Valentine’s Day Gift Roundup!
Hello, Sweethearts! I have compiled a few Valentine-themed events & gift ideas that l find lovely and delightful, and I would like to pass them on to you!
DRINK
Casque Wines and Cupid have teamed up to create the perfect gift for your special someone. They teamed up with Chef Joe at the Flower Farm Cafe who is busy baking and decorating these delicious (and beautiful) Cake-Pops. They paired them with some of our favorite wines and added a couple of stemmed glasses for the perfect gift!This Friday, Saturday and Sunday (February 8-10), they will be offering the following special: 2 Cake-Pops, 2 Stemmed Casque Glasses, and Bottle of your Choice ~ Sauvignon Blanc, Calotte Blanc or Vermentino for only $28. The Cake-Pops will also be available individually for $1.50 each. Stop by this weekend for some Cake-Pops and Casque!
With the perfect mix of scrumptious, decadent flavor, SMIRNOFF Kissed Caramel Flavored Vodka possesses a seductive aroma to complement its smooth caramel flavor while its counterpart, SMIRNOFF Iced Cake Flavored Vodka, offers a light, sweet aroma met with a refreshing, smooth iced cake flavor.These luscious and tastefully satisfying new flavors from the world’s #1 premium vodka are sure to add a nice touch of sweet romance to anyone’s Valentine’s Day.
CUPID’S KISS: ½ oz. Smirnoff Iced Cake, ½ oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, ½ oz. Chambord. Directions: Add ingredient in a shaker with ice, shake and pour into martini
glass. Add white chocolate to rim.
He loves me, he loves me not…It’s complicated. If your relationship is dark, yet spicy and complex with many layers, then Sobon Zinfandel Fiddletown is the wine for you! If you thought your relationship was complicated, this full-bodied red will have your palette changing its relationship status.
A stunning multi-faceted wine featuring intriguing aromas and flavors of spice, black currant, plum, smoky oak and a dusty-cherry component typical of the Fiddletown area. Massive and full-bodied, with an impressive, complex finish. Sustainably farmed. Thanks to Total Wine & More for the feature!
EAT
TREATS
Nugget Market is pretty much a one-stop Valentine’s shop! You can pick up these truffles made my Truffle Gateau. Handmade locally, these chocolates are made with fresh ingredients and are designed to be paired with a variety of wines and cheeses.

Natural Vines are made from all natural ingredients and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives and no high fructose corn syrup — the licorice is naturally sweetened with cane sugar. Available in two flavors, Black and Strawberry. They were a big hit amongst my coworkers!
FOR THE COOK
BAKE IT!
I really dug this recipe for a Chocolate Almond Flour Beet Cake on my friend Julia’s site, The Roasted Root, so I am sharing the link with you. I encourage you to check it out here! If you need a taste tester, I’d be happy to help!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all and thanks to all the product sponsors and advertisers in this post!
Horses, Hope & Healing Hot Crab & Pasta Dinner, Friday, February 15th
Horses, Hope & Healing presents February Hot Crab & Pasta on Friday, February 15, 2013 at 6:30PM at the Sacramento Horseman’s Association: 3200 Longview Drive, Sacramento, CA 95821
To prolong the Valentine’s Day celebration, treat your date to Hot Crab & Pasta the day after. There will also be a live & silent auction, raffles, and music. Join the fun and feast while helping to support a fantastic non-profit! All donations go to support youth and horses! If you cannot attend, please consider a donation for our silent auction or raffle. TIckets are $50 per person or $450 for a table of ten people. You can buy tickets to the event by clicking here!
The Green Boheme is providing a Delicious Raw Vegan Dessert for this event! Chef Brooke will be there showing support (and working in the kitchen!) For guests who wish to enjoy a raw, vegan dinner, The Green Boheme will be providing your a raw dinner option! Please message through Facebook that you have registered (here).
Horses, Hope & Healing is a horse rescue effort combined with an after-school and weekend program for inner city youth.
Horses, Hope & Healing was developed by Tiffany Oreglia. Because of her own life experiences, Tiffany saw the need to keep our youth involved in a program that helps to build self-esteem and instill family values, hard work & dedication. She has joined with other concerned parents, horse owners & volunteers to create just such a program.
Horses, Hope & Healing provides a safe, positive environment for young people; a place where they can learn, lead & develop important life skills. The relationship between horse & child gives youth a sense of value & self-worth. The animals require hard work & dedication from a loving and gentle hand. The organization often takes in horses in need of rescue, and children help with the needs of the abused or neglected animals. With participation in the healing of these horses, the children often find healing in themselves.
The program also provide gang intervention and education, homework assistance and tutoring, and teaches leadership skills along with safe afterschool and weekend activities.
You can like their Facebook page here. Hope you’ll join them at their fundraiser!
Rick Kushman on Wine & Food at 33rd Street Bistro, this Thursday, February 7th, 6:30-8:30pm
This Thursday evening, February 7th from 6:30 to 8:30pm, 33rd Street Bistro & Rick Kushman present Kushman on Wine and Food. He will be educating you about wine and maybe a few other bonus items, who knows?!? Fun, humor, conversation, knowledge are guaranteed. This month’s topic is Chardonnay (How much oak?), Pinot Noir (Rich? Bright? Other?) and Cabernet (What do you really like?). Tickets are $35 (on sale at the door and at 33rd Street Bistro) and include appetizers. I took a class lead by Rick last summer at Lava Cap Winery and it was a lot of fun! Don’t miss out!
You can find 33rd Street Bistro on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here.
Gluten Free Expo in San Francisco, February 9th & 10th!
The 1st annual San Francisco, CA Gluten & Allergen-Free Expo (www.gfafexpo.com) will be held on February 9 and 10, 2013 at the San Francisco Marriott Airport Waterfront Hotel. Jenny McCarthy’s non-profit organization Generation Rescue is the primary sponsor for the event (www.generationrescue.org). In addition, Dr. Peter Green from Columbia University will be the keynote speaker (www.celiacdiseasecenter.org).
The Gluten and Allergen-Free Expo was started by Jen Cafferty of gfreelife.com in 2008. Jen’s team is excited to include San Francisco as part of their “road show” in 2013. More than 2,500 people are anticipated to attend the Bay Area’s first sizeable gluten-free event in years!
The following gluten-free experts will be at the expo:
Silvana Nardone (www.silvanaskitchen.com), founding editor-in-chief of Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine
Cybele Pascal (www.cybelepascal.com), who has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show
Kyra Bussanich of Crave Bake Shop (www.cravebakeshop.com), who won two episodes of Cupcake Wars on the Food Network
Kathy Smart of Live the Smart Way (livethesmartway.com), who has appeared on the Dr. Oz show and will be the face of GlutenFreeFind.com
Brandy Wendler, Mrs. Alaska 2011 (brandywendler.blogspot.com)
Amy Fothergill (www.amythefamilychef.com), who is a chef in San Francisco
The Gluten and Allergen-Free Expo is the largest and fastest growing gluten-free consumer event in the United States. Their growth continues in 2013 as the GFAF Expo expands its event locations as well as their focused demographic.
The Gluten & Allergen-Free Expo will bring the nation’s leading chefs, best-selling cookbook authors, and highly regarded nutrition and health experts to help people learn how to prepare healthy, tasty meals and baked goods without gluten and some of the most common allergens. With over 100 vendors, attendees can sample products before buying them at the store.
“Living on a restricted diet doesn’t have to mean living without the joy of cooking, baking and eating foods that look and taste great,” said Jen Cafferty, mother of two and founder of the Gluten & Allergen-Free Expo. “There is nothing like this in the area – a place where individuals, parents, and others can spend from a few hours to a full day sampling hundreds of products, and discovering that special dietary needs and cookies that taste like cardboard are not synonymous.”
I can’t wait to connect with other gluten-free people as well as gluten free product manufacturers, and bring some of their products to this website!
Open to the general public, the event features themed cooking sessions that will enlighten both beginners and more experienced home chefs, as well as a vendor fair, where attendees will meet and sample among more than 100 gluten-free companies under one roof. All of the vendors are 100 percent gluten-free and many also will showcase products free of the top eight allergens: milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.
The Expo will include a dedicated area featuring nut-free products. The Expo is not just for those who are gluten sensitive and have food allergies. It is a great resource for those who have celiac disease, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, food intolerances, anti-inflammatory diseases and those who are autistic. The Expo is a perfect platform for athletes and those who are health-conscious. Offerings will include raw foods, supplements, health foods, protein bars and shakes, and detox options.
A variety of experts will give presentations on topics including:
-Pie Crust 101
-The Science Behind Gluten-Free Baking
-Safely Eat Out & Travel Gluten & Allergen-Free
A detailed schedule can be found at http://www.gfafexpo.com/san-francisco/classes
The Gluten & Allergen-Free Expo Vendor Fair will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, February 9 and Sunday, February 10, 2013 at the San Francisco Marriott Airport Waterfront Hotel. The cost to attend the Vendor Fair is $20 for adults and $5 for children ages 3 – 12. Early admission tickets (9 a.m.) are available for an additional fee online. General tickets are available online or at the door. The ticket price also includes an allergen-free arts and crafts area for kids, as well as staged presentations related to gluten-free living and cooking.
To purchase tickets or obtain additional information, including vendors, presenters’ bios and the full schedule of classes and stage presentations for each day, visit www.gfafexpo.com.
There are 45 million people with food allergies and intolerances. More than 18 million Americans are on a gluten-free diet. Over 3 million Americans have celiac disease. Celiac disease is two times more common than Type 1 Diabetes and seven times more common than Multiple Sclerosis. About 1 in every 133 people has celiac disease – a condition in which the body cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and commercially available oats. More than 300 symptoms ranging from digestive issues to depression are linked to celiac disease, and more than 95 percent of people who have it are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. A gluten-free diet is essential for those with celiac disease, which many sufferers erroneously believe or have been told by medical professionals is irritable bowel syndrome or lactose intolerance. In addition, many families with autistic children are reporting a reduction in their children’s symptoms with a gluten-free diet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that an average of 1 in 110 U.S. children has an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
# # #
About the Expo:
The Gluten and Allergen-Free Expo is the premier gluten and allergen free event in the United States. The GFAF Expo serves over 20,000 people with celiac disease, gluten sensitivities, auto-immune/anti-inflammatory diseases and autism as well as athletes and the health conscious community each year.
As founder of the Gluten & Allergen-Free Expo and President of Gluten Free Classes, Jen Cafferty is a nationally recognized expert on cooking and living gluten & allergen-free. She considers it her personal mission to help others who follow a restricted diet learn delicious, nutritious and convenient ways to live a happy and healthy life.
Sacramento Food Film Festival Returns March 15th & 16th, 2013
Hey everyone! It’s Wednesday aka “hump day” aka “phone-it-in” day, so that means I am going to simply pass along a press release in the hopes you might read it! Though I won’t be in town to attend, I’d like to share the news about the upcoming Sacramento Food Film Festival, the brainchild of fellow blogger, Catherine Enfield (aka Ms. Munchie). See ya Thursday with another product review!
-cg
Media Release, January 23rd SACRAMENTO–It’s fitting that Sacramento, California was named the “Farm to Fork Capitol” when it is located in the most fertile region of the country. It only makes sense, then, that a city of food lovers also has an appreciation for food films. The Sacramento Food Film Festival brings the love of food and films together and mixes them with a bit of discussion and a pinch of activities.
Slow Food Sacramento presents the Sacramento Food Film Festival 2013. Slow Food Sacramento is an active non-profit that hosts a wide range of educational and convivial events throughout the year to introduce people to the producers and creators of some of the region’s outstanding foods, farms, and restaurants.
The second year of the Sacramento Food Film Festival expands to two days, March 15 and 16, 2013. The slate of films runs from bees and sushi making to the history of New York butchers and the plight of the farm worker. Sprinkled throughout the two days are activities to keep the festival interactive, informative, and educational.
These themes fall in line with the two organizations supported from the proceeds: Slow Food Sacramento and the California Food Literacy Center. “California Food Literacy Center is thrilled to be part of this event,” said Amber Stott, Executive Director. “Film is an important way to increase food literacy in our community. We look forward to a full day of fun and learning!”
Friday, March 15th, will be a special event ticket for an evening of food and film. For $40 the ticket includes the screening of locally filmed Quest for Local Honey followed by a honey tasting and discussion with the filmmakers. Everyone then moves to the next door Forty Acres Gallery for a sushi tasting and discussion on seafood sustainability with Taro from Mikuni and Billy Ngo from Kru. The evening will end with the screening of Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
The schedule for Saturday, March 16th includes:
- Scavenger hunt for all ages
- What’s On Your Plate?
- A Community of Gardeners
- Discussion of film with Master Gardener, Bill Maynard
- Meat Hooked! Sponsored by Selland Family Restaurants
- Symphony of the Soil
- American Harvest
- Discussion regarding farm workers and the part they play in agriculture
On Saturday, the concession stand will be run by Whole Foods Market, providing healthy movie snacks.
Saturday tickets are $25. Individual film tickets are $7. Weekend festival tickets, good for both days, are $55. Tickets can be purchased via the website: SlowFoodSacramento.com
For more information, contact Catherine Enfield at 916-595-7822.
Piatti Sacramento: Welcome Back!
Sunday evening, Andy and I had dinner at the newly remodeled Piatti Ristorante on Fair Oaks Boulevard in Sacramento. The restaurant (which had been closed for 4 months) has just reopened after a replacement of the flooring, ceiling, lighting, bar top and furniture.
Piatti has been a long time advertiser of cakegrrl.com and cavegrrl.com, but the staff did not know I was going to visit this time around. I say this because I want you to know we were delighted with a wonderful meal and greeted with fantastic service by our server, Chris.
Andy and I shared a 1/2 liter of chardonnay from the restaurant’s “Barrel to Table” system of wines on tap. Through “Barrel to Table” wines are served through a custom tap and barrel system which eliminates oxidation and brings the freshest, highest-quality wine to the table using the most environmentally sustainable technology – no corks, foils or bottles.
Seasons 52: Fresh, Healthy, Seasonal and a Destination for Wine Lovers
Last Wednesday evening I attended a preview dinner at Seasons 52 with a few other Sacramento food bloggers, as well as a number of local TV and radio personalities. Seasons 52 is located in the former Fresh Choice space at Arden Fair Mall.
The “Seasons 52” name and menu are inspired by the seasons and the fresh appeal of the farmer’s market. Every week of the year, the restaurant (under the direction of Senior Director of Culinary Chef Clifford Pleau and Executive Chef Partner Jeffrey Martell) strives to feature the freshest ingredients at the peak of ripeness and flavor, and offers them in ways that showcase culinary art and creativity. Wood-fire grilling and brick-oven cooking result in meals that are naturally lower in calories with nothing on the menu over 475 calories. The award-winning wine list was created and developed by Master Sommelier George Miliotes (you can find his bio here)– one of over 180 Master Sommeliers worldwide – features an international selection of 100 wines, including more than 52 offered by the glass.
The contemporary-style decor is Frank Lloyd Wright inspired and is highlighted by soft lighting, lush greenery, rich colors, contemporary art, stone and warm wood accents which present dramatic architectural lines that also are organically comfortable. There is a circular piano bar featuring live music nightly, an open kitchen with a brick oven, a chef’s table and a customized, climate controlled wine chateau holding upwards of 2,000 bottles of wine. The restaurant also offers two private dining rooms for private and semi-private business and social events.
When I arrived, I was given a glass of champagne (Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne, Champagne MV) and a short tour of the restaurant, including a walk past the chef’s table, the kitchen (with a view of the aforementioned brick oven and wood-fired grill, the main dining area, the wine cellar, the private dining areas and the bar areas. At the end of the tour, I was seated at a a long table alongside Catherine Enfield aka Ms. Munchie of Munchie Musings and Darrel Ng of Cowtown Eats for a multi-course gastronomical tour of the Seasons 52 menu and wine pairing. Glad I wore my stretch pants. (Kidding!) 😉
To begin, we were presented an amuse of Dungeness crab and Hass avocado on a spoon, paired with Aveleda Vinho Verde, Portugal 2011
The third course served was a salad of organic field greens, grilled mushrooms with toasted pistachios and truffle dressing and a glass of Sinskey Pinot Noir, Carneros 2009.
The next course was a small plate of Sonoma goat cheese ravioli, roasted garlic, basil, organic tomato broth, and I have to admire the culinary team at Seasons 52 for remembering my gluten-free request. Instead of the ravioli’s they brought me a sampling of the delicious tomato broth, and a mixture of garlic, basil, and goat cheese. I was still able to taste the dish in effect without the pasta element. It was dreamy. The wine pairing was a glass of Retromarcia, Chianti Classic 2009.
I applaud the kitchen staff for boxing up most of each course as the dinner was served. I enjoyed making it to the end of the meal without being uncomfortably full. I also wanted to bring part of the salmon dish home so Andy (big salmon fan) could try it.
Our last savory course was a mesquite-grilled Piedmontese striploin & Manchester Farms all-natural quail, mashed sweet potatoes and red wine sauce with a double wine pairing: a glass of Alto Moncayo Garnacha, Campo de Borja 2009 and a glass of De Toren Z, Stellenbosch 2009.
I am pretty sure the sauce must have contained sugar or gluten, because it was omitted from my plate, but the entrée did not need any sauce. I don’t know if you are familiar with grass-fed meat, but it is much more flavorful than standard corn-fed beef. Bonus points for the Brussels sprouts… a personal favorite of mine.
For the dessert course, we were presented a plate of “Mini Indulgences“, smaller portions of classic desserts such as cheesecake, lemon pound cake, and s’mores, served parfait-style. I opted for the shot of fresh fruit with no added sugar. Yay! The desserts were served with a glass of Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2010.
Seasons 52 opens tomorrow, January 28th. You can make a reservation on Open Table. You can find Seasons 52 on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here.
Shawn Colvin Comes to Sacramento City College January 27th
Shawn Colvin will be performing at Sacramento City College Performing Arts Center Sunday, January 27th, 2013, at 7:30pm.
This tour backs up her latest album, All Fall Down.
Shawn talks about her latest album on her website, “I didn’t have a specific theme in mind when I started writing,” Colvin admits, “but I think the album is imbued with a sense of loss. I had gone through a relationship that didn’t work out. I’m getting older and so are my parents. So it’s a kind of breakup album, if you will. Not quite about reflection as much as it is about working through something painful. It portrays a sense of loss and redemption and “—she hastens to add—“resolution.”
A number of musicians make guest appearances on her latest release including Emmylou Harris, Allison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Jakob Dylan as well as fiddle-player Stuart Duncan.
In addition to the Sacramento date, Shawn will play at Yoshi’s in San Francisco, January 23rd, 24th & 25th, as well as make a stop at the Napa Valley Opera House on January 26th.
To purchase tickets, you can click here. For a list of all tour dates, you can click here.
The concert is presented by: SBL Entertainment.
Sacramento City College Performing Arts Center is located at 3835 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA, 95822.
You can find Shawn Colvin’s Facebook page here, and follow her on twitter here.
Dine Downtown Sacramento 2013: Blue Prynt Restaurant and Bar
It’s that time again! Sacramento’s Dine Downtown week began yesterday, January 9th and runs through January 18th, 2012. For 10 days only, you can enjoy a special three-course dinner menu at some of downtown Sacramento’s hottest restaurants for only $30 per person.
I returned to both of the restaurants I visited last year because I really enjoyed working with both the owners and chefs, and because Andy and enjoyed the menus very much. So, I’d like to present to you: Blue Prynt Restaurant and Bar.
First, here’s what you’ll have to choose from* this year:
*Please note that only the mashed potatoes are available with the Prime Rib. 🙂
We chose a 2009 Rosenblum Syrah Vintner’s Cuvée to go with our entrée. Hint: We didn’t choose the tilapia for dinner. The wine was spicy, yet balanced with notes of cherry and licorice, and would pair well with any game meat. The alcohol on this wine is 15.9%.
For our appetizer, we ordered the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp (poached in lemon) were fresh and plump and the cocktail sauce was spiced with lots of horseradish.
We were also brought a basket of house-made foccacia, and though Andy and I don’t normally eat bread, I tasted some and took a photo of the basket so that you will know exactly everything you get for the dine downtown menu. The bread is baked, sliced and then toasted again for your table, and served with butter. A few bites of it made for a good palate cleanser for the wine after eating the spicy cocktail sauce. Another little detail I love about Blue Prynt is their water. Yes, the simple water they pour for you at the table. They flavor it with sliced cucumber. Such a great departure from lemon wedges. 🙂
For the second course (by the way, you get more food for $30 here at Blue Prynt than at any other restaurant participating in Dine Downtown), we ordered the seafood chowder and a mixed greens salad.
The chowder is made with a blend of halibut, shrimp, and salmon with bacon and potatoes rounding out the flavor. Andy ordered it, and suggested I try some. I was pleasantly surprised because I am not a chowder or even a soup fan, and I enjoyed it very much. Especially last night. It was a perfect match for the chilly weather we are currently having. 🙂
The salad was pretty standard (but loved it). It became more of my main course (so that I don’t overeat). I love ordering an entrée and slicing whatever meat I get on the dinner plate and putting it on top of my salad. That’s exactly what I did last night. The salad comes with cheddar cheese and olives on it. I also ordered blue cheese dressing on the side.
The stars of the meal were the main courses. Both entrée plates were very sizable portions. I ordered the prime rib. It came with blue cheese and bacon mashed potatoes, asparagus and some au jus for the meat. I really loved the spice rub on the prime!!
Andy ordered the pan seared venison also served with grilled asparagus and blue cheese bacon mashed potatoes. The venison was so tender and perfectly cooked. Andy let me have a whole medallion! 🙂 The particular cut being served comes from the thigh and the meat was sourced from Australia. The venison also comes with a flavorful mushroom sauce. The mashed potatoes were a great little bed for both entrées, and took on some of the flavor of the different meats on the plate. And anything with blue cheese and bacon makes the world a better place. 🙂
As if that wasn’t enough food, it was on to dessert. Andy let me have the rest of his wine (thanks, honey) as he moved on to a giant phyllo dough flower with ice cream and both caramel and chocolate sauces. It’s almost becoming a joke with how much food he can get away with and not gain any weight. I actually like having him around because I can order food I would not normally try, have a few bites, and pass the rest to him. The phyllo flower was beautiful, and reminded me a lot of fried ice cream you would get at a Mexican restaurant.
I ordered the chocolate-covered strawberries as I did last year. This time, the chocolate was flavored with a little mint. I really liked them. I had two of them, and Andy must have really liked them as well because he had the rest of them… along with about 95% of the phyllo flower and ice cream. 😛
So there you have it. The Dine Downtown menu at Blue Prynt. You have until Friday, January 18th to enjoy the pre fixe menu above, and Chef Jason reports the main entrées will be available on the regular menu in case you’d like to try them after the promotion ends.
I’d also like to mention Blue Prynt’s all-you-can-eat crab feed on February 9th (yes, please!) for $35 per person. PS: That the price didn’t go up from last year. Call the restaurant at (916) 492-2969 for more information.
Blue Prynt’s Facebook page is located here and you can follow them on twitter here. Here is a link to their Happy Hour page. Join them from 4:30-7:00pm for $4 house wine, $3 well cocktails, $2 PBR, and $2 side-car shot with the purchase of a drink (see shot shelf at the restaurant for options).
For a full list of the Dine Downtown participating restaurants and their menus, you can click here.
Join Blue Prynt for Dine Downtown by making reservations on Open Table here.
Check in here on Saturday for my review of Blackbird Kitchen and Bar’s Dine Downtown menu!
Dine Downtown Sacramento 2013: January 9th-18th!!
Sacramento has really come a long way in the restaurant world in the nine years I have lived here. It’s been an exciting progression to see, especially because one of the reasons I moved here is because of all the different cuisines available within a 10 minute or less drive, or even a walk or bike ride. What’s even more exciting is that I am now working downtown near Old Sacramento and I can afford (financially) to try a few places this year (and also calorically–as long as I run a few more miles on the day I choose to dine out) 😉
Every year in January, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership teams up with downtown area restaurants to showcase their menus for a 10-day dining extravaganza. For $30 per person, you can visit restaurants like Biba, Mayahuel, Blackbird Kitchen & Bar, Blue Prynt, The Broiler Steakhouse, etc. for a 3-course pre-fixe meal that highlights their very best offerings. Some restaurants have included a wine pairing option for an additional fee. (For example, the wine option at Ella is an added $15, but the fee varies from place to place).
This year, I’ll be returning to Mayahuel to sample and report on their menu. It looks like their MIND BLOWING chorizo-topped steak will be a pre-fix option again. ¡Dios Mio! 🙂 For a little trip down memory lane, you can read my review from last year here. Oh, and here’s a little picture of it for old time’s sake:

I’m also considering visits to The Broiler as well as Blackbird Kitchen & Bar. Why? Because one of the restaurants is a Sacramento institution, and one of them is fairly new, but I have heard great things about it. What restaurants would you most like to try and why?
Below is a full list of participating restaurants with links to their menus:
4th Street Grille | 400 L Street | 916.448.2847 | Menu | Reservations
Biba | 2801 Capitol Avenue | 916.455.2422 | Menu | Reservations
Blackbird Kitchen & Bar | 1015 9th Street | 916.498.9224 | Menu | Reservations
Blue Prynt | 815 11th Street | 916.492.2969 | Menu | Reservations
The Broiler Steakhouse | 1201 K Street | 916.444.3444 | Menu | Reservations
Cafeteria 15 L | 1112 15th Street | 916.492.1960 | Menu | Reservations
Capitol Garage | 1500 K Street | 916.444.3633 | Menu (V) (GL) | Reservations
Chops Steak & Seafood Bar |1117 11th Street |916.447.8900 | Menu | Reservations
Dawson’s at The Hyatt |1209 L Street | 916.443.1234 | Menu | Reservations
Ella Dining Room & Bar | 1131 K Street | 916.443.3772 | Menu (V)| Reservations
Esquire Grill |1213 K Street | 916.448.8900 | Menu | Reservations
Fat City | 1001 Front Street | 916.446.6768 | Menu
The Firehouse Restaurant |1112 Second Street | 916.442.4772 | Reservations | Menu (V)
Frank Fat’s | 806 L Street | 916.442.7092 | Menu | Reservations
Grange | 926 J Street | 916.492.4450 | Menu | Reservations
Il Fornaio | 400 Capitol Mall | 916.446.4100 | Menu Coming Soon | Reservations
Mayahuel | 1200 K Street | 916.441.7200 | Menu (V) | Reservations
The Melting Pot | 814 15th Street | 916.443.2347 | Menu (V) (GL) available upon request
Mulvaney’s B&L | 1215 19th Street | 916.441.6022 | Menu | Reservations
Paragary’s Midtown | 1403 28th Street | 916.452.3335 | Menu
Pilothouse at The Delta King | 1000 Front Street | 916.444.5464 | Menu | Reservations
The Porch | 1815 K Street | 916.444.2423 | Menu | Reservations
The Red Rabbit Kitchen and Bar | 2718 J Street | 916.706.2275 | Menu
Restaurant Thir13en | 1300 H Street | 916.594.7669 | Menu| Reservations
Rio City Café | 1110 Front Street | 916.442.8226 | Menu
River City Brewing Company | 545 Downtown Plaza Suite 1115 | 916.448.7153 | Menu (V)
Spataro | 1415 L Street | 916.440.8888 | Menu | Reservations
Ten22 | 1022 Second Street | 916.441.2211 | Menu | Reservations
Tuli Bistro | 2031 S Street | 916.451.8854 | Menu
Dine Downtown Sacramento runs January 9th (Wednesday) through January 19th (Friday). You can find the Downtown Sacramento Partnership on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here.
Sacramento Running Association Hall of Fame and Annual Achievement Awards is January 26th
I am very excited to be attending the Sacramento Running Association Hall of Fame and Annual Achievement Awards on January 26th. It will be held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Banquet Room at 6pm.
The evening will commence with a no host cocktail hour, followed by dinner and then the induction of the inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2013, including Olympic gold medalist and Sacramento legend Billy Mills. Following the Hall of Fame induction, there will be a presentation of more than 100 Annual Achievement Awards to the Sacramento area’s 2013 top runners in track, road racing, cross country and ultra running.
KCRA anchor Deirdre Fitzpatrick will serve as master of ceremonies.
The Greater Sacramento area boasts some tremendous running talent from Olympic gold medalists to collegiate heroes and high school legends. This awards ceremony will honor these individuals from the past and to recognize those who are making history today.
“The whole point of the Hall of Fame is to recognize all the great running that has gone on in this area,” said John Mansoor, the SRA’s executive director. “It’s long overdue. We think we have a great area for running. We need to start recognizing these people.”
Many of Andy’s friends (and mine) will be honored at the banquet (including a few of our teammates from the River City Rebels!), and I am looking forward to seeing them be honored as well as hearing some stories of great races past.
I’ll be taking some pictures and recapping the evening here on my website.
If you’d like to attend the dinner and awards ceremony, you can register here. Tickets are $50 per person.
For a full list of honorees and award winners, and also to find out more about the event, you can click here.
The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.
SRA events include the recently concluded California International Marathon, the Super Bowl Sunday 10k Run on Feb. 3, the Credit Union SACTOWN Ten-Mile Run on April 7, the Gold Rush 100k on May 11 and the Lake Natoma Four Bridges Half Marathon on Oct. 27.
SRA beneficiaries include the American River Parkway, youth fitness programs, local running venues and aspiring young runners.
You can find them on Facebook here.
2nd Annual Winterfest Beer & Wine Social Benefitting Runnin’ for Rhett on Jan 18th, 2013!
This year Runnin’ For Rhett has partnered with 50 breweries and 15 wineries to bring you Winterfest 2013! Even bigger and better than last year, Winterfest 2013 promises to be an incredible event!
WHEN: Friday January 18th, 2013, General Admission 7-10pm, VIP entry begins at 6pm
WHERE: Woodlake Hotel Sacramento, 500 Leisure Ln., Sacramento, CA 95815

TICKETS
General Admission *: $35
- 7pm — 10pm
- includes unlimited beer & wine tastings
VIP Admission *: $70
- Early admission at 6pm
- VIP gift pack with souvenir beer mug or stem‐less wine glass
- Beer and wine tastings not offered during general admission
- Complementary appetizers
Designated Driver Admission *: $5
- 7pm — 10pm * Free non-alcholic beverages provided to designated drivers.
Discounted room rates offered by the Woodlake Hotel. Call 916‐922‐2020 to make reservations and be sure to mention Winterfest 2013!! Must be 21 years of age or older to attend this event.
On December 7, 2007, the “Runnin’ for Rhett Non-Profit Foundation” was founded. The organization has now inspired 1000’s of youth and adults in the Sacramento area.
In Rhett’s short life, he inspired many people with his infectious smile and will to live, but with his challenges, he could not walk, run or jump – no matter how hard he tried. After Rhett’s death, Beth and Randy dedicated their memory of Rhett to utilizing FITNESS and MOVING to help others – do what Rhett wanted to do so badly but couldn’t.
Our mission is to LET RHETT’S STORY INSPIRE those who feel defeated, UPLIFT those who feel down and ENCOURAGE ALL TO take that first step, like Beth did in the spring of 2005, and MOVE INTO LIFE.
You can find Runnin for Rhett on Facebook here. I hope to see you all at the 2nd Annual Winterfest!!
New Total Wine & More Opening Today in Folsom
Well, Andy and I made it back home after spending Thanksgiving in Ixtapa Guerrero, Mexico. It was the most relaxing, fun, and romantic vacation I have ever experienced. 🙂 I will post some pictures on here in the next week to let you in on some of the food we had and to show you how beautiful of a place Ixtapa is. 🙂 My heart and soul have been enriched forever and I can’t wait to go back.
We got back just in time to attend a preview party for the new Total Wine & More in Folsom, which opens today. We sipped sparkling wine from Mumm Napa, and tried other 15-20 different wines that will be available for purchase in the store–including a great deal of wines from Sobon Estates. Paul Sobon (the winemaker) was there pouring a few different zinfandels and a barbera (a personal favorite of mine) from the family portfolio. We snacked on food catered by Randy Peters Catering. I’d like to thank Total Wine & More for the invitation and include the press release (below) that was sent to me to give you a little bit more information on the store.
PS: Today’s opening will include live music, tastings and more! The official ribbon cutting will be on December 6th from 6-7pm.
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Total Wine & More, America’s largest independent retailer of fine wine, spirits and beer, has announced that it is expanding its presence in the Greater Sacramento area with a new location in Folsom, Calif., which is expected to open on November 29
“Our newest investment in the Sacramento community will benefit our customers, as well as the overall community,” says David Trone, who co-owns Total Wine & More with his brother Robert Trone. “Our expansion into Folsom will bring an estimated 50 jobs to the community, while also creating a thriving business which will generate retail sales tax that can bring additional city services to residents.”
Total Wine & More, which is known for its large selection and competitive prices, offers more than 8,000 wines, 3,000 spirits and 2,500 beers in each of its superstores, including hard-to-find labels and locally produced product.
“The key to our success lies in our basic principles: we provide our customers with an unbelievable selection, at market-leading prices,” explains Trone. “From wine connoisseurs seeking rare finds to complete their vintage collection, to beer aficionados who enjoy building their own six-packs with hard-to-find micro-brews, Total Wine & More is dedicated to providing customers with exactly what they seek, at the most competitive prices in the market.”
Trone notes that in addition to selection and price, Total Wine & More is also committed to creating an unparalleled retail experience for its shoppers. The retailer delivers on this promise through unique staff training programs and state-of-the-art in-store technologies.
“When you walk into our stores, there is a wow factor that is undeniable,” he says. “Customers are impressed with the bright, beautiful appearance of each store, and we build on this by also offering our shoppers the most well-trained staff in the industry, as well as the latest tools and technologies to help enhance their visit to our stores.”
Staff training is a cornerstone of the Total Wine & More business platform, and each member of the Total Wine & More sales team is trained for 150 hours prior to working in the stores, including education on various regions, production methods, varietals, brew styles, and tasting analysis.
The company also offers its employees continuous training throughout their career, including the opportunity to meet with the world’s key wine, beer and spirits producers. Every year, Total Wine treats select team members to a trip to California’s major wine regions for a week-long training session, as well as a two-week trip to Europe’s key wine regions every other year, to increase their knowledge of various products.
“A knowledgeable team can mean the difference between a good experience and a great one. Through our industry-leading training programs, Total Wine & More’s sales team members are equipped to always deliver a great experience to our customers,” says Trone.
Another area of focus for Total Wine & More is the delivery of a state-of-the-art retail environment, and the company delivers on this promise through its new, “next-generation” in-store technologies. The new Folsom store will feature many of these new technologies, which will allow customers to become more engaged with the products and increase their knowledge of many different wines, beers and spirits, according to Trone.
“Next-generation” features in the Folsom store will include:
- A state-of-the-art tasting bar where customers can treat their palates to tastes of various wines, beers and spirits while learning about the background of each beverage.
- In-store iPads equipped with a proprietary app which provides recommendations on specific beverages to pair with various meals.
- Flat panel screens throughout the store that stream video content on vintners, their wineries and how various wines are made.
- An updated education center, which will be used to host classes on various types of wines, beers and spirits throughout each month. The state-of-the-art education center is also available to be booked for use by local non-profits and businesses at no charge.
The Folsom store will be the 88th location for Total Wine & More, and its 11th California location. The new store is located at 2765 E. Bidwell St. Folsom, Calif., a former Borders location.
Total Wine & More’s vast selection of products, combined with low everyday prices and expertly trained wine associates, brings a unique shopping experience to the customer. Total Wine & More has the distinction of being Beverage Dynamic’s 2008 Wine Retailer of the Year, Market Watch’s 2006 Retailer of the Year, and Wine Enthusiast’s 2004 Retailer of the Year. Since opening its first store in 1991, Total Wine & More has been committed to being the premier wine retailer in every community that it serves. More information and stores locations are available at www.totalwine.com
Whole Foods Farm-to-Table Dinner
On October 18th, Andy and I were invited to preview the new Whole Foods Market in Davis and to a Farm-to-Table Dinner put on by Whole Foods featuring the suppliers and farmers of products that were to be sold in the new store.
We appreciated the dinner so much that we felt it deserved it’s own entry here on cavegrrl.com. The dinner probably could have been a ticketed event and sold to the general public for $125 each or maybe more. It was extremely special to be seated by our new friends, The Diestels. Their turkey went into one of the SEVEN courses I will describe below.
Also, this dinner wasn’t entirely Paleo, or even Primal, sometimes Andy and I have to just take one for the team. 😉 We stayed away from the wheat of course, but I am sure there was sugar involved in some of the courses. The main thing is that the ingredients were organic, clean, and that the farmers and suppliers themselves were eating with us. That translates to me that they all believe in their own products.
The evening’s dinner began with a salmon on crostini and Lava Cap’s 2010 Sauvignon Blanc. I pretty much stuck with this wine the whole night because it was a more style style of Sauvignon Blanc (less grapefruit) that I really loved.

First Course
The first course was the K & B Seafood Trio: Steamed clams and mussels in a white wine sauce with chorizo. IT was served with oyster on the half shell, Oyster Rockefeller, and Woods Fishery shrimp cocktail. We had been hosted the previous evening for happy hour at a high end restaurant and were served shrimp cocktail, and I have to say it paled in comparison to the K & B variety.
About K & B from their website:
K & B Seafood was founded in 1992 on Long Island in New York State, U.S.A. Ideally situated to deliver fresh seafood around the world, we receive fresh product directly from local baymen and fishermen, as well as from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Located close to the Fulton Fish Market and JFK International airport, we are able to deliver fresh and frozen seafood within hours by refrigerated truck or air carrier. Local, domestic, and international customers are served the finest seafood on time.
K & B Seafood is a licensed Shucker and Packer on the USFDA Interstate Shellfish Shippers list, a USDC Approved Fisheries Establishment, an approved EU (European Union) Seafood Shipper, and is licensed by the Russian Veterinary Service Rosselkhoznadzor to export fish and seafood to the Russian Federation.
Second Course
The second course was a Riverdog Farms Butternut Squash Soup topped with blue cheese crème fraiche. I had only a few bites because I was pacing myself for the other courses to come, but it was creamy, satisfying, and made splendid use of the ingredients.
About Riverdog Farms from their website:
Our farm is certified by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and is located in the beautiful Capay Valley where rich creek-bottom soil, intense summer heat and winter frost make exceptionally tasty fruits and vegetables.
Partners Tim Mueller and Trini Campbell, along with their daughter and 50 full time employees, keep the farm going year-round. The seasonal, organic produce is available through Riverdog Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture Program (weekly veggie box deliveries to neighborhoods), wholesale distributors, select retail markets, and at all Berkeley Farmers’ Markets.
From our fields to your table, Riverdog Farm’s CSA program offers freshly harvested produce, every week, all year round to delivery locations in the Bay Area, Davis, and Sacramento.
Third Course
Our third course was a Santa Barbara Smokehouse Smoked Salmon Salad with argula, pickled red onions, fried capers and horseradish crème fraiche drizzle. Mmmm salmon.
About Santa Barbara Smokehouse:
Santa Barbara Smokehouse-maker of Cambridge House Smoked Salmon, which the New York Times has called “the best smoked salmon in the world”-is located in downtown Santa Barbara. Many major hotels such as the Bellagio and the Wynn, as well as cruise ships and restaurants, order exclusively from the Santa Barbara Smokehouse and the company boasts of accolades from Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse, among others.
At this point I tasted the other wine of the evening, The Andis Mouvedre (2010, Amador County).
Fourth Course
For the fourth course, we were served a Pozzi Lamb Chop, with a root vegetable puree and salsa verde. Yes, yes, and yes. This was the only true Paleo course! Pretty sure the puree was a parsnip and turnip duo. The chop was perfectly medium rare. In my opinion, this course did the most justice to the ingredients.
About Pozzi from their website:
Pozzi Ranch is located on the quiet hills overlooking the town of Bodega, in Sonoma County, California. For over 40 years, Joe Pozzi has raised natural, grass-fed lambs and cattle on the pastures of Pozzi Ranch and other grasslands throughout Sonoma and Marin County.
Fifth Course
The fifth course was a mini Pot Pie featuring Diestel Ranch turkey. You may have read about the Diestel Ranch last week right here on cavegrrl.com! 🙂 Unfortunately, my favorite ingredient was covered in pastry! Still, I managed to scrape off most of the crust and enjoy the filling, pretty traditional to a chicken pot pie, and studded with Diestel‘s delicious turkey breast.
About the Diestel Family Turkey Ranch from their website:
In 1949, using the knowledge gained from working on his Uncle Ernest’s ranch, my dad, Jack Diestel, began his own turkey ranch in Sonora. Today our family continues Uncle Ernest’s and Grandpa Jack’s tradition of naturally growing range turkeys on the family ranch using the same secrets to deliver the best tasting turkey directly from us to you.
– The Diestel Family
Sixth Course
The sixth course was a Panorama Grass-fed Beef Short Rib served with Community Grains creamy polenta. OK! So this was my second favorite course and I DID have some of the polenta. It was such a nice treat. The meat was tender and falling off the rib. I could tell it was cooked for a very long time on a low temperature.
Dessert
Dessert was a slice of Chocolate Decadence Cake (made at Whole Foods) served with Temple Coffee. I passed on dessert in favor of another glass of Lava Cap Sauvignon Blanc. 🙂
Andy and I would like to thank Whole Foods for the invitation to the opening and dinner. It was an exciting and memorable evening for all.
Special thanks to Andy for taking some of the food courses. I took a few on my iPhone. I apologize for lighting, as dinner was served outside and it was hard to fight the lack of light once the sun set.
Whole Foods is now open to the public as of today, October 24th. For more information, you can visit their website here.
Whole Foods Market Davis Opens Today, Oct. 24th!
Here’s some information on the new Whole Foods in Davis opening today at 10am:
Whole Foods Market will open its fourth Sacramento area store at 500 1st Street, in the Davis Commons, today, Oct. 24. Store leadership and Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza will be on hand for a bread-breaking ceremony at 9:45 a.m. and doors will open at 10 a.m. The opening day ceremonies will also include a check presentation to the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science to help launch the Honey and Pollination Center at the UC Davis Campus.
“We are looking forward to being part of Davis’ vibrant food and wine community, as well as building lasting relationships with local vendors, the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, students, residents and everyone in between,” said Cyn Leo, store team leader, Whole Foods Market Davis. “And we’re very excited to announce that we were able to bring over 100 new jobs to the Davis community!”
The 19,741-square-foot store, located in the former Borders location in the Davis Commons, features unique décor elements including reclaimed bicycle parts seen throughout the store; a beautiful mural by local artists Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design and indoor atrium cafe seating area. Green store design elements include reclaimed Douglas fir, used for various fixtures and wainscoting; glycol refrigeration system and LED lights, including track lighting and all case lights.
Additional highlights include:
Local Vendors – a wide range of products from within 100 miles or less of Davis will be featured:
- Riverdog Farm, Fully Belly Farm, Capay Organics and Wildboar Farms will offer a variety of items throughout the year including apples, tangerines, stone fruit, row crop vegetables, tomatoes and greens.
- Honey from Sola Bee Farms in Woodland
- El Dorado Roasting coffee from El Dorado Hills, Temple coffee and Old Soul coffee from Sacramento
- Baked goods from Grateful Bread Company, Sugar Plum Vegan and Sacramento Baking Company from Sacramento and Natural Food Works gluten-free baked goods from Davis
- St. John Family Farm pasture-raised eggs from Corning
- Berkeley Olive Grove 1913 olive oil from Oroville
- Drinkwell Softers lacto-fermented soft drinks from Eatwell Farm in Dixon
Meat – large meat counter with special offerings including local Panorama organic grass-fed and grass-finished beef and Country Natural grain-finished beef from cattle that have never been in a feedlot. Also available will be grab-and-go seasoned and marinated meats, stew and pot roast kits, house-made sausages, locally-raised Field to Family air-chilled chicken, local Pozzi grass-fed lamb and Diestel Ranch turkeys.
The store offers the best-tasting, freshest and highest-quality meat available that meets the company’s strict quality standards, which include that animals are raised on a vegetarian diet without being administered antibiotics or added growth hormones.* All beef, pork, chicken and turkey carried in the fresh and pre-packaged cases at all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. comes from farms that are rated according to Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating program.
Artisan Bakery – featuring Whole Foods Market artisan hearth breads, brownies, cakes, fresh baked pies, cookies, cupcakes and gluten-free, raw and vegan treats. Also not to be missed are treats from local bakeries including Grateful Bread Company, Sugar Plum Vegan, Sacramento Baking Company and Natural Food Works.
Seafood – large seafood counter featuring a vast array of fresh and frozen selections, as well as all the marinades, sauces, seasonings and herbs to complete a meal with seafood as the centerpiece. New to the store are Dungeness crab offered year-round, gravlox, cold smoked wild sockeye and rope hung cold smoked salmon. Whole Foods Market also offers a large selection of sustainable seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and rated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program.
Prepared Foods – featuring an extensive selection of foods made by a team of talented, in-house chefs. Specialties include a daily selection of house-made soups, an extensive salad bar and a full-service burrito bar as well as sandwiches, pizzas and charcuterie. A wonderful array of healthful and tasty lunch options will be available on a daily basis, including a variety of nutrient-rich items like quinoa, brown rice and kale.
Beer and Wine – A large wine and beer selection featuring local and international offerings.
Bulk Section – The department will feature over 200 bulk food items including grains, flours, nuts, spices, oils and vinegar. To cut back on packaging waste, customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable containers.
Coffee Bar – features freshly-brewed espresso and coffee daily from Allegro®.
Nut Butters – grind-your-own organic peanut and almond butters.
Whole Body – an extensive array of mineral make-up and premium quality facial care, organic apparel & sustainable accessories, best-selling health books and healthy eating cookbooks and an extensive variety of natural immune support for the upcoming cold and flu season.
Store Dining and WiFi – Free wi-fi and dining space inside in the atrium and outside.
Store Tours – shopping tours tailored to special diets such as gluten-free living and store tours for parents, as well tours themed for how to shop on a budget, are available. Private tours can be arranged by request for organizations such as schools and senior centers.
Whole Foods Market Community Giving Days — at least four times a year, Whole Foods Market sets aside a day on which five percent of the day’s net sales is contributed to a local 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The first Community Giving Day will be on Dec. 5 and benefit Davis Farm to School.
Nickels for Nonprofits – when customers bring in their own bags for groceries they have the option of receiving a five-cent refund (per bag) or donating the money to a selected charity. The first non-profit beneficiary is Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum.
Donations Out the Back – perishable products that aren’t sold during the day are donated to those in need. Whole Foods Market Davis is proud to work with Yolo County Food Bank.
Kid’s Club – children ages 2 through 8 are eligible to complete a scavenger hunt to receive a free treat.
Parking & Entrances – there are two entrances into the store, one facing downtown and the other facing west, towards the parking lot. There is free two hour car parking; 40 bike parking spots are available.
Store Information
Whole Foods Market Davis, 500 1st Street, Davis, CA 95616
Tel. 530-750-2266
Hours: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily
Store Team Leader: Cyn Leo
Website: www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/davis
Like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WFMDavis
Follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/
Special thanks to Whole Foods, Jennifer Marples and Charaighn Sesock of KOA Communications for arranging the tour, and to Andy Harris for the photos.
Divas & Dudes Fundraiser on October 28th
The directors of Healthy Kids Concepts invite you to join them for Divas and Dudes.
Divas and Dudes will be a musical experience featuring some of Sacramento’s most talented vocalists!
Tickets are $20 advance and $25 at the door.
For ticket and other information go to healthykidsconcepts.org or you can click here to directly purchase tickets.
About the Beneficiary
Healthy Kids Concepts Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit corporation founded in November 2010. HKC is committed to fight childhood obesity where healthy eating, exercise and fun becomes the daily norm in the lives of our kids. This program features the functional benefits of colors to teach and understand food nutrition. We are working and funding the work of registered dietitians (RD) and (PHDs) to complete this program. HKC is also partnering with other non-profits in the development of a new “FARM TO SCHOOL” program to provide more nutritious eating options in the schools.
Care Begins with Me event on Tuesday, October 9th at the Sheraton Grand
My friends at Dignity Health asked me to spread the word about their annual Care Begins with Me event, taking place on October, 9th, 2012, from 5-9pm at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento, 1230 J Street, Sacramento.
Join us for a night of celebration at the fifth annual Care Begins With Me Health & Lifestyle Event for Women.
The guest speaker this year will be nationally recognized speaker and author, Reneé Rongen, dubbed by media as “The Mother of Motivation and a combination of Lily Tomlin, Oprah and Mother Teresa.” Reneé will deliver her humorous, powerful and life changing message about how to “Live Life from the Inside Out.”
In addition, the evening will feature:
- Informative Care Chats on health topics important to you
- Marketplace Expo, featuring the latest in lifestyle, fashion and beauty items
- Wine, coffees, delicious hors d’oeuvres and decadent desserts
- Stylish swag bag with gifts to take home
- Be entered to win our grand prize, a fabulous weekend getaway for two at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa complete with luxury transportation services.
Tickets are only $15 for Care Begins with Me members and $20 advance registration for non-members.
Register online today – this event will sell out. Then, invite your friends and make it a special girls night out.
Be a VIP! Our VIP Lounge will feature:
- Early admission to the event in our exclusive suite
- Hors d’oeuvres and wine
- Meet and greet with our guest speaker, Reneé Rongen
- A signed copy of her book
To register for the event, click here. You can find Dignity Health on Facebook here and on twitter here.
A Beautiful Evening for Africa for Hope Fund’s Inaugural Safari on the River
Safari on the River was held last Sunday, September 23rd, 2012 from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Juluka Landing on Garden Highway. It was the inaugural fundraising event for Africa Hope Fund, a charity founded by Carol Van Bruggen and Steve Kuhn.
Africa Hope Fund is a non-profit dedicated to supporting conservation through education in southern Africa. Africa Hope Fund’s mission is to support children and education, and protect endangered animals in southern Africa. 100 percent of the funds accepted on behalf of projects goes entirely to funding the projects.
The evening began with a silent auction and wine tasting featuring Carvalho Family Winery, Moniz Family Wines, Cooper Vineyards, Driven Cellars, PRP Wine International. Prior to dinner, the Fenix Drum and Dance Group entertained safari and animal print-dressed guests with a lively African dance and music session.
We were all seated after the performance as Kitty O’ Neal took the stage as emcee. Dinner was served and the hosts both gave a heartfelt and emotional testimonial about their charity. The dinner, catered by Mulvaney’s B & L, was an authentic Zambian meal composed of an eggplant appetizer, a colorful vegetable salad with tomatoes, cucumber, and cilantro, a plantain side dish, and a chicken and rice dish as the main course. The main starch of the meal is also a staple Zambian dish called Nshima. It is s thick cornmeal mash, traditionally eaten without utensils.
As we ate dinner (with utensils), the silent auction was led by David Sobon of David Sobon Auctions. The event concluded with dessert and coffee.
The guests were treated to a free valet service by Neumann LImousine.
About Africa Hope Fund:
Carol Van Bruggen first traveled to Africa in 2001 and has returned to Zambia twice a year for over 12 years. She founded Africa Hope Fund when she realized that the only way to preserve the wonder of the African bush and its animals was to educate the young people about the value of their natural resources. This introduced her to the great need for better education facilities in Zambia. She has committed her life to helping young people of Africa receive an education in order to create a better standard of living for themselves and their families. This is done is combination with learning about importance of conservation in their community.
Steve has traveled to Africa for many years and is a long time supporter of conservation efforts around the world. He manages and owns a marina on the Sacramento River and is the President of Coastal Servicing a real estate holding company. Steve is the foundations official videographer and has been ahf’s primary financier from inception.
Donations:
You can sponsor a student to attend Secondary School in Zambia. 8th to grade 12. Or to a 2 year college. Africa Hope Fund can send you information on each student and a photo with updates or fund any of our many needs below.
$5000 – Build a Library at Uyoba School
$3200 – Internet Service at Student Center year
$1200 – Pay a Teacher’s Salary at Uyoba School for a year
$800 – Clean water at the School year
$150 – Sponsor a Student in Secondary School for a Year
$65 – Desk (double) for Uyoba School To end two kids sitting on the floor for their lessons everyday donate $65 to buy a double desk.
You can find Africa Hope Fund on Facebook here.
For more great photos of the event, you can visit Tia Gemmell’s website here.
Great Pumpkin 5K in Folsom is October 28th!
The Great Pumpkin 5K will be held on Sunday, October 28th, 2012 at 9:00am in Folsom, California.
Course Description
The course starts in the parking lot of 2304 E Bidwell Street and is run on the paths of the Humbug Willow Creek Trail along marshes, creeks, and oak woodlands.
Race will feature disposable chip timing. Jogging Strollers are allowed. Please start at the back of the pack and stay to the right side of path.
Aid stations at the halfway (1.6-mile) point, stocked with hydration and smiling faces!
Race registration is $35. You can register by going here. Registration available online until midnight, Friday, October 26th. You must register no later than Thursday, October 18th to be guaranteed a shirt and size. Provided the event does not sell out, we will accept registration at Packet Pickup race morning.
However, finisher awards, shirts and sizes are not guaranteed for late registrants, so register early!
Packet Pick-Up
Race morning at 2304 E Bidwell Lot (Race Venue), 7:30am to 8:30am Race Day. Plan to arrive no later than 8:15am in order to pick up your packet.
All participants receive entry into a raffle to win one of many great prizes provided by ERT’s generous sponsors and partners. The raffle will be held before race start so you do not have to wait around after the event if you need to hit the road. (If you have time–great! Hang out and enjoy the refreshments and cheer on the other runners.)
The race will start immediately following the raffle at 9:00am. Refreshments will be provided for all runners and walkers following the race.
All participants will receive a race shirt and custom finisher award. Late/Race Day Registrants are not guaranteed shirts and sizes. Awards will be given for top 3 male and female finishers, and top finishers in age divisions 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+. Depth of awards will be determined by the participant field. Award ceremony follows the race. All winners must be present–awards will not be available for pickup or mailing after event.
Me and You and One Year Later: The SCNA Wine Tasting and Silent Auction
The SCNA Wine Tasting and Silent Auction is just around the corner. It will be held on October 6th, 2012, from 4-7pm at the Sierra 2 Center in Curtis Park.
Just to let you all know, this event is kind of major for me. 😉 Last year at the tasting, I met the love of my life! 🙂
Now, I didn’t go WITH my love to the 2011 event, I actually MET him there. Like, he just so happened to be there! How weird is that nowadays? Until then, I had been meeting people via an internet dating website and not having much luck at all. Then all of a sudden, somehow, someway this guy (with all these things in common as me) happened to be single and in the right place at the right time…I am still sort of shocked at my luck!
I had two tickets to the event from promoting it last year on cakegrrl.com, and I didn’t have a date, so I asked one of my female friends (C) to join me. We drove separately, and met at the entrance (this detail will prove to be helpful a little later in the story). Once inside, we walked around the many food and wine booths, tasting some of the best wines (not only local but from around the world), and some great food from Chef Ame (formerly of L Wine Lounge), Dad’s Kitchen, and Scott’s Seafood. (PS: They’ll all be back this year!)
I precisely remember spotting RB for the first time. He was standing by a tall outdoor table and I was crossing the courtyard. He was kind of darker skinned (now I know this was from running outdoors), had dark hair, and a tall, thin frame. I was instantly attracted to him, and as I walked in front of him, our eyes met, but I quickly looked away (as I felt embarrassed he caught me glancing at him). I continued to have fun with my friend until the event was nearly over. Soon, she left to go home, but I stayed to close out the party.
On my way out of the Sierra 2 Center, I spotted a booth that was still pouring their leftover wine. It just so happened to be the Taylor’s Market booth. It just so happened to be run by Dick and Kathy Ebert. (Dick is the wine expert at Taylor’s Market). They just so happened to be pouring Ridge Cabernet. And the handsome guy I spotted earlier just so happened to be standing at their booth and chatting with them. That’s when I walked up to all of them and stuck out my glass. “Oh may I try some?” I asked.
Of course, at that point, everyone was very friendly. Kathy poured me almost a full glass and I looked up (sigh…yes, looked up–because I am so short) to see the handsome guy looking down at me. He smiled and we started chatting. To be honest, I am not sure what we started chatting about exactly. But, I know that it was about food and wine and Sacramento… and Taylor’s Market… and Curtis Park… and wine (I know, I mentioned that already)… and was I here by myself… and cars.
And then, I was invited back to his house in Curtis Park… to see the cars… his 2 older cars… if I was so inclined. I accepted. I felt comfortable around him already, and his neighbors were also headed back to have a look at the cars as well.
I sort of marveled over the relics in his garage. The giant of a black Chrysler Imperial, and the funky little blue Citroën. Soon his friends left, and I was standing there in the garage with him, alone.
We went into his house and I sat on the kitchen counter. We talked for hours. During our discussion, we discovered that we have many things in common. The biggest thing was wine, I think… followed closely by the Paleo diet!! Other things included running, jazz, love of architecture. I think I left his house finally around midnight. I headed back to my car (parked God knows where) without really exchanging contact information… I just didn’t know for sure if he was available or not… or if he even liked me. The next day, I found him on Facebook and sent a message along. I told him there was no pressure and if anything I liked him and would like to just hang out again if only as friends. Fast forward…a month of food/wine events/free media invites to movies/shopping at Total Wine together/pumpkin carving/grilling out and just spending time together… I sort of just turned him into my boyfriend… or as he likes to say, “I turned HER into my girlfriend.” But really, what did it for me was that he made me bacon wrapped dates one evening for dessert. The only reason he knew I liked them was because I mentioned them in passing. The fact that he remembered the details and made them especially for me really meant a lot. A man who listens AND can make you a Paleo dessert. Sign me up!
And here we are…a year later. And all because of the SCNA Wine Tasting and Silent Auction 🙂
Here’s the official press release from the folks at the Sierra 2 Center:
The Curtis Park Wine Tasting & Silent Auction event is always the talk of the neighborhood. It brings people together for a decadent three hours of sampling food from the area’s finest restaurants and wine from more than 50 wineries. Guests get into friendly competitive bidding in the silent auction and have high hopes to win a raffle item.
The wine-tasting gala is SCNA’s largest fundraising event, and it also benefits two organizations key to the neighborhood: Bret Harte Elementary School and McClatchy High School Drama Club.
Event planners expect to exceed 25 restaurants. Restaurant committee chair Carrie Sage will present in a super strong line-up to show off the city’s expanding food scene. 2012 Participating Restaurants: Tapa the World, Tower Cafe, Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream, AME Mean Eats, Mighty Kong Cafe, Scott’s On The River, Aioli Bodega Espanola, Chops Steakhouse, Enotria Restaurant & Winebar, The Supper Club at The Crocker, Lucca Restaurant & Bar, Casa Garden Restaurant, Espresso Metro, Mamma Susanna’s Ristorante Italiano, Freeport Bakery, Dad’s Kitchen, Taylor’s Market, Oak Cafe at ARC, Selland’s Family Restaurants, La Bombe Ice Cream & More, Pangaea Two Brews Cafe & Bottle Shop, Ambrosia Fine Food.
Wines and a Beer Garden: On the beverage side of the evening, Dick Ebert, our neighbor and wine guru at Taylor’s Market, is again coordinating more than 50 wineries to offer samplings. Winery representatives will be on hand to make suggestions in pairing wine with food. Beer drinkers will want to step into the Belgian Beer Garden. It’s organized by Curtis Park neighbor Rob Archie, who owns PPangaea Two Brews Cafe & Bottle Shop on Franklin Boulevard (across from Gunther’s).
Silent auction: For the silent auction and raffle drawings, we are again lining up Experience Packages, which encourage competitive bidding and make the auction items more interesting: educational and cultural outings, culinary and gustatory adventures and outdoor recreation experiences. In addition to the art, entertainment, and service donations, we have lined up such things as a Condo in Sedona for a week, a condo in Tahoe for a weekend, a special bottle of Montagia wine autographed by co-creators Joe Montana and wine maker Ed Sbragia, Date Night packages, Private wine tastings in Napa and the Foothills, Create the flavor of the month at Gunther’s Ice Cream, and more.
Tickets are $35 for SCNA Members, $45 for Non-members. To buy tickets to the event, click here!
We still need auction and raffle items to round out the selection so we ask neighbors and businesses to consider donating. We especially encourage donation of experiences: cooking, art, dance or photography lessons; share your favorite cookbooks or children’s books by bundling two or three together with a note. These donations make the event even more special. All donations are tax-deductible.
A popular and unique aspect of the event is the ‘neighborhood dinners’— privately hosted, themed events for six or more people, donated to SCNA for purchase by neighbors. This year we anticipate more than a dozen of these ‘dinners,’ to include themes such as Running of the Bulls with food from Spain, southern-style Kentucky Derby Day brunch, a ‘Pub Crawl’ that goes from host to host, French and Indian cuisine and more. Seats at these dinners will be sold during the event in Room 11, separate from the auction and raffle, on a first-come first-serve basis; they go quickly.
Parking: In order to offer the Beer Garden and expand the venue, we are once again closing the main parking lot at Sierra 2 Center. We encourage people to walk, ride a bike or carpool. Side street parking is available but limited.
To get involved:
Donations: Donations are needed and appreciated. They are tax deductible and are very important to the Silent Auction and Raffle. Call Melissa McKenzie at (916) 396-8490. Donations are accepted until Sept. 28. We are happy to make arrangements for pick-up.
Sponsors: Program Advertising opportunities are available until Sept. 18. Please call 452-3005 for sponsor information.
You can follow Sierra 2 on Facebook here.
Did I mention you can buy tickets to the event here?!

Nugget Markets’ “Best of the Barrel” Fundraiser on September 28th, 5-8pm
Nugget Markets joins with the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science for signature fundraiser event
Woodland-based local grocer Nugget Markets and UCD’s Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science partner up to celebrate the world of great food and wine. The Best of the Barrel fundraiser, benefiting RMI’s Food Science Graduate Student Association as well as RMI’s educational outreach efforts, takes place at RMI’s Good Life Garden, Friday, September 28, 5pm-8pm.
Attendees will enjoy a wide range of signature dishes from Nugget Markets kitchens, as well as a wide variety of meats, seafood and vegetables, all freshly grilled on-site. Beer and cheese pairings, specialty cheeses, and fresh baked breads and desserts will also be offered. At least 100 wine tastings from more than 40 wineries include organic, local, and imported offerings; many of which are from UCD alumni winemakers.
The Best of the Barrel is a fundraising event that began in Davis in the early 1990s, raising thousands of dollars for a large number of local non-profit organizations including the Davis Schools Foundation, Yolo CASA, Vacaville Public Education Foundation, The Keaton Raphael Memorial, Woodland Healthcare, local Rotary clubs and various non-profits throughout the Sacramento Valley. Nugget Markets traditionally hosted Best of the Barrel events at various store locations, but this year’s event will be hosted outdoors at the beautiful RMI Good Life Garden.
“After a four year hiatus, we’re truly excited about this fundraising effort, and we’re delighted to bring Best of the Barrel back to Davis,” says Eric Stille, President and CEO of Nugget Markets. “Our kitchens have always been involved, and the event grew as our kitchens expanded. This year’s wine and food presentation is more tantalizing and delicious than ever. We know our guests will enjoy every bite and taste, all for a great cause.”
“It’s an absolute thrill to partner with Nugget Markets for such a worthy cause,” says Clare Hasler-Lewis, executive director of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. “We can’t think of a better way to share and celebrate fabulous wine and food with our community.”
Best of the Barrel wine, beer and food celebration tickets are on sale online through Friday, September 21st and at all Nugget Market locations until the day of the event. Tickets are $60 each now through September 21st and will increase to $75 each beginning Saturday, September 22nd. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to purchase tickets and attend the event.
20th Annual After Hours at Fairytale Town to Benefit Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center, Sept. 14th, 2012
2012 – A year of celebration! This year marks the 20th Annual After Hours at Fairytale Town event and the 40th Anniversary for Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center.
Come celebrate with us at After Hours 2012 on Friday, September 14, 2012
Fairytale Town, 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95822
The History
In 1992 the Board of Directors of Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center (SAEHC) and a group of dedicated volunteers created the very first After Hours event known simply as “Fairytale Town After Hours.” The event brought local restaurants, wineries and entertainment together to raise funds for the homeless families served by SAEHC. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this special event. Again this year, After Hours guests will enjoy food and beverages, music, and a large silent auction in the unique setting of Fairytale Town at William Land Park. This event continues to honor the dream of a safe and permanent home for every child and community member staying at a homeless shelter.
The Venue
Step back into childhood at Sacramento’s fabled Fairytale Town in scenic William Land Park. No outdoor venue in Sacramento could be a more magical setting for the 20th Annual After Hours fundraising event. Walk amidst magical character tableaus such as The Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe Slide, the Crooked Mile, King Arthur’s Castle and more! The event will be entirely outdoors with restaurants and wineries set up along the many paths to enchantment.
The Restaurants & Wineries
The After Hours fundraising events have boasted an average of 50 fabulous local restaurants and wineries each year, all offering tasty creations. Past participants have included such icons as Tower Cafe, Biba Restaurant, 4th Street Grille, Mulvaney’s B&L, Aioli Bodega Espanola, Terre Rouge & Easton Winery, Boeger Winery, Van der Vijer Estate, Sierra Nevada Brewing and many, many more. This year’s line-up promises an equally impressive list of notable and local taste sensations.
The Auction
The After Hours event would not be complete without the amazing array of items donated from local and regional businesses and auctioned off in our silent auction. Guests peruse tables of silent auction items designed to intrigue the senses and appeal to the spirit including unique golf packages, trips to Disneyland, local retreats such as Bodega Bay and Lake Tahoe, gourmet dinners, and more!
The Beneficiary
Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center’s mission is to provide assistance to homeless individuals and families and help them achieve self-reliance. We see the success of this mission reflected in the many people whose lives are changed through our programs. The proceeds from the After Hours event benefits homeless families here in Sacramento and provides them with much needed support and resources. These much needed funds often pay for things that we can’t obtain through our other funding sources.
To purchase tickets, click here.
You can find Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center on Facebook here.
River City Rebels Rebellion Recap and Gold Rush Fun Run!
So, I just joined a running club last month called the River City Rebels. The Rebels were founded in 1994 by Andy Harris and Mark Hicks, and now have over 100 members–both newcomers to the sport, as well as those with over 20 years of running experience. The River City Rebels Running Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization through their affiliate membership in the RRCA.
It’s a great group of really talented people and I am happy to be a part of the team. I am mainly a treadmill runner, so it’s quite a literal chance of pace for me to run out on the roads and even cross-country.
The 2nd Annual River City Rebel Rebellion was just this past weekend, and I competed in the PAUSATF division. It was my first cross-country race ever. I came in 72nd out of 78 women, and yes, most of the women behind me were a lot older. Still, I feel great about how I did. The 5K course was very challenging with 3 big hills and mixed terrain. I am looking forward to racing with the Rebels for the remainder of the season. Running with people who are a lot faster than you can really motivate!!
I truly have mixed feelings about running competitively. Though I am not a fast runner, I definitely am an endurance runner. My PR for a 1/2 Marathon is 1:54:15. I feel very proud of that.
The above images of the 2nd Annual River City Rebel Rebellion were taken by me and the shot of the Men’s Open Race was taken by Cristian Morinico.
Gold Rush Fun Run
My next race will be the Gold Rush Fun Run and I will be running the 10-miler. I don’t have a 10-mile PR, but I ran 1:22:39 last year at the Hot Chocolate 15K, which is 9.3 miles. If I can beat that pace (which is 8:53 mins per mile) I will be pleased.
The Gold Rush Fun Run & Walk benefits InAlliance, a nonprofit organization serving people with developmental disabilities. For more information about InAlliance, you can visit their website at www.inallianceinc.com.
The race is set for Saturday, September 22, 2012
Its background is the Sierra Nevada Foothills along the El Dorado Trail. Participants weave their way along a trail, which was once the historic Southern Pacific Railway line, and now features picturesque scenery and an abundance of wildlife.
You can sign up for the 10 Mile, 10K, 5K or 1 mile race followed by an after party with snacks, vendor booth, music, raffle prizes and awards ceremony. The 10 Mile, 10K and 5K runs will be chip timed by Synergy Race Timing. 5K walk and 1 mile stroll are untimed.
The Gold Rush Fun Run & Walk course map is located here: http://goldrushfunrun.com/about/course-maps/
You can register for the race and walk here.
All participants registered for the Gold Rush Fun Run & Walk will receive two free raffle tickets for our Gold Nugget Raffle!
2012 Prizes include a Lake Tahoe Getaway, Specialty Spa Package, and many more. Additional raffle tickets may be purchased the day of the event- 5 tickets for $5, 10 tickets for $10 and 25 tickets for $25.
Important things to know about the race:
TIMES:
7:00am: Packet/Bib Pick-up and Registration
8:30am: 10 Mile Run START
8:45am: 10K Run START
9:00am: 5K Run/Walk START
9:15am: 1 Mile Stroll START
10:30am: Raffle Prizes and Awards Ceremony
12:00pm: Event Concludes
PACKET PICK-UP:
Thursday. September 20, 2012
9:00am-4:30pm at the INALLIANCE Sacramento Office located at 6950 21st Ave, Sacramento, CA 95820.
Friday, September 21, 2012
9:00am-4:30pm at the INALLIANCE Placerville Office
located at 660 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667.
Race Day- Saturday, September 22, 2012
Beginning at 7:00am at the Registration Table in the parking lot of the El Dorado Trail- County Trail Head located on Jacquier Road, Placerville, CA 95667. Click Here for Map
Friends may pick-up packets and register for you. No entry refunds, transfers or exchanges. Dogs with well behaved owners on short leashes welcome.
Awards: The top three overall male and female finishers in the 10 mile, 10k and 5k races will receive custom medals. Age division awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each of the following divisions: 12 and Under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.
All races will take place rain or shine.
For more information, you can call 916-381-1300 x170. Hope to see you there!

























































































