Category: Food

Mati’s Indian Express

I was doubtful. It’s true. I typically don’t doubt Paul, but this time I thought he had to be a little off. Paul runs the Sacramento Epicureans dining group and tends to have very reliable opinions, and he swore that this little stripmall Indian joint in Natomas was great.

Strip mall? Natomas? Are you kidding me?

Turns out that Paul was right. Mati’s Indian Express is wonderful–fast, inexpensive, and delicious. This is not to say that it’s the best Indian dining in Sacramento, or that it doesn’t have its drawbacks (lack of a restroom comes to mind). But when viewed as a whole package, Mati’s is about three million times better than it should be. Continue reading “Mati’s Indian Express”

Reminder – Save…err Celebrate Corti’s rally today

corti'sAs reported in Mike Dunne’s column a while back and on various ad hoc blogs, today at 3:00 PM a gaggle of local restaurant celebrities including Biba Caggiano, Randall Selland, Wendi Mentink, Rick Mahan and Kurt Spataro, will gather in support of a petition to celebrate Good Eats backing off the Corti Bros site.
According to Dunne, the effort to save Corti Brothers is/was being led by California Strategies LLC, a massive public relations firm with interests all across California.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens next; Corti still has to negotiate a new lease. Here is Darrel Corti in Mike Dunne’s column today:

“If they are backing away, I guess we have to meet with the landlord, but I’ve heard nothing from the landlord. All I’m hearing is what you are telling me, and I don’t know how to respond to what you are telling me,” Corti said.

The one thing that comes to mind is “sweet, I can keep my business open.” But that’s just off the top of my head.

Our picks for 2008 News & Review Readers’ Choice

As promised, our collective picks for some of the categories in this year’s Readers Choice awards. Make sure to vote online today or tomorrow. I had the date wrong last week, voting ends tomorrow. In addition to the below, we would appreciate your votes for Best blog, Best blogger (pick your favorite), and Best Sacramento Web site.

Food & Drink
Best restaurant: Maritime Seafood & Grill
Best soups: la bonne soupe
Best Thai: Thai Cottage
Best Wine Bar: 58 degrees & Holding
Best small plates: Formoli’s Bistro
Best BBQ: Big Joe’s BBQ (if you dolts vote for Texas West I’m going to come over to your house and give you a spice rub where the sun don’t shine (if you know what I mean))

Continue reading “Our picks for 2008 News & Review Readers’ Choice”

Akebono- Beyond Category

I knew we had reached sushi saturation point in this town when we officially had more sushi restaurants than lobbyists. Sushi joints have become so ubiquitous that you’re liable to run into one even if you’re standing still. With so many choices, it not only becomes difficult to ferret out the good establishments from the bad, it also becomes difficult to actually differentiate good from bad. When you think about it, there are really three types of sushi restaurants: 1. Traditional (we really don’t have any of these in Sacramento), 2. Party sushi (e.g. Mikuni, Tokyo Fro’s, etc.), 3. Neighborhood sushi joints (the no frills sushi joint in your neighborhood and everyone else’s).

Where then do I categorize Akebono? It’s definitely not traditional what with its arm-long list of rolls and creative sauces. It’s definitely not party what with its relaxed vibe and decidedly unglamorous location. And it’s definitely not just another neighborhood sushi joint due to its exceptional non-sushi menu and its rather extraordinary sushi offerings.

To hell with labels. Akebono is simply incredible. Continue reading “Akebono- Beyond Category”

Stickie’s Report on Big Fun – Part 1

I’ve got a lot of random thoughts after the first weekend of the California State Fair, so forgive me if they are a little haphazard.

It appears that the organizers this year had two goals, which I think are both blue ribbon ideas and successes in their implementation:
1) More public participation
2) Be more funny

If you check out the free Official Program included in every Sacramento News and Review (another stellar idea), you’ll see that there are a lot of audience-involved competitions, including the Fair’s Karaoke Championship on 8/30, the Rock Band (as in the video game) Stage, and the State Fair Star talent contest, among more than a dozen others.

You’ll also see more comedy around the park. Funny attractions range from the educational (Sparx Sound Effects Show, one of the many Hollywood-themed attractions) to the wacky (the Traveling Game Show is hysterical) to the just plain weird (check out the creepy singing robot at the SMUD exhibit). And, as usual, Jeremy the Juggler is back, who I think is damn funny and super-talented, calling him a “kids” attraction is a little insulting, in my opinion. Weird Al also made his second appearance in a row, let’s hope he comes back next year. If you weren’t there, you simply have no clue how great his show is.

Now on to the Booze!
Continue reading “Stickie’s Report on Big Fun – Part 1”

Fair Food Preview

Click here for more picsRunnergirl, Stickie, and I got a chance to peek around at all the food vendors last night at Cal Expo.  We came away with a few deep-fried nuggets of information that we just have to share.

1.  GELATO-That’s right.  The EYE-talian delicacy makes its way to the food midway.  Trust me you can’t miss it.  Even if the place didn’t offer the “World’s Largest Waffle Cones,” you’d never walk by without noting the flesh colored columns.

2.  NEW DEEP-FRIED TREATS- Chicken Charlie, that fried food innovator has outdone himself this time.  Going back to his roots, especially the concept of deep frying things that started out as totally fattening meals to begin with, Chuck has a new lineup of fried fare for the fair.  New this year are deep-fried White Castle burgers, deep-fried pop tarts, and deep-fried Spam with pineapple sauce.  

3.  BBQ BEEF SANDWICH- It’s still in the same place, on the eastern end of the fairgrounds, across from the petting zoo, on the way to the horse races.  It’s unassuming, with the word “SAUSAGE” most prominently lit on the sign, but trust me, you need to go and get a BBQ beef sandwich on a lard roll with homemade chips this year.  I’m not suggesting, I’m commanding.

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**

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”