There are a lot of ways you could spend the first day of 2014: relaxing, jump starting your new year’s resolution at the gym, beginning a new diet. But how about a little indulgence in a delish Bloody Mary? January 1st is in fact National Bloody Mary Day after all.
Good news is that Sacramento is jam packed with places that know how to make a good bloody. I’ve shared my love for the superb job that Pour House does on the beverage (theirs was even voted No. 1 in California in 2012) and a recent stop at Fox & Goose proved to me that their Bacon Bloody Mary is a sure fire choice.
We’d love to know: Where is your favorite spot in Sacramento for indulging in a good Bloody Mary?
If you feel like mixing up your own Bloody Mary at home, Sobieski Vodka provided us with the simple recipe below. Cheers to the New Year!
Classic Bloody Mary
1 ½ oz. Sobieski Vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
½ oz. lemon juice
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Dash of Tabasco and horseradish
Salt & pepper
Celery stalk for garnish
Combine all ingredients in a tall glass and garnish with celery stick.
Archives for December 2013
Sacramento Restaurants Open for Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town, Sacramentans were hungry but no restaurant could be found. Whether you’re hungry for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or a drink– lucky for you, here’s a list of Sactown places open on Christmas so you won’t have to think! Restaurants are filling quickly so reservations shouldn’t be stalled. We hope you enjoy your holiday and Happy Christmas to all! Be sure to thank those who are working this Christmas to ensure yours is a memorable one!
Buca di Beppo – Opens at 11 a.m.
1249 Howe Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 922-6673
Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Opens at 2 p.m.
501 Pavilions Lane, Pavilions Shopping Plaza
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 286-2702
Capitol Garage – Opens at 4 p.m.
1500 K St
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 444-3633
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood – Opens at 11 a.m.
1194 Roseville Parkway
Roseville, CA 95678
(916) 960-4875
Brunch at Magpie
A good brunch is most certainly one of my favorite weekend activities. And let’s be honest, it’s Thursday and we are all looking forward to the weekend. My recommendation for a must-try spot for a delish mid-morning meal is Magpie. On a recent visit I tried the Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast which came complete with a perfectly cooked over easy egg on top. It was delicious and trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Magpie
1409 R St. Ste. 102
Sacramento, CA
916-452-7594
Want to Intern at FH Sacramento?
Want to Intern at FH Sacramento?
Our food and wine PR team is expanding and we’re ready to start 2014 with a bang! That’s where you come in. Do you have what it takes to intern at FH Sacramento and be a SacFoodie in the making?
1. You read SacFoodies (check!) and can’t wait to contribute to our blog on a regular basis
2. You’re a college graduate with a go-getter attitude who is ready to work hard in a full-time (paid!) position
3. You’re excited by the idea of experiencing and contributing to fast-paced agency life – juggling multiple projects at once is no big deal to you
4. Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram – you can do it all in your sleep
5. Learning about food and wine marketing intrigues you – potatoes, grapes, figs, pistachios, olives, wine….the list goes on!
Interested in learning more? Send resumes, cover letters and questions to [email protected]
An Easy Dinner for this Busy Holiday Season
The holiday season is busy enough that adding birthdays into the mix is enough to make anyone go crazy. When the night for a friend’s birthday dinner came around, we knew we wanted something that didn’t require hours in the kitchen. Braised Lemon Chicken Thighs and Brussels Sprouts, courtesy of In Sock Monkey Slippers, was the dish we had been looking for.
After Thanksgiving and a few holiday parties, we were ready for something on the lighter side yet still full of flavor, and this dish was just that! The chicken fell off the bone and melted in our mouths, the Brussels sprouts were flavorful and refreshing, and the couscous soaked up the flavors of the thyme and lemon.
Needless to say, we all left that night feeling satisfied and excited for our lunch leftovers the next day.
Braised Lemon Chicken Thighs and Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
8 chicken thighs (figure on 2 per serving)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
1 clove garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 pound Brussels sprouts, halved
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups quality or homemade chicken stock
1 lemon, quartered
12 sprigs fresh thyme
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Evenly sprinkle salt and pepper over thighs. In a large braising pot with a lid, heat oil on high heat. Place 4 chicken thighs skin down in the pot and sear until browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and sear on the other side until browned. Remove to a plate and repeat with remaining thighs.
Reduce heat to medium. After allowing the oil to cool slightly, about a 2 minutes, add the garlic, shallot, and Brussels sprouts. Cook for 3 minutes until the Brussels sprouts are bright green. Add lemon juice and chicken stock. Return the thighs to the pot with the sprouts and add lemon quarters and thyme. Cover, transfer to the oven, and braise for 1 hour.
Plate chicken thighs and Brussels sprouts and serve with a drizzle of the “jus” – the lemony braising liquid that remains.
Optional: To enhance the flavor and to make a “sauce” with the remaining braising juices, remove the thighs and Brussels sprouts and strain the cooking liquid. Return the “jus” to the braising pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until reduce by half until thickened slightly, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and stir to combine. Spoon over chicken thighs.