I’ll be the first to admit I am not into football. I know nothing about the sport and instantly fall asleep when Sunday games are switched on (I do love my Sunday naps). So when I was recently asked to attend a game at the new Levi’s Stadium, I only said “yes” based on the fact that the stadium serves great food and that Wi-Fi and wine are available on the Amtrak ride to the game. With those two promises, I couldn’t say no.
So on an unseasonably hot October morning, I donned my favorite blue sundress (completely team-neutral) and boarded the train to Santa Clara. Naturally, I headed straight to the dining car to get my bubbly. This would be the start of a delicious day.
Let’s fast forward through a relaxing train ride to arriving at the stadium. My first impression was that it was shiny and new, but the crowds were the usual rowdy bunch to be expected at any football game. Not really engaged in the whole sports side of this experience, I made a beeline for the food.
Unlike what you might imagine, the stadium does not feature foods that are necessarily regional to the area. In fact, besides the depictions of the Golden Gate Bridge and wharf on some signage, the stadium creates that sort of “I could be anywhere in the U.S.” feeling you get inside an airport.
However, the food is of high quality and they take special care to source local products from area farms and producers. I thoroughly enjoyed the first bite of the day, a Mexican torta with marinated steak. The meat was seasoned well and the sandwich had a great balance of flavors- acid, spice, salt- offset with a generous dollop of tangy crema. It was a perfect complement to my cold beer.
My next course was the Steamed Buns sampler featuring duck, shitake mushroom and pork varieties. All three had unique sauces and toppings, surrounded by a fluffy, chewy bun. These are a nice departure from usually heavy football fare, and, for a more comprehensive food and drink experience, they offer Kirin Beer at this station so you can enjoy a tailored pairing!
My last course was a nice cold scoop of rocky road ice cream. No words necessary for this guy other than it was a refreshing finish to a hot day in the Silicon Valley.
Who won the game that day, you ask? Of course I can’t remember, but what I can recall are the tasty treats I enjoyed that afternoon. They were so great, in fact, that I might even return one day to enjoy another taste of Levi’s Stadium.
FREE PIZZA!
Did that headline get your attention? We thought it might.
The fast casual restaurant chain, zpizza, will be serving up free pizza samples at both of their Sacramento-area locations to hungry pizza-lovers this Saturday, November 22 from 1-3pm.
As a part of their “Pop Up City Tour,” zpizza will be sampling their most popular pies and giving those who stop by a chance to win coupons and gift certificates. So we’d advise getting there while it’s hot!
What: FREE PIZZA!
When: Saturday, November 22
1-3pm
Where: Two zpizza Sacramento-area locations:
Sacramento (Greenhaven Pocket)
7600 Greenhaven Drive
Sacramento, CA 95831
(916) 424-4222
Roseville (Granite Bay)
3984 Douglas Blvd
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 786-9797
Rubio’s New Sustainable Shrimp Tacos
If you know me, you know I love shrimp. Grilled, pan fried, deep fried, coconut battered – you name it, I love it. So it should come as no surprise that when the SacFoodies were offered the chance to try Rubio’s new sustainable shrimp offerings, I jumped on the opportunity.
While I’ve always been a fan of Rubio’s shrimp tacos, I recently made a lifestyle change that prohibits me from eating non-sustainable meat. As you can imagine, this modification eliminated many of my favorite quick lunch/dinner stops. However, I was thoroughly impressed upon walking into Rubio’s and learning that the brand is diligently working to expand its menu with innovative recipes, ranging from sustainable shrimp tacos to Atlantic salmon burritos, sustainable tilapia items and much more.
They say old habits die hard and my Rubio’s order is no exception: “Two shrimp tacos, please!” I hadn’t had one of these in at least a year – would they be everything I remembered? Would the shrimp be smaller? Would the Hass avocados be as buttery as they once were? At last, my tacos were served. To my delight, they weren’t everything I remembered – they were so much better. Toasted cheese (why doesn’t every place toast their cheese?!) topped with crisp bacon pieces, red tomatillo salsa, creamy chipotle sauce, cilantro and onions – I felt weak in the knees. The shrimp was grilled to perfection and I couldn’t believe what a flavor compliment the crumbled bacon was. After devouring my two tacos and “no-fried” pinto beans, I sat with a full belly and mixed feelings. The bliss was over, but I’ll be back. After all, there is an entire sustainable shrimp burrito to be had.
Rubio’s Tacos
2820 Marconi Ave
Sacramento, CA
(916) 483-6643
Granny de Vere’s Irish Shepherd’s Pie
In the heart of downtown Sacramento, there stands a small slice of Ireland called de Vere’s Irish Pub. Inside you’ll find a wealth of whiskeys, an abundance of beer and of course, the fine whiffs of Irish cuisine, all intermingled with the laughs and groans of regulars gazing up towards whatever sports game is on TV.
I made my acquaintance with de Vere’s several weeks ago when I became a stand-in for a trivia team member who couldn’t make it every week. Every Monday, de Vere’s has trivia tournaments that are actually very humbling. I definitely should have paid more attention in geography, and that’s saying it lightly.
But at any rate, my shortage of knowledge is usually filled with a surplus of delicious Irish food, which most likely has some sort of potato in it. One dish on their menu takes the cake though, or pie rather. Granny’s Shepherd’s Pie is filled with ground beef, fresh vegetables, rich gravy and is topped with a swirled crust of golden mashed potatoes. But that’s not all! For a nominal fee you can even top it off with a fried egg, which I highly recommend by the way. They sell it in a large or smaller dish, whichever your stomach can handle.
If pie’s not your dish, their menu is great; anything from bangers and mash to beer cheese nachos. I think all your Irish food cravings will be satisfied, even if you didn’t know you had them! Or if you just need to get your drink on, Ireland-style, de Vere’s is the place to go. Just don’t forget to say “Sláinte” (pronounced SLAN-chuh) as you do so. It’s the Irish saying for “good health.” It’s kind of ironic that “good health” would be your drinking toast, but then again, who wouldn’t need good health after a night of drinking? Am I right?
de Vere’s Irish Pub
1521 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 231-9947
Oysters in Humboldt
Before last weekend, I’d never written a Yelp review. Despite having been to countless wonderful restaurants and devouring several fantastic meals, writing a Yelp review was never the post-meal priority. But last Saturday, everything changed. I had the best meal of my life and for the first time, writing a Yelp review became the post-meal priority.
I was on a seven-hour road trip up to Trinidad, CA when it happened. Somewhere around hour five, the Peg House popped up out of nowhere and we pulled in – determined to find a restroom. And while I can’t say much for the port-o-potty behind the the wooden burger/oyster stand, I can’t say enough about my meal. Three barbecued oysters, served piping hot on the half shell with equal parts oyster and garlic and were drenched in a bath of cioppino-like sauce I’ll never be able to recreate, or describe.
Suddenly, it was over. I was torn between licking the shells and going to shake the hand of the man who had prompted my first Yelp review (and ultimately changed my life as a foodie). I opted for the latter and left that day with more satisfaction and garlic breath than I’ve ever known.
Case and point: the next time you find yourself heading North on the 101, make the Peg House in Humboldt County a destination, and the subsequent Yelp review a priority.
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