Today and tomorrow, Slow Food Sacramento will be hosting the second annual Sacramento Food Film Festival! As we’ve mentioned before, Sacramento was recently designated America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, so the festival taking place here in town couldn’t be more appropriate!Starting tonight, you’ll have the chance to watch several captivating films that present us with an honest look at where our food comes from—from sustainable production, to the not-so-pretty realities of food production in America. Not only do you have the chance to view seven different films, but for the first time, attendees can taste the experience too, with certain events providing tastings of the foods covered in the films! Here’s a rundown of the films and the food:
Friday, March 15 (5:30-10 p.m.)
• 5:30: Quest for Local Honey
This locally shot film explores how humans are working “hand in wing” with bees to create locally systems of economics and sustainable food production while keeping the health of the hive alive. This film will be followed by a honey tasting and discussion with the filmmakers at 6:30.
• 7:00: Ticket holders then move next door to the Forty Acres Gallery for a sushi tasting and discussion of seafood sustainability with Taro from Mikuni and Billy Ngo from Kru.
*Tickets for the sushi tasting needed to be purchased by March 13.
• 8:30: Jiro Dreams of Sushi
This film tells the story of 85-year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. His restaurant, located in a Tokyo subway station, it is now a pilgrimage location for sushi lovers who call months in advance and shell out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar.
Saturday, March 16 (11-9 p.m.)
• 11:00: The day kicks off with an exciting food-themed scavenger hunt for all ages followed by films and panel discussions throughout the day.
• 11:30: What’s On Your Plate?
A camera follows two 11-year-old kids as they explore food systems in New York City, talking with all contributors to the local food chain—from food activists to storekeepers.
• 1:00: A Community of Gardeners
This film takes a look at the roles of seven separate Washington, DC community gardens. This film is followed by a discussion at 2 p.m. about area community gardens within Sacramento.
• 3:00: Meat Hooked!
Meat Hooked! explores the rise and fall and rise again of local butchers. The film goes back in time to the early 19th century and moves quickly to the present, following several butchers.
• 4:15: American Harvest
In a series of candid interviews with farmers and farmworkers from Florida to Maine, the viewer objectively learns the facts, and dispels the myths, connected with migrant farmworkers that are rarely seen by most people. This film is followed by a moderated discussion of farm workers and their role in U.S. agriculture.
• 6:30: Symphony of the Soil
The film examines our human relationship with soil, the use and misuse of soil in agriculture, deforestation and development, and the latest scientific research on soil’s key role in dealing with the most challenging environmental issues of our time.
Proceeds from the festival this weekend will benefit California Food Literacy Center as well as Slow Food Sacramento.
Tickets:
• Friday Opening Night tickets, which include two films and two tastings: $40/person
• Saturday all-day tickets: $25 or $7/for an individual film
• Weekend festival tickets, good for both days: $55
For more details and to purchase tickets, visit: www.SlowFoodSacramento.com
Photo credit: www.sacfoodfilmfest.com
Archives for March 2013
Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, Sacramento
Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, most commonly referred to as simply ‘Red Rabbit,’ is a Midtown favorite and, until recently, I had only visited to check out the Happy Hour. But when a friend came to town last weekend, I was determined to take her to a place that was uniquely Sacramento—and Red Rabbit is just that.
We waited for our table by enjoying a few delicious cocktails available from the open and welcoming bar. I chose a Moscow Mule and my friend selected her standard Manhattan. Not only did the Moscow Mule quench my thirst, but it was served in a copper “old Dutch” style mug—which I loved.
The variety of options available for dinner made selecting our entrees difficult, but we decided to each get something different and share. I chose the Farro Risotto with fresh leeks and wild mushrooms, which was fresh, delicious and hearty. My dining partner chose the Shorty Melt, an outstanding sandwich with short rib meat that was cooked to perfection, and the melted cheddar paired with the Cajun remoulade left us both full and happy! With the weather slowly warming up in Sacramento, I know I’ll be back soon to enjoy the fantastic patio space.
If you’re looking for a unique dining environment with a contemporary and truly Sacramento vibe, be sure to check out Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar.
Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar
2718 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 706-2275
Ticket Giveaway: “Spring Surge” Charity Event 2013
Spring is almost here and we even have a food and wine event to prove it! You may remember our springtime buzz around the 2011 and 2012 Spring Break charity events, and the event (now renamed Spring Surge) is back this year to help usher in spring in Sacramento.
Next Friday, March 22, local charity Serotonin Surge will host its 9th annual “food, wine, fashion and fun” fundraiser at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa from 6:30 – 9:30p.m.
To date, this event has raised $1,850,000 for a network of over 20 clinics and programs that together provide 145,000 patient care visits per year to the medically uninsured and underinsured in the Sacramento area.
We’re all about charity, and of course, especially love a good cause that also features some good food and wine. Here is a peek at some of the food and beverage sponsors that will be sampling at the event:
Astoria Wine Group
Chocolate Fountains Delite
Cooper Vineyards
Dianda’s Italian Bakery & Cafe
Edible Events
Ella
Evan’s Kitchen & Catering
Fiddlehead Cellars
Heringer Estates
Icing on the Cupcake
Lemon Grass
Magpie Caterers Market & Cafe
Matteo’s Pizza & Bistro
Michael David Family of Wines
Robert Traverso Wines
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Selland’s Market
Senders Wines
Star Ginger
Supper Club
Sweet Cakes by Rebecca
The Kitchen
Whitehall Lane Winery
Yorba Vineyards
Now for the giveaway: the generous folks at Serotonin Surge have yet again offered to provide tickets for SacFoodies readers! This year, two lucky SacFoodies readers will each receive two tickets to the event. To enter, leave a comment below and tell us your favorite spot for spring dining in the Sacramento area. To be eligible, please leave a comment by 6:00 p.m. PT on Friday, March 15.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.serotoninsurge.org/home.php
Flaming Dragon Roll from Ninja Sushi
I am not the most daring person when it comes to selecting sushi rolls. I normally stick to the basics, and prefer to order the simplest roll on the menu. It wasn’t until I tasted the Flaming Dragon Roll from Ninja Sushi that I discovered my more adventurous side. Let me tell you – there are few sushi rolls quite as tasty as the Flaming Dragon Roll. Served on a flaming platter inside a nicely wrapped foil cover, the sushi roll sizzles for one to two minutes, leaving a tantalizing aroma you simply can’t resist. Once the fire dies down, you unravel the foil to find a beautiful surprise. The presentation is gorgeous and very well prepared.
To add to the beautiful arrangement, the Flaming Dragon roll packs a punch of flavor in the form of a great-tasting, fiery- flavored roll filled with crispy tempura shrimp and crab meat, tightly wrapped in perfectly cooked rice, topped with spicy tuna, yellowtail, shrimp and avocado, and finished off with a sprinkle of Masago and green onion.
The first bite of the Flaming Dragon is nothing like anything I’ve ever tasted. The roll was carefully crafted to create the perfect combination of raw and cooked fish. The great quality ingredients, rich taste and heavenly scent of the Flaming Dragon made for an unforgettable meal –so unforgettable that I’ll certainly be coming back for more.
Ninja Sushi
8937 Folsom Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95826
(916) 369-1935
Harvest Sacramento Happy Hour at Grange
It’s Friday and there is no better way I can think to close out the week than with a good happy hour.
We’ve been fans of the custom cocktail creations at Grange for quite some time, as you see from our previous SacFoodies posts, here and here. But what makes their latest specialty happy hour unique is that it is benefiting a really great cause!
Harvest Sacramento is an initiative of Soil Born Farms and seeks to use underutilized produce to keep the produce from going to waste. All proceeds from the specialty cocktail creations will go to support this cause and the produce used in the drinks was picked by volunteers from Sacramento-area trees!
Best part of this happy hour special? The custom drinks will be featured at Grange for the remainder of March and all proceeds will continue to benefit Harvest Sacramento throughout the month.
Meyer Lemon Black Pepper, Almost Spring Sangria and Pomelo Punch (which serves two and is served out of a Sacramento-grown Pomelo) are the delicious drink options available to get you ready for the spring season here in Sacramento.
Stop by the Grange during the month of March Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m. to try the Harvest Sacramento specialty cocktails and support the cause.
Cheers.
Grange Restaurant and Bar
926 J Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 492-4450