last year. Have people grown tired of snark and food and rock show reviews?
Well, Sacramento, what local blogs do you think have a chance at taking home the top spot this year? What makes a good local blog? Random comments about comments? Hard hitting local media watchdogging? Food reviews? Your random comments are welcome…
Since it’s been a while…
Allow me to give a few brief “Right Awn!” shout-outs to some deserving parties:
- Thanh Thai, who saw smoke coming out of a neighbor’s garage, got out of his car, and pounded on the door until the occupants — a mom, her 16 year old daughter, three-year-old son, and FOUR of her daughter’s friends who’d spent the night — got out. Had it not been for his neighborliness and quick action, this story could have had much worse results than a gutted house (which is bad enough as it is.)
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento: I read in today’s Metro section that the clubs are now accepting students for the after-school programs for the coming year. Not only do the clubs provide a safe environment for the kids, have required homework time before they can play, offer a multitude of games and activities, plus a hot meal, the cost is only $12 per child for the entire school year. Yes, you read that correctly. That’s not $12 per week or per month; it’s for the entire school year.
- Did you know that Yuba County grows 99% of the plums for dried plums (formerly “prunes”) in the U.S. and 60% of the world’s supply? No wonder they come off as just regular folks there in Yuba County. They are having a rough year, however, with warm temps in March hindering the ’07 crop.
Pronto- Farmer’s Market in a Bowel [sic]
Despite its insistence on using a grammatically flawed slogan, “Real Italian, Real Fast,” Pronto continues to deliver top-notch luncheon fare.  Today’s meal was the “Farmer’s Market” salad. Mixed greens, arugula, corn, cornbread croutons, avocado, dates, almonds, goat cheese, and a citrus tarragon dressing. Sweet, savory, crunchy and crispy. This very well might be my favorite salad ever. Continue reading “Pronto- Farmer’s Market in a Bowel [sic]”
An unique twist on a common occurrence
We’re at the point here at the Sac Rag that we don’t even bother reporting on “normal” crashes involving a vehicle and a living room (unless it’s a two-fer, of course), but this one is different. While Sacramento isn’t making a name for itself on any “best place to…” list, it does continue to bring its “A” game in this arena.
Sacramento police say around 9:20 p.m. one of its officers and the driver of a Honda crashed into one another on Village Star Drive and Franklin Boulevard. The impact sent the Honda into the living room of a nearby home.
Wow, huh? I wonder what happened. High speed pursuit? Drunk driver? Man, what could it have been? I must read on…
Police say there are no indications that speed or alcohol lead to the crash.
Oh, ok, Police, sure that’s enough for me. I’ll move on now.
Raging Bulls
OK, I don’t want to turn this into a discussion on whether rodeos are form of animal cruelty — I just want to point your attention to this story from the Bee’s website.
A couple bulls got loose at the fair and trampled an officer who was protecting fair-goers from said bulls. A rodeo clown also saved a young child from certain harm by scooping up the tot and hopping over a fence. The police officer suffered broken ribs, some abrasions, and a minor concussion. The clown remained unscathed (and I presume he piled into a Volkswagen with the rest of the clowns afterwards.)
While all of this had to be truly frightful for those involved and for those who witnessed the incident, I can’t help but smile when reading this quote, “Fair spokesman May said he was not aware of the child’s rescue and did not know the clown’s name.” Jingles? Sunshine? Patches?
It’s not quite as good as a quote about cleaning a chimichanga off a chandelier, but it does come close.
To Your Local Developer Write
It has come to my attention that the Red Lion Hotel (nee Sacramento Inn) is to be redeveloped by Capital Management Group. You can read about the proposed changes here, but there is one specific change that I would like to see. I took the time to email Jeffrey Berger, president of Capital Management, the following message, hoping that others would do the same. Continue reading “To Your Local Developer Write”
Food TV arrest in Vacaville
So news that happens in Vacaville is nearly out of the border for SacRag reporting, but this is too tasty of a story to pass up.
Vacaville police are warning residents to be cautious of electronic scams that have been occurring in the area after a man was arrested attempting to pass off shrink-wrapped oven doors as state-of-the-art plasma HDTVs. Apparently, authorities were alerted after a frugal shopper discovered that the “high-definition television” being sold out of the back of a blue Integra was not, as advertised, “the deal of the century.”
Also featured for won’t-be-undersold prices: Laptop computer boxes full of flooring tile.
Now I’m always looking for a good deal on electronics- but somehow my Spider-Sense would start tingling if the deal was to be found in the trunk of a crappy Acura in the middle of Vacaville. Really- who’s falling for this? Or has my Sacramento “big city” street-smarts made me too cunning of an adversary for these flimflammers?
Maalouf’s Taste of Lebanon
When one thinks of “Mediterranean Cuisine,” one thinks of Italy, Greece, Morocco, or even Spain. One rarely thinks of Lebanon. But one should. Instead, one usually has questions about this foreign cuisine. Those questions are probably “What kind of food is it,” or “how much does it cost,” or “do I need to bring my epi-pen?” Unfortunately, these are the wrong questions. To steer one down the right path I have conveniently included the correct questions one should ask along with the appropriate answers from a recent visit to Maalouf’s Taste of Lebanon by Mrs. Eats and me.Â
Can we say “delicious gut bomb”? Of course we can. Can we still taste last week’s schwarma? Of course we can. Can we still smell the food on our clothes? Of course we can. Will we go back? Of course we will.
This is not a meal to be taken lightly–richly marinated meats, thick dips and sauces, plates the size of dried lake beds. Almost nothing at Maalouf’s is “lite,” but everything is pretty damn good. Â
Here’s a quick list of things that you are advised not to attempt after a meal at Maalouf’s: running, biking, swimming, walking, climbing, moving, sitting, speaking, thinking.
Things that you are advised to do after eating at Maalouf’s: horizontally lounging.
Maalouf’s Taste of Lebanon- 1433 Fulton Ave, Â Sacramento
Food***1/2 Service*** Atmosphere*
Carmichael Cycle
The Mrs. and I haven’t been riding our bikes much this summer. Ok, to be honest we haven’t ridden our bikes at all this summer. Mainly because they’ve been stuck in the back of the garage since the move and all the tires were flat. So, any thought of a bike ride first started with the concept of attacking a Jenga-like mound of garage detritus, then pumping up the tires (only to find that the tires had leaks, in all probability), and then giving up out of sheer desperation. This was, until last week. With a free weekend day, we attacked the garage, pulled out the dormant velos and piled them onto the car so they could be examined by professionals.
For no other reason than proximity, we schlepped the units over to Carmichael Cycle on the corner of Arden and Fair Oaks Blvd. Contrary to previous raggers’ general cyclery experiences, our transaction at this bike shop was great. The staff was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and didn’t look down on us at all for not wearing tight shorts with gel inserts. By the time our repair jobs were finished on our three separate bikes the bill came to a only a modest amount. On the way out, the staff helped us load the bikes back onto the car and told us in parting, that we had the “coolest bikes ever.” Sure, he says that to all the people not wearing gel shorts, but it gave us the warm fuzzies anyway.
Carmichael Cycle, 5141 Arden Way, Carmichael- Highly Recommended
The Sac Rag 