Category: Food

Women in Brewing at Rubicon

womeninbrewNothing affirms the sense of renewal that comes with Spring like seeing mother critters care for their young. I’m lucky to have several bird nests in the backyard and have spent the past month watching hummingbirds zip about. At first, they were just mothers building nests, but now there are several tiny reminders of their diligence and care searching for bugs, learning to fly and yelling for mom.

Rubicon Brewing Company salutes women and their life-giving generosity with their annual Celebration of Women Brewers that benefits W.E.A.V.E. and the fight against domestic violence. Some of these beers are made specifically for this event, so be thankful that California has several members of The Pink Boots Society. Our hometown brewers are Darcie Quinn and Brenda Studabaker from Rubicon and Sarah Irwin from SacBrew.

Continue reading “Women in Brewing at Rubicon”

Memory Dump: 10 meals in 25 words or less

I’m cleaning out my wallet.  It’s stuffed like a $10 panini with receipts from dinners and lunches collected from places all around the region, places about which I’ve had the best intention of writing incisive, clever reviews, reviews filled with heart and soul, wit and wisdom, reviews that would make men weep and ladies swoon, perfect little dollops of prose that would leave the faintest hint of ginger in the reader’s mouth .

I’m never going to write those reviews. So here’s the quick version on ten different joints with a totally arbitrary star rating for each.

The Counter– Sure it’s in Roseville. But it’s an incredible burger and freshly made ice cream shakes. Where’s the argument?  3.5 stars.

Cheffery’s– Sweet potato fries are heavenly. Wine pours are exceptionally heavy. What more do you need?  3 stars

Taste of Brazil– You get a ton of food for the $30 price per head. Only about half of it is good. Fantastic spot if you’re going low-carb. 2.5 stars. Continue reading “Memory Dump: 10 meals in 25 words or less”

New Eats: Magpie, De Vere’s, and Hot Italian

Even with TVs, radios, and all other media trying their hardest to remind us constantly of the sour economy — I mean really Betty Crocker recipe book, is it necessary to try to come up with a “cheaper” carrot cake recipe for hard times? — there are always things to celebrate. In this case, we’re going to celebrate some good new eats.

Magpie Caterers Market and Cafe– Opened just last week in the barely finished new retail row at 14th and R, Magpie already has fans. Count me as one. Picking up where nearby neighbor Dad’s Sandwich Shop leaves off, Magpie goes for the slightly higher scale ingredients, preparations, and prices. The grilled ham and cheese is stuffed with imported camembert and shaved Niman Ranch ham, the roast beef with melted blue cheese and imported mustard. The salads feature elegantly tidy mixes of baby greens and baby breads prompting baby cooing noises from the customers who eat them. Whether you’re a dive devotee or a dining room diva, this place just flat out rocks. I mean really rocks, rocks like the Flintstones, rocks like granite, rocks like Rock of Ages being performed at Red Rock by Rockapella. Continue reading “New Eats: Magpie, De Vere’s, and Hot Italian”

Give a little, take a little for NCAC

Tough economic times have led to record declines in charitable giving across the nation, and Sacramento is no exception. Many of us with lighter-than-usual pocketbooks are holding out for good deals; we want to support worthwhile organizations, but the “bonus prizes” can put an event over the top in our decision to attend or not

Which brings us to this event. Two Rivers Cider Company, our local cider-maker with an unmatchable reputation for quality and a trophy case to match, is holding a fundraiser for the Northern California AIDS Challenge this Thursday.

For a $25 donation at the door, you’ll enjoy a selection of great food and drinks, raffles, games and prizes. The Bathtub Gins and DJ Crescendo will provide the entertainment.

For more info on the NCAC, check http://www.norcalaidschallenge.net/

Thursday, March 26th
6-9 pm
4311 Attawa Avenue

It’s OK to be Judgmental When We’re Talking beer

Judging a beer contest is a surprisingly solemn event. It turns out that it involves a lot more sitting and thinking than drinking and shouting. One spends most of his time writing thoughtful criticism or simply staring at the brew in front of him trying to figure out whether the beverage’s color is more copper-amber or reddish-auburn.

Last weekend, at the Gold Country Brewers Association annual Celebrewtion, I was lucky enough to serve as a judge for their homebrew competition. Over 70 beers by dozens of proud Sacramento-area homebrewers were turned over to be judged by a panel of almost 30 judges. The range of beers went from palest light golden lagers to  syrupy thick meads to ink black imperial stouts.

Each panel of three judges was given a flight of beers, typically about eight beers in total, to judge on aroma, appearance, flavor, and overall execution. Being a first-timer, I was grouped together with a more experienced judge who could show me the ropes. We started by looking over our list of beers and going through the general rules.  We were in the stouts and strong ales category which included barleywine, old ale, and Russian Imperial Stout. Continue reading “It’s OK to be Judgmental When We’re Talking beer”

Dear, Where’s the Best Beer?

On this St. Patty’s day, it seems a logical time to roll out a few choices when you really, really want to get your beer on.  While none of these places are your traditional choices for a pint of Guinness and corned beef and cabbage, they’re rather perfect choices for brewed goodness the other 364 days a year.

Manderes– From the Gulf of Mexico to the Sprout of Brussels, Manderes has scoured the Earth for the best beers on the planet.  With the motto of “no crap on tap,” the small, two-year-old beer bar and restaurant in Folsom has excelled at marrying unique brews and delicious food. And with twenty beers on tap and almost 100 in the bottle, there’s something for just about every taste. Hungry? Try the short ribs, shellacked with a generous Russian imperial stout glaze, and pair it with a pint of Bear Republic’s Hop Rod Rye.

Burgers and Brew– The menu might be a bit limited, and the tap might not be all that impressive, but the arm-long list of beers in the bottle (mostly Belgian) is enough to keep the ardent hop-head coming back regularly. Don’t stray too far from the titular menu items of beer and burger however, or you’re likely to be disappointed.

The Shack– With an impressively eclectic tap that ranges from PBR to Belgian ales, and a bottle list that spans the globe featuring some of the best beers anywhere, The Shack has positioned itself as an incredible hangout for the brew connoisseur.  The new menu features bistro favorites like moules fritte and game hen for criminally low prices. It’s a win-win situation. Continue reading “Dear, Where’s the Best Beer?”

Breakfast-The Carmichael Way

I’m not a morning person — heck, I’m not even an early afternoon person — but I still get excited about a really good breakfast.

Lido Cafe-7739 Fair Oaks Blvd

The Lido is simply a great breakfast spot. Two little birdies told me so, their names are “sweet potato pancake” and “homemade cinnamon roll.” In another part of town, those might sound like streetwalker handles, but not in Carmichael son.  Those are two of the many standout delicacies waiting for you on the Lido menu. Add to that the spot-on service and the great coffee and you’ve got yourself gen-u-wine breakfast perfection. Other than the fact that the owners of Lido didn’t call me personally years ago to tell me how good their grub was, I can’t find fault.

El Palmar-2452 Mission Ave

I’ve talked about neighborhood favorite El Palmar before. Well, it’s still good, and the new, more expansive digs on El Camino can accommodate the ceaseless business.  But we’re here to talk about breakfast, and El Palmar serves one of my favorites. No, senor, it’s not a breakfast burrito, that silly California hybrid. It’s just one word that says breakfast delight: MACHACA.  Machaca con huevos, that is: a scrumptious mix of scrambled eggs and spiced, shredded beef that trumps any omelette anywhere by anyone.  Some rice and beans on the side and a michelada to drink makes for el desayuno perfecto. Continue reading “Breakfast-The Carmichael Way”

No Mermaids Need Apply

mermaid barI know I made light of the mermaids thing but the larger issue is the proposed $8.6 million city subsidy for the building of the complex. As you might expect, there is a petition out there in opposition to the subsidy. Neighboring businesses argue the subsidy would “bankrupt” their businesses. The Midtown Business Association has collected some documents about the proposal (they call the proposed new bar with swimming girls a “mermaid bar,” which is confusing — if it was truly a bar for mermaids, that wouldn’t necessarily cut into the bottom line for neighboring businesses catering to “normals.”)

Based on the developer’s proposal it sounds like the mermaid bar/mermaid-themed bar is going to be punningly titled “DIVE BAR” and the “adult pizza” (??) joint is to be called “PIZZA ROCK.”

A Roundup of Really Good Meals

Maritime– Valentine’s Day prompted the return of Mrs. Eats and me to Maritime. Chef Song is still putting out absolutely exquisite food. V-day brought a set menu including ahi tartar, roasted duck on puff pastry, sea bass over risotto (my favorite) and filet en croute (filet mignon cooked in a pastry shell).  Desserts (Song’s true speciality if truth be told) were divine, coffee creme brulee and strawberries macerated with wine and served with a creme anglaise.

The big news about Maritime is not that the food is still good, or even that they’re still open.  The news is that they’re changing their name, changing their service, and changing their vibe. The new name is Ambiance, the new vibe is a little slick and a little less top crust, and the service is $45 a person fix price menu only.  I hope very much that this rebranding works.  Chef Song is a treasure, and we’d do well to keep him in town.

Enotria– With new chef Tony Brenes overseeing the small, two-man kitchen — the second of the two men being Chef de Cuisine and 11-year Enotria vet Christian Sieck — things are very, very good at Enotria. The short rib ravioli, a surprisingly light dish all considered, with a wispy ravioli pasta, stuffed plump with flavor-infused short rib, topped with a single piece of pecorino and a dot of rich, syrupy balsamic, is absolutely out of this universe.  Ask new wine director, the intense yet lovable Chad Seaburg, what to pair it with, and you’ll have yourself quite a nice evening. Continue reading “A Roundup of Really Good Meals”

Tre: It Takes a Big Man to Admit When He’s Wrong

So I must be an enormous goliath of a man to say that I love Tre.

I’ll admit it, I was a bit of an asshole when poo-poo’ing the Haines Brothers’ latest endeavor, but I’ve been forced to eat my words as I try to eat everything that comes out of Tre’s kitchen.

I’m telling you, the food is simply awesome, and the menu is enormous — which to me usually spells doom like at those Chinese/Korean/Italian/Barbecue joints that have 256 menu items and prefer that you just order by number — but Tre isn’t like that. (Why do i feel like I’m trying to justify dating some crappy girlfriend that none of friends or family like?) Continue reading “Tre: It Takes a Big Man to Admit When He’s Wrong”