Do food cravings ever seize you in a vise-like grip, not letting go until you’ve indulged them? In our house, I’m somewhat embarrassed to report, this is a weekly occurrence. My husband craves Dos Coyotes, my son loves an In ‘n Out cheeseburger, and my daughter is a huge fan of California Raisins (and I’m not saying that because they are a client!).
I took a quick office survey to determine whether we are typical or atypical, and I was pleasantly relieved with the results! All of those surveyed knew exactly the type of jonesin’ I was describing: Ali occasionally craves pasta; Joey answered without a moment’s hesitation, Chipotle; Jacqueline is moved by tuna salad sandwiches; Melinda’s weakness is pizza; and both sushi and scrambled eggs have a hold on Brittany (though not together, she is quick to point out).
I’ll admit to a few cravings of my own: Chocolate anything tops the list, a perfect nonfat latte, a bleu cheese burger. This past weekend I indulged in my most recent craving – Mediterranean cuisine. I simply had to have hummus and pita bread, and the marinated chicken with house sauce at The Kabob House. Nothing else would do. I could see it, smell it; if I could have conjured it, I would have. Instead, I hopped into my car and drove over to see Rocky, the owner of The Kabob House.
Located at 648 East Bidwell in Folsom, everything I’ve ever tasted at The Kabob House is just mouth wateringly delicious. We ordered chicken and beef shish kabobs, Greek salads, hummus and pita bread. As usual, our food was cooked to perfection. The chicken was flavorful and, when combined with their special house sauce, unbelievably scrumptious.
We don’t usually treat ourselves to dessert, but Rocky talked us into sampling the baklava this time. Heaven. Crisp layers of phyllo dough drenched in honey and layered with nuts. A perfect end to a perfect craving. (And it’s no surprise that I can hardly wait for the next one.)
Tell us what you’re craving. And, if you’ve got a yen for a great dessert, try my mom’s baklava recipe, which we’ll post tomorrow. Happy hankering!
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
Bidwell Street Bistro
Bidwell Street Bistro is my version of a country club. It’s a special place where I enjoy going to dinner but it’s more than just a restaurant. It feels comfortable yet fancy, festive and fun. We usually see someone we know – and if not – the staff feels like friends because we see them so often. I love the Caesar salad, appetizers and desserts. There is always a new entree to try and everything is delicious. I like to order mashed potatoes so that I can eat some there and bring home a doggy bag for the next day.
Diane’s recent birthday dinner; executive chef Wendi Mentink, center.
They have a new lounge attached and the live music is great. I love the wine tastings during the middle of the week. One night we tasted three different vodkas; too bad we were out of town for the bourbon tasting! It would be fun to bring my dad to an evening like that. The owner is very gracious and Wendi, the head chef, is my youngest daughter’s mentor. Wendi provided her with the opportunity to do a senior project there and she went on to culinary school. Wish I could eat there once a week!
Amy and Diane, photographed with server Ryan Statham.
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Chardonnay Tasting at Bidwell Street Bistro
Tuesday, Sept. 11, 5-8:30 p.m.
$12 per person
1004 East Bidwell St.
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 984-7500
Weekend Round-up
Suzanne Peabody Ashworth and Jim Mills
What a great gastronomic weekend! We started early on Saturday and visited the grand opening of the East Bay Culinary Center. We were greeted by fellow Slow Food member Jim Mills who was there with Suzanne Peabody Ashworth of Del Rio Farms. Jim offered us samples of beautiful, perfectly ripe peaches, figs, plums and blackberries.
We grazed through dozens of food stations and enjoyed:
All before 9:00 a.m.! My husband said, ‘this is the best breakfast I’ve had in a long time!’ Clearly, we both have iron stomachs.
We watched a portion of pastry chef Ginger Power’s demonstration in the new kitchen, which by the way, is WAY cool! As mentioned in a previous entry, chef and culinary instructor Carolyn Kumpe will be leading the new culinary center and classes and demonstrations will begin next month (we’ll make sure to post activities on sacfoodies.) We would have liked to have stayed all day and watch all the demonstrations, but Michael Buble and a trip to San Francisco awaited us….
I’ve heard great things about the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco, so I was excited when fellow Sac Foodie, Melinda McRae, myself and our foodie hubbies found ourselves with a few extra hours to spend in the City on Saturday on the way to a concert.
The colorful produce won me over. From rainbow chard to red, orange, and yellow peppers and radishes, it was a gorgeous spectrum. Since I work with the United States Potato Board, I was excited to see Russian Banana and Rose Fir specialty potato varieties too. We took home heirloom tomatoes for a colorful Caprese salad, and blackberries for snacking by the handful.
The farmers market snakes around the Ferry Plaza Building, which is a recently renovated foodie landmark of its own. After winding through the marketplace, we found a spot outside at Ferry Plaza Seafood for fresh oysters and San Francisco’s own Anchor Steam Beer. With clear skies, a Bay Bridge view, and lots of people-watching, it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon in the “city by the bay,” to quote one of my favorite 80’s bands.