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Dining News: Food Truck by Former Doughbot Operator Debuts on Wednesday

 

Working on a special beer brunch menu #comingsoon #sacramento #farmtospork #beer #dohashtagsworkonfacebook

Posted by Craftsmen on Thursday, November 19, 2015

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.

Continue reading "Dining News: Food Truck by Former Doughbot Operator Debuts on Wednesday" »


Dining News: RIP Tamaya Sushi, to Close on Dec. 4

Tamaya

Tamaya Sushi at 22nd & J is closing after 10 years, reports Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee.

Mary Mesa, lease manager with building owner Eleventh & L Properties, said one of the original Tamaya partners had sold his interest in the business but stayed on as the primary lessee.

When the lease expired, that person – David Leung – said he wished to sign a new lease for a new restaurant he planned to open at the Tamaya site, at 2131 J St., Mesa said.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee. (Second item.)

Shallit reports that it will likely be replaced by another Japanese-influenced restaurant. As for Tamaya, the owner will likely look for a new spot.

Tamaya Sushi is located at 2131 J Street and can be found online at http://www.tamayasushi.com/.

More News:

Good, cold news - It’s that unfortunate time of year when the weather starts getting legitimately chilly and Ginger Elizabeth removes frozen treats from its menu...For the first time, Ginger Elizabeth is offering its salty caramel macaron ice cream sandwiches year-round. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review. (Third Item.)

Homey haven for Thai delights - Thai restaurants abound, some fancy, some not so much. For down-home cookin’, our favorite casual-Thai destination is the unpretentious Thai Hut. There, we always find husband-wife owners Ten and Tuck Siri hard at work turning out complex and artistic dishes that belie the size of their tiny kitchen. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

A healthy beautiful - Beautiful veggies: Liquidology started serving food last month in addition to its cold-pressed juice. No surprise, chef Jackie Howard says the food and drink options pair together exquisitely. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

VIDEO: Best of Sacramento: Dawson’s - Bethany is in the kitchen with Executive Chef Jason Poole from the award winning restaurant Dawson's Steakhouse. Today, Chef Poole is making Garlic Shrimp with shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with a Lemon Anchovies Vinaigrette. He also has information on Friday's Silver Oak Wine Dinner on November 13th. A fundraising five course dinner paired with wines. On FOX 40.

Continue reading "Dining News: RIP Tamaya Sushi, to Close on Dec. 4" »


Dining News: Blackbird to Reopen by Oct. 23

Blackbird

Blackbird Kitchen & Bar, which closed in late May, plans to reopen by Oct. 23, it said on social media this week.

Blackbird officially says it will reopen in the month of October, but has been inviting followers to a West End party on 10/23, which means they plan to open before then.

Blackbird closed in May due to water damage from a broken pipe. Wrangling with their insurance company and additional renovations have delayed its targeted July 17 reopening.

** Update 9/29/2015 - Carina contacted me over the weekend to say that the West End Wonderland party will serve as its grand re-opening and does not expect to be open prior to that date.

In essence, this will be the third iteration of Blackbird. After the first iteration closed in Oct. 2013, it reopened with a slightly different ownership group surrounding founder and chef Carina Lampkin in Feb. 2014.

That iteration ended with the Flood of May 2015, and Blackbird 3.0 will reopen next month.

I stopped by Blackbird a week ago, and it looked like extensive work still needed to be done before reopening. Let's hope their reopening date doesn't slip again.

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Blackbird Kitchen & Bar is located at 1015 9th St., and can be found online at http://www.blackbird-kitchen.com/.

More News:

A new restaurant to serve up classic American fare with a heaping dose of nostalgia - Milestone Restaurant, the second endeavor from the owners of Aji Japanese Bistro, is expected to open this fall in the El Dorado Hills Town Center. Nick Dedier (whose “hard-core fine dining” background includes stints as GM of Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc in Yountville and manager of San Francisco’s Gary Danko) and chef Russell Okubo (whose own impressive résumé includes serving as executive chef for Fat’s Family of Restaurants) opened Aji together in December 2013, and are teaming up again—this time, with another industry veteran Alexa Hazelton, with whom Dedier worked at Auberge Resorts—for Milestone, which plans a late October opening. Jessica Rine in Sactown Mag.

Sacramento Kings and JMA Ventures announce 3 new restaurants for Downtown Commons - Today, the Sacramento Kings and JMA Ventures announced three new restaurants that will open in the newly named Downtown Commons -- formerly known as Downtown Plaza -- adjacent to the new Golden 1 Center arena. The three restaurants are Pour SocietySauced BBQ and Spirits and Punch Bowl Social. In Sactown Mag.

Fruity, hazy ‘Harvest wine’ arrives in Sacramento - A European tradition whereby the grape harvest is celebrated with a glass of partially fermented juice is coming to Sacramento. Starting on or about Sept. 21, the restaurant Seasons 52 at Arden Fair will offer by glass and carafe its version of “Harvest wine,” a richly aromatic, fruity, sweet and spritzy sauvignon blanc by Mauritson Wines of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. Mike Dunne in the Sac Bee.

VIDEO: Ginger Elizabeth’s Chocolates - Cody and Melissa scarf on some delicious chocolates provided my Ginger Elizabeth’s in honor of national chocolate day! On Good Day Sac.

Continue reading "Dining News: Blackbird to Reopen by Oct. 23" »


Now Open - Eatuscany Caffe at 1801 L Street

Eatuscany

Eatuscany Caffe soft opened this past Thursday, reports Sactown Mag.

In addition to 12 gelato flavors using ingredients like pistachio, chocolate, lemon and watermelon, Eatuscany will offer panini, antipasti, salads and pasta dishes like pesto lasagna, and a dessert case full of traditional cake and pastry offerings like tiramisu, cannoli and sfogliatelle.

Read the entire post in Sactown Mag.

Eatuscany, which was originally scheduled to be opened in April, will be open daily at 11 a.m., and close Sunday to Thursday at 8 p.m., and stay open later until 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

You can check out their full menu here.

Eatuscany Cafe is located at 1801 L Street, and can be found online at EatuscanyCaffe.com.

More News:

8th Annual Sacramento Cocktail Week - Summer is sadly coming to an end. But in Sacramento, that also means we can finally say goodbye to that triple-digit heat! Starting Monday, Aug. 17 through Friday the 22nd, celebrate the end of the season at the 8th Annual Sacramento Cocktail Week. Antoinette Ranit in Sac Mag.

Raise your glass at these spirited Sacramento Cocktail Week events - Formerly known as Midtown Cocktail Week, the newly named Sacramento Cocktail Week kicks off its 8th annual event with even more exciting alcohol-infused festivities, from pop-up pajama parties to gin history classes and bartender competitions from Aug. 17 to 22. Here are the rundowns on six of the spirited main events. Dani Anguiano in Sactown Mag.

Gabe Aiello's Meatless Monday Dinner at Old Ironsides - Now Aiello has moved his meat-free dinner parties to a new home at Old Ironsides one Monday a month, the next one is scheduled for Aug. 17, 2015. On the menu? Handmade Veggie Sausage, Baked Beans and Fresh Cucumber Salad. Signature cocktail for the night will be a peach shrub with your choice of bourbon or whiskey. Jonathan Carabba in Submerge Mag.

Why Folsom's Palladio needs two theaters with booze - If all goes as planned, Cinema West will sell alcohol in two separate movie theaters in Folsom's Palladio at Broadstone. And the theater operator says that's not overkill. Dave Corkill, who owns Petaluma-based Cinema West, said the movie industry is changing. Guests have higher expectations for theaters. "That better experience needs to equal what they can get at home," Corkill said. "That's where we're going at all of our theaters." Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

The geeks come out at night: Games, trivia and booze; Why the after-hours nerd scene is on like Donkey Kong - But, bully for you, Sacramento boasts a growing number of late-night options perfect for gaming and leveling up those nondigital nightlife skill trees. If tossing endless quarters into an arcade machine sounds like a perfect night, then Coin-Op Game Room is right up your (pinball) alley. Willie Clark in Sac News & Review.

Continue reading "Now Open - Eatuscany Caffe at 1801 L Street" »


Dining News: Psst - Maiden Ice Cream Popup by Mother on Friday Night

Mother & Empress chef Matt Masera will host the first (that I know of) Maiden Sacramento popup on Friday evening as part of The Mill's first anniversary party from 7 to 9 p.m.

The video Masera posted on Instagram seems to tease that the menu will be something along the lines of affogato (espresso poured over ice cream), but he didn't elaborate on the menu or prices.

But that's kind of the fun of a popup. Embrace a sense of adventure. Show up, be delighted and enjoy.

Masera has been teasing the idea of a Maiden pop up for more than a year. Back in July 2014, he Instagramed a teaser image of the concept.

 

#maidensacramento @chefthiemann

A photo posted by matt masera (@mattmasera) on Jul 5, 2014 at 6:24pm PDT

The Mill, the host the event, is located at 1827 I St. and can be found online at http://www.themillsacramento.com/.

More News:

Tickets available for Dan Barber in Sacramento - The conversation is guaranteed to generate plenty of food for thought. Dan Barber, author of “The Third Plate” and chef/co-owner of New York’s Blue Hill, will appear in Sacramento on Oct. 6 at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Roseville restaurant will offer beer, burgers, wings and ... custard - The owner of a new burger restaurant in Roseville is more than another entrepreneur with a dream. She has a family connection to a prominent casual-dining chain. Tino Phillips plans to open Buck & Sadie's Angus Burgers & Wings at 2030 Douglas Blvd. in November. Her father, Mike Phillips, is a founder of the concept behind BJ's Restaurants Inc., the Huntington Beach-based company that has locations in the Sacramento region and beyond. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Cielito Lindo - After shuttering his doors for over a year, chef-owner Ramiro Alarcon says he feels “blessed and excited” to be back in business, whipping up creative new dishes like Sopa Azteca (a savory tortilla soup) or the Huachinango en Salsa de Frijol y Epazote (a red snapper fillet baked with cilantro and epazote in parchment to seal in the moisture and flavor). The restaurant also added two expanded dining rooms and obtained its alcohol license to now offer a few rotating wines and bottled Mexican beers. In Sactown Magazine.

Adult pleasures: Sacramento ice cream, Ginger Elizabeth - Looking to get all your vices in one place? Look no further than Ginger Elizabeth's “Sacramento” ice cream flavor. Comprising New Helvetia Stout ice cream swirled with Old Soul coffee ice cream, then nuggeted with bits of butter toffee and chocolate-covered ice cream cones, and beribboned with toffee sauce, it's an express bus to hedonism. Ann Martin Rolke in Sac News & Review.

Footwear in, frozen yogurt out - Pinkberry closed last week in Davis Commons. A sign on the entrance to its store at 500 First St., Suite 5, said that as of July 27, “we will no longer be swirling at this store.” It referred customers to other area stores in Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Roseville and Folsom. Wendy Weitzel in the Davis Enterprise.

Continue reading "Dining News: Psst - Maiden Ice Cream Popup by Mother on Friday Night" »