I just made the big move from Davis (read: comfort, security, mom’s house) to Sacramento (read: new, exciting, intimidating) and my friends/roommates and I have made a pact to explore the city where we now reside. Part of this pact is to try a new restaurant or bar at least once a week. Thanks to Metro Connected , formerly known as Sacramento Young Professionals, we were able to get a taste of The Park Ultra Lounge and Mason’s restaurant last week with an event called “Vino in the Park.” It was a great way to break up the work week and meet interesting locals.
The wine tasting itself was done in the form of a game – we broke up into groups of four or five and were each poured from a ‘mystery’ bottle of wine. The rules were simple; name five characteristics of the wine and ultimately decide what varietal you tasted. Simple for the wine experts maybe! Beyond characteristics such as “fruity,” or “nutty,” I didn’t have much to bring to the table. Who knew that “blueberry pancakes” would be one of the attributes!?! Needless to say, my team did not come out on top. But it did make for a very fun evening!
If you’re anything like me, then you get all too comfortable in your home town and forget there are amazing establishments in every neighborhood just waiting to be discovered. My advice: live your life like you’re on vacation – when traveling, one would never settle for returning to the same dinner hot spot every week, so why not venture out and explore here as well! No matter how long you’ve lived in Sacramento or how well you think you know it, I guarantee you there’s more.
You can start by checking out MetroConnected events here:
Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and … Seaweed
Mikuni. Fuji’s. Zen Toro. Kru. Nishiki. Name any sushi spot in the greater Sacramento area and odds are I have a story and a favorite roll to go along with it. But after sampling some of the best Japanese food that Northern California has to offer, I always seem to return to my favorite sushi joint – home sweet home. We’ve been rolling sushi at home for as long as I can remember and it just keeps getting better. We even have a home video somewhere that demonstrates my family’s longstanding love for the deliciousness that is rice, seaweed and raw fish. The (unfortunately long lost) video is of my sister’s second birthday party in which she adamantly demands sushi at the horror of all her cheerio-noshing friends.
This time, we played it safe with the basic California roll ingredients: cucumber, carrot, crab meat, avocado, green onion and of course Japanese rice. We mixed it up when it came to the wrappers – with both traditional nori (dried seaweed) and a vibrant yellow soy wrap.
Before reading any further, please remember the trusty saying, “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.” On that note, I’d like to introduce you to BLT sushi. I first tried it at a hole-in-the-wall establishment in Hawaii and it was love at first bite. To make BLT sushi, simply prepare the ingredients of a BLT sandwich (bacon, lettuce and tomato) and wrap as usual. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, add some avocado and make it a BLTA!
Craving Caramel Walnut Crunch Cake
Like most offices, we at FH Sacramento love an excuse to throw a party. Promotion? Let’s celebrate! Baby? Party time. Anniversary? Break out the piñata.
Therefore, every month we celebrate the birthdays of our colleagues with an afternoon pick-me-up that comes in the delicious form of cake from Freeport Bakery. It’s an office tradition to have the honored birthday men and women select the cake that we will all indulge in. Past picks include the “Fresh Fruit Tarts” and “Shadow Fresa” (one of my personal favorites), but this week we were lucky enough to try a brand new rendition, the “Caramel Walnut Crunch Cake.”
Just try saying the words “Caramel Walnut Crunch Cake” without allowing your mouth to water – it’s impossible! The layers of golden buttermilk cake are filled with creamy caramel and toasted walnuts – the perfect combination and crunch. And as if that weren’t enough to get your taste buds all riled up, a thin layer of chocolate and a layer of custard are added top it all off.
As fellow SacFoodie Kim Bedwell once said during an afternoon brainstorm, “Everyone wants a cookie around 3:00 in the afternoon!” Well I guess the same could be said about caramel walnut crunch cake (except it’s only 11:00 AM and I’m already craving the leftovers). I guess you could say we like to have our cake and eat it too!
Paul Martin's American Bistro
If you truly are what you eat, then I must be a more fresh, organic and delicious version of myself after dining at the “soft-opening” of Paul Martin’s American Bistro in Roseville this Saturday. The restaurant’s mantra, “Eat organic. Believe in sustainable. Buy local. Love fresh.” is more than just a slogan – it proved to be an ambiance, a sense of professionalism and a delightful flavor that came in many forms.
Upon entering the softly lit bistro on Eureka Road, my first impression was one of extreme preparedness. Especially for a “soft-opening,” the staff at Paul Martin’s American Bistro was both attentive and abundant (not to mention well-dressed and the perfect blend of edgy and clean cut, although that has nothing to do with the food).
We were seated immediately, despite arriving a bit early for our 12:00 reservation. The well-thought décor matched the classic chic vibe; with dark wood and warm colors enveloping an otherwise relaxed environment.
My guest for lunch (also known as my mom) and I were greeted by our waitress Crystal who guided us in choosing the buttermilk breaded calamari as a starter. Crystal does not mislead – the calamari was deliciously light, a tough feat for any fried food to accomplish.
For the main course, I ordered the Skirt Steak with roasted maple-bourbon sweet potatoes and arugula and my (health conscious) mother decided on the butternut squash soup. I don’t know about you, but the phrase “family style” is a way of life between my mother and I, so sharing plates is always a given.
The skirt steak was perfectly cooked to a medium-rare, just the way I’d ordered it. The sweet potatoes were basted with a maple syrup glaze that could have bumped them right over to the dessert category. The arugula even proved to be a nice touch, turning an otherwise filling meal into a lighter, more complete plate.
The butternut squash soup with sage pesto and croutons was a dish that I could easily feast on every day through the winter months. Its vibrant color stood out almost as much as the comforting taste it delivered.
We almost ended the meal there, which would have been a near tragedy. But to finish it all of, we chose the devil’s food cake, three layers with rich ganache made from Grass Valley Dorado chocolate and garnished with sour cherries and whipped cream. Our waitress mentioned (in a half joking tone) that the first time she tasted the Devil’s Food Cake, she nearly cried. It was just that good.
With great service and excellent food, I left feeling both satisfied and impressed. Even beyond that, however, the restaurant’s greatest selling point may be it’s commitment to buying local. It is truly great to find a place that lets the best of Northern California take center stage. With meat from Superior Farms (Dixon) and Diestel Family Farms (Sonora); seafood from Ports Seafood (San Francisco); produce from Greenleaf Produce (San Francisco); bread from the Acme Bread Company (Berkeley); and dairy from Clover Stornetta (Sonoma), Paul Martin’s is drastically upping the local ante.
Last night marked the official grand opening of Paul Martin’s American Bistro, and if the evening went anything like my preview lunch on Saturday, I’m sure it was a huge success!
See what others are saying about Paul Martin’s American Bistro:
The Sacramento Bee
The Sacramento Business Journal
Edible Sacramento
Tastes of Life
Sacatomato
Vanilla Garlic
Tucos Wine Market & Cafe, Davis
Tucos Wine Market and Café proved to be the perfect setting for good times amongst great people last weekend as a few friends and I finally found our way to the adorable restaurant and wine bar on G Street in Davis.
I’d heard the buzz surrounding Tucos from a few friends, including fellow foodie Jenna Kirkwood, who recommended it highly – so I knew it was time to see for myself. Tucos (pronounced two-coze) has been pleasing the taste buds of Davis residents since 2004 and now I know why!
We each started with a flight of choice, the perfect introduction into the unknown. If you’re into white wines, I recommend the “White Discovery” flight. For a red-favoring palate, try the “Old World Discovery.”
Of course we couldn’t leave without something to snack on, so we chose the Pradera Aged Gouda of Holland and a memorable (although I seem to have forgotten the name) Brie. The cheeses at Tucos are served in ounce-portions and come with ACME bread, oven-roasted almonds, dried fruit, sliced apple, and olive oil.
Overall, the atmosphere was delightful and the food and drinks were perfect. I will be returning at the next opportunity! Tucos can also be visited at the Davis Farmers’ Market on Wednesday nights. Click here for more information and definitely call ahead to make a reservation on weekend evenings!