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.
Sacramento Christmas Day Dining
We know not everyone plans to whip up an elaborate meal and eat at home on Christmas Day and for those interested in restaurant fare on December 25th, it can be quite a challenge to find a local restaurant that is open.
So, to make the process a bit easier, here is a list of Sacramento restaurants open on Christmas Day. Give them a call ahead of time to ensure seating. Happy Holidays!
Esquire Grill
1215 K St
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone number (916) 448-8900
Bandera
2232 Fair Oaks Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone number (916) 922-3524
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
501 Pavilions Ln
Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone number (916) 286-2702
The Porch
1815 K St
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone number (916) 444-2423
Travel the World in One Night at Global Winter Wonderland
Sac Foodies, did you know that right now at Cal Expo you can visit the world’s most well-known landmarks all in one evening? Well, it’s true!
Until January 4th, Global Winter Wonderland, one of the largest travelling lantern shows in the country, will be presented at Cal Expo. This amazing light extravaganza features a multi-cultural village, international food and drinks, and light up larger-than-lif e replicas of landmarks from countries all over the globe. Some featured displays include: the White House, Golden Gate Bridge, Tower of London, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Dutch windmills and the Great Wall of China.
The festival also features many carnival rides, including a Ferris wheel, perfect for taking in the splendor, and a holiday marketplace featuring vendors selling gifts and international wares.
Tip: half price tickets are available at local Walgreen’s stores and discounted tickets are available at http://www.globalwonderland.com/.
So, be sure to visit Global Winter Wonderland- it’ll light up your holiday season!
Global Winter Wonderland
When: Through January 4, 2015
Location: Cal Expo
Get tickets here: http://www.globalwonderland.com/
Holiday Merriment at Paul Martin’s
Recently SacFoodies was invited to try the holiday menu at Paul Martin’s American Grill in Roseville. Never having dined there, I quickly raised my hand!
From now until January 3, plan a night out to try their holiday selections of Southern Fried Game Hen, Linguine and Clams and Grilled Lamb Sirloin. If those dishes don’t tempt you, their traditional dinner menu offers many delectable choices for every craving, anytime of year.
My top three menu items ran the gamut from sweet to savory. To start, a must try is the Jack Martin, a classic 1920s inspired cocktail, muddled with Italian Amaretto, sweet cherries, lemon juice and shaken with a smooth blended brandy. Next were the Salt and Pepper Prawns, buttermilk battered and paired with a zesty pesto aioli dipping sauce. Following my entrée, I rounded out the meal with a decadent piece of Devil’s Food Cake with rich ganache, cherries and fresh whipped cream.
Besides the ambiance and great service, the best part of Paul Martin’s American Grill is their motto to bring fresh, seasonal, and local selections to the menu, making each dish from scratch every day. Pressing even further with our server, Eric, this philosophy also means they pride themselves on not using pre-made sauces or frozen ingredients, and they select only the freshest raw ingredients to start, which includes 100% natural meats, sustainable seafood, and seasonal produce in every dish. This is a mantra close to our hearts and worth sharing.
Next time, I’ll plan to pop over for happy hour or to try their Monday Wine Dinner, a great deal for two at $49 including a bottle of wine.
Paul Martin’s American Grill
1455 Eureka Road
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 783-3600
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