tasting events

Coming up this Saturday, April 16^th, the Sacramento Artists Council, a non-profit organization working to keep art and music in local public schools, will host the fifth annual Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival at Roosevelt Park.
As a big fan of beer and chili myself, (okay, you got me, mostly it’s the beer but I’ll take a side of chili) I actually checked out this event back in 2014, and the announcement of the 2016 event has me dreaming about Watermelon Wheat paired with the chili from Blackbird….YUM.
What can you expect at the Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival this year? Well, in addition to a competitive chili cook-off and beer tastings from more than 20 local and regional brewers, you can also enjoy live music from local acts like The California Stars and The Bitter Diamonds. The festival is dog-friendly and bike parking will be available.
Tickets for Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival are available for purchase online. And don’t wait – the price increases by $5 on the day of the event.
Cheers!

You might have noticed that last month on SacFoodies we celebrated all things fabulous. Well, even though it’s now March, I have something really fabulous to share with you today. Call it fabulous, marvelous, something out of a dream, or whatever you’d like – you’re going to want to know about this.

Sarah Maren Photographers — Photo Courtesy of Sarah Maren Photography and Andy’s Candy Apothecary

Have you ever had a dream that you were one of the kids that got to tour Willy Wonka’s factory and play in his magical room filled with candy? You know, the one that has a chocolate river, whipped-cream filled mushrooms, trees with gummy leaves and numerous other sweet treats. Well I’m about to tell you that right here in Sacramento you can have an exclusive experience that will make those dreams come true.
After hours, Andy Paul of Andy’s Candy Apothecary, provides exclusive, curated tastings of some of the highest-quality confections available, all in the privacy of his gorgeous candy store. From old-timey sweets, to artisan chocolates, to unique treats (spicy and zesty tequila lime tortilla chip brittle, anyone?), he leads groups through tastings akin to a wine tasting with a skilled sommelier. Speaking of wine, Andy also encourages groups to bring in their favorite wines to enjoy with the treats. An evening filled with candy and wine, how bad can that be?

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Maren Photography and Andy’s Candy Apothecary

I can tell you from personal experience that it’s not bad at all – in fact, it’s pretty great! I recently had the pleasure of attending one of these exclusive candy and wine gatherings at Andy’s with a group of 10 of my friends, and we had an absolute blast. We enjoyed 17 different candies (you read that right!) and brought a selection of wines which we paired with the unique candies that we tasted. Andy guided us through the tasting, encouraging us to enjoy each piece of candy and think about the nuances of flavors and textures (these are not run-of-the-mill candies, so it’s truly worth savoring each bite).

The seemingly never-ending selection of candies to try, and the fact that we had the store all to ourselves, made me feel just like a kid in Wonka’s factory (without the fear of turning into a giant blueberry) and it was the perfect way to spend a Thursday night with friends.
All in all, we learned a lot, tasted some delicious treats and had a great time. I’m already thinking of excuses to do it again.
If you’re looking to do something fabulous, book yourself a private tasting at Andy’s Candy Apothecary. I promise it’ll be sweet!
For pricing and additional information on private tastings, click here.
Andy’s Candy Apothecary
1012 9th St.
916-905-4115
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:30am-6pm; Sunday 11am-4pm

5th Annual Sacramento Beer & Chili Festival

A Fabulously Sweet Evening at Andy’s Candy Apothecary