Category: Food

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…”

Here’s a tip: Eat at El Forastero

Tip jar at El Forastero's drive-through on Fair Oaks Blvd.
Not sure this is the best idea the folks at El Forastero have had.

The RonTopofIt family hit the drive-through at El Forastero Mexican Restaurant on Fair Oaks Blvd. at Walnut Ave. this afternoon for a quick bite. I had been meaning to give it a go since they took over the space previously occupied by Taco Ball back in October (a large chain being replaced by a smaller chain, go figure). Shocker, Yelp is all over the place with reviews. I went in with little research, however, and had never been to the other locations in Sacrament and Stockton (it’s been a few months, guys, time to update the website) so I was ready.

Highlight #1: Open 24 hours

Of course I’ll never utilize this feature, but it is nice to know it is there. If I was young and single, I’m sure this would be awesome after a late night of hanging out by myself watching Seinfeld reruns.

Highlight #2: Breakfast is served all day

I love me a breakfast burrito. Simple to make, but not always easy to make, especially at 2 in the afternoon when only bacon and scrambled eggs wrapped in a tortilla will do. Continue reading “Here’s a tip: Eat at El Forastero”

Red-placard smackdowns holding steady

Don't be alarmed, this is only a sample.
Don't be alarmed, this is only a sample.
The Sacramento Bee published this story about food safety violations being down in Sacramento County today.

Under the new system, restaurants in the county get three inspections a year, while markets and produce stands each get two. Sacramento conducted 5,600 food inspections in 2004, before the red-yellow-green program started. Last year, it conducted more than 16,000. To carry out all that enforcement, the county has doubled the number of inspectors it employs, from 15 nearly a decade ago to 31 today.

I first wrote about this back in 2006, and I can’t think I’ve ever seen a yellow or red card around town.

The county handed out 680 yellow placards in 2010, compared with more than 1,100 three years earlier. Red-placard smackdowns have held steady at just over 110 annually.

With this information, I decided to test out the Sac Food mobile app that CoolDMZ wrote about in September. Continue reading “Red-placard smackdowns holding steady”

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”

Holiday fun in the Capitol District

My family and I took in The Nutcracker at the Community Center Theater Saturday afternoon. Ron Cunningham’s staging was enjoyable as always, and even the littlest ones in our party enjoyed the heck out of it. I love the whole vibe of that building, and as it turns out I dig the vibe of the Capitol District in general.

After the performance we checked out Buckhorn Grill for the first time. Though they are known for their tri-tip I opted for a full rack of ribs. The place smells terrific, as you’d imagine for a place grilling tri-tips non stop, and the fare is really good. The layout is a little weird with the lobby filling up when it gets a rush but other than that, this is a great casual place. Continue reading “Holiday fun in the Capitol District”

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”

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”

Pizza Rock is Surprisingly Good

Is this really necessary?

I drove down K Street this week.  It was life changing. Honestly, it was like finally being able to sit in the front seat when I was 8 years old. ‘Twas a whole different view on life. And then, it was over. A two block drive ended rather rapidly. With nowhere to park and nowhere to even pull over and drop off diners/moviegoers/homeless people, the thoroughfare felt a bit hurried. It felt like one of those amusement park rides that you wait in line for for about an hour only to have the ride last about as long as a 14-yr-old boy’s first night of passion. It did, however, bring me by Pizza Rock.

Let me say this right away. I don’t like Pizza Rock. I don’t like the weird Sistine Chapel ceiling; I don’t like the Peterbuilt driving through the wall; I don’t like the feeling that I’m in an Indian casino or an adult Chuck E. Cheese (which I guess is the same as an Indian casino). But, and this is a serious but here, the food is pretty damned good, almost awesome.

Fried string beans. Delicious. Plain pepperoni. Ridiculous. Margherita. Yummy. 22 oz. Morettis. Score. Dessert calzone (stuffed with apples, caramel, and ricotta). Tastier than a taste of tastiness.

What else can I say. It’s amazingly good pizza. Fresh toppings, good cheese, subtle sauce, great dough. What more could I want? Well I could want Tony Bennet and Dean Martin videos on the flat screen instead of Poison and Quiet Riot, but I’ll opt for good food over good music in this instance.

Pizza Rock- 1020 K St. 916.737.5777 

Food ***1/2 Service *** Atmosphere **