Grilling Inspiration for Fourth of July Barbecues
If you’re anything like us, you’ll be firing up your grill at least once over the Fourth of July weekend. But there’s a lot more to be had on the grill than just your typical burger. Check out a few of the foods the SacFoodies have thrown on the grill in the last few weeks for some non-traditional Fourth of July grilling fun!
Beer Can Chicken
Ever since we got a brand new grill a few weeks ago, we’ve been using it almost every night! I love being able to eat outside – plus, a meal on the grill typically results in far less of a mess to clean up – definitely an added bonus. My dad is the king of beer can chicken and I was determined to finally try the technique now that I have a decent barbecue. Just make sure that your grill is large enough that you can close it all the way with the bird still standing up.
To make beer can chicken, you’ll want to start by marinating your chicken in whatever herbs and spices appeal to you. I like to use a mixture of olive oil, garlic, rosemary and salt and pepper. When you’re ready to grill, pour out half of a beer and use it like a stand for the chicken. You’ll also want to enlarge the opening so that the entire top of the can is open. (Hint: No cans of beer in the fridge? If you have a can of soda and a bottle of beer, just pour out the soda and transfer some beer into the can). The beer will add flavor and moisture to the chicken as it cooks. If you have multiple burners on your grill, try keeping the ones on the far left and right turned up to high and the two on the inside turned off – it will cook the chicken more evenly. If your chicken is between 4 and 5 pounds, it will take about an hour to cook. If you’re not sure if it’s done, use a meat thermometer – the inside of the chicken should be 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grilled Taters
I’ve always loved potatoes, but working on the public relations team for the United States Potato Board (USPB) has opened my eyes to a whole new potato world! Mashed, fried, baked – you may think you know every way to slice and dice a spud, but until you’ve tossed those taters on the grill, you really haven’t lived. The other week, my friends and I got together to barbecue and I quickly committed to this side dish as an excuse to try out the USPB’s new Cookout Potatoes recipe.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, very thinly sliced
1 1/3 cups shredded low-fat sharp Cheddar cheese
1/3 cup real bacon bits
1/3 cup chopped bell pepper (any color)
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
Directions
Spray a 9 x 9 x 2-inch foil pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray. Place half the onions, potatoes, cheese, bacon bits, bell pepper and garlic salt in pan. Repeat layers. Cover tightly with foil and grill over medium heat for 1 hour, rotating pan occasionally to avoid hot spots. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Cookout Potatoes were not only delicious, but affordable to make (at approximately $1.03 per serving) and healthy to boot! Need a little more persuasion? One of the best reasons to BBQ a potato side dish is the fact that it makes clean up oh-so-easy! When the entire meal is on the grill, there are no pots or pans to fuss with and you can toss the foil pan when you’re done.
Pizza a la Grill
Pizza is yet another delicious option for the grill. My fiancée and I recently had our good friends (and serious pizza aficionados) Mike and Stef over to our house to try throwing the pie right on the grill. In what became true trial and error, we attempted to find the perfect way to cook homemade pizza on the grill. (Mike made amazing dough and sauce from scratch; we got off easy and simply provided the toppings.)
Not sure where to begin, we decided charcoal might be the way to go… thinking it could possibly lend a nice grilled flavor. We heated up the coals and slapped a pizza stone right on the grate, covered and waited for the heat to build. Hoping for intense heat similar to a real pizza oven, we then put the prepared pizza directly on the hot stone and covered. A few minutes later, a burning smell permeated the backyard. Upon further inspection, the bottom crust of the pizza was completely blackened, while the top crust and toppings had barely begun to cook. We rescued the pizza from the fiery stone and finished it in the oven under the broiler – not a total loss.
For the second pizza, we abandoned the charcoal and fired up the gas grill. We also decided to ditch the pizza stone, in favor of placing the pizza directly on the grates. With the grill flames on medium, we closed the lid and waited… no burning smell… a good sign. About 10 minutes later we removed the pizza from the gas grill, complete with a perfectly crisp (but not burnt) crust and gooey melted toppings. Grilled pizza perfection!
If you’d like to try grilled pizza and don’t have friends like Mike and Stef to bring the homemade dough, try picking up a take-and-bake pizza and throwing it on the grill (I obviously recommend using gas!). Everyone loves a good pizza, but who wants to turn on their oven in the summertime? With a little trial and error, grilling can be a great way to go.
By Liz Conant 
Brittany Mohr 
and Jenna Kirkwood 
Add comment July 2, 2009
3rd Annual Sacramento Wine & Dine
Sacramento is overflowing with great food and restaurants – even though we’d like to, we can’t try them all. But, we try our best to give you the scoop on all of your great dining options in the city so that, hopefully, after reading our reviews you’re ready and eager to head out and explore with your taste buds.
We all know that being a restaurant explorer can get pretty expensive though. So, how would you feel if we said you could spend one week trying out all of those great restaurants you’ve been dying to go to at a fraction of their normal prices? Yeah, we were pretty excited when we found out, too!
During the 3rd Annual Sacramento Wine & Dine, you can spend seven days dining at your choice of more than 50 top Sacramento restaurants for a great price. From Saturday, July 4th through Sunday, July 12th, restaurants like Grange, Hot Italian and L Wine Lounge will be offering three to four-course dinners paired with Sacramento regional wines – starting at just $30 per person!
Why not head to an old favorite on the list or try somewhere you’ve never been? Either way, we’d love to hear about your experience! For a complete listing of the 50 restaurants being featured visit http://www.sacramentowineanddine.com/.
By Cecily Fuller 
Add comment July 1, 2009
Tightwad Tuesday: From Taco Tuesday to Pint Night, Paragary’s Does it Right!
Here at SacFoodies, we’re finding that one of the best ways to stay on top of local deals and steals is to subscribe to receive e-newsletters from restaurants/establishments/retailers that you’re fond of. Earlier this month, we were reminded of some cool deals from one of the hottest restaurant groups in town via their e-newsletter and want to spread the word!
Each day of the week a different Paragary’s location hosts fantastic happy hour specials, which are listed below. If the low price tags don’t get you excited enough, here are a few pics from my last trip to Centro that are sure to get your mouth watering:
Monday: Margarita Monday featuring two for one House Margaritas at Centro Cocina Mexicana – A perfect way to start the week!
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday at Blue Cue – $2 Domestics and $1 Tacos starting at 6:00pm with live DJ music.
Wednesday: Pint Night at R15 – The only place to be on Wednesday nights…$5 includes your very own R15 pint glass, filled to the brim with your choice of any draft beer and only $2 refills. Bring your glass in next time you come and only pay the cost of refills.
Thursday: Cosmo Cafe – Reviving happy hour with a drinks and eats menu starting at just $3. Available daily from 3:30-5:30pm, featuring an array of small plate food selections ranging from the housemade waffle chips to a half pastrami sandwich. Drink choices include the classic cosmopolitan, domestic beers, and 2 for 1 drink specials.
Friday: Spataro Restaurant and Bar – Check out our $10 Daily Lunch Specials… Each day is a different entree, served with a mixed green salad to start. Friday is Housemade Lasagne. Yum!
Are you a fan of these deals and restaurants? Prove it! You can show your loyalty by becoming a fan of any Paragary’s establishment on facebook, too.
Want to stay on top of local restaurant deals with Pargary’s iEat e-newsletter? Visit http://www.paragarys.com/go/prg/ and click on the “Free Signup!” button at the bottom of the page.
Add comment June 30, 2009
Ode to Patty
There’s a foodie in town that raises the bar
She does anything for us, like driving circles in her car
When it comes to food, you know it is her biz
No job too big or too small…she just says fo’ shiz
Prunes, potatoes, and raisins galore
Patty develops recipes for taste buds to soar
When she comes rolling down the hall with that food-filled cart
We know that she’s here to feed and dazzle from the heart
Whenever Patty is around, leftovers are nowhere to be found
No surprise that they have already been gobbled down
At photo shoots she is always on her toes
Our appreciation for her just grows and grows
Whatever we need, no matter what we ask
She smiles so brightly and delivers the task
This is the first time we’ve done it and she deserves it by far
Today, on her big day, an honorary “SacFoodie” is what you are
And we’re getting close to this Ode’s end
So cheers to Patty because she’s more than just our stylist, she’s our friend
Your kind and funny spirit we absolutely adore
Here’s to you, Patty, and to fifty more!
Happy Birthday, Patty!
3 comments June 29, 2009
Glen Ellen Inn – Oyster Grill & Martini Bar
Glen Ellen, a small town on the outskirts of Sonoma, is so quaint that there are only a few choices of restaurants, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a bad meal in this wine country town. From Garden Court, to The Fig Café, and even the pub fare at The Jack London Lodge are all delish. A few weeks ago I finally had a chance to try The Glen Ellen Inn. I was excited to hear that the chef/owner was a Sonoma Valley native (like me!) and went to the same high school as I did (Sonoma Valley High).
Chef Christian Bertrand and his wife, Karen, opened the restaurant in 1993 in a 1940’s country cottage. The ambiance is very nice – a comfortable setting, with beautiful stained glass accents in the doorways and an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs preparing that evening’s food. This night’s dinner was shared with my Mom and Dad, and was the first time since I could remember that I had them both to myself. Between the restaurant, the friendly service and my two dining companions, the night definitely felt special.
Because I am becoming my mother more and more every day, it was not surprising to me that after reading the menu for about 30 seconds, the two of us picked the same entrée. Mussels and Garlic Fries with prosciutto, saffron, dried tomato, white wine sauce. We giggled to ourselves as we talked about how we can never pass up mussels on a menu, as I’ve mentioned on this blog before. Dad ordered the Sonoma Breast of Duck, foie grass stuffed, panko crust, cherry-port sauce and polenta. I must also mention the wine list – more than 160 labels to choose from, and I was happy to see that ALL of them were from California. Way to support local wine.
The food was delicious. The creamy saffron sauce that was served with the mussels was amazing. Yes, I kept slurping the leftover broth long after the fries and mussels were gone. After lots of good conversation, food and wine my parents and I decided to split “The Fabulous Glen Ellen Inn Sundae” which consisted of house made French vanilla ice cream rolled in toasted coconut in bittersweet caramel sauce. A perfect end to a fun evening. I can’t wait for the next time I get to steal my parents and have them all to myself again.
Glen Ellen Inn
13670 Arnold Drive
Glen Ellen, Ca 95442
707-996-6409
Add comment June 26, 2009
HOT ITALIAN Love is in the Air
Every once in a while, a new restaurant comes to town that is so good you just can’t stop buzzing about it. And not just in the “ooh that place looks good” or “I’ve really been meaning to go” kind of way. But more the “ohmygoodnessihavetohaveitrightnow” sort of buzz. So I think it’s time that we admit it:
The SacFoodies are head over heels for HOT ITALIAN. And now that we know they serve some of the best dessert in town, we’re sure this relationship has “forever” written all over it. Have a sweet tooth like us? Check out some of their mouthwatering desserts below:
Zucchero
organic Italian chocolate hazelnut spread dusted with powdered sugar
Murino
gorgonzola dolce cheese, pears drizzled with honey
Lenti
seasonal mixed berries topped with fresh ricotta and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil
And if that’s not convincing enough, here are our top 10 reasons to love HOT ITALIAN:
Uno: It’s so authentic that you simply can’t fight the urge to belt out any Italian you know: mangia, cara amici, mangia!
Due: Where else can you pick up a motorcycle with your pizza?
Tre: Communal seating is a great way to make new friends.
Quattro: Because they give you the scoop on their upcoming events on Twitter
Cinque: They’re open late! Call for exact hours, but word on the street is that they serve until 10:00 or 11:00 PM on weeknights and stretch that until 12:00 PM or 1:00 AM on Friday and Saturday nights!
Sei: Because there is nothing like a real Italian espresso.
Sette: Who can resist a giant round party table with space in the center for ice to keep your drinks chilled to perfection?
Otto: Orange chocolate, Madagascar vanilla and nocciola (hazelnut) gelato – oh my!
Nove: Because the modern decor and traditional fare instantly transport you to a corner cafe in a bella piazza.
Dieci: Because gorgonzola, pear and honey on a pizza can never be wrong.
Hot Italian
16th & Q Midtown
Sacramento, CA
(916) 444-3000
3 comments June 24, 2009
Dinner and a Bookstore – a Perfect Summer Pairing (And, yes, another giveaway!)
The weather’s warm, and you don’t feel like cooking. Dinner out sounds good but, well, a little boring. Try this favorite SacFoodie summer pairing: Dinner and a bookstore. Bury your nose in a NYT bestseller or a literary favorite, and then stroll the local streets, basking in the Sacramento sunshine, and enjoy a fantastic outdoor dinner. Sound like a perfect outing?
Within a few blocks of each other in Midtown Sacramento, there are three wonderful bookstores, each with its own personality: Time Tested Books at 1114-21st St. is floor-to-ceiling books, complete with ladders to reach the highest offerings; The Book Collector, 1008-24th St. offers sidewalk bargain books and other gems indoors; and La Raza Galleria Posada, 1022-1024 22nd St. (note: they’re moving in August) offers not just books, but also Latino art, clothing and accessories. The really lovely part? All three are within easy walking distance of each other – and over twenty restaurants.
Ah, yes, the foodie part. We had our work cut out for us with so many choices! Should we eat at Azul, Lounge on 20, or walk across the street to Original Pete’s Pizza? There’s the Vintage Café, Hashi and Cervantes just a few steps from Time Tested Books. For something really special, we could try The Waterboy or The Broiler, or for more casual fare, there’s Capitol Dawg, Hot Rods Burgers and Jack’s Urban Eats. And that’s only a sampling of what’s available.
I had my research assistants with me (i.e., my kids), and after a lengthy discussion, we decided to eat at Tapa the World, located at 2115 J St. Like shopping for books, eating tapas offers a multitude of experiences, depending on what you choose. So, for this culinary adventure, we sat on the sidewalk patio and sampled:
• Tortilla Espanola (hands down, my favorite tapa – in fact, this was my daily go-to food while studying in Spain)
• Grilled Vegetables topped with balsamic reduction and Romesco sauce, as well as queso Manchego (THE most delightfully salty sheep’s milk cheese from the La Mancha region of Spain)
• Paella Mixta, a small portion of traditional (and delicious) paella with generous amounts of seafood, chicken and chorizo, as well as a side of salad
• Tapa Burger (again, that queso Manchego!) with crisp, golden patatas bravas (perfectly fried potatoes)
The great thing about dinner and a bookstore? It will be your own unique pairing. In fact, this week, a group of us will head out to Roseville for a special “dinner and a bookstore” outing. New York Times best-selling author and Sacramento resident James Rollins will be signing books on Thursday, June 25 from 7-9 PM at the Barnes & Noble located at 1256 Galleria Blvd. Leave a comment here by noon on Wednesday, June 24, and you could win a copy of his new book, The Doomsday Key, personally signed by him!
Now, I just need to decide where we’ll be having dinner. All suggestions welcome!
39 comments June 22, 2009
Do you know a “Real Hero”?
I’m a sucker for a good burger and a good deal, so when I heard about the Applebee’s Realburgers for Real Heroes program, (full disclosure: a client of the FH Kansas City office), I wanted to help spread the word. I think we probably all know someone who has made a difference in our lives one way or another. Maybe it’s the neighbor who mows your lawn, the last-minute babysitter who always comes through in a pinch, the friend who drives you to a doctor’s appointment, or maybe something completely different! Applebee’s wants to give those “Real Heroes” the big hearty thank you they deserve, and is asking all of us to nominate those selfless friends for a chance to win some awesome prizes – both for your hero and for yourself!
Here’s how it works: Visit the Applebee’s Web site to nominate your “Real Hero” by July 5. Applebee’s will then select 10 hero finalists and share their stories on the Web site. Visit the site to vote for your favorite hero between July 15 and July 23 to help determine the Applebee’s National Real Hero. Plus, just by nominating someone, you’ll be entered into a weekly drawing for a $50 Applebee’s gift card. Not only that, but the Grand Prize Winner will get $5,000 and a year of free Realburgers!
Applebee’s menu offers five Realburgers that I think could match just about anyone’s taste. I must say that, as an Arizona native, the Cowboy Burger is calling my name. Onion rings, BBQ sauce and bacon…there’s not much more I could ask for in one bite! Who knows, though, I might just need to try them all! (Above photos courtesy of Flickr users Acmelucky777 and Mooshee85).
1 comment June 19, 2009
Father’s Day Foodie Event Round-Up
Looking for ways to show Dad you love him this Sunday? We’ve got you covered on all of the great Father’s Day offerings around town!
The Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento is offering a Father’s Day Brunch Menu for $39.95 per person which will include a starter buffet, one entrée and one dessert. A children’s brunch menu will also be available at $14.95 for children under age 12 while kids under age 3 eat for free. Brunch will be served from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and reservations are required. To reserve your table, call 916-442-4772.
Hot Italian (look for our review on Sac Foodies soon!) is celebrating Father’s Day with “Arguri A Tutti I Papa!” which we think translates to “Greetings To You and Dad!” Spend the afternoon enjoying pizza and watching soccer at the Italian hot-spot where they will be showing the Italy vs. Brazil FIFA Confederation Cup game at 11:30 a.m.
Bring your dad to Paul Martin’s American Bistro where they are offering a three-course prime rib meal for just $24.95! Other signature dishes such as fresh Alaskan halibut and grilled mahi-mahi will start at just $12. Call 916-443-3772 for reservations.
If you’re planning on seeing the Lion King at the Sacramento Community Center Theatre, stop in for a pre-show dinner across the street at Esquire Grill where they offer a three-course menu for $35 per person as well as complimentary valet parking for anyone who presents their ticket stub from the show. The menu includes a choice of soup or salad, grilled skirt steak or grilled salmon and chocolate layered cake or crème brûlée for dessert.
Last but not least, McCormick & Schmick’s, (one of our clients), will be celebrating Father’s Day by offering delicious entrees at great prices including Lobster Ravioli for $19.95, Wild Salmon for $24.95 and a Mixed Grill plate for just $29.95. Not only that, but every dad who dines at a McCormick & Schmick’s on Father’s Day will receive a crème brûlée on the house! There’s also still time to enter online for the chance to win a great gift for your dad – Custom fitted Titleist golf clubs and golf bag! One winner will also be selected from each restaurant to receive a round of golf at a participating ClubCorp Property. Fore!
By Cecily Fuller 
Add comment June 18, 2009
Everything posted on this blog is stated as personal opinion and does not necessarily represent the views of Fleishman-Hillard or its clients.
