California has so many beautiful wine regions and I had the pleasure of visiting several wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains this weekend. Nestled among the redwoods, this was very different than the Napa Valley experience and the drive through the mountains was truly breathtaking. Although we tasted everything from a light Sauvignon Blanc to a hearty Cabernet Sauvignon, the region is best known for its Pinot Noir. Here’s a pic from our first stop at the Roudon-Smith Winery.
Archives for 2007
Bistro 33, Sacramento
Last night my husband and I found ourselves at 16th & J in Midtown during rush hour with parking spots secured. I had been wanting to try Bistro 33, so we made it just in time for their nightly “Appy Hour.” For a reasonable sum, we feasted on crab & artichoke dip with crunchy toasted baguette, fried bay shrimp served in a cone with a sherry dipping sauce (has a kick!), the “Bistro Gardens” salad, and my favorite – mini Kobe burgers with gouda goat cheese (a.k.a. complete indulgence in moderation).
Although we stuck with $3 wine and beer selections from the “Appy Hour” menu, we couldn’t help but be intrigued by the server’s description of their “Rotating Midtown Classic” – a Grey Goose vodka martini with a Sapphire gin wash – which is priced as “Time of Day is the Price you Pay!” Very clever and tempting for martini purists like my husband.
We rounded out our meal with the “Bag ‘o Doughnuts” dessert – beignet-esque balls shaken at the table in a paper bag with cinnamon, sugar, and brown sugar, then served with a trio of chocolate sauce, strawberry compote, and honey butter. Yum! I always appreciate a little pomp and circumstance with my dessert.
Considering our spontaneous Midtown dining experience didn’t break the bank, and we amused ourselves sampling trendy menu items on their breezy patio, I definitely recommend hitting up Bistro 33’s “Appy Hour,” Monday – Friday, 4-7 p.m. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, Bistro 33 serves food until midnight, Sunday – Wednesday, and until 3 a.m., Thursday – Saturday.
Sacramento Second Saturday Art Walk: A Feast for the Senses
Java City’s Nick Tucker pours samples of French-pressed Ethiopia Sidamo
This month’s Second Saturday Art Walk served up a smorgasbord of art, food, fashion and music for culture-hungry Sacramentans. My boyfriend Joe and I met up with fellow Sac Foodie Melinda and her husband Johnnie at our place, downtown, and enjoyed pre-festivity margaritas as we charted our course for the evening. Our first stop was Java City’s 18th & Capitol café. Java City is a beloved FH/Sac client, and we had a great time at a coffee tasting class where we learned how to “slurp” coffee, the best way to assess a coffee’s flavor. Very similar to wine tasting, we were educated on how to evaluate the aroma, acidity and body of three different coffees from Africa – the birthplace of coffee. The group favorite was Ethiopia Sidamo, a highly aromatic and full-bodied coffee that was softly acidic with a sweet flavor. In other words, it was delicious!
Johnnie, “Big” Joe and Melinda sniffing and slurping
After the caffeinated tutorial, we were ready to stroll the streets also buzzing with incredible energy. We crossed the street to Dragonfly to check out local artist James Cameron, a Second Saturday staple that is always a must see. Next followed a trek towards the recently relocated Phoenix Gallery. On the way there, we had to swim through a swarm of people outside Zocalo which was celebrating its three year anniversary, mariachi band, dancers and all.
As we sambaed our way through the crowd and crossed over to the corner of 18th & L Street, entrancing jazz music lured us into the courtyard of the chic new 1801 L Street Apartments, where we found a trove of captivating artwork and a flock of people carrying wine glasses. We were instantly inspired to take a detour into L Wine Lounge. We were able to score a table on the terrace where we could enjoy the music; we were soon joined by fellow Second Saturday enthusiasts and friends Stefani and Michele, who filled us in on their adventures at the Phoenix Gallery, and I do mean adventure, but that’s a story for some other time. We ordered the seasonal cheese and cured meat plate, gnudi, calamari, French fries and of course…many glasses of wine! The weather was perfect, the music was soothing, the food delicious and the evening carried on with laughter-filled conversation. Looking back, the night was nothing short of a masterpiece and I am looking forward to the September sequel!
The L Wine Lounge courtyard has the buzz of a Manhattan eatery
Midweek Morsels 08.15.07
The downtown plaza has a great farmers’ market on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We usually head over at lunch time, but last week we had a staff meeting so ended up going close to 2:00, which ended up being very fortuitous for us as you can get incredible bargains! The farmers bagged up their produce and some of our bounty included a huge bag of peaches, pluots and nectarines for $3; huge bag of seedless red grapes $3; cantaloupe $2; bag of green grapes $1.50; bag of pears $1.50; three gorgeous heirloom tomatoes for $1, and flowers for $3 a bunch.
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Thursday is Cajun night at the Shack, 5201 Folsom Blvd.
A Little Piece of Heaven in Des Moines
I was in Des Moines for business a few weeks back and had the pleasure of visiting the test gardens for Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It was incredible! The head gardener has broken the garden into separate sections from evergreens to heirloom tomatoes and peppers. We even stumbled upon them doing a photo shoot for strawberry festival recipes that will run in ’08. If you ever happen to be in Des Moines for business or pleasure, take a stroll through this free public garden located at Locust and 17th. Here are a couple of my favorite pics.
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