It seems like everyday there is a new restaurant opening around town! Here’s the latest word on the street about what’s going on in the city we call home:
Bistro 33 Midtown Closes, Burger Bar in the Works:
Bistro 33 in Midtown closed its doors at the end of September, but not to worry – a new restaurant will be replacing this Midtown favorite in November. Drum roll please: Spin Burger Bar! Spin Burger Bar will feature a variety of beef, turkey, veggie and chicken burgers, and a drink menu that will focus on beer over wine. Stay tuned, we may just review Spin Burger Bar right here on SacFoodies when it opens!
Paragary’s Takes to the Air:
Did you know that the Paragary Restaurant Group owns and operates 10 restaurants within the Sacramento area? That’s why it’s no surprise that the group wants to take to the skies and open a restaurant in the Sacramento International Airport! Who wouldn’t like to indulge in fine food while waiting for a flight? If this proposal for a full service restaurant gets approved the eatery would be located past the passenger security checkpoint in the new jet concourse’s central hall. We’ll keep you updated on this potential tasty airport addition.
Archives for 2010
The Bazaar by Jose Andres, Los Angeles
If given the chance (and budget) to dine well in Los Angeles, The Bazaar by Jose Andres should rise to the top of your list. For our client Mirassou Winery, I recently had the opportunity to do just that – enjoy a special food and wine pairing dinner, and the experience was a beautiful feast of senses. Our dinner took place in SAAM, which is the Chef’s tasting room, and though our menu was derived from their regular menu, the Chef put a unique spin on each and every course.
Appetizers
American Caviar Cones
Watermelon Tomato Skewers
Jicama-wrapped Guacamole
First Course
Not Your Everyday Caprese Salad
Second Course
Brussels Sprouts
Third Course
Sautéed Garlic Shrimp
Fourth Course
Foie Gras Floating Island Soup
Fifth Course
Seared Chicken and Dates
Sixth Course
Wild Mushroom Rice
Seventh Course
Lamb Tenderloin
It’s no surprise that everything was delicious, and when paired with the right wine varietal, it was more like delicious on steroids. The standouts for me were the Jicama-wrapped guacamole (thinly sliced jicama with a heart of guacamole and tortilla chips), the Brussels sprouts and (drum roll, please!) the Foie Gras Floating Island Soup.
The Bazaar has reinvented the Brussels Sprout. I have to admit that, on paper, this was the course I was least looking forward to. However, these looked and tasted nothing like my memory of the poor, underrated Brussels Sprout. Later the Chef de Cuisine educated us as to why we enjoyed this one so much: The leaves of the Brussels sprout are peeled and boiled just until they green; then, they are submerged into an ice bath to halt the cooking process. They are sautéed with lemon puree, apricots, white grapes, and finished with a lemon air. I have no idea what lemon air actually is, but I did capture it on film just for you. This came in as one of the favorite courses of the foodies around the table.
My absolute favorite, though, was the Foie Gras soup. There. Are. No. Words. Seriously! When paired with the Mirassou Riesling, I couldn’t speak. I could only shovel and sip. This dish is really special, and though it’s a classic pairing, the finish – a chilled sweet baby corn mouse, crumbled corn nuts, chives, sea salt and olive oil – gives It that unique twist on the classic.
My post would not be complete without mentioning the surroundings and the service. The staff are kind and thoughtful. A red carpet leads you to a dimly lit large space that is actually many distinct areas – Bar Centro (the term “bar” does not do it justice), Rojo y Blanca (tapas restaurant), SAAM (Chef’s intimate tasting room), the Patisserie (dessert), and Regalo (shopping). Like the food, the people and the space reflect the care taken to ensure your experience is indelibly etched in memory. The Bazaar is a beautiful thing.
The Bazaar by Jose Andres
465 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90048
Kupros Bistro, Sacramento
By Liz Conant and Cecily Fuller
Advertising themselves as Sacramento’s first gastropub, (a much-debated term, most commonly defined as a pub that also offers good food), Kupros Bistro is located in a beautifully remodeled 100 year-old craftsman near the corner of 21st and L Street. Outfitted with stained glass windows, rich wood booths and a large balcony seating area, Kupros makes a memorable first impression. We were excited to try out the new spot in town to see how it would measure up in the Sacramento dining scene. On our visit to the restaurant with a group of friends, we quickly learned that the unique food offerings lived up to our expectations.
We sat on the upstairs balcony to enjoy the sunny evening. A few of us shared the oysters as an appetizer which came served on a bed of sea salt with a cucumber topping. They were delicious, fresh and a perfect way to start the meal.
Next, we moved on to an order of the poutine, a dish that originated in Quebec, Canada and usually consists of French fries topped with fresh cheese curds and gravy. The Kupros version went the extra mile by including braised oxtail on top. Needless to say, the dish of fries, cheese, gravy and oxtail was gone in a matter of minutes.
A few of us also sampled the crispy pork belly BLT – need we say more? Served open-faced on crusty bread and topped with thick heirloom tomatoes and arugula, it was another hit that left everyone wanting more.
Finally, we wrapped up our sampling meal will a dessert that we can only describe as some kind of vanilla pudding heaven served with oversized Oreo-like cookies for dipping.
We left Kupros feeling full, satisfied and looking forward to our next visit so we can continue to sample items from the unique menu.
Kupros Bistro
1217 21st Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 440-0401
Wordless Wednesday: Man v. Food on Travel Channel
Tune in to the Travel Channel tonight at 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time to see Adam Richman conquer the Knucklehead Challenge in our very own Sacramento, CA!
Man v. Food on Twitter: @ManvFood
Learn More: http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Man_V_Food
Winner of Mercy’s Annual “Care Begins with Me” Giveaway
Congratulations to Mary Beth T., the winner of two tickets to Mercy’s “Care Begins with Me” event on October 5! Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway and we hope you are all enjoying the new and improved Sac Foodies blog!
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