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!
This Week in Foodie Events…
Last week we mentioned how much we are looking forward to the Raley’s Grape Escape event on June 6th. But that’s not the only event to put on your calendar. This is just the beginning of a summer full of foodie fun! Here is a round-up of upcoming events to get you started:
Tuesday, June 2 from 6-8 p.m. – Stop by The Shack this Tuesday night for a Belgian Beer Tasting and plenty of appetizers. The tasting will include a variety of Belgian ales and a souvenir glass for the nice price of $25.
Tuesday, June 2 from 6-8 p.m. – If you’re more in the mood for wine than beer on Tuesday, stop by the tasting event at Fuzio Bistro. Just $10 gets you a tasting flight from Oak Ridge Winery and an appetizer! Some of the appetizer choices may include crab cakes, spring rolls or lettuce wraps.
Friday, June 5, from 6-10 p.m. – You won’t want to miss the Taste of Fair Oaks event where you will find local restaurants, wineries and microbreweries, all under one roof! The event includes live music, an art show and even a golf putting contest with a $5,000 prize! Tickets are $35 if purchased ahead, or $40 at the door.
Friday, June 5 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. – This Friday, the 7th Annual Celebrity Chef Challenge will take place at the Towe Auto Museum. Competitors will have 45 minutes to turn five secret ingredients into three power-packed dishes right in front of your eyes! The event also includes a VIP food show and live entertainment. Tickets are $50.
Saturday, June 6 from 2-4 p.m. – If you read our recent interview with cookbook authors Dina Guillen and Michelle Lowrey, then you’ll want to make time in your schedule this Saturday to stop by the Borders store in Folsom for their book signing and cooking demonstration! You’ll be able to try some tasty bites and peruse their latest cookbook, Cooking Club: Great Idea and Delicious Recipes for Fabulous Get-Togethers.
Saturday, June 6 from 1-5 p.m. – If the above events still haven’t satisfied your taste buds, consider heading to Santa Rosa for a festive microbrew and food tasting extravaganza at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. More than 35 microbreweries and exceptional food purveyors will be on site. Tickets, ($40 at the door or $35 ahead), include food and beverage tasting and a souvenir glass!
Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m. – Take part in Fairytale Town’s half-century celebration by attending the Jackie Greene concert this Saturday night. Tickets are $25 per person and there will be BBQ and beverages available for purchase.
We’d love to hear what events you’re planning on attending this summer and what you’d like to see us include on our next event round-up, so leave us a comment below!
And the Winner of the Cooking Club Cookbook Is……
Sadye Yezbak, who told us about the informal family barbeque she recently attended! Thanks to everyone who entered to win and a big thanks to all our loyal Sac Foodies readers. Congratulations Sadye and let us know how your first Cooking Club party turns out!
Kate Washington: Foodie Views on Sacramento, Restaurant Finds and Our New Zagat Guide
In the dining world, many consider the Zagat guide the bible of restaurants for any given city. But it wasn’t until very recently that Zagat published one for the city of Sacramento… and we have our very own Sactown magazine to thank for that. Frequent readers of Sactown are familiar with the “Why Not Here?” section on the last page of every issue; and back in February of 2008, the co-editor-in-chief, Rob Turner, asked that very question about the Zagat guide. Zagat answered back, and the Sacramento Zagat guide was born….well, almost. Zagat enlisted the help of Sactown Contributing Writer Kate Washington, who penned the magazine’s current cover story on best breakfasts, to be the editor for the local guide. After compiling many, many consumer reviews and ratings of our city’s local eateries, the guide in all its glory is now available for purchase at a number of retailers including Zagat.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders.
A few of us Sac Foodies were lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit down with Sactown’s Kate Washington and pick her brain on where we and our readers need to eat in Sacramento and what life is really like as a food journalist. Here’s what we found out:
Sac Foodies: How did you become a food writer and what’s the best part?
KW: I’ve always been interested in food and first worked in the food publishing world when I landed a job as a copy editor at Williams-Sonoma Taste magazine. Later, I worked as associate food editor at Sunset magazine. I like being able to go behind the scenes and in-depth with chefs to really learn about the craft.
Sac Foodies: If you had to choose, what would you eat for your last meal?
KW: Roasted chicken with potatoes and leeks. And of course, upside-down pear gingerbread cake for dessert… it’s my mom’s recipe.
Sac Foodies: We imagine the glorious life of food journalism to include eating out all the time – is that how it is for you?
KW: I actually only eat out about once or twice a week – the rest of the time I cook at home, or we order takeout.
Sac Foodies: What’s your standby for takeout in a pinch?
KW: My husband and I often go for pho either at one of the many great places on Stockton Blvd. or at Pho Bac Hoa Viet on Broadway.
Sac Foodies: We’re thinking of doing a “Best Burger” week on Sac Foodies in the near future – what’s your pick?
KW: Taylor’s Kitchen [the new restaurant next to Taylor’s Market on Freeport Blvd.], the Waterboy, Nationwide Freezer Meats, the Squeeze Inn or Whitey’s in West Sac for the great atmosphere and fruit shakes in the summertime.
Sac Foodies: We have to ask – what would you recommend people do to continue being able to dine out in the difficult economic times?
KW: I suggest supporting the local food scene in small ways, if you can. We have so many inexpensive, diverse and delicious restaurants in Sacramento. Try going out for small plates, breakfast or lunch instead of a full dinner.
Sac Foodies: We recently started a weekly “Tightwad Tuesday” post series to tell readers about great deals around town. Have any suggestions for cheap eats?
KW: I go to Huong Lan on 65th and Stockton for Vietnamese subs. You get a huge sandwich on a baguette with grilled meats, veggies and herbs for just $2.50!
Kate was such a joy to meet with, and it’s always nice to be in the company of fellow Sacramentans who share a passion for all things foodie. As a contributor to Sactown, Kate and her team were nice enough to set us up with our very first giveaway. Intrigued? Check back next week for your chance to win a free subscription to Sactown!