Sacramento has a lot of traditional fine dining. Mulvaney’s B&L and Biba come to mind. There are a lot of good fusion places on The Grid. Red Lotus is one of my favorites. But one thing that Sacramento lacks is a restaurant that specializes in molecular gastronomy (where chefs use science to build tastes, aromas and sensations that aren’t possible with traditional cooking tools). The most famous restaurant in America for this style of cooking is WD~50 in New York.

Sacramento’s own Pajo Bruich has been honing his craft with one off dinners here and there, and finally caught the attention of the mainstream media, scoring a profile in the Sac Bee.

Now, Bruich has partnered with the team at LoungeON20 to reinvent their restaurant and bring some buzz to their food. Did it work? Chris Macias in the Sac Bee gives an early preview:

Blair Anthony Robertson, the Bee's restaurant critic, will have a full run-down of Lounge ON20 and Bruich's food after they get a chance to settle in. (Grand opening festivities are scheduled for this weekend). But after an early taste of the menu, we can say Bruich and his crew are off to a solid start.

See the entire story in the Sac Bee & Sac Mag. (and expect a review by Cowtown Eats very soon).

Other News:

Historic Slocum House listed for $1.3M - The family that has long owned the historic Slocum House in the village of Fair Oaks is listing the building and land for sale for $1.3 million. Mark Anderson in the Sac Biz Journal.

Trading places - Here's one you don't see every day. Two east Sacramento restaurateurs are "right- sizing" their businesses by exchanging locations. Formoli's Bistro, at 3260 J St., is moving in June to the current site of Gonul's at 3839 J St. Gonul's will relocate to the Formoli's site. Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee. (Last Item.)

Counter Culture: A loaf of bread, a jar of mayo, and thou - Sandwich season is upon us, evidenced by the cover story in Sactown magazine's April issue ("Best Sandwiches 2011") and Midtown Monthly's recent "Sac's Top 20 Sandwiches" report. Those two moved my colleague, restaurant reviewer Blair Anthony Robertson, to weigh in with his own list of favorite sandwich spots on The Bee's "Appetizers" blog. I was pushed over the edge by all of the above, plus the arrival at my desk of the new "Encyclopedia of Sandwiches" (Quirk, $18.95, 298 pages). Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

Midtown saloon has a new owner - Big plans are afoot for the former Whiskey Wild Saloon in midtown Sacramento. A Sacramento investor recently acquired the one-time hot spot at 19th and Q streets and now is negotiating with the owner of the popular Capitol Garage to put an eatery there. Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee.

West Sacramento Squeeze Inn to debut soon - Get ready West Sacramento - the "Squeeze with cheese" - and its ardent fans, are coming. The Squeeze Inn, the popular local burger joint that gained national fame thanks to its appearance on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," is set to open at 1350 Harbor Boulevard location in early May. Niesha Lofing in the Sac Bee.

Fog Mountain and its excellent soups are no longer - Fog Mountain Café, which opened three years ago on the corner of 10th and I streets downtown, has closed its doors for good. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Chipotle’s ShopHouse to debut in D.C. - It really is named ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen. It really will feature the food of Southeast Asia. And the first outlet will be located in Washington, D.C. That’s what officials at Chipotle Mexican Grill confirmed Tuesday regarding the new Asian concept the company is scheduled to open this summer. Lisa Jennings in Nation’s Restaurant News.

Dining review: A taste of France so close to home - A visit to Bistro La Petite France is like stepping into a quaint little bistro in one of those little villages where all the rooftops are the same color, dogs sleep outside storefronts, grizzled old men ride rickety bicyclettes, and the pursuit of food and wine is a focal point of daily life. That lifestyle is elusive for many of us, but it is there for the taking at this modest restaurant with only 32 seats on Auburn Folsom Road. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Monday postscript: the personal touch of a little bistro - My review of Bistro La Petite France focused on the food and the warm hospitality of the husband-and-wife owners, Christophe and Claudine Ehrhart. If you're wondering what it means to have a locally-owned business with a personal touch, this would be a good place to visit and take notes. The formula is very simple, but somehow it remains elusive at too many other restaurants. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Restaurants and rudeness: The customer isn't always right - It wasn't that long ago. We were leaving Peet's Coffee on Fair Oaks Boulevard and, as we walked out, we held the door for a petite woman with short blond, spiky hair and a fake tan - and she proceeded to walk through without saying a word or touching the door. She's something special. Of course she is. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.