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?

Meal of the Week

I've had some good food this week. Marla took me out for my birthday on Tuesday and I took advantage of a free meal and went to 58 Degrees, where I can never afford the food. This is what we ordered and DAMN it was good:

Chicken Misto al Tartufo with prosciutto, white truffle pan sauce, and a warm Lebanese cous cous salad.

I can't even describe it, it was so good. If you're feeling flush, this is the meal to get. Perfect with a glass of Ken Forrester “Petit” Chenin Blanc.

Thanks, Marla!

Dinner, European Style

I've blogged about 58 Degrees before. I love the place. I love the wine selection. I love a couple of the servers, some of whom are extremely knowledgeable. I've never really eaten there besides sampling some appetizers -- which are excellent -- but last night four friends and I sat down for their Prix Fixe menu. It's a four course meal for $25, add $10 for a 3oz wine pairing with each course.

We started with bleu cheese and roasted garlic crostini with green onion oil. The bread was crispy and the combination of the pungent cheese and tangy garlic, paired with the slight sweetness of the oil was fabulous. It was served with Bucci Verdicchio, a nice white Italian wine with hints of honey and apples.

The second course was a salad of roasted red peppers, shaved fennel over mixed greens with a basil dressing. This small salad was served with a cauliflower panna cotta. I'm used to panna cotta as an Italian dessert with a custard-like consistancy. This was a really interesting way to serve my not-so-favorite vegetable. The consensus around the table was that it was pretty tasty -- though no one would have probably ordered it if they saw it on a menu. The wine this time around was a Walden Cotes du Roussillon Rouge from France. It was a yummy blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah.

Course Three was a four cheese and arugula cannelloni with lemon cream sauce, caper bread crumbs and gremulata (a fancy way of saying finely chopped parsley, garlic and grated lemon zest). This dish got raves from everyone. The pasta was tender and cheesy; the sauce was creamy without being overbearing, We went back to white wine with a Domaine Reverdy-Ducroux "Beau Roy" Sancerre from France. It's a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that I found neither too sweet or too flowery that cut the richness of the sauce.

And lastly, we had chocolate praline bread pudding with pecans and chocolate cream sauce. Bread pudding is never one of my favorite desserts but I'm always willing to try. I don't think it was a universal hit at our table, but it wasn't bad. However, the Maquis Lien Syrah Red Blend from Chile, was a universal hit. The bold blend of Syrah, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and a touch of Petit Verdot was absolutely delicious! Fortunately for us our desserts took a long time to come out of the kitchen so our wonderful server Kara brought us a few extra pours. It was rich and fruity -- and for me a much better dessert than the bread pudding.

58 Degrees offers their Prix Fixe menu on Monday and Tuesday nights. The menu changes monthly.

You should also take advantage of No Corkage Sundays at the wine bar. You save $15 per bottle. Plus, once the weather gets nicer I can't think of many ways to enjoy a Sunday evening outside at such a great people-watching location in midtown.

Whine about Wine

I love 58 Degrees. When I lived in midtown I was there at least once a week. I knew some of the servers by name. Some of them knew mine. They were nice, knowledgable and seemed to really enjoy and be passionate about wine.

Based on my most recent visit, it seems something has changed.

I recently went to one of their $10 Wednesday night tastings. It wasn't my first time at one of these events. The usual routine is you buy five or six tickets for $10 and each ticket gets you a taste of each of the wines in their selected flight. The first problem -- the pourer was not very knowledgable about the wines. In fact, he poured one that was so "cooked" that it smelled like vinegar. When one of my fellow tasters told him about the problem he didn't think it was worth changing the bottle. That's not good.

The second problem -- they were stingy with the pours. I don't mean they didn't give me a full glass as my taste. In the past, if you wanted to pass on a port (yuk!) for example, you could get another taste of Pinot with your extra ticket. No more! It's one taste of each wine and that's it.

Now, I understand their policy. It was explained by our server (a woman we've always liked) that people were taking advantage and just getting six tastes of the most expensive wine on the list instead of sampling them all. I get that, but they didn't make the customers aware of the change. In fact, they go to CSI lengths to stop the abuse! When I brought up my glass for a taste of Grenache I brought my friend's glass too. She had already had the Grenache but wanted to skip the next one on the list for a 2nd taste of Grenache. The Grenache came after a rose in the tasting line. My glass had pink in it, hers had red. He refused to pour her a taste because the forensic evidence proved she was going out of order.

And overall, besides the server I just mentioned, the staff doesn't seem very engaged or interested in what they are selling. On a different visit, we asked a bartender for his thoughts on the rosés on the menu. He said "all rosés are dry." That's just not true. When asking another server about a series of whites I might be interested in trying, he referred to them all as "nice." Same for several reds.

I'm sure I may sound like a big whiner (ha!). That's partially true, but it's not the issue here. I love wine. I am sure I'll be back to 58 Degrees because they have great wine. I'm just sad about the change since the place first opened. And now with all the competition within walking distance, they should be striving to be the most friendly, knowledgable staff in midtown.

In fact, later that night after the aforementioned tasting, my friends and I hoofed it to The Grand on 16th & L and had some delicious vintages that were recommended by our charming server. What a difference a few blocks made.