It would be easy to gush about the food at Jim Denny’s, or to spend hundreds of words talking about the wonderfully nostalgic feel of the place, or even to wax poetic about simpler times and forgotten values that so few eateries still embody. But, for the sake of brevity, I’ll try to sum up the Jim Denny’s experience in two words: Nailed it!
Continue reading “Jim Denny’s: Counter Intelligence”
Author: sac-eats
Breakfast at Fox & Goose: Great or Really Great?
‘Twas my first occasion this morning to break fast at the venerable and highly regarded institution of fodder and libation that is the Fox & Goose. The food lived up to the hype. The eggs and bangers were cooked perfectly, and also adequately accompanied by a butter-soaked crumpet and wonderfully fried potatoes. Looking around the table, the variety of breakfast options and the quality of the food was on full display. Highly recommended is the “The Goose” for breakfast and of course for an evening pint. As previously reported, stay away from the fish and chips, it’s not one of their specialties. One question remianed when the meal was finished though: Where were the baked beans and black pudding?
Fox & Goose- 10th and R St. Sacramento
Breakfast food**** Ambience*** Service***
Tower Update
Tower Records/Books has reached critical retail mass. Most CD’s are being sold for 60% off and others are going for a flat rate of $1 or $2. Employees say that the doors will probably be shutting before Christmas. Due to these extreme bargains however, most of the good stuff is gone. So, if you have anyone on your Christmas list that is looking for some obscure CD, make sure to check out Tower before going to the internet. For example, Trio Beyond’s tribute to the “Tony Williams Lifetime” called Saudades is only $12, which is a small price to pay for the tasteful organ stylings of Larry Goldings, the world’s greatest Jewish jazz organist.
Beach Hut Deli- True Love For Perky Meat Slingers
The Beach Hut Deli franchise is spreading its tendrils throughout the region. Is this a sign of the apocalypse? Is this the next Starbucks? Should a ham sandwich ever, ever have barbecue sauce on it? Here are just some thoughts on the Beach Hut Deli experience in no particular order:
-Fine selection of beers, many of which appear to be consumed by manual laborers on their lunch break. I sure hope they get to run large machinery after they finish off their highboy of Red Tail ale.
-Does part of the BHD franchise agreement stipulate that you are only allowed to hire comely coeds as sandwich makers?
-Is it actually necessary to wait for 30-45 minutes for your ham and cheese sandwich on a roll to be constructed by the aforementioned coeds?
-I can’t think of a better video game to play drunk than “Buck Hunting” where you get to fire a plastic shotgun at a screen full of wildlife. One more Arrogant Bastard please.
-Does it drive the old True Love patrons crazy that their hallowed ground is now taken up by perky sandwich jerks and trucker capped diners who wouldn’t know Daisy Spot if they ran over them with their Mustangs?
-Quick, name 5 places with better sandwiches: Dad’s, Italian Importing Co, Plaza Hof Brau, La Bou, Tortugas.
Let the Year End Lists Begin, Extra Spicy
Here we are, almost at the end of another year, when Christmas songs and sleigh bells fill the air, kindness to strangers and love for our families fills our hearts and year-end best-of lists fill every medium you see. Well, we at the Rag would like to get a jumpstart on the trend and start putting out a few lists of our own. Today’s list: Best Spicy Meals in Sacramento. Get the water ready and your gringo mouth warmed up, here’s some of the best ways to obliterate your taste buds any time of year:
5. Chicken Larb (Thai Cottage, Howe Ave)- Oh larb, how you taunt us, sounding so funny but tasting so good. This traditional Thai salad of ground chicken, ground chilies, soy sauce, mint, cilantro, lettuce and lime juice is one of the best scorching salty dishes around. Almost every Thai restaurant has larb on the menu, but few are better than the Thai Cottage.
Continue reading “Let the Year End Lists Begin, Extra Spicy”
Stay Current on Your Vermin
From my good friends at the Sacramento Food Forum, a current listing of all recent restaurant closures in the county due to health code violations. I’m a little worried about Eastern Empire which is right around the corner from me, and Mana Japanese restaurant, which might be more familiar to you as New Eddokko near the corner of 17th and Broadway. I’ve eaten at New Eddokko many times and am shocked to hear that they are not as vigilant in the vermin control area as we would wish. Maybe if they just treated the vermin like crap like they do at True Love Coffee House, they wouldn’t have a problem.
Views On Development, Sacramento Style
-This morning, my Peet’s coffee jerk said something shocking. There is a new building going up on the corner of 19th and S in the Safeway marketplace across the parking lot from Peet’s, and in reference to it she said, “How funny would it be if a Starbucks went up there.” Then she laughed maniacally. I love Peet’s employees for their coffee cockiness. They basically dare SBUX to move into their neighborhoods so that they can demolish them.
-A prominent article in the bee discusses development for West Sacramento. From the tone of the article, it sounds like most folks are looking forward to the change and the facelift planned for Capitol Ave. However, one resident complained that development brings traffic. “West Sacramento used to be sort of country, and now it’s getting like the rest of the county,” he says. Good point, sir. Things aren’t what they used to be since the Indians left.
Continue reading “Views On Development, Sacramento Style”
Mulvaney’s Building and Loan
Before dining at Mulvaney’s B&L on Wednesday night, I knew the following things: 1) “Mulvaney’s Building & Loan” is a charming name dreamt up by owner Patrick Mulvaney inspired by the name of Jimmy Stewart’s little bank in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
2) Mulvaney adheres to the “what’s good today” style of chefery using local, in season ingredients and changing the menu on an almost daily basis.
3) Mulvaney’s was opened in a beautiful old firehouse on 19th St. former home of many a failed gastronomic enterprise.
4) Haggar slacks are not “fashion forward.”
The Local “Scene” & Weekly Improv at the Capitol Garage
I just got a little survey from sacbee.com asking me what changes I’d like to see in sacticket.com, the online version of the Bee’s “Scene” section. In thinking about it, I realized that what I’d really like to see is more coverage of local bands, comedians, theaters, artists, writers and performers and less focus on movies, TV and national celebrities which, let’s face it, have become the territory of bloggers, national news outlets and omnipresent marketing campaigns. Honestly, when was the last time you looked to the Bee to plan your movie viewing strategy? And Rick Kushman’s writing on TV? That guy should have a national column.
That being said, here’s a quick note on a new series of improv comedy shows that just started at the Capitol Garage. Every Wednesday, from 9-11, the Sacramento Comedy Spot is hosting an improv show at the Capitol Garage at 15th and K. Cover is $5, but the laughs are free.
Kathmandu Kitchen-9 out of 10 Sherpas Agree, It’s Yummy!
Not many people realize the size of Sacramento’s thriving Nepali community. At last count there were as many as 10-12 people in the greater Sacramento area who claim Nepal as their country of ancestry. Luckily for the rest of us, this hearty community has a fine cuisine that they choose to share with anyone who has the good fortune to step through the doors of the Kathmandu Kitchen on Broadway. (Don’t let the rumors mislead you, Kathmandu Kitchen is not closed; however, it was shut down for a number of months this year for extensive remodeling and an extensive trip back to Nepal by the owner. The doors are now open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.)
Continue reading “Kathmandu Kitchen-9 out of 10 Sherpas Agree, It’s Yummy!”
The Sac Rag 