Looking for some foodie fun this weekend? Well, look no more! The Stockton Asparagus Festival is here! This three-day extravaganza in Downtown Stockton will feature fresh California-grown asparagus – 36,000 pounds of it were served last year – in many unique dishes, such as deep-fried asparagus, asparagus tri-tip sandwiches, asparagus burritos and asparagus pasta dishes, just to name a few.
The Asparagus Festival is rated one of the best food festivals in the west and is a crowd-pleaser for all ages. Adult tickets are $12, seniors (60+) and teens (13-17) are $7, and children under 12 are free. Food and drink tickets vary, so click here for more information on pricing and to purchase tickets online. The great thing is 100% of the festival proceeds go to local charities – eat local, give local.
Fun fact: Much of the asparagus is cut fresh daily and served right up from the delta to you. For more information on California Grown (client), take a peek at California Grown’s new video series featuring farmer profiles, recipes and more.
Stockton Asparagus Festival
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 27-29
Downtown Stockton
221 N Center St.
Stockton, CA 95202
Archives for April 2012
Wonka™ Ice Cream Giveaway!
Were you mesmerized by the recent post about our Wonka™ Ice Cream tasting? Do you want the golden ticket too?
Well you’re in luck! We are giving YOU the chance to sample these fun new flavors. All you have to do is comment on this post telling us what creative ice cream combination you would create and you could win! You have until 5 p.m. on May 3.
We will be selecting two winners who will receive $35 worth of coupons to purchase all of the deliciously dreamy Wonka™ creations.
Good luck!
Wordless Wednesday- Thai Basil
If I had to choose one food to eat forever, Thai would be my choice. There is something always satisfying about the fusion of fresh ingredients and a spicy kick. My favorite?- Pad Se Ew from Thai Basil. This dish comes with broccoli, thick rice noodles and pan-fried egg in a sweet soy sauce; all with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, tofu or mixed vegetables.
Also, the majority of their dishes can be made vegan or gluten free. Yum!
Thai Basil
2431 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
916.442.7690
SacFoodies Have the Golden Ticket: Wonka™ Ice Cream Tasting
When the SacFoodies team was offered the opportunity to try all seven flavors of Wonka™ Ice Cream, we had to hold back from shouting a collective, “Daddy, I want it nooooow!” à la Veruca Salt.
As the weather hit the mid-80s on a Friday, we were delighted to receive a cold, frozen box filled with pint after pint of seven deliciously innovative flavors (although, sadly, nothing snozberry-inspired).
We gathered round and tested each one. Here’s what we thought and who liked what best:
• Kerfuffle Truffle (creamtastic chocolate ice cream with rich chocolate truffles and swirls of fudge) – Talk about a chocolate overload! We loved the richness and decadence of this one.
• Chipperberry Swirl (luscious black raspberry and vanilla ice cream with liquid chocolate chips) – If you love fruit mixed with chocolate, this is right up your alley. Noticing that this one resembled the flavors of a raspberry truffle, one SacFoodie exclaimed, “It’s berry-tastic!” (This one was favored by the majority – Jon, Brooke, Vanessa and Dan)
• Chocolate Mintropolis (a most mintrific combination of chocolate mint ice cream with peppermint patties and chocolate mint cookies) – Reminiscent of a Girl Scout cookie, this one boasted some surprise as we experienced bites with varying textures—chewy peppermint patties and puffy mint cookies. (Jenna’s favorite)
• Caramel Nut Kadoozle (rich, caramel ice cream with mixed nut brittle and wondrous walnut caramel swirl) – You’d be nuts not to like this one! Each bite overwhelmed our mouths with nutty flavors, and we absolutely loved the crunch this one had. (Kris was this one’s biggest fan)
• Chocolate Chipper Chip (silky smooth vanilla ice cream with chocolate and potato chip bark pieces) – Wait, potato chips in ice cream?! It’s a junk food lover’s dream! We were really digging the innovation of this one and especially enjoyed the sweetness of the ice cream followed by the salty crunch of the potato chips. (This one got votes from Jake, Shelly and Tracy)
• Chocolate Snowflakes (not-so-plain vanilla ice cream with melt-in-your-mouth chocolate flakes) – If you’re not into some of the other wilder flavors, this one was an all-around classic rendition of yummy, rich vanilla ice cream with perfectly sized chocolate chunks.
• Kernelpuff Caramelstuff (mouthwatering caramel corn ice cream with crispy kernels, pecan pralines and salted caramel swirls) – Picture the unique smells and tastes you experience when you’re eating treats at the fair, and this one wraps those up in a pint-sized parcel. It features crunchy, pop-in-your-mouth popcorn amid creamy, caramel deliciousness. (Kim was all about this one)
We savored every last bite, making it nearly impossible to heed the advice of Augustus Gloop’s mother and “save some room for later!”
Wonka™ Ice Cream is available now in select grocery stores throughout Northern California and Reno, Nev., including Safeway, Raley’s, SaveMart, Lucky, Walmart, Target, CVS, Nugget Market, 7-Eleven, Chevron, Lunardi’s, Gene’s Fine Foods, Draeger’s and Key Marketsand. It retails for $4.99 a pint. For more details, visit www.wonkaicecream.com.
The Wonka™ Ice Cream was provided to the SacFoodies, and the opinions expressed are our own.
Papa Callahan’s Traditional Red Wine Sangria
By Meagan Cross
Although I have lived my entire life in California, which is notorious for temperate weather, I am in love with the changing of seasons. Every time they show themselves, a little excitement trickles through my body. I don’t want to pick favorites, but I have to say that the change from spring to summer is pretty exciting! Although it’s not quite here, I can feel the warmth coming through, which means backyard barbecues, pool parties and delicious summer sippers.
There are so many refreshing beverage options, but one of my favorites is sangria, and this Spanish cocktail is ideal for more than one reason:
1) Seasonal fruit – Let’s face it, although we live in California and have more options than most year round, the best time to buy or harvest fruit is during the summer months.
2) Versatility – I am a bit of a traditionalist, but you can make Sangria HOWEVER you want: kumquats, loquats, white wine, red wine, lime water, bubbly water. The sky is the limit, and that’s what makes sangria THE COOLEST.
3) Perfect for entertaining – Preparing sangria can be done in advance of a party. I love me a flavored martini or margarita, but sangria is sure to impress without the maintenance of blending or shaking.
Many of my recipes come from my father, who I refer to as “Papa Callahan.” He is a master entertainer, chef and mixologist whose sangria, although traditional, packs a punch!
Papa Callahan’s Traditional Red Wine Sangria
Ingredients
4 medium oranges
1 medium lemon
1 medium lime
3 bottles red wine
½ cup simple sugar syrup*
2 cups sparkling water (experiment with your favorite flavored sparkling water)
½ cup brandy
Preparation
In a one gallon container, squeeze the juice of the oranges, lemon and lime. Add squeezed fruit skins into the container. Pour the wine over the fruit and juices. Refrigerate for three hours or overnight.
When Ready to Serve
Fill pitcher half full of ice. Then fill three fourths of the pitcher with sangria mixture. Sweeten with simple syrup and add sparkling water and brandy. Serve over ice and garnish with orange slices.
I enjoy my sangria with Spanish tapas, but it’s also the perfect addition to a traditional barbecue or during an evening of entertaining friends!
* To prepare simple syrup, place 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar in small saucepan and cook over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved into water. Let cool. Psst…you skinny girls out there: substitute cane sugar with Splenda and enjoy a guilt-free summer beverage.