By: Megan Foster
If you’re looking to beat Sacramento’s heat in the company of a cool drink and some of the choicest house-made charcuterie around, head to Block Butcher Bar in Midtown. Snuggled next to LowBrau on 20th and K streets and under the same ownership, Block Butcher Bar offers up a range of cool cured meats, pickled goodies and fresh local cheeses to complement whatever brew you’re drinking (or holding to your forehead), whether it’s one of the dozens of bourbons, scotches or whiskeys showcased on the wall, a microbrew or a summer-appropriate cocktail. “Just Beet It” is my personal favorite. Featuring a mix of beet juice, lemon, balsamic vinegar, mint, dark rum and bitters, this ruby-colored little gem will have you revived and attempting Michael Jackson dance routines with your friends in no time.
Perfect for a day when consuming hot food sounds unappetizing, the charcuterie options at Block are a welcome divergence. Varied, sophisticated and substantial, don’t confuse these plates with appetizers, as one order can easily make a full meal with generous samplings of three, six or 12 different kinds of cured meats. While you’re enjoying the eclectic protein offerings, your understanding of pickle-appropriate foods will be stretched also, with surprises like pickled cherries and assorted garden vegetables.
Once it’s dark and you’re ready to risk venturing outdoors again (and since you likely bee-lined it from the simmering street to the bar upon entry) don’t forget to look under the glass counter in the foyer. Here you’ll find a wide selection of cured meats and artisan cheeses to take home, from familiar brands like Cowgirl Creamery to new discoveries like Bleating Heart goat cheese. Upon review you’ll be tempted to take home one of everything, and maybe that’s not such a bad idea, since you’ll get to clutch those refrigerated delights to your chest as you make the warm walk to your car.
Block Butcher Bar
1050 20th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.706.2636