Excited to report that I am the new dining critic for @sacbee_news!

— Carla Meyer (@CarlaMeyerSB) May 22, 2015

Three months after previous restaurant critic Blair Anthony Robertson wrote his final review about Studio Movie Grill, the Sac Bee's movie critic Carla Meyer takes over as dining critic, she announced on Twitter last week.

Here's what's we know about Meyer via some quick research on Google:

• She came to the Bee in 2005. Previously, she worked at the San Francisco Chronicle, and her favorite movies all time are "All About Eve," "The African Queen," "Brokeback Mountain and "Dog Day Afternoon." (Source: CityWinery.com)
• While at the Chronicle, she also co-wrote a twice-weekly column "Stein & Meyer: Movie Insider" on the movie industry. At the Chronicle, she also worked for the datebook and sports sections. (Source: SacPress.com.)
• Rotten Tomatoes lists her as also working at the Dallas Morning News. (Source: Rotten Tomatoes) (Update 6/3/2015: During a recent e-mail exchange, Meyer clarified that her reviews may have been published in the Dallas Morning News, but she never worked there.)
• Per the Sac Bee's Chris Macias on Facebook, Meyer has worked in the restaurant industry in multiple positions. (Source: NewsReview.com)
• She attended Shafter High School near Fresno, and it appears she graduated in 1985. (Source: Facebook)

While the previous reviewer at the Sac Bee held a pretense of anonymity, many in the restaurant industry recognized his distinct look as he traveled around town. Here's a recent tweet from Jess Milbourn, formerly of West Sac's The Eatery and Broderick, and who recently hinted he has a new venture in the works.

@fatvelocipede doesn't matter. Everyone knew who Blair was too. Same w dunne.

— Jess Milbourn, Jr. (@jessmilbournjr) May 22, 2015

But maybe even the pretense isn't as important anymore. Pulitizer Prize winner Jonathan Gold, the restaurant critic for the LA Times, recently unmasked himself.

Reading the Bee's restaurant reviews is one of the highlights of my Sundays. I look forward to checking out Meyer's work in the coming weeks.

More News:

After friggin’ forever, Sacramento poised to tweak its food truck laws next Tuesday - Well, in true Sacramento fashion—and after more than four years of deliberation and meetings and outreach and government machinations and grilled-cheeses-on-steroids—Sacramento is poised to update its food-truck laws this next Tuesday. Finally! I can’t believe it’s actually a-happenin'. Nick Miller in Sac News & Review.

Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant: Eat big or go home - Casablanca is located on Fair Oaks Boulevard, wedged into a space between a liquor store and a Salvation Army. It doesn’t look like much from the outside—however, if you manage to find a parking space and get inside, you’ll be dazzled by its vaulted ceiling, rich though loved tapestry and welcoming cushions. Garrett McCord in Sac News & Review.

Roseville restaurant starts crowdfunding campaign for planned expansion - A vegan cafe in Roseville is turning to crowdfunding for its planned new location, a move the restaurant's co-founder says is necessary to comply with county regulations. Baagan opened in 2011 at 910 Pleasant Grove Blvd, suite 160. Now, the 1,388-square-foot restaurant is preparing for a move that could double its size. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Roseville's Pipeline Coffee House coffee shop closes - Pipeline Coffee House in Roseville has closed, and an eviction notice dated May 13 is on the front door. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

In a news-laden post over at Sac News & Review, Janelle Bitker scoops that Team Broderick will take over the spot recently occupied by Wahoo's Fish Tacos at 19th & L.

Broderick founder Chris Jarosz just inked a deal...to put a Broderick at the Wahoo’s Fish Tacos location at 1820 L Street, right across from Capital Dime...

And since Capital Dime’s and Broderick’s menus share pretty significant similarities—an emphasis on robust burgers, that pan-fried macaroni and cheese—it makes total sense to do away with Capital Dime.

Enter Saddle Rock. The name pays homage to one of Sacramento’s first-ever restaurants after the Goldrush, and Jarosz bills it as totally “Sacramento” restaurant with farm-to-fork fare that’s more upscale than Capital Dime but still remains casual. And it’ll be prepared by the widely celebrated young chef Kevin O’Connor, previously of Blackbird Kitchen & Bar. Jarosz admitted to normally controlling his restaurants’ culinary directions, but he’s giving O’Connor free reign at Saddle Rock.

Bitker also reveals that the new incarnation of upscale version of Trick Pony will be called Localis and will feature former Cibo 7 chef Christopher Barnum.

Read the entire post in Sac News & Review.

More News:

Beyond the caffeine fix: Shine Sacramento - In the burgeoning arena of Sacramento coffeehouses, there are few that offer substantial food options to go with their award-winning brews. Unless you want caffeine overload, there’s only so long you can lurk over that latte. Shine Sacramento, in the Mansion Flats neighborhood, offers not only a diverse menu of food, but wine and beer for those post-caffeine hours. Ann Martin Rolke in Sac News & Review.

Freshly pressed - A new juice bar just on the cusp of Elk Grove is, surprisingly, ignoring most juice trends. 7 Fruity (8765 Center Parkway, Suite D300) does zero bottling, stocks its shop with vintage furniture and sells hoards of desserts—macarons, cheesecake, chocolate mousse cake—thereby ignoring that detox mantra. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review. (Second item.)

VIDEO: Food Eating Champ Shows What it Takes to Crush the Competition - Molly Schuyler made headlines when she won the Big Texan steak eating contest after managing to eat three full 72-ounce steak meals in an hour. Schuyler showed Gary Gelfand how it’s done at the Rivers Edge Cafe. On FOX 40.

Over the course of a month, I ended up eating or drinking four times at restaurants run by Team Broderick. Once at Broderick for Sac Bacon Week, twice at Capital Dime (once for a work happy hour and once for dinner) and most recently, on Friday evening for dinner at Trick Pony. It wasn't intentional - it just kind of happened organically.

During my many visits, in coversations with the owners, management and staff, I've had the opportunity to hear about what they've done with the restaurants thus far, and what's to come. Here are 5 of the most important things I've learned, and why I think they have a good chance at being successful.

1. Andrea Vadavato, the effusive Italian server with an infectious energy from Masullo, is now the manager at Trick Pony. Vadavato is my favorite restaurant employee in Sacramento. I had heard on Twitter that he had moved to Florida, and was surprised when I later heard he became Trick Pony's manager. When I saw him on Friday evening, he explained that it was just a big game of telephone. He had gone on vacation, but never planned to move permanently, and now he's lighting up the room at Trick Pony.

2. Speaking of Trick Pony, co-owner Matt Chong told me that they have a new Italian chef hired to execute their vision for an osteria, which is generally a simple and inexpensive Italian restaurant serving local specialities such as pasta, grilled meat or fish. They'll also continue to put their wood-burning oven to use to make pizzas. Co-owner Chris Jarosz told me that the new chef will be improving their dough again and will provide training to the staff to improve both the texture and taste of the pizza. They now also own a pizza cutter, so if you're like me and like to have your pizza cut for you, they'll do it.

3. The owners are hands on. During each of my visits, either Chong or Jarosz were visible at the restaurant - no easy feat since I popped into the restaurants randomly. At Trick Pony, Chong was delivering additional napkins for the evening. At Capital Dime, Jarosz was directing traffic. On Second Saturday when I was walking by Capital Dime at 10 p.m. or so, Chong was outside attending to details. These guys are busting their butts to make the restaurants a success.

4. Capital Dime is adding to its menu. Right now, all the entrees are burgers or sandwiches. When we went for dinner on a Sunday evening, the four of us, two of whom were my retired in laws, each chose a different burger. I could tell my mother and law tolerated eating a burger, but she would have preferred something else. Thankfully, they'll soon add more small entrees to serve the non-burger eating diners. BTW: The lamb burger, duck burger, fried tomato BLT and whiskey burger were all winners. The lamb is the most unique and therefore satisfying of the bunch.

5. Chef Stan Moore, who initially stayed with Capital Dime during the change over, is no longer at the restaurant. I hope he finds a new restaurant to showcase his obvious talents at.

The owners said they're about half way done with their improvements. I think they're making good progress and I'm rooting for them to be successful. As they are now, I enjoyed the meals I had at each of the restaurants, although it was clear that there were still little things that needed to be improved.

Given how hard the owners are working and the success that Broderick has become, I'd suggest you give Trick Pony and Capital Dime another chance.

If you're not convinced, here are a couple other opinions about the new place:

Capital Dime and Trick Pony get Broderick touch - Five weeks into this challenge, Jarosz is trying to bring some of that magic to the heart of midtown. He’s not there yet, but he’s playing to his strengths, which is a combination of farm-to-fork sincerity, a distinctive palate, an unpretentious way of looking at food and an edgy approach. I’m thinking about the Johnny Cash burger at Broderick, big and juicy and over the top; the banh mi fries, that are a wonderful mess of flavor; and the oddly delicious mac and cheese that is finished in the pan so it’s caramelized and crispy and really tasty. The best dish so far at Capital Dime 2.0 (or is it 3.0? 4.0?) is the duck burger. Second best is the whiskey burger with extra-thick slices of bacon, followed closely by the lamb burger with a lively sauce straight out of Lebanese cuisine. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

What to expect from the Capital Dime reboot - Now that Broderick Roadhouse owners Chris Jarosz and Matt Chong have taken over operations of the restaurant, the menu has returned to its original concept of $5 and $10 price point dishes. And the revamped menu is very good. "They were having issues figuring out the right format and with operations. I'd been interested in the space for a while, since before, when it was L Wine Lounge. It was one place I really wanted to get my hands on." The offer ended up being a dream come true. Andrea Thompson in Sac Biz Journal.

Capital Dime is located 1801 L Street and can be found online at CapitalDime.com. Trick Pony is located at 2031 S Street, and can be found online at trickponypizza.com.

More News:

KP International Market food court: So. Much. Food. - While KP International Market is possibly my favorite place to shop in the Sacramento area, its food court doesn’t serve the best food in town. Still, when you can combine grocery shopping and dining into one trip—both at a bargain prices—it makes for a highly rewarding experience. Jonathan Mendick in Sac News & Review.

Coriander: Almost hip, almost there - It feels to me that Coriander is where a restaurant should be when it’s doing friends-and-family night a week before opening. There are good ideas here, and the cooks in the kitchen have a grasp on technique. At this point, it’s a matter of balancing flavors, adding a bit of chili pepper here or star anise there, or cutting back on the salt. More time and effort needs to be put into transforming this hope-to-be-hip joint from an indifferent occurrence into a sought-after adventure. The potential is there. It just needs to be nurtured. Garrett McCord in Sac News & Review.

Ice cream update! - Given the heat of July, ice cream is a pretty important food in my diet right now. In honor of the refreshing frozen treat, the following are a few scoops of ice-cream-related developments. This first one is old news. Featuring Here's the Scoop, Sweets and Sugars, Baker's Donuts, Ice Cream Walk. Jonathan Mendick in Sac News & Review.

BLT Week's official kick off event will be held at Broderick on Tuesday evening starting at 5 p.m.

BLT Week is an offshoot of the very popular Sac Baconfest held in late January.

The event at Broderick will feature a special Bacon Fest menu and guest beers.

I plan on stopping by to grab a BLT for dinner if my work schedule allows.

Other restaurants with special BLTs on this week's menu include:

• Block Butcher Bar
• Broderick Roadhouse
• Cafe Bernardo
• Capitol Dime
• de Vere’s Irish Pub
• Devine Gelateria
• Drewski’s Hot Rod Kitchen
• Ella Dining Room & Bar
• Esquire Bar & Grill
• Fat Rabbit
• Field House American Sports Pub
• Formoli's Bistro
• The Golden Bear
• Grange Restaurant
• Hock Farm Craft & Provisions
• Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co.
• Kupro’s
• Yellowbill
• LowBrau
• Lucca Restaurant
• Magpie Cafe
• Mighty Tavern
• Mulvaney's B&L
• Pangaea Cafe
• Papa Dale’s
• The Porch
• Pour House
• R15
• Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar
• Revolution Wines
• Roxy Restaurant and Bar
• Samuel Horne's Tavern
• Shady Lady Saloon
• Ten 22
• Wicked 'Wich

To keep up on BLT week happenings, check out the very active Facebook Page.

You can also find a list of special events this week at http://www.baconfestsac.com/events/.

More News:

Beer Run: Yolo Brewing Co. open for biz and other brews you can use - There has been plenty happening on the local craft beer scene in recent weeks. This column missed a rotation while I was on vacation (and enjoying some great beer while relaxing), but now we’re back and scrambling to play catch-up. Featuring Yolo Brew, Bike Dog Brew, Insight Coffee, LowBrau, New Helvetia Brewing, Sudwerk Brewing, Mraz Brewing and American River Brewing. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Fire Rock Grill - The spacious venue smacks of modern sensibility (I noticed a patron near the entrance making use of a nearby electrical outlet during her meal), but the contrasting tan walls and darkly painted trusses hark back to the history that makes the space so homey and comforting. That relaxed feeling is reflected in the new-American-style menu, too, which showcases some cleverly refreshing tropical and Latin deviations. In Style Mag.

5 scrumptious local scoops to try during National Ice Cream Month - When we heard that July was National Ice Cream Month, we couldn’t wait to get the scoop on some of the most delicious flavors in the region. From fresh seasonal faves to popular classics, here are five icy-cold treats that are worth celebrating this month. Featuring Devine Gelateria, Gunther's Ice Cream, Vic's Ice Cream & More. Jessica Rine in Sactown Mag.

#Sacramento restaurant moves: Jess Milbourn, formerly of The Eatery, new exec. chef at Broderick Roadhouse

— Chris Macias (@chris_macias) June 19, 2014

All signs pointed to Jess Milbourn, former chef/owner at West Sac's The Eatery, opening a new restaurant at Vierra Farms named The Farmhouse. I speculated about it about a month ago.

Earlier this month, Rodney Blackwell at Sac Foodways seemingly confirmed the news , and Vierra Farms even said the restaurant would open on June 30.

But it looks like things took a turn on June 10.

And just like that everything changes. Wow!!! Can't wait to share.

— Jess Milbourn, Jr. (@jessmilbournjr) June 11, 2014

The news that Farmhouse would not be opening was confirmed by Vierra Farms.

Sorry to disappoint our friends however, we have just been informed that The Farmhouse will not be opening on the... http://t.co/2G5H7mIdQQ

— Vierra Farms (@VierraFarms) June 19, 2014

Given the recent expansion of the Broderick empire, I checked in with Milbourn earlier this week. He told me that he'll mainly be working at Broderick and that he starts this week.

I wish him the best of luck. Given that the Broderick team will have their hands full with Trick Pony and Capitol Dime, I'm sure they're happy to have an experienced set of hands back at Broderick holding down the fort.

Broderick is located at 319 6th Street in West Sacramento, and can be found online at http://www.broderick1893.com/.

More News:

Gunther’s vs. Leatherby’s: Which ice cream is best? - The heat’s rising and we’re not just talking about the mercury on the thermometer. Now that summer’s officially arrived, it’s time for the second installment in a showdown of two classic Sacramento ice cream shops. Which ice cream tastes best in a blind tasting: Gunther’s or Leatherby’s? - Gunther’s of Curtis Park entered the ring as the defending champion, having bested Vic’s, the pride of Land Park, during a similar tasting held in June 2013 at The Bee. Gunther’s won in three out of four flavors that were tasted and evaluated by an esteemed judging panel. These much-beloved ice cream shops were judged on four classic flavors: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and mint chip. Gunther’s won all but strawberry. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Dawson's launches monthly beer dinners - Sacramento’s booming beer scene has another reason to rejoice this week as Dawson’s at the Hyatt Regency launches its monthly craft beer dinners. Every second Friday through the end of summer, chef de cuisine Michael Grande will create a four-course menu to pair with four selections from a local brewery. Jamie Slater in Sactown Mag.

Noodles & Company opening Citrus Heights restaurant - Noodles & Company this month is opening a Citrus Heights location just off the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane. The restaurant chain, based in Broomfield, Colo., also plans to add locations in Roseville and Rocklin later this year. Mark Anderson in Sac Biz Journal.

Federalist Public House & Beer Garden has delayed its targeted opening date from late Spring to the end of July, reports Ben van der Meer in Sac Biz Journal.

Architect and future restaurant owner Marvin Maldonado said the city didn’t approve a plan to use a house at 2009 N St. for the restaurant, so now the focus has shifted to a 2,200-square-foot area behind it where shipping containers will be welded together for a dining area...

Maldonado said he’s expecting building permits from the city within the next week, and building the restaurant would take about six to eight weeks.

Read the entire article in Sac Biz Journal.

Separately, Federalist Public House posted an update on their Facebook Page.

Federalist Public House will be located at 2009 N Street, and can be found online at http://www.federalistpublichouse.com/.

* Photo from late January.

More News:

Lalo's Restaurant: A Decade Later - But, in the restaurant world, even a sure thing can erode into disappointment, which was recently my experience with Lalo’s Restaurant, a Mexican restaurant tucked in the corner of a mini mall near Sacramento City College...Perhaps they were having an off night. And while I may give them another opportunity to impress my palate as they had done all those years ago, I suppose nothing is a sure thing in this world...Perhaps they were having an off night. And while I may give them another opportunity to impress my palate as they had done all those years ago, I suppose nothing is a sure thing in this world. Lovelle Harris in Submerge Mag.

VIDEO: Save Mart Grape Escape - Paul Robins samples bratwurst with housemade mustard and pickles made by Chef Michael Touhy of Block Butcher Bar, and lets us know about the Save Mart Grape Escape. On FOX 40.

VIDEO: Wineries prepare for Sacramento Grape Escape - Dozens of wineries will be serving up their best wine at the 11th annual Grape Escape on Saturday. On KCRA.

The Waffle Experience, a restaurant serving sweet and savory waffles, will open in Natomas in three to five weeks, reports FOX 40.

Three of the "brains" behind the restaurant are three Marines, two of whom have known each other for nearly 30 years and another Marine who will be handling the coffee program.

Initially, they will only be open for breakfast and lunch, but expect to expand to dinner.

If you're ready to droll, you can check out their Instagram account where they have pictures of some of their creations.

The Waffle Experience is located at 4391 Gateway Park Blvd., Suite 650 and can be found online at http://thewaffleexperience.com/.

More News:

Restaurant works to open on P Street - A vacant building in the 2100 block of Sacramento’s P Street is cooking up to be a spot for American-Italian cuisine. Adamo’s, a family restaurant slated to open its doors in June, will serve a variety of foods from chicken wings and pasta to burgers and sandwiches for lunch, said Kiara Adamo, whose father owns the property. Mozes Zarate in the Sac Bee.

Sac Brew Bike rolls into Midtown -  I had a blast, but I also worked my behind off (which was also quite sore the next day – I’m so not a bike rider).  Overall, I think Sac Brew Bike is a great new addition to our midtown activities. After my journey, I couldn’t help but think about the perfect group of people I’d want to take the ride with.  Those people included friends who would definitely keep pedaling.  But perhaps if the starting (and ending) point is not as far from the destinations, this wouldn’t matter as much? I would recommend the Sac Brew Bike, but with the following tips. On Girls on the Grid.

Peek at renovations for Broderick Roadhouse - Employees at West Sacramento’s Broderick Roadhouse can finally talk about the renovations they say will appear on a new cable network.The changes, unveiled to the the public Friday, mainly affect the bar area. Guests can expect a brand new look, according to restaurant partner Matt Chong. Among the new decorations? A vintage 1954 Cadillac grille on the wall. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.