Dine Downtown 2013: Blackbird Restaurant & Bar: a Field Mark of Sophistication
Sacramento’s Dine Downtown Week is now in full swing and it has been so much fun so far! Andy and I have had the privilege of trying out three different menus from a list of nearly 30 restaurants, and last night’s trip to Blackbird Restaurant and Bar was incredible!
I am only disappointed it took me this long to discover them. Since their opening in April last year, I had heard so many great things about the food and the atmosphere, the art on the walls, and so on. I kept reading Blackbird’s menu and wanting to go because almost everything on it was paleo! Now that I have a few more hours a week (since my work commute time has been drastically cut), it’s fun to be able to spend a little bit more time with Andy and hit some new-ish places like this one.
Here’s the Dine Downtown menu we enjoyed (understatement of the year so far) at Blackbird:
Tip: If you like wine (even remotely), do yourself a favor and spend the extra $15 for the wine pairing. You get three full glasses of wine. If you don’t think you can manage three full glasses, split the pairing with someone. It’s so worth it!
The first course was a Japanese Hamachi. It was some of the best raw fish I have eaten, and reminded me of dishes I have had at both Yoshi’s in Oakland, and at Taro’s here in Sacramento, but this was superior. The hamachi was topped with kumquat, castreltrevano olives, fine herb and maldon sea salt. It was paired with a glass of Forlorn Hope Semillon (2009) “Nacre-Yount Mill Vineyard.” The wine was very dry and the perfect platform for the hamachi. I couldn’t believe how beautifully the flavors paired up. I must have liked it, because it was the first time I ever finished a dish before Andy.
Blackbird Kitchen and Bar is open for business Tue-Thur 11:30am-10pm, on Friday 11:30am-11pm and on Saturday 4pm-11pm. They are closed on Sunday and Monday. Their Happy Hour runs from 3-6pm, Tuesdays through Friday.
Join Blackbird Kitchen and Bar tonight for Dine Downtown by making reservations on Open Table here or you can call them at (916) 498-9224.
You can follow Blackbird Kitchen and Bar on twitter here and find them on Facebook 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: Another Shot of Mayahuel!
Dine Downtown kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday, January 9th, running though Friday, January 18th), and I was happy to have been asked by the owner of the downtown gem Mayahuel (Ernesto Delgado), to preview the menu he is offering for the special event.
Mayahuel (which is named after Mayahuel, the Aztec goddess of the agave plant and fertility) has been a dining destination in Sacramento since March of 2011, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite places to go for dinner.
You might remember my preview of Mayahuel’s pre fixe menu from last year, and how much I loved their chorizo-topped rib eye. If you didn’t get to try the steak last year, have no fear! It’s on the Dine Downtown menu again this year. If you’re not a steak fan, Mayahuel has some tasty alternatives, as well as some vegetarian and vegan options.
Andy and I had dinner at Mayahuel on Friday (we had a Groupon and I treated us for our Monthaversary dinner). Then it was back to Mayahuel last night for more Mexican food and the Dine Downtown preview. Since I could eat Mexican food everyday and not tire of it, I was in heaven. 🙂
Here’s a shot of Mayahuel’s Dine Downtown menu and your choices for $30 per person:
Here’s the low down on what we enjoyed and some pictures of our selections:
Andy threw out a few wines and I immediately went for a 2008 Tempranillo made by Vina dos Rios, (Crestwood Monarch Winery) in El Dorado County.
Then we were served an amuse bouche (which changes nightly). It was a spicy tomato broth with pasta.
Then we were served some house made chips accompanied by some tomato salsa. I really love the thickness of the chips and that they almost taste sweet.
For his appetizer, Andy chose the Flor de Calabaza: Creamy Squash Blossom soup with infused tequila. It was very rich and probably not for the calorie conscious (which Andy is not)! 😉
My appetizer choice was the Dios de Maíz: Crisp baby spinach, romaine lettuce, sweet corn, black beans, panela cheese, sesame seeds and chile ancho peppers, served with a lime-cilantro vinaigrette. I had the same salad for my entrée on Friday night with chicken added to it, so I already knew what to expect. I am addicted to those cheese cubes!
Andy is pretty nice about sharing with me, so this time he ordered the Rib Eye with Chorizo: (Rib eye steak topped with chorizo crust, a bed of seasoned mushrooms in adobo salsa). Once again, the steak was cooked perfectly and the chorizo was really packed with flavor and spice.
For my entrée I went with the Pollo en Adobo: Chicken and mushrooms with nopales in a Guajillo, Pasilla, Morita chile Adobo sauce, served with white rice and black beans. How I missed you rice and black beans. It was such a treat for me, I probably could have had more of them for dessert.
But for dessert, I ordered the Nieve Flor de la Rosa: a Vanilla ice cream served with Mazapán (a peanut candy) drizzled with caramel and almonds. It was delectable, but I won’t throw Andy under the bus and let you know that he had most of it (oops). I was only in it for the yummy peanut candy (a lot like peanut flavored powdered sugar in a disc shape).
Andy ordered the Arroz con Leche. It’s rice that is simmered in sweetened milk and flavored with cinnamon, and topped with raisins. That’s me in the background waiting to have a taste. Once I did, I loved the cinnamon and the texture of the rice. And then Andy stole it back and polished it off. Whatever!! 😉
Notable: Try their NapaToro wine. It is made exclusively for Mayahuel. If you don’t like wine, by all means, have a margarita or ask the bartender about trying some tequila. The staff at Mayahuel is very knowledgeable on the food and beverages they serve and are willing to answer any questions you might have.
Mayahuel is located at 1200 K Street, Sacramento, 95814. You can make reservations by calling 916-441-7200 or find them on OpenTable here.
Mayahuel is on Facebook here and on twitter here.
For more information on Dine Downtown, you can click here.
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.
Like Unique Varietals? Try St. Amant Winery in Lodi
If you’ve never heard of St. Amant Winery, here’s an introduction. They are located in Lodi where lately, especially the last 3 years, some of my favorite red wines have also originated.
I first discovered St. Amant wines at a tasting at Treasure Island (in San Francisco of all places) during Fleet Week. I had the St. Amant Barbera and I thought it was the best red wine there. So, my recent interest in local Tempranillos has me searching around Lodi to see what I can find. It’s becoming more and more popular of a varietal there. It turns out that St. Amant has been growing Tempranillo a long time. Their 2009 was their 8th vintage, so I’m guessing they’re not just trying to be trendy. 😉
In fact, St. Amant was growing grapes prior to the beginning of commercial wine sales in Lodi. In 1979, Tim Spencer (the late father of the current owner, Stuart Spencer) owned a couple of acres of Zinfandel vines and grafted them to five Douro Valley Portuguese varieties: TintaCao,Touriga, Alvarelhao, Souzao, and Bastardo. By 1981, he produced his first vintage port.
In 1996, the winery relocated to Lodi. St. Amant (named after Stuart’s mother’s maiden name) is one of the first wineries in Lodi to list Lodi on their label. Since the move, Stuart has been making some of the most interesting and food friendly wines including: a Verdelho, the aformentioned Barbera and Tempranillo, a Touriga, a red blend: Speakeasy Red, and of course the ever popular Old Vine Zinfandel (2 varieties). The current lineup also includes 3 different kinds of Port.
Last night’s food pairing (with the 2008 Tempranillo) was a baked sweet potato topped with broccoli, onions, hard boiled egg, and Diestel Turkey Chorizo. I also added a little Greek yogurt and black pepper. 😉
I encourage you to visit St. Amant this weekend, especially if you are looking for a special bottle of wine as a gift. They are located at 1 Winemaster Way, Lodi, CA. You can also find them at Total Wine & More or fax your order from this form here.
You can like Lodi Wine on Facebook here.
Holiday Goodies and Gift Ideas
Here’s a little roundup of gift ideas for your favorite food or beverage enthusiast!
First up, I’d like to mention Bela Sardines.
- Bela Sardines are high in protein, very low in fat with little or no carbs!
- Rich in omega-3 fatty acids (helps reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular disease), extremely low in contaminants such as mercury.
- A good source of vitamin D, calcium, B12, Co Q10, and protein. Enjoy this wholefood vs. a vitamin.
- BELA Sardines do NOT contain any GMOs
- Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Wheat Free and Kosher, and are extremely low in contaminants such as mercury.
- Bela sardines are not heavily processed or engineered like other on-the-go nutrition options, such as nutrition bars or supplements, and are rather a naturally nutritious wholefood for any health conscious individual.
- The Paleo dieters dream meal.
Sustainable: BELA Sardines, the classic Mediterranean sardine (Walbaum Species Sardina Pilchard) are wild caught by local Portuguese fishers from the Atlantic Ocean, hand packed in traditional European manner and canned at the port within 8-hours of the catch; each effort ensures our sustainability is unsurpassed. The aluminum tin is also highly packable and recycle-able.
Affordable: A tin typically rings in under $3 at Whole Foods Market and online at PlumMarket.com. They are also available across these regions in: Harris Teeter (South East), The Fresh Market (Mid-Atlantic/Southeast), Sunflower Markets(Southwest), Mollie Stones (Bay Area), Fairway (NYC), New Seasons (Pacific NW), as well as Vitamin Cottage (Rocky Mountains)
A fish symbolizes good luck, fertility and creativity – include a sardine dish on your party menu!
Bela sardines come in 4 different flavors:
Lemon Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil
As you would eat them in London, our famous lightly smoked sardines and the finest Portuguese extra virgin olive oil infused with lemon.
Lightly Smoked in Olive Oil
Simple. Delicious. Lightly smoked sardines packed in the finest Portuguese olive oil.
Lightly Smoked in Tomato Sauce
Mediterranean style, these sardines are lightly smoked and packed in a light tomato puree with a splash of the finest Portuguese extra virgin olive oil.
Cayenne Pepper Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This is a true Portuguese favorite, lightly smoked sardines in the finest extra virgin olive oil infused with Cayenne pepper.
You can find Bela Sardines on Facebook here & on twitter here.
Next up, Balls of Steel!
Balls of Steel are two stainless steel coolers which chill whiskey or spirits faster than ice. BOS will keep spirits at the optimal temperature level without hindering the spirits taste so that one can enjoy the full flavors of their beverage and hold onto those low notes which any spirit veteran strives to protect.
Most importantly BOS supports a cause that is positively changing lives of those not only suffering from testicular cancer, but as well as their family and friends. Creating a support network for those struggling and supporting the research for a cure.
Other items for purchase on the a Balls of Steel website are BOS bracelets, BOS T-shirts, and BOS tongs to remove the coolers from your favorite beverage.
To order some Balls of Steel of your very own, you can go here. You can find Balls of Steel on Facebook here or on twitter here. Deck the balls!
For the wine lovers, I’d like to present Ritual Pinot Noir:
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!!
Food/Wine Pairing: Spicy Chicken Korma & Casque Sauvignon Blanc
Last night, Andy came over to my house and I made Indian food for the first time. Chicken korma is one of my favorite Indian dishes and I don’t know why it took me this long to make it for him. It’s got a subtle heat that slowly builds. While we were eating, Andy told me it was one of the top 5 things I have ever made for him. Maybe he just wanted something from me after dinner? 😉
Enjoy this dish with a sauvignon blanc or viogier from Casque Wines (Loomis). Today and tomorrow they are participating in the Holiday in the Hills Event at their new tasting room at the Flower Farm – 8920 Horseshoe Bar Road – offering food and wine pairings throughout the weekend along with a logo glass or cloth wine gift bag for all customers that purchase wine. Just bring a new, unwrapped child’s toy to donate for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Toy Drive and wine tasting at ALL 17 participating wineries is FREE for the day. (Cash donations will also be accepted in lieu of a toy). Where: Auburn, Lincoln, Loomis, Newcastle. When: Dec. 8-9, 11 am to 5 pm. Participating Wineries: Bonitata • Casque • Ciotti • Cristaldi • Dono dal Cielo • Fawnridge • Green Family • Lone Buffalo • Mt. Vernon • PaZa • Pescatore • Popie • Rancho Roble • Rock Hill • Secret Ravine • Viña Castellano • Wise Villa
And now the recipe!
2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless, skinless and cut in half or thirds
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 cup sweet onions, diced
1/2 cup carrot, diced
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon cardamom or 1 pod
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups chicken broth
1/3 cup toasted walnuts
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoon water
1/3 cup golden raisins or currants
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup fresh mint (leaves washed and coarsely chopped)
1/4 fresh cilantro (leaves washed and coarsely chopped)
Kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
Directions
Toast and chop the walnuts. Set aside.
Heat a large heavy sauce pot over medium high burner and when hot add oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper. It will probably take 2 batches to cook all of the chicken. Brown both sides and remove from the pan. Add more oil and repeat until all chicken is seared.
Remove chicken and add onions, carrots, ginger and garlic and sauté until lightly caramelized about 3-4 minutes in the left over fat. Lower heat and add spices. Cook until spices become very fragrant…make sure you scrape the bottom of the pot as you stir. Add broth, walnuts and the seared chicken. Bring to a boil then simmer gently until chicken is tender, approximatly 20 minutes. Mix together cornstarch and water. Whisk into simmering chicken. Return to a boil to thicken. Turn off heat, add raisins and stir in yogurt and herbs.
On the side, I made some parsnip chips and some potato wedges and sprinkled them with garam masala and sea salt. I also made some sautéed onions and eggplant, as well as broccoli battered in coconut & almond flour and baked to simulate some of the common deep fried Indian appetizers I crave. 😉
More on Casque Sauvignon Blanc (2011): It is $20 a bottle, and is their inaugural release for this varietal. The wine was cold fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel without being allowed to go through malolactic fermentation, and no oak aging was used. It’s a drink now wine and just proof of the talents of winemaker Kevin Stevenson. The wine went so well with the Chicken Korma, crisp enough to cool, cut through the kick in the dish.
You can find Casque Wines on Facebook here. Cheers! 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to All!
Hey! I am headed out on vacation–sorry no blogs for at least a week or so, but I wanted to throw a wine pick your way before I go. We made cabbage rolls and stuffed delicate squash with some ground Diestel turkey chorizo and had some spinach bread on the side, so that we could try out this Merlot/Pinot Noir blend in a PURSE! LOL… It’s made by Cantina di Soave and the label is called Volére. Show up with it at your next holiday gathering, and you’ll be the hit of the party! 🙂 Each $15 Volére cardboard purse (with a bag-in-box setup inside) holds about 2 bottles of wine.
Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving to all! 🙂
Whole Foods Holiday Meals featuring Diestel Turkey
For the second year in a row, I was happy to partner with Whole Foods to show you some holiday menu items available for ordering.
The holidays are supposed to be full of celebration and fun, and Whole Foods can help take the hassle out of things like making a grocery list, figuring out what to make and how much, not to mention the hours of time you will save not having to prepare the meal.
I picked up my grocery bag full of items last Friday night, and on Saturday evening before the Clarksburg Country Run (Half Marathon), Andy and I tried them out as my pre-race meal.
The food came in a nice insulated zip up bag. (Most of the items were not Paleo, so I stuck to trying two or three things and made a salad and parsnip chips to complete my meal).
First in the bag was a fully cooked – Roasted Petite Diestel Turkey
If you read this blog, you know all about Diestel turkeys, raised in Sonora, CA by one of the last family owned and operated turkey ranches. The bird was a smaller size breed (perfect for 2-4 people!!). It comes perfectly cooked so all you have to do is reheat before serving. The turkey is Global Animal Partnership Step 3 Rated and retails for $54.99 | 6–8 lbs
Even though the Diestel’s turkeys don’t need gravy, the next item in the bag was a quart of:
Turkey Gravy–Whole Foods gravy is slow simmered with fresh veggies, roasted turkey, garlic and herbs. All you have to do is heat before serving and enjoy with any of our all natural turkey options. For $8.99 you get 1 quart.
Whole Foods Market Pull Apart Rolls we received in the bag were made by Grateful Bread. They come plain, but to jazz them up, I brushed them with melted butter, and added sea salt and herbs de Napa (an herb blend of lavender, sage, rosemary, and thyme). The rolls are $1.99 for the 6PK, and $2.99 for the 12 Pack.
I sliced some apples to eat with the block of Borough Market Foods Stilton.
The cheese is made from pasteurized cow’s milk with vegetarian rennet.
Texture is creamy and buttery, and pretty strong. It also pairs with Tawny Port, Pork, Pears, Figs,Walnuts, or honey. Borough Market Foods Stilton is made for WFM and is a bit younger than some other Stiltons, giving it a creamier texture. The cheese costs $18.99 per pound.
I did have a piece of the Celebration Toffee, as it was my pre-race meal. 😉
The candy is a collaborative effort between Whole Foods, Allegro Coffee, and Enstrom’s Candy Co. in Grand Junction, Colorado and is exclusive to Whole Foods Markets. These all natural toffees are available covered in Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate. The toffees are made with Allegro Celebration Caffe coffee. The toffee is actually studded with coffee beans and is 100 calories per piece. It goes for $9.99 for an 8 ounce container.
Last but not least, there was a WFM Pecan Pie in the bag. I only tasted the pecan topping and I am just not sure what Andy did with the rest of it. 😉 The pie is $16.99 for a 9″.
As for what to drink with dinner, a safe bet is always a Pinot Noir. It’s bigger and more fruit forward than burgundies, but softer than other red meat-centric red grapes. Pinot Noir can walk the middle ground–a much needed characteristic when it comes to Thanksgiving: a multi-course feast of many different flavors. The featured Pinot Noir this month at Whole Foods is the HRM Rex Goliath Pinot Noir.
To view the different options available for ordering you can go here. If you are overwhelmed by the choices (there are so many!) You can try their Traditional Roasted Turkey Dinner that serves 8 people for $99.99! That’s only $12.50 per person. It contains: a Fully Cooked Diestel Turkey • Savory Herb Stuffing • Mashed Potatoes • Turkey Gravy
Dinner Rolls • Classic Cranberry Relish • and a Pumpkin Pie.
Happy Holidays! P.S. Last day to order for Thanksgiving is November 19th!
Enza Prosecco, a Delightful Addition to Our Sunday Brunch
Enza is produced by the Soligo cooperative, established in 1957, in collaboration with the Pozzi family. The Soligo cooperative has been family owned for three generations and represents families of growers in the Prosecco DOC region who share a passion for Prosecco and their region.
The Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits portfolio also includes award-winning wines from Australia: [ yellow tail ], [ yellow tail ] The Reserve, [ yellow tail] Bubbles; California: Girard Winery, Windsor Sonoma, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Kunde Family Estate, Joseph Carr, Josh Cellars, Flirt; The Calling; France: André Lurton, Georges Duboeuf, Hob Nob Vineyards, Patch Block, Sauvion et Fils, Vidal Fleury; Italy: Barone Fini, Lionello Marchesi, Villa Pozzi, Enza Prosecco.
Enter to Win(e) a $25 Grocery Outlet Gift Card!
To celebrate the upcoming Grocery Outlet wine sale, I am giving away a $25 gift card good at any area Grocery Outlet !
You can find Grocery Outlet on Facebook here and twitter here.
And now for the gift card you can enter to win(e)!
To enter, tell me (in the comments section below) your favorite Grocery Outlet location and your favorite food and wine pairing! At the end of the week, I will pick my favorite and send you the gift card in the mail so you can participate in the Wine Sale! Bonus entries to people who follow me on twitter and “like” cavegrrl.com on Facebook! Good luck!
A Look Inside The Fresh Market
The Fresh Market opened their 127th store yesterday, October 24th in Roseville, CA. They are located on Douglas Boulevard (in Rocky Ridge Town Center) inside a former Borders bookstore.
I was invited to a media preview on October 23rd to check out the store, meet some The Fresh Market team members, and taste some of the items available for sale at The Fresh Market. My photographer, contributing writer, taste tester, companion, and all around good guy Andy, was there with me to sample, chat up the wine buyer, and to win the raffle for a giant gift basket!
A little background on The Fresh Market: Their first store opened on March 5th, 1982 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ray and Beverly (the store’s founders) wanted to bring their customers high quality foods and premium customer service in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
In the last 20 years, The Fresh Market has grown leaps and bounds. It has locations in 24 states and Roseville, has the privilege of being their first store in California.
The Fresh Market prides itself on a few key points in its business model. First, they want to provide a unique shopping experience. Second, they want to display excellent customer service. Then, the store focuses on quality and selection of products along with a strong support of local growers. Also, The Fresh Market provides their own line/brand of high quality products through private label selection.
We were lucky enough to taste test some Hereford Beef with a blue cheese and red wine reduction. 🙂
Each store has a full service meat counter offering all-natural antibiotic free chicken, aged beef, lamb, veal, and pork. These meats are cut and ground daily.
In the produce department, they offer over 400 produce items, several of them organic and many of them locally sourced.
The bakery department produces over 30 kinds of freshly baked bread and numerous dessert selections including pies, cakes, cookies, and pastries.
The deli emulates a European-style delicatessen and features TFM branded deli meats and over 200 varieties of imported and domestic cheeses, prepared salads, and sides. The Fresh Market also sells several items in its bulk section such as nuts, trail mixes, coffee, along with many other items.
I am told the Roseville store will partner with the Placer County Food Bank and provide regular donations of food, as well as feature local and regional products from Roseville-area growers and producers.
Special features at The Fresh Market I noticed during our tour are:
- A create your own salad bar for $7.99/lb.
- An olive oil station will bottles for refill. They also have a balsamic vinegar station, as well as freshly ground peanut and almond butters.
- A hot foods bar featuring Indian food by San Francisco-based Sukhi’s.
- A create-your-own 6 pack beer for $8.99.
I was impressed with the wine section. It’s small, but has a perfect bottle for everyone. They carry many local wines such as Boeger, Sobon, and Lava Cap. All greatest hits in my opinion!
You can join The Fresh Market for their “Taste of the Holidays” event on Friday, November 2nd from 12-6pm and Saturday, November 3rd from 11am-5pm. You’ll be able to try holiday meal items and be able to pre-order any items for your special holiday meal!
Some of the items available for tasting will include standing rib roast, shrimp cocktail, Nueske’s bacon, smoked salmon, seafood dips, french rounds, TFM apple juice with mulling spices, TFH cheese straws, holiday pies straight from TFM bakery, cheesecakes, turkey and sides from the deli, and there will even be some wine tastings.
For more information, you can go to http://thefreshmarket.com/holiday
FYI:
Specials for The Fresh Market valid until October 30th include Half or Whole Hereford NY Strip pictured above!! for $5.99/lb, Wild Alaskan Copper River Salmon for $11.99/lb!
You can like The Fresh Market on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here. Happy shopping!
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.
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.
Allgood Provisions: Gluten free, Non-GMO, and Organic Snacks
Last week, I was sent a variety pack of snacks made by Allgood Provisions. The samples came in 8 ounce pouches and included cranberries, pistachios, and trail mix. Other varieties include: Organic Almonds, Maple Roasted Cashews, Organic Cherries, Organic Raisins and Banana Chips.
I was reading the Sacramento Bee on Saturday morning (Wednesday’s Taste section) and I found this recipe that just happens to have all Paleo ingredients. It’s authored by Chef Sara Moulton, former editor of Gourmet magazine. It also calls for pistachios, so it was a perfect opportunity to try the pistachios Allgood Provisions sent me!
This salad is sweet and savory and just phenomenal. I love it because it takes boring carrots and brings them to a new flavorful level. Andy and I both were scheduled for long runs the following day, so instead of typical carby runner fare: bread, pizza, pasta, we had beef, eggplant and the carbs came from this salad. It’s the perfect fuel for running! Andy did the math and figured the entire recipe was equivalent to eating three Powerbars. People always ask me where I get my carbs while eating Paleo, and here’s my answer. 🙂
Grated carrot salad with dates and pistachios
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time (for cumin seeds): 4 minutes
Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
1 teaspoon paprika, sweet, hot or smoked, or a combination
1 teaspoon honey
1 pound carrots
1/4 cup chopped pitted dates (about 4 whole)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup shelled natural pistachios, walnuts or almonds, chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon shredded fresh mint
INSTRUCTIONS
In a small skillet over medium-low, heat the oil. Add the cumin seeds and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until they turn a shade darker and become fragrant, about 4 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the paprika and the honey.
Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, coarsely grate the carrots, preferably using the coarse grating disk on a food processor. In a large bowl, toss the carrots with the cooled oil-cumin mixture, the dates, lemon juice, pistachios and salt, using your hands to incorporate the dates.
Stir in the mint just before serving.
Recipe photo credit: Matthew Mead/Associated Press
Allgood Provisions products are available at Whole Foods Market.
You can find Allgood Provisions on Facebook here and on twitter here.
Tarla Mediterranean Grill: My New Favorite in Downtown Napa
Well, I just found my new favorite restaurant. Unfortunately for me, it’s in Downtown Napa, so I won’t be able to visit as often as I would like. The name of the restaurant is Tarla Mediterranean Grill and they serve cuisine that is a beautiful blend of Turkish and Greek influences. It also happens to be located in the same building as one of my favorite places to stay in Napa, the Avia Hotel.
I picked Tarla Mediterranean Grill not only because of its close proximity to the Uptown Theatre (where we were headed later to see Robert Cray and his band), but it was also a nod to Andy’s heritage. Andy is half-Greek, so I thought it would be the perfect choice for his birthday celebration.
Tarla Mediterranean Grill opened last year, and is owned by Yusuf Topal and his wife Breanna. Yusuf’s background is in hospitality, as he was a former maitre d’ and manager of various cruise ship restaurants.
The head chef is Gerry Castro. He attended CIA and has worked for the likes of Far Niente Winery, Ceja Vineyards, Farmstead Restaurant, and Murray Circle (a Michelin starred restaurant in Sausalito).
The restaurant seats only 46, and has a great patio area if you prefer to dine outside. The interior has a clean, informal, and inviting look with tangerine and olive hues in the decor. There are nice touches to each table including candles and turkish white copper cups (in which water is served to guests).
We kicked off the birthday dinner with a half bottle of Malamatina Retsina, and began the meal with Tarla’s Greek salad. I also ordered a side of hummus to use as a dip for the tomatoes and cucumbers in the salad.
Then we ordered the Meatballs served with caramelized eggplant, bell peppers, and fresh tomato sauce.
For my main course, I ordered the Tiger prawns and diver scallops, served with parsnip puree and pomegranate currant sauce. Everything in the dish is Paleo, and it was the first dish that caught my eye on the menu. It was almost like the chef called Andy, asked him what all my favorite foods are, then put some of them together. It was as wonderful as I imagined.
Andy chose the Fresh Alaskan halibut, which is pistachio crusted and served with vegetable ragu and white wine butter sauce. Again, every ingredient was Paleo and once again, unbelievably good.
We finished our meal with 2 desserts. This usually works because I take one or two bites and then pass over to Andy to finish. That way, nobody is deprived. And it was a special occasion, so what the heck. 🙂
The first dessert was poached apricots stuffed with mascarpone cheese and rolled in pistachios. The sweetness was balanced with the cheese filling, and pistachios just make something that already tastes great, taste even better.
At this point writing my post, I am realizing we really ate a lot of food that night! But wait, there’s more…
The owner brought out a second dessert for us like nothing I have ever seen or tried before! It is called kunefe (shredded phyllo dough baked with shredded coconut and sweet cheese). Not primal or even Paleo, but a nice treat nonetheless. I had a few bites and had Andy finish the rest. The texture and flavor was unlike anything I have ever tried before. Baklava might sound good and traditional, but trust me… try the kunefe. You can thank me later. I liked it so much I am going to work on a gluten-free, sugar free version. 🙂 Just wow.
Other dishes on the menu include spanokopita, calamari, saganaki, chicken and lamb shish kebabs, Turkish stuffed eggplant, and musakka (a traditional dish in both Turkey and Greece). By the way, if you’ve never had saganaki, just do it. It’s amazing.
The other wine we shared at dinner was a 2011 Peju Sauvignon Blanc. The wine list is so reasonable it’s unreasonable! My alcohol bill for the retsina and the sauvignon blanc was only about $35. Also, every Wednesday, the restaurant features a select wine list with bottles 50% off until 7:30pm.
No entree on the menu is over $20, and as you can see in the pictures, the portions are generous.
Tarla Mediterranean Grill is located at 1480 1st Street, Downtown Napa. To contact the restaurant, call (707) 255-5599. Their happy hour is Monday-Friday 3-6pm, and late night happy hour is 8:30-10pm. They are open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm, and Sunday 10am-10pm.
You can find them on Facebook here and follow them on twitter here.
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.
Christian Brothers Wine, Beer & Food Extravaganza is September 7th!
Right before RB and I take off for Napa again this year!! <—excited!! :), We’ll be attending the Christian Brothers Wine, Beer & Food Extravaganza on September 7th from 7pm-10pm at the Christian Brothers Campus. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the event.
The Christian Brothers Wine, Beer & Food Extravaganza is the premiere food and drink event in Sacramento. It features hundreds of California’s finest restaurants and wineries, and showcases the best of local breweries throughout the state. The Christian Brothers Wine, Beer & Food Extravaganza has raised millions of dollars to put towards tuition funding and community outreach programs throughout the area.
Tickets are $70 today only, and then tomorrow the price goes up to $80 per person. You can buy tickets here. This year’s event features special add-ons like transportation and a cigar lounge.
Featured wineries and breweries at the event will be:
August Anthony Vineyard, Berryessa Gap Vineyards, Bogle Winery, Brother Timothy Mont La Salle Vineyard Estate, Cannonball Wine Company, Cartlidge and Brown, Carvalho Family Winery, Columbia Crest Wines, Corralitos Wine Company, Girard Winery, Greystone Wines, Harbison Wines, Harney Lane Winery, Jeremy Wine Company, Josh Cellars, Klinker Brick Wines, Line 39McConnell Estates, Madrona Vineyards, Mumm Napa, Michael-David Winery, Moniz Wines, Oakstone Winery, Pacific Wine and Spirits, Padis Vineyards, Pedroncelli Winery, Peirano Wines, Rodney Strong, Revolution Wines, Rombauer Vineyards, Scheid Winery, Schug Winery, Scribner Bend, Scott Harvey Wines, Senders – Wine with a Cause, Stama Winery, Terra d’Oro Winery, Thorny Rose Wines, Troubadour Cellars, Wente Vineyards, Wreckless Blenders, and ZD Wines
Auburn Alehouse, Firestone Walker, Guinness, Hoppy Brewing, Knee Deep Brewing, Lockdown Brewing, Lost Coast Brewery, Mendocino Brewing Company, Miller-Coors, New Belgium Brewing, Pyramid Alehouse, Rubicon, Ruhstaller, Sierra Nevada, The Shack, Sutter Buttes Brewing, Track 7 Brewing, Two Rivers Cider Company
Click here for a list of restaurants.
Through the proceeds from this event last year, the alumni association was able to net over ninety thousand dollars, which went to the school’s tuition assistance program.
Due to the generous efforts of our sponsors and vendors, along with the hard work of the Alumni Board and volunteers, students who would not have been able to attend Christian Brothers High School were able to do so.
Please mark Friday, September 7, 2012 on your calendar and plan on joining us for what promises to be another fantastic event.
You can follow Christian Brothers Wine Beer & Food Extravaganza on twitter here. Cheers! 🙂
Pour for Prevention to Benefit Child Abuse Prevention Center is August 25th
Pour for Prevention presented by UC Davis Children’s Hospital, McHugh, Koepke & Associates, Antiquité Maison,Southwest takes place on August 25th from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Pour for Prevention is the Child Abuse Prevention Center’s wine tasting event to be held at Antiquité Maison Privée (2114 P Street), known as the “jewel of midtown.” This stunning property with its 1920’s Mediterranean charm makes for an unforgettable venue and has been designated a historical treasure by the City of Sacramento.
This event features a vast array of wines from California wineries who will “pour” to prevent child abuse. Guests will enjoy light appetizers and desserts.
Art! An amazing art display will feature renowned and up and coming artists whose pieces you won’t want to miss.
Live music and a silent auction with something for everyone will round off the event. You won’t want to miss the party at this midtown jewel.
Here’s a list of the food donors that will be at the event:
Wine, Beer and Food Donors
Amador Cellars, Beth Sogaard Catering, Bistro Michel, Blue Diamond Growers, Bogle, Boissett Family Estates, Bonitata Boutique Wines, Capital Confections, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Clif Family Winery, Deaver, Edible Events, Ehrhardt Estates, Grange Restaurant and Bar, Helwig Winery, Heringer Estates Winery, Hoppy Brewing Company, Lake Solano Vineyard, Leatherby’s Family Creamery, Lewis Cellars, Mama Kim Cooks, Michael David Winery, Noodles & Company, Olive Garden, Pearl on the River, Peirano Estate Vineyards, Piacci, Robert Mondavi, Tanis Vineyards , The Blind Pig, The Melting Pot, TLC Delivered, Weibel Family Vineyards and Winery
Tickets
$40 each or two tickets for $70, $50 at the door. Purchase tickets online here. To pay by check, make check payable to the CAP Center and mail to: CAP Center, 4700 Roseville Road, North Highlands, CA 95660
Want to become an event sponsor? Are you interested in being a wine or food vendor, donating an item for the silent auction, displaying your art, or volunteering? Contact Cathy Kauffman at 916 244-1927
For more information about the Child Abuse Prevention Center you can visit their website here.
The State’s Premier Wine and Food Event is August 18th!
Here’s a press release from my friends at the California State Fair!! 🙂
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2012) – The state’s finest winemakers, vineyards and wineries will be honored on Aug. 18, when California’s Grape & Gourmet – the country’s largest tasting of award-winning wines – returns to Cal Expo.
The 17th annual Grape & Gourmet is a celebration of the prestigious California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition, the oldest wine competition in the United States.
Winners were announced in June and will receive their awards at Grape & Gourmet, prior to the public tasting and wine sales.
The public event is 3-6 p.m. in Cal Expo’s air-conditioned Building A/B. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door. Online group sales of 10 or more are $35 per person. To purchase tickets, go to http://www.calexpo.com
Award-winning wine will be available for sale by the bottle and case. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the California State Fair’s scholarship program, which this year awarded a total of $32,750 to 27 students.
California’s Grape & Gourmet features pours of the State Fair’s medal-winning wines, award-winning beer from the State Fair’s Commercial Craft Brew Competition, award-winning cheese from the Fair’s cheese competition, and samplings of great food from area restaurants.
In this year’s Commercial Wine Competition, 2,890 entries were received from 688 participating wineries. Seventy-two judges on 18 panels awarded 2,156 medals, including 74 Double Gold, 268 Gold, 1,195 Silver and 734 Bronze.
Complete results of the wine competition appear in “California Wine” magazine, a publication of the California State Fair, which will be available at the event and at Save Mart Supermarkets in the near future.
SPECIAL TREAT (or not)!! Archive post from cakegrrl.com below!!
Here are a few pics from the event a few years ago. (The last time they had it indoors at Cal Expo, and wayyy before I was Paleo).
Trader Joe’s Loot
Trader Joe’s Mountain of Stilton
Chicken Cones, Red Lion Hotel. It’s chicken, but in a cone, get it? 🙂
Wine in a carton. New home of missing persons ads?
Bread spread by Nugget Markets
Traffic Snarl…
Bread spread from the Bread Store… *who knew there’d be all this bread?*
Neat hops display.
Mason’s ahhh-amazing ahi tuna with broth.
A very yummy rose by Valley of the Moon.
Shout out to the Bread Store for the Ciabatta loaf I scored at the end of the night and the olive loaf they gave to my stunning mystery companion. Mulvaney’s was serving two refreshing sorbets–one with mint, maybe basil in there too? The other one was fig. Both fantastic! 🙂
Steiner Feast 2012 is August 11th, Noon-4pm
Share the Bounty with the Steiner Road Wineries
Sat., August 11, 2012 from Noon-4 pm
PLYMOUTH, CA – July 17, 2012 – Everyone is invited to Share the Bounties of Summer with the Wineries of Steiner Road.
This FREE Food and Wine event will delight the senses. Guests can stroll through the beautiful grounds of eight wineries, taste a variety of wines, and enjoy special treats featuring local summer produce.
How about some small bits including Zucchini-Tomato tarts, grilled polenta w/ vegetable marinara, local grown veggie lasagna, squash & tomato caponata, pork tamales with local corn, green bean salad, tri-tip sliders, and some baby blueberry pies and tartlets?
Plus, Amador Farmers will be set up at various wineries to sell fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers.
Steiner Road – in the heart of the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, off Highway 16 – is home to many award-winning wineries. Just 45 minutes from Sacramento and 2 hours from Reno, Tahoe & the Bay Areas, it is an easy day trip to the friendly Amador County Wine Country.
Visitors also can enter to win four tickets to the Big Crush Harvest Festival Oct. 6 & 7 by visiting at least 5 of the 8 participating Steiner Road wineries: Shenandoah Vineyards, Amador Foothill, Bella Grace, Deaver Vineyards, Driven, Dillian, Renwood and Dobra Zemjla.
Steiner Road Wineries, off Shenandoah Road (Hwy. E-16), east of Plymouth, CA, in Amador County. Questions: Contact Robert Sobon, (209) 245-4455, INFO at SOBONWINE.COM
cavegrrl.com 