What: Mangorita
Where: Rio City Café
Why: Order this refreshing mango-flavored margarita blended and then take it out back to enjoy it on Rio City’s great outdoor patio overlooking the Sacramento River. It has the perfect balance of slushy and sweet, but be forewarned – a brain freeze is pretty much inevitable.
Cost: About $8
A few weeks ago (I’m way behind, I know), fellow Sac Foodie, Julie, invited me to attend a get-together with a few other Sacramento-area food bloggers, at Lounge on 20, the new endeavor of her friend and local restaurateur Ali who is also behind Restaurant 55 Degrees.
I had the immense pleasure of sitting next to Garret of Vanilla Garlic, and sharing a table with the lovely ladies of CakeGirrl, Sacramento Yelper Amber and also the duo of Twin Soup. After tasting a myriad of fresh seasonal drinks and small plates, I have to say that there is nothing else like Lounge on 20 in Sacramento.
After reading the amazing posts from this fabulous group, I’m not sure what else I can say that hasn’t already been (and more eloquently) said. Check out the reviews below and then check out Lounge on 20.
Links to Reviews on Lounge on 20:
VanillaGarlic
CakeGirrl
Yelp
Twin Soup
Breaking news! Ella Dining Room and Bar has announced the “Ella Cocktail Hour” Monday through Friday from 4 – 6 p.m.. Starting TODAY, specialty cocktails made by hand with fresh ingredients will be served with complimentary small bites (yum!). What a great way to start the Memorial Day Weekend!
Click here for more information.
There are a few local events happening this weekend. Please see below for beer, wine, food and fun!
Lodi Zin Fest
Come back next week for an event review post from our very own Ali Liebich!
May 16-18 (main event is on Saturday, May 17 from noon to 7pm)
Local restaurants providing food
Wine and cooking courses
Local entertainment
Tickets: $35 in advance, $45 at the door
9th Annual West Coast Brew Fest
Saturday, May 17
Miller Field Sacramento
Unlimited Microbrew Tasting from 1:00 to 5:00pm
Local food booths
Bands providing entertainment
Tickets: $30 (sells out every year)
In anticipation of my culinary adventure to New Orleans, I created a checklist of foods that I must experience in my five days here. The list includes:
1. Savoring a cup of chicory coffee
2. Noshing on a hot, finger-licking beignet
3. Cracking open and eating some Cajun crawfish (bonus points for sucking the head)
4. Enjoying either gumbo or jambalaya
5. Sipping a sweet, refreshing hurricane
I’m proud to say that not only did I accomplish all my gastronomical goals, I did so with vigor. It did help that the International Association of Culinary Professionals conference’s opening night reception offered opportunities to sample most of this delicious, authentic New Orleans cuisine. And yes, I did suck the crawfish head!
After indulging in beignets with chicory coffee (as good as anticipated!), gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish, Kris and I headed over to Pat O’Brien’s to sample their world-famous hurricanes. Sitting out on the patio of this iconic institution, we recounted all the amazing foods we tried on the first day of the conference and reveled in the significance of this historic foodie city that has been through so much these past few years.
