If you’re looking for a way to fight off this November chill, The River City Chili Cook-Off is next Saturday, November 18th at Sacramento’s own Ace Of Spades! There’ll be chili and cornbread galore, and it all goes towards a good cause.
This year’s competitors include Burgers & Brew, Cafe Bernardo, Morton’s Steakhouse, The Golden Bear, Fat City and The Red Rabbit, among others! Cocktails will feature Tito’s Vodka and Preservation & Co. mixers for the over 21 crowd.
Think of it as Thanksgiving prep – just a little (or a whole lot) of chili to whet your appetite before the big day! Use code YELPOLGCHILI for $5 off tickets when purchasing through Ace of Spades or River City Chili’s webpage.
For more information on tickets and competitors, visit here.
Sac Burger Battle 2017
Burger. Battle. Burger. Battle (Sing this to the tune of “Jaws”). Do you ever have that dream where you’re surrounded by battling burgers? No? Oh well. Either way, a very real and non-dream Burger Battle took place at Sacramento’s Cesar Chavez Park this September, and SacFoodies were on the scene to report back.
The most incredible part about Sac Burger Battle 2017 (besides the burgers, obviously) was the camaraderie and overall joyous atmosphere. Everyone working the booths was laughing, slinging jaw-dropping burgers and taking the time to chat with attendees. The booths were set up so that there was plenty of room to maneuver, grab drinks and chat with your friends. ALSO, the plates provided came with a built-in drink holder! We had never seen a plate like this before and were dumbfounded – it meant you could hold your plate and drink in one hand while grabbing as many burgers as possible with the other – but we digress. Read on for our top choices from the throw down:
Laurel:
My absolute favorite burger (which comes as no surprise to anyone that knows me) was from South. It managed to be both soft and crunchy and ended with a nice pickle-y tang.
Cheyenne:
It was seriously hard to pick a favorite, but the way that the flavors of the Nixtaco burger mingled together, helped it step about in front the of the rest! The meat was cooked to perfection, the bun held up with all of the delicious ingredients.
Jessi:
My favorite burger was from Bacon and Butter! Their burger had bacon two ways, blended into the patty, and on top! Paired with crispy shallot rings and black garlic aioli, it was a 10/10 from me. I even went back for seconds!
Between the craft beer, cider and cocktail selection, Sac Burger Battle boasted an impressive array of local beverages to choose from. And between the three of us we have a cider, beer and cocktail enthusiast, so it was the perfect mix of drinks!
The proceeds from this event went to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, which dedicates itself to finding cures to Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. As much as we love food and drinks, we especially love eating and drinking for a cause. It was moving to see the community come together for such a worthy cause and showed the power of the food and beverage community in Sacramento. Over the past 6 years, Sac Burger Battle has raised over $200,000 for the foundation! If you’re inspired to contribute, you can still buy the official Sac Burger Battle t-shirt, with all proceeds being donated to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Hands down, Sac Burger Battle 2017 was one of our favorite events of the year to date. We got to eat delicious burgers, try craft drinks of every type of drink and commune with our fabulous foodie friends. Our only complaint? We got too full to try every burger! Guess we’ll have to keep trying burgers all over Sacramento . . . we really are dedicated to our work :).
We hope you all get the chance to attend Sac Burger Battle next year, but for now, make your very own Burger Tour around Sacramento! All restaurants who participated are listed below – let us know what your favorite is!
To learn more about the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, click here.
To learn more about Sac Burger Battle, click here.
To check out @BurgerJunkies (Sac Burger Battle Founder and burger enthusiast extraordinaire), click here.
Summer Sips, Greek-Style
Both Memorial Day weekend and the St. Anna Greek Food and Wine Festival in Roseville have officially marked the start of summer for me two years running. It’s never too early to mark your calendar for 2018 and plan to spend a day kicking off your summer, Greek-style.
When I think Greek festival, I think amazing, authentic Greek food – of course, custom and culture, too, but if I’m being honest, the food is top of mind for me. From Moussaka, to spanakopita, and a plethora of salads in between, you have to come hungry and try a little of everything.
But even better than the food this year was the special sampling of five imported Greek wines from vines throughout Greece. Didn’t know Greece was a wine producer, did ya? Well, Greece is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, but Greek wine is not widely available here in the U.S. Well, until now that is, thanks to a local importer, Shaji Mathew, who is introducing Greek wines to festival-goers across the region. Now in their second year serving up the Greek Festival in Roseville, his imports are catching on and selling out by the glass.
Shaji and his wife, Vijna, have a belief in sharing the wines “from people who want to swim against the current,” Shaji says. They travel throughout the world to visit wineries and to meet winemakers, mostly those who produce 30,000 bottles or less from Greece, France, Spain, Italy, and Argentina, with plans for introducing some Mexican wines soon.
“I travel to meet the winemakers, get an understanding what the wines are about, to know what they’re doing in their vineyards, so I know what to expect in the wine. Authenticity is key. These wines are not mass produced and there’s a story behind each one.”
With each taste, I was instantly transported to the islands of Crete and Evia, with their blue waters and white rooftops. The white and light red blends were refreshing for a hot summer day: Pop Art, a dry white blend of Athiri and Malagousia varietals from Lykos Winery reflected subtle stone fruit flavors, and my fruit-forward favorite, a Grenache Rouge by Idaia Winery, was very pleasing to the palate.
All the vineyards Shaji works with grow their grapes sustainably, and many also practice organic and bio-dynamic farming. He brings the fruits of that meticulous labor here through his website Terra Vigna, wine club and at festivals, re-distributing throughout the U.S. (where possible), for all to try.
Visit Terra Vigna’s website to learn more about Greek wines, or consider visiting one of these two upcoming festivals to experiences the wines first-hand:
San Jose Greek Festival: June 2, 3 & 4
Reno Greek Festival: August 18, 19, 20
And, cheers! Or, in Greek, ΥΓΕΙΑ (phonetic pronunciation: Yamas)!
2017 Sacramento Food Film Festival – Tickets Now on Sale!
We’re almost a week away from one of the Sacfoodies’ favorite events of the year, the Sacramento Food Film Festival. From thought-provoking food films, to the small bites and delicious dishes that accompany them, there is just too much to love about this annual festival.
Created in 2012, the Sacramento Food Film Festival was born from the idea that we need to educate the public about our food system, and work together to create positive change. The event brings educational films to Sacramento that are otherwise ignored by traditional theaters – and creates a community dialog to improve food literacy and inspire action to improve our food system.
Here is a taste of what’s in store:
April 1: Festival Premiere feat. Short Film Contest winners
April 4: Featured Film: Sustainable
April 5: Featured Film: City of Gold
April 8: Bourbon & Bites feat: short films about bourbon!
For more information, tickets or even to donate, visit the FLC website at: http://www.foodliteracycenter.org/film-festival
The Road to Beervana – February Showers Bring March Growlers
By: Laurel Harrison
If the weather over the weekend was any indication, spring is making its (highly anticipated) way to Sacramento! There’s nothing like a cold beer on a sunny day, and the SacFoodies are getting very excited about all of the things that March brings –mainly, Sac Beer Week and Capitol Beer Fest. The saying is “February showers bring March growlers,” right? Join us today for the second round of our Road to Beervana series, where we check in with five more breweries, talk to the brewers, and learn about their Sac Beer Week events. Cheers!
Yolo Brewing Co.
Located in West Sac, Yolo Brew Co. is an award-winning craft brewery that delivers delicious beer, a rotating selection of food trucks and a personal brewing experience. With 11 year-round beers on tap and a variety of seasonal and limited release beers, Yolo Brew offers a wide selection of styles sure to satisfy any beer fan! Those who are in the mood to bike and beer can visit Yolo Brewing on the West Sac Brew Bike Tour on March 12, which also includes stops at Bike Dog and Jackrabbit Brewing.
Device Brewing Co.
Device Brewing Co. got its start after owner and head brewer, Ken Anthony, decided to give up a career in structural engineering and dive into the craft beer industry. Since its inception in 2013, Device has amassed a dedicated fan base, won several awards at the California State Fair, and expanded its taproom. If you’re a trivia buff, Device’s Wednesday night trivia is definitely worth a visit. Head to Device on March 5 to try the last keg of their barrel-aged Brits in Moscow Russian Imperial Stout – it’s a fan favorite, and it’ll go fast!
EDH Brewing Co.
After seven tours conducting surveillance flights in Afghanistan, Dennis Dovala settled in El Dorado Hills and began home brewing as a way to pursue his interest in craft beer. With the support of his wife and friends, Dennis opened EDH Brewing Co. in 2015 with the intent of creating a place in El Dorado Hills that provided great beer in a family environment. EDH Brewing will be hosting a variety of fun and informative events for Sac Beer Week. Groove on by on March 3 for Retro Night and enjoy their newly released Magic Bus IPA and Mojo Ale.
Mraz Brewing Co.
Michael Mraz got his start as a home brewer in 2006, and quickly rose up the ranks to be named California’s “Home Brewer of Year” in 2008 and 2009. His success as a home brewer and desire to turn his passion into a profession led to the opening of Mraz Brewing Co. in 2013, located in El Dorado Hills. Mraz Brewing Co. has since brought home 2 gold medals from the California State Fair for its Window of Opportunity Belgian Tripel and the Cardinal Flanders-style Red Ale. Sour beer fans, look no further: Mraz Brewing will be hosting an All Sour Day on March 4 featuring more than 17 sour beers on tap!
Track 7 Brewing Co.
Since its founding in 2011, Track 7 Brewing Co. has earned a reputation as an award-winning brewery and established itself firmly in the California beer world. Track 7 added to their Curtis Park brew-pire (brew empire, get it?) with the opening of the Natomas taproom in 2015, which now operates as the main production facility. From a Bee Line Blonde to a Left Eye Right Eye Double IPA, there’s something for everyone at Track 7. We count ourselves lucky to have this award-winning brewery in our backyard! Track 7 will be hosting the 2nd Annual Brewery Invitational & Competition on March 5, a highly-anticipated gathering of some of the top brewers in the Western United States.
For more Sac Beer Week events, click here.
For Capitol Beer Fest information, click here.
To see the previous edition of “The Road to Beervana” brewery bios click here!
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