“Curry Para-, Para-, Paradise” – Coldplay, probably
For this week’s #saucyspot, the SacFoodies decided to check out Curry Paradise, a West Sac diamond-in-the-rough that boasts stellar Yelp ratings and delicious dishes. Due to a busy work week and a shortage of long lunch hours, we ended up ordering delivery to our downtown office.
The owner sent us his personal recommendations over email prior to our order and even put us in direct contact with the chef, Dino! It was clear that both the owner and chef were incredibly hands-on with their food and customer service.
We ordered butter chicken, jira masti (spicy shrimp), samosas and naan. It was delivered to our office within the hour, and we wasted no time in breaking out the forks! Straight up, the food was awesome. It was spicy. It was delicate. The portions were generous. Most of all, it was full of complex flavors and textures that made it a real treat to eat.
Laurel: I ordered the jira masti and absolutely loved it! I am a big fan of spicy food but often have to proceed with caution at Indian restaurants – sometimes I get in way too over my head and end up with a burning mouth and bruised ego. Thankfully, this shrimp dish hit the spicy sweet spot; not too hot, but definitely hit you with a building heat as you went on, which I really enjoyed. The sauce was rich without being heavy and was a nice addition to the shrimp. It was so good I ended up saving the leftover sauce in the office fridge to add to my lunch the next day! (P.S. – I didn’t get a picture of my shrimp because I ate it too fast. The struggles of food blogging are real.)
Cheyenne: I fancy myself an Indian cuisine connoisseur. I certainly have my favorite dishes and I usually stick with them before venturing off into un-tasted territories. Samosas are a must-have anytime I’m trying a new Indian restaurant, and Curry Paradise did not disappoint! They were perfectly crisp on the outside while leaving the inside warm and delicious. I think that was my favorite part of the meal, I almost had to call them back and ask for sa-more-sas! I also tried the butter chicken and you butter believe it was delicious! Butter chicken is generally a milder dish, but this had a nice little kick that complimented the dish so well and allowed every flavor to shine through. It paired so well with the basmati rice and naan, and most importantly, it wasn’t too heavy to leave me napping at my desk. I thoroughly enjoyed Curry Paradise, seriously, naan-thing but good things to say!
If you’re on the hunt for a flavorful #saucyspot, than this is your jam. Aren’t close to West Sac? They also just opened a second location in Roseville, so you’re in luck. This National Sauce Month is shaping up to be naan-tastic!
Let's Get Saucy!
It’s National Sauce Month, everybody! If the SacFoodies love anything, it’s getting #lostinthesauce (in the most culinary sense of the phrase). We’ll be featuring a different kind of sauce each week of the month, ranging from barbecue to chocolate. Bring on the ranch, marinara, caramel, and curry – we’re hunting down our favorite sauces, and all the delicious food that goes under them!
For our first saucy spot, we stopped by – you guessed it – Sauced BBQ & Spirits on 7th and K. Sauced takes pride in the quality of their meat, the integrity of their smoking process, and their generous (i.e., gargantuan) portions. We had a great time at our lunch, which included great service, a lively atmosphere, and an overall satisfying work-day meal. Below, we each talk about our favorite part of the meal, and of course, our favorite sauce!
Laurel: For my lunch at Sauced, I ordered the appetizer Smoked Wings plate. As someone who doesn’t like my meals pre-drenched in sauce, I was happy that the wings came spiced, smoked, and with sauce on the side. This meant that I could add as much sauce as I wanted, and experiment with different kinds! Sauced has four house BBQ sauces – Tin Roof, Hot Tin Roof, Pig Candy, and Georgia Gold. I felt like the Georgia Gold, which is mustard-based, went best with the smoky chicken, but I definitely liked all four. Disclaimer: I also love mustard and vinegar, so it wasn’t suprising for me to pick this as my favorite!
Cheyenne: When I see tater-tots of any form on a menu, I’m blinded by their golden light and know that I have to have them. Even with the incredible number of menu options at Sauced, tater-tots had my heart. I ordered the Tot-Tas for lunch. “What exactly are Tot-Tas?” you may be wondering. Well, according to the menu it is a plate of tater-tots covered with cheddar cheese, bacon jam (yes, bacon jam!), sour cream, green onions and jalapenos. If you ask me what a Tot-Ta is, I’ll tell you it’s how Sauced made me say goodbye to plain tots forever. I’m counting bacon jam as the sauce on my meal, because there was really no need for anything extra on that plate. Every single thing – from the crunchiness of the tots, to the sweet, salty, smoky flavor of the bacon jam – made me fall in love with each bite. I probably could have used a little more sour cream, but that is a personal preference. If you are going to stop by Sauced I cannot recommend the Tot-Tas more, whether you plan on keeping them to yourself or sharing. Though I didn’t need anything extra on my meal, you can’t go to Sauced and not try the BBQ Sauce! If I had to choose one I would go with the Tin Roof, it is a classic ketchup-based sauce and I’m a classic kind of girl, but they were all delicious in their own special ways.
We can’t wait to go back to Sauced and try more #saucyspots throughout the rest of March. Word to the wise: Sauced is the spot to go before Golden 1 events, but be ready for crowds! We liked going for lunch to reap the rewards of a Sauced lunch without dealing with the pre-game rush. Tot-Ta for now! (Get it?)
Valentine's Day Specials 2015
For many, Valentine’s Day is one of those love/hate holidays. We love the food and quality time with those we care about, but sometimes the hype and planning for a special evening can get overwhelming. To help you out, here are our top picks for a swanky (and straightforward) V-Day date night:
- Ella Dining Room and Bar – $135 per person, 4 courses + 1 bottle of Champagne; Contemporary American
- The Firehouse – $125 per person, 5 courses; Californian
- Grange – $89 per person, 4 courses; Californian
- Delta King – Pilothouse – $79 per person, 3 courses; Californian
- plan b Restaurant – $70 per person, 4 course; French
- Esquire Grill – $65 per person ; American
- Cabana Winery and Bistro – $30 per person, 4 courses; Californian
Note: These options are for special Prix Fix Valentine’s Day Menus, and may have specific seating times. Call for reservations.