In the News That Broke Over The Holidays Department...they city council approved the way for Ernesto Delgado, the owner of Mayahuel at 12th & K, to open La Cosecha at Cesar Chavez park as early as the spring.

Here's more from Jessica Rine in Sactown Mag:

Inspired by a recent trip to Guadalajara, Delgado hopes to invigorate the plaza into a place where Sacramentans would think to meet for a date, a business meeting, or simply to hang out and grab a taco and a beer. “Most plazas in Mexico are the centers of the whole town and this is the center of Sacramento,” Delgado says. “I’d like to bring the hustle and bustle of Mexico [to the park], because in Mexico, everything happens at the plaza—everything!”...

Menu staples at the restaurant—whose starting hours will be from 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and will operate as a counter-service eatery—will include tacos (think grilled fish topped with shaved cabbage salad, oranges, garlic aioli and avocado crema), salads (like a La Cosecha house salad with queso fresco, red bell peppers, pumpkin seeds and cilantro lime dressing), and soups, including Mayahuel's popular roasted creamy poblano.

Read the entire story in Sactown Mag.

La Cosecha - 'The Harvest'. Inspired, fresh and delicious selections in a casual yet artful atmosphere. This spring! pic.twitter.com/cuLLTPmc8I

— Mayahuel (@MayahuelMuseo) December 21, 2015

Previously, the space housed Cafe Soleil, until it closed in Dec. 2014. The owners of Cafe Soleil have since opened a new restaurant - Soleil Mexican American Cuisine - at 2790 Stockton Blvd.

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Beer Run: Sacramento area will be represented at S.F. Beer Week - We’re already starting to hear chatter about Sacramento Beer Week in late February, but first things first. San Francisco Beer Week is Jan. 22-31 and is well worth checking out. You’ll find great Bay Area beer at dozens of events. The well-organized website, sfbeerweek.org, lists many of them, including beer dinners, pairings, meet the brewers and more. The big opening gala is $80, features 100-plus breweries and is expected to sell out. More and more, you’re bound to encounter Sacramento-area craft breweries in the thick of things, telling their stories and getting their beers in the hands of new Bay Area consumers. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

First impressions: Blackbird reopens with a smaller menu and bigger dreams - Balance is exactly what patrons will find in Blackbird’s kitchen these days. Sophisticated, seafood-forward dishes drive the menu in the form of easy bar-style small plates. Customers can expect favorites like the Captain’s Chowder—a savory blend of Arctic char, shrimp, mussels, local squid, red potato and chives served with grilled bread—and the Old-Bay Bomber, a slider made with grass-fed beef, American cheese, house-made sauce and shredded lettuce served with light, crisp potato chips. Other items on the menu—or the “perfect seven,” as Lampkin calls it—include individual oysters, fish tacos, a seafood cocktail, vegan risotto and the West End fried chicken. In January, Lampkin plans to grow the menu, bring back the oyster bar and offer weekly seasonal tasting menus consisting of three to five courses. Anna Petkovich in Sactown Magazine.

Pho Ru: Not just another pho joint - I bring this up because one of Sacramento’s newest Vietnamese restaurants does not try to be 100 percent “authentic.” For that reason, Pho Ru transcends expectations for what you’d get at another pho joint: stir-fried clams with black mushrooms and water chestnuts are scooped up with airy shrimp chips ($9.95); fresh spinach colors fried rice a vivid green ($9.95 with a whole hen); lemon-cured shrimp brighten up a refreshing cabbage slaw ($9.95). Yet Pho Ru is steadfastly the sort of place people say is “authentic” or “tastes like Vietnam.” Whether or not that’s true, I do not care. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Folsom's Palladio loses one of its restaurants - A casual eatery at Folsom's Palladio at Broadstone has shut its doors. San Francisco Bay Cafe had its final day of business on Tuesday. Now, the restaurant's exterior sign has been removed, and the restaurant displays a notice that says "business is closed." The restaurant attributed the closure to retirement. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

There's a new place to get a burger in Rocklin - Cheeseburger fans have another option in Rocklin. Moo Moo's Burger Barn has opened at 2330 Sunset Blvd., the restaurant confirmed on its Facebook page. The eatery serves burgers, sandwiches, salads and breakfast items. It's the fourth location for Moo Moo's Burger Barn, which has two restaurants in Stockton and one in Lodi. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Craftsmen Food, a new food truck by the owners of Doughbot, will debut on Wednesday evening at New Helvetia Brewery on Broadway.

Doughbot, a much beloved artisan donut shop formerly on 10th St. which closed in June 2014, was co-owned by a husband and wife team Bryan Widener and Dannah O'Donnell. Based on Instagram, Widener left Sacramento to work at a Boston restaurant. According to Twitter, he returned to Sacramento over the summer.

A voice mail left for Widener on Tuesday evening was not immediately returned. Prior to Doughbot, Widener worked as a cook at Magpie.

On the food truck's Facebook page, the cuisine appears to be farm to fork entrees and not a sweets. Details on a menu, price point, etc are scant at this point.

As a fan of Team Doughbot, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. If they serve it, I'll give it a try.

You can find Craftsmen Food Truck at New Helvetia Brewing Co. on Wednesday evening at 1730 Broadway, or online at https://www.facebook.com/Craftsmenfood.

More News:

After Hours: Sacramento's Three Hottest Nightlife Zones - It's 10 p.m. and Mom and Dad are already fast asleep. But for anyone with a pulse, the party's just getting started. Jordan Venema in Sac Mag.

Beer Run: What to make of the big-brand decline - This is a column about beer, not business. But when the two intersect, as they have with the spate of recent craft beer mergers and acquisitions, it’s worth taking a look at what’s going on. Let’s be candid: Big beer is brewed (and brewed with great precision) to appeal to the largest number of consumers. In doing so, anything that’s compelling or edgy or different about the beer is either dialed back or done away with. What we’re left with is beer that is drinkable but hardly memorable. OK, I remember choking on an orange slice garnishing a Blue Moon I had seven years ago, but I digress. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

A kitchen must: Original Bloody Mary Mix, Preservation & Co. - I've been expounding a lot lately about the wares at Preservation & Co., but doggone it if it isn't just that good. Jason Poole's signature Original Bloody Mary Mix ($9 for a 32-ounce bottle) is a must for any home bar. Garrett McCord in Sac News & Review.

​Ed Goldman: The owners of de Vere’s Irish Pub love what’s happening downtown - Simon de Vere White, co-owner of de Vere’s Irish Pub, is excited about what’s happening in downtown Sacramento. “We’re only eight blocks from the new arena,” he says. His younger brother Henry adds, “We fully expect people to bar-hop their way to Kings games.” Ed Goldman in Sac Biz Journal.

Mimi’s Cafe in Natomas to Close this Month - Mimi’s Cafe in Natomas will close its doors permanently later this month. THE NATOMAS BUZZ has confirmed the French-inspired, sit-down eatery located at 3511 North Freeway Boulevard, in the Promenade shopping center, is set to shutter at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. On Natomas Buzz.

The Coconut Thai restaurant was closed for more than a week by county health inspectors as a result of multiple failed inspections that found "vermin and animal contamination" violations.

County of Sacramento health inspectors first closed the restaurant on Thursday, Nov. 12 for multiple violations, including vermin and animal contamination. It reinspected the restaurant on Friday, Nov. 13, and continued to find vermin and animal contamination.  (Note: I would link to the actual reports, but it appears that the county's Web site displaying these documents is down and has been broken for the last several days.)

A week later, inspectors again failed the restaurant on Friday, Nov. 20 after finding vermin and animal contamination. Finally, on Nov. 25 - nearly two weeks after it was initially closed - health inspectors allowed the restaurant to reopen.

This is the second high profile restaurant to be closed by health officials in the last month. Earlier this week, Cowtown Eats wrote about a downtown La Bou location that was forced to close for a day.

The Coconut has been lauded by critics for its bold flavors. Here's a snippet from Garrett McCord's January 2014 review in Sac News & Review:

Cream-cheese wontons aren’t the epitome of culinary Southeast Asian traditions, but damn it if they aren’t delightful. Soft cream cheese and chives in a crispy wrapper and served with a sweet chili sauce? There is nothing wrong with that, and The Coconut recognizes this...

Read the entire article in Sac News & Review.

As with other restaurants that have faced similar sanctions by the health department, I'll likely eat there again. In fact, since La Bou was closed last week, I've eaten there twice for lunch.

The Coconut is located at 2502 J Street, and can be found online at http://www.coconutmidtown.com/.

H/T CBS 13.

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Lucky Irish: Almost Famous Irish Coffee, de Vere's Irish Pub - Although it's not the year-round chill chaser needed in San Francisco, the Almost Famous Irish Coffee ($8) from de Vere's is available in summer and, blissfully, winter. Start with a custom coffee blend, lace it liberally with Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and top it with freshly whipped cream. The only dilemma is when to order it. Ann Martin Rolke in Sac News & Review.

Beer cheese: Fondue, The Rind - The Rind recently launched fondue nights on Mondays: get a small pot of traditional Swiss fondue—Gruyere plus white wine—with bite-sized pieces of cauliflower, broccoli, green apple and baguette for $13. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

New dining option in El Dorado Hills Town Center - There's good news for diners at the El Dorado Hills Town Center, which has seen two eateries depart in recent months. Milestone Restaurant opened in the center on Sunday, filling an approximately 3,400-square-foot space across from Bistro 33. The space was previously occupied by Cafe Campanile, which rebranded itself earlier this year and moved to a smaller location in the center. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Uber-style restaurant app catching on in Sacramento area - A Sacramento startup with an Uber-like app is raking in new customers and closing in on a big venture capital deal – thanks to a recent tweak in its business plan. The company, Requested, was launched in March with what its founders thought was a killer smartphone app for the dining industry. Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee.

VIDEO: Cooking: Panettone French Toast - Rick Mondermann, store director for Sacramento's iconic Corti Bros. market, stops by to show us how to make some incredible Panettone French Toast. Bethany Crouch on FOX 40.

While the annual Georgia/Flordia rivalry game has been dubbed the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, Sacramento will host the World's Biggest Pop-Up Pub this weekend. Here's what you need to know about it.

1. Who's Putting It On?

Bend, OR-based Deschutes Brewery, probably best know for their Mirror Pond Pale Ale, is bringing their Street Pub - Crafted for Community tour to Sacramento. According to the Sac Bee, the pub tour has also visited Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver before making Sacramento its final stop.

2. Sounds great. When and where is it?

The event will be held on Capitol Ave. between 17th and 19th Streets on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 2 to 10 p.m. Don't forget to bring a jacket. The high temperature on Saturday's expected to be only 68 degrees.

3. How much does it cost? Can I bring my kids?

The event is free and family friendly.

4. Will they have food and music?

Absolutely. Deschutes Brewery's corporate chef has partnered with Brock MacDonald of Block Butcher Bar and Wesley Nilssen of de Vere's Irish Pub to creat dishes that pair with their beer. The event will also feature local bands Humble Wolf, Hans and the Hot MEss and Drop Dead Red.

5. Who does the event benefit?

The proceeds from the event go to Runnin' 4 Rhett, named after Rhett Seevers, a boy with cerebral palsy who passed away at the age of 7. Their mission is to LET RHETT’S STORY INSPIRE those who feel defeated, UPLIFT those who feel down and ENCOURAGE all to take that first step, and MOVE INTO LIFE.

You can learn more by visiting https://events.deschutesbrewery.com/events/street-pub-sacramento/.

More News:

Taste: Delicious Cold Brew Coffee Delivered to Your Door Every Week Via Seasons Coffee - Coffee geeks rejoice. Local coffee roaster Seasons have found a new way to get quality coffee into your hands without you even leaving the house. And while $19 for a 64-ounce bottle may seem on the pricey side at first glance, do remember you pay close to $5 for a subpar macchiato or blended shit drink at Starbucks. Eddie Jorgensen in Submerge Mag.

Pachamama Coffee Bar opens in East Sac - The Pachamama Coffee Bar opening in East Sacramento is not owned by your average coffee company. Indeed it is owned by 140,000 small and independent coffee farmers who organized to form Pacha Co-op in 2001. Mollie Maison in Valley Community News.

Three Mile Brewing in Davis Sets Opening Date - Construction is underway at Three Mile Brewing, the small brewery and taproom going into the Court N’ Cedar courtyard at 231 G St. Joe Runner, one of the owners, said they’re shooting to open on Friday, Jan. 15. Wendy Weitzel in the Davis Enterprise.

Casual seafood eatery coming to Roseville - A restaurant that's billed as a "New England-style lobster shack" is entering the dining mix in Roseville. Old Port Lobster Shack is filling a spot in the Olympus Pointe Retail Center at 1565 Eureka Road. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Days after the opening of Insight Coffee Roasters' Fremont Cafe, Orchid Thai is now soft open at the new complex at 16th & P.

Orchid Thai plans to have their grand opening on Sunday, May 24. According to their Facebook page, they've been open to the public since Wednesday, May 13.

When I walked by Sunday evening and poked my head in, it looked like the restaurant construction was complete and the establishment was fully functional, with a large bar featuring 10 beers on tap.

One of the diners, who had recently moved into the neighborhood, raved about the cuisine and said it compared favorably to Thai Canteen, located just a block away. (She did note that Thai Canteen is fast casual and Orchid Thai is more of a sit down establishment, so it may be an unfair comparison.)

I stopped by after dinner, so I wasn't able to give the place a try, but I hope to this weekend.

Orchid Thai describes itself on its Facebook Page as "Downtown's newest Thai restaurant that not only serves delicious traditional Thai cuisine but also some of the most creative craft cocktails."

This is the second Orchid Thai location, with the first being in Lincoln.

The Downtown Orchid Thai is located at 1609 16th St., and can be found online at http://www.orchidthai916.com.

More News:

Here's when midtown Noodles & Co. will open - More carbohydrates are coming to midtown Sacramento. Noodles & Co. will open its restaurant in the Legado de Ravel mixed-use project on May 18, the Colorado-based company announced. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Drug, alcohol abuse common in restaurant industry - But the recent survey takes on local significance with John Puckett. He’s worked in Sacramento-area restaurants since the age of 12 and came to a point where he had to face his substance abuse issues. Puckett’s now 49, a cook at Oak Park Brewery, says he’s nearly 14 years sober. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Monk’s Cellar: Almost a monk's dream - So it comes down to this: Quality beer (the brewmasters have experience at Sacramento Brewing Co., Lodi Beer Co. and Sacramento Brewing Services) and a dark and beautiful ambiance (lots of brick and wood) are the best reason to visit Monk’s Cellar. Four stars for the brew and ambiance, three for the food. Jonathan Mendick in Sac News & Review.

Fair Oaks Brew Pub soft opened this week, it announced on its Facebook Page.

This week, they'll only serve beer and wine, but the menu on their Web site promises to offer "Neopolitan pizzas, artisan salads, dried, cured meats and cheeses."

In the video above, owners Rich and Jayne Schmitt describe the renovations needed to turn the old Wells Fargo building into a brew pub, including restoring the building's facade to it's original surface by removing the siding and exposing the original stone surface.

For now, it's only open from 3 to 10 p.m. during its soft opening.

Fair Oaks Brew Pub can be found at 7988 California Ave. in Fair Oaks or online at http://fairoaksbrewpub.com/.

Thanks to Cowtown Eats reader @MullingHagel for the tip.

More News:

California Craft Beer Summit tickets on sale this Wednesday - Tickets for Sacramento’s inaugural California Craft Beer Summit, which include one of the largest beer festivals in the country, go on sale this Wednesday, March 18...Passes to taste some of the 150 breweries at the showcase ($60). Nick Miller in Sac News & Review.

Luck o' the Irish - Where to get a green beer on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)? You can’t go wrong at an Irish pub. Among the best: Boxing Donkey Irish Pub and de Vere's Irish Pub. Bob Shallit in Sac Mag.

AUDIO: Friday Food Featuring Mulvaney's B&L - Located at 1215 19th Street, Mulveney's B&L offers hand-crafted, American cuisine with a whimsical style and a smile. But with St. Patrick's Day coming up, they brought us some Irish fare. Joining me now in studio is Patrick Mulvaney of Mulvany's B&L and local chef Adam Pechal. Kitty O'Neal on KFBK.

VIDEO: Hash Tacos - If you're down for the traditional Irish food such as corn beef and cabbage, then you'll love a new twist with tacos at Florez Bar & Grill. Cambi Brown on Good Day Sac.

VIDEO: Irish Tacos - Today Chef Jonah Messenger of 36 Handles joins us in studio to make Irish tacos! Lori Wallace on Good Day Sac.

de Vere's Irish Pub's Davis location turns three, and they're celebrating their anniversary today with Pork, Pinot & Pints.

The event, which starts at 6 p.m., is free to attend, and among the specials you'll get are:

• $4 Pints
• $5 Pinots
• Free Pork from their pig roast

Learn more at DeversPub.com.

de Vere's Irish Pub in Davis is located at 217 E Street.