By Tricia Juanitas
[Read more…]Archives for August 2014
For Elegant Dining and Craft Brews, Blackbird Soars
By: Amanda Frew and Jake Ferguson
For those of us that work in downtown Sacramento, keeping us in the area after work hours is not easy to do with midtown’s many bars and restaurants luring us away after we leave the office. On a recent visit to Blackbird Kitchen + Beer Gallery though, two of us Sac Foodies found ourselves happily whiling away the evening without the slightest thought of our usual midtown haunts.
This February, Blackbird reopened its doors with a new identity. They now feature dishes starring local farm-fresh produce and incredibly fresh fish for their many raw offerings and to live up to their namesake as a “Beer Gallery,” Blackbird also boasts over 50 beers on tap from all over the world. It’s not often you have the chance to partake in upscale food with such a wide range of craft beers, but we highly suggest you visit Blackbird soon to do so. Below is a recap of our delicious evening.
Salmon Crudo with Pickled Shishito Peppers
This dish was full of flavor and was the perfect size for an appetizer. The tangy peppers cut the fattiness of the salmon and the crunch of the sea salt on top created and exceptional bite.
Farm-to-Fork at its Finest
The fine people at Farm Fresh To You hosted a fabulous Farm-to-Fork dinner Sunday night, with the help of Chef Oliver Ridgeway and his amazing team from The Grange Restaurant and Bar.
The summer feast was a start to finish culinary masterpiece, which began in the garden with passed hors d’oeuvres of Collins Farm Endive with North Valley Farms Goat Cheese, honey and pistachios, Andouille Sausage slices topped with a stone fruit chutney and seasonal mustard, and Blistered Padron Peppers tossed in olive oil, sea salt and lemon. The seated family-style dinner on the farm overlooking the beautiful Capay Valley began with a first course of Capay Organic Melons and Tomatoes, tossed with feta, herbs and chili. Next, we enjoyed Passmore Ranch Trout Nicoise tossed in lemon vinaigrette with green beans, peppers and potatoes – this dish also included deviled eggs topped with Passmore Ranch caviar. So decadent! A Stone Valley Farms Porchetta rounded out this palate-pleasing meal, filled with summer squash, eggplant, succotash and salsa verde. Each dish paired nicely with donated libations from David Girard Vineyards and Ruhstaller Beer.
While I enjoyed every bite of this amazing dinner, I was most excited for the dessert (no surprise), a Capay Organic Candystripe Fig and Summer Fruit Trifle. This creamy layered dish of strawberries, peaches and pound cake took this traditional English dessert to a whole new level of sophisticated bliss, topped with the gorgeous striped figs.
Not only did we benefit from an amazing evening on the farm with the Barsotti/Barnes family and Chef Ridgeway, proceeds from the dinner went to the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services and the Kathleen Barsotti Non-Profit for Sustainable Agriculture, which gives school supplies and backpacks to farmworkers’ kids and awards an annual agriculture scholarship.
For upcoming events, including wine tasting at the Capay Crush event September 20, visit www.farmfreshtoyou.com.
Centro Turns Twenty
Centro Cocina Mexicana, a Sacramento staple, turns 20 this week and the restaurant is celebrating with a week of specials. Starting today and continuing through Sunday, August 17th, Centro will feature a commemorative anniversary menu and table-side guacamole preparation.
In addition to satisfying your appetite, no birthday celebration would be complete without some special drinks. Centro will feature $6 Anniversary Infusion Margaritas and $5 Centro Margaritas—which just so happened to be the price in 1994. You can also catch former Centro bartenders who will be returning on Tuesday and Wednesday to celebrate.
Born out of the desire to bring a new kind of Mexican cuisine to Sacramento, PRG Executive Chef Kurt Spataro and partner Randy Paragary opened Centro after an extensive culinary tour of Mexico. The Midtown restaurant, located on the corner of 28th and J Street, is known for its moles made from scratch, fresh corn tortillas, festive atmosphere, and fabulous Tequila infusions.
If you’ve never had the chance to make it to Centro, or if you’re due for a visit, be sure to swing by this week and wish them a Happy Birthday!
Centro Cocina Mexicana
2730 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 442-2552
Wordless Wednesday: Chocolate Fish Coffee
A “Flat White” from Chocolate Fish Coffee is always a good idea.
Chocolate Fish Coffee
3rd St and Q St
Sacramento, CA 95814