By Jessica Gunn
Two Saturdays ago, a few of the SacFoodies attended the inaugural SacTown Nachos Festival, held at Downtown’s Cesar Chavez Park. We were intrigued by all of the buzz surrounding the festival and by the promise of nacho-mania, so we sunscreened-up and ventured into the Sacramento heat!
At this point, the SacFoodies have attended our fair share of food festivals, fetes, and fairs. One of the top things a festival can do right (in our opinion) is have a location with shade – and this one had it! If the food is good but you’re too hot and have nowhere to sit, it puts a pretty significant damper on the day. It was a really good call on the part of the Nacho Festival to the have the event in a park. Not only was there shade, there was plenty of grass to sit on and space to stretch out. Also, being in the center of downtown made this event convenient and easy to get to! We love it when we can attend central events because they completely open up the possibilities of the day – you can walk to your favorite bar after, catch a movie, or just stroll around, rather than having to drive from a remote location.
Now for what we came here for…….the NACHOS. Being dairy-free and attending a nacho festival usually wouldn’t mix but I decided to try it out anyway. No surprise, Chando’s nachos didn’t disappoint. They happily made my nachos without cheese or sour cream and they were so good. Spicy adobada with fresh onions, tons of cilantro, and guacamole, all served over fresh tortilla chips. The combination of spicy meat and fresh salsas was really unbeatable, especially paired with a cold Modelo! I don’t venture out into 110 degree heat often, but from now on I expect delicious dairy free nachos every time I do.
Overall I would declare the first SacTown Nacho Fest a success. Besides the nachos we tried, we also got a peek at some of the other delicious treats from The Roaming Spoon, Gameday Grill, and OMG! Yogurt! They looked amazing and I wish I had room in my stomach to sample each one. ‘Til next time, Foodies!
September is California Wine Month!
I heart September. Growing up on a vineyard in Sonoma Valley, September has always been a special time of year. It’s the month when my family gets to see the fruits of our labor, literally. I went home for harvest last week (we sell to a large sparkling wine label, and so we harvest our grapes when the sugar content is much lower than still wine grapes). It’s always a kick for me to see my backyard being taken over by the crew of pickers with all their tractors and equipment at 5 a.m. The crush is on!
While other vineyards across the state are harvesting this month, our own governor has declared September as California Wine Month. In fact, we are currently working with one of our clients, California Grown , to promote not only buying California Wine, but getting out and experiencing the harvest related events and festivals this month – and there are MANY to choose from! Check out this link for a full list of events: California Wine Events. Being the loyal Sonoman that I am, I must recommend one in particular that is happening later in the month: the 110th annual Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, September 28-30 in Sonoma’s downtown historic plaza . It’s the Valley’s second most festive weekend of the year (first is the Fourth of July, but that’s a totally different experience and I won’t even go there). I have been many-a-year, and this festival truly has something for everyone.
During the festival the downtown plaza is split in half: the west side of the park is local art & jewelry from around the Bay Area, and the east half is local wineries, each with their own tent where you can sample many varietals; many are limited labels. In the middle of the plaza is a plethora of food booths, and a small amphitheater with a packed schedule. There is so much to see and do in the park, and you can also wander the square’s perimeter and shop or visit one of the many wine country eateries. Here are a few “insider tips” that I would recommend. If you end up going (I am!) please drop a line and let me know what you thought! You can check out the Web site for a list of events, but be sure not to miss:
- Vintage Festival Parade – this parade is nothing but a small town struttin’ their stuff, including marching bands, floats, fire engines, wineries, costumes, community groups, etc. I myself have been a participant many years growing upJ. This year’s parade is planned for Sunday at noon.
- Grape Stomp – this event happens on Sunday afternoon, but is definitely one of the highlights. Ages 5 to 85 come out to compete in teams of two!
- Whiskey Thieves – I grew up with these guys and they are a great band. Friendly blues that you can dance to or just enjoy while you’re sippin’ chardonnay. They play around the Bay Area but will sound better on home turf, no doubt. Saturday on the country-blues stage.
- Eats around the plaza (if you don’t want the booth food) – My top two choices hands down are the Swiss Hotel and The Girl and the Fig.
Squaw Valley Brew, Jazz & Funk Fest
Squaw Valley holds a special place in my heart; right next to the love I have for a great drink perfectly paired with a delicious meal. So when I showed up to Squaw Village on a recent Saturday afternoon to find the 6th annual Brews, Jazz & Funk Fest in full swing, I immediately found myself salivating.
This year’s festival was my first, but certainly will not be my last. The evening started the way my dining experiences usually end – with dessert. The appropriately named “Apple Pie Apple” is a treat for foodies everywhere, especially those with an insatiable sweet tooth like mine. It’s made from a green apple dipped in caramel, then white chocolate, and covered with a thin layer of cinnamon, sugar, and graham cracker crumbs. After indulging with dessert first, my family and I headed toward the Blue Coyote Sports Bar and Grill to reward ourselves after a long day of adventure.
The patio seating of the Blue Coyote was ideal for a warm summer night in the mountains, and we were especially lucky to be entertained by the smooth sounds of funk artists Porter, Batiste & Stoltz, from the Meters. The food at the Blue Coyote was simple and All-American, perfect for an evening outdoors. I ordered the Chicken Caesar Salad, my go-to dinner of choice when the weather’s warm and I’m new to a restaurant. The salad turned out to be exactly what I needed; and the perfect fuel for the hour of sampling and dancing that was to follow.
As if having a great time amongst the best company isn’t enough, all proceeds from the event benefited the Truckee Tahoe Humane Society. Therefore, locals and visitors alike were encouraged to come out and “help and support Tahoe’s pets one beer at a time!”