SacFoodies

2014 Valentine's Day in Sacramento

by SacFoodies

When you’re lucky enough to have Valentine’s Day fall on a Friday, the options are endless where romantic dining is concerned.  
Should you stay in and set the mood in the comfort of your own home? Do you go grand and reserve a table at the hottest restaurant in town? What about the single ladies and gents – should you defy cupid and indulge in solo pursuits on the most romantic day of the year?
Can’t decide? Not to worry, the Sac Foodies are here to help.  We’ve created a list of must-dos for love-struck couples, happy homebodies and single ladies and lads to help everyone’s V-Day sizzle all night long.
Valentine’s Prix Fixe Offerings in Sacramento (Make reservations on Open Table or by contacting each restaurant quickly before it’s too late)

  • The Melting Pot – $75 per person offers five-courses of mouthwatering fondue dishes with a variety of dessert and entrée options. There’s also a Lover’s Lane package for $125 per person, which offers four courses, sparkling wine and an embossed photo frame. See the full menu here.

The Melting Pot
814 15th St., Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-2347

  • Cafeteria 15L – $80 per couple includes a champagne toast, an appetizer, an entrée and dessert options for two. Dinner is served from 5 – 11 p.m. See the full menu here.

Cafeteria 15L
1116 15th St., Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 492-1960

  • Ella Dining Room and Bar – An Ella Valentine’s meal is an exquisite four-course adventure paired with one bottle of champagne per couple. The cost is $125 per person and the full menu can be found here.

Ella Dining Room and Bar
1131 K St., Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-3772

Creative Ideas for Homebodies (This is what I’ll be doing)

  • Netflix subscribers rejoice! Season 2 of the award-winning ‘House of Cards’ premieres on Feb. 14. So tune in, cozy up, and kick off the night with a bottle of red and a home-cooked meal, made with love. Check out these appetizing delights on CookingLight.com for 20 delicious (and healthy!) romantic recipes to set the mood.
  • Not in the cooking mood? Here are local hot-spots offering takeout for two.
    • P.F. Chang’s – Nothing says takeout, like Chinese takeout! Here’s the full P.F. Chang’s menu to choose from. Call-in your order ahead of time to ensure it arrives quickly.
    • Buca di Beppo – Known for their family-style Italian cuisine, Buca di Beppo offers heart-warming, tummy-filling meals to satisfy both you and your love. The best part? They deliver! Check out the full menu here.
    • Looking for more delivery options? Look no further than Eat24.com to find any fine dining cuisine in your area that delivers straight to your front door.
  • And if you really want to impress that special someone – try this amazingly simple, mood-setting treat guaranteed to wow: chocolate-covered strawberries. Believe it or not, I make these for friends and family at least twice a month because it’s that easy. As in, two-ingredients-one-microwave-and-15-minutes-easy. Here’s my go-to recipe on FoodNetwork.com that never fails.

All the single ladies… Now put your hands up!

  • If you’re not marching to the beat of Beyoncé’s ‘Single Ladies’ song, then you’re truly missing out. Let your hair down and have more fun on Valentine’s Night, because you CAN! Consider indulging in these activities with a group of your closest pals.
    • Harlow’s Restaurant – All-girl rock band, the Rainbow Girls will be performing at Harlow’s on Feb. 14, so turn Valentine’s Day into Ladies Night and enjoy good tunes, cold drinks and great company at Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub.
    • Fox & Goose – Enjoy good folk music from Sea Legs and Davis folk rock group, Red Union Blue at local hot-spot Fox & Goose. Event starts at 9p.m. and tickets are $5.
    • Shady Lady – Take yourself back to the Roaring Twenties when jazz and blues were all the rage. This Friday at 9 p.m., Shady Lady will bring original blues orchestra and jazz from Sacramento-based musician, Harley White Jr.
  • Are you a single homebody? Then I suggest turning Valentine’s Night into a fun friends or family affair. Include a group of friends, your devoted pet, or perhaps your kids or parents and throw in some ice cream, pizza, beer, wine, or all of the above, and pop in your favorite movie for a full family date night!

Tell us, what are your plans for the big day?
 

Private Backyard Dinner with Grange to Benefit Sacramento Farmers and Chefs

by SacFoodies


Have you ever wondered who the masterminds are behind the delicious meals prepared at Grange? Well this weekend it’s time to find out! This Saturday, July 13 at 5:30 pm, Grange is having a special benefit dinner, the Backyard “Meet & Greet,” where guests can meet the chefs, farmers, shepherds, winemakers, and brewmasters from behind the scenes. Proceeds will benefit the Sacramento Farmers and Chefs, a photography project which documents and celebrates the individuals involved in Sacramento’s food culture. Taking place at Grange pastry chef Jodie Chavious’ home in Land Park, this special event  will include seasonal eats and live music.

So who exactly are the masterminds? The event will bring them to the forefront, with food prepared by chefs Oliver Ridgeway, Brad Cecchi, Jodie Chavious, and Chuy Lopez of Grange, with produce provided by farmer Scrivner Hoppe-Glosser of Azolla Farm, meat from shepherd Dan Macon of Flying Mule Farm, wines from winemaker Sean Minor of Sean Minor Wines, beer from brewmaster Eric Ryan of Ruhstaller Beer, and lavender from farmer Amy Dempster of The Lamm Farm.
In addition, live acoustic music will be playing from 6 pm to 9 pm by local folk band “Big Empty.”
Don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to meet local culinary talent and be a part of a great foodie cause? Click here to purchase tickets.

Grand Opening of The Rind in Midtown

by SacFoodies


Fellow foodies—boy do we have exciting news for you! This morning, a couple of us SacFoodies were thrilled to witness the grand opening of The Rind, a cheese-centric bar located at 18th and L Streets. The Rind is quaint, classy, and set perfectly on the block with another favorite, Trey B Cakes.
The Rind opens its doors with welcoming arms to all non-sommeliers and cheese lovers out there who might not know what Italian wine pairs perfectly with what type of nutty gourmet cheese, but who know they like the two together! The menu features five different grown-up grilled cheese sandwiches and even a gourmet Prosciutto Baked Mac & Cheese that I will definitely be returning for.  

The Rind encourages trying new food pairings and just having a good time over wine and cheese. This bar is anything but pretentious and has a very down-to-earth and intimate atmosphere.  

We were lucky enough to speak to one of the bartenders after the owner, Sara Arbabian, cut the big red ribbon. He really proved to us that the passion and excitement behind Rind’s mission is to let Sacramentans have fun creating their own food, wine and beer combinations—many of which are organic and even locally sourced.

Welcome to the Farm-to-Fork Capital! We can’t wait to stop back in.

The Rind
1801 L Street Suite 40, Sacramento, CA 95811
916.441.RIND (7463)
www.therindsacramento.com
Hours:
Monday & Tuesday – Closed (eventually opening up Tuesdays, keeping Monday closed)
Wednesday – 11 am – 10 pm
Thursday – 11 am – midnight 
Friday – 11 am – midnight
Saturday – 11 am – midnight
Sunday – 11 am – 10 pm

Spring Sips

by SacFoodies

What better way to celebrate the first weekend in spring than with some good sips and tastings! Here is a quick round-up of a few events that are sure to get the spring season started off on the right foot:
Revolution Wines—Friday Night Specials! Believe it or not, each week, Revolution Wines puts together a delicious wine/entrée pairing for only $15! Stop in from 5-10 p.m. every Friday to see what they’re serving up! On tonight’s menu: Cioppino with a glass of 2011 Zinfandel.
Philanthropic Beer Tasting—Whole Foods Market in Roseville will be hosting a beer tasting event ($15 per person) and all proceeds will be going to the store’s non-profit, Whole Planet Foundation. The tasting will have three different start times (5, 6, and 7 p.m.) for you to participate. Sounds like a win-win to us!
Spring Tasting Menu at The Grange—Debuting this Saturday, The Grange’s seasonal menu includes a fabulous gourmet three-course meal with a glass of wine for $40. Click here to see the menu.
Champagne Brunch Cruise—The Empress Hornblower will be featuring a relaxing Sunday itinerary: Floating down the gorgeous Sacramento River with a glass of bubbly and gourmet brunch buffet, with live entertainment on the boat. The cruise leaves the Old Sacramento dock at 11 a.m. and lasts about 2 hours. Click here for tickets.
Planning to attend one of these? Let us know how it goes!

Rubicon Brewing Company Celebrates 25th Anniversary

by SacFoodies

It’s an exciting week for beer lovers in Sacramento, as Rubicon Brewing Company celebrates its 25th anniversary all week long. The festivities will kick off today and continue through Sunday November 4, with special themed events, guest bartenders and food and drink specials.

Be sure to head out and join the celebration of a longstanding local piece of the Sacramento food and drink landscape! Visit Explore Midtown to get the full scoop.
From all of us at SacFoodies, Happy 25th Rubicon!
Rubicon Brewing Company
2004 Capitol Ave
Sacramento, CA