Category: Food

Natomas chains halt construction

I was in the Natomas/Truxel area the other day and noticed that the new Sonic/T.G.I. Friday’s construction had all but stopped. Fast forward a few days and the Computer Pages once again come to my rescue.

Via KCRA.com

At the intersection of Truxel Road and Gateway Park Boulevard, construction has been halted for a Sonic drive-thru and a T.G.I. Friday’s, which were scheduled to open two years ago.

Sonic blames the slowing economy for not completing the project. It plans to finish its Lincoln location first.

Two years ago! Man, brutal. I think we can do without another chain restaurant (Hear that, Guy?), but I’ve always wondered what the Sonic was all about. Well, apart from those irritating commercials.

Harvest Dinner Next Thursday at Waterboy

Feeling a little left out with all the autumnal, harvesty wistfulness going on around town?  You’re not alone.  If you’d like a dose of fall cheer and singular grub, check out the Harvest Dinner at Waterboy, co-sponsored by my friends at Edible Sacramento.

Details: Thursday October 30, 2008
Reservations are available from 6pm-8pm
Cost= 65.00, call 916-498-9891 for reservations
Four Course Dinner featuring Kunde Estate Winery

You can expect fine food, lively conversation, and expert wine chat on sustainable winemaking.  If you love good vittles, like good wine, and haven’t lost your entire life savings this last month, come on by for a memorable evening.

Apple Hill Unpeeled 2008

Another fall has arrived and another crop of appley goodness has been laid out for the intrepid daytripper to consume.  Apple Hill is in full harvest mode, and the weather couldn’t be nicer.  The crowds are bound to be overflowing this weekend and the apple themed desserts, pies, breads, jams, trinkets, colostomies, and hardware will overflow from the folksy establishments in the folksy land of folksy Apple Hill.

It occurs to me, as it does every year at this time, that some of you may never have been to Apple Hill.  Hmmm.  I see.  Ok… Well then… What the f*$% are you waiting for!?!  Someone to spoon feed you ‘Hill info like a mother shoveling thin apple puree in the drooling mouth of an overfed infant?  If that’s what it will take, then I’m game.

Here we go:  Who’s a big boy?  Who? Who?  Who wants some applesauce in his little pouty apple barn?  Hmmmm?  Nevermind, I can’t keep that up. Continue reading “Apple Hill Unpeeled 2008”

Oktoberfest at SacBrew

This Saturday, Sacramento Brewing Company will host Oktoberfest with eight house-made German beers, oompa bands and authentic German food under a big tent at Fulton and Marconi. If you enjoy any of the above items, you would be a fool not to attend. Festivities begin at Noon and last into the evening. Prost!

This also seems like a good opportunity to point out to readers who have not visited in the past year or two that SacBrew has both a new owner and a new Brewmaster. It is still the same old place, but the quality of both food and beer has improved, especially the beer, which is now jaw-droppingly awesome. I recommend a visit.

Regional Wine Tasting Guide

Now is a great time to visit our regional wineries, as new releases are being introduced every week and Autumn is beautiful in the vineyards. Plus, crush is over, so the employees and owners are far less stressed and have more time to discuss their craft with you.

If you are new to our local wine scene or are just tired of stuffing 10 different wine maps in your glove compartment, the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau publishes the Official Regional Wine Tasting Guide. It includes maps and phones numbers for both the foothill wineries (Amador, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada and Calaveras Counties) and the valley wineries (Sacramento, San Joaquin and Yolo Counties).

Order your guide today by calling (800) 292-2334. You can also find this information at http://www.sacwineregion.com/.

National Awards for Elk Grove Brewing, and Bon Voyage

The 27th Annual Great American Beer Festival was held this weekend in Denver with several area breweries competing. Congratulations to Elk Grove Brewing Company for bringing home two medals. Head Brewer Bill Wood added to his extensive trophy case with the Bronze Medal for the Bad Dog Brown Ale (category: American-Style Brown Ale) and the Silver Medal for the Bock Lager (category: Bock). The Bock Lager also won the Gold Medal at the 2008 World Beer Cup this year, naming it this year’s best Traditional German-Style Bock in the world. Great job, Bill!

…And now the bad news. Elk Grove Brewing Company became another victim of bad economic times and closed its doors this week. Bill will be going from Old Town Elk Grove to Old Town Auburn, where he will be brewing up at Auburn Alehouse. I’d like to offer my condolences to owner Chris Correa, his family and the rest of the staff. It has been 13 great years of buckets of garlic fries and beer battered fried dill pickles. The Sacramento brew community will miss you.

Masullo: Another Reason to Eat Out More Often

Calling Masullo a pizzeria is like calling the Taj Mahal a grave marker.  Ok, maybe that’s too grandiose. How bout this, calling Masullo a pizzeria is like calling Ron Jeremy an actor.  Sure, it’s technically true, but it really doesn’t tell you all you need to know about the “Hedgehog,” or Masullo for that matter.

Yes, in most tellings, Masullo will be referred to as a pizzeria, but it’s much more.  The majority of the menu is made up of small, crispy, elegant pies, true; but the rest of the menu should not be ignored.  Beautiful salads, house-made pastries, top-notch ingredients, attentive service, modern design, dogs and cats sleeping together–it all works, it’s all tops, it’s all recommended.  Continue reading “Masullo: Another Reason to Eat Out More Often”

Peets alert!

It may not be economic but it's definitely stimulus.
It may not be economic
but it’s definitely stimulus.

Here’s another one for the “things are not as bad as they seem” file.

For all you midtown Peetniks, a new Peets has opened up at the southeast corner of Capitol and Alhambra. You’ll be happy to know there is yet another caffeine option in the area.

So, even though times are tough, apparently the fundamentals of our coffee are strong.

East Broadway Rundown

Other than being the title of one of the best and most overlooked Sonny Rollins albums (I know you don’t care about jazz, just humor me), the title above refers to the fact that we’re going to race through your myriad dining options on Sacramento’s Broadway with a no-holds-barred, no-stone-left-unturned, no-child-left-behind attitude.  Are you ready?

Let’s go.  These will be in no particular order (other than geographically west to east):

Jamie’s Bar & Grill– Decent prices for hearty food. My experiences have been underwhelming, but others swear by it. Expect burgers, sandwiches, barbecue, comfort food, cigarette scarred tables, and waitresses that call you sweetheart. Don’t expect a sign above the door.
Two stars– 427 Broadway

Market Club– If you’re looking for a breakfast dive, you’ve found it. Standard breakfast fare with a few Asian touches (fried rice and fried eggs anyone?). You won’t find a better divey yet friendly place located in a produce warehouse yard anywhere.
Three stars-2630 5th St (off of Broadway in the fenced in produce yard) Continue reading “East Broadway Rundown”