You know the SacFoodies LIVE for a fabulous breakfast – eggs benedict, bacon, biscuits, you name it. That being said, most weekday mornings don’t lend themselves enough time for a full-on cooked breakfast. We’ve discovered that smoothies are the perfect speedy snack for a busy morning and can be just as delicious as the full *breakfast experience.* There’s now a big group in the office that makes smoothies as their breakfast or mid-day snack and we’re highlighting some fun and easy smoothie recipes for our foodie friends.
For the next three weeks, we’ll show off our favorite morning smoothie recipes and will share our best smoothie-licious tips. Whether you’re working with a decade old Magic Bullet or a brand-new Vitamix, these smoothies are all easy to throw together, portioned for one (no messy leftovers here!) and a great way to kick start your weekday. Check back here each Wednesday for a new smoothie recipe, and follow along on Instagram to see us in action!
Pro Tip: If you make a smoothie every day, or even every week, we recommend buying some reusable straws. We like the silicone ones you can find here, but there are also stainless steel and glass options. It’s better for the environment and better for your budget in the long haul!
Week 1: The Blend and Snap
Archives for April 2018
Sacramento Farm-to-Fork All Stars
By Sidney Burt
Since proclaimed America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital in 2012, Sacramento is making its mark on the culinary map. With local chefs and restaurants regularly populating top 100 lists, the city is bustling with high-caliber food and top-notch talent. And finally, one of the food scenes most sought after events is giving Sacramento the recognition it deserves.
This year, Pebble Beach Food & Wine is hosting a collaboration of ‘Sacramento’s Farm-to-Fork All Stars’. An event that will feature nine of Sacramento’s finest culinary heroes and highlight the beauty of Sacramento cuisine. Tickets are still available and undoubtedly, worth the hefty price, but, if you can’t swing the weekday getaway, no need to feel left out.
Lucky for Sacramento residents, you can venture to one of the featured chefs’ establishments just about any night of the week. No matter what you’re craving, or perhaps you just want to create your own ‘Sacramento Food & Wine’ adventure, don’t wait to visit one of these fine establishments.
Featured Chefs:
Mimi’s Café New Kids Menu
As parents of three kids under the age of 4, my husband and I have our hands full, to say the least. When it comes to dining out, I have an entire preparation strategy that I’ve perfected over the years. Extra crayons and coloring books to avoid boredom? Check. Water bottles in case the restaurant doesn’t have cups with lids? Check. Snacks to keep them busy when they’re starving before the food arrives? Check. Extra veggies in case there’s nothing on the kid’s menu that is somewhat healthy? Check. Check. Check.
When the folks at Mimi’s Café contacted SacFoodies and invited us to try their new “interactive” kids menu, I raised my hand (well, actually five hands for my family). On the day of our reservation, I did all of my usual pre-restaurant preparations and loaded up the kids into the car (Tupperware of carrot sticks in tow) to meet my husband at the Arden location.
Knowing we were representing SacFoodies, the staff went above and beyond to make sure we had a good experience from when we stepped foot in the restaurant, but I did also notice a similar level of pleasantry with other diners. (Full disclosure: Mimi’s provided our meals free of charge.) Great service aside, we were very interested in seeing this new kids menu. As usual, my 3 ½ year old was “staaaarving.” I hadn’t done any homework so wasn’t sure what to expect from the menu (I typically do a quick scan of the kid’s menu online before dining out to make sure there’s at least one thing my kids will eat).
We were pleasantly surprised when the hostess placed a glossy storybook-inspired menu in front of each of the kids and explained that the menu shared the Parisian adventures of a cartoon cat and dog duo named Elle and Pierre. So while the kids flipped through the menu offerings, they got to see Elle and Pierre’s story unfold. A cute touch.
The menu itself was divided into three sections – entrée, side and drink. Each had a number of choices and the kids could flip the menu to choose each and then see their full meal selection side-by-side. In the spirit of letting go (“Let it go! Let it go …” You parents know what I’m singing), I let my oldest select her own items and (drum roll, please), she ended up with Mac N Cheese for her entrée, rice for her side and Lemonade for her drink. Ok, not terrible, but not what I would’ve chosen for her. So to make up for her starch-fondness, we selected grilled chicken strips, broccoli and Honest apple juice for my son and let them know that they’d be sharing all the items. And my third isn’t eating solid food yet, so he just got to watch. 🙂
My husband and I loved seeing grilled chicken (not just breaded and fried) on a kids menu, as well as steamed broccoli and rice. My kids absolutely love broccoli and rice, but you rarely see them on a standard kids menu. Plus, I’d already handed out carrot sticks, so now they’d be getting two veggies with dinner. Score. Check out Mimi’s Café Kids Menu online to see the full range of menu options (menu items vary by location).
The kids were also given a giant coloring mat upon arrival, which kept them busy for about five extra minutes, which is always appreciated. The lemonade came with a tightly-sealed lid (thank you, Mimi’s!), the food came out quickly and the kids went to town on it. We also enjoyed a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
I know I’m not alone here, any of you parents have other restaurant preparation tactics to share? Let us know what tips or tricks work for your family in the comments below.
Mimi’s Café Sacramento-Area Locations
ARDEN WAY
2029 ALTA ARDEN WAY
SACRAMENTO, CA 95825
(916) 614-9278
ELK GROVE
9195 W. STOCKTON BL.
ELK GROVE, CA 95758
(916) 683-4377
FOLSOM
2719 E. BIDWELL ST.
FOLSOM, CA 95630
(916) 984-4940
ROSEVILLE
1104 GALLERIA BL.
ROSEVILLE, CA 95661
(916) 780-2646