Month: August 2008

Update on Corti’s, David Berkley’s, and 16th Street

-According to reliable sources, Corti’s is looking to relocate to Elvas Ave after their lease is up.  Apparently there is a warehouse space on Elvas that has piqued Corti’s interest.  However,Corti’s is also looking to see if they can extend their current lease through Christmas.

-Did you know that venerable specialty grocer David Berkley has changed hands?  I didn’t, and I’m a little obsessive about this stuff.  How could I have missed it?  Anyway, a few of the senior staff are slowly being given their walking papers as the new owner trims expenses.   It remains to be seen whether or not the new incarnation of the ‘Berk maintains its place in the marketplace, namely being a wine seller and grocer that customers frequent when price isn’t an issue but unrivaled quality is.

-16th Street continues its slow trek into respectability.  Besides the standouts like Sampino’s Towne Foods, Rail Bridge Cellars, and the Blue Diamond Gift Shop, small businesses like fish and chip shop H. Salt Esq. are back up and running after an ugly fire last year.  Several renovations on existing properties and a few proposed developments might very well turn the unhip northern portion of 16th Street into a fine urban neighborhood.

Cheffrey’s-Not just good, adorably good

I’m sure you already know that Cheffrey’s has the best sweet potato fries in existence, and that their prime rib burger is one of the best burgers you’ll ever have, and that their house wine is served in half-bottle-sized pours. What, you didn’t know that? Well, it’s about time you went and found out for yourself, isn’t it?

No, I don’t put fingertips to keyboard today to tell you how good the food is at Cheffrey’s. That you should find out for yourself. I instead reach out across the interweb super byway to tell you that owners Mark and Jeffrey are not only creative, talented, hard-working, generous, charitable to a fault, and kind to small animals. No, I tell you today, after perusing the latest News & Review, that they are, in fact, adorable. How else to explain what has to be the cutest coupon ever? How many small business owners do you know that put caricatures of themselves in their promos? None, that’s how many.

Even if the food were only mediocre (which is most assuredly is not) I’d still want to patronize Cheffrey’s just because of its owners’ pluck. (hehe, pluck)

Cheffrey’s, An American Bistro-4235 Arden Way (at Eastern), Sacramento
Food ***1/2 Atmosphere*** Service**

Sac Craft Brews on KVIE 6, NPR

on tap promoTomorrow, KVIE’s Viewfinder will feature a look at the Sacramento Craft Brew scene in On Tap. A visit to SacBrew will be featured and area beer journalists will be tasting and talking about Rubicon IPA, Sudwerk Pilsner and SacBrew’s Imperial Stout.

Thanks to Bill, who pointed out that On Tap was discussed on today’s broadcast of Capital Public Radio’s Insight. Click here to access the show archives.

“Big Love” sightings

The internets were all abuzz with rumors of a Chloe Sevigny sighting at midtown vintage boutique Bows & Arrows on Saturday. Word from the Woodland Daily Democrat is that miss Sevigny was in the area filming “Big Love” for HBO:

[C]ast and crew arrived in Woodland Thursday night as part of a plot line that involves a family road trip retracing the steps of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of Mormonism. …

Additional scenes will be shot over the coming week in Grasslands Regional Park in Davis, and in various parts of Old Sacramento, he said.

So the bigger story is that this is your week to get a Bill Paxton or a Jeanne Tripplehorn sighting in Old Sacramento! I’m clearing my schedule as we speak.

Note to “Big Love” writers: Please, please, write a scene in which one of the younger wives is bossy and Bill Paxton says to the first wife, “Why don’tcha put HER in charge!!?”

State Fair Opens Friday

poppyIf there is one thing you can count on, it is the presence of your old pal Stickie at the California State Fair. I’ll try to keep you updated about cool stuff, but I urge you to check the daily schedule at their website to keep abreast of the hundreds of events.

Wednesday at midnight is the last day to buy discount tickets, including the $36 adult season pass. This weekend features Smashmouth (who have apparently moved to Stockton and have quietly been playing with local acts when not on tour), The Doodlebops (who I find to be a creepy Canadian offspring of The Wiggles and GWAR, but kids seem to dig them) and the fantastic Weird Al, who very amusingly got blamed by local morons for attracting some unsavory elements to last year’s closing weekend because he is a rapper.

Tears and Anguish: Restaurant Closings

Here’s a quick recap of restaurant closings cum real estate opportunities in the area.Closed...for good.

East West Steak & Sushi Buffet- El Camino Ave
As mentioned previously this frightening gastronomic nightmare is no more, opening up more than 8000 sq ft of restaurant space. Maybe we should reopen a Shakey’s there?

IHOP-El Camino Ave
It appears that the IHOP at Watt and El Camino has gone from “Under Renovation” to “Scary and Derelict.” Feel free to contact the national HQ of IHOP to let them know that this building falls far short from fresh ‘n’ fruity.

Angel’s Fresh Mex- 16th St
My tears threaten to short out my keyboard as I write these words. Angel’s is closed. Those tortilla wrapped bundles of goodness that I have come to count on for weekly sustenance are gone. My heart is breaking like their soft, supple tortillas never did. We will miss ye, Angel’s. Continue reading “Tears and Anguish: Restaurant Closings”

Boon Boon: Your Asian Fusion Connection

spicy noodles
spicy noodles, posted by Yelper Linda C

I always felt bad that I had teased the folks at Boon Boon, especially after a commenter pointed out that the restaurant is named after the owner’s mother. The fact that several commenters on that post remarked on discussions with the staff at Boon Boon is very telling about the kind of place Boon Boon is. I’m glad that I finally checked it out, because this is a little gem of a place.

This is the right kind of fusion for me–it’s not so much specific menu items that are tweaked, it’s the menu as a whole. Thai favorites like curries and pad thai are alongside spaghetti and meatballs and “Southern Great Steak” (“A great recipe from a Southern Attorney who bring on tasty Prime selected quality Rib Eye beef same grade as 5 stars steak house with half the price, come with pan fried butter herbs potatoes, and mixed steamed veggies.”)

Continue reading “Boon Boon: Your Asian Fusion Connection”

SN&R “on” best burritos

kitty burrito
kitty burrito

Just in time for this week’s News & Review, I’d like to react to last week’s cover piece on burritos written by Ben Russell. Russell really seems to know how to turn a phrase, and the piece is actually incredibly informative. For example it confirmed my preference for Guerrero’s tortillas as the best tortillas at your local supermarket (or your massive soulless food chain, whatever your preference), and it taught me that the word for people from the state of Jalisco in Mexico is Jaliscenes.

Continue reading “SN&R “on” best burritos”