It's time to start thinking about New Year's Eve. If you're like me, it's one of those holidays you'd rather avoid. But you can't. So why not drink and dance the night away--perhaps with some new friends (especially some new friends that might provide that ever-so-important midnight kiss?) Meetup.com has great activies (although I'll admit I've never been to one), and the Downtown group just sent the email below (I cut and paste for you!). Sounds like fun. If I wasn't already going to Mother Hips at Marilyns, I might look into it.
From Marsh's email:
Announcing a new Meetup for Downtown/Midtown!
What: New Decade New Year's Eve Party!
When: December 31, 2009 9:00 PM
Price: $59.00 per person
Where:
Masonic Temple
1123 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Downtown/Midtown Meetup & Friends cordially requests the pleasure of your company at our
2010 New Year's Eve Gala!
A Celebration of Wine, Music, and Dance
MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND!
Sacramento's premiere New Year's Eve Gala will be held at the Elegant Masonic Temple located in downtown Sacramento. Join us for an unforgettable night as you ring in the New Year! Don't miss this incredible value as we close out the first decade of the 21st Century in style!
Upscale or Cocktail Attire Requested
Thursday, December 31st at 9:00PM
Please reserve your tickets soon. Ticket prices go up on December 26th!
ADMISSION INCLUDES OPEN BAR & UPSCALE APPETIZERS!
Tickets are only $59 | $69 after 12/26 l $79 at the door
You do not need a date to attend: Both singles and couples will attend the gala. Whether you come by yourself or with friends, you will have a wonderful time!
Enjoy an evening of great music and dancing
Listen to the Upbeat sounds of Sacramento's favorite jazz band - Midtown Jazz while you mix and mingle from 9:00 to 10:30pm. At 10:30 pm DJ Greg of A Special Request will spin the classics from the 70's and 80's. He'll also play a medley of slow jams for the romantics in the crowd.
About the Venue
The Sacramento Masonic Temple has been the location of choice for hundreds of weddings, holiday parties and banquets, the stunning 8,000 square foot room accommodates up to 600 for cocktails and hor d'oeuvres. It is the largest venue in Sacramento and is conveniently located near the State Capitol.
The Sacramento Masonic Temple offers convenient parking and easy access to Interstate 5
Please note that all online ticket sales are final. No refunds.
We are unable to offer refunds or cancellations once a ticket has been purchased.
Tickets will be released at the entrance only to the person who purchased the tickets upon presenting photo ID.
This gala will sell out! Please note that all attendees must be 21 or over to attend.
Our open bar includes wines from the following local wineries:
Vino Con Brio Winery
Perry Creek Winery
Nine Gables Winery
Terre D'oro
It will also include a selection of upscale beer from one of Sacramento's better Breweries.
Appetizers!
Experience the taste of the Mediterranean.
In addition to our open bar and midnight champagne toast, Chef Elias owner of Tony's Deli will prepare delectable appetizers representing the flavors and culinary traditions of the Mediterranean for you to experience and enjoy.
Menu
Jumbo Prawns on Ice with Cocktail Sauce/Lemon Wedges
Oysters in the Half Shell on Ice
Smoked Salmon (Lox) with all the trimmings
Mediterranean stuffed Grape leaves
Mediterranean Ravioli Salad
Assorted Imported & Domestic Cheese with Assorted Crackers & Baguettes
Deluxe Vegetable Platter (In season Vegetables)
Cajun Sausage
Mild or Spicy Italian Sausage
Italian or Swedish Meatballs
Please note that all hosted service, both appetizers and wine & beer will stop at Midnight.
No Host cocktails will continue to be served after that.
OPTIONAL SERVICES
Can't find someone to watch your children?
Use our nanny service. Your child will celebrate new years in a separate area on the premises which will only be accessible by parents who use the service. We'll have a play area set-up for your children's enjoyment.
$20 first child, $10.00 for each additional child. Ages 3 to 14.
NEED A RIDE HOME?
To insure you arrive home safely we'll provide end of night shuttle service, with next day pickup to retrieve your car- $20 roundtrip (15 minute radius of the Masonic Temple)
Valet Service $10
Coat Check $2
To book your limousine ride call 916-922-5466
We'll offer special hotel rates-TBA
We're partnering with the following meetup groups to make this event a success:
Single in Sacramento
Addicted to Adventure
MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND!
Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/downtown/calendar/11996962/
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Hashi Specials
Hashi has some great specials for these "tough economic times." Aside from their very filling $7.50 lunch bento box (miso, steamed rice, 2 gyoza, salad and your choice of two other items), they have $1 handroll night on Monday and $1 nigiri night on Tuesday. The nigiri is limited to about 12 fish choices and there are about eight handroll options. On Wednesdays they have half-off selected rolls. Their regular happy hour isn't too shabby either: $3 well and drafts and $3 - $6 food specials. I can't find their website, but they're located at 2110 L Street in Sacramento, formerly Stonegrill.
Dine Downtown for $30
Been wanting to try a new Sacramento restaurant, but don't want to spend a fortune? Dine Downtown week starts on January 8th. For 10 days you can try a three-course meal for $30 a person. Restaurants include Biba, Ella, Cosmo Cafe, the Grange and Mulvaney's. A full list - some with menus - is at this link.
Paragary's Starts Happy Hour
Paragary's is kicking off a new happy hour from 4:30 to 7:30 weeknights! 7:30!! That's awesome! There aren't a lot of details other than food and drinks start at $3! Check it out here.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Fresh from Facebook
I'm a fan of a lot of midtown restaurants and bars on Facebook, and occasionally I get wind of some great specials. Here's a few from the past couple of days.
- Magpie Caterers has happy hour from 3:00 to 6:00 with $5 Pliny the Elder pints and $4 bites.
- You really can't beat Selland's weekly dinner and wine special. From today through Saturday, get Enchiladas for Two with Ground Beef, Cheddar Cheese and Green Chiles with a Bottle of Spanish Tempranillo for $25.
- And finally, deVere's Irish Pub is having Firestone Fridays - $3 Firestone pints in addition to their regular happy hour specials, from 1:30 to 6:30.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Let's Talk about Parlare
I first went to Parlare on 10th Street a couple of years ago. I wasn't overly impressed, nor did I walk out unhappy. It just didn't do much for me.
Now there is a definite reason to go on Tuesday nights! It's $2 Tuesday till 7:00 and they aren't skimping on the $2 items. For just two bucks you can get house wine, beer, margaritas, mojitos, sangria and I think some sort of bubbly. The food options are equally impressive, including: hummus, artichoke/jalapeno dip, coconut shrimp, a couple of different bruschettas and the crowd favorite last Tuesday - BBQ pork sliders. Five girlfriends and I went and the bill didn't exceed $40! That's about $7 each for more than one drink each and a buffet of appetizers.
There is a catch, of course. In my previous post I wrote about the balance of service and cost. This past Tuesday the service was very slow BUT it was a full house with one bartender working upstairs and one guy running food from the kitchen. They didn't pretend the service wasn't slacking - they were appropriately apologetic and you could tell they were working really hard to keep up with the guests. I guess I'm a little more understanding when there's an acknowledgement of the problem.
What are your thoughts on $2 Tuesday?
Now there is a definite reason to go on Tuesday nights! It's $2 Tuesday till 7:00 and they aren't skimping on the $2 items. For just two bucks you can get house wine, beer, margaritas, mojitos, sangria and I think some sort of bubbly. The food options are equally impressive, including: hummus, artichoke/jalapeno dip, coconut shrimp, a couple of different bruschettas and the crowd favorite last Tuesday - BBQ pork sliders. Five girlfriends and I went and the bill didn't exceed $40! That's about $7 each for more than one drink each and a buffet of appetizers.
There is a catch, of course. In my previous post I wrote about the balance of service and cost. This past Tuesday the service was very slow BUT it was a full house with one bartender working upstairs and one guy running food from the kitchen. They didn't pretend the service wasn't slacking - they were appropriately apologetic and you could tell they were working really hard to keep up with the guests. I guess I'm a little more understanding when there's an acknowledgement of the problem.
What are your thoughts on $2 Tuesday?
Deals vs. Service
When it comes to happy hour, or any visit to a bar or restaurant, what is more important? Great value for the product or great service? Last night I went to Lounge on 20's happy hour with a couple of friends.
First the good news, the place was pretty empty - though it was 5:30 on a Wednesday. Their happy hour special consists of $3 - $6 appetizers (price is progressive depending on the time of the order) and $5 martinis, wine, champagne and their cocktail of the day and $4 selected beers. Last night's cocktail was a yummy tequila concoction with pomegranate and lime complements. It was strong enough where you could taste the alcohol, but it wasn't overwhelming, blending perfectly with the tartness of the fruit flavors. It was definitely worth the $5. The cheese plate, with two minuscule slices of cheese and a dollop or two of what I thought was canned cranberry sauce, wasn't so pleasing. However, the $5 fried macaroni and cheese appetizer was yummy! The cheese and noodle-filled balls were served with a creamy cheese sauce and the portion was enough for more than one person to enjoy. We ordered two servings and basically had a full serving to take home in a doggy bag!
Now the bad news, the service was awful. Our server appeared at the table without any knowledge of what the beer or cocktail of the day was. She said they hadn't printed the new menus yet so she couldn't give us one, yet she didn't have any information memorized in order to share it. I never got the water I ordered until another server came over and asked if I wanted one (remember this lady for later). When our server came back with the beer info, it ended up being the wrong info. When our check came (which we had to ask the second server to get for us), we had been overcharged for three of the appetizers. I explained this to our server, who cheerily agreed to fix it, only to come back with a revised check that only corrected one of the three pricing errors. Oh, and server #2 was the only person to refill our water at any time during the evening.
I spent about $16 for a share of three appetizers, a cocktail and a beer. Not too shabby. But I couldn't get past how inadequate the service was - especially at a place that aims to be on the classier side (they don't allow flip flops, for example). I spent six years as a server and bartender so I get that it's not as easy as some people may think, but because of that experience I think I expect more. What about you?
Have you had good experiences at Lounge on 20? Is it your feeling that "you get what you pay for" and at happy hour service isn't as important? Have you ever refused to return somewhere after having bad service? Let's hear about it!
First the good news, the place was pretty empty - though it was 5:30 on a Wednesday. Their happy hour special consists of $3 - $6 appetizers (price is progressive depending on the time of the order) and $5 martinis, wine, champagne and their cocktail of the day and $4 selected beers. Last night's cocktail was a yummy tequila concoction with pomegranate and lime complements. It was strong enough where you could taste the alcohol, but it wasn't overwhelming, blending perfectly with the tartness of the fruit flavors. It was definitely worth the $5. The cheese plate, with two minuscule slices of cheese and a dollop or two of what I thought was canned cranberry sauce, wasn't so pleasing. However, the $5 fried macaroni and cheese appetizer was yummy! The cheese and noodle-filled balls were served with a creamy cheese sauce and the portion was enough for more than one person to enjoy. We ordered two servings and basically had a full serving to take home in a doggy bag!
Now the bad news, the service was awful. Our server appeared at the table without any knowledge of what the beer or cocktail of the day was. She said they hadn't printed the new menus yet so she couldn't give us one, yet she didn't have any information memorized in order to share it. I never got the water I ordered until another server came over and asked if I wanted one (remember this lady for later). When our server came back with the beer info, it ended up being the wrong info. When our check came (which we had to ask the second server to get for us), we had been overcharged for three of the appetizers. I explained this to our server, who cheerily agreed to fix it, only to come back with a revised check that only corrected one of the three pricing errors. Oh, and server #2 was the only person to refill our water at any time during the evening.
I spent about $16 for a share of three appetizers, a cocktail and a beer. Not too shabby. But I couldn't get past how inadequate the service was - especially at a place that aims to be on the classier side (they don't allow flip flops, for example). I spent six years as a server and bartender so I get that it's not as easy as some people may think, but because of that experience I think I expect more. What about you?
Have you had good experiences at Lounge on 20? Is it your feeling that "you get what you pay for" and at happy hour service isn't as important? Have you ever refused to return somewhere after having bad service? Let's hear about it!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Prix Fixe
Everyone's getting into the prix fixe dinners these days! I was alerted to two more dinner specials today.
First up, Zocalo! The popular Mexican spot is offering "2 for $20 Tuesdays." That's one appetizer, two entrees and one dessert for $20. Not too shabby, considering the menu has many options including ceviche, nachos, tacos, enchiladas and, of course, flan. I don't understand how people enjoy that, but I like boxed macaroni and cheese. Moving on...
Biba is also offering a new $12 prix pixe lunch (Tuesday through Friday) and $28 prix fixe dinner menu (Monday through Thursday), which changes every day. There are a lot of delicious options on the menu, from seafood risotto to filet mignon, and may be my best chance of dining at Biba anytime soon!
First up, Zocalo! The popular Mexican spot is offering "2 for $20 Tuesdays." That's one appetizer, two entrees and one dessert for $20. Not too shabby, considering the menu has many options including ceviche, nachos, tacos, enchiladas and, of course, flan. I don't understand how people enjoy that, but I like boxed macaroni and cheese. Moving on...
Biba is also offering a new $12 prix pixe lunch (Tuesday through Friday) and $28 prix fixe dinner menu (Monday through Thursday), which changes every day. There are a lot of delicious options on the menu, from seafood risotto to filet mignon, and may be my best chance of dining at Biba anytime soon!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Quick Bites
Esquire Grill has unrolled a new Happy Hour special, "5 for $6 till 7:00." Five cocktails, five wines by the glass and five appetizers are only $6 until... well, I think you get it. Cocktails include Key Lime and Basil Sapphire martinis and the appetizers look pretty yummy.
More details here.
Also, Tuli Bistro has added an "Afternoon Delight" menu. From 2:30 to 5:00 on weekdays, there will be selected beer ($2) and wine ($5) specials as well as Chef's Tasting Boards, which include your choice of tasty bites ranging from risotto balls to a variety of cheeses and meat selections.
You can check out those details here.
More details here.
Also, Tuli Bistro has added an "Afternoon Delight" menu. From 2:30 to 5:00 on weekdays, there will be selected beer ($2) and wine ($5) specials as well as Chef's Tasting Boards, which include your choice of tasty bites ranging from risotto balls to a variety of cheeses and meat selections.
You can check out those details here.
Friday, October 30, 2009
World Class Travel?
Sunday's New York Times Travel page will have a great article about spending 36 hours in Sacramento. I thought their assessment of our fair city was pretty fair -- although they seemed to only hit the hot spot eateries (ie expensive) with the exception of Tower Cafe.
You can find the article here.
What do you think? If you had a friend coming from out of town for only 36 hours where would you take them?
You can find the article here.
What do you think? If you had a friend coming from out of town for only 36 hours where would you take them?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Eating Through Asia
I had an unbelievably delicious slice of Zachary's pizza today for my first meal back in the States. The crust was flaky, the cheese was gooey and the tomatoes were chunky and just sweet enough. I'm really looking forward to a good Mexican meal in the next day or two.
However, the Asian food I've been eating the last two weeks has been out of this world! Unfortunately, I started taking photos a little too late in my journey to get pictures of everything. I started and ended (and spent a little time in between) in Singapore, where you can basically get any Asian cuisine you want - Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern - it's all there and it's all good! The best place to get inexpensive and yummy food was on the street. Hawker stands are everywhere and the selection is a little mind-boggling. One of my favorites was this noodle dish with a side of soup dumplings (there's soup inside!). The noodle guy makes the noodles by hand while you're standing there. It's amazing to watch. I've seen in twice and I still can't figure it out. The noodles are cooked with bok choy and topped with a savory pork sauce. The dumpling contains a hot soup and some meat. It's like inside out wanton soup!
I've had a lot of Chinese food in my day, but this roasted chicken from a restaurant in Singapore's Chinatown had me wanting seconds and thirds - and it even has bones in it! The duck noodles on the side weren't half bad either.
Next stop, Cambodia! The signature dish is anok, which is white fish baked with coconut milk, chili and lemongrass inside a banana leaf. It was served with steamed rice and an icy cold beer. Yum!
Unsurprisingly, the Thai food was amazing in Thailand. I had more fried rice, pineapple rice, pad thai, pad see ew and other delightful noodle dishes that I probably shouldn't have starch again for the rest of my life. There were many chances to take photos of these dishes but I only remembered when I was halfway done with my chili cashew chicken noodles.
In Kuala Lumpur, I had my first taste of beef rendang. It's a dish traditionally prepared for Malaysian celebrations lowly cooked in coconut milk and spices - like ginger, lemongrass and chilies - for several hours. As most everything else, it's served with a side of steamed rice.
In KL's Chinatown, we had a delicious order of sizzling beef. It comes to the table, literally sizzling. Delish!
I had some other great dishes that I didn't have photos of - many of which included noodles. I love noodles. I don't have a photo, but satay is one of Malaysia's signature dishes as well. The peanut sauce is just a touch spicier than most places here in the US. I am also hoping to replicate a chili oil-based condiment that I fell in love with in Asia.Thursday, October 15, 2009
Bueller?
OK, this is kind of random post. (I know what you're thinking. "Carmen? Random? No....") Has anyone been to Morgan's Bar and Grill? That place in the really funky spot on 33rd and S? Anyway, was just looking at the Yelp post and I can't decide if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
Anyway, I'm hoping my readers will know (although you're probably hoping that I know). If you're interested in the randomness, let me know and we can meet for a $5 PBR pitcher on Sunday Funday. Or just tell me how it is.
If not, I suppose I can wait until Jennifer returns from Singapore and we'll give you an update.
Anyway, I'm hoping my readers will know (although you're probably hoping that I know). If you're interested in the randomness, let me know and we can meet for a $5 PBR pitcher on Sunday Funday. Or just tell me how it is.
If not, I suppose I can wait until Jennifer returns from Singapore and we'll give you an update.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday Funday
Sunday Funday has become a ubiquitous term in Midtown this summer. I'm not sure who started it, but it is everywhere. While the days of meandering through Midtown neighborhoods on your cruiser may be over (due to the impending Northern California monsoon), there are still plenty of great deals and fun activities in Sacramento on Sundays. If you've survived your Saturday night, head out drinking on Sunday. Or fight that hangover with bottomless Mimosas.
This was my day yesterday (and I'm really glad I had today off for Columbus Day):
Brunch at Tuli Bistro. Ok, certainly not budget friendly, but holy cow was it good! Bottomless mimosas were a good deal at $8 per person. Their version of Eggs Benedict was so good I could have licked my plate. Jen's spicy goat cheese scramble looked delicious. The people at the table over had the breakfast pizza and the biscuits and gravy. I'm not sure Tuli can make anything that's not spectacular, and with brunch they really seem to have hit their stride. Super laid back, friendly service, and a beautiful day on the patio. I couldn't have asked for a better start to my day.
Jen and were on our bikes and headed over to Taylor's Kitchen for their weekly "Dick's Picks" wine tasting. I love this wine tasting. For $10 Richard Ebert, wine guy of Taylor's Market and Taylor's Kitchen, pours 6-8 of his current favorites. There's no real method to his madness, he just wants people to try something new. He's great--funny, friendly, loves to tell you about wine and quote Shakespeare. His wife is always there and she's super adorable. They have a great cheese and snack selection to munch on, and they are always willing to pour a little more if you haven't quite decided on a wine. Dick also picks wines that are super economical--I don't recall ever seeing anything over $20 on his list. Now, you may be asking why I would promote a $10 tasting when there are plenty of wineries around where you can taste for free (and I protest when they charge). I know Dick is going to pour something worthwhile. The wine is always good, the company is always fantastic, and they are always generous with the pours. It's totally worth the $10.
And more wine at 58 Degrees... Ok, it's no secret that my girlfriends and I love 58 on Sundays. Their no-corkage fee Sundays are a fabulous idea. Post not-so-great-Sac Bee review and perhaps in response to these tough economic times, 58 has reworked their food and wine menus. The result is more economical food choices (instead of the full cheese plate you can pick one or two, etc) and even cheaper wines. They have a few reds under $30 a bottle, which is a great deal normally, and on Sundays when you take $15 off the price it's a fantastic deal. Our service last night was still a little on the sketchy side, but there are some servers who really know their wine. Sit at the bar for the best service.
So, dear readers, what's your favorite Sunday spot?
This was my day yesterday (and I'm really glad I had today off for Columbus Day):
Brunch at Tuli Bistro. Ok, certainly not budget friendly, but holy cow was it good! Bottomless mimosas were a good deal at $8 per person. Their version of Eggs Benedict was so good I could have licked my plate. Jen's spicy goat cheese scramble looked delicious. The people at the table over had the breakfast pizza and the biscuits and gravy. I'm not sure Tuli can make anything that's not spectacular, and with brunch they really seem to have hit their stride. Super laid back, friendly service, and a beautiful day on the patio. I couldn't have asked for a better start to my day.
Jen and were on our bikes and headed over to Taylor's Kitchen for their weekly "Dick's Picks" wine tasting. I love this wine tasting. For $10 Richard Ebert, wine guy of Taylor's Market and Taylor's Kitchen, pours 6-8 of his current favorites. There's no real method to his madness, he just wants people to try something new. He's great--funny, friendly, loves to tell you about wine and quote Shakespeare. His wife is always there and she's super adorable. They have a great cheese and snack selection to munch on, and they are always willing to pour a little more if you haven't quite decided on a wine. Dick also picks wines that are super economical--I don't recall ever seeing anything over $20 on his list. Now, you may be asking why I would promote a $10 tasting when there are plenty of wineries around where you can taste for free (and I protest when they charge). I know Dick is going to pour something worthwhile. The wine is always good, the company is always fantastic, and they are always generous with the pours. It's totally worth the $10.
And more wine at 58 Degrees... Ok, it's no secret that my girlfriends and I love 58 on Sundays. Their no-corkage fee Sundays are a fabulous idea. Post not-so-great-Sac Bee review and perhaps in response to these tough economic times, 58 has reworked their food and wine menus. The result is more economical food choices (instead of the full cheese plate you can pick one or two, etc) and even cheaper wines. They have a few reds under $30 a bottle, which is a great deal normally, and on Sundays when you take $15 off the price it's a fantastic deal. Our service last night was still a little on the sketchy side, but there are some servers who really know their wine. Sit at the bar for the best service.
So, dear readers, what's your favorite Sunday spot?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
When did it leave?
According to today's Sacramento Bee, happy hour is back in Sacramento. I didn't realize it had ever left! Check out the story for some specials.
Friday, September 18, 2009
New Happy Hour!
I love La Trattoria. I have to say, I haven't tried the Czech food yet, but the pizza is awesome. If I lived in East Sac I would be there daily. Ok, maybe weekly. Anyway, good news! La Trattoria now has happy hour Tuesday thru Friday, 3:30-5:30. In addition to beer specials all pizza is 25% off. That's reason enough to go for me!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tough Economic Times
Since I can't afford to eat out, I'll just keep updating the Happy Hour list...
http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html
http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Happy Hour in Singapore
Our good friend Katie is working in Singapore for a few months and she has a great blog chronicling her time in Southeast Asia. She spends a lot of time on the food... for good reason! Since her latest post was about happy hour, I'm linking to it here:
http://nealnewshere.blogspot.com/2009/08/longans-and-lychee-martinis.html
If you check it out, I'd be sure to find her post about chicken foot soup!
http://nealnewshere.blogspot.com/2009/08/longans-and-lychee-martinis.html
If you check it out, I'd be sure to find her post about chicken foot soup!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
More Happy Hour Updates
We haven't been eating out much lately, but we're always looking for a good happy hour deal! I hit Morton's last Friday with Kristy & Sheri and would highly recommend it. Their specials are detailed in the updated list below. Ask for Shane on Sundays!
http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html
http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Limited Time Offer! Act Now!
The Grange is offering a short-term "IOU Happy Hour" every Monday from 4:00 - 7:00. The special runs from July 20 - September 7. They'll also be offering IOUs - gift cards redeemable for free appetizers
IOU Happy Hour Menu
$6 BITES
Marinated olives, grilled flatbread, herbed marinated goat cheese, Fritto Misto, Organic 479 Popcorn
$6 MIXED DRINKS
Raspberry Ancho Chili (Sauza Hornitos tequila, lime, fresh raspberries,agave nectar, ancho chilis)
Strawberry Basil (fresh strawberries muddled with fresh basil, and combined with Square One organic vodka, fresh lime juice, and agave nectar - served up with a fresh strawberry)
Grapefruit (Finlandia Grapefruit vodka, Cointreau, fresh grapefruit juice, lime and orange. Strained and served up in a chilled glass)
Peach (fresh local white peaches and Roederer Sparkling California wine)
$5 WINES BY THE GLASS
Sauvignon Blanc, Source, Yountville
Chardonnay, Matchbook, Santa Barbara
Zinfandel, Karly, Pokerville, Amador County
Syrah, Scott Harvey, Amador County
Pinot Noir, Bogle, Russian River
IOU Happy Hour Menu
$6 BITES
Marinated olives, grilled flatbread, herbed marinated goat cheese, Fritto Misto, Organic 479 Popcorn
$6 MIXED DRINKS
Raspberry Ancho Chili (Sauza Hornitos tequila, lime, fresh raspberries,agave nectar, ancho chilis)
Strawberry Basil (fresh strawberries muddled with fresh basil, and combined with Square One organic vodka, fresh lime juice, and agave nectar - served up with a fresh strawberry)
Grapefruit (Finlandia Grapefruit vodka, Cointreau, fresh grapefruit juice, lime and orange. Strained and served up in a chilled glass)
Peach (fresh local white peaches and Roederer Sparkling California wine)
$5 WINES BY THE GLASS
Sauvignon Blanc, Source, Yountville
Chardonnay, Matchbook, Santa Barbara
Zinfandel, Karly, Pokerville, Amador County
Syrah, Scott Harvey, Amador County
Pinot Noir, Bogle, Russian River
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Chow!
No, I didn't spell it wrong. SN&R's "Annual Guide to All Things Edible" came out last week. The reviews of the restaurants are rather generic, but there are some ads in there worth pointing out.
Piatti (571 Pavilions) - 1/2 priced wine list on Wednesdays
Capitol Dawg (20th & Capitol) - $2 Tuesdays, $2 selected bottled beer, $2 2 scoop Dreyer's ice cream
Hangar 17 (S & 17th) - Happy Hour M-F 3-6pm - $2 Wells, Domestics and selected Wine. A word about Hangar: why oh why do they change their happy hour so much?? We can't keep up!
Sandra Dee's (15th & F) - Wednesday all you can eat catfish nuggets for $13, Wine Down Wednesdays 4pm-close: All beer and wine $2 (with purchase of food only)
The Melting Pot (15th & H) - Weekdays 4:30pm-7pm - Food, wine and cocktail specials (if anyone gets details please let us know)
Brickside (106 J Street - yes, Old Sac) - M-F 3-6pm - $2 Sliders, $3 wells. All day everyday $2.50 PBR and $3.50 Sangria
Megami Sushi (10th between J & K) - Stimulus Fridays - 10% off your bill every Friday
Hawks (5530 Douglas Blvd in Granite Bay -- yes, I said Granite Bay) - Happy Hour 3-6pm - $4 small plates, Grey Goose Martinis for $6. Yes, I put Hawks in here for a reason. Even though it's Granite Bay it's supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the area.
If you managed to pick up the issue before last Thursday (sorry, I'm a little late) there are tons of coupons in here too!
Piatti (571 Pavilions) - 1/2 priced wine list on Wednesdays
Capitol Dawg (20th & Capitol) - $2 Tuesdays, $2 selected bottled beer, $2 2 scoop Dreyer's ice cream
Hangar 17 (S & 17th) - Happy Hour M-F 3-6pm - $2 Wells, Domestics and selected Wine. A word about Hangar: why oh why do they change their happy hour so much?? We can't keep up!
Sandra Dee's (15th & F) - Wednesday all you can eat catfish nuggets for $13, Wine Down Wednesdays 4pm-close: All beer and wine $2 (with purchase of food only)
The Melting Pot (15th & H) - Weekdays 4:30pm-7pm - Food, wine and cocktail specials (if anyone gets details please let us know)
Brickside (106 J Street - yes, Old Sac) - M-F 3-6pm - $2 Sliders, $3 wells. All day everyday $2.50 PBR and $3.50 Sangria
Megami Sushi (10th between J & K) - Stimulus Fridays - 10% off your bill every Friday
Hawks (5530 Douglas Blvd in Granite Bay -- yes, I said Granite Bay) - Happy Hour 3-6pm - $4 small plates, Grey Goose Martinis for $6. Yes, I put Hawks in here for a reason. Even though it's Granite Bay it's supposed to be one of the best restaurants in the area.
If you managed to pick up the issue before last Thursday (sorry, I'm a little late) there are tons of coupons in here too!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
More Updates!
OK... here are a couple more:
58 Degrees now has $5 wines in addition to $10 flights and selected apps are between $3 and $5.
Aura, which was totally empty at 6:00 last Friday, has pretty great HH specials. In addition to $2 well drinks and $3 import drafts, their appetizer menu (except the antipasti salad) is half price. Apps include bruschetta, roasted garlic, coconut shrimp, quesadillas and chicken tenders.
As always, check out the full list and email us with any specials that you come across. The blog is interactive!
58 Degrees now has $5 wines in addition to $10 flights and selected apps are between $3 and $5.
Aura, which was totally empty at 6:00 last Friday, has pretty great HH specials. In addition to $2 well drinks and $3 import drafts, their appetizer menu (except the antipasti salad) is half price. Apps include bruschetta, roasted garlic, coconut shrimp, quesadillas and chicken tenders.
As always, check out the full list and email us with any specials that you come across. The blog is interactive!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
New Updates!
I just found out about two new happy hours:
deVere's: 3:30 - 6:30, M - F: $3 - $5 appetizers including deep fried pickles, three varieties of wings & Dublin crisps; $3 & $4 drinks including beers and spirits
Shady Lady: 4 - 6, M - F: $3 well drinks and $6 classic cocktails
For more happy hour specials, check out the full list here and please send us updates!
deVere's: 3:30 - 6:30, M - F: $3 - $5 appetizers including deep fried pickles, three varieties of wings & Dublin crisps; $3 & $4 drinks including beers and spirits
Shady Lady: 4 - 6, M - F: $3 well drinks and $6 classic cocktails
For more happy hour specials, check out the full list here and please send us updates!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Tunes & Brews
My love of beer is no secret to anyone. My love of music is probably even less of a secret. And my love of a good deal... well, that's self-evident. Lucky for me (and you!) Pyramid Alehouse on K Street Downtown offers a great deal for all of the above.
If you go to Pyramid to see live music you get 30% off your bill. No coupon, no secret reservation code, you just tell your server that you are there for the music. (Please make sure there actually is some playing.) If it's Friday and you just happened to walk over after Concert in the Park and you still have on your wristband from the beer garden then your Curve Ball pints are $2.50 each. That's a really incredible deal!
The only problem is that they don't update their calendar online so you don't know who's playing. I will tell you that a few members of the local Sacramento band 2Me play there during the week and they rarely disappoint. I hear Mondays are their busiest nights. And last Friday I saw a great band called Trainwreck Revival.
Cheers!
If you go to Pyramid to see live music you get 30% off your bill. No coupon, no secret reservation code, you just tell your server that you are there for the music. (Please make sure there actually is some playing.) If it's Friday and you just happened to walk over after Concert in the Park and you still have on your wristband from the beer garden then your Curve Ball pints are $2.50 each. That's a really incredible deal!
The only problem is that they don't update their calendar online so you don't know who's playing. I will tell you that a few members of the local Sacramento band 2Me play there during the week and they rarely disappoint. I hear Mondays are their busiest nights. And last Friday I saw a great band called Trainwreck Revival.
Cheers!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Feelin Shady?
I've been meaning to blog about Shady Lady since I went there twice in one weekend a few weeks back. I am glad that I held off (or forgot about it, whatever you want to call it) until I was able to go when it was a bit later and really experience it.
Shady Lady is in the new R Street corridor between 14th and 15th streets. It looks very cool and old-world style from the outside, with the brick exterior and old-fashioned sign. If it wasn't clear that you were in Midtown by the bustling traffic of 15th, you would think you where in Old Sac. (There's also the lack of horse-drawn carriages and irritating tourists, but anyway...) The first time I was there was on a Friday night, with a few friends for a couple of beers. We loved the low-key atmosphere and friendly bartenders (not to mention the Prohibition Ale in the bottle). The second time I went (the next night) I went with my mom and another friend. This time we went for cocktails and food. My mom, who was drinking wine (she had to drive back to the 'burbs), loved the wine list. It's a good selection without being over-priced. Em and I loved the cocktails. They have a great variety of old school cocktails and all are fairly well priced. I'm used to paying $8-10 for a cocktail, and these were in the $6-8 range. Have enough, and that makes a difference. My mom and I also split a plate of mussels, which were incredibly delicious, and Em had the meatloaf. I don't like meatloaf. This meatloaf was tasty though--due I'm sure to the bacon wrapped around the pieces. By no means was a cheap night, but we were pleasantly surprised by the bill. (I can't remember now how much it was, but it wasn't as much as we were expecting!)
Last weekend Mindy and I stopped by on Saturday night, planning on some dinner and drinks. It was packed! The first two times I was there were earlier in the evening (and just after they opened) and the news was clearly out. Since we couldn't find a seat at the bar or a table, we went to Burgers & Brews for food (see Jennifer's review of Burgers & Brews here) and came back. It was hoppin'. (Apparently it's not so Shady anymore.) The drink was still good, strong, and not too expensive (for the high-end liquor). The crowd is an interesting mix of people--a little heavy on the hipsters, but I'm OK with that. The interior of the bar is also very cool, and definitely looks like an old-school speakeasy in my imagination. I do think that it's the hot spot to be right now, and I will wait to go back on a busy evening until it mellows out a bit. But right now, it's a perfect place for a drink or two on a quiet evening.
By the way, there's a lot happening on R Street these days. In addition to Shady Lady and Burgers & Brews, there's Magpie. I haven't eaten there but am already a fan after the guy working chased Mindy and I down the street to give us free cookies. The cookies were delicious, and after all that I'm hearing about the cafe, I can't wait to check it out for myself.
Update! As you can see from Jennifer's comment, the service has seriously deteriorated since the Lady opened. It's so bad that I would actually recommend NOT going. I thought you could bypass the bad table service by ordering at the bar, but last night it took the bartender over five minutes to open a bottle of wine for another person and she didn't even speak to me and I was standing right in front of her. The waitress actually said to me when I asked for my bill, "I'm sorry, am I too slow for you?" I actually just wanted to leave with my friends, which I told her, but yes, she was too slow. It was ridiculous, annoying and rude.
Shady Lady is in the new R Street corridor between 14th and 15th streets. It looks very cool and old-world style from the outside, with the brick exterior and old-fashioned sign. If it wasn't clear that you were in Midtown by the bustling traffic of 15th, you would think you where in Old Sac. (There's also the lack of horse-drawn carriages and irritating tourists, but anyway...) The first time I was there was on a Friday night, with a few friends for a couple of beers. We loved the low-key atmosphere and friendly bartenders (not to mention the Prohibition Ale in the bottle). The second time I went (the next night) I went with my mom and another friend. This time we went for cocktails and food. My mom, who was drinking wine (she had to drive back to the 'burbs), loved the wine list. It's a good selection without being over-priced. Em and I loved the cocktails. They have a great variety of old school cocktails and all are fairly well priced. I'm used to paying $8-10 for a cocktail, and these were in the $6-8 range. Have enough, and that makes a difference. My mom and I also split a plate of mussels, which were incredibly delicious, and Em had the meatloaf. I don't like meatloaf. This meatloaf was tasty though--due I'm sure to the bacon wrapped around the pieces. By no means was a cheap night, but we were pleasantly surprised by the bill. (I can't remember now how much it was, but it wasn't as much as we were expecting!)
Last weekend Mindy and I stopped by on Saturday night, planning on some dinner and drinks. It was packed! The first two times I was there were earlier in the evening (and just after they opened) and the news was clearly out. Since we couldn't find a seat at the bar or a table, we went to Burgers & Brews for food (see Jennifer's review of Burgers & Brews here) and came back. It was hoppin'. (Apparently it's not so Shady anymore.) The drink was still good, strong, and not too expensive (for the high-end liquor). The crowd is an interesting mix of people--a little heavy on the hipsters, but I'm OK with that. The interior of the bar is also very cool, and definitely looks like an old-school speakeasy in my imagination. I do think that it's the hot spot to be right now, and I will wait to go back on a busy evening until it mellows out a bit. But right now, it's a perfect place for a drink or two on a quiet evening.
By the way, there's a lot happening on R Street these days. In addition to Shady Lady and Burgers & Brews, there's Magpie. I haven't eaten there but am already a fan after the guy working chased Mindy and I down the street to give us free cookies. The cookies were delicious, and after all that I'm hearing about the cafe, I can't wait to check it out for myself.
Update! As you can see from Jennifer's comment, the service has seriously deteriorated since the Lady opened. It's so bad that I would actually recommend NOT going. I thought you could bypass the bad table service by ordering at the bar, but last night it took the bartender over five minutes to open a bottle of wine for another person and she didn't even speak to me and I was standing right in front of her. The waitress actually said to me when I asked for my bill, "I'm sorry, am I too slow for you?" I actually just wanted to leave with my friends, which I told her, but yes, she was too slow. It was ridiculous, annoying and rude.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Cinco de Mayo Events
I'm sure everyone knows about the block party that's closing down the 2700 block of J Street today, but there are a couple of other Cinco de Mayo fiestas that might be worth a look.
M!X Downtown celebrates with half off south of the border bites and $2 tacos. Specialty margaritas highlight the cocktail menu and include the “Sweet Heat,” a margarita infused with fresh jalapeno and the “M!X-ED Up Margarita,” concocted with fresh pineapple, sage and lime juice. The ZONE will be broadcasting live. This starts at 4pm.
Torch Club Cinco de Mayo Party with a performance by Latin and R&B cover band, Solsa. Drink specials from 7-10:30 p.m. $10 cover at the door or at the band's website.
Folsom Hacienda's Cinco de Mayo Celebration with the band Tijuana Weekend. This fiesta is at 702 Sutter Street in Old Folsom from 5-10 p.m. There is a $10 cover.
M!X Downtown celebrates with half off south of the border bites and $2 tacos. Specialty margaritas highlight the cocktail menu and include the “Sweet Heat,” a margarita infused with fresh jalapeno and the “M!X-ED Up Margarita,” concocted with fresh pineapple, sage and lime juice. The ZONE will be broadcasting live. This starts at 4pm.
Torch Club Cinco de Mayo Party with a performance by Latin and R&B cover band, Solsa. Drink specials from 7-10:30 p.m. $10 cover at the door or at the band's website.
Folsom Hacienda's Cinco de Mayo Celebration with the band Tijuana Weekend. This fiesta is at 702 Sutter Street in Old Folsom from 5-10 p.m. There is a $10 cover.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Competition!
Lisa Marie pointed out this great article from today's Sacramento Bee. Check out Abby's Dining Adventures!
10-year-old restaurant critic nibbles at blog stardom
10-year-old restaurant critic nibbles at blog stardom
gkim@sacbee.com
Published Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2009
Like every good food critic, Abby Fitzpatrick takes note of Lucca Restaurant & Bar's pleasingly blue water glasses, listens intently to the specials of the night and regards the hint of fiery chili pepper in the ricotta gnocchi.
Then, her legs dangling from a wicker chair, her nails painted hot pink, and a fork earring in one ear and a spoon earring in the other, she writes it all down in a silver-sequined journal with a purple feather-topped pen.
Abby is 10. She's been writing about food for almost a year, ever since complications of Crohn's disease left her eating almost nothing for about a month last summer. Now it's all food, all the time, and she shares her thoughts on her blog, "Abby's Adventures in Dining," and appears monthly on "Fox40 Live" to report on her reviews.
"She is a natural on camera, plus she's just so cute, and she's passionate about what she's doing," says Fox40 anchor and reporter Natalie Bomke.
"Instead of having a run-of-the-mill food critic come in, we thought it would be fun to jump on board with what Abby has done with her blog – she reviews from a child's perspective and rates it depending on how kid-friendly a restaurant is."
Abby, a previously picky eater, became adventurous with food after spending parts of June and July in the hospital, preparing for an operation as a result of Crohn's, an autoimmune disease that attacks the gastrointestinal tract.
Abby watched the 2007 Pixar movie "Ratatouille," with all its fabulous food imagery, over and over again on a loop. If her parents tried to turn it off while Abby was napping, she would wake up in protest.
"It made me so hungry," the fourth-grader recalled.
Still, the film made her see food differently. Abby announced while in the hospital that she wanted to be like the movie's feared food critic, Anton Ego, and well, eat everything she wanted.
Her parents, Brent and Kathleen, could only comply.
Just out of the hospital on July 28, Abby visited her first restaurant for review – Shanghai Garden on Alhambra Boulevard in Sacramento.
"The restaurant smelled good when I walked in with my family for dinner. There were beautiful decorations like Chinese writing and bamboo designs on the wallpaper. There were beautiful Asian pictures and good-luck kitty cats. My favorite one was the golden cat," she blogged.
She continued by noting the flavorful tea, the grease-free appetizers and the perfectly slippery chow mein noodles. She described the vegetable fried rice, the sweet-and-sour potatoes and the fortune cookie, too.
She concluded with her rating: "I recommend this restaurant – 5 stars!"
Abby has since reviewed restaurants from Sacramento to Santa Monica, always with her entire family in tow. (Her 7-year-old brother, Spencer, always finds something to eat, although he has yet to venture beyond his diet of cheese pizza, French fries, grilled cheese sandwiches and deep-fried won ton wrappers.)
In her notebook, Abby has noted the "fun, good, cold" root beer at Fat City Bar & Cafe, the "warm and fluffy" pancakes at Nopalitos and the "crunchy good bread" used in the grilled cheese sandwiches at Boudin SF.
Her spelling is sometimes off, but mom Kathleen fixes that when she types reviews into the blog.
All reviews so far have been pretty positive.
"I don't write bad reviews. I don't give thumbs down. I just say it's not my thing," Abby says. "I don't want to hurt any feelings."
Sitting on Lucca's patio, with the tinkle of a water fountain setting the soundtrack, Abby orders her favorite drink, root beer, and then the Caesar salad with Dungeness crab cakes. A vegetarian who eats seafood, Abby has made her blog an informal review of the region's crab cakes, since she always orders them if they're on the menu.
The meal comes on a large plate with three large, puck-shaped crab cakes.
"Oh wow, those croutons are crunchy," Abby says of her first bite of salad. Then she proclaims the crab cakes worthy of 4 3/4 stars.
The conversation ranges from the food – the zucchini chip shapes are likened to tacos and burritos – to the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, usual topics enlivening the classic family dinner.
Abby smiles throughout and constantly wraps a curl behind her left ear.
"I like to eat out. I like to try new foods," she says. "And when we run out of restaurants in Sacramento, we'll have to go to new cities. And Spencer wants to be a pilot, so he can take me around the world."
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Brew Ha Ha
OK, it's 95 degrees in April. You're going to have to forgive the bad pun.
R Street between 14th & 15th is quite the bustling block these days! What was a vacant strip not to long ago, is now full of new businesses. It's virtually buzzing with life.
And it's really hard to find parking at lunchtime.
But I digress, and for fear of being the victim of hate mail like the Bee's new food critic, I will get right to the point.
Stacy and I visited the new Burgers and Brew today. There's one in Davis, but I've never been there so I can't make a comparison to the original. There are 13 burgers on the menu, ranging from plain ol' hamburger to a buffalo burger to three vegetarian options (garden burger, smoked tofu & portobello). They range from $6.75 to $9.75 and are served with either fries or green salad. Stacy and I both opted for the turkey burger. I "upgraded" to curly fries, while Stacy opted for the garlic variety (75-cents more).
I think they've only been open a few weeks so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. The woman at the counter had a really hard time with my order. You know what I ordered (it's above), but when she read it back to me she said "so you have the bacon & jalapeno burger to go, right?" No. Not even close. In her defense, I did order mayo on the side so that might have made it really complicated. Stacy got her burger pretty quickly. Mine took forever. We both felt the burgers were really dry. The garlic fries weren't as garlicky as we had hoped. The curly fries were pretty good.
In addition to burgers, there are the brews. There's a great selection on tap including, Wood Chuck Pear Cider, Blue Moon, Arrogant Bastard Ale, Boont Amber and Chimay White. There are also plenty of choices by the bottle. There's a lot of wine too, but alas, I had to go back to work.
If burgers aren't your thing, there are also sandwiches - like a BLT, Philly Cheese Steak and Grilled Cheese - three hot dog varieties, fish & chips, salads and soups.
I would definitely give it another shot and would definitely go for a real burger next time. Oh yeah... and I'd have a brew with said burger.
I'll be heading to the Shady Lady this week and plan to blog about it soon. It's a 20's style saloon that sits at the end of the block. In between sits the Magpie Caterer & Cafe and coming soon is a new yogurt shop. The R in R Street doesn't stand for Recession!
Burgers and Brew is open from 11am to midnight, Sunday through Wednesday and till 3am, Thursday through Saturday.
R Street between 14th & 15th is quite the bustling block these days! What was a vacant strip not to long ago, is now full of new businesses. It's virtually buzzing with life.
And it's really hard to find parking at lunchtime.
But I digress, and for fear of being the victim of hate mail like the Bee's new food critic, I will get right to the point.
Stacy and I visited the new Burgers and Brew today. There's one in Davis, but I've never been there so I can't make a comparison to the original. There are 13 burgers on the menu, ranging from plain ol' hamburger to a buffalo burger to three vegetarian options (garden burger, smoked tofu & portobello). They range from $6.75 to $9.75 and are served with either fries or green salad. Stacy and I both opted for the turkey burger. I "upgraded" to curly fries, while Stacy opted for the garlic variety (75-cents more).
I think they've only been open a few weeks so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. The woman at the counter had a really hard time with my order. You know what I ordered (it's above), but when she read it back to me she said "so you have the bacon & jalapeno burger to go, right?" No. Not even close. In her defense, I did order mayo on the side so that might have made it really complicated. Stacy got her burger pretty quickly. Mine took forever. We both felt the burgers were really dry. The garlic fries weren't as garlicky as we had hoped. The curly fries were pretty good.
In addition to burgers, there are the brews. There's a great selection on tap including, Wood Chuck Pear Cider, Blue Moon, Arrogant Bastard Ale, Boont Amber and Chimay White. There are also plenty of choices by the bottle. There's a lot of wine too, but alas, I had to go back to work.
If burgers aren't your thing, there are also sandwiches - like a BLT, Philly Cheese Steak and Grilled Cheese - three hot dog varieties, fish & chips, salads and soups.
I would definitely give it another shot and would definitely go for a real burger next time. Oh yeah... and I'd have a brew with said burger.
I'll be heading to the Shady Lady this week and plan to blog about it soon. It's a 20's style saloon that sits at the end of the block. In between sits the Magpie Caterer & Cafe and coming soon is a new yogurt shop. The R in R Street doesn't stand for Recession!
Burgers and Brew is open from 11am to midnight, Sunday through Wednesday and till 3am, Thursday through Saturday.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Stimulus Specials
You may have noticed some recent posts on this site about getting some bang for your buck at bars and restaurants lately.
There's a story in today's Sacramento Bee about how local restaurants are offering promotions during these "tough economic times." There's also a sidebar listing some of those specials that I thought was worth sharing, though some are national chains:
• Hamburger Patties at 1630 J St., Sacramento, has a "2-for-1" offer. Buy one entree and two beverages at the regular price and get the second entree of equal or lesser value free.
• "Stimulus Fridays" at the Megami Restaurant at 1010 10th St., Sacramento, translate to 10 percent off your bill.
• The Wednesday specials at Sandra Dee's, 601 15th St., Sacramento, include $13 for "all you can eat" catfish nuggets, with two side dishes and cornbread.
• Louie's Restaurant & Catering's "economic stimulus plan" includes two entrees for the price of one at 4605 Broadway in Sacramento.
• KFC restaurants will offer "bailout buckets" of fried chicken for various discounted prices, starting April 20. Coupons have gone out nationwide.
• The Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers chain has touted its "3conomics" deal
– three sandwiches going for 99 cents each.
• The Chili's Grill & Bar restaurant chain plans to roll out a "10 meals for under $7" campaign in April.
• Applebee's restaurants have been offering a "2 for $20" deal, which features two entrees and one shared appetizer.
• Outback Steakhouse is promoting 15 meals for less than $15 on its menus nationwide.
• Morton's, the upscale steakhouse chain, has steak and seafood for two for $99.99. The deal includes two single-cut filets; a choice of two from among broiled sea scallops, shrimp Alexander or jumbo lump crab cake; a potato and one vegetable to share.
There's a story in today's Sacramento Bee about how local restaurants are offering promotions during these "tough economic times." There's also a sidebar listing some of those specials that I thought was worth sharing, though some are national chains:
• Hamburger Patties at 1630 J St., Sacramento, has a "2-for-1" offer. Buy one entree and two beverages at the regular price and get the second entree of equal or lesser value free.
• "Stimulus Fridays" at the Megami Restaurant at 1010 10th St., Sacramento, translate to 10 percent off your bill.
• The Wednesday specials at Sandra Dee's, 601 15th St., Sacramento, include $13 for "all you can eat" catfish nuggets, with two side dishes and cornbread.
• Louie's Restaurant & Catering's "economic stimulus plan" includes two entrees for the price of one at 4605 Broadway in Sacramento.
• KFC restaurants will offer "bailout buckets" of fried chicken for various discounted prices, starting April 20. Coupons have gone out nationwide.
• The Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers chain has touted its "3conomics" deal
– three sandwiches going for 99 cents each.
• The Chili's Grill & Bar restaurant chain plans to roll out a "10 meals for under $7" campaign in April.
• Applebee's restaurants have been offering a "2 for $20" deal, which features two entrees and one shared appetizer.
• Outback Steakhouse is promoting 15 meals for less than $15 on its menus nationwide.
• Morton's, the upscale steakhouse chain, has steak and seafood for two for $99.99. The deal includes two single-cut filets; a choice of two from among broiled sea scallops, shrimp Alexander or jumbo lump crab cake; a potato and one vegetable to share.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Mmmmmm Beer!
You know it's coming... the sun has come out, the weather is getting warmer, I have gotten something that could be considered a tan... yes it's time for BeerFest season! I love the beer festival. Everyone is happy, the beer is always good, and the weather is even better. I was excited to get my sort of regular email from Hoppy Brewing notifying me of several upcoming brewfests. It prompted a bit of research on my end, but in the name of service to my people, here we go. (BTW - Book out all Saturdays in May. You're going to be busy!)
Boonville Brewer's Festival: May 2nd, in Boonville (North Coast). 1pm-5pm, $40. You can camp too, and that's only $12/per person. It's also a pirate theme, which in my opinion, makes this festival 40 thousand times cooler. I can tell my one joke over and over again! (Hey Pirate--did you know you have a steering wheel down your pants?)
Raley Field Brewfest: May 9th, at Raley Field (duh). 1pm-4:30pm. $25 for 10 5oz tastings. There are VIP tickets too, but I don't remember how much they are or what the benefit of that was. (I'm not so up on the VIP)
West Coast Brewfest: May 16th, at Miller Park in Sacramento. 1pm-5pm. $25 and I don't think they limit tastings. You can buy tickets online or at Brew It Up, Hoppy, River City or the Shack.
I'm sure they'll be more, so let me know and I'll keep updating! If you're an international traveler click here and will give you lots more fests across the world (make sure to keep your passport in a plastic bag).
And if anyone wants to camp for the Boonville Fest, let me know... I'm up for it!
Boonville Brewer's Festival: May 2nd, in Boonville (North Coast). 1pm-5pm, $40. You can camp too, and that's only $12/per person. It's also a pirate theme, which in my opinion, makes this festival 40 thousand times cooler. I can tell my one joke over and over again! (Hey Pirate--did you know you have a steering wheel down your pants?)
Raley Field Brewfest: May 9th, at Raley Field (duh). 1pm-4:30pm. $25 for 10 5oz tastings. There are VIP tickets too, but I don't remember how much they are or what the benefit of that was. (I'm not so up on the VIP)
West Coast Brewfest: May 16th, at Miller Park in Sacramento. 1pm-5pm. $25 and I don't think they limit tastings. You can buy tickets online or at Brew It Up, Hoppy, River City or the Shack.
I'm sure they'll be more, so let me know and I'll keep updating! If you're an international traveler click here and will give you lots more fests across the world (make sure to keep your passport in a plastic bag).
And if anyone wants to camp for the Boonville Fest, let me know... I'm up for it!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
More Lunch Specials
I was walking to the Safeway shopping center today and walked past one of my favorite fast-Mexican food restaurants in Midtown, Chita's. They have lunch specials for $2.99 Mon-Fri!! It's too far for me to trek over for lunch during work, but I know someone out there can take advantage of it. I don't remember what was on the specials, but since it's Chita's I don't doubt that the food is both outstanding and plentiful.
DIY Meals
Like most people, I'm seriously watching my budget lately. Unfortunately for you, this means few new posts. My budget is more the $2 beers at Round Corner (I'll drink Sierra when I'm feeling flush) than $10 martinis. Anyway, lucky for me I love to cook (this is probably more lucky for my friends than me, but it works out). I'm obsessed with cookbooks and recipes and am always trying to find new places for interesting recipes. I get tired of the same old stuff all the time, and I've found that not eating meat makes the search even harder. I came across a great blog the other day with tons of cool recipes--and it's not a vegetarian blog--so I thought I would share www.bitchincamero.com. It also has a super cool name, which helps.
This is no way means that you can stop reading our blog, by the way. If you cook the Thai soup with fried egg for breakfast can you tell me how it turns out?
This is no way means that you can stop reading our blog, by the way. If you cook the Thai soup with fried egg for breakfast can you tell me how it turns out?
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Happy Hour Update
With new places opening and new happy hours popping up, it was time to update the Master Happy Hour List. Enjoy:
http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html
And remember, if you have recommendations, corrections or any other comments, please post them so we can keep the list as complete and current as possible. Cheers!
http://sachappyhour.blogspot.com/2007/10/cheers.html
And remember, if you have recommendations, corrections or any other comments, please post them so we can keep the list as complete and current as possible. Cheers!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
$5.99 Lunch
The Bali Wine Bar and Grill at 2416 18th Street in Sacramento is offering $5.99 lunch specials. The deal includes salad bar, Balinese rice and your choice of:
- Chicken Satay
- Beef Satay
- Pork Choop: grilled & marinaded in Indonesian Soya sauce
- BBQ Chicken
- Mi Sayuran: stir fried egg noodles, greens and tofu
Lunch is served from 11:00 to 2:00 pm, Monday through Saturday
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
It's the Economy
There is a silver lining... apparently to drum up business in Sac, local restaurants and bars are throwing lots of deals our way. Here are a couple of highlights (please comment and add more--I'm sure I missed some!)
From Hoppy (please excuse the cut and paste):
* On weekends from 10:00am to 3:30pm, we feature a tasty
Brunch Menu with $5.00 top-shelf Bloody Mary's.
* On Sundays we feature the BEST deal in town, where we
include a bottle of Hoppy brew to go with every
Brunch/Lunch/Dinner entree purchased.
* On Sundays & Mondays we feature $0.99 children's meals
with an adult meal purchase.
* On Mondays we feature $3.50 pints & $12.00 pitchers all day
from when we open until we close.
* On Tuesdays we feature $2.00 tacos for dinner starting, and
at 10:00pm a quick session of trivia.
* On Wednesdays we have half price appetizers from 9:00-10:00pm,
and a South Park special with $3.50 pints & $12.00 pitchers
starting at 9:30pm with South Park at 10:00pm.
* On Saturdays we feature $2.50 pints when you wear your Beer
Ambassador t-shirt.
Esquire Grill and Spataro: $20 3 Course Meal. Call the restaurants for resis and use the code "IEat" to score the deal. (both menus look fabulous)
Masullo Pizza: Wine for 1/2 off per bottle (this is apparently only on Mon & Tues and only through March, can somebody who knows better add some details please?)
See--there's some benefit to the financial meltdown... right?
From Hoppy (please excuse the cut and paste):
* On weekends from 10:00am to 3:30pm, we feature a tasty
Brunch Menu with $5.00 top-shelf Bloody Mary's.
* On Sundays we feature the BEST deal in town, where we
include a bottle of Hoppy brew to go with every
Brunch/Lunch/Dinner entree purchased.
* On Sundays & Mondays we feature $0.99 children's meals
with an adult meal purchase.
* On Mondays we feature $3.50 pints & $12.00 pitchers all day
from when we open until we close.
* On Tuesdays we feature $2.00 tacos for dinner starting, and
at 10:00pm a quick session of trivia.
* On Wednesdays we have half price appetizers from 9:00-10:00pm,
and a South Park special with $3.50 pints & $12.00 pitchers
starting at 9:30pm with South Park at 10:00pm.
* On Saturdays we feature $2.50 pints when you wear your Beer
Ambassador t-shirt.
Esquire Grill and Spataro: $20 3 Course Meal. Call the restaurants for resis and use the code "IEat" to score the deal. (both menus look fabulous)
Masullo Pizza: Wine for 1/2 off per bottle (this is apparently only on Mon & Tues and only through March, can somebody who knows better add some details please?)
See--there's some benefit to the financial meltdown... right?
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wow?
According to the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary "wow" can mean either a "striking success," or "a distortion in reproduced sound consisting of a slow rise and fall of pitch caused by speed variation in the reproducing system." I'm not sure which definition L Wine Lounge is using for their WOW (Wine On Wednesdays -- get it?). Katy and I were searching for wine the other night (seriously, is that hard to find?) and when we found 58 Degrees packed to the gills, we decided to try something new. Here's the thing--we really tried to go outside of our comfort zone. We tried something new. I think we should get points for that. Unfortunately for us, L was WOW "used to express strong feeling". This feeling was not pleasure.
We got there at about 10 to 6, and decided to wait for WOW (it starts at 6pm). Our server was very nice and brought us water and glasses. WOW works like this--every Wednesday L features a different winery, and you get 5 tastes and free snacks for $10. Brilliant! I don't remember what winery was featured last Wednesday (Siduri?) but they had a viogner, a couple of pinots (one of which was fabulous) and a syrah. The wine was good. It was fun. They also had a fabulous triple cream brie and salami to nosh on. It was kind of fun getting up, circling floor and getting our own wine. And we were having a good time until I was sipping wine and noticed something sharp in my mouth. That sharpness was a shard of glass, clearly from a wine glass. In all fairness, this was not L's fault. I'm not sure how it got in there. I used the same glass the entire time, and the wine-pourer (is that a word?) opened a new bottle for me for the last taste. I don't know what happened. The hostess saw that there was something going on and came over to see what the commotion was. She very kindly got me a new glass. I couldn't fault them for it--but the entire time I was wondering where our server was. (For more glass in the glasses experiences you can read my friend Dave B's review of Nishiki here)
We tried our last wine and decided that we'd stay for another glass of wine. Sure. the shard of glass was weird, but not their fault. We sat for a few minutes to wait for our server to bring us menus (she had to come back to fill our water glasses for the 15th time, we figured.) Katy used the restroom (too much water). I tried making the "please come over here" face at our server. She ignored me. I tried making the "I'm really bored and need some wine face." She was too busy wiping out clean wine glasses. Seriously. Katy returned. We sat some more. By this point we've decided that we just want our check. Still no server. Our water glasses were empty for the first time that evening. Meanwhile, the crowd becomes more and more pretentious yuppy (not our scene) and we REALLY want to leave. I'm guessing we sat there for a good 15-20 minutes until I finally saw some guy who seemed like he was the manager and I chased him down to get our check. He runs our cards, leaves the tab and says, "That was 2 WOWS!" Um, ok. Here's a tip--just because you call it "WOW" doesn't mean that it's the truth. Katy and I left saying "Wow--that was really crappy service." And our server, probably said, "Wow, they didn't leave much of a tip." (I left nothing I was so pissed. Katy left a dollar. We're not sure what was more insulting.)
You can make excuses for shards of glass in your wine, but there is no excuse for bad service! We went to 58 Degrees just to get the bad taste out of our mouth.
We got there at about 10 to 6, and decided to wait for WOW (it starts at 6pm). Our server was very nice and brought us water and glasses. WOW works like this--every Wednesday L features a different winery, and you get 5 tastes and free snacks for $10. Brilliant! I don't remember what winery was featured last Wednesday (Siduri?) but they had a viogner, a couple of pinots (one of which was fabulous) and a syrah. The wine was good. It was fun. They also had a fabulous triple cream brie and salami to nosh on. It was kind of fun getting up, circling floor and getting our own wine. And we were having a good time until I was sipping wine and noticed something sharp in my mouth. That sharpness was a shard of glass, clearly from a wine glass. In all fairness, this was not L's fault. I'm not sure how it got in there. I used the same glass the entire time, and the wine-pourer (is that a word?) opened a new bottle for me for the last taste. I don't know what happened. The hostess saw that there was something going on and came over to see what the commotion was. She very kindly got me a new glass. I couldn't fault them for it--but the entire time I was wondering where our server was. (For more glass in the glasses experiences you can read my friend Dave B's review of Nishiki here)
We tried our last wine and decided that we'd stay for another glass of wine. Sure. the shard of glass was weird, but not their fault. We sat for a few minutes to wait for our server to bring us menus (she had to come back to fill our water glasses for the 15th time, we figured.) Katy used the restroom (too much water). I tried making the "please come over here" face at our server. She ignored me. I tried making the "I'm really bored and need some wine face." She was too busy wiping out clean wine glasses. Seriously. Katy returned. We sat some more. By this point we've decided that we just want our check. Still no server. Our water glasses were empty for the first time that evening. Meanwhile, the crowd becomes more and more pretentious yuppy (not our scene) and we REALLY want to leave. I'm guessing we sat there for a good 15-20 minutes until I finally saw some guy who seemed like he was the manager and I chased him down to get our check. He runs our cards, leaves the tab and says, "That was 2 WOWS!" Um, ok. Here's a tip--just because you call it "WOW" doesn't mean that it's the truth. Katy and I left saying "Wow--that was really crappy service." And our server, probably said, "Wow, they didn't leave much of a tip." (I left nothing I was so pissed. Katy left a dollar. We're not sure what was more insulting.)
You can make excuses for shards of glass in your wine, but there is no excuse for bad service! We went to 58 Degrees just to get the bad taste out of our mouth.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Hail to the Queen
A walk down Broadway can be like a trip around the world when it comes to restaurants. You've got Japanese, Thai, Nepali, Mexican, Chinese, Jamaican and smattering of good old American fast food. Last night I experienced Ethiopian food for the first time at Queen Sheba.
I've eaten Moroccan food a few times and also enjoy the tastes of India. To me, this seemed like a cross between the two. And like when I've eaten those cuisines, I find it best not to over-read the menu and just leave the taste adventure up to the chefs. We ordered the combination dinner for two which includes (for $11.99 per person):
- Doro Wot - a piece of chicken and an egg, cooked with spices including red pepper, garlic and ginger
- Key Wot - beef simmered in spices, hot pepper sauce and spiced butter.
- Lamb Tibbs - lamb sautéed with purified butter and seasoned with onions, garlic, and ginger.
We also got our choice of two vegetable entrees and chose:
- Miser Kik Wot - Lentils cooked with hot spices
- Gomen - Cooked spinach & collard greens with onions, garlic and spices.
The food came out what looked like a large, round pizza pan. The aromas were amazing! Spicy and very unusual (in a good way). We also got a basket of injera, a thin, spongy sourdough-like bread. It is so difficult to describe. It's not like naan or pita, but it was delicious. This is a "no silverware" establishment so the injera served as our utensils.
I was starving so I dug - or scooped - right in! The lamb was tender and the sauce was delicious. The beef dish packed a punch of heat, but not too much. The beef was savory and flavorful. Both vegetable dishes were tasty but very different from one another. The chicken was just OK and I wasn't wild about the egg. All of the dishes are spicy but in the sense of being well seasoned. None of them are hot for the sake of being hot. The injera was perfect for sopping up all the delicious sauces. I washed everything down with an Ethiopian imported dark beer. It's subtle sweetness was the perfect compliment to the spice.
Dinner for two and two beers was $34. Queen Sheba also has an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $7.50 and loads of vegetarian and vegan options. The restaurant is located at 1704 Broadway.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Caldo!
A Vespa dealership AND a pizza place? Interesting combo. Hot Italian, now open at the corner of 16th and Q, does a pretty good job melding the two concepts.
Granted, I'm not in the marketplace for a scooter, so I went straight for the pizza. I walked through the shop to get to the restaurant and was stopped by a hostess asking if I knew about their seating options. You can sit at the gelato bar (more on that later), the pizza bar where you can see the kitchen or at a large common table and "make a few new friends." Who could pass up that opportunity!
So while I waited for Nancy I sat down next to a couple who were finishing their meal. I sat down without thinking that it might be weird to join their date, but it was too late. After an awkward hello, I asked them how their meal was and got their suggestions on whether or not one pizza was enough for two people to share. It was pleasant enough, but I don't think we're going to be friends.
The crowd ranged from people with families, couples and larger groups of friends. One minor drawback is as the place got busier, it got quite loud. I don't think the cinderblock walls provide the best acoustics. It wasn't unpleasant, but if you're looking for intimate conversation you might want to try elsewhere. The general atmosphere is relaxed and casual and the servers are friendly.
As I've mentioned before, I love pizza and am a big fan of the thin crust style. The menu has eight varieties of pie, one of which can also be made into a calzone and another which can be served panini style. Options include the Bellucci (tomato, mozzarella, sausage and ricotta), the Materazzi (tomato, fontina, pepperoni and olives), the Magnini (smoked salmon, mozzarella, mascarpone and dill) and our choice, the Bova (tomato, roasted eggplant, mozzarella and goat cheese). We also shared a Sozzani salad, with baby spinach, pears, dried cranberries, pine nuts and Gorgonzola. The other salad option was pretty tempting too -- romaine, blood oranges and ricotta.
The salad ($8) and pizza ($11) were the perfect size for sharing (my new friends were right!). However, I did note that after reviewing the menu later that they forgot the pears in the salad. The pizza crust was tender and not too chewy. The eggplant and goat cheese were delicious. We also split a bottle of Coppola Pinot Noir for $25. Bottles run $25, $35 and $45 in both red and white varietals and glasses are between $5 and $8. They also have a selection of Prosecco and draft beers. I'm sure they have non-alcoholic beverages too, but we didn't ask.
I don't usually indulge in dessert, but gelato is one of my favorites. Hot Italian has thirteen varieties ($3 for two scoops), including espresso, stracciatella, peanut butter cup, zabaglione and ferrero rocher - which was delicious. They also have pear and blood orange sorbet, which sound fantastic. I can definitely see people riding their scooters over for a scoop at the gelato bar when the weather gets warmer! Finally, there are two other desserts - the Zucchero calzone (hazelnut spread and powdered sugar) and Murino pizza (sweet gorgonzola and pears drizzled with honey). I think I just like dessert better when it's Italian.
I'll give Mazullo a slight edge on the pizza, but overall I really enjoyed my meal. I know I'll be back because I still have 12 flavors of gelato to try.
Granted, I'm not in the marketplace for a scooter, so I went straight for the pizza. I walked through the shop to get to the restaurant and was stopped by a hostess asking if I knew about their seating options. You can sit at the gelato bar (more on that later), the pizza bar where you can see the kitchen or at a large common table and "make a few new friends." Who could pass up that opportunity!
So while I waited for Nancy I sat down next to a couple who were finishing their meal. I sat down without thinking that it might be weird to join their date, but it was too late. After an awkward hello, I asked them how their meal was and got their suggestions on whether or not one pizza was enough for two people to share. It was pleasant enough, but I don't think we're going to be friends.
The crowd ranged from people with families, couples and larger groups of friends. One minor drawback is as the place got busier, it got quite loud. I don't think the cinderblock walls provide the best acoustics. It wasn't unpleasant, but if you're looking for intimate conversation you might want to try elsewhere. The general atmosphere is relaxed and casual and the servers are friendly.
As I've mentioned before, I love pizza and am a big fan of the thin crust style. The menu has eight varieties of pie, one of which can also be made into a calzone and another which can be served panini style. Options include the Bellucci (tomato, mozzarella, sausage and ricotta), the Materazzi (tomato, fontina, pepperoni and olives), the Magnini (smoked salmon, mozzarella, mascarpone and dill) and our choice, the Bova (tomato, roasted eggplant, mozzarella and goat cheese). We also shared a Sozzani salad, with baby spinach, pears, dried cranberries, pine nuts and Gorgonzola. The other salad option was pretty tempting too -- romaine, blood oranges and ricotta.
The salad ($8) and pizza ($11) were the perfect size for sharing (my new friends were right!). However, I did note that after reviewing the menu later that they forgot the pears in the salad. The pizza crust was tender and not too chewy. The eggplant and goat cheese were delicious. We also split a bottle of Coppola Pinot Noir for $25. Bottles run $25, $35 and $45 in both red and white varietals and glasses are between $5 and $8. They also have a selection of Prosecco and draft beers. I'm sure they have non-alcoholic beverages too, but we didn't ask.
I don't usually indulge in dessert, but gelato is one of my favorites. Hot Italian has thirteen varieties ($3 for two scoops), including espresso, stracciatella, peanut butter cup, zabaglione and ferrero rocher - which was delicious. They also have pear and blood orange sorbet, which sound fantastic. I can definitely see people riding their scooters over for a scoop at the gelato bar when the weather gets warmer! Finally, there are two other desserts - the Zucchero calzone (hazelnut spread and powdered sugar) and Murino pizza (sweet gorgonzola and pears drizzled with honey). I think I just like dessert better when it's Italian.
I'll give Mazullo a slight edge on the pizza, but overall I really enjoyed my meal. I know I'll be back because I still have 12 flavors of gelato to try.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Enjoy!
I was in the Sacramento Co-op tonight picking up a couple of items (bulk dried mushrooms, yum) and meant to grab the brochure to join on my way out and instead grabbed something with "Enjoy!" in big yellow letters across the top. (I was tired, it was yellow and bold, you know how it is.) Much to my delight it's a listing of their community learning center's cooking school! If you want to learn how to cook your own fantastic meal (that will be sustainable and organic, natch) here's the place to look. A couple of highlights: Eileen's Kitchen 6 course meal (vegetarian) benefiting Soil Born Farms on March 13th, Sensational Sushi on March 5th, Wine Country Cuisine on March 7th, East Meets West at the Armenian Table on March 12th, and Spanish Tapas on March 30th. They're also doing a series of classes on Indian and Italian food (these are separate classes), although most of them took place earlier in Feb and January. They also have healthy eating classes, yoga and other fitness/wellness classes, and community education classes that include classes on safely biking in winter weather (I think I need this one). Most classes are $25-35 and it looks like you get to eat in all of them, which makes it more than worth it in my book. (The Wine Country Cuisine class includes wine for $45 non-member.) The best part is that there are so many classes in this little brochure that I didn't list them all, although I'm sure you're thinking I did by this point.
Oh--and if you work at a class by assisting the chef or cleaning up you can get 50% off!!
You can find a list of the classes on the co-op website or just go there and have some fun shopping at 1900 Alhambra Blvd (at S Street) in Midtown.
Oh--and if you work at a class by assisting the chef or cleaning up you can get 50% off!!
You can find a list of the classes on the co-op website or just go there and have some fun shopping at 1900 Alhambra Blvd (at S Street) in Midtown.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
News Flash! New Dinner Menu at the Sub Shack!
I just got an email today from Gary and Jen at the Sub Shack that they have a new seasonal menu. It looks delicious! They have everything from small plates, salads, pastas and main courses (including moules fritte, Belgian-style mussels with garlic fries. I know what I'm ordering). Prices are very reasonable (although I have no idea how big the meals will be) and they have their usual extensive and innovative wine and beer list. I love a restaurant where the wine and beer menu is longer than the food menu! The dinner menu isn't posted on their website yet, but I'm hoping it will be soon. Let's hope when the weather warms up they have music again as well. I also thought I read somewhere that they have Sunday brunch too... I have nothing to prove it but I'll find out and keep you posted.
The Shack is on Folsom Blvd in East Sac at 52nd Street. You can also find them on the web.
The Shack is on Folsom Blvd in East Sac at 52nd Street. You can also find them on the web.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Boccanoto's Tratoria
I've been meaning to blog about Boccanoto Tratoria for some time now. Last summer, on our way up to Fairplay for the Charles Mitchell/Conti Estates futures release party, we intended to stop by the Fair Play Bistro for a bite before a long afternoon of wine tasting, and found Boccanoto's in its place. Fair Play Bistro was generally good, but not spectacular. Boccanoto's really raises the bar for cuisine in this region. Before picking up the winter release at Conti a few weekends ago, we stopped by for lunch again.
It's probably a good thing Boccanoto's is so far up the hill--if it was closer in town, I would be there all the time. It's a small, family run restaurant, the kind of place where the owner/chef stops by your table to make sure your meal was perfect. And both times I've been here it's been just that--perfect.
Boccanoto's uses only fresh, locally growed ingredients, for everything from their produce to their meat. It's generally Italian food, with a daily freshly-made pasta special among the other menu items. Ask a lot of questions about the food at Boccanoto's--they don't expect you to know everything and are happy to help you make decisions or explain about a dish. This isn't a snobby place where they correct you when you pronounce something wrong (how do you say "sformato"?), they are just about good food, good wine, and good friends. My kind of place--and much like being in Italy.
The prices are great too. I generally spend about $30 here, and that includes an appetizer (try the cheese plate--it's fab!), wine (they have a nice selection of local, Fairplay region wines as well as Italian and other European wines), main dish and sometimes a dessert. Everything is so fresh, and they make sure to use only what is in season. I recommend going to Boccanoto's before going wine tasting--you'll want to remember this meal.
You can find Boccanoto's at 7915 Fair Play Road in Fair Play, California.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Bubbles at Brunch
Just a quickie... Hangar 17 is offering $5 Free Flowing Mimosas with the purchase of any brunch entree on Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Would anyone care to do some research??
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Boon Boon Deals Deals
Carmen blogged about Boon Boon Cafe a while ago, but I think their lunch specials are worth a mention. Boon Boon now has lunch specials that include an entree, rice and a house salad for $5.95. Specials are available from 11:00 - 3:00 on weekdays. You can find the menu here. There are 17 choices to choose from, including vegetarian options. I've had the Eggplant Tofu and the Green Curry - both were delicious. I highly recommend the Tom Kha Gai soup. It is to die for, and according to the menu it "provides a natural boost in your immunity!"
I think this place is hard for a lot of people to find because (a) it's behind a Subway sandwich shop, (b) there is ridiculously little signage, (c) it's next to a nail salon and a check cashing place and (d) it's a little off the beaten path -- the corner of Broadway and Stockton. Don't be intimidated by the neighborhood -- heck it's just blocks from my house -- and stop in and enjoy the flavors!
I think this place is hard for a lot of people to find because (a) it's behind a Subway sandwich shop, (b) there is ridiculously little signage, (c) it's next to a nail salon and a check cashing place and (d) it's a little off the beaten path -- the corner of Broadway and Stockton. Don't be intimidated by the neighborhood -- heck it's just blocks from my house -- and stop in and enjoy the flavors!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sherry Baby!
I promised some posts on Spain, so I'll start with one on sherry. If you're like me, sherry brings up notions of a sweet after dinner drink or something to use in cooking. However, Spanish sherry is quite wonderful, although an acquired taste.
After two days in Seville, we stopped in Jerez de la Frontera on the way back to our condo in Marbella. Jerez, simply translated as "sherry," is the home of this popular Spanish wine. We were definitely in the right place to learn about this spirit!
Sherry is a blended wine of several years, not a single vintage of grapes. There are many different types that range from very dry with a pale yellow color, to sweet and with a dark mahogany hue. Here's a quick primer:
Fino – This is a pale, straw-colored sherry that is dry, light and fragrant. It is served cold and is the most traditional style of sherry. It's an ideal accompaniment to tapas.
Amontillado – This variety has an amber color, with a nutty, smoky caramel flavor. It's aged in American Oak barrels and has a higher alcohol content than fino (somwhere between 17% & 20%). This was my favorite, almost like a brandy, but without the sweetness. It's even a literary icon -- check out "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe.
Olosroso - This one is full-bodied, dark and rich. Drink Oloroso before dinner or with red meats.
Cream Sherry - This variety is sweetened Amontillado or Oloroso. It is also full-bodied and velvety. Enjoy with fruit, mild cheese and even smoked meats.
Those are just a few varieties. I had most of my education at the Tio Pepe bodega (essentially a winery). Tio Pepe is the the best selling brand in the world, but just one of the many wineries tucked into Jerez' winding streets. My sister and mom really enjoyed the Croft Cream Sherry which is made in Spain and only exported to England. It blends the crispness of a fino with the depth of a cream sherry. It was good - not sweet like I expected - and Erin and Kate both brought bottles home.
If you want to give sherry a try, I'd suggest looking for a Jerez fino. BevMo has a couple in stock. I'd sip it chilled with some cheese and olives. I'd also savor some Amontillado after dinner. It's flavor comes on strong, but once you give it a few sips it mellows and is quite delicious.
After two days in Seville, we stopped in Jerez de la Frontera on the way back to our condo in Marbella. Jerez, simply translated as "sherry," is the home of this popular Spanish wine. We were definitely in the right place to learn about this spirit!
Sherry is a blended wine of several years, not a single vintage of grapes. There are many different types that range from very dry with a pale yellow color, to sweet and with a dark mahogany hue. Here's a quick primer:
Fino – This is a pale, straw-colored sherry that is dry, light and fragrant. It is served cold and is the most traditional style of sherry. It's an ideal accompaniment to tapas.
Amontillado – This variety has an amber color, with a nutty, smoky caramel flavor. It's aged in American Oak barrels and has a higher alcohol content than fino (somwhere between 17% & 20%). This was my favorite, almost like a brandy, but without the sweetness. It's even a literary icon -- check out "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe.
Olosroso - This one is full-bodied, dark and rich. Drink Oloroso before dinner or with red meats.
Cream Sherry - This variety is sweetened Amontillado or Oloroso. It is also full-bodied and velvety. Enjoy with fruit, mild cheese and even smoked meats.
Those are just a few varieties. I had most of my education at the Tio Pepe bodega (essentially a winery). Tio Pepe is the the best selling brand in the world, but just one of the many wineries tucked into Jerez' winding streets. My sister and mom really enjoyed the Croft Cream Sherry which is made in Spain and only exported to England. It blends the crispness of a fino with the depth of a cream sherry. It was good - not sweet like I expected - and Erin and Kate both brought bottles home.
If you want to give sherry a try, I'd suggest looking for a Jerez fino. BevMo has a couple in stock. I'd sip it chilled with some cheese and olives. I'd also savor some Amontillado after dinner. It's flavor comes on strong, but once you give it a few sips it mellows and is quite delicious.
De Lightful!
It's about time Sacramento had a new bar. I know there are restaurants and clubs on rooftops opening all the time, but what we've been missing is a place between a dive bar and a uber-hip lounge with $12 martinis. I think the proprietors of De Vere's Irish Pub have created something to fit the bill.
Inside the historic Firestone Building on 16th and L is a warm spot with a gorgeous dark wood bar, lots of tables, photos of Ireland and a general feeling of conviviality. They have a good variety of beers on tap, including their own lager and red ale. Prices range from $3.75 to $6 depending on the size and type. If beer's not your thing, there's a full bar as well. I'm not a scotch drinker, but their selection is pretty wide ranging; same for Irish Whiskey. The wine list boasts a variety of regional vintages, including Railbridge Cellars' yummy Lattice Red from right up 16th Street.
The menu ranges from small plates to heartier fare, including fish and chips and Irish stew. Lunch items include sandwiches and salads that are reasonably priced. A grilled cheese with tomato and a cup of soup is $5.50.
De Vere's isn't even officially open yet, but both times I went it was a full house. It's going to be a great place to go to grab a pint and hang out with friends. Don't wait for St. Patrick's Day to check it out! Sláinte!
Inside the historic Firestone Building on 16th and L is a warm spot with a gorgeous dark wood bar, lots of tables, photos of Ireland and a general feeling of conviviality. They have a good variety of beers on tap, including their own lager and red ale. Prices range from $3.75 to $6 depending on the size and type. If beer's not your thing, there's a full bar as well. I'm not a scotch drinker, but their selection is pretty wide ranging; same for Irish Whiskey. The wine list boasts a variety of regional vintages, including Railbridge Cellars' yummy Lattice Red from right up 16th Street.
The menu ranges from small plates to heartier fare, including fish and chips and Irish stew. Lunch items include sandwiches and salads that are reasonably priced. A grilled cheese with tomato and a cup of soup is $5.50.
De Vere's isn't even officially open yet, but both times I went it was a full house. It's going to be a great place to go to grab a pint and hang out with friends. Don't wait for St. Patrick's Day to check it out! Sláinte!
Not So Dreamy
I'd never been to Dream Ultra Lounge. I'm not an "ultra lounge" kind of gal, but when I heard Tokyo Fro's was taking up residence inside - AND that they had happy hour till 8:00 - I gave it a try.
There are two things I noticed right away. The decor is cold, despite the warm fireplace in the front window. And the waitresses wear very tiny clothes. Our poor server was in a skin tight mini-halter dress (in January!) and sky high heels. Watching her try to walk and balance food made me really nervous. So did watching her bend down to clear the tables. Talk about the risk of a wardrobe malfunction!
True to their advertising, their happy hour goes till 8:00 (which is a major plus). Bottles of beer are $3, well drinks are half off and almost all the sushi rolls are half price. I ordered a $3 Blue Moon and my friends and I perused the roll menu. Despite there being at least 15 options, they all kind of sounded the same. Tempura shrimp and/or crab seemed to be in every roll. We chose five to share but were really unimpressed. They all tasted the same. The crab didn't have any flavor and the actual pieces of raw fish were unsubstantial. It was very disappointing!
Another problem - the bathroom. There are three stalls. Two of the toilets were clogged and the third didn't have a seat!
In the end the bill was $52 for five people, five beers and five rolls. It's hard to complain about the price, but the food wasn't even worth the discounts. Carmen, who wasn't there with us, said the happy hour at Tokyo Fro's on Fair Oaks Blvd. has always been good. Maybe this sushi bar is still settling into its new home, but for now if I'll stick to the original location!
There are two things I noticed right away. The decor is cold, despite the warm fireplace in the front window. And the waitresses wear very tiny clothes. Our poor server was in a skin tight mini-halter dress (in January!) and sky high heels. Watching her try to walk and balance food made me really nervous. So did watching her bend down to clear the tables. Talk about the risk of a wardrobe malfunction!
True to their advertising, their happy hour goes till 8:00 (which is a major plus). Bottles of beer are $3, well drinks are half off and almost all the sushi rolls are half price. I ordered a $3 Blue Moon and my friends and I perused the roll menu. Despite there being at least 15 options, they all kind of sounded the same. Tempura shrimp and/or crab seemed to be in every roll. We chose five to share but were really unimpressed. They all tasted the same. The crab didn't have any flavor and the actual pieces of raw fish were unsubstantial. It was very disappointing!
Another problem - the bathroom. There are three stalls. Two of the toilets were clogged and the third didn't have a seat!
In the end the bill was $52 for five people, five beers and five rolls. It's hard to complain about the price, but the food wasn't even worth the discounts. Carmen, who wasn't there with us, said the happy hour at Tokyo Fro's on Fair Oaks Blvd. has always been good. Maybe this sushi bar is still settling into its new home, but for now if I'll stick to the original location!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
My other two favs
Wine and Cheese! Oh, how I love wine and cheese. I've been known to exist on wine and cheese for hours. (Had a bit of a stomach ache after that, actually.) I was visiting a friend in Oakland last weekend and she took me to the greatest little shop in Montclair and I had to share it with the world (or the small portion of the world that reads this blog). If you ever find yourself in the East Bay and have a hankering for some tasty cheese, check out Farmstead Cheese & Wine. They have locations in both Alameda and Montclair.
If you're unfamiliar with Montclair, it's a little wealthy community east of Oakland on Hwy 13. It's super cute, and has tons of little shops and restaurants. It's certainly not enough to do for a day, but if you find you have some time to kill while in Walnut Creek, Oakland, or even on your way out of San Francisco, it's an easy stop. The original Crogan's is here (although it's white tablecloth atmosphere is strikingly different than the bar I used to drink myself silly at in Walnut Creek), as well as a great Thai restaurant, burger place, and Italian place I went to once. Too bad I don't know their names. Up one of the side streets is Farmstead Cheeses & Wines. My friend Catherine and I went in to get some cheese for our dinner that night.
I loved this place because they have TONS of cheese from all over and all different kinds, and you get to try everything! You tell the very nice man behind the counter what you like and what you're looking for (and even what kind of wine you're drinking) and he'll give you little samples to see what you like. It's brilliant. The prices are good too, we got 1/3 of a pound of each cheese and only paid $10. Grocery store prices (even TJ's) are much higher. I don't remember what we ended up with, but one was really rich and creamy, and the other was tangy, like a light blue, but without the stink. Yum.
We didn't buy any wine (my friends have a rockin' wine cellar) but I checked it out and found a few I recognized from 58 Degrees and some that were really interesting and different. The white wine I saw that I recognized was $9, and I think that's cheaper than it is here in town.
Their blog is really cool too if you're interested in that sort of thing:
You can find them at 6218 La Salle Ave, Oakland, or 1650 Park Street, Unit C, Alameda. Check them out!
If you're unfamiliar with Montclair, it's a little wealthy community east of Oakland on Hwy 13. It's super cute, and has tons of little shops and restaurants. It's certainly not enough to do for a day, but if you find you have some time to kill while in Walnut Creek, Oakland, or even on your way out of San Francisco, it's an easy stop. The original Crogan's is here (although it's white tablecloth atmosphere is strikingly different than the bar I used to drink myself silly at in Walnut Creek), as well as a great Thai restaurant, burger place, and Italian place I went to once. Too bad I don't know their names. Up one of the side streets is Farmstead Cheeses & Wines. My friend Catherine and I went in to get some cheese for our dinner that night.
I loved this place because they have TONS of cheese from all over and all different kinds, and you get to try everything! You tell the very nice man behind the counter what you like and what you're looking for (and even what kind of wine you're drinking) and he'll give you little samples to see what you like. It's brilliant. The prices are good too, we got 1/3 of a pound of each cheese and only paid $10. Grocery store prices (even TJ's) are much higher. I don't remember what we ended up with, but one was really rich and creamy, and the other was tangy, like a light blue, but without the stink. Yum.
We didn't buy any wine (my friends have a rockin' wine cellar) but I checked it out and found a few I recognized from 58 Degrees and some that were really interesting and different. The white wine I saw that I recognized was $9, and I think that's cheaper than it is here in town.
Their blog is really cool too if you're interested in that sort of thing:
You can find them at 6218 La Salle Ave, Oakland, or 1650 Park Street, Unit C, Alameda. Check them out!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Brews & Shrooms
I love beer. Lucky for me, my brother has been working as a microbrewery in San Francisco (shout-out to Speakeasy!) and therefore has become obsessed with beer. I consider myself fairly knowedgable about wine (an idiot-savant, I suppose), but know little about beer. Encouraged by him, I have decided to learn a little bit more about it and try as much as I can other than the standard blond ale (which I have learned I don't really care for anyway).
Living in Northern California makes beer tasting easy. There are breweries everywhere! In an attempt to take advantage of the current trend of upscale beer-drinking and beer-brewing, many of these breweries accompany their breweries with rather nice and delicious restaurants. Yay! Beer and Food!! I'm not going to go into the cultural reasons why beer is becoming so popular (although certainly the economy has something to do with it), I'm just going to take advantage of the food and the brews.
One post doesn't allow me the space to go into all local breweries and their food, so I'll just tell you about 3 of my favorites, and one of my favorite sandwiches, the Portabella Sandwich. (I'll save the fish & chips for another post.)
As you will remember from my previous post, I am not eating meat. Hence, the portabella. There are so many reasons to love this mushroom (Unless you hate all mushrooms, then this post does not apply. You know who you are.) It's rich and meaty, so you don't even notice that you're eating veg. It goes nicely with lots of different marinades and sauces, as well as other vegetables. It's large, so it fits well between two pieces of bread and doesn't fall out into little bits all over your plate, consequently requiring a fork to eat. None of these reasons equal the main reason for eating it at a brewery: it goes well with the brew. Here are three that I have tried recently:
Hoppy Brewing (Sacramento, Folsom Blvd & 65th): Hoppy's been around for ages. They have great, original beer (try the Christmas Ale) and a fun, large dining room. Service is generally, um, happy, and the food is consistent. I usually get their version of the chopped salad which has just about everything in it minus the kitchen sink (note to self: remember to ask for no bacon bits) but decided to go for the portabella sandwich the last time I was there with a large group of coworkers (which kind of sucked, because it was lunchtime and the boss didn't let us drink beer). Perhaps it was the lack of my preferred beverage that made this sandwich seem rather lackluster, or maybe it was because they had 10 lunches to pass out at once and the wait time made my sandwich a little soggy. I wasn't impressed. In comparison to the other standout dishes at this restaurant, the sandwich was boring and soggy, even with the red pepper aioli and grilled ortega chili. The chili was the best part, actually. They need marinade. Or I needed beer. Or most likely, we needed both. I'm not sure what other veg options are available at Hoppy, but I'll be trying something else next time to better match my fabulous Red Ale.
Sierra Nevada Brewery (Chico, CA): I was in Chico once for Halloween when I was 19. Yesterday, my friends took me back to their youth and showed me around the town, including lunch and a brief tour of the brewery where my friend Emilie made her college money (and spent a good portion of it as well). In my quest for the best portabella, I chose their sandwich. The mushroom was delicious, thinly sliced instead of the whole piece, which made the texture a little more like a traditional meat sandwich. It had a delicious bun and some tasty sauce, but there was lettuce on the sandwich which promptly wilted with the heat of the cooked mushroom. I didn't care for the lettuce, and would have liked some other additions to the sandwich, but was overall pleased with the taste and texture of the mushroom and the bun. The pitcher of Best Bitter we shared was a delicious accompaniment (kind of wish I had some right now, actually).
Rubicon Brewery (Capital Ave & 20th St, Sacramento): If you know me, you know I'm partial to Rubicon. The only complaint I ever have about Rubicon is that the service can sometimes be a little, well, snotty. (Although in all fairness, it has really improved lately, and not just because the weekend afternoon bartender recognizes me.) The beer is great, the food is great, the vibe is great, and the brief 4 block walk home is awesome. Here is where my favorite portabella mushroom sandwich lives. Nestled between two thick slices of focaccia bread with a roasted red bell pepper and a lot of gooey provolone, the mushroom not only stands out, but pairs nicely with the other flavors. Also goes great with a pint of Monkey Knife Fight, and the conversation of great friends.
I kind of like my new mission: seeker of great mushrooms and fantastic brews. Send me your favorite breweries in the area, and I'll be sure to report back on my favorite fungi.
Living in Northern California makes beer tasting easy. There are breweries everywhere! In an attempt to take advantage of the current trend of upscale beer-drinking and beer-brewing, many of these breweries accompany their breweries with rather nice and delicious restaurants. Yay! Beer and Food!! I'm not going to go into the cultural reasons why beer is becoming so popular (although certainly the economy has something to do with it), I'm just going to take advantage of the food and the brews.
One post doesn't allow me the space to go into all local breweries and their food, so I'll just tell you about 3 of my favorites, and one of my favorite sandwiches, the Portabella Sandwich. (I'll save the fish & chips for another post.)
As you will remember from my previous post, I am not eating meat. Hence, the portabella. There are so many reasons to love this mushroom (Unless you hate all mushrooms, then this post does not apply. You know who you are.) It's rich and meaty, so you don't even notice that you're eating veg. It goes nicely with lots of different marinades and sauces, as well as other vegetables. It's large, so it fits well between two pieces of bread and doesn't fall out into little bits all over your plate, consequently requiring a fork to eat. None of these reasons equal the main reason for eating it at a brewery: it goes well with the brew. Here are three that I have tried recently:
Hoppy Brewing (Sacramento, Folsom Blvd & 65th): Hoppy's been around for ages. They have great, original beer (try the Christmas Ale) and a fun, large dining room. Service is generally, um, happy, and the food is consistent. I usually get their version of the chopped salad which has just about everything in it minus the kitchen sink (note to self: remember to ask for no bacon bits) but decided to go for the portabella sandwich the last time I was there with a large group of coworkers (which kind of sucked, because it was lunchtime and the boss didn't let us drink beer). Perhaps it was the lack of my preferred beverage that made this sandwich seem rather lackluster, or maybe it was because they had 10 lunches to pass out at once and the wait time made my sandwich a little soggy. I wasn't impressed. In comparison to the other standout dishes at this restaurant, the sandwich was boring and soggy, even with the red pepper aioli and grilled ortega chili. The chili was the best part, actually. They need marinade. Or I needed beer. Or most likely, we needed both. I'm not sure what other veg options are available at Hoppy, but I'll be trying something else next time to better match my fabulous Red Ale.
Sierra Nevada Brewery (Chico, CA): I was in Chico once for Halloween when I was 19. Yesterday, my friends took me back to their youth and showed me around the town, including lunch and a brief tour of the brewery where my friend Emilie made her college money (and spent a good portion of it as well). In my quest for the best portabella, I chose their sandwich. The mushroom was delicious, thinly sliced instead of the whole piece, which made the texture a little more like a traditional meat sandwich. It had a delicious bun and some tasty sauce, but there was lettuce on the sandwich which promptly wilted with the heat of the cooked mushroom. I didn't care for the lettuce, and would have liked some other additions to the sandwich, but was overall pleased with the taste and texture of the mushroom and the bun. The pitcher of Best Bitter we shared was a delicious accompaniment (kind of wish I had some right now, actually).
Rubicon Brewery (Capital Ave & 20th St, Sacramento): If you know me, you know I'm partial to Rubicon. The only complaint I ever have about Rubicon is that the service can sometimes be a little, well, snotty. (Although in all fairness, it has really improved lately, and not just because the weekend afternoon bartender recognizes me.) The beer is great, the food is great, the vibe is great, and the brief 4 block walk home is awesome. Here is where my favorite portabella mushroom sandwich lives. Nestled between two thick slices of focaccia bread with a roasted red bell pepper and a lot of gooey provolone, the mushroom not only stands out, but pairs nicely with the other flavors. Also goes great with a pint of Monkey Knife Fight, and the conversation of great friends.
I kind of like my new mission: seeker of great mushrooms and fantastic brews. Send me your favorite breweries in the area, and I'll be sure to report back on my favorite fungi.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Southern Comfort
I feel I need to make a full disclosure before you read this post. I have gone mostly veg. As in vegetarian. OK, technically pescetarian (I hope I spelled that right) but I am trying (very hard) to cut out poultry and red meat from my diet. I don't think it will ever be completely out of my diet, but I am making every effort to keep it mostly out of my diet. My reasons are many, but this is mostly in an attempt to be healthier, both for my body and the planet. I'll keep you posted.
The immediate problem is that it alters my view of the following review. Pescetarianism is not something to take up a week or so before going to Sandra Dee's for dinner. Since it's a southern BBQ restaurant, I think the problems are obvious.
Anyway, we went for a friend's birthday the other night. First impressions: cute place. Nice service. OK beer selection but crappy wine selection (at least they had Stella and Sierra on tap). Do not come here if you are on a diet!
Lucky for me, southerners like fish. I had the fried catfish and it was delicious! The fish was so moist, not like some other fried fish can get. And not greasy at all! It was a little salty (although perfectly spicy) but this could be because I asked for it extra spicy and so had a lot of seasoning on it, and I'm just not used to that. I was really excited for the collard greens, but disappointed that they had smoked turkey in them. I went for it anyway (and decided to pick the turkey out) but they were still mushy and overly salty. This could be a preference thing--I love greens, but I like them lightly braised with balsamic (proving my Italian heritage, I suppose). These tasted over-done. The mac and cheese was delicious and could have been a meal all to itself. Creamy, cheesy, goopy, wonderfulness. I could eat this every day of my life (and probably die very early, clearly not diet food!). My friend insisted I try the tri-tip, which was perfectly cooked and tender, although drenched in BBQ sauce (not my thing). I heard the rib-tips were fantastic, as were the ribs, turkey burger, and baked beans. Another veg had the Caesar salad (which really was the saddest Caesar I've ever seen), it got a big thumbs down, but the yams got a thumbs up. The frog legs were even tested (tastes like chicken, apparently) and the peach cobbler (yummy).
The best thing to keep in mind when coming here is that it is Southern Food. For those of us growing up with some variation of California food, there is a lot of seasoning and sauce. They probably don't know the term "vegetarian" not to mention "pescetarian". I know that Southern Food is not my preference. However, the next time I have a hangover and am in need of some stick-to-your-ribs goodies, I know to head to Sandra Dee's and get some fried catfish and mac & cheese.
Sandra Dee's is on the corner of 15th and F, and it's remarkably easy to find parking. You have to try it, just once.
The immediate problem is that it alters my view of the following review. Pescetarianism is not something to take up a week or so before going to Sandra Dee's for dinner. Since it's a southern BBQ restaurant, I think the problems are obvious.
Anyway, we went for a friend's birthday the other night. First impressions: cute place. Nice service. OK beer selection but crappy wine selection (at least they had Stella and Sierra on tap). Do not come here if you are on a diet!
Lucky for me, southerners like fish. I had the fried catfish and it was delicious! The fish was so moist, not like some other fried fish can get. And not greasy at all! It was a little salty (although perfectly spicy) but this could be because I asked for it extra spicy and so had a lot of seasoning on it, and I'm just not used to that. I was really excited for the collard greens, but disappointed that they had smoked turkey in them. I went for it anyway (and decided to pick the turkey out) but they were still mushy and overly salty. This could be a preference thing--I love greens, but I like them lightly braised with balsamic (proving my Italian heritage, I suppose). These tasted over-done. The mac and cheese was delicious and could have been a meal all to itself. Creamy, cheesy, goopy, wonderfulness. I could eat this every day of my life (and probably die very early, clearly not diet food!). My friend insisted I try the tri-tip, which was perfectly cooked and tender, although drenched in BBQ sauce (not my thing). I heard the rib-tips were fantastic, as were the ribs, turkey burger, and baked beans. Another veg had the Caesar salad (which really was the saddest Caesar I've ever seen), it got a big thumbs down, but the yams got a thumbs up. The frog legs were even tested (tastes like chicken, apparently) and the peach cobbler (yummy).
The best thing to keep in mind when coming here is that it is Southern Food. For those of us growing up with some variation of California food, there is a lot of seasoning and sauce. They probably don't know the term "vegetarian" not to mention "pescetarian". I know that Southern Food is not my preference. However, the next time I have a hangover and am in need of some stick-to-your-ribs goodies, I know to head to Sandra Dee's and get some fried catfish and mac & cheese.
Sandra Dee's is on the corner of 15th and F, and it's remarkably easy to find parking. You have to try it, just once.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
New Year's Resolutions
Happy New Year! I'm not a big believer in resolutions, but I'm making one this year to be a better blogger. I really like this blog and we get good feedback, so I want to do a better job of updating it.
I also want to put out the call again for people to help contribute. I eat out a lot, but not enough to have a new blog every day (especially in these tough economic times)! If you're interested in helping out, send me an email or leave a comment and I'll set you up!
I am leaving on Tuesday for a two week trip to España, so I won't be able to start taking my resolution seriously until I get back from Europe. I'll try to take notes during my travels about all the tapas, fino and sherry I enjoy so I can share with you when I get back. ¡Adiós!
I also want to put out the call again for people to help contribute. I eat out a lot, but not enough to have a new blog every day (especially in these tough economic times)! If you're interested in helping out, send me an email or leave a comment and I'll set you up!
I am leaving on Tuesday for a two week trip to España, so I won't be able to start taking my resolution seriously until I get back from Europe. I'll try to take notes during my travels about all the tapas, fino and sherry I enjoy so I can share with you when I get back. ¡Adiós!
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