“A hamburger can be a work of art,” he said matter of factly. This, while I was rolling my eyes that my infinitely better half would even dream of ordering a hamburger at a casual, yet, classy joint like The Fig Café in Glen Ellen. I mean, really – who would go to a place with menu items such as tart du jour, café eggs Florentine, grilled butcher’s steak and steamed mussels – and order a hamburger? Especially when he always orders hamburgers.
So, while I was busy sipping a mimosa and awaiting my very own tart du jour, he was drinking in a deep cabernet with visions of ground beef in his head, no doubt. All the while I was thinking how nice it was to have a far more sophisticated pallet than the cave dweller with whom I dined.
Then it happened.
The waitress brought my wild mushroom tart – good albeit – but God bless America, it looked puny next to the best-looking burger I had ever seen. If it was art, this burger was a Picasso. So there I was: major mea culpa followed by begging for a bite. Thankfully he obliged. He’s pretty gracious…for a cave dweller.
By Shelly Kessen
Archives for February 2008
Valentine's Day Events Preview
Even if February 14th means nothing more than “Thursday” to you, today’s blog entry is still a must. Also known as Valentine’s Day, this Thursday is full of fun for Sacramento residents looking to show a little love. Here is a sampling of Sacramento’s finest – for every palate and pocketbook. If you know of additional Valentine’s Day food events or special menus happening around town, please leave a comment and we’ll be happy to spread the word!
Exotic Valentine’s Day Feast
Friday, 5:30 — 10 p.m.
Maharani Indian Restaurant
$21.95 per couple
441-2172 (reservations required)
Spice up your valentine’s dinner with a taste of the Middle East from Maharani. Dinner for two includes wine, fresh bread, rice, vegetable samosa and your choice of sensually aromatic entrée.
Special Valentine’s Dinner at the Supper Club
Thursday Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m.
Make it a night to remember. This Valentine’s day will be unforgetable in the romantic setting of the Supper Club. You will fall in love with the six-course meal, each course paired with wine. $155 with selected wines, $120 without wines.
Raw Passion
Wednesday — Sunday
Nishiki Sushi
$60 per couple
This 5-course Japanese feast includes hot sake, soup and appetizers, tempura, rice and choice of sushi and teriyaki entrees. Also comes with green tea ice cream for dessert.
Dinner from David Berkley
Thursday — Saturday
$99 per couple
929-4422
For those who would rather snuggle up at home, this complete take-out treat for two includes appetizers, salads, entrees, side dishes and dessert, accompanied by flowers and champagne. It’s pricey, but the food is great.
Chocolate Fondue for Lovers on Valentine’s Day
(Demo-Style Cooking Class)
6:30 p.m. $30 Wine will be served; Must be 21 to attend.
With Jeremy Mosher, Whole Foods Cheese and Chocolate Specialist
This saucy class will feature 3 fabulous chocolate fondues with various dipping items: strawberries, bananas and a few other surprises. And chocolate fondue would not be complete without port and dessert wine. Caution: May include tantalizing Mayan Spices! A perfect class for couples, friends or singles.
Biba Restaurant
Four course special Valentine’s Day menu
$75 per person, plus tax and gratuity
Ella Dining Room
Special Valentine’s Day Menu
10th Annual Petite Sirah Port Weekend at Bogle Winery
Image courtesy of Bogle Winery
February 9th-10th, 2008
11:00am – 5:00pm
at the Bogle Winery Tasting Room
With Valentine’s Day less than a week away, why not get a head start at Bogle Winery this weekend where they’ll be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Bogle Port?
More Information
Directions to Bogle Winery
If you can’t make it this time around, be sure to get a taste of Bogle at the “Chocolate, Port and Coffee Tasting Soirée” hosted by Slow Food Sacramento on February 23.
Vino in the Park
I just made the big move from Davis (read: comfort, security, mom’s house) to Sacramento (read: new, exciting, intimidating) and my friends/roommates and I have made a pact to explore the city where we now reside. Part of this pact is to try a new restaurant or bar at least once a week. Thanks to Metro Connected , formerly known as Sacramento Young Professionals, we were able to get a taste of The Park Ultra Lounge and Mason’s restaurant last week with an event called “Vino in the Park.” It was a great way to break up the work week and meet interesting locals.
The wine tasting itself was done in the form of a game – we broke up into groups of four or five and were each poured from a ‘mystery’ bottle of wine. The rules were simple; name five characteristics of the wine and ultimately decide what varietal you tasted. Simple for the wine experts maybe! Beyond characteristics such as “fruity,” or “nutty,” I didn’t have much to bring to the table. Who knew that “blueberry pancakes” would be one of the attributes!?! Needless to say, my team did not come out on top. But it did make for a very fun evening!
If you’re anything like me, then you get all too comfortable in your home town and forget there are amazing establishments in every neighborhood just waiting to be discovered. My advice: live your life like you’re on vacation – when traveling, one would never settle for returning to the same dinner hot spot every week, so why not venture out and explore here as well! No matter how long you’ve lived in Sacramento or how well you think you know it, I guarantee you there’s more.
You can start by checking out MetroConnected events here:
Slow Food Sacramento Presents a Chocolate, Port and Coffee Tasting Soirée
Saturday February 23 – 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Old Soul Coffee Company
1716 L Street (rear alley)
$25 Slow Food Members, $30 General Public
GET TICKETS NOW
Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first. We at Slow Food Sacramento echo American writer Ernestine Ulmer’s sentiments and are pleased to partner with three local treasures: Old Soul Coffee, Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates and Bogle Winery to host an educational seminar to learn about the dynamics of chocolate, coffee and port pairings, and to meet some of our area’s finest food and beverage artisans. And, after dessert, port and coffee, why not have dinner at one of Midtown’s excellent eateries?
Image courtesy of the Sacramento Bee.
Chocolate.
Ginger Elizabeth Powers, purveyor of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolate in Midtown Sacramento, will discuss the different kind of cacao beans and the trees they come from, as well as how chocolate is made and how fine chocolate differs from regular chocolate.
See what others are saying about Ginger Elizabeth Chocolate:
Sacramento Bee
TwinSoup
Sacatomato
Vanilla Garlic
Port.
Winemaker Eric Aafedt from Bogle Vineyards and Winery in Clarksburg will share his port-making approach as well as the family’s history and winemaking style. Eric is responsible for crafting Bogle’s unique Petite Sirah Port, sourced from the Old River Vineyard, directly across Elk Slough from the Bogle homestead.
Coffee.
Jason Griest, expert coffee roaster and co-owner of the Old Soul Company, will host the educational seminar and talk about his philosophy of community, using only fair trade and organically grown beans.