SacFoodies

Archives for 2019

Raley’s 33rd Annual Food For Families Holiday Drive

by SacFoodies

Hey there, Fall Foodies!

It’s that time of year again – the days have turned colder, shorter, and pumpkin spicier.

As the crisp autumn air ushers in the glorious start to sweater season, it also finds us haunting the aisles of our local Raley’s (full disclosure: Raley’s is a client of ours) as we prep for the upcoming holidays. While we’re there, feverishly redesigning classic dishes to fit the dietary needs of our second cousins and thrice-removed aunts, we noticed something that we all can be thankful for this holiday season: Raley’s 33rd Annual Food For Families Holiday Drive.

Running from November 1st through December 31st, Raley’s hopes to raise 4.2 million meals to help support local food banks throughout Northern California and Nevada. Through their network of 12 county-level food bank partners, this campaign will benefit over 1.4 million food insecure people within the Raley’s footprint.

The huge scope of this giving campaign isn’t the only part that’s impressive: since Raley’s covers all administrative costs for the non-profit, 100% of proceeds go directly to food bank partners and those in need. Plus, all donations stay local to aid the communities in which they were made. Whether you’re at Raley’s staking claim on the perfect turkey or gathering ingredients for Grandma’s famous stuffing, every dollar you donate at check-out helps nourish your neighbors in need.

What an easy, affordable way to share the holiday love this season, Foodies.

To find out more, visit https://www.raleys.com/news/raleys-launches-33rd-annual-food-for-families-holiday-drive/, or donate online: http://www.foodforfamilies.org/donate/.

The Hospitality Industry Helping in the Community

by SacFoodies

Sacramento Hotels Farm-to-Fork Showcase: Challenge of the Chefs
October 30, 2019 (Wednesday)
5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. |Kimpton Sawyer Hotel

The 4th annual Sacramento Hotels Farm-to-Fork Showcase: Challenge of the Chefs is set for October 30, 2019, at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel—as part of Sacramento Hotel Association’s ongoing community service activities.

For 2019, the Farm-to-Fork Showcase will benefit Soil Born Farms, a non-profit 501(c)(3)organization. Soil Born Farms is about growing food, mentoring youth and future farmers, teaching people how to cook and garden, creating urban farms and preserving wild spaces, developing partnerships and improving access to fresh produce throughout our community, and at the core, it is about making a difference. It means transforming a shared vision of healthy food for all into a local reality.

The Sacramento Hotels Farm-to-Fork Showcase: Challenge of the Chefs is sponsored by the Sacramento Hotel Association (SHA).The event will feature:

  • Festive Farm-to-Fork food stations from local hotels/restaurants
  • Friendly competition among the hotel executive chefs—three different awards
  • Craft beer tastings from local brewers
  • Wine tastings from area vintners
  • Silent auction of gift baskets and prize packages
  • Musical entertainment

The Sacramento Hotel Association’s Sacramento Hotels Farm-to-Fork Showcase: Challenge of the Chefs open to the public. Advance tickets are $45 per person plus service fee; tickets are $55 per person at the door. You can pre-purchase your tickets at www.ChallengeoftheChefs.com

FleishmanHillard Sacramento Takes Home Three PRSA California Capital Chapter Awards!

by SacFoodies

The FH Sacramento team was recognized for work on behalf of two clients – the California Prune Board and Albertsons Companies – at the Public Relations Society of America California Capital Chapter Annual Influence Awards, held in Sacramento on October 17th.  The Awards included:

  • An Influence Award for the California Prunes Re-Branding Campaign, a multi-year process of re-branding the commodity that had been marketed as “dried plums” for the past 15 years.  After deciding to “re-embrace its prune legacy,” the board enlisted FH to manage target audience research, concept development, brand identity and logo design, and tagline and message development. FH was also tasked with launching the new brand to the industry, trade and consumer media, influencers and partner agencies, as well as developing a full suite of creative materials under the new brand for ongoing use by the California Prune Board, the industry and their partners around the globe.
  • An Influence Award for the California Prunes Experience at the Culinary Institute of America, which took bloggers and journalists hailing from the United States, Canada and Italy from the pantry to the prune orchard to learn all about California Prunes and ignite interest, visibility and conversation about the classic pantry staple. Along the way, participants engaged with California Prune growers, chefs, and a nutrition expert on the heritage, versatility, and nutritional benefits of California Prunes.
  • A Merit Award for Albertsons Companies, Open Nature® Special Event, which brought food influencers from across the country together in Berkeley, Calif., to help Albertsons relaunch its Open Nature® private label brand by bringing core brand attributes to life via an interactive experience with nature as the backdrop.

River City Wine Week is Almost Here!

by SacFoodies

Big news – Sacramento’s first ever wine week is kicking off on August 7th! River City Wine Week will celebrate all things Sacramento wine with events, seminars, dinner and other fun activities across the region. 

“What a wonderful opportunity to highlight wine with the bounty we have in Sacramento! For us, It’s a time to highlight our relationships with winemakers and distributors, and have fun with exciting wine flights and dinner and cheese pairings! We especially look forward to collaborating with a nonprofit, possibly Front Street Animal Shelter for an extra special event,” commented Sara Arbabian, proprietor of The Rind and La Crosta.

“As wine buyers, we taste hundreds of wines every month to bring guests the best quality, best value and most interesting stories.  We love an event focused around wine and food, where we can highlight and share some of our favorite finds in unique and creative ways,” states John Marco, owner of the downtown wine bar, Whired.

Kicking off the festivities, on August 7th, will be the Pop & Pour Wine Tasting at the Clara Auditorium in Midtown Sacramento. This event will serve as a benefit for WellSpace Health, a system of community health centers that provide primary care, dental health, and behavorial health services in Sacramento, Placer and Amador Counties.  In addition, WellSpace Health also operates the region’s suicide prevention and crisis lines.

Pop & Pour is a walk-around tasting event that will feature over 35 wineries and give attendees an opportunity to sample a diverse selection of wines from boutique wineries like foothill newcomer, Casino Mine Ranch, and established and highly-regarded old vine Zinfandel producer, Gamba Vineyards & Winery. 

River City Wine Week is co-founded by Rachael Levine and Carrie Boyle, both with over 20 years of professional wine experience in the Sacramento area. The multi-day event raises awareness for Sacramento’s unique position in the heart of America’s wine country.  Residents and visitors to the Capital City have unparalleled access to the wineries of Amador County, El Dorado County, Placer County, Napa County, Sonoma County, Lodi, Calaveras County, Sacramento County, Yolo County, and the Northern Sierra.  There are more than 1,000 wineries located within a two-hour drive. 

“Sacramento knows and loves food and wine. River City Wine Week is a chance to celebrate this love affair and share that passion with the community,” said Levine.

“Sacramento is ground zero, geographically, for wine tourism in Northern California,” added Boyle. “In the age of craft beer and cocktails, we think it’s time to bring wine back into the conversation.”

Visit River City Wine Week to buy tickets for Pop & Pour and check out the full calendar of events – P.S. use offer code EARLYRCWW for $10 off your ticket price, valid until July 22nd. 

Cheers, foodies! 

Food and Fútbol

by SacFoodies

As a proud European, it’s in my blood to be a fútbol (soccer, to all you Americans) fan. That said, I am embarrassed to say that I’ve lived in Sacramento for two years and I’ve never been to a Sac Republic game! That all changed a few weeks ago when this SacFoodie was invited to a VIP experience for Republic FC vs Reno 1868.

The VIP section is right behind the south goal and offers a mix of high-top table seating and up close and personal bar seating. We chose to sit literally as close as possible to the action, because, you know, first game ever! Once we found our seats, we headed to the buffet (one on each side of the seating area) to chow down on some delicious Mayahuel dishes!

*Side note* You know how sometimes large catered events only give you lukewarm pasta and a slim slice of overdone tri tip? Well, the folks at Sac Republic have made an effort to change that by bringing in amazing local restaurants to cater their home games! Throughout the season they’ve invited Mayahuel, Tank House, Selland’s, Chando’s, Paesanos and Culinerdy to cater, and wow does it pay off!

For dinner we had fantastic Pork Mole, Mushrooms in a Pistachio Sauce, Chicken Enchiladas and of course, flour tortillas and rice and beans. I was so impressed that they had a vegan option to be inclusive for all diets. In addition to the food (with a view) we enjoyed a pregame watermelon margarita that was the perfect amount of sweet and tart. Then during the game, we took advantage of the full bar with our two free drink coupons! So, if all of this has sold you on the VIP experience, visit SRFC VIP Tickets to purchase VIP packages for any upcoming home game, going through October 12th, or contact Chris Nasser at 916-307-6103 to purchase group tickets. Also – keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram for a special giveaway coming soon!

Most of all, I learned I love some Food and Sacramento Republic Fútbol. So, who wants to go to a game??