If you read our recent garden post, you know that we take great pride in our backyard gardens. One of the best parts about growing your own fruits and veggies is not only tasting the results, but sharing them with others. So, it’s no surprise that we were excited to hear about a Sacramento organization that uses backyard harvests to eliminate hunger.
Harvest Sacramento is a volunteer organization that harvests extra fruit from backyard trees, and then passes it along to local food agencies to feed the hungry. This year, they harvested more than 8,200 pounds of fruit from Sacramento backyards!
Want to get involved? Harvest Sacramento’s upcoming Garden Highway Harvests are the perfect way to start!
On Saturday, October 10th and 17th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Harvest Sacramento will harvest more than 10,000 pounds of Asian pears, plums, apples and more from an old orchard that hasn’t been maintained for several years. All you need to do to help out is RSVP and arrive at your designated harvest location ready to pick fruit and help a great cause!
For more details and to RSVP, visit Harvest Sacramento’s Web site.
Archives for October 2009
Courtyard Dining: Aioli Bodega Espanola
For our final courtyard stop, Maria and I were lucky enough to visit this Midtown hotspot with none other than Rick Kushman himself. The three of us met for lunch on the patio and I have to say that Aioli has one of the nicest patios in town! Sitting on the patio, surrounded by foliage and listening to the sound of the pretty tiled water fountain behind us, it was almost impossible to believe that we were dining on one of the busiest corners in Midtown.
After noshing on a few baskets of bread with a dipping sauce that reminded us of hummus with a kick of spice, I decided to order one of the daily specials, a chicken salad topped with grilled bell peppers and shoestring potatoes. Maria opted for the vegetarian sandwich special and Rick went with the lamb sandwich which he described as having a subtle Mediterranean spicing but calling out for a glass of Pinot Noir to go with it. Both sandwiches came with side salads and were served on grilled bread that tasted like a delicious cross between pita bread and pizza crust.
Chatting away over our meals we agreed that Aioli likely is one of the best-kept courtyard dining secrets in Sacramento. The inside of the restaurant looked just as welcoming including a cozy bar area in back. Lucky for all of us that weather reports look like we’ll surely have at least a few more weeks of patio-dining-acceptable weather – at least for lunch!
Aioli Bodgea Espanola
1800 L Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 447-9440
Courtyard Dining: Osteria Fasulo
I’ve lived in Davis for just over two years now and still love trying new restaurants. When Rick Kushman suggested that the SacFoodies try Osteria Fasulo as part of the courtyard dining series I jumped at the chance. Osteria Fasulo is an Italian restaurant located in West Davis: its location is unique in itself – the restaurant is situated in a residential neighborhood instead of downtown, where most others Davis eateries are located. In fact, I was wondering to myself when we pulled up how a restaurant, so far off the beaten path, was famous for being one of the best restaurants in town… and then I saw the patio.
I would like to point out that the inside of Osteria Fasulo is homey, and very nice, but the patio is what makes the place so great – it’s huge and looks onto the restaurant’s garden and a neighborhood bike path. Lucky for my husband and me it was a warm summer evening and we wanted our meal to linger into the night when the patio’s strung lights would be illuminated, which it definitely did!
As per usual, we couldn’t decide what to try, so we ordered a selection of menu items and tasted off of each other’s plates. After the order was placed and wine poured, our server left us to sit at our cozy corner table under the grapevines, while she started rustling through the garden. We made our guesses about what she was harvesting and then saw her surface with a small squash blossom and immediately disappear into the kitchen.
It was to my pure delight when our first course, a Summer Squash Soup, came out topped with the blossom, stuffed with goat cheese and grilled – delish!
Our evening got better as the sun went down – the food kept coming and the service was very friendly and the staff was quite knowledgeable.
Lobster & Beef Carpaccio.
Lobster & Spinach Risotto
Pistachio crusted Salmon and green beans
Just as we were being served dessert the owner, Lenardo Fasulo stopped by our table to say hello and ask how our dinner was. I loved this – such a nice touch that not many restaurant owners take the time to do, and it makes all the difference. At Osteria Fasulo you feel at home and welcometo sit in the patio and enjoy until your heart’s content. Of course nothing tops off a long dinner like a dessert and a latte – our choice was the Bavaria Cream with Raspberry Puree and Chocolate Shavings. What a night!
Osteria Fasulo
2657 Portage Bay East
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 758-1324
Courtyard Dining: The Mustard Seed
I’ve driven through Davis more times than I can count, but have never really stopped to enjoy this cute, college town. So when the opportunity presented itself to enjoy a lovely dinner on the patio of The Mustard Seed in downtown Davis, I jumped at the chance.
Although we dined on a slightly overcast day with a few sprinkles, I could see that this would be a wonderful spot to kick back, enjoy a glass of wine and nosh on great-tasting food featuring seasonal ingredients. Immediately after being seated, our server brought out crusty bread, a garlic-goat cheese spread and olives. This was a nice surprise over your typical bread/butter combo. We then ordered two starters– the first was a grilled artichoke with an herby-balsamic glaze and aioli on the side and the second starter was an Arugula salad with Mission Figs and Serrano Ham. It was sweet, peppery and savory all in a delicious bite.
As much as I loved my artichoke, I had my eye on the entrée. I’m always a sucker for a good pork chop, and this one was slathered in a house-made barbecue sauce that was the perfect blend of sweet and zesty. But the real star of the plate was the cheddar mashed potatoes with green onions and corn. I could barely keep my dining companion (who ordered the Corn Meal-dusted Diver Scallops served with Sweet Corn Risotto) from stealing bite after bite of these cheesy, chunky spuds
Because I couldn’t stop myself from finishing the pork chop, I left zero room for dessert but The Mustard Seed had a great assortment of chocolate and fruit selections along with some tasty-looking cheese plates.
If you are looking for a romantic dining spot for two, or planning a bridal or baby shower, definitely reserve the patio at The Mustard Seed for meal (or event) to remember.
The Mustard Seed
222 D. Street #11
Davis, Ca 95616
(530) 758-5750
Sactweetup Scavenger Hunt Giveaway!
Tonight is the first ever Sactweetup Scavenger Hunt hosted by Luxury Limousines and we have a ticket to give away!
The night will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Morton’s Steakhouse when participants can grab a drink, slider and review the rules. Then, the real fun will start when groups disperse at 6:15 p.m., each in their own limo, searching the city for prizes and clues.
The event is sold out but you can still join in on the fun by leaving a comment here or on our Facebook page. A winner will be chosen at 3 p.m., so keep your email handy and have your hunting shoes ready!