Wine

An Afternoon of Holiday Cheer at Séka Hills

December 13, 2018 by SacFoodies

This year, the FleishmanHillard and SacFoodies team left the big city and headed out to the Capay Valley to celebrate the holiday season. Séka Hills welcomed us with open arms for an afternoon of food, drinks and good cheer!
We started our afternoon with a tour of the surrounding Yocha Dehe farm land. The tribe grows 16 crops on over 2,000 acres including almonds, sunflower, olives, and walnuts. Plus, Yocha Dehe has a herd of 700 cattle in the hills and surrounding valleys. The tour was beautiful and a perfect way to kick off the afternoon.

We then indulged in a little charcuterie and Séka Hills Voignier on the patio! The weather was perfect and it was a nice treat for the office.
After our time on the patio, we headed inside to our table in the milling room, where olives from the farm are milled and transformed into award winning olive oil. The table was beautiful and the decor was so festive.

Yes – that sign says “Deck The Halls with Cheese and Wine”… you can see where our priorities lie!!
The menu was full of delicious local produce from start to finish, plus they were so accommodating to our team members with dietary restrictions. We started with a Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad with Olio Nuovo Dressing, Shaved Local Duck Egg, Crispy Bread Crumbs & Aged Parmigiana. This was served with a Séka Hills Sauvignon Blanc.
Next we indulged in a family-style spread of Red Wine Filet Mignon with Tuluk’a & Pomegranate Demi, Roasted Root Vegetables, Sous Vide Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Chicken Breast with Herb Jus, and Wild Rice Pilaf with Leeks. All of the dishes on the menu were cooked with Séka Hills olive oil and balsamic vinegar products! This course was served with Séka Hills Tuluk’a.

Last but certainly not least, we enjoyed some truffles and fromage with Séka Hills Tribal Reserve.
Overall, our day at Séka Hills was perfect. We got to experience the beauty of the Yocha Dehe farmland and the amazing farm to table food and wine that they offer. But don’t take my word for it! Enjoy these words of praise from the FleishmanHillard and SacFoodies team.
“Séka Hills was everything that I love about California rolled into one, beautiful scenery, farm to table food and delicious wine! Not to mention learning a bit more about the tribe and their traditions was amazing. I can’t wait to go back for the sunflower tour and perhaps a bit more of the Tuluk’a ;).”
“Such a beautiful getaway. I will definitely be going back in spring for the bloom tour.”
“The food was incredible with so many amazing local fall flavors, each pairing perfectly with Séka Hills wines. I can’t wait to plan my next visit and tasting.”
For more information on Séka Hills, visit their website.

Clavey Vineyards & Winery

November 20, 2018 by SacFoodies

Last week, we had the opportunity to try organic, vegan-friendly wines from Clavey Vineyards & Winery. Located in the Sierra Foothills, Clavey is a family-owned boutique winery that prides themselves on sustainable growth practices and offer a wine-making “Custom Crush” experience at their vineyard.
We got to sample the Rosé, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in our recent tasting, held at the SacFoodies Content Kitchen. Tasting notes and pairing suggestions below!

The 2016 Rosé had a fragrant nose of strawberry and was slightly darker in color than the typical Rosé. The winery recommends that you pair this Rosé with lightly grilled vegetables, or a fresh pasta tossed lightly in olive oil.

Our next choice, the 2013 Clavey Syrah, was medium-bodied with a dried plum and blackberry aroma – perfect to pair with a hearty braised lamb or a bittersweet dark chocolate.

We rounded out the evening with the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, a non-traditional light-bodied varietal with notes of cherry and blackberry. Pair this wine with a goat cheese spread, or a sharp cheddar and salami.

Named after an epic experience down Clavey Falls near Yosemite, Clavey Vineyards & Winery is run by a second-generation winemaker devoted to old-world techniques and tradition. If you’d like to visit the winery, or learn more about their methods, visit here for more details.

A Night at Morton's

July 27, 2016 by SacFoodies

by Harrison Reilly

Morton’s The Steakhouse is an American institution. Their classic cocktails, choice wine selection and premium steaks have been an upscale dining staple for nearly 40 years. Morton’s Sacramento location recently renovated their dining space to a more modern look while still keeping the vibe classy.
Morton’s recently invited SacFoodies to a wine and dine night to celebrate the newly renovated restaurant. The event featured custom cocktails, a smattering of small bites and a great selection of wine, from Shiraz to Cabernet.

We were greeted with a selection of cocktails: Manhattans, French 75s and Raspberry Cosmopolitans. They were refreshing and tasty, perfect in the middle of a classic Sacramento heat wave.

Next, we got to taste crab cake sliders and delicious petite seared lamb chops. However, the highlight of the evening for me was the freshly cut steak sandwiches, paired with a fresh bun and horseradish. The steak was perfectly cooked and paired nicely with the Cabernet being served. The sandwiches were cut and served to order, allowing us to choose our cooking preparedness preference (I went with medium rare).

If you’re looking for a place for after work cocktails or want to have a classy night out, it’s hard to go wrong with a restaurant as reliable as Morton’s.
Morton’s The Steakhouse
621 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814

SacFoodies Weekend Picks

May 12, 2016 by SacFoodies

by Brandon Smith

Concerts in the Park
Downtown Sacramento’s Concerts in the Park series is back at it Friday, May 12^th from 5 – 9 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Park. Every Friday between May 6 and July 29^th(except July 1^st), 6,000 fans gather in the heart of the city to see a variety of local and nationally touring artists. This week’s concert will feature sounds and good vibes from DJ Eddie Z, Andrew Castro, They Went Ghost, The Element Brass Band and The New Kingston.
After the concert, be sure to keep your wristband on and head to one of the official CIP after party locations for specials and discounts. View the full list of official after party locations here. For more info on upcoming concerts, visit the CIP website.
Cesar Chavez Park
910 I Street
Sacramento, CA
National Beer Mile
Four beers. One mile. One awesome after-party! Need we say more?
The National Beer Mile tour rolls into Sacramento on Saturday, May 14^th at Raley Field! This fun run is perfect for runners, social drinkers, fitness enthusiasts, and those who just want to get out and have a great time. Drink a beer, run/walk/jog/dance/skip (whatever you want) your way a quarter-mile down the course, repeat three more times, then party at the open beer bar! This is a 21+ event so be sure to bring those IDs.
Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 on the day of the race. VIP and special group rates are also available. For more info, visit the National Beer Mile: Sacramento website .
Raley Field
400 Ballpark Dr.
West Sacramento, CA
Wine and Brew at the Zoo
The SacFoodies recently gave away two tickets to Wine & Brew at the Zoo and if you weren’t our lucky winner, you can still experience everything the Sacramento Zoo’s annual event has to offer. This exclusive after-hours event will feature 28 local wineries and breweries, live music, a silent auction and food from some of the best local food trucks. Best of all, guests will get to enjoy the spread while taking in the luscious green landscape and checking out exotic zoo animals. Proceeds and 10 percent of food sales will benefit animal care and the general maintenance of the zoo.
To purchase tickets, visit www.saczoo.org/wineandbrew, or call 916-808-5888
Sacramento Zoo
3930 W Land Park Dr.
Sacramento, CA

The Cellar in Historic Folsom

June 20, 2014 by SacFoodies

There are some restaurants that are just a pleasure, and The Cellar on Sutter Street in Historic Folsom is one such place. I’ve been to The Cellar a number of times, but when I learned of their expanded menu, I couldn’t wait to try it. Executive Chef Joe Cuka has created a little something for everyone with a whole lot of deliciousness going on.

Once we made our wine choices from the extensive wine list, we began sampling a few items from the menu. We started with Ahi Tuna Tartare Tacos and one of their most popular salads, featuring strawberries and spinach, and both were really tasty.

I was unprepared, however, for how Amazing (yes, with a capital “A”) their Three-cheese Mac ‘n Cheese would be. I have no words. It was simply THAT GOOD. And, drumroll please, it was gluten free to boot. Chef Cuka explained how he eliminates the need for a traditional roux base which calls for flour, and instead uses a creamy garlic and onion béchamel as a base for the three-cheese sauce. And I can attest to how flavorful this makes the dish.

For dessert, I sampled (okay, inhaled) the double fudge brownie with caramel, whipped cream and strawberries, which is also amazingly, inexplicably, deliciously gluten free. I freely admit that the chocolate-obsessed me that I keep under wraps was in foodie Nirvana.
The menu features a wide range of items from Bruschetta to Chorizo Grilled Cheese to Pulled-Pork Sliders, from Flatbread Pizzas to the traditional Cheese Platters, and in addition to the decadent Double Fudge Brownie, they also offer a Berry Cobbler.

The menu prices are so reasonable, with most items ranging between $6 – $12. They also expect to receive their full bar license soon and plan to offer craft cocktails.
I encourage you to check out The Cellar. You may see me there enjoying another bowl of Mac ‘N Cheese – but don’t expect me to share!
Tell us about your favorite menu items.
The Cellar Wine Bar
727 Sutter Street #B
Historic Folsom District
Folsom, California 95630
916.293.9332
For more information, visit:
www.TheCellarWineBar.com
The Cellar Wine Bar’s Facebook page

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