We’ve just received word that the 2nd Annual Sacramento Wine & Dine is just around the corner. What does this mean? It’s your opportunity to dine in the ‘who’s who’ of Sacramento restaurants, each with a special discounted prix fixe Wine & Dine menu (with wine pairings to boot!). The event runs this Saturday, June 7 through Saturday, June 14.
Click here to see all participating restaurants and view their Wine & Dine menus.
Sushi Show Down (try to say that ten times fast!)
Our friends at the California Rice Commission will again bring the SushiMasters Finals to Sacramento. The June 10 event should prove to be an appetizing treat for both the eyes and taste buds. Representing the Sacramento area in the sushi-making show down will be none other than Billy Ngo of Kru restaurant, a Sacfoodies sushi favorite.
The 2008 SushiMasters Finals are open to the public and will also feature sushi and sake tasting (yum!), so don’t miss out!
Who: Come one, come all!
What: 2008 SushiMasters Finals
When: Tuesday, June 10, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Sacramento Convention Center
Why: Where else in Sacramento can you see a good ol’ sushi show down?
Cost: $65, visit http://www.sushimasters.com for ticket information
Oxbow Public Market
If you happen to find yourself in Napa and are in need of a foodie-fix, definitely hit up Oxbow Public Market. Located right next to COPIA, it is on First Street, just a few blocks from downtown Napa, and centrally located for a nice pit stop while wine tasting in Napa Valley.
If you love San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace and the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market (and who doesn’t?!), then you’ll love Oxbow Public Market, which has the feel of a mini-Ferry Building Marketplace. When I visited Oxbow a few months ago I thought it was wonderful then, but I’ve heard there’s even more to see now. Plus, the produce stands open tomorrow!
Shops in the market sell everything from olive oil to spices, and of course, my personal favorite … CHEESE. Each shop has the incredible selection and variety that market-going foodies have come to expect, and the home-grown and hand-made feeling that we appreciate. The staff are friendly, and above all, knowledgeable about their food. Ask the gentleman at the cheese counter anything cheesy (about cheese, that is), and he’ll have an answer! He was able to tell us the differences between the various 3 to 12 month aged Manchego cheeses, so when we got our slice of 6 month Manchego home, it was exactly what we were looking for.
Check out today’s Daily Candy San Francisco to read their Oxbow Public Market recommendation.
My First Basque and Tongue
“Tastes like roast beef,” they told me, as I held the thinly sliced piece of pickled tongue up on my fork.
While visiting my boyfriend’s family in Bakersfield, California last weekend, I had a few notable firsts … my first visit to a Basque restaurant, and my first taste of beef tongue.
First, the Basque restaurant: I had no idea places like this exist! The restaurant felt like a Moose Lodge, but was actually an old historic hotel, with a small bar area up front and two thick wooden doors leading into the dining room, where three long wooden tables sat with place settings for over 100 people. As our party of 20 was seated at 7:00 p.m. sharp, along with the other hundred or so guests, I had the feeling we were traveling back into the Middle Ages.
Enter, beef tongue. Along with soup, salad, bleu cheese, bread and red wine, a platter of pickled beef tongue was placed on the table. Oh yes, I sampled it all. I had an audience as I made a big deal about eating the pickled tongue – it was my first time, after all. And, yes, it did, in fact, taste just like roast beef.
Then the dinner courses began arriving: oxtail with roasted root vegetables, spaghetti with marinara sauce, French fries, fried chicken; all served family-style and passed up and down the long straight tables. The meal was topped off with a scoop of strawberry ice cream. It was definitely the most random combination of food I’ve ever eaten in one sitting. It may have been the free-flowing wine, or the terrific company, but the meal was absolutely delicious, and certainly memorable.
I don’t know of any Basque restaurants in Sacramento, but if you do, please leave a recommendation.
Nacho Average Nachos
I had the pleasure of spending all last week in Mexico on vacation in the sunny, warm Riviera Maya town of Playa del Carmen. I know, poor me. Truth be told, we didn’t eat outside the resort often, because in an “all-inclusive” resort with all-you-can-eat and drink, why would you? However, we did venture into town one afternoon and enjoyed a couple of cervezas and a mucho grande plate of nachos con pollo.
While noshing through the nachos, I happened upon a giant pile of jalapenos, a pepper that I have typically avoided in the past. However, after this muy delicioso plate of nachos, I’ve realized that I really like jalapenos! Who knew? I will never pick around a jalapeno again. Maybe this will serve as inspiration to you to re-try a food you weren’t too sure you liked – your taste buds just might thank you!
And, P.S. – There was a really great story on CNN.com today about Playa del Carmen and the amazing ecological parks in the area, many of which we visited. Check it out if you’re interested in the area!
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