There seems to be a critical consensus - there's something special going on with the food at Localis. This time, the Sac Bee's Carla Meyer gives her thoughts:

I’ve tried so much game at Localis during its four months in business that I expected my skin to erupt into camouflage. And although all of it was good, none stands out as much as the deceptively simple “farm plate” crudité dinner starter.

Ingredients vary, but on our visits, the farm plate contained turnip, radish, apple, pomegranate seeds and a few types of carrot and beet. Variations in texture and crunch levels, and pickling elements (including a rice vinegar-forward mix and one with red-wine vinegar and peppercorn) individuate the vegetables and fruits to such a degree that each bite differs from the next.

With this dish and others, Barnum carefully balances sweetness, salt, brightness and acidity for ultimate palate pleasure. The only element missing, out of many Barnum creations we tried, was heat. But heat is easy. The balances Barnum achieves are hard. And his flavors work altogether or in pairs.

Meyer did find fault in some of the non-food items at the restaurant, including their choice of music and their uncomfortable, at times, dining area.

Read the entire review in the Sac Bee.

Previously, the Sac News & Review's Ann Martin Rolke said their "food is worth seeking out."

Localis can be found at 2031 S St. and online at http://www.localissacramento.com/.

More News:

Craft Beer Summit to return for a second year in Sacramento - The California Craft Beer Summit will return for a second year in Sacramento, building on the success of the inaugural event in September that attracted the top brewing talent in the state along with scores of beer enthusiasts looking to taste and learn in a lively setting. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Lou’s Sushi: Religion in a rainbow roll - If there are two things that separate Lou’s from the drudging sameness of most other sushi joints, it’s the clarity of flavor and ingenuity applied to each dish...Lou’s constantly surprised me. When most sushi joints seem to deliver the same ol’, same ol’, I found new flavors and ideas here, and look forward to visiting again. Garrett McCord in Sac News & Review.

How to summon your car from valet parking as you finish dessert - A new online service could make valet parking even easier, allowing drivers to summon their cars by text message before they even step outside. Sacramento-based USA Valet Parking has the exclusive use of the system in Sacramento, which uses technology from a Dallas-based software company. It's already in use at the restaurant Ten22 in Old Sacramento. Mark Anderson in Sac Biz Journal.

A new pizza option in Elk Grove - The build-it-yourself pizza craze has officially entered Elk Grove. Blast 825 Pizza opened Tuesday at 7701 Laguna Blvd., according to an announcement on the company's Facebook page. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Three new breweries coming to Placer County - Moonraker Brewing Co., Dueling Dogs Brewing Co. and Crooked Lane Brewing Co. will join the ranks of taprooms such as Goathouse Brewing Co., Knee Deep Brewing Co. and Loomis Basin Brewing Co. on the burgeoning ale trail in Placer County in 2016. Jessica Rine in Sactown Magazine.

Southwest Magazine, the publication fliers find in seat back pockets, featured Sacramento in their Winter Travel Guide.

As usual, when out of towners make recommendations, there are some hits and some misses. Author Alison Miller has more hits than misses, though when she's wrong, she's really wrong.

First, what the reporter gets right, in what she calls the Next Great Food City:

Breakfast: "Local bacon and egg sandwich on a house-made English muffin from Old Soul Co."

Lunch: "Chicken-fried mushroom po'boy at Mother."

Dinner: "Five-course prix fixe menu at The Kitchen."

Nightcap: "Star bartender Ryan Seng's homemade nocino at Grange."

However, she gets one thing hugely wrong.

Lodging: "Make your home base at the centrally located Red Lion Woodlake Sacramento..."

Not sure what it's centrally located to unless she wants to be in the Costco-Arden Fair Mall-REI triangle.

But it's always good to see Sacramento get some good ink in national publications.

Click here to read it for yourself.

More News:

Black Bear Diner opening Monday in Elk Grove - Black Bear Diner, the Redding-based restaurant chain specializing in traditional comfort food and sizable portions, will open a new eatery in Elk Grove on Monday. Mark Glover in the Sac Bee.

AUDIO: Best Of Sacramento Party And The March Of Dimes - One of the biggest events in the Capital City is more than just a party this year, it’s a 15th Anniversary Party and a celebration of more than $4.5 million donated to the March of Dimes. Nov. 12 is the annual Best of Sacramento Party, hosted by Sacramento Magazine. Sacramento Magazine Publisher, Joe Chiodo and March of Dimes Volunteer Jessica Bracy talk about the event's impact on Insight. On Capitol Public Radio.

Nacho Day, bro: Seafood nachos, Lou's Sushi - Seafood nachos consist of six fried wonton “chips,” topped with smashed avocado and a blend of raw seafood pieces dressed in spicy-mayo magic, then topped with green onion and roe on a bed of red cabbage. An unexpectedly addictive and sharable appetizer. Nick Miller in Sac News & Review.

High tea: Tea Service No. 1, Empress Tavern - Tea Service cocktails at Empress are conversational, boozy and absolutely precious. It's essentially a cocktail brewed for four, poured from a teapot into glass punch glasses. Garrett McCord in Sac News & Review.

New housing taking shape at downtown Sacramento landmark - As for the ground floor of the 105-year-old Ransohoff Building, Fathy said the partners are in talks with several users interested in taking over the 8,200-square-foot space vacated by Pyramid Alehouse in March 2013. Some of the potential users have expressed interest in keeping the beer-making equipment that Pyramid left behind. Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee. 

The collaboration of of Bob Simpson and Trevor Shults have revealed more details of their planned three restaurant complex at 7th & K to Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

El Rey, the taco restaurant, fills part of a space. It's expected to open in November, serving tacos filled with braised and slow-cooked meats in addition to other menu items such as ceviche and margaritas. Shults called it a "high-energy restaurant" that will have multiple TV screens. El Rey will bring new life to a space that's been vacant for about two years...

Malt & Mash, the Irish pub, will fill a former Starbucks space that's been empty for three years. It will offer Guinness on draft, Irish coffee and a food menu with about eight items. It's expected to open in mid-November or early December.

Guests will be able to walk between El Rey and the unnamed venue without going outside. Malt & Mash, the only 21-and-older venue of the three, will require separate access.

Read the entire story in Sac Biz Journal.

More News:

Ella adds $26 burger to menu - Ella Dining Room & Bar’s regular $17 burger (with the egg add-on) was already among Sacramento’s spendiest. Now, Ella has beaten itself. With a $26 burger. Called “The Twenty Six Dollar Burger." Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Try It: Butter Lettuce Salad - Ella Dining Room and Bar makes eating healthy easier than ever. The Butter Lettuce Salad has got the works with freshly shaved radish, sweet strawberries, marinated goat’s milk feta and savory tarragon vinaigrette. It’s so tasty you won’t believe that it’s actually good for you! Antoinette Ranit in Sac Mag.

Wrap N’ Roll’s sushi burritos inspire a deeper look - But tastes and textures come together beautifully in some of Wrap N’ Roll’s non-wrap dishes, starting with its “volcano” nachos. Wonton chips provide a crispy foundation for minced spicy tuna, which, bunched on chips, mimics refried beans. The nachos hold Sriracha and habanero mayonnaise along with the spicy tuna, yet the overall heat remains manageable enough for you to notice how freshly made the wonton chips taste. The guacamole was tasty as well, though not tasty enough to overcome my dismay that it was not wasabi. (Wrap N’ Roll does not offer wasabi, or fresh ginger, as sushi sides.) Carla Meyer in the Sac Bee.

Go, go Ricezilla: Ricezillas, Lou's Sushi - The Ricezillas ($5) at Lou's Sushi are a hefty little appetizer that'll stomp your taste buds with a dense, rich flavor before a swath of burning wasabi cleans up your palate. Anthony Siino in Sac News & Review.

Apple Hill farms open for annual autumn fun - As the air gets cooler and the leaves begin to fall, Apple Hill farms and ranches start preparing for their most popular time of year: apple season. Located in El Dorado County, Apple Hill farms and ranches feature many specialty wares from berries to wine, pumpkins to Christmas trees, some available year-round. In September, most farms celebrate the fruit they’re famous for, opening for apple season Labor Day weekend. Lydia McNabb in the El Dorado Hills Telegraph.

Paragary's Midtown, formerly known as Paragarys Bar and Oven, is scheduled to reopen after a 16 month, $1 million remodel for dinner on Friday.

Initially, the restaurant will only serve dinner as it gets its sea legs, but plans to add lunch and weekend brunch soon.

The new space, designed in part by Stacy Paragary, is very modern and handsome. She also helped design Hock Farm and Cafe Bernardo Pavillions. Prior to restaurant design work, she had designed commercial office spaces.

The previous Paragary's space was designed to feel like an old English bar, whereas the new space has English, French and California design influences. However, as a nod to their roots, there are still elements of the old walnut bar in the hostess stand and other pieces in the restaurant.

During a media event on Friday, she told Cowtown Eats that an early estimate for a remodel was $500,000. However, the cost expanded (as anybody who has ever had any work on their house knows) as they refined their vision and started picking out specific flooring, fixtures, etc.

The restaurant is decidedly not a white table cloth destination, and diners should feel free to come in shorts during the hot summer, said Stacy Paragary. Prices for a dinner entree are expected to be between $15 and $25.

The restaurant also has a large and gorgeous patio. It reminded me of a brighter, larger version of the patios at Hook and Ladder and Riverside Clubhouse.

The Paragary's Team has also worked to update the food and bar program, tapping Scott Ostrander to lead the kitchen and Brad Peters to lead the bar program. Here are their bios, per a recent Paragrary's press release:

Scott Ostrander, formerly chef at Esquire Grill, has been selected to be the Chef de Cuisine at Paragary’s. A Sacramento native, Scott has spent over 12 years working in some of this country’s finest restaurants including stints in the kitchens of Chicago’s Michelin-starred Alinea Restaurant and Yountville’s Lucy Restaurant & Bar. The newly inspired menu at Paragary’s will feature rustic fare inspired by French classics and dictated by local, seasonal ingredients.

Recently promoted to PRG Beverage Director, Brad Peters, will oversee the bar program at Paragary’s. Brad has over 9 years of experience working at some of the best craft cocktail bars in the city, and is the current President of the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild’s Sacramento chapter. The bar program at Paragary’s will feature seasonal cocktail preparations and techniques using a vast array of French spirits, liqueurs and aromatized wines.

After 32 years in its previous incarnation, Paragary's became a place that you ate with your parents. With the new remodel, the Paragary's team hopes to attract a whole new generation of fans. Given the work they've done with their design and the talent they brought to the food and drink side, I think they have a great chance to be successful.

Paragary's Midtown is located at located at the corner of 28th & N Streets and can be found online at http://www.paragarys.com/sacramento-restaurants/paragarys/.

More News:

Paragary’s restaurant prepares to show off million-dollar makeover - The doors open the week of June 8 to a re-imagined Paragary’s restaurant, and the man whose name is synonymous with this Sacramento institution can’t walk into the place without encountering a contractor who wants to confer with him on one more detail. Cathie Anderson in Sac Biz Journal.

Anatolian Table will close — then reopen - Anatolian Table in Rocklin, one of the few authentic Turkish restaurants in Northern California, will close its doors June 23. Before the lamentation begins, though, let the joy spread: It’s moving to larger quarters nearby, scheduled to open July 1. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

A new gelateria is set to open in Carmichael this summer, serving more than just desserts - How sweet it is: Ghiotto Artisan Gelateria will join the likes of Insight Coffee Roasters, Mesa Mercado and The Rind in Carmichael’s new Milagro Centre this summer, establishing a dessert base for the soon-to-be food hub. Jessica Rine in Sactown Mag.

Brussels sprouts on sushi - Vegan sushi often equates to cucumber, avocado and rice wrapped in nori, but Lou’s Sushi has a designated vegan menu that gets more creative than that. Take, for instance, the Vegan #2 roll, which has tempura green beans inside and crispy, salty halves of Brussels sprouts on top. Shoka in Sac News & Review.

One person is in serious condition following a vech into a Light Rail J and 7th St. Crews had to cut the person out pic.twitter.com/m2VJs1n6I9

— SacFire PIO (@SacFirePIO) May 22, 2015

Sean Derfield, the owner of Old Sacramento's River City Saloon and midtown's Der Biergarten is recovering after the pick up truck he was driving collided with a light rail on Friday, May 22, Cowtown Eats has confirmed.

The accident was widely reported at the time, but the driver in the incident wasn't named in any of the media reports I saw. Here's a quick summary, via Robert D. Davila in the Sac Bee on May 22:

The collision happened at about 11:10 a.m. when a Nissan Titan pickup traveling eastbound on J Street hit a southbound Green Line train on Seventh Street, Sacramento Regional Transit spokeswoman Alane Masui said. The force of the impact knocked the single-car train off its tracks, disrupting service and forcing RT to bus passengers on its Green Line and Gold Line routes around the crash scene, she said....

Masui said the driver was in critical but stable condition Friday afternoon. Information from witnesses and video “confirm that the driver ran a red light,” the RT spokeswoman said.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

Here's an update from a Facebook Post from Sean's brother Frank Derfield on Saturday, May 23:

Thought I would give you an update. Sean responded to us on Friday, but he is on heavy heavy sedation and still is. They hope to bring him out of it on Monday. He went into surgery today and everything went well from what I heard.. The biggest injury was his broken left leg, which has been put back in place this afternoon, His femural arteries are ok.. one was pinched by the broken femural bone, but with that put back in place , everything seems to be flowing back to normal.... all injuries were on his left side , five broken ribs and slight break on his top vertabrae in his back.. but he has responded to us when we tried to talk to him on Friday night.. he did realize what had happened and when the nurse said "Sean if you can hear us give us a thumbs up".. Which he did with both hands.. Erika hopes he will be coming home by the end of next week... he has some recovery ahead of him though... He will be okay.. Erika, I and the rest of the family are Happy that he is alive and will continue to be with all of us for a lot longer.

Read the entire Facebook post.

Thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family during this difficult time. I hope he has a quick and complete recovery.

I'm working to get a more recent update on his condition, and will update this post as it becomes available.

** Update - 11:15 p.m.: Stopped by River City Saloon after posting and got a couple more details from the staff. Sean is indeed recovering, although the staff haven't had a chance to communicate with him directly. He'll eventually be ok. For now, if you want to leave well wishes, his Facebook page is probably the best way to do it.

More News:

Bakery moves from Downtown Plaza to Land Park - The popular Downtown Plaza bakery will be moving to Land Park this summer. Owners Larry and Sandy Taing—who have been baking almost a dozen batches of their signature hand-sized cinnamon rolls every day at the mall for the past 28 years—will vacate their current location on June 30 (to make room for the new arena) and plan to reopen in August at the 76 gas station at 1400 Sutterville Road. In Sactown Mag.

​Looks like El Dorado Hills is getting a new restaurant - It appears dining options at the El Dorado Hills Town Center are expanding with the arrival of a new Indian restaurant. A business directory on the center's website lists Bawarchi Indian Cuisine as "coming soon." It would fill a restaurant space next to Cafe C, according to the directory. Cafe C is located beside the now-defunct Americano Grill. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Beer and wine could be coming to Roseville Starbucks - It appears at least one Sacramento-area Starbucks location is a step closer to selling alcohol. The store at 4000 Foothills Blvd. in Roseville displays a public notice of its application to sell beer and wine. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

No more artisanal toast: Chicken-fried steak, Lucky Cafe - Lucky Cafe offers some of the best anti-artsy breakfast around, especially when we're talking about its chicken-fried steak ($12.96, after tax). Anthony Siino in Sac News & Review.

Pizzeria Urbano will move into the MAARS building at J & 20th, replacing Luigi's Slice.

Sac Biz Journal's Mark Anderson has more on the business from an April story:

After a quick three-week remodel, the restaurant space will re-open as a new pizza-by-the-slice restaurant, with a new name and new owners. It will also have a larger menu of salads and paninis.

The name is still being worked on, said Carlos Ulloa, who, with his brother Jose Ulloa, also own Azul Mexican Food and Tequila Bar.

The new pizza place will take up the main room that is now Luigi’s as well as the side room that is a concert venue. Carlos Ulloa said he doesn’t know yet whether the new venue will include shows.

Read the entire story in Sac Biz Journal.

From the looks of the Pizzeria Urbano Facebook Page and the pictures of the staff training they're doing, they'll be open soon. Stay tuned for more details.

Pizzeria Urbano is located at 1050 20th St. and can be found online at https://www.facebook.com/PizzeriaUrbano.

* Picture via Pizzeria Urbano Facebook page.

More News:

Roxie Deli plans new location on R Street - The owners of Roxie Deli in East Sacramento are seeking a beer-and-wine license for a new location in the renovated building at 15th and R streets. The new restaurant, called Roxie Deli and Barbecue, will open later this year, though the owners have yet to set a date. They haven’t yet gotten access to the space to begin tenant improvements, said co-owner Chris Tannous. Mark Anderson in Sac Biz Journal.

Launching Preservation takes perseverance - Poole imagined that his Preservation & Co. near the corner of 19th and Q streets would open in the summer of 2013. The business is fashioned as a production center for his award-winning Bloody Mary mix, along with a line of pickled vegetables and other preserved goods using Sacramento-grown ingredients. It’s a retail storefront and commercial kitchen that he foresees as a production hub for Sacramento’s culinary scene. But now, this: Poole’s just learned the walk-in cooler that cost him $13,000 might not be compliant with city code. Though he held a grand opening party on June 22 to show off the 3,000-square-foot space, it’s not officially open until the city Powers That Be issue all the proper permits. And with the walk-in issues, Poole’s not exactly sure when Preservation & Co. can open to the public – maybe by the end of July. Chris Macias in the Sac Bee.

Troy Paski on his Hoppy Brewing Co. turning 20 - In a town full of burgeoning breweries, Sacramento’s Hoppy Brewing Co. is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. Hoppy’s owner, Troy Paski, has had a front-row seat to the Capital City’s evolving (and now exploding) beer scene, and while the competition has increased, Paski sees the rising tide of craft beer as lifting all breweries. It also helps that Hoppy – as its name indicates – was ahead of the curve when it came to celebrating the ingredient that’s become inseparable from the now-famous “West Coast IPA” style. Will Wright in the Sac Bee.

Flame & Fire, a Brazilian steakhouse in Roseville, is scheduled to open on Saturday, June 21, it announced on its Facebook Page.

For those unfamiliar with Brazilian-style steakhouses, it's generally all you can eat, with waiters coming by the table with all cuts of beef, pork, chicken, fish, etc. See something you like? They'll cut you a tate (or more) off their slab.

Here's more about this particular restaurant from a March 2014 article in the Sac Biz Journal:

[Owner] Peres has been working on the concept for four years. He almost decided to open a restaurant in the Bay Area, but then he and his investors liked the Roseville market better...

It's moving into a site previously used by Cloud 9 Restaurant and Ultra Lounge...

The price is fixed at $19.99 for lunch and $40 for dinner. Guests get a card which they put face up if they want to get more meat, and which they put face down if they don’t want more food.

I'm excited to try the place, but probably for lunch. In my more gluttonous days, I've eaten at similar style restaurants and overindulged. These days, I understand how hard it is to work off calories, and I'll probably sample a lot of their different meats.

Flame & Fire is located at 963 Pleasant Grove Blvd., and can be found online at http://www.flameandfire.com/.

More News:

Two Not-to-Miss Local Beverages for Summer - Two Rivers Cider Company produces a refreshing, light huckleberry cider that’s perfect for summer—the easy-drinking potation offers a delicate, perfumey hint of sweet berry and a crisp, cleansing mouthfeel. And Auburn Alehouse’s fabulous PU 240 Imperial IPA knocked my socks off—first place winner at the 2011 California State Fair, this rich, explosively flavored brew is characterized by the company as a “hop bomb you didn’t see coming.” Kira O'Donnell in Sac Mag.

Volcano’s Union Inn does pub food perfectly - Union Inn pub is owned by Mark and Tracey Berkner, who also own the superb fine-dining restaurant Taste in Plymouth, about 20 miles away. If Taste brings big-city sophistication to small-town life, this pub is all about connecting with the Volcano community and welcoming visitors to embrace what’s special there. The feel of the place is relaxed and easy and fun. The large patio is ideal for outdoor dining. Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Midtown juicery opening June 9 - Sun & Soil Juice Co., formerly known as The Cold Press Juicery, was among the finalists in the 2013 Calling All Dreamers retail business plan competition. Despite not winning the contest, business owners Tatiana Kaiser, Molly Brown and Chris Ryan moved forward with their business vision. The 1,400-square-foot space at 1912 P St. will sell a variety of cold-pressed juices, as well as smoothies and some hot drinks. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.