Ten 22

Dining News: Sac Bee Critic on 'The best meal I have had in ages'

Localis

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.

Continue reading "Dining News: Sac Bee Critic on 'The best meal I have had in ages'" »


Celebrate Ten 22's 6 Year Anniversary with $6 Dishes on Thursday

Ten22

Ten 22, which opened on Oct. 22, 2009, will celebrate its 6th anniversary with a special $6 menu.

Items on the $6 menu include:

Bites

  • Spinach Almond Salad
  • Grilled Sausage and Apples
  • Braised Brisket and Soft Polenta
  • Root Vegetable Stew
  • Pork Belly Mac & Cheese
  • Fish & Chips, Southern Style

Cocktails

  • Ten22 Hard Cider - bourbon, cider syrup, splash ginger ale
  • Pearalyzer - roasted nutmeg, muddled pear, lime vanilla syrup, rum and a splash of soda

Desserts

  • Bourbon Coffee Cake - roasted apples, bourbon, brown sugar, praline ice milk
  • Black & Tan Bread Pudding - chocolate, peanut butter, custard, caramel anglaise
  • Butternut Squash Pie - roasted butternut squash, egg yolk, nutmeg, cinnamon, sweet cream
  • Cocoa El Salvador - spicy pot de crème, roasted marshmallows, cocoa dust
  • Coffee Cream Brulee - coffee extract, sweet cream custard, cookies
  • Daily Sorbet & Gelato - made in-house
  • Artisanal Cheese Plate - rotating daily

Click here for more details.

Ten 22 is located at 1022 2nd Street in Old Sacramento and can be found online at http://www.ten22oldsac.com/.


Dining News: Pour House Being Sold to Dad's Sandwiches Owners

Pour House

The ownership of Pour House is in flux, reports Bob Shallit in the Sac Bee.

Principal owner Trevor Shults reports he has “an agreement for a possible sale” of the business to the operators of two downtown Sacramento lunch spots, Dad’s Sandwiches and Dad’s on J...

Shults, one of the city’s top bar and club owners, said the sale is likely to close in the next month or so and “free up enough time to focus on the new projects.”

That’s a reference to Seventh and K streets, where Shults and partner Bob Simpson are planning to open up three restaurants and bars, totaling about 12,000 square feet, to serve crowds drawn to the Golden 1 Center opening next year.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

The change in ownership was filed with the state's Alcohol and Beverage Control regulators on Aug. 31.

I contacted Pour House's PR team on Sept. 9 asking about an ownership change (thanks to the eagle eyes of a Cowtown Eats reader who sent in a tip), but he declined to provide substantive comment.

The one other tidbit of good news is that it's likely the vaping store will close in the back, per Shallit.

And just to prevent any confusion, Dad's Sandwiches used to own Dad's Kitchen, but Dad's Kitchen has since been sold to other owners.

Pour House is located at 1910 Q Street, and can be found online at http://pourhousesacramento.com/.

More News:

Sacramento's first ever pizza festival to take place in October - Sacramento, get ready to grab your piece of the pie during the city's first ever pizza festival. The concept for the celebration, which is called "Sliced" and will take place from Oct. 17-25, came from Federalist Public House & Beer Garden owner Marvin Maldonado and his wife Bridgette. “We were camping and just talking about all of the different and fabulous pizzas that our city’s offering up now,” Maldonado says. After partnering up with friend and fellow local restaurateur Andrea Lepore, co-founder of midtown pizzeria Hot Italian, they decided to host the event in October to coincide with National Pizza Month. Heather Kemp in Sactown Magazine.

Falafel by the ball - It's not the same as the East Coast franchise, but it's called Chickpeas (a subtle difference), and it's in Davis at 640 W. Covell Boulevard. It has the reasonably priced options a hungry vegan would expect from a Mediterranean-slash-Middle Eastern grub hub, like baba ghanoush and hummus. And, of course, falafel—sold by the ball (50 cents each!). Shoka in Sac News & Review.

Freshii adds healthy eating to Terminal A - Travelers to and from Sacramento International Airport have another, fresher dining option in Terminal A with the opening of Freshii, a fast-growing chain devoted to healthy on-the-go cuisine. Fitting in with Sacramento’s farm-to-fork mantra, the new restaurant is part of a $5 million food court upgrade in Terminal A that will include airport extensions of such Sacramento restaurants as Paesanos, Squeeze Inn and Iron Horse Tavern. Debbie Arrington in the Sac Bee.

Dutch Bros. Coffee adding another location - Another coffee company is expanding its reach in the Sacramento region. Dutch Bros. Coffee, which operates drive-through coffee shops, is adding a location in Roseville. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Here's when you can shop at Total Wine in Elk Grove - Shoppers in Elk Grove don't have to wait much longer to visit a new Total Wine & More store. The new location at 7707 Laguna Blvd. will open Oct. 8, according to the company. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Bubble Cha Cha Tea House Opens in Natomas - Bubble Cha Cha Tea House is located in the Natomas Village Center at 3880 Truxel Road, in Suite 700. It is the third bubble tea eatery in Natomas, including Tapioca Express on Arena Boulevard and Quickly on Del Paso Road. On Natomas Buzz.

Continue reading "Dining News: Pour House Being Sold to Dad's Sandwiches Owners" »


Dining News: The Violation That Led the County to Close Cafe Bernardo/KBAR

Kbar

Last Tuesday, visitors to Cafe Bernardo/KBAR were greeted with a sign saying the venue had been closed by the county health department.

At the time, the reason given for the closure was "insect/rodent infestation."

The county has since posted its report online detailing the violations.

OBSERVATIONS: Major - Closure

3 live German cockroaches on wall/ledge behind 2-door reach-in refrigerator in espresso area, 3 ive cockroaches on floor along crevice between wall and floor beneath server's station across from pass thru window, 1 dying cockroach on floor of bar near cash register, 25 dead cockroaches on floor and ledge behind and beneath 2-door reach-in refrigerator in espresso area, 7 dead cockroaches on floor beneath equipment (ice bin) in bar and 1 dead cockroach on floor of dining room. Eliminate all dead and live insects. Continue with professional pest service. Last date of service 7-15-15. Seal all cracks and crevices immediately.

Read the entire report at the county's Web site.

The following day, the restaurant was reinspected (per county records), the infestation had been resolved and the restaurant and bar reopened.

As I wrote last week, it's more common than you think for restaurants to be closed by the health inspector. However, more often than not, these are isolated occurrences. I've eaten at KBAR and I plan to do so again soon.

* Headline's been edited since it was originally posted.

More News:

Craft beer shop opening soon in Lincoln - You don't have to wait much longer to visit a new craft beer venue that calls itself "the hoppiest place in Lincoln." Infusion Taproom will hold its grand opening on July 25. The business fills 1,954 square feet at 845 Twelve Bridges Drive in Lincoln. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Two Mexican restaurants shut their doors -- at least for now - It's a sad month for tacos and burritos in the Sacramento region. Two Mexican restaurants in the area have closed -- at least for now. Mas, a Mexican restaurant in Roseville, has shut its doors...Also, chain restaurant Baja Fresh has closed its location at 2100 Arden Way, but looks like it will be relocating shortly. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Surprise: Popeye’s shrimp ‘n’ chicken are on the leader board - Some weeks ago, a friend of ours confided that he breaks his vegetarian vows when it comes to Popeye’s fried chicken, calling it “the best in Sacramento.” Out of curiosity, we ordered a three-piece dark-meat combo and were shocked by how good it was. The non-greasy pieces were hot and juicy, with a touch of heat and salt, tastier than the Hushpuppy Butterfly Shrimp. Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

Beer Run: Rubicon stands up to newcomers on craft beer scene - Rubicon Brewing has been around so long that newcomers to the craft beer scene tend to overlook this 28-year-old local treasure. It’s not hip. It’s not trendy. And the crowds at its restaurant and pub on Capitol Avenue tend to be older. How a brewery like Rubicon continues to thrive in an era of tremendous craft beer growth? When all kinds of new breweries are opening in cool places and offering plenty of innovation? Blair Anthony Robertson in the Sac Bee.

Dollar-Wise Gourmet: Dinner Deals for Every Day of the Week - So you think all the Dollar-Wise bargains happen on weeknights, not weekends? Well, you’re partly right: The vast majority do. But as this little research experiment revealed, the local region offers some sweet savings every day of the week, even Fridays and Saturdays. Mark your calendar for these dinner deals, all under $20. Featuring Buckhorn Steakhouse, Cafe Eurpoa, Ten22, Danielle's Creperie, Rudy's Hideway, Revolution Wines and Sandra Dee's. Cathy Cassinos-Carr in Sac Mag.

Continue reading "Dining News: The Violation That Led the County to Close Cafe Bernardo/KBAR" »


Dining News: Catching Up with Team Broderick, More on Piccola Citta

Trickpony

Last week, I ran into Chris Jarosz of Team Broderick passing by Capital Dime (one of their restaurants) and got a few updates from him. First on Piccola Citta, the restaurant replacing the recently-shuttered Trick Pony.

  • The restaurant will open in approximately 3 weeks.
  • One of the things they learned about the space is that a pizza centric concept didn't make sense logistically. The pizza oven, while great, was small and couldn't produce the volume they needed. At Tuli, it was just a part of the restaurant, not the foundation. In the new restaurant, it will return to being a great feature, but not the central cooking instrument.
  • The clientele who dined at Trick Pony was very similar to the clientele that dine at Tuli, meaning they could support a higher price point than a neighborhood pizza joint. In response to that consumer demand, Piccola Citta will be a little more upscale than Trick Pony.

Other non-Piccola Citta updates:

  • Team Broderick is in discussions with a Bay Area group to license the Broderick name. (A friend in the restaurant industry explained to me over the weekend that licensing and franchising are very different. Licensing generally means that in exchange for using the name, they pay a percentage sales, profit or whatever the agreed upon metric is. Franchising includes training, support and control, in exchange for payments. You can learn more here.)
  • Jarosz also talked about The Patriot, his project at  Milagro Centre, a public market in Carmichael. He says that project is one that he's doing on his own separate from Team Broderick and that the cuisine will include more seafood than at his other restaurants. The food will also reflect his journey through life.

I have a ton of respect for Team Broderick and I look forward to trying their new restaurants.

More News:

Ring in May with these 10 festive Cinco de Mayo celebrations - From intimate Mexican cuisine cooking classes to a star-studded Latin music concert, we’ve compiled 10 great Cinco de Mayo events across the region to get the fiesta started. Featuring Florez Bar & Grill, Capay Cinco de Mayo, Tequila Museo Mayahuel, Ernesto’s Cinco de Mayo and Zocalo. Jason Pham on Sactown Mag.

Chocolate rain - Just in time to ruin all of our so-called summer swimsuit bodies before they even take shape, the first ever Old Sacramento Chocolate Week starts this Monday, May 4, and lasts through Sunday, May 10. Jonathan Mendick in Sac News & Review.

VIDEO: Crafting turtles from caramel and chocolate - It’s all things chocolate during Chocolate Week in old Sacramento Monday. On KCRA.

AUDIO: Friday Food: Ten 22 Chef Jay Veregge - Executive Chef Jay Veregge brought in High Water Brewing’s Campfire Stout and cocoa bread pudding with caramel and dark chocolate. The first-ever Old Sacramento Chocolate Week is coming to Sacramento, May 4-10, 2015. Get all the details for chocolate week here. On KFBK.

Continue reading "Dining News: Catching Up with Team Broderick, More on Piccola Citta" »


Dining News: RIP - Trick Pony. Why it Closed.

Trickpony

Trick Pony, which may have never overcome its inauspicious start, is now closed, the restaurant announced on Facebook over the weekend.

The restaurant will be reopened as Piccola Citta, an "Osteria-inspired, rustic Italian restaurant" in a month or so. Here's their message, in full:

Trick Pony Pizza, which opened in Summer 2014, is closed for rebranding and remodeling. The restaurant will reopen under a new name and updated concept one month later. Employees will be transferred to other properties during the rebrand.

Trick Pony Pizza launched in June 2014 and quickly made waves in local press, even prior to opening. Soon after, Chris Jarosz & Matt Chong of Broderick Roadhouse were soon contacted to take over operations of the wood-fire pizza restaurant concept.

However, over the past few months- it was soon realized that the pizza-centric concept was too limiting, and the location proved to be in demand for a menu beyond the Trick Pony concept.

Trick Pony will close for the month, and will reopen under the name, Piccola Citta, “Little City” in Italian. The grand opening is set for the first week of May, and the concept will grow into an Osteria-inspired, rustic Italian restaurant. The menu will still include wood-fired pizza, but will expand to include dishes inspired by rustic, countryside fare, but made with ingredients local to Sacramento. The restaurant will also feature a heavy focus on Italian wines.

Chris Jarosz and Matt Chong will remain as principle operators at Piccola Citta, along with its current investment group consisting of Mark Casales & Bobby Coyote from Dos Coyotes, and David Richter representing the Sam Gordon family.

Even before the restaurant opened, one of the original owners stuck his foot in his mouth by denigrating the quality of pizza in Sacramento. Later, the duo of Jarosz and Chong were brought in to see if they could save the restaurant. Team Broderick brought in a new chef and management team, including the popular Andrea Vedovato as manager. After the changes, the Sac Bee upgraded their rating of the restaurant.

If there's one thing I know about Team Broderick, it's that they bust their behinds. I wish them good luck in this new venture.

While we're on the topic if this spot...

Trick Pony replaced the very popular Tuli Bistro run by Chef Adam Pechal. Coincidentally, I spotted Chef Pechal dining at Ravenous Cafe in the Pocket last week. Chef Pechal could be heard from several tables away loudly discussing his upcoming restaurant in East Sac. This is the second time I had heard about Chef Pechal's new restaurant. On January 9, I ate at a Treehouse popup, where Treehouse Chef Kevin O'Connor congratulated Chef Pechal (who had joined him in preparing the meal) on his new venture during his public remarks. I followed up with Chef Pechal via e-mail in January, but he declined to elaborate at that time. More on this as it becomes available.

More News:

Going off-menu is spot-on at Lotus 8 - With all that in mind, we called around and learned that Lotus 8 Chinese restaurant in Folsom relishes the challenge of off-menu orders. That’s thanks mostly to managing partner Kirby Wen, who came to the United States 30 years ago from Toishan in southern China.“When we opened (in 2013) we didn’t take that approach,” said Wen. “We offered just what we had on the menu. Then some customers started asking, ‘Can you make this dish or that dish?’ That happened often enough to make me think, ‘If there’s a demand for (off-menu items), maybe we should do them. That (concept) got incorporated into our cooking system. Now we encourage our customers to (order off-menu) because it expands their repertoires beyond sweet-and-sour and pork fried rice.” Allen Pierleoni in the Sac Bee.

HoiCin Cantonese Restaurant: Ten years after - HoiCin is a welcome change from the everyday Chinese menu, and as Washington said, “You could do a lot worse than to take them to HoiCin for one of the more interesting Chinese dinners.” Someday I plan to return to finally try the crab. Hopefully before another 10 years gets by me. Garrett McCord in Sac News & Review.

Cilantro's Mexican Restaurant moving to new location downtown - Cilantro's Mexican Restaurant, which for 10 years has filled a space near Sacramento's Downtown Plaza, is moving to the home of the Shenanigans nightclub downtown. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

Continue reading "Dining News: RIP - Trick Pony. Why it Closed." »


Dining News: Public House Theater is Just a Public House For Near Future

 

Sorry to inform everyone, but as of today our theater will be closed til further notice.However, the pub will still be open.Thank you

Posted by Public House Theater on Friday, March 27, 2015

Public House Theater was forced to close the theater portion of its operations just before they celebrated their first anniversary, they announced on Facebook on Friday.

Sac News & Review's Janelle Bitker has more:

Someone anonymously tipped the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation that Public House was operating illegally, according to co-owner Norma Ward.

Ward said she had been trying to get the appropriate licenses for the past year, but “it’s been a process.”

Read the entire story in Sac News & Review.

However, fans of eating and drinking while dining still have other options while Public House Theater gets the proper permits. They can head out to Rocklin's Studio Movie Grill, which I found to be the most comfortable movie watching experience I've ever had, or wait a while for K Street's Crest Theater to serve food, which is planned after Empress opens.

More News:

Insight Coffee, Magpie Café and others readying to open in new 16 Powerhouse building - As the construction of midtown’s 16 Powerhouse residential and retail complex nears completion after two years, the next several weeks will usher in a slew of business openings along the 16th Street corridor. Insight Coffee Roasters, Magpie Café, Sun & Soil Juice Company and Orchid Thai are building out their respective ground-floor spaces in the new building, which overlooks Fremont Park at the intersection of 16th and P streets. The projected April and May openings follow delayed debuts previously scheduled for December and January. Jessica Rine in Sactown Mag.

Craft beer comes to Fair Oaks - Options for craft beer fans in the Sacramento region continue to increase. One of the newest additions, Fair Oaks Brew Pub, officially opened Wednesday. Located at 7988 California Ave. in Old Fair Oaks Village, the brewery serves craft beer, wine and food. Its menu focuses on pizzas, salads and cured meats and cheeses. A full menu will be available. Sonya Sorich in Sac Biz Journal.

The Trade and its Blue Bottle coffee opens in Midtown - Famed Bay Area coffeehouse Blue Bottle can now be consumed in Midtown. Kind of. The Trade Coffee & Coworking, a coworking office space slash cafe, opened yesterday at 2220 K Street. And the cafe portion proudly carries Blue Bottle Coffee beans, with Blue Bottle-trained baristas. Janelle Bitker in Sac News & Review.

Egg-ceptional Easter brunches in and around Sacramento - Planning to gather the family and friends for Easter brunch? From croque Suzannes to French toast pies, we've got nine egg-cellent ways to celebrate the holiday on April 5. Featuring Fabian's Italian Bistro, The Firehouse, Formoli's Bistro, Grand Island Mansion, Grange, Hawks, Hyatt Sacramento, Original Pancake House and Ten 22. Jason Pham and Jessica Rine in Sactown Mag.

Continue reading "Dining News: Public House Theater is Just a Public House For Near Future" »