Author: sac-eats

A Meeting of the Minds- In Fresno

It’s not often that you have a memorable evening in Fresno. Honestly, other than the joys of great Mexican food and the thrill of finding your car unmolested after leaving it overnight in a public parking lot, Fresno lacks a reputation for singular events. However, this past week, I experienced one of the most surprisingly rewarding evenings of my life.

The unlikely place: the lobby bar at the downtown Fresno Radisson. I found myself sipping pints of Tamarack pale ale, the flagship brew of the Sequoia Brewing Company (aka, the other reason to go to Fresno), and engaging in lively conversation with my fellow lobby bar patrons. The gentleman next to me, a middle-aged African-American gent with a penchant for arguing politics while taking very few sides, seemed familiar. It took me three pints to finally figure it out, but my bar mate was none other than Federal Judge Morrison England. Yes, that Morrison England.

Continue reading “A Meeting of the Minds- In Fresno”

Blog Writer Stirs up S*!t Unnecessarily

Yesterday I posted a story with (mostly) third-hand knowledge about the Sacramento Comedy Spot and their possibly getting pushed out of the MARRS building. Turns out I took what was just a few innocent “business-as-usual” conversations between the parties involved and made a big deal out of nothing. Spot owner Brian Crall set me straight with this statement:

When the Comedy Spot moved from Broadway to the MARRS building it took us to an entirely new level.  Mike Heller, the owner of the MARRS Building, gave us an opportunity to show a wider audience our hilarious unique brand of comedy.  The business climate over the  last 2 years has been difficult for everyone.  Through hard work from everyone at the Comedy Spot, and shear determination the we were able to grow despite rough economic times.  We continue to be blown away by our community support.  The owners of the Comedy Spot are passionate about our product and we are extremely thankful that our fans and supporters are just as passionate.  Continue reading “Blog Writer Stirs up S*!t Unnecessarily”

Diggin’ the ‘Wich

On a recent trip to Track 7 Brewing last weekend, I had my fist experience with the Wicked ‘Wich food truck. Despite having vehicle graphics that remind me simultaneously of my distaste for anime and eSruance, they serve up mighty tasty sandwiches.

Their towering beauties typically include Italian bread, sliced tomatoes, vinegar slaw, meats, provolone, and crispy fries. It’s a magical combination that would satisfy even those of Kobayashian appetites. It’s a recipe, however, that a knowledgeable drinker/diner at Track 7 informed me comes from the Great Lakes region, Pittsburgh specifically (even more specifically a joint called Primanti Bros. (click the link to see the similarities)). No matter where it comes from though, it’s a treat. And truthfully, it’s great to share these regional American delicacies. What might be boiler plate in Buffalo, or commonplace in Canton is a novel treat out here in the West. Long story short, if you see the ‘Wich roaming the streets, and you have a hole in your stomach the size of Lake Erie, sidle on up and get yourself some grub. Continue reading “Diggin’ the ‘Wich”

Know Bacon, Know God, No Bacon…

But it seems like a good idea

Is there such a thing as too much bacon? I thought it a valid question after this weekend’s inaugural Bacon Fest. And while I didn’t have a chance to try every bacon offering throughout town, I did sample a few memorable dishes.

I love bacon. Honestly I do. Almost everyone I know (including vegetarians and PETA members) loves bacon. It’s a magical meat. It’s nearly perfect. But can you make a cocktail with it?

The folks at The Porch, K Street‘s new Southern-style eatery, would say yes. Emphatically yes. After all, doesn’t bacon make everything better?

The Porch’s stab at a bacon cocktail is called the “Southern Sunday.” It’s a mixture of bacon-infused bourbon, maple syrup, and fresh egg whites, shaken hard and served over ice. It’s definitely a curiosity, a novel attempt to create, what, a breakfast cocktail? After all it is made with eggs and bacon, and maple syrup to boot.

But would you want to drink it? Probably not. It’s a strange, salty glass of cheer better left to the imagination, and far inferior to the rest of The Porch’s cocktail menu which is overflowing with fresh ingredients and delicious combinations. Continue reading “Know Bacon, Know God, No Bacon…”

KXJZ Getting Out of the Jazz Business

I opened a letter today from KXJZ, 90.9, Capital Public Radio that is, letting me know that the last vestiges of jazz being played on 90.9 will be disappearing from the station as of January 17. Ok, disappearing might be too strong a word. Jazz programming is moving to 88.9 KXPR, and will be heard from 7-11, Sun-Fri.

Color me pissed. I’ve contributed to KXJZ for years, and never once been asked for feedback on programming. Not once have I been asked for my tastes or preferences or likes or dislikes. Instead, over the last two decades, KXJZ has gone from a 24-hour jazz station (and a damned good one) to a watered down jazz station (so much so that in 1999 it was featured in Downbeat (the only real jazz magazine left) as following the tide of stations more interested in “playing it safe” than playing jazz) to a jazz and news station, to most recently a news and “jazz” station (the “jazz” in question being a mashup of Brazilian bubblegum and adult contemporary detritus salted with a pinch of straight-ahead jazz for the apparently dying breed that actually like instrumental, improvised music), to, now, a 24 news station. Continue reading “KXJZ Getting Out of the Jazz Business”

Dine Downtown Week and the Newest Noshy Neighborhood

New Grange chef Oliver Ridgeway

Dine Downtown Restaurant Week begins today and runs through next Wednesday, the 18th (I guess it’s a metric week). It’s an opportunity for the majority of downtown restaurants to come up with a (typically basic and uninspired) three course menu available for $30. I get why DDRW is a thing. It’s a take off on similar events in Chicago and NYC and a few other cities. It’s an opportunity to shine a spotlight on downtown restaurants and a reason for people to try a place they might have not otherwise tried. The sad part, I guess, is that coming up with a (relatively) affordable 3-course meal in bulk tends to sap a bit of the energy out of the typical creativity with which most of the chefs involved imbue their food.

Nevertheless, if I was going to sample the restaurant week fare, I’d probably head over to The Porch, the new Southern cookin’ enterprise on K Street (did someone say bacon bourbon?), and probably Restaurant THIR13EN, the ridiculously named enterprise (was probably easy though to get the domain name) from Tuli owner Adam Pechal on 13th and H.

What I’m actually excited about, however, is the emergence of Caesar Chavez park and environs as the new destination for eats. Places are popping up with regularity within a block of the park. Whether they’re laying down new roots, or taking over for old guard places that had lost their edge, these places will make CC park the place to be in 2012. Why? Continue reading “Dine Downtown Week and the Newest Noshy Neighborhood”

Behold the Bivalve

About this time of year I start craving soups like nobody’s business. Potato, meatball, vegetable, barley, pea oh yeah pea; I can’t get enough. But this winter (I know it’s not technically winter yet but go with me here), I’ve discovered a hankering for a different kind of warming treat, the bowl of bivalves. That’s right: mussels, clams, cockles, etc.. I’m chewing through my bottom lip just thinking about it. Here’s a quick tour of some of the best bowls of shells in town.

Manila Clams at Magpie– The current offering is a ridiculous bowl of goodness featuring chili flakes, seafood broth, garlic, saffron, cherry tomatoes, and tarragon. Served with a couple of crispy spears of bread it’s a winter wonderland of goodness. Continue reading “Behold the Bivalve”

Can You Hear Me Now? — Better Cell Reception In the Future

The Sac Rag just got a note today from AT&T letting us know that they are beefing up their mobile coverage in our area. Specifically:

AT&T’s network enhancements include two new cell sites in the city of Sacramento. The first new cell site provides improved coverage and capacity along 4th Avenue from 5th Street to Riverside Boulevard, and along Riverside Boulevard from 2nd Avenue to 13th Avenue.  The site also improves indoor coverage in areas bounded by I-5, 11th Avenue, Land Park Drive, Robertson Way and 4th Avenue.  The second new cell site provides improved coverage and capacity at Sacramento International Airport and the surrounding areas.   It’s a temporary site that will improve coverage even more once it becomes permanent.

Since I live near Riverside Blvd and 4th Ave, I can personally attest that the AT&T reception there is about as good as it is in a lead-lined bunker in the Gobi Desert. So this is great news to me. Where else in the ‘Mento is the phone reception atrocious? For which carrier?

Sugar Plum Vegan- No More Excuses

Jean Reno says, "Eat your vegetables."

Being a vegan is a choice. An increasingly common choice. My buddy Bill? Vegan. Keith? Vegan. Law& Order SVU’s Christopher Meloni? Vegan. Nicholas Sparks? Nuttin’. (Which mean he eats nothing but nuts, and not peanuts because they are legumes!) What I’m trying to say is that no matter how silly veganism might seem to us real Americans, it’s catching on. And the more adherents it attracts, the more it needs to step up its game.

I’m looking at you Sugar Plum vegan restaurant! You’re giving the vegan business a bad name. I’ve been to the ‘Plum three times in my life. The first two visits were mediocre to good, with the desserts being the highlight of the trip. My last trip, however, was atrocious. It was as if they just didn’t care anymore, like they were just going through the motions, almost as if a gang of international bank robbers (mostly an American gang but with Jean Reno and that African dude from Blood Diamond thrown in for texture) Continue reading “Sugar Plum Vegan- No More Excuses”