A Girl And Her Fork: sacramento

Showing posts with label sacramento. Show all posts

Ally

Better late then never right? ☺

IFBC Day 3 was a smorgasbord of seminars:

Farm to Glass: Cider Tasting
Insects as the Next Superfood
Cultivating an Edible City
Tea and Dim Sum
Blind Olive-Oil Tasting
Putting Flavor into Words
Culinary Travel Writing
Deep Dive into Snapchat

I was initially looking forward to the culinary travel writing seminar; however, I ended up finding the cider tasting and dim sum seminars much more interesting and informative. Gowan's Heirloom Cider conducted the cider tasting and I felt that they did a terrific job of providing a lot of info in a relatively short time period. It was a nice balance of lecture and cider tasting. We learned about how ciders are made, the differences between mass and craft cider; where the apples come from; what 'local' means and how to identify different styles of cider. We also learned that there's a California Cider Competition . Who wouldn't want to be a judge for that panel? Sign me up!

At the tea and dim sum seminar, the Confucius Institute at UC Davis shared a lovely presentation on the history of tea and dim sum.. We tasted several different kinds of Chinese teas and learned how the various teas are grown and processed. We also gained insight as to the role of dim sum in the Chinese lifestyle and were given samples of the most popular dim sums.

Labels: event, events, Farm to Fork, ifbc, sacramento 0 comments | |

IFBC Day 2

Ally

IFBC Day 2 involved a Farm-to-Fork Panel presentation with Nicole Rogers, director of Farm-to-Fork of the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau; Mary Kimball, executive director of the Center for Land-Based Learning; Matt Byrne, CEO of SunFed Ranch; Scott Ostrander, executive chef of Inn at Park Winters and Chelsea Minor, director of public relations and public affairs of Raley’s Fine Stores. Matt Byrne’s discussion about how the drought has affected the grass fed beef market was extremely informative and touched upon several issues that I hadn't thought about. I hope I get the chance to hear him talk about it some more in the future. Also, after hearing about all the amazing dishes Scott Ostrander is churning out at Inn at Park Winters, I’m thinking Mr. S and I may need to do a weekend getaway there STAT!

Afterwards, all the attendees were treated to a Culinary Fair and Expo in the ballroom. I had a fun time wandering around with the gals from Bake it With Booze, sampling some tasty bites from local chefs and businesses. My favorites were the spicy lamb tacos from the Lamb Board and the heirloom tomato-melon gazpacho from Hook and Ladder (and this comes from a girl who is not fond of raw tomatoes!). Also, I discovered About a Bite, a cute little dessert shoppe where everything is bite-sized. Turns out it's within walking distance of my office...this could turn out to be quite dangerous!

Owl's Brew White & Vine

About a Bite's Rosemary Salted Caramels

California Figs

California Almonds

Hook and Ladder's Heirloom Tomato & Melon Gazpacho

Bee D'Vine Honey Wine

Ginger Elizabeth

Hemly Cider

Capay Valley Ranches' Olive Oil

UC Davis Olive Center's Olive Oil

Labels: event, events, Farm to Fork, ifbc, sacramento 0 comments | |

IFBC Day 1

Ally

Wow, I hope you survived last week's wretched heat. It was HOT. Like under boob sweat producing hot. Thank goodness, it's over...for now at least. Anyhow, if you were brave enough to venture out into the furnace-like temperatures you may have seen a gaggle of folks milling about and staring intently at their phones over at the Hyatt. No, they weren't catching Pokemon, they're food and wine bloggers in town for IFBC, most likely attempting to capture a few shots of a sexy looking wine bottle or an intricate arrangement of figs in natural light. Or if you're like me and lucky enough to live in town, you're rollin' on by after a full day at the office. Really...there's nothing like walking 3 blocks in 107 degree heat and busting into the Hyatt lobby looking sweaty and tired whilst everyone else looks cool, calm, and crisp.

Anyhow, I thought I'd share a few photos from the IFBC. Unfortunately, I didn't get to attend any of the day time excursions like toCapay Valley Ranches or Old Sugar Mill because I had to work but several people mentioned that they had a blast.

Here's a few shots from the Opening Night Reception I attended:

Almond Strawberry Trifles compliments of the folks at California Almonds

Marinated Cabecou from Laura Chenel...the herb one was so good, I'm going to have to pick some up.

California Cling Peach Caprese from the CA Cling Peach Board

Hope they start carrying Gowan's Heirloom Cider in Sac soon, the Gravenstein cider was terrific. Not overly sweet, no hinky aftertaste and extremely refreshing.

Labels: event, events, ifbc, sacramento 2 comments | |

Real Pie Company is Making a Comeback!

Ally

Look what showed up in my email yesterday...I'm super excited! Mmmm, homemade pies, quiches and pot pies.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear valued customers and friends:

It is with great joy that I announce the re-opening of the Real Pie Company!

Our new shop will be located at the corner of 16th and G streets in midtown Sacramento, next door to Lulu’s Kitchen. We are building the entire space out; and I have had the thrilling opportunity to design the space exactly the way I want it, including the construction of a temperature-controlled dough room.

I will keep you informed as we get closer to our opening this fall. Many of the elements of our shop will be familiar to you – we will continue to source beautiful produce from small farms in the region, so the menu will change frequently as we celebrate and utilize whatever seasonal, ripe fruit and vegetables that come through our door on a weekly basis. We will offer our nourishing house-made chicken pot pies and quiches in addition to our sweet menu items; and, as before, will be making our chocolate cream, coconut cream, and butterscotch banana cream pies as a complement to our fruit pies, galettes, tarts and cakes.

We also have a few new things in store for our customers, including limited indoor and outdoor seating, and a selection of locally-made ice cream as a delicious accompaniment to our baked goods.

We are very excited to announce a partnership with Amigo Bob Cantisano and Adam Nuber of the Felix Gillet Institute, and this fall we will be proudly showcasing many amazing varieties of heirloom fruit that have been harvested from abandoned mining camps and homesteads in the Sierras. Read here for more information on this inspiring non-profit project.

We have a new website in development, and look forward to keeping you up to date on our progress. I can’t wait to begin baking for you again! Please feel free to reach out to me at kira@realpiecompany with any questions or comments.

Warmest regards,

Kira O’Donnell Babich

Baker/Owner

Real Pie Company

Labels: real pie company, sacramento 0 comments | |

Broadway Coffee

Ally

http://www.broadwaycoffeecompany.com/

3200 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95817

(916) 594-9058

I miss living in the Grid. Like REALLY miss it. Although I love living with Mr. S and the kiddos, I miss being close to the all things I like to do. These days I feel like I spend a lot of time on 50 driving into downtown for work, driving back to the 'burbs and then turning right back around to meet up with friends in Midtown. On weekends, I find myself down there again, grabbing a drink with buddies or a bite to eat with Mr. S. Being in the 'burbs bites. For one thing, there's more Starbucks then you can shake a stick at but hardly any good independent coffee shops.

One of my favorite places of late to unwind is a place down near Mandy's house- Broadway Coffee. Not quite the Grid, but just on the perimeter. It's located on a quiet corner as you enter OP. The building used to be pretty non-descript but recently they gave the building a little mini-makeover and it's sporting a fun mural that makes it pop from its surroundings. The shop serves Temple coffee and has the most scrumptious desserts. My favorite is the pecan whisky tart (heated) but I've had terrific lemon bars, apple bread pudding and cookies there as well. (They get their desserts from Desserts by Vesela and also carry some vegan eats by the Sassy Oh Baking Company.) I also love that more often than naught, I can pop in there and grab a table with no wait. So far the place seems to be immune to the hipster infestation that seems to plague most of the neighborhood coffee houses in the Grid and it's surrounding areas. Not to rant too much about the subject, but I'm so tired of entering a coffee shop, buying a coffee and having no where to sit because people are camped out there for HOURS with their stupid laptops. I wish there was a max time limit on patrons being able to monopolize a table. I know, I know...first world problems.

Anyhow, the best part of Broadway Coffee is the staff. Seriously! In a time where good customer service is next to impossible to find, this little cafe nails it. No matter when I've gone in, I've found each staff member to be friendly and welcoming. My favorite barista though is Elizabeth. This lady has a 1000 kilowatt smile and within 2 minutes makes you feel at home.

If you get a chance, stop in and grab a cuppa, plop down at a table and savor a little "you" time. You won't be sorry.

Labels: broadway coffee, coffee, oak park, sacramento 0 comments | |

ABC Bakery

Ally

1309 Florin Road, Suite F. Sacramento, CA 95831. (916) 421-4259.

Is there anything better than holding a piping hot bao on a cold day? It’s like a mini-hand heater and a tasty, toasty treat all wrapped up into one. I recently introduced the kidlets to bao. When I brought a box home for Sunday breakfast, the little scallywags gave me the stinkeye. “What is this blob of dough you’re handing me?” I’m sure their suspicious little minds were thinking, “Is it full of something disgusting? Anchovies? Natto? Liver?” When I described it as being a Chinese Hot Pocket (work with me here, they’re kids) and stuffed full of BBQ pork, they let down their guard and took one. Kidlet #2, Mr. Picky Picky, even liked it!

If you’re unfamiliar with bao, they are steamed or baked buns stuffed with a variety of yummy fillings like – cha siu pork, Chinese sausage (lap cheong), coconut custard, egg and mung bean, black sesame paste or pickled, spicy veggies. The steamed bao are a pillowy white and a bit chewy. The baked ones are breadier, with a shiny glaze.

Baked Bao

For the past year or so, my favorite place to buy bao in Sacramento is at a little hole in the wall shoppe called ABC Bakery in the Pocket/Greenhaven (although Lam Kwong Market downtown is a close second). ABC Bakery is located off Florin Road in the “Old” Bel Air shopping center. (If you’re looking directly at Bel-Air, it’s along the right side, around the corner of the building.) It’s a very small store and there’s almost always a line. Items run out quick- so get there early if you want the best availability. On a recent Sunday, I got there around 9am and bought some of their baked cha siu pork bao, curry chicken bao and a few hot dog bao (slices of hot dog and green onions mixed in with the dough). I'll be honest, I do normally like a little more meat in my bao than what ABC does but I like the fact that everything there is freshly made. On my last visit, I also picked up some shrimp dumplings which were quite delicious. The egg tarts here (I wish I knew their recipe for their wonderful flaky crust) and (seasonal) moon cakes have also been really good during past visits.

Shrimp Dumplings

Some people I know have bitched about the customer service at ABC citing that’s it’s very abrasive but everyone I've encountered there has always been polite. They aren't usually Chatty Kathys but then again they’re trying to keep the line moving. Here’s a tip, look at the menu and know what you want before you get to the front of the line. That'll keep you from catching flack from the staff as well as the patrons behind you. ☺

Labels: bakery, chinese, sacramento 3 comments | |

Around Town

Ally

There's some new stuff popping up around town that I thought I'd share:

The Public House Theater will be opening up September 26th at 5440 14th Ave. You can watch movies while enjoying a glass of wine or local brew. They also plan to offer a small menu of nibbles, sandwiches and paninis.

For more info: www.publichousetheater.net

A small Spartan pop-up called Good Eats has quietly opened up inside Vic's Market in SLP. They're serving up some tasty Southern eats (ribs, fried chicken, tri-tip, fried Cajun snapper, red beans and rice etc). The feedback I've heard so far has been very positive, especially about the fried chicken and the mac and cheese. Heads up though- my understanding is they close early- 8pm. So get over there early!

5820 S Land Park Drive. (916) 949-1850

Bacon and Butter, Billy Zoellin's breakfast joint, is scheduled to open at its new Tahoe Park digs September 27.

5913 Broadway
http://baconandbuttersac.com/

Labels: event, good eats, public house theater, sacramento 1 comments | |

Food Literacy Fair this Sunday, September 14th

Ally

Looking for something fun and educational to take the kidlets to this weekend? Check out this fantastic event put on by the Food Literacy Center:

FREE FOOD LITERACY FAIR TO CELEBRATE

FOOD LITERACY MONTH SEPT. 14

As part of Food Literacy Month in September, local residents can attend the free Food Literacy Fair from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Sept. 14 at Southside Park across from California’s largest certified farmers market. The fair, hosted by Food Literacy Center and Assemblymember Roger Dickinson in partnership with Southside Park Neighborhood Association, will include live music from The Hoots, live cooking demonstrations featuring local kids and chefs, crafts, kids games, free food samples, veggie costumes, face painting, a photo booth, awards and the announcement of the Veggie of the Year.

Dennis Sydnor Jr.from Ten22 & Kurt Spataro from Paragary Restaurant Group will be cooking with food literacy kids.

Learn about fresh veggies.

There will be Pygmy goats from the Farm Bureau...

and other friendly farm friends.

There will also be food trucks from Mama Kim and Slightly Skewed.

Photos courtesy of the Food Literacy Center, Mama Kim Eats, Slightly Skewed and Madeloni Photography.

www.foodliteracycenter.org

Labels: event, sacramento 1 comments | |

The Parlor : Ice Cream Puffs

Ally

2620 Fair Oaks Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95864. (916) 977-3997
http://www.theparloricecream.squarespace.com/

Sometimes I feel like Mr.S and the kidlets are Satan's little minions. Like this weekend for example, they "forced" me to go try this new dessert place, The Parlor, that took the place of our beloved Yogurt Monkey. They had gone earlier in the week, had been raving non-stop about it and were eager to revisit. So at 930pm on Friday night, we trek over to The Parlor on Fair Oaks Boulevard. There's a line out the door, a big huge line of teenagers. *Sigh* We stood in line for 20 minutes (listening to the latest high school gossip of who likes who, who's wearing what and the clicking of hundred cell phones taking selfies) and it moved fairly quickly. Once inside, a hyper-happy gentleman with a 1,000-watt smile greeted us and asked our order. For our "ice cream puffs" we had a choice of a regular donut, a glazed donut or an apple fritter. I chose the apple fritter- go big or go home, right? Next it was time to choose the all important ice cream...being lactarded, I should have gone with the mango sorbet but I couldn't help but be drawn to the coffee ice cream with Nutella swirled in (aka the "Midnight in Paris"). Mr. Smiley, sliced my fritter open and slapped a big scoop of ice cream on it and handed my order to his lovely assistant. She scurried off to the back room where...they did something?! I dunno, it was off limits to the public but a few minutes later she handed me my ice cream pressed inside a warm fritter. It was a bit Frankenstein-like as far as desserts go, but it was also flippin' delicious! Since then, I've heard that they started doing ice cream macaron sandwiches as well and plan to do ice creme brulee. Mmmm.....

Labels: dessert, sacramento, the parlor 1 comments | |

Upcoming Food Events

Ally

Summer's winding down but the amount of food events are kickin' up, here's just a few:

August 28, 7pm

Kupro's Eat, Drink & Be Merry: This is the first in a series of family style dinners with Chef Marty Hutton and 10 "cullinights" (chefs, writers, growers, farmers, etc.). Tickets are $40 per person and are available in house. (Tip" If you join the event via FB and get your tickets early...pre-sales are two-for-one.) (916) 440-0401

August 29

The 51st Annual Greek Festival featuring authentic cuisine and vibrant entertainment, Labor Day Weekend at the Sacramento Convention Center. The event kicks off Friday, August 29th at 11am and admission is FREE until 3pm. Doors close at 11pm. Saturday hours are 12pm to 11pm and Sunday 12pm to 9pm. Admission is $5.00 and children under 12 are free. (916) 443-2033

September 11, 5pm

GATHER is a social experiment based around the idea that a neighborhood that eats together, stays together and strengthens the community. This unique food event that will take place monthly on second Thursday evenings in Oak Park. The night will include communal tables for outdoor dining, a craft beer area, artisanal food vendors, designers, food demos, interactive art, live music and a modular kids park. Free admittance. info@unseen-heroes.com

September 14, 9am-1pm
Assembly member Roger Dickinson is hosting a free Food Literacy Fair in partnership with the nonprofit Food Literacy Center and the Southside Park Neighborhood Association.
For more info: 916-324-4676

September 14, 4pm
Foodstock: Head to Raley Field for the music festival and a pig roast benefiting Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and Soil Born Farms. While enjoying succulent pork down on the field, guests can cool off with craft brews and jam out to the sounds of MindX and Wonder Bread 5. Tickets

September 18, 7pm
Sacramento Burger Battle: Fifteen Sacramento area restaurants will cook up their best burgers in an epic charity cook-off and tasting event. $55 general, $75 VIP early entry. Tickets

Read more here: http://events.sacbee.com/sacramento_ca/events/show/371046434-sacramento-burger-battle#storylink=cpy

September 20, 12:30pm
The 20th California Brewers Festival will be held at Discovery Park. You'll be able to taste over 120 micro brews handcrafted by more than 65+ brewers from all over the country, including some foreign participants. In addition, delicious food from numerous food truck vendors will be available for you to purchase. General Admission - $45, VIP - $75, Designated Driver (for anyone not drinking alcohol including minors) - $5. http://calbrewfest.com/

September 25, 530pm
River City Food Bank is hosting an evening of food trucks, beer and wine, and live music. Entrance ticket includes: a tour of River City Food Bank, 1 beverage ticket, 1 drawing ticket for a chance to win a trip on the Sac Brew Bike for you and fourteen friends. Tickets $20. (916) 446-2627

Read more here: http://events.sacbee.com/sacramento_ca/events/show/371154054-harvest-for-hunger#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://events.sacbee.com/sacramento_ca/events/show/371397774-california-brewers-festival#storylink=cpy

September 27
Farm to Fork Festival: Attendees will find food, wine and beer from regional eateries and purveyors, as well as live music, cooking demonstrations, a kids’ zone, interactive booths from local grocers, farms and ranches and more. Location: Capitol Mall. Free.

October 10 & 11, Friday – 6 pm to Midnite / Saturday – 3 pm to Midnite

47th Annual Sacramento Turn Verein Oktoberfest. Admission at Door: $20 Adults / $5 Children (12 & Under). (916) 442-7360

November 7, 6pm

The Firefighters Burn Institute is hosting their “1st Alarm Chili Cook-Off” charity fundraiser. This charity event will allow guests to taste and vote for their favorite chili recipe, while enjoying beer and wine tasting, dessert, a silent auction, raffle and live music with dancing. All proceeds will benefit the Firefighters Burn Institute. $25 advance, $15 children ages 12 and younger, $30 at the door

Read more here: http://events.sacbee.com/sacramento_ca/events/show/371406997-1st-alarm-chili-cook-off#storylink=cpy

(916) 442-6802 or (916) 739-8525

here: http://events.sacbee.com/sacramento_ca/events/show/371406997-1st-alarm-chili-cook-off#storylink=cp

Labels: events, sacramento 0 comments | |

Beat the Heat by Stopping Into Vic's Café

Ally

3193 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95818. (916) 475-1223.
http://cafevics.com

Mr. S. and I have a ritual that's been going for awhile now. Every other week after his haircut, we meet up at Vic's and get two coffees to-go, we then either walk around the Land Park neighborhood commenting on yards (we're always trying to get landscaping ideas for his yard) or head over to the WPA Rock Garden to chat and catch each other up on our days. It's a simple date but a nice one, a little downtime during the hectic week.

Up until recently we would always meet at the Temple Coffee on S Street, but our visits there have been tapering off. Sure, we still go there if we're getting some morning joe to-go but we rarely stay there and hang out anymore. The patio is always too full, the coffee shop is bursting with people camping out with their laptops for HOURS on end and the newer staff members just aren't as friendly. The coffee is still quite delicious though. Vic's, on the other hand, is peaceful, has plenty of seating and the staff always seems glad to see a customer. Best of all, they serve the Temple coffee that I love. By the way, I can attest that their barista, George, makes a mean iced Americano (my current fav summertime drink). In addition to standard coffee drinks, they also serve Italian sodas, loose teas and scrumptious blended drinks with homemade whipped cream.

If you're looking for some nibbles, this community coffee shop also offers a limited menu of breakfast burritos, salads, sandwiches and Old Soul Co. pastries. And of course- you can always pop into their wonderful, old-fashioned ice cream parlor next door afterwards to satiate your sweet tooth. Vic's is a terrific addition to the neighborhood. There's something for everyone. My only wish is that they would invest in some tables for outside. There's plastic patio chairs lined up in a row out there currently, but it's not a comfortable atmosphere for hanging out in and I love to chat while drinking my coffee. Inside though, they do have chairs, tables, booths, comfy couches...and the ever-essential Wi-Fi.

Labels: beverages, coffee, restaurant, sacramento, vic's cafe 1 comments | |

Goats! (I "Kid" You Not)

Ally

It's already June 1st! Can you believe it? Where did the month go? Heck, where did the last 5 months go? I know I've been slacking on my posts but I've been trying to get acclimated to my new job. I'm finally getting there, although the early mornings are killing me. When I get home, I'm like this:

All I want to do is sleep...and sleep some more. Anyhow, this weekend I was starting to feel a bit more like my sassy self and less like a sleep-deprived zombie, so Mr.S and I got dressed up and slipped out for a lovely dinner sans kidlets. Afterwards, we stopped by this little impromptu "goat farm" that Kidlet #1 had told us he had recently passed by during one of his extensive bike rides. It's just off Watt Avenue and American River Drive and it looks like the county is using the goats for conservation grazing. The basin was full of cute little goats (including little babies!), a handful of sheep and a giant dog along with a smattering of signs on the fence stating:

County of Sacramento, Department of Water Resources

We are pleased to inform you that KD Goat Ranch has been contracted to control the vegetation in the Wilhaggin Detention Basin. KD Goat Ranch has been using goats and sheep for over 10 years for a natural solution to weed and brush elimination. Our company is pleased to be able to serve your community. Goats are ideal to control the unwanted brush surrounding the basin. Using goats and sheep for vegetation control is a greener way to maintain grasses and brush, and also aids in vector control.

Expected Timeline

We are planning to start grazing in mid May, 2014. The expected grazing period is 3-4 weeks. KD goat ranch will be bringing 100 goats and 50 sheep accompanied by a livestock guardian dog. We will be onsite daily to check the livestock and care for and feed the dog.

Although I'm sure projects like this have been done in many other places and it's nothing new, I still thought it was really cool. We went down there as the sun was going down and the temp was cooler- the goats were closer to the fence at that time and more spread out. There were cute kids nursing on the nannies/does and of course several billies/bucks were head butting. Did you know goats have four stomach chambers? They also swallow their food, regurgitate it, then chew the cud thoroughly before swallowing it again. Crazy, huh?

If you get a chance, stop by and check them out. Just remember not to enter the grazing area, bring your pets or to feed the goats/sheep/dog. ☺

If you're interested in making your own chèvre, check out my blog post from a few years ago: Goaty Goodness

Labels: events, misc, sacramento 3 comments | |

Some Exciting Food News!

Ally

Photo Source

Are you looking for some fun food events to attend or get involved in? Here's a few that are coming up in the next few months that might peak your interest:

May 17th: East Sacramento Farmers' Market Grand Opening
8am-1pm
35th Street and Park Way in McKinley Park
info@eastsacfarmersmarket.com or check them out on Facebook

May 18th: A Day on the Farm
10am-3pm
"This event is to create an opportunity for families to visit the American River Ranch for a day of learning, eating, music, celebrating community and exploring the natural world. The Day's Events Include: farm stand (purchase fresh, local, organic vegetables and fruit), organic plant sale, cooking classes, farm tours, workshops, kid's garden activities, and community education tables."
$5 general; free for children ages 2 and younger
http://www.soilborn.org/

May 24th: Berryessa Gap Wine's Springtime in the Vineyard
11:30am-3:30pm
"Back by popular demand, we will be serving BBQ Oysters, Carne Asada and Mexican Style Beans and Rice. New releases will include our 2013 Verdejo and the much anticipated 2012 Tempranillo. With ticket purchase you will receive a Martinez Orchards Grafted Grapevine to take home."
Wine Club Members $40 General Admission $50
http://www.berryessagap.com/News---Events/Events

Read more here: http://events.sacbee.com/rancho_cordova_ca/events/show/370216433-a-day-on-the-farm#storylink=cpy

May 29th: DigIn! at the West Sacramento Farmers' Market
5:30p to 7:45p

Read more here: http://events.sacbee.com/west_sacramento_ca/events/show/370434577-digin-at-the-west-sacramento-farmers-market#storylink=cpy

"The DigIn! dinner series lineup begins May 29 with Michael Thiemann, owner and chef at Mother. This program offers up a three course meal right on the street. "
http://www.westsacramentochamber.com/events/DigIn!-Dinner-Series-Package-1309/details

Read more here: http://events.sacbee.com/west_sacramento_ca/events/show/370434577-digin-at-the-west-sacramento-farmers-market#storylink=cpy

June 7th: Sacramento VegFest
Red Lion Hotel, Woodlake Conference Center
11:00am - 6pm
"Sacramento VegFest is to showcase, promote, celebrate, and educate the community and visitors about cruelty-free food through the provision of a festival that will illustrate, in living flavor, the wide variety of plant-based foods and products available in the marketplace. There will be world-class speakers, live entertainment, and fun contests throughout the day in addition to the vast array of vegan & vegetarian food samples. We are happy to present Mariel Hemmingway as our Keynote Speaker. In addition, Doug Lisle, Ph.D. and Chef Brooke Preston will both be speaking and book signing."
Early bird tickets $10, Advanced Tickets $12.50, Door Tickets $15
http://www.sacvegfest.com

July 13th: Twin Peaks Orchards Open House
Summer harvest, demos, tours, tasting and activities for kids. Fun for the whole family!
http://www.twinpeaksent.com/events.htm

more here: http://events.sacbee.com/sacramento_ca/events/show/370442296-sacramento-vegfest#storylink=cpy

July 24th-28th :- A Celebration of Huell Howser at the California State Fair
Buildings A/B Lobby
"Huell Howser’s enthusiasm for California elevated the simple joys of living in our great state by highlighting undiscovered nuggets of California on his television program, “California’s Gold”. This tribute to Huell Howser reflects the importance he played in promoting California and its counties through his syndicated programs shown on PBS, and features video highlights from some of his popular California’s Gold episodes, and personal memorabilia he collected throughout his travels."
http://www.bigfun.org/come-to-the-fair/attractions/celebration-of-huell-howser/#sthash.DMMehXTl.dpuf

July 29-August 1st : 2014 American Cheese Society Conference
"The 2014 ACS Conference will enhance the idea of local, to reflect the excitement and growth of the artisan and specialty cheese community throughout North America. Just as a good cheese plate brings together a variety of tastes, textures, and experiences, so too will the ACS Conference. Nearly 1,000 industry leaders will come together in Sacramento to celebrate, collaborate, learn from one another, and sample great products."
http://www.cheesesociety.org/conference/2014-conference/

Want to get in for free? The ACS is looking for volunteers for the conference:
"If you love cheese, or simply enjoy lending a hand, consider spending a few hours with us! ACS is seeking volunteers to support the 2014 Conference & Competition in Sacramento, CA from July 24 through August 2. Shifts vary in length. Volunteers must be 18 or older.
All volunteers receive an official volunteer t-shirt and a complimentary ticket to the Festival of Cheese on Friday, August 1 (where more than 1,700 cheeses will be available for sampling, alongside specialty foods from around the country!) as a token of our appreciation. Additional tickets for family or friends can be purchased online beginning on May 5, 2014."
http://www.cheesesociety.org/conference/volunteer/

Labels: events, sacramento 0 comments | |

The Real Deal : South (Menu Sneak Peek)

Ally

(Barbeque Shrimp over Cheesy Grits)

Over the course of the last six months, I've received numerous emails asking if the little Southern restaurant near Southside Park I mentioned late last summer was still going to open up shop. The restaurant, South, does still have plans to open its doors soon. In fact, I attended a small dinner party/private menu tasting at the home of the owners, Ian and N'Gina Kavookjian, just Sunday night and was lucky enough to sample some of the dishes that'll be on the menu. I walked in not knowing what to expect and walked out thinking, "Wow! South is the real deal." If the menu items I tasted are any indication of what we have to look forward to, then Sac's in for a serious treat. The Kavookjian's aren't amateurs throwing chicken bits in the fryer and slapping bacon on everything and declaring their menu "Southern," these guys know how to make food so good that you'll have no alternative but to say, "Screw it!" when it comes to your diet and order another round of gumbo.

"If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him...the people who give you their food give you their love." ~Cesar Chavez

Their website boasts the mission statement, "South is traditional family food, unpretentious, with no gimmicks, and no crazy science. At South we are not trying to reinvent the wheel, we are just trying to express 200 years of our family’s story on a 12” plate." I couldn't have said it better myself. What I encountered in their kitchen was Southern hospitality and fare at its finest. Ian and N'Gina have over thirty years of restaurant and hotel experience between the two of them. They have the business stuff down pat but what sets them apart from a lot of the restaurants currently opening up in the Grid is that they know how to make you feel like family just in the span of one visit. From Ian's friendly chatter about the history of Carolina rice to N'Gina's brilliant smile and infectious laughter, you can't help but feel like you've known the two of them for ages. I have a feeling that South will be one of those restaurants that will be quickly embraced by the neighborhood. Simple, straightforward yet remarkable meals, passionate proprietors, and a relaxed atmosphere...oh, and did I mention that they plan to have a full bar? So add delicious cocktails to the mix. South most definitely has all the makings of a phenomenal neighborhood restaurant.

(Vegetarian friends don't despair, according to Ian and N'Gina, South plans to have an exciting, secret vegetarian menu for it's non-meat eating guests.)

Food-wise, here's a sneak peek at some of the delicious goodies South plans to offer:

Picnic Board- Country ham, pickled beets, deviled eggs and Farmhouse cheddar. The perfect accompaniment to a refreshing glass of wine or an ice-cold Southern beer. The deviled eggs were terrific, if I had had a bigger purse I would have snuck a few out of there. ☺

Chicken and Andouille Gumbo (over Carolina rice)- this dish blew me away. I'm pretty high maintenance when it comes to gumbo. I dislike it if it's too spicy, watery or oily. Seriously, I'm worse than Goldilocks. This gumbo was perfect. I loved the spicy rounds of Andouille and the sauce wasn't overwhelmingly hot. I even dipped my cornbread in the leftover gumbo sauce, it was too good to waste.

Spicy BBQ Shrimp over Cheesy Grits - plump, spicy shrimp over a base of silky, sinful cheesy grits - this dish will make your eyes roll back in your head. Who knew cayenne, homemade shrimp stock and onions were all you needed to make food magic?

Fried Chicken- perfectly cooked. Juicy on the inside, properly seasoned and crispy on the outside. (The chicken shown was sliced up into bite-sized pieces so we could share during the dinner party.) South exhibits some home-style cooking that's so good that you might need to peek into their kitchen to make sure your Memaw's not back there frying up the chicken herself.

We also had some Black-eyed Peas with Jalapeños, but I was busy enjoying my delicious Pimm's Cup and forgot to snap a photo. Sorry!

The proposed menu is as follows (a mix of old school and new school Southern cuisine):

❖ NOTE ❖

A definitive opening date hasn't been set yet; however, South will be participating in several culinary and community events over the summer. They also do private catering.

You can also keep abreast of their Indiegogo campaign (starting on April 16th) on their website: South

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