Paella from Lola’s Lounge in Old Town Elk Grove.
Lola’s Lounge
9085 Elk Grove Boulevard
Elk Grove, California 95864
Archives for February 2015
Sacramento Beer Week #SBW2015
Attention Sacramento: Sac Beer Week 2015 has arrived. If you frequent any of the local establishments in town, you’ve probably seen fliers touting the specialized events and menus that will be popping up across Sacramento from February 26-March 8.
Sacramento Beer Week is flanked by two “main events.” First, theSacramento Brewer’s Showcaseis taking place this Thursday, February 26 at the California Auto Museum from 5:30 – 9 p.m. In addition to sipping local brews, attendees can peruse the over 150 cars on display at the museum. Admission will grant you unlimited tastings at the over 30 local breweries in attendance and tickets start at $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Designated drivers can get in for $10 and you can also upgrade your ticket cost for $10 to include special IPA flights during the event.Click here to purchase.
Finally, Beer Week wraps up on Sunday, March 8 with theCapitol Beer Festspanning four blocks on Capitol Mall from 2-5 p.m. The day will include tastings at over 100 craft breweries, live music and a variety of food trucks to keep your taste buds happy while sipping. Tickets for this event also start at $40 in advance and $45 at the door andcan be purchased here.
The event options at local restaurants and bars are seemingly endless, so you may want to choose wisely. Thankfully, the folks at Sacramento Beer Week have put together a super handy listing of events that highlight the special offerings and menus throughout the week.Check it out here.
It would be nearly impossible to make it to every event, so I’ve decided to narrow it down to two options and go from there. First, the Ruhstaller and Santos Brewing Beer Flights and Cheese Pairings starting at noon atThe Rind, this Saturday, February 28. Second, Steal the Glass Night at Der Biergarten, from 3-9 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, in which the beer stein is yours to keep with purchase of a beer.
Overall, Sacramento Beer Week is sure to be a great time for beer lovers and supporters of the local food scene alike. Which events will you be checking out?
The Sweetest Valentine’s Day Brunch
So, who out there procrastinated and missed out on all the hot dinner reservations for tomorrow night? Anyone willing to admit it? Well, instead of feeling bad about it, make it up to your sweetie with a beautiful Valentine’s Day brunch! Just think how wonderful it will be to start off the day with the one you love, sipping bubbly (or a Bloody Mary, whatever your fancy) and enjoying some delicious breakfast together in your pajamas. If you ask me, brunch + mimosas + pajamas are the recipe for a perfect day and much better than a cliché dinner date, anyways. Actually, now that we’ve talked about it, bonus points for thinking outside-the-box this Valentine’s Day. Aww, how sweet are you?!
Below is a great coffee cake recipe from Barbara Bakes I recently made using Meyer lemons from my tree. Sweet, tart, light but rich, serve this with some eggs, bacon and fruit and you have a meal that screams “I love you.” Enjoy!
Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake
Yield: 12 Servings
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
Crumb Topping
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, melted
Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
1 – 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. Spray a 9-inch spring form pan with non-stick cooking spray with flour. Prepare crumb topping and set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla and milk. Mix in lemon zest. Add flour mixture and mix just until combine. Stir in blueberries.
Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with crumb topping.
Bake at 350º for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and remove ring. Drizzle icing on cake. Cool completely before serving. (Unless you’re like us and would rather eat it hot even though the cake doesn’t cut as well.)
Crumb Topping
In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour, and butter. Mix until mixture is crumbly.
Icing
Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice to create a thin glaze.
It’s a Macaron Renaissance
Can’t afford to take your Valentine to Paris this year, huh? Why not create a little Parisian romance with a bite-sized French cookie that’s all the rage – the French macaron. Not familiar with these sweet little confections? From simple ingredients like confectioners’ sugar, almond flour and egg whites emerges a dainty dessert that will impress your Valentine. These are definitely a step above a ho-hum box of chocolates!
You can make your own macarons, and there are a number of easy-to-follow recipes, but it’s the technique that makes the cookies light and chewy and the filling flavorful and lush. This Martha Stewart video does a nice job of breaking down the steps to create an authentic macaron experience.
However, if you’re more of a “pick it up at the bakery” kind of person, you’re in luck. Estelle’s Patisserie in downtown at 9th and K has delicious macarons (the pistachio one is unbelievable), as does Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates at 18th and L (the salty caramel one sounds amazing – hint, hint). Even Trader Joe’s carries macarons in the frozen section, and if you’re on a budget this Valentine’s Day, these are perfect – $4.99 for 12 chocolate and vanilla macarons (and, yes, they are good!).
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Valentine's Day Specials 2015
For many, Valentine’s Day is one of those love/hate holidays. We love the food and quality time with those we care about, but sometimes the hype and planning for a special evening can get overwhelming. To help you out, here are our top picks for a swanky (and straightforward) V-Day date night:
- Ella Dining Room and Bar – $135 per person, 4 courses + 1 bottle of Champagne; Contemporary American
- The Firehouse – $125 per person, 5 courses; Californian
- Grange – $89 per person, 4 courses; Californian
- Delta King – Pilothouse – $79 per person, 3 courses; Californian
- plan b Restaurant – $70 per person, 4 course; French
- Esquire Grill – $65 per person ; American
- Cabana Winery and Bistro – $30 per person, 4 courses; Californian
Note: These options are for special Prix Fix Valentine’s Day Menus, and may have specific seating times. Call for reservations.