Brittany – I love brunch. And I love pizza. Now I’m no mathematician, but I’d like to think that in the case of brunch and pizza, the whole is even greater than the sum of its parts. Are you following? To clarify …
BRUNCH + PIZZA = AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS
How did I discover this, you ask? Recently, fellow Sac Foodies Cecily Fuller, Julie Berge, Christine Schunk and I had the pleasure of sampling what we now know is one of the best brunch offerings in town, and it’s found at none other than Hot Italian. We feasted on pizzas and, of course, dabbled in the dessert, my favorite being the Zucchero – organic Italian chocolate hazelnut spread wrapped in a delicious dough then dusted with powdered sugar!
Cecily – I was looking forward to brunch at Hot Italian all week and I wasn’t expecting anything short of delicious – and boy did they deliver! Each entrée combines two of my all-time favorite foods (pizza and eggs) but with new and oh-so-yummy flavor like the Ventura pizza that features two sunny side up eggs, tomato sauce and fior di latte cheese! I also enjoyed the traditional Italian music that the restaurant plays during brunch hours.
Julie – As a recently converted vegetarian, I have come to learn that breakfast and brunch dishes without a ton of carbs and still full of flavor are hard to come by, which is why my taste buds were thrilled to discover the Nibali pizza at Hot Italian. The thin-crusted pizza consisting of scrambled eggs, mushrooms, spinach, truffle oil and crescenza cheese was incredible and a definite group favorite. (Note: for those meat lovers, there is the option to add prosciutto for just $2 extra.) I also especially enjoyed washing my meal down with the tasty Prosecco cocktails that are offered in three flavors including bellini (peach), tiziano (strawberry) and arancia rossa (blood orange). Finally, the icing on the pizza pie was that there was no wait to sit down and begin enjoying our Italian brunch experience.
Christine – I can’t wait to go back before this local breakfast secret gets out, because it’s just a matter of time that this place will be buzzing in the mornings. I definitely agree with Julie that the Nibali pizza was my favorite – perfect brunch pizza that could easily pair with a nice Italian latte, or a Prosecco cocktail (we “sampled” with both just to be sure, hee hee). I always knew pizza for breakfast was a good thing, but pizza made for breakfast is even better!
Hot Italian’s brunch menu is served on weekends from 11 AM – 4 PM.
Patio Dining Series: Brunch at Paesano’s Pronto
Going out to brunch on a weekend morning is one of those things that seems to come and go in phases for me. I either find myself going every weekend, or not going for months. Right now I’m thinking it’s time to pick the trend back up not only because the weather is just right for a leisurely Saturday or Sunday brunch, but also because I’ve been hearing about all kinds of new places to go for weekend breakfast. When I heard that Paesano’s Pronto (the more casual sister restaurant to the main Paesano’s on 18th & Capitol Ave) was now serving brunch, I thought to myself, “Wait, isn’t that a take-out pizza place?” I proceeded to investigate by checking it out for brunch last weekend and couldn’t have been more wrong! Upon arrival, we found lots of diners filling in the patio seating, enjoying Sunday morning mimosas with their egg dishes.
Following along with the “Pronto” theme, there is no table service. You simply order at the counter, take a number, and find your own seats. Works for me, plus there’s no time spent waiting for the check at the end of the meal. I was conflicted (as usual) between ordering the Huevos Rancheros, the Italian Benedict or the Breakfast Panini, but in the end the Panini won out.
Served on grilled bread with scrambled eggs, applewood smoked bacon, roasted turkey, swiss cheese and roasted red pepper, this was my kind of breakfast sandwich! A hearty serving of house potatoes accompanied the dish.
My dining companion went with the Chorizo Hash, a spicy dish which included potatoes, chilies, peppers, onions all grilled with chorizo and topped with two eggs and hollandaise!
I thought our meal was delicious and I would definitely go back, both for the yummy food and great patio seating. It’s official – I’m back on the brunch bandwagon!
Paesano’s Pronto
16th & O Streets Sacramento, CA
916-444-5850
Brunch Recommendations for a Sac Foodies Reader
Today we received an e-mail from a Sac Foodies reader asking for brunch recommendations. We started to write her back when we realized we had so many ideas that we should share them on the blog!
The E-mail: “I was wondering if you can recommend a comfortable, somewhat inexpensive, yummy place to have brunch at this Sunday for a group of friends and I. We try to get together for brunch at least once am month and try not to go to the same place twice.”
Julie Ficker – “My fav is Tower Cafe. But allow time, there is almost always a 20 – 30 minute wait.”
Liz Conant – “The Riverside Clubhouse is great for large groups and has a fun indoor/outdoor indoor patio – plus they take reservations. Or, if you want something a little more edgy, try Ink Eats & Drinks and don’t miss the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar.”
Kris Caputo Hurley – “I love Roxy!”
Jenna Kirkwood – “A place that’s totally out of the way, but a really cool place to go for brunch is the Ryde Hotel in Walnut Grove. It’s an old hotel right by the river that used to house a Speakeasy in the basement during prohibition. They’ve kept a real art deco feel to it and do a huge champagne brunch. Or, my stand-by brunch spot is Awful Annie’s – both the Auburn and Lincoln locations are great for leisurley breakfasts with friends.”
Brittany Mohr – “I’m a Café Bernardo fan all the way! Highly recommend the eggs bernardo if you’re a benedict fan!”
Let us know if you agree or have another recommendation by leaving a comment below!
Easter Sunday Foodie Round-Up
Whether you’re planning on dining out this Easter Sunday or hosting a gathering at home, we’ve got you covered! There are many special dining events and deals to be had this Sunday in the Sacramento area. What are your plans this Easter? Leave us a comment below and tell us what you’re cooking or where you’re planning on eating!
On Saturday, the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael will host a pancake breakfast at the Carmichael Park Clubhouse from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost is $5 for adults, and $3 for children under age 12. Kids 8 and under can participate in Carmichael Park’s annual Easter egg hunt, beginning promptly at 10 a.m. Robla Community Park and Parkway Oaks Park in Sacramento are also hosting egg hunts on Saturday as well.
If you’re in the mood for a traditional Easter brunch on Sunday morning, there are many local options. Head downtown for the Sheraton Grand’s Easter Brunch Grand Buffet, where you can enjoy a variety of options including fresh seafood, hand-crafted sushi, dill-crusted salmon filet and much more. Seatings are available at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and the cost is $48 per person or $24 for children 6 to 12 years old. The Firehouse in Old Sacramento will also be hosting Easter brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entrees include New York strip and eggs, Florentine eggs Benedict, seafood croustade and more. Cost is $39.95 per person. Call (916) 442-4772 or go to The Firehouse Web site for reservations.
Paul Martin’s American Bistro in Roseville is offering a three-course menu for just $24.95 this Sunday. The meal includes slow-roasted prime rib, creamy mashed potatoes, your choice of soup or salad and a hand-crafted dessert. Or, try one of the new spring menu items such as fresh halibut with baby artichokes or grilled salmon with squash and fingerling potatoes. Call (916) 783-3600 for reservations.
Granite Bay’s Hawks Restaurant has special Easter brunch and dinner menus. Brunch choices include eggs benedict, slow-roasted arctic char and strawberry shortcake for dessert while the dinner selection includes filet mignon, homemade gnocchi and even an amuse bouche to start. Call ahead for reservations: (916) 791-8200.
Eating at home but no time to cook? Head to Nugget Market and pick up a fully prepared lamb dinner. This meal features a boneless leg of Superior Farms American Lamb, seasoned and stuffed with feta cheese and kalamata olives and roasted rare. The complete meal comes with potatoes, asparagus and dinner rolls; it serves a family of six and it’s only $60.99 when you bring in a $5 off coupon.
(Above photo courtsey of Flickr userMarek52).
Your Weekend in Foodie Events
No plans this weekend? We’ve got you covered! In a city like Sacramento, there’s always something going on, and when it includes food you can almost guarantee it’s on our radar. Here are a few ideas to get your stomach growling:
Need an excuse to go out for Saturday brunch? Consider checking out the Monthly Bluegrass Brunch at the Hoppy Brewing Company. The Spillit Quikkers will be playing original, acoustic music while you enjoy a Crab Benedict or Pesto Omlette, to name a few choices.
Watch live cooking demonstrations all day long on Saturday at The East Bay Restaurant Culinary Supply Center. Wake up by watching Chef Dina prepare Italian Stuffed Toast with Marmalade and Mascarpone or stop by during the afternoon for “The Cooks of Broadway” demonstration including chefs from Andy Nguyen’s Vegetarian Restaurant, Bali Grill and Queen Sheeba. Visit www.eastbayrestaurantsupply.com for more information.
Who said there’s no such thing as an Oktoberfest in April? Sample a variety of German foods, coffeecake and the traditional Bockbier at the Sacramento Turn Verein Bockbierfest this Saturday, April 4 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will include great German dance music by the Al Gruber Band and traditional German dancing. There’s even an outdoor patio and Biergarten. The event costs $10 and you can find out more at www.sacramentoturnverein.com.
Cross your fingers for sun so that you can join in Rick Kastle’s Crusier Pub Crawl. The event starts at 11 a.m. at the Bicycle Chef and there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy great food and beers along the way. Stops include Monkey Bar, Nishiki, Brew It Up and Streets of London – to name a few. For more information, click HERE.