The Sac Rag

Why? Because Sacramento was snubbed in the contest. Andrew is lumped in with the San Francisco cocktail shakers because Hangar One decided that SACRAMENTO WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH to warrant its own category.

We all know that our local cocktail scene kicks major ass. Let’s get behind Andrew for one final push of votes and show them that we deserve to be considered alongside those inferior cities.

Click through to see his (soon to be) winning recipe, the West Bengal Cocktail.
Continue reading “Mixologist muddling the competition”

“What the hell is that?” I ask. It’s the only question appropriate at this point as we pull into the Andis Wines parking lot. It was a rhetorical question, sure. I knew it was a winery; it just didn’t look like a winery. Sure, it was in wine country, tucked away in the rolling hills of Amador, just a few hundred yards from standouts Easton and Runquist, but it just didn’t feel right. To be honest it looked like a rural, modern, Scandinavian airport. A cross between Ikea and a heliport. As if the Copenhagen design school had a one night fling with the farmer’s daughter. It did not look like a winery.

But it is a winery. And a pretty damned good one. Andis Wines is overly image conscious, sure (one can tell that just by the logoed Tommy Bahama shirts every member of the staff is forced to wear), but beyond the artifice is some fine winemaking and skilled farming. Syrah and Barbera offerings are just lovely, and the Sav Blanc is as good as anyone else’s in the region. The wine pourers are comely and the grounds, once one gets over the shock of seeing a building that looks as if it were designed by someone wearing comically small spectacles and sporting a few umlauts in his name, are gorgeous, with rolling vines lapping up at the oversized tasting room windows, and a broad picnic lawn spread out under a clutch of snapping flags. Continue reading “Andis Wines- Out of Place, Out of Sight”

Yes, that’s right. Sacramento is such an active beer town, you need daily alerts to keep up on all the awesome goings on.

To celebrate Four Twenty, braaaaaah, Lagunitas is bringing back their super dank Waldos’ Special Ale, named in honor of their Marin County friends who coined the term. Kegs will be tapped at The Shack, Flaming Grill and Golden Bear (edit: also Pangaea and Dad’s Kitchen!). Not to be outdone, Track 7 will be tapping their Riot Act Rye Ale. Yes, all at 4:20pm. Don’t forget to also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the debut album from the best and most unbelievably influential band to ever come out of the Central Valley, Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted.

Tomorrow is one of my favorite local beer events, Rubicon’s Women in Brewing, benefiting WEAVE. Every year, professional brewers and some special guest stars make outstanding beer that you won’t get anywhere else. I am also a sucker for the sexy t-shirt designed around a new theme every year. Silent auction, too!

Raggers, where is your favorite place in town for a grilled cheese sandwich? Do you want the traditional American on sourdough? Lots of fillings? Bacon? (duh!) Mayonnaise? Fancy shmancy imported cave aged charcoal rind raw cows milk creations? Tomato soup on the side? Who in Sacramento fixes your jones for ooey gooey goodness that triggers a childhood deja vu?

For me, a few come to mind right off the bat. I love Rubicon, but their menu is lacking for meat-free options. Their build-a-grilled cheese is frequently my choice, and I pack it full of produce. Tomatoes (on the side to keep the juice from ruining the crunch), greens, grilled onions, mushrooms, the works, on wheat or marble rye. And spicy mustard. Always with spicy mustard.
Continue reading “National Grilled Cheese Day!”