Original site site of planned The Bowl restaurant in March 2015. V. Miller Meats, a whole animal butcher, is still on track to open in the building.

The Bowl, a planned East Sac restaurant by owners of 33rd St. Bistro, the Haines brothers, is moving closer to 33rd St. Bistro, reports Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee.

Changes are afoot at the former Larry’s Comfort Shoes site at 48th Street and Folsom Boulevard, where developers planned to put in a butcher shop and a Haines brothers-operated eatery called The Bowl.

The butcher shop is still a go, according to Ken Fahn, a partner in a group that owns the building. But The Bowl will likely open instead at another Fahn-owned building at 32nd and Folsom.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

I've tried in previous months to get more information from SRO, the Haines brothers company, about the new restaurant, but they've always declined to elaborate. It appears that they're continuing to be coy, with the building's owner telling Shallit that the concept for the restaurant is "a trade secret."

* Updated references from Bistro 33 to 33rd St. Bistro.

More News:

Three new places to try: Coffee, hot dogs and ice cream doughnuts - Coffee, unique hot dogs and eclectic desserts are among the recent additions to the local dining scene. If you're ready to try something new, here are three noteworthy business openings. Featuring Totem Coffee Co., The Parlor's new Roseville location and Umai Savory Hot Dogs in Roseville. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

The Future of Farm-To-Table - Sacramento Public Library recently named “The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food” its 2015 One Book selection. In the book, author Dan Barber questions the farm-to-fork movement and raises a red flag about the American way of farming. A James Beard Award-winning chef and owner of two acclaimed farm-to-table restaurants (Blue Hill in New York City and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in upstate New York), Barber will be in town Oct. 6 for a library event. He recently talked with us by phone. Marybeth Bizjak in Sac Mag.

Local Eateries Celebrate Pear Month With Unique Dishes - Did you know that August is Pear Month in California? Farm-to-Fork restaurants in the Sacramento area are celebrating by offering 16 menu items highlighting California pears! Ten restaurants are participating in a Farm-to-Fork Pear Recipe Contest held by the California Pear Advisory Board in partnership with Sacramento’s Farm-to-Fork program. Aimee Darville in Girls on the Grid.

Dining review: Brasserie Capitale off to promising start - Once Brasserie Capitale gets past its growing pains, it should become just as entrenched a presence on K Street as Ella, Esquire Grill or Mayahuel. The food’s already practically there, and the setting is so inviting that it’s a treat to spend a few hours in this brasserie. At least when that’s the plan. Carla Meyer in the Sac Bee.

Feast Q&A: Temple to open first shop in Davis - On a journey through Indonesia at the turn of the millennium, Sean Kohmescher became captivated by the ornate Buddhist temples he came across there – focal points of spirituality and community togetherness visited several times daily by members of its surrounding village to refuel, converse, pray, and read. In 2005, Kohmescher decided to introduce a touch of Southeast Asian tradition to Sacramento, opening Temple Coffee Roasters as a hub for rejuvenation, camaraderie and caffeine. Brenna Lyles in the Sac Bee.

#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.

The reviews are starting to come in for Strings Urban Kitchen, the newish eatery at the base of Capitol Towers at 7th & O. First up, it's Ann Martin Rolke in Sac News & Review. (Full Disclosure: Strings Urban Kitchen is currently an advertiser on Cowtown Eats.)

At dinner, Strings offers table service. We shared the Bruschetta Rustico, with chunky toasts layered with seasoned cheese, grape tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar. With less garlic than many versions, it’s a delicious and date-friendly choice...

It’s an old tradition that deserves renewed attention. The food at Strings is similar: traditional dishes with new attention to detail and flavor. It’s a nice addition to the downtown grid.

Read the entire article in Sac News & Review.

I've eaten there several times, including during their media preview and later for happy hour on my own dime. I've enjoyed it both times, due to its relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and solid food. On my next visit, I'll be checking out their retail wine store too.

Strings Urban Kitchen is located at 1500 7th Street, can be found online at StringsUrbanKitchen.com.

More News:

LowBrau brunch features signature sausage, drinks - What is less known about them is that they also serve brunch. On Saturdays and Sundays, their deck, shaded by a large tree canopy, is an excellent spot to people watch, sip a shandy, and nosh on sausage-centric brunch food. Andrea Thompson in Sac Biz Journal.

The claim: food trucks are as safe as restaurants - Food trucks are just as safe as restaurants — and, in many cases, safer. That's the conclusion of a new report by the Institute of Justice, a Virginia-based libertarian law firm. The group found that food trucks and carts don't receive any more citations for health-safety violations than restaurants do. In fact, in most of the cities studied, the trucks actually did better. Susannah Locke on Vox.com.

VIDEO: Ice Cream Shops Thrive in Record Heat - It should be no surprise that ice cream shops around the valley are very busy during this spell of triple-digit heat. Staff at Leatherby’s in Elk Grove say they go through 500 to 600 gallons of ice cream on a hot day. Multiply that by three locations, and that number ends up being around 1,500 gallons. Alisa Becerra on FOX 40.

While I think it's generally been a mild summer, Mother Nature seems to want to give us one last hot spell before leaving for the season. I'll be countering that by enjoying a scoop of ice cream, half off.

• $8 for $16 at Leatherby's Family Creamery's three locations in Arden, Elk Grove & Citrus Heights.

More Deals:

• $10 for $20 at Skybox Grill & Bar at 21st & L. Offer expires today.

Der Biergarten, which first hit the planning commission back in March, now hopes for a late August opening for the open air restaurant next to The Golden Bear at 24th & K streets, reports Cathie Anderson in the Sac Bee.

Derfield said he also received a warm reception in preliminary meetings with the city's design review team in October, but after he hired an architect and contractor and submitted renderings in January, the tone changed completely.

"They did not like it at all," said Derfield, who owns the River City Saloon in Old Sacramento. "They said, 'We cannot put cargo containers in the middle of Sacramento.' "

Attempts to reach city urban design manager Greg Taylor were not successful. City planners made suggestions that Derfield at first interpreted as optional.

"When we'd take it back," Derfield said, "they'd say, 'No, we really don't like that. We suggest you change it and come back and see us again.' So, after three times, we gave in to their wishes. If they had just told us the first time, 'We're not going to approve you unless you change this,' but they didn't."

Read the entire article in the Sac Bee.

Click here for more posts referencing Der Biergarten.

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Ju Hachi - Sacramento is filled with great sushi and since moving to Sacramento, I have enjoyed sampling several sushi hot-spots. Thinking that I already had my go-to establishments nailed down, I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a new favorite: Ju Hachi. Nestled on the corner of S and 17th, not only does Ju Hachi feature delicious, reasonably priced sushi—but also boasts some of the friendliest staff around. Jake Ferguson on Sac Foodies.

Karaage translates into popular take on fried chicken - We're talking about chicken karaage, the form of Japanese fried chicken that's a favorite of bento boxes around the world. But these are no ordinary nuggets meant for Happy Meals. Chicken karaage starts as marinated pieces of meat, which are then cooked golden in a wok or fryer with oil. The result: tasty chicken pieces that'll appeal to both preschoolers and their Japanese-food-loving parents. "It's a favorite," said Taka Watanabe, chef and owner of Taka's Sushi in Fair Oaks and midtown's Ju Hachi. "I'll make them for my employees and me, too. They're crunchy outside and moist inside." Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

I haven't been to Burgess Bro's Burgers yet, even though I live in the neighborhood. Earlier this month, Sac News & Review wrote a very positive review of the place - especially their bbq menu items.

I must have passed the restaurant 100 times without realizing they had more than burgers. Fortunately, they lugged their smoker over to the Track 7 Brewing Co. parking lot one Sunday, where I discovered them. The pork and beef ribs I tasted then were both incredibly tender and flavorful, brushed with a tomato-based hickory-flavored sauce.

Lucky for us, the have a deal for us to give it a try.

• $20 for $40 at Burgess Brothers' Burgers in Curtis Park. Offer expires on Thursday.

More Deals:

• $7 for $15 at Leatherby's Family Creamery locations on Arden and in Citruis Heights & Elk Grove. Offer expires on Thursday.
• $35 for $55 at Our House in Davis. Offer expires on Monday.

Once Sactown Mag broke the news on Capital Dime last week, the other area news outlets rushed to get more details on the place.

First, Kibkabe Araya in Sac Press:

The owners of Ink Eats & Drinks in Midtown plan to open a new restaurant on 18th & L Streets around mid-July.

Dime, which will be in the L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen’s old spot, will serve $10 entrees of American bistro-style comfort food, according to Christina Arntson, Ink’s assistant general manager and consultant for Dime...

Open seven days a week, the restaurant will serve lunch and dinner starting from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. with the bar staying open to 2 a.m. Downstairs will be the main dining area while upstairs can be rented for private events. The condos in the building will receive exclusive room service.

Read the entire story in Sac Press.

The Sac Bee restaurant critic elaborates in a chat with Noah Zonca, former chef at The Kitchen, who is invested in the restaurant.

As Zonca told me last night, things changed rather dramatically since our first chat. He was acting in an advisory role and, the more advice he imparted, the more attached he became to the Dime's mission and concept. Originally, it was going to be an a la carte, farm-to-fork menu with everything $10 or less.

But when Zonca started putting it all together, he realized the menu wouldn't be interesting enough, competitive enough and, most importantly, it wouldn't really express quality farm to fork ingredients in their best light at that pricepoint.

So Zonca is expanding - and elevating - the menu. And now his investment - financially and otherwise - has increased dramatically. He's no longer silent. He was working on a scallop dish with housemade Thai curry when we spoke again.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

A couple other bits of confusion surrounding the new restaurant. 

• Opening Date: There seems to be a little disagreement about the timing of the opening. Chris Macias reported in the Sac Bee on Wednesday evening that it would be late June. The Sac Bee restaurant critic reports that they hope to have it open by July 4. And Sac Press reports that it will open mid-July. As the opening date firms up, Cowtown Eats will stay on top of it.
• Actual Name: What's the actual name of the restaurant? The Sac Bee refers to the restaurant as both "The Dime" and "Dime." Cowtown Eats was told in late may that the restaurant would be called "Dime." Sactown Mag refers to it as "Capital Dime." Sac Press gives us a tidbit of info, and it appears that the concept will be called "Dime," with this location referred to as "Capital Dime." The owners "hope to expand the Dime franchise in the future," reports Sac Press.

More News:

More Farm-to-Fork Week details emerge - More details are emerging for the first annual Farm-to-Fork Week, which will be held this September, including news that the tickets for its signature event — the Sept. 29 dinner on the Tower Bridge — will go on sale on the Farm-to-Fork Capital website at 9 a.m. on July 1. Tickets will be $175 per person. On Sactown Mag.

Refrigerator Fire Prompts Evacuation at Leatherby’s Ice Cream - Leatherby’s Family Creamery was evacuated Friday evening after a reported refrigerator fire. Metro Fire tweeted that only white smoke was seen, and that the fire was in the “plug area” only. Ian McDonald on FOX 40.