If our wonderful Sacramento area weather has you chomping at the bit, chomp no more! There are a handful of Wednesday wine events to immerse yourself into for pleasure and great education. Then look beyond to the weekend for more wine.

Unified Wine & Grape Symposium
January 26th through the 29th
Sacramento Convention Center
Highlight: Regional Wine Tasting, Wednesday, January 27th, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Visit www.unifiedsymposium.org for more information.

Wednesday Wine at 58 Degrees & Holding Co.
Five tastes for $10, along with a list of available happy hour foods
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
1217 18th Street, Sacramento

WOW - Wine on Wednesday at L Lounge
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Five tastes for $10
1801 L Street, Sacramento

Wednesday Night Wine Tasting – Pinot Noir
Back Wine Bar
$5 per person and 25% off all food
2507 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA

Barrel Tasting Weekend in El Dorado County featuring 21 wineries
January 30 – 31
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Highlight: Active participation in learning about wine.

According to Jolaine Collins, EL Dorado Winery Association public relations director, "This year many of our vintners are adding new approaches to help wine lovers of all levels discover the nuances of what makes a great wine. For instance, Lava Cap is showing three estate zinfandels, made from grapes grown in different microclimates. Tasters can discern the nuances by comparing each barrel sample."

Perry Creek has arranged a vertical tasting of their estate Zinfandel from 2005, their first crush, to 2008 which is still developing in the barrel.

In addition to barrel sampling a 2008 Syrah and 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon from Madrona, attendees can try their hand at blending the two for a Shiraz/Cabernet cuvee.

Several other wineries, are also offering participatory educational options so pick your favorite(s) and head up the hill!

Weekend pass: $25
Friends 4 pack: Buy 4 tickets for the price of 3
Sunday only: $20
Designated drivers: $5

Participating wineries: Auriga Cellars, Busby Cellars, Colibri Ridge, Crystal Basin, Fenton Herriott, Fitzpatrick, David Girard, Gold Hill, Granite Springs, Holly’s Hill, Illuminare, Jodar, Latcham, Lava Cap, Madroña, Miraflores, Mount Aukum, Narrow Gate, ParaVi, Perry Creek, Sierra Vista, and Single Leaf.

For tickets, event details, winery highlights and a map of the region, go to: www.ElDoradoWines.org

Posted by Lynn Gowdy at 7:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You may know a pork shoulder from a Boston butt (this could also be a trick question), but do you know how to cut your own meat? Danny Johnson, the head butcher at Taylor's Market (2900 Freeport Blvd.) wants to show you how. Not only will you learn more about how to choose good-quality meat and fish from a store, but you'll learn how to save money doing it.

“Sometimes there’s that perception that our prices are high," says Danny, "But there aren’t a lot of real butchers left, so we need to promote ourselves. We’re sort of freaks."

For just $25, you can learn how to break down a whole chicken rather than buying parts, the importance of having sharp knives (and Star Knife Sharpening will be on hand to fix you up), and why fresh-ground meat is better. "There's a lot I want to cover in two hours," Danny laughs.

You'll also get a light lunch afterwards, and surely there will be some delicious meat or fish as part of it. Don't miss this great opportunity for a quick butchery intro. I'll be there, so look for me.

Butchering 101
Saturday, January 23, 10 a.m. to noon
$25 per person, including lunch
916-443-6881

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

If you haven't seen the movie "Julie and Julia" by now, or read the book, then just know that it's the story of a love affair with a cookbook. Many of us have them: a little crush here, a major obsession there. But how many times have you actually cooked even half of the recipes from a single book? Pretty rarely, I'd bet. So when Julie Powell decided to cook her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set), she hit upon a great idea. How better to learn a cuisine thoroughly than to try many, many recipes from it?

Now we've got a local version of that challenge. Melody Elliot, Shankari Easwaran, and Eileen Thornton will be cooking their way through Marlena Spieler's cookbook Jewish Cooking. And guess what? Marlena's a Sac native herself and has given her support to the project. So every Sunday, the three bloggers will post a photo and recipe of something from the book (or their versions thereof), and learn a lot more about Jewish cooking. As Mel says, "It will be fun to ride along as a Hindu, a Buddhist, and a shoulda-been Jew take on this glorious challenge. From so much pleasure, one could plotz!"

Their first submissions are up now. Mel tried Muhammara, a roasted red pepper dip. Shankari made Libyan Spicy Pumpkin Dip (photo above by her husband Rajesh). Eileen tried Sun-Dried Tomato and Pepper Salad.

Join them every Sunday until they're through. There will be at least one feast along the way and Marlena's aunt has promised to teach them how to correctly make matzo balls. You can join in yourself by emailing Mel about any recipes you've tried from Marlena's book. Mazel tov!

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

In the mood for something fun before the holidays?

November 6th through the 15th brings the annual Mushroom Festival to Mendocino, highlighting everything mushroom. Choose from mushroom cooking classes, wine and mushroom tastings at several Anderson Valley wineries, mushroom exhibits, guided mushroom walks, and/or attend other non-fungi items; musical performances, beer and wine tastings, the mushroom train, theatre and more.

For additional info, check out Mendocino.com.

Posted by Lynn Gowdy at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

While my co-conspirator, Lynn, is eating her way through Spain and tantalizing us with her reports, those of us still down home have to make do. Of course, the annual Hoes Down Festival at Full Belly Farm is a pretty nice way to make do. It's really a don't-miss event of the fall and a great activity for families with kids.

Full Belly celebrates its twenty-second Hoes Down Festival this weekend (October 3rd and 4th). The big day is Saturday on their Capay Valley farm, where you can grind your own grains, watch a blacksmith, learn about seed saving and composting, visit an herb yurt, and eat heartily. Acclaimed farmer and author David Mas Masumoto will read from his most recent book, backed by taiko drummers. There are a multitude of things for youngsters, including animal petting, story readings, and a hay bale castle. Don’t miss the music, dancing, farm stand, and visits to Cache Creek, which runs through the farm. Camp overnight in the beautiful walnut orchard or just visit for the day. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for kids 2 to 12; half price if you ride your bike there. Learn more at their event site.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's officially autumn on Monday (despite the temperatures), and the food events are piling up like pumpkins. Enjoy the last days of Indian summer with some food and drink with friends!

7th Annual Autumn Equinox Celebration, Saturday, Sept. 19, 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Enjoy an evening at Soil Born Farm, an urban agricultural oasis nestled in the heart of the city (3000 Hurley Way). Walk through the gardens, enjoy great music from Mind X Quartet and Cousin Jimbo & Friends, and sample seasonal, organic food prepared by prominent local chefs like Rick Mahan, Randall Selland, and Molly Hawk. Taste exceptional wine and celebrate the harvest season. Eel River Brewing Company will offer organic beer tastings, and there will be a silent auction of itmes like art, gardening supplies, and gift certificates. Please get your tickets ($60 per person) in advance at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, 1900 Alhambra Blvd., or from Soil Born Farms (916) 363-9685. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Fourth Annual Fair Oaks Chicken Festival, Saturday, Sept. 19, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
With all the recent talk about urban chicken keeping, Fair Oaks has been celebrating its urban chickens since the 1960s. Hunt and peck your way to the Village at 10219 Fair Oaks Blvd. tomorrow for this FREE event. Breakfast ($5) begins at 8, then 125 chicken-themed vendors will strut their clucktastic stuff. Look for the "chicken hat guy" and birds in the trees. Mumbo Gumbo will play at 12:15.

Uncork for the Arts, Sunday, Sept. 20, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Supper Club (1616 Del Paso Blvd.) is hosting The Developmental Disabilities Service Organization's Wine Tasting/Art Exhibit, serving an exciting selection of food and featuring a bittersweet chocolate fountain for dessert. In conjunction with this event, James Blake Wines is offering a special 30-case bottling of wine that features a DDSO art inspired label with 50 percent of sales proceeds to benefit DDSO. This limited production blend consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley and the Delta-influenced Lodi region. $20 per bottle at the event or the wine may be purchased in advance. $50 entry includes appetizers and wine. For tickets: info@ddso.org; For questions: Ginny at 916.456.5166

11th Annual A Taste of Sacramento, Friday, Sept. 25, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
This benefit for the Easter Seals always draws a big crowd. The silent auction will begin at 5:30 as well, in the Sacramento Convention Center. Over 80 restaurants, wineries, and breweries will offer tastes of the region. Buy your tickets ($25) in advance at the Easter Seals site.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are some events that I just heard about: In honor of Mexican Independence Day tomorrow, el Jimador Tequila will be holding some interesting promotions around our area. Specifically, a third generation jimador (one who harvests agave) will be visiting retail stores and restaurants to demonstrate the first step in the tequila production process: how to cut off the leaves of a large agave plant (see photo above).

Jose Cortes, head Jimador at Casa Herradura (producers of Herradura and el Jimador tequila), will talk about tequila production, what makes a good tequila, and how to best enjoy this fine spirit. You can meet him at:

The 5th Annual Village Feast, Aug. 22, Davis
Slow Food Yolo and Davis Farm to School present this annual lunch under the sycamore trees in the Davis Central Park. This fundraiser for the Davis schools always includes a silent auction of food-related goodies and a gourmet lunch. This year will include mixed heirloom tomato salad, grilled leg of lamb, summer fruit tarts, and a variety of local wines. Don't forget to bring your own plate, silverware, and napkin! Buy tickets and get the details at the Farm to School site.

Eat Real Festival, Aug. 28-30, Jack London Square, Oakland
Okay, so this one isn't local, but if you're serious about eating, it sounds very worth the trip down to the East Bay. Founded in 2008, Eat Real Festival is a social venture created to inspire eaters to choose tasty, healthy, good food. Proceeds from the event benefit People’s Grocery, La Cocina and Community Alliance with Family Farmers. Goodies include street food vendors selling banh mi, tacos, hot dogs, and ice cream made of local and sustainable ingredients; curbside cinema; a beer shed; a butchery contest; cooking demos; farmer's market; and a foraging and canning exchange. Get the details at Eat Real Fest. Boy do I wish I could go to this, but I'll be elsewhere.

Slow Food's Time for Lunch Campaign, Sept. 7, various locations
On Labor Day, Slow Food is sponsoring a series of "Eat-ins" (potlucks) around the country to promote a focus on improving food in our schools and to encourage people to contact their legislators about the need to improve school food. The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) has joined with Slow Food to advance school lunch reforms. Join the Sacramento Eat-in, or organize another one, by visiting the Slow Food National Day of Action page.

Savoring Heirloom Tomatoes, Sept. 26, Robert Mondavi Institute, Davis
This should be an interesting event at the Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. Dr. Ann Noble, internationally renowned for her invention of the wine aroma wheel, will lend her extraordinary nose and talents to assist in an exploration of the distinct sensory qualities of heirloom tomatoes. Dr. Clare Hasler, Executive Director of the Robert Mondavi Institute, will speak about heirloom tomatoes as a “superfood” for optimal health. Thaddeus Barsotti, farm manager of beautiful Capay Organic farm and a grower of gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, will tell us how he cultivates these marvelous fruits and what makes them so special. Attendees will be able to taste a wide array of Barsotti’s distinctive, colorful tomatoes. Buy tickets online or call Kira O'Donnell at 916-705-9621.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[photo by Sena Christian for the Sacramento News & Review]

Did you know that 65% of cities in the U.S. allow urban chicken ownership? That number is higher than I would have guessed, but it could be even higher. Walk around Davis, and you'll hear soft clucks emanating from backyards all over town. In Sacramento, though, we aren't currently allowed to keep laying hens on our properties.

EAT Sacramento has started CLUCK (Campaign for Legalizing Urban Chicken Keeping), to educate citizens and council members alike. Not only can you get fresh eggs by keeping chickens (note that the ordinance would be for hens, not roosters), their manure is a soil amendment for gardens, and they eat insects and bugs that might otherwise nibble your plants. CLUCK has its next meeting Tuesday, July 28th at 6 pm at the Coffee Garden (2904 Frankin Blvd.) if you want to hear what has their feathers a-ruffle. They'll also be sponsoring the screening of the film "Mad City Chickens" on August 7th at the Guild Theater in Oak Park, including a live Q&A session with the film makers.

The Sacramento News & Review recently published an article on urban chicken keeping as well, including testaments from chicken owners who believe that they make great pets. There's also a link to the EAT Sacramento petition and contact information for your local council member (fortunately, mine--Rob Fong--is all for the idea of yardbirds).

In this economy, you not only need a victory garden, you need a victory chicken (or three!).

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

As part of the upcoming Urban Ag Fest, Slow Food Sacramento recently lobbied the Sacramento City Council to adopt a resolution naming July 11, 2009 “Urban Ag Day!” It embodies Slow Food’s belief that is important to enable residents to grow, glean, and swap food crops within the urban limits.

Slow Food's Ag Fest is being called "Common Table," and it consists of a variety of tours, workshops, films, and a gourmet three-course dinner from Magpie Caterers to be held at the Fremont Community Garden. The goal is to raise awareness about local urban gardening and food programs, as well as to advocate for improved city, county, and state food policies that enable more locally grown foods in urban locations. The event benefits the Sacramento Hunger Coalition (a program of the Community Services Planning Council), an organization that works to alleviate hunger and increase food security, and the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, an organization dedicated to expanding urban locations for growing fruits and vegetables.

The workshops and tours include a day on the farm with Soil Born Farm, the "What's Growing On" bike tour of urban locations for growing food, and seminars on the basics of composting, growing organically, and what hunger means. Two movies will be screened: “The Garden” and “FRESH” — both document the need for more locally grown, healthful food. Dinner speaker Brahm Ahmadi of People’s Grocery in Oakland will share his insights on Innovative Solutions for Food Justice.

Saturday, July 11, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (various events, locations, and prices)
For more information, visit the Slow Food site, where they encourage you to buy your tickets by July 6 at Brown Paper Tickets.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Join Pesticide Watch Education Fund on Friday, July 3rd for the screening of the much-anticipated movie Food, Inc. Already the film has generated quite the buzz, including apparently making USDA head Tom Vilsack "uncomfortable" at one screening.

Purchase tickets at the Crest Theatre. Cost: $12.00
Film: 8 - 9:30pm, The Crest Theatre, 1013 "K" Street
Panel: 9:30 - 10:30pm, featuring:

• Ann Martin Rolke, author Hands-Off Cooking, Sacatomato.com, and chef
  
• Jaclyn Hopkins, coordinator EAT (Environment & Agriculture Taskforce), Sacramento
  
• Gail Feenstra, Food Systems Analyst, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP)
  
• Elizabeth Martin-Craig, Community Organizer, Pesticide Watch Education Fund
  
• Paul Muller, Full Belly Farm
  

Food, Inc., lifts the veil off our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of the US Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. A handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment now control our nation's food supply. Food, Inc. reveals surprising -- and often shocking truths -- about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are headed.

The Sacramento Valley is home to a number of the largest industrialized agri-businesses in the country, growing crops such as olives, rice, nuts, and citrus as well as cattle-raising. However, the region is also home to an emerging movement of local and sustainable agriculture.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

East Bay Restaurant Supply is offering their Kids and Adult Celebrity Chef Training Camp for $275, a $100 reduction from the original price of $375. According to chef Carolyn Kumpe, Culinary Center Event Coordinator, they’ve decided to drop their price so more people can take advantage of the camp during these difficult economic times. They are substituting aprons and hats for real chef’s uniforms to help make the class more affordable.

Date: June 22-26
Time: 9:00 - 12:30 p.m.
Limited to 15 students
For reservations, call Carolyn at (916) 440-0623

Price Includes:
• Chef's Apron & Hat
• 5 days in our Studio Audience watching CBS13 noon cooking segments
• 5 Gourmet Breakfasts and Lunches cooked with Experienced Chefs
• Learn 15 or more Chef Approved Recipes
• Make your own 3 minute cooking segment CD for personal promotion
• Cooking Segment CD Supply Fee $50.00 payable by check to Steve Davis Productions

Check out their fun video about the camp on YouTube here!

Continue reading "Last Chance for East Bay's Kids & Young Adult Chef Camp!" »

Posted by Lynn Gowdy at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Things I've Been Meaning to Post or Just Caught My Attention

DISH, the shop for vintage kitchenware, is having a garage sale!
Sat., June 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Most of the items in the sale come from a 1930s Land Park home. Almost everything dates from the 1920s through the 1950s, with an emphasis on glassware, dishes, kitchen items, and vintage accessories. Riverside Blvd. at Markham Way in Land Park. 448-1418

Enotria Patio Tasting and Sales Extravaganza
Sat., June 20, 2:30 to 5 p.m.
More than 20 wines will be available to taste and purchase--all for the low, low entry price of $20. Wineries include: Frank Family Vineyards, BV George de Latour, Cloudy Bay from New Zealand, Jayson by Pahlmeyer, Peter Franus Wines, and many more.
1431 Del Paso Blvd. Call 922-6792 to reserve your spot.

The Sacramento Zoo Kings of Feasts
Sat., June 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Stroll the zoo grounds after hours while enjoying food and drink from a variety of area restaurants. Live music by the Rhythm Vandals. Participating restaurants include JR's Texas Bar-b-que, Dad's Kitchen, Sandra Dee's, Vic's Ice Cream; beverages include Barefoot Wine and Bubbly, Gekkeikan Sake, margarita stations, and Sac's own Revolution Wines. Advance tickets: $50 general; $45 zoo members. See the Zoo Site or call 808-5888.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A casual symposium is coming our way on Monday, May 18th!

Located at Sacramento's own Rail Bridge Cellars, this workshop is brought to you by wine merchant Donal Smith of Corti Bros., and features three wonderfully talented winemakers; Scott Harvey of Scott Harvey Wines in Napa (Scott also spent several years making wine in Germany), Reggie Hammond of Ventana Vineyards in Monterey County and Brian Kays of Trefethen Family Vineyards in Napa. Each are veterans of numerous harvests of this intriguing varietal: Riesling.

Whether you're already a Riesling fan or just curious, the evening promises to be memorable. Color, Smell, Taste and even the Tactile element of this wine will be discussed, as well as stereotypes, and everything else you wanted to know in a workshop format with Q&A opportunities.

During the evening, you'll taste several samples focusing on California, Germany, Austrailia and Washington. (And you never know, Donal may throw in an Alsace Riesling to sample too!) Light hors dourves will accompany the wine courtesy of the Corti Bros. deli.

Here are the details:

What: Riesling at the Rail Bridge - A tasting/symposium of Riesling Wine
When: May 18TH, 2009, 7:30 PM
Where: Railbridge Cellars: 400 North 16th Street, Sacramento, CA
Reservations: Donal Smith, 916 203-4641, donalswines@yahoo.com
Tariff: $39 - cash or check only please (check made payable to Donal Smith)

Cut off date for reservations is May 14th so don't be shy, give Donal a call and come join us in the cellar!

Posted by Lynn Gowdy at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Spring has sprung and there's a bounty of food and wine events coming up. First, though, I want to plug one that I'll be taking part in: the Festa di Vino on April 25 at the Aerospace Museum of California. Presented by the Point West Rotary, the ticket sales and silent auction will benefit charitable and nonprofit causes, including Women's Empowerment, an organization dedicated to helping homeless women by helping them find work, homes, and even work on their health through nutrition and cooking classes.

A slew of local winemakers and chefs will provide food and drinks, including Rail Bridge Cellars of Sacramento, Carvalho Family Wines in Clarksburg, Gonul's, Lucca, and My Barbecue Spot. The American River Culinary students and I will provide cooking demos every half hour. I will be on at 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30, demonstrating some soups and appetizers from my cookbook (Hands-Off Cooking).

There will be a silent auction, featuring a 3-day Bodega Bay getaway, tickets to the Rivercats Solon Club, and some beautiful African quilts made by a Zulu quilting guild. You can also order a cookbook with recipes from the participating vintners and chefs, which should be a nice collection of local flavors.

To get tickets and more information, visit the Festa di Vino Web site. The event should be delicious and it's a really good cause. Divino!

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are some food and wine related events in Sacramento and the Bay Area to tempt you over the next several weeks:

10th Annual Mendocino Crab and Wine Days
January 23rd through February 1st
Events at various locations in and around Mendocino.

Bring Out The Barrel - Barrel Tasting Weekend
El Dorado Vintner's Association
January 24th and 25th
$25 for a weekend pass
$20 Sunday only

Taste of Austrailia with Rominger West Winery
Friday, January 30th
6:30 - 8:00 p.m. $15
Davis, California

The Gold Rush: What We Ate
Saturday, January 31st at The Roundhouse
California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. $75 per person

Make A Wish Winter Wine & Food Fest
Saturday, January 31st
Food and Wine Tasting 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Wine Auction 7:45 to 10:00 p.m.
$85 per person

ZAP Zinfandel Festival
January 28th through 31st
Four events from $59 to $260 at various locations in San Francisco.

Tasty Exploration of the Asian Lunar New Year Presented by the UC Davis Good Life Garden
Thursday, February 12th
6:30 p.m., $45 per person
Barton Art Gallery Sacramento

Chocolate Festival at Whole Foods Market Sacramento
Friday, February 13th
4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Free samples of Artisan Chocolates, Chocolate related items and Valentine's desserts.

Behind the Cellar Door
Amador Vintner's Association, Amador County
Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15
10:00 a.w. - 4:00 p.m. $50 per person presale or $35 Sunday only.

Wine Tasting and Appreciation with Donal Smith, Corti Bros
Three Tuesdays: February 17th, 24th and March 3rd, 7:30 p.m.
$89 for three sessions
Location: Evans Kitchen, Sacramento
Although this is an "Intro" type class, anyone interested in expanding their wine knowledge will benefit. Wine and food pairings served at each class. A guest winemaker will be at the second class, bringing select barrel samples as well as bottle-finished wines. For reservations, contact Donal at (916) 203-4641 or donalswines@yahoo.com.

Posted by Lynn Gowdy at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I recently agreed to take part in the Traveling Tajine Project that Garrett at Vanilla Garlic set forth. As it turns out, I was first on the list to get this enameled earthenware cooking pot. So I'm happy to be cooking a braised meat dish in the dead of winter and not the high heat of summer!

Briefly, a tajine (or tagine) is a cooking vessel native to Morocco. The conical lid traps steam to help braise a meat stew and trap in the flavors. Traditionally, tajines were used over open flames or by burying them in red-hot coals. This one, however, is earthenware and not to be used on a stovetop (other brands can be put over a flame with a heat disperser). The name tajine is used both for the cooking pot and the resulting stew, which is often made with lamb or chicken, olives, cinnamon, preserved lemons, and may be garnished with almonds and dates.

I have a lamb tagine recipe in my cookbook (see left column and BUY IT!), as it turns out, but I wanted to start with something really authentic and then work my way up to a couple of variations. So I looked up tajines in The Africa Cookbookby Jessica B. Harris. She has both a lamb and chicken version. The only challenge was that this one, as most modern tajine recipes are, was written with stovetop instructions only. So I put on my recipe developer hat and winged it.

I have finally broken myself of the habit of using every dish in the kitchen for one recipe (since I have to wash them, too). So I wish I could have just used the tajine for everything. But I wanted some browning on the chicken. Next time I think I'll try preheating the tajine in the oven with some oil, then adding the meat to it to brown a bit before stirring in everything else (this was a technique I worked out for my one-pot dishes in my book). Here's how the recipe evolved:

Continue reading "The Traveling Tajine Project" »

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you had the opportunity to enjoy a meal at Tazzina Bistro? If not, this is your chance, and then some! The Bistro opened in 2003 in downtown Woodland on Main Street. Located in a century old building with an original maple floor and exposed bricks, the feel is cozy comfortable. They expanded to the side and just added a "Vintage Lounge" to their name. I recently dined there and had a very memorable meal.

The "New Year's Bash" sounds enticing. Here is the scoop:

Music provided by DeeJay Stephan
Dancing
Champagne Toast at Midnight
A fleet of town cars for local rides home
Dress Code: Semi-Formal, black tie optional....(pull out that party dress!)

Shellfish Ice Bar
Oysters
Caviar
Smoked Mussels
Dungeness Crab & avocado cucumber cups

Endless Pass-Around Appetizers until 11pm
Tiny Beef Wellingtons
Foie Gras Torchon
Crispy potato cakes with bacon & chives
Rosemary & Parmesan shortbreads
Empenadas
Rumaki
Many more…

Dessert Station & Chocolate Fountain
Mini Éclairs
Tiny Lemon Meringues tarts
Fruit tarts
Bon bons
Cookies

Limited Tickets to be sold
$100 per person (includes tax & food server gratuity) – Must be 21 or over

Location: 614 Main St., Historic Downtown Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: (530) 661-1700
Fax: (530) 661-7138

Posted by Lynn Gowdy at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm not here to bum you out in this season of merriment and cheer. But the reality is that most of us could do with a tad less indulgence, especially during the holidays. I recently got an email about an interesting program started by a man named Gopal K. Kapur, who lives in Roseville. He calls it "Family Green Survival."

Mr. Kapur's premise is for "participants to show deep personal commitment to ‘green living’ and to develop empathy for the world’s low income and poor populations." For instance, he says of the photo above (from the program Web site): "The yellow bowl represents 3,654 calories, what the average American eats per day. The blue bowl represents between 800 to 1,400 calories, what the poor population in developing countries eats per day. The green bowl represents what everyone in the world should be eating."

Continue reading "Eating Consciously: Family Green Survival" »

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Tomorrow is the 2nd annual Winter Culinary Expo at East Bay Restaurant Supply. If you haven't been to the previous winter or spring expos there, you should definitely go tomorrow. Not only are they scheduling local chefs to do free cooking demos all day, you can eat your fill of treats from bakeries, groceries, and restaurants like Baby Cakes, Whole Foods, and Antonio's Quick Lunch (to-die-for tacos!). And while you're at it, you might as well stock up on some great kitchen supplies at good prices.

I just bought the white, notched spatula in the photo above last time I was at East Bay. It's heat resistant, has a handy resting lip worked into the handle (so the spatula surface doesn't rest on the counter), and the notches help you get every last bit of batter or peanut butter. They've also got great cookware, including Le Creuset; baking sheets (indestructible); thermometers for ovens, meats, and deep frying; and even highchairs (also fairly indestructible).

Here is the schedule of chefs for the day:
9:30 am - 10:45 am: Pastry Chef Musarrat Afshan of Cake Box, El Dorado Hills
Dried Cranberry Cream Scones with Citrus Glaze

11:00 am - 12:15 pm: Chef Chris Jackson of La Perla, Sacramento
Warming Winter Risotto with Seasonal Vegetables

12:30 pm - 1:45 pm: Chef Molly Hawk & Chef Michael Fagnoni
Hawk's Restaurant, Granite Bay
Holiday Appetizers

2:00 pm - 3:15 pm: Chef Andy Nguyen of Andy Nguyen Vegetarian Restaurant, Sacramento
Vietnamese Crepes

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Chef Adam Pechal of Tuli Bistro, Sacramento
Pizza Tuli Style

East Bay Restaurant Supply
522 North 12th Street (just south of Richards)
916-440-0620

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Here's an upcoming class that I'm doing. Sign up now to get your spot and reserve your portion of sugary goodness! I'll talk dessert history while I show you how to make some delicious traditional sweets.

International Desserts at Whole Foods Market on 4315 Arden Way

Monday, December 1st at 6:00 p.m. $25

With Ann Martin Rolke, Pastry Chef

Ever wonder what a plum pudding is or what people make for holidays in Italy? Join food writer and chef Ann Martin Rolke for a hands-on class, learning to make a variety of multi-cultural holiday sweets. You'll get to make and try Christmas panettone from Italy, Hannukah jelly doughnuts, marzipan fruits from Germany, and pecan tassies for Kwanzaa. We'll talk about other desserts, too, and there might even be bonus goodies to sample!

This is a hands-on class; prior sign-up required to hold your spot in this popular holiday class!!!

Call (916) 488-2800 or stop by Whole Foods Customer Service to register.

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Even in this economic downturn, you gotta eat. So you might as well take advantage of some great meal deals on the calendar. Gather your pinched pennies and pony 'em up!

World Pasta Day this Saturday, October 25
A new branch of Modesto-based Fuzio Universal Bistro opened in August on 9th and J Streets and this Saturday they are giving away a free macaroni & cheese with every entree ordered. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Fuzio will celebrate the event started by the World Pasta Congress (who knew?) in 1995. “We think the American people need some good news and free macaroni & cheese is a good way to spread happiness,” says Stacy Mald, managing director at Fuzio. It's hard to argue that, isn't it?

Kunde Wine Dinner, Thursday, October 30
The Waterboy and Edible Sacramento magazine are presenting a special dinner with Kunde Winery. The five-course menu is reservation only and priced at $65 per person. Call 498-9891 for reservations. Each course will be paired with a Kunde wine as follows:

• Antipasti served with Vioginier 2007
  
• Seared Dayboat Scallop and House-Smoked Salmon with Shellbean-Parsnip puree, Crispy Artichoke, Brown Butter and Lemon, served with Sauvignon Blanc 2007
  
• Housemade Gnocchi with Liberty Farms Duck Bolognese with Fresh Porcini Mushrooms and Fried Sage, served with Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
  
• Charcoal Grilled Niman Ranch Pork Loin and Crisp Pork Belly with Roasted Celery Root, Butternut Squash, Butterball Potatoes, Braised Savoy Cabbage, Thyme Jus and Apple Relish, served with Syrah 2004
  
• Chocolate Brioche Bread Pudding with Sabayon, served with Zinfandel Port
  

Prime Rib Sundays at Paul Martin Bistro
Every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., in addition to their regular menu, the Roseville restaurant will be offering a three-course prime rib special for $24.95. The meal will feature choice of soup or salad, a 12-ounce serving of all-natural Creekstone Farms prime rib, mashed potatoes, and a homemade dessert. “Due to the current economic climate, we sensed the need for people to slow down, relax and linger over a great meal, and wanted to create the opportunity at a value that was easy on their budget,” said Brian Bennett, co-founder of Paul Martin’s American Bistro. Call 783-3600 for reservations and information.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you ever tried to push a grocery cart using crutches, or balance on one foot while trying to mince and stir? It's not a pretty or well-balanced situation, let me tell you. For the past month, both Lynn and I have been gimping around, each with one foot in a cast or boot--she due to surgery, and I due to a run-in with the pavement from suddenly falling off my bike. This has severly limited our abilities to cook, but it hasn't limited our obsessions. So we thought we'd share with you what happens when foodies can't do their foodie thing. Cravings abound!

Lynn: What does a passionate foodie, cook, and culinary school director eat when she has foot surgery and has to be on the couch all day with the foot up for ten days? Well first of all, this is quite a change for someone who’s on her feet pretty much all day every day and in a kitchen most of that time!

The first several days, little hunger was present. (She is thinking, "good, I can’t bike ride or exercise for a while…this is good.") But the one thing she was really having a taste for was a cappuccino from Peet’s. Since the husband worked from home the first week, he went and got her one the third day.

Hunger surfaced a little the fourth day. The red and yellow bell and Anaheim peppers needed harvesting from the garden. The husband said, “How about if you tell me what to do and I’ll make a summer pepper soup?” (This husband is slowly learning to cook when time permits.) So she sat in the kitchen with the foot still up and the soup turned out great. Add a nice mixed green salad with crumbled feta and that was dinner. Fresh and healthy.

Beautiful weather the first weekend called for the grill. Chicken breasts with corn on the cob and other grilled vegetables, yum. (The husband is great with the grill!) Extras meant lunch and dinner the following day. And she’s still eating fresh and healthy.

Uh, oh. Week two, cravings begin to surface. She wants a bran muffin. Is that considered a craving thing? Yes, for someone who loves wonderful artisan fresh-baked bread and muffins. But not just any old bran muffin. A Grateful Bread bran muffin. The husband went to the store and got one. Oh yeah, he also got the ginger cookie she was craving!

The end of week two is nearing and still no take out, but she is REALLY craving sushi and Thai food. So I’ll bet one, but probably both, will make it to her table soon!

And Ann's take:

Continue reading "2 Cooks - 2 Bad Feet = 2 Gimpy Gourmets" »

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Postings have been sparse this week since my camera broke and I kept hoping it might magically regenerate. But the food events wait for no man or woman to get her photography in line, so here are some upcoming shindigs worthy of pleasing your palate (but, alas, no photos). You have a lot of drinking to do this weekend, apparently! (And if you see Mr. SacEats this weekend, buy him one for his birthday.)

Food and Wine Tasting
Saturday, October 4, 5 to 9 p.m., Clunie Hall in McKinley Park
This is a benefit for the John Kerr Foundation, which helps people with muscular dystrophy. Tickets are $35 and available at The Beat on J Street or at 916-730-8875. Participating restaurants inclue the Waterboy, Aioli, and Tuli Bistro. Revolution Wines from Sacramento, Oak Ridge and Jewell wineries from Lodi, and The Grand wine bar will all be providing wines to taste.

3rd Annual Oktoberfest at Brew it Up
Saturday, October 4, starting at 11 a.m.; $5 after 9 p.m.
Brew it Up will be offering twelve German styles of beer, along with bier-hall music all day. Try Dunkel Weizen wheat beer, Schwarzbier black lager, and a fruity Kolsch ale, among others. See their menu for drink specials and prices.

Fall Festival: Pork and Pinot Noir
Saturday, October 4, 1 to 6 p.m., L Wine Lounge & Urban Kitchen
$40 gets you a Pinot Noir tasting, 2 glasses of the Pinot of your choice, and some pork dishes created by Chef Ame Harrington. Call 443-6970 for reservations.

The Sacramento Wine Crawl
Tuesday, October 7, 5 to 10 p.m.
Organized by the same folks who are doing the soon-to-be-regular Grub Crawls, this event costs $25 and starts at the Lounge on 20 at 5 p.m. At the top of each hour, you'll move to a new venue to taste more wine with fellow crawlers. Michelangelo's is at 6; Aioli/The Grand at 7; 58 Degrees at 8; and L Wine Lounge at 9. Contact SacDine.com or call 916-376-7488 for tickets.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Sept. 13: The Sacramento Grub Crawl

VIP sampling of fine wines and cuisines. Every hour, on the hour, you'll stroll to the next location to greet, eat, and meet (as SacDine puts it) "the industry's finest insiders, ….renowned chefs, celebrity guests, world class staff and (while not yet famous, … the always infamous) Sacramento Party Crowd! " The restaurants include Chops (5 to 6 p.m.), Parlare (6 to 7), Table260 (6 to 7), Sofia (7 to 8), Esquire Grill (8 to 9), Cabana (10 p.m. on). If you want to join the fun, it's $25 per person, and you can purchase at 3102 O St., Suite 6, or call 400-3240. This will probably become a weekly event, but the Web site doesn't have all the details yet, so check back to see what's coming up.

Sept. 13 and 14: Tour de Vine--El Dorado's Wine Harvest Festival

Twenty El Dorado county family wineries, including Boeger, David Girard, and Mount Aukum will be open for tours and tastings. Some of the events will include vineyard tours with winemakers; hands-on experiences like grape crushing; special tastings from vineyard to barrel to bottle, in cellars and a cave; fermentation demonstrations and grape "punch downs" by participants;blessing of the grapes ceremony. There will be light food samples paired with wines at each location. You can find a map of the wineries and a listing of events at the El Dorado Wines Web site. You can also buy the $45 tickets there or at some of the wineries. Events run 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Sept. 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m: A Harvest Pear Affair

Join Slow Food Sacramento and Tim Neuharth from Steamboat Acres to celebrate the end of harvest with an orchard tour where he will discuss the challenges of organic pear farming in the Delta, and Chris Zanobini from the California Pear Advisory Board will conduct a tasting with information on history and pear varieties. The orchard floor near the river will serve as a beautiful background for a shared potluck picnic with fellow foodies, and dessert diva Kira O’Donnell prepares scrumptious pear galettes.

Please bring: Festive picnic fare, drinks, blankets or chairs, picnic ware (no disposables), and please bring a favorite potluck appetizer, side dish or entrée to share with someone you meet at the picnic. Sharing good food with new friends is a goal for all Slow Food events.

Cost: $15 for Slow Food Members; $20 for non-members; purchase deadline is Sept. 17

Buy Tickets Now at Brown Paper Tickets For more information, contact Melinda McRae Beer at melinda_beer@yahoo.com or 916-717-1621.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[guest blogger Lynn Gowdy, who works at Whole Foods, will hopefully be joining Sacatomato as a regular poster]

Do you care about what your kids eat for lunch?

While perusing culinary-type sites on the web one evening, I stumbled upon The Renegade Lunch Lady, Chef Ann Cooper. I stopped at her website and started reading. Interesting. This woman is really passionate about what she does. She is genuinely concerned about the junk kids eat in school and the childhood obesity and diabetes problems in this country. Hum…

Right then, I sent her a message. (I wanted to bring a deeper level of education to parents and kids at the Salud! Cooking and Lifestyle School at Whole Foods Market where I work.)

She replied within 24 hours. And she wanted to continue the conversation. I was thinking to myself, this is amazing. This woman is the Director of Nutrition Services for the Berkeley Unified School District; on the boards for various women chefs, executive chefs and the Alumni Committee of the Culinary Institute of America; does podcasts; is a sought after keynote speaker; writes books about food politics and kids' lunches (her newest is Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children); has been on numerous news shows; is a culinary consultant; does educational seminars and speaking engagements on kids' lunch programs; helps establish edible schoolyard projects; and more. And she got back to me in 24 hours and was interested in coming to discuss her work and educate parents in our area. I was very excited!

So Chef Ann has come to Whole Foods twice so far.

Continue reading "Listen to the Lunch Lady!" »

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

If you've somehow missed the big news in the Sacramento food community, Corti Brothers grocery store has been given walking papers by their landlord. They had 60 days to vacate in order to make room for a new venture called Good Eats (the second location; the first being in the old Andiamo restaurant on Folsom near Alhambra). Well, the foodies in the area are not taking this news lying down. Two blogs have been established to post the latest news, and a petition and media event are underway.

Why the outcry? In case you're not aware, Darrell Corti, son of one of the founding brothers, is an internationally recognized wine and olive oil expert. From here in little ol' Sac. He was raised here and joined the family business as a young man. The Corti Brothers store (the last remaining of several at their apex), is a wonderland of culinary delights. Sure, you can buy produce, milk, and cereal in lots of places, but where else can you find--under one roof--things like salty licorice from Denmark, custom-made cheese and meat ravioli, unusual liqueur like Cuarente y Tres from Spain, hand-cut beef brisket, 20 or 30 different olive oils, hundreds of types of pasta, and panettone straight from Italy? Darrell sends out a newsletter that is as well researched as it is fascinating. He spotlights new products like dried shredded coconut and Japanese salt. It's an education every time you go in for provisions. And don't miss the glass-fronted bookshelves high above the bread department. They're packed full of Darrell's rare and thorough collection of culinary references. Or the fantastic deli counter, where you'll happily stand in line for a big, flavorful sandwich or freshly sliced prosciutto.

So hightail it over there and see for yourself, but make sure to sign the petition to the landlord, visit the two new blogs (Save Corti Bros and Save the Corti Bros.), and head over there next Wednesday for the media event:

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD, 3:00 P.M
Press is advised to arrive no later than 2:45 P.M.
Corti Brothers – 5810 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento

“Who’s Who” of the Sacramento food community will gather, in chefs’ jackets, in support and to pledge community allegiance to Corti Brothers, the 61-year unique family business now headed by internationally known wine and food authority Darrell Corti. Corti Brothers has been given just 60 days to vacate, after 38 years at its present location, to make way for Michael Teel, grandson of Tom Raley, and his attempt to re-enter the food business with a store called “Good Eats.”

BACKGROUND: The conference participants will explain what Corti Brothers means to this community. Petitions have begun circulating in the Sacramento region (and worldwide) and already thousands are expected to sign and have been gathered asking, to commit support to Corti Brothers.
Press conference participants will include Biba Caggiano and her staff of Biba’s Restuarant; David Berkley; Rich Mahan of Waterboy Restaurant; Kurt Spataro and his chefs; Randall Selland of Ella’s Restaurant; Tamara Baker of Selland’s Market; Dani Luzzatti of Bellalu Catering; Teresa Urkofsky, college cullinary instuctor; Brenda Ruiz, Junior Chefs cooking school; Wendy Mentik, Bidwell Street Bistro; Noah Zonca of The Kitchen; Bernice Hagin and Peg Tomlinson of Sacramento Magazine’s Dining Divas… and many, many more.

Contact: Devon Ford 916-541-5619

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

This is a bit late-breaking for the week, but there is some advance notice on a few of these events. We're getting into the second festival season, now that the threat of extreme heat is (mostly) over. So mark your calendars and belt sizes!

The Village Feast, TOMORROW, Saturday, August 23
Central Park, Davis, noon
This is the annual fundraising benefit for school gardens, 2nd grade farm visits, school recycling programs, and local seasonal produce in the school lunch programs for the Davis district. All participants must bring their own plates, cutlery, and napkins (cloth preferable). Wine glasses are provided. The food is always gorgeously seasonal and delicious, with a silent auction of additional items up for grabs. Call 209-319-0831 to see if there are still tickets: $70 per person or $55 per for Slow Food members.

Brewmaster Dinner, Sunday, August 24
L Wine Lounge + Urban Kitchen, 1801 L Street, Sacramento
Chuck Silva, brewmaster of Green Flash Brewing Co. will be the guest host of a 5-course meal paired with 5 of Chuck's award-winning beers. Green Flash is in San Diego county and their West Coast IPA is the 2008 Brewing News National IPA Champion. The Hop Head Red Ale is the 2008 Gold Medal American-Style beer for the World Beer Cup. See whether you agree that some people say beer goes better with food than wine! $65 per person. Call 443-6970 for reservations.

2nd Annual Suds on the Green, Saturday, September 13
William Land Golf Course, Sacramento
Suds on the Green is a unique event featuring UNLIMITED BEER TASTING of over 30 different breweries. The complete brewfest is located directly on the final hole of the National Golf League's Sacramento Team Golf Shootout. NGL golf is a roaringly fun event, with beer, live music, and everything you want from one of the newest brewfests to hit the Northern California area. Tickets are only $25 the day of the event and $20 prepay. Proceeds benefit the First Tee of Greater Sacramento. The brewfest is followed by a Free Concert featuring Aroarah.
Hotline: 916-924-EVENTS (3836); email: creativecatsevents@yahoo.com

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I got a press release from the Sac Co-op recently about an Eat Local Challenge that they're sponsoring this month. They were challenging me to belly up to local food. Easy, I thought. Who has a whole backyard of fruit trees and veggies? Who shops at the Co-op and farmer's markets and knows local pork purveyors by name? How hard could it be? Ha!

I dutifully printed out their Eat Local scorecard and list of local food products and started my personal challenge. Turns out I don't eat as locally as I thought. Hmph. Of course, this was already a bit doomed at the beginning by the fact that I hadn't gone shopping recently, in my quest to use up those bits of grains and random packages of curry mix and whatnot. And being the omnivore that I am, I seem to have a lot of non-local foodstuffs in my pantry. Oh yeah, and I shop at Trader Joe's a lot to save money, but none of their store brand items are labeled with point of origin...so it makes it a bit difficult to include them.

Now the challenge is to eat 80 percent of your meals from local sources (whether it's the actual ingredients or locally made), so you would think that wouldn't be too hard, right? And the "local" part includes anything within 100 miles. For us, that means practically anything you could want--especially if you throw in the locally made allowance (for things like chocolate!). But so far, I'm not meeting that 80 percent goal. Must get more serious about this.

Continue reading "Eating Locally: Harder Than You Think?" »

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Yep, summertime in Sacramento is HOT and you certainly don’t want to use the oven if at all possible. And as good as ice cream and fresh fruit are, sometimes you want something a little more unusual. Join three local food blogging cooks (that would be me, Shankari Easwaran, and Garrett McCord, taker of the lovely photo above) as we show you how to make a variety of delicious desserts without breaking a sweat. This unique format will give you the chance to see the different styles of three cooks in the kitchen as we work together and individually. And, of course, you'll get to taste everything and take home copies of all the recipes! So sign up now with the Whole Foods Salud cooking school (see below for contact info.). And while you're at it, check out all the other classes they have on their schedule.

Menu items:

• Almond Sherbert: Ground almonds blended with chilled milk, cardamom, and saffron
  
• Indian Fruit Salad: Fresh seasonal fruits in simple syrup infused with cinnamon and cloves, sprinkled with rose water, and garnished with toasted coconut
  
• Poached Pear Sorbet: A delicious dessert that takes a fine winter classic and gives it a twist. Pears poached in a syrup of vanilla and lemon pureed, then churned into a silky sorbet
  
• Coffee Granita: A low-maintenance dessert with coffee, espresso, and a bit of sugar mixed and chilled, then raked into a snow cone-like consistency. Served with a bit of fresh whipped cream.
  
• Berry-Mint Panzanella: A bread salad made with blueberries, mint and an orange-brown sugar sauce; toasted bread cubes and almonds add crunch.
  
• Kir Royello: Jell-o for grown-ups, using champagne and raspberry gelatin to copy the flavors of the classic summer cocktail Kir Royale
  

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

There's a whole batch of good stuff to do that will keep you out of the barbecue pit known as the outdoors these days. What better excuse to stay inside and eat and drink yourself into cool oblivion? Pick one or all of the following and have at 'em:

Saturday, July 12, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Entree to India 101 - Class 1 Hands on! Limited to 18 students only. Join Shankari Easwaran on a culinary tour to her country, India. Learn about the rich culture and understand the different spices of India. Shankari will teach you the elements of curry along with interesting stories of her culinary adventure in her mother's kitchen. On the menu: Naan - Learn how to make this ever-popular Indian bread; Channa Masala - A wonderful "comfort food" also called Chole. Channa masala is garbanzo beans cooked in a tangy tomato sauce; Chicken Curry - Chicken cooked in an aromatic sauce infused with poppy seeds, fennel and coconut; Raitha - Cool off with a tomato yogurt salad with a hint of mint.

There were a few openings left as of yesterday, so call Carolyn Kumpe today to reserve your spot! $55 per person and there are two more of these classes coming up Aug. 9 and Sept. 20. You can buy the whole series for $135.

Reservations: (916) 440-0623
East Bay Restaurant Supply
522 North 12th St.
Sacramento, Ca 95811

Sunday, July 27 from 8:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Garrett McCord from Vanilla Garlic is organizing a volunteering day at the Sacramento Food Bank. It will be for the Sunday lunch service, preparing bagged lunches and organizing donated food stuffs for distribution. He has 12-14 spots open, though they certainly won't look down at more as during the summer. They are hurting for help since the students that usually go in for volunteer hours needed to graduate are out of school. Contact Garrett at protogarrett@yahoo.com for more info. There will probably a coffee or lunch run afterwards if you want to stick around.

Sacramento Food Bank
3333 3rd Ave.
Sacramento, CA

Thursday nights, 5 to 7 p.m.
Morton's is hosting wine tastings in the bar on Thursday nights through September. They are also serving complimentary steak sandwiches to go with the wine, making it great for an after work bite and beverage.

Morton's the Steakhouse
521 L Street
Sacramento
916-442-5091

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Ack! I almost missed this: The 2nd Annual Sacramento Wine & Dine Week
It started last Saturday and runs through this Saturday. Many local restaurants are offering 3- and 4-course meals for a set price. Choose from high-end eateries like Biba to casual spots like River City Brewing Company. Click here for the full list of participating restaurants and their menus. You can reserve a table right from that site as well. Get to it to try some places you've been meaning to visit.

Coming up this Saturday, June 14: The 6th Annual Grape Escape
Sponsored by Raley's, this event will be held at Cesar Chavez Park, 10th and J Streets, from 4 to 7 p.m.
More than 100 restaurants and wineries from 8 nearby counties will have samples available. Tickets are $40 ($50 day-of) and you can get $5 off by visiting a Raley's store or their Web site. Sacramento's own Rail Bridge Cellars will be there, along with Clarksburg's Bogle Vineyards & Winery. Don't forget to eat something between sips of wine: Mulvaney's, Enotria, Hawks, and Sweetwater are among the tasty options for nibbles.

June 20 at the Sacramento Co-op: the Grill it Up! Tasting Fair and Movie Night
5 to 8 p.m. for the fair (Free); 7 p.m. for the movie ($5 donation requested)
1900 Alhambra Boulvard at S Street
As you know, two issues that always seem to be popping up in the news are food safety and the loss of farm land. These events address those issues. The Tasting Fair features organic meats and information on how to know that the meat you buy is safe to eat and gentle on the animals and the environment (it will also be a lot of fun with live music, kids’ activities, a hot dog stand, and more). The same evening, they're screening the acclaimed documentary "King Corn" as a benefit for the Good Humus Farm Preservation Project; Good Humus is a small organic family farm in Capay Valley that is raising money for an easement to make the land an organic farm in perpetuity--protecting it from development.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We bloggers sit about in front of our computers sending our thoughts and photos into the world and every once in a while we crawl out of our monitor-lit caves and get together! This, however, is a digital get-together for a blogger from Santa Rosa. A virtual hug, if you will. I'm donating a copy of my cookbook Hands-Off Cooking: Low-Supervision, High-Flavor Meals for Busy People, which I'll sign and ship anywhere. Shankari is donating a free, private cooking class for two at Whole Foods in Sacramento! So read on and learn about this event and enter the raffle.

This is an appeal on behalf of a group of food bloggers who are friends of Briana Brownlow @ Figs With Bri.

Bri was diagnosed with breast cancer two and half years ago. A mastectomy, chemotherapy and two years of relatively good health later, the cancer is back. It has metastasized to other parts of her body. At the age of 15, Bri lost her 41-year old mother to the disease. Now, she’s waging her own war against breast cancer. More about it here.

She is going through intensive chemo and other treatments and needs to focus single-mindedly on healing and finding what treatment works best for her. Her health insurance, unfortunately, does not cover holistic alternatives which she would like to try. Bri and her husband Marc have enough on their plates right now in addition to worrying about her medical bills.

The team organising the JUNE edition of CLICK at Jugalbandi has organised a fundraiser to help Bri and her family meet her out-of-pocket medical costs for ONE YEAR.

CLICK is a monthly theme-based photography contest hosted by Jugalbandi. This month’s theme is: YELLOW for Bri

Yellow is the colour of hope. Through the work of the LiveStrong Foundation, it has also come to signify the fight against cancer.

The entries can be viewed HERE. The deadline for entries is June 30, 2008. The fundraiser will extend until July 15, 2008.

The target amount is 12,000 U.S. dollars. We appeal to our fellow bloggers and readers to help us achieve this. Bri deserves a chance to explore all options, even if her insurance company thinks otherwise.

There’s a raffle with exciting prizes on offer. After viewing the list, you may make your donation HERE or at the Chip-In button on any participating site.

Your donation can be made securely through credit card or Pay Pal and goes directly to Bri’s account.

This month’s photo contest also has some prizes. Details HERE.

You can support this campaign by donating to the fundraiser, by participating in CLICK: the photo event, and by publicising this campaign.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Forget green eggs and ham--the Riverside Clubhouse is doing green tacos and beer with Go Green Bike Night on Wednesdays. Starting at 5 p.m., ride your bike and valet park it with SABA (the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates; $1 tip is appreciated) and get a taco and beer for free when you buy a taco and beer. The tacos are delicious shredded pork in soft corn tortillas and the beers are cold Pacificos. A table of four of us last week consumed 18 tacos and 8 beers, all for only $30. They'll probably run this special through the summer. You can't beat it for taste and value.

Riverside Clubhouse
2633 Riverside Blvd.
448-9988

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Just in time for the early heat comes the 9th annual West Coast Brew Fest!
This Sat., May 17, 1 to 5 p.m., Miller Park, Sacramento
There will be 60 microbreweries represented, including local Beermanns Beerwerks, Hoppy Brewing Company, Lodi Beer Company, and River City Brewing Company. You'll also get to try Alaskan Brewing Company and Woodchuck Cider (from Vermont), for more far-flung tastes.

The commercial craft competition was held already, and some of the winners included River City for Light Lager and Sacramento Brewing for Hefeweizen.

There's apparently a new 5-ounce plastic pilsner tasting glass this year and the promise of "No more running out of beer so there's more for everyone!" I heard last year was a bit dry. I hope they're well stocked this year since it's supposed to be SO HOT. Also look for local bands and food vendors, including G-Dubb's BBQ and Dave's Dogs.

Tickets $27 online and $30 day of; limited to 3000 attendees only. $5 for designated drivers and those 16 to 20 years old (poor kids). Get them online here or at local beer halls like Hoppy, Brew it Up!, and Sac Brewing.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

We are extremely lucky to have the opportunity to see Dame Diana Kennedy not once, but twice, in Sacramento next month! She is widely regarded as an authority on classical Mexican cooking and was awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle by the Congress of the Republic of Mexico for her contributions to the documentation of regional Mexican cuisine. She is touring in support of her newest cookbook, The Art of Mexican Cooking, and will be giving two cooking demonstrations in our area.

The first will be Thursday, June 12, in a private class to be limited to 12 people. A paid reservation of $250 will include a hands-on cooking class, dinner, and a signed copy of the new book. The event will be held at an architecturally significant "green" house overlooking the Catta Verdura golf course to honor Ms. Kennedy's long interest in ecological building practices. She lives primarily in her ecological adobe house in Michoacan, Mexico, which also serves as a research center for Mexican cuisine. For reservations or questions contact Peg Tomlinson at pegtomlinson@gmail.com or (916) 645-4694. Known as one of the Dining Divas, Peg is a Mexican cooking authority as well and has attended Ms. Kennedy's cooking camps in Oaxaca.

The second event will be Saturday, June 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. at East Bay Culinary Center. The demonstration will be followed by a book signing. Contact Carolyn Kumpe at (916) 440-0623 or via email at carolynk@ebrs.net to make a reservation today. The cost of the class is $95 per person. Seats are limited.

You can learn more about Diana Kennedy by reading Elise Bauer's account of her experience when Ms. Kennedy was here last.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Tickets are now available for the four-county “Slow Down on the Delta” dinner and field trips on Saturday, May 31, hosted by the Slow Food Convivia of Placer, Sacramento, Solano and Yolo Counties. This will be a great opportunity to meet chefs and farmers and enjoy the ambience of the Delta with friends under old valley oaks on the edge of the Sacramento River. Food-themed silent and live auctions will raise funds for Slow Food Nation.

The speaker for the event will be Anya Fernald, CEO of Slow Food Nation and longtime
program director for California Alliance of Family Farms (CAFF). Her husband, Renato Sardo, head of Slow Food International, will also be attending.

There will be four-star chefs representing each county:
Patrick Mulvaney (Sacramento), Daniel Bell (Solano), Pru Mendez (Davis), and Molly Hawks and Michael Fagnoni (Placer).
The chefs are sourcing foods grown in the four counties, such as spring lamb, endive extravaganza, cheeses, and nuts for the menu.

There will be nine field trips (arranged in two different suggested “flights”) for those who want to make a Slow Day or Afternoon in the Delta. Each is led by an expert knowledgeable of the special challenges and rewards of farming in the Delta. They include offerings such as "Explore the Delta on the Tule Queen II"; "Nursery, Organic Farm, and Garden Tour"; and a tour with Carvalho Family Wines owner John Carvalho.

Saturday, May 31, 5:00 p.m. at Vino Farms, 51375 S. Netherlands Road, Clarksburg, CA
Visit brown paper tickets to get your tickets now. More event details are at the Slow Food Sacramento site.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A melting pot of upcoming food-centric events to put on your calendar:

Dining Out for Life, TONIGHT, April 24
This is a national fundraiser for CARES--Center for AIDS Research, Education, & Services. Each of the participating restaurants will donate a portion of their night's proceeds to CARES, so get out there and eat for a cause. To see the list of restaurants to choose from, including Mulvaney's, Dragonfly, and 58 Degrees, visit the CARES site.

Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children, April 26, 1 to 2 p.m., $5, Whole Foods Sacramento
With guest chef and author Ann Cooper (The Renegade Lunch Lady)
This is a lecture and discussion class; open to all ages (and especially parents!). Chef Ann will discuss and educate you on the state of America’s school lunch programs, how to improve children’s meals, and share strategies for parents to become engaged with issues around school food. Learn about the Healthy Kids Meal Wheel, Lap-Top Lunches, and healthy, kid-friendly recipes that can be made at home to ensure your child has wholesome, nutritious, delicious food at school! Chef Ann’s book latest book, Lunch Lessons, will be available for viewing and purchase. She will make delicious smoothies for participants to enjoy during the discussion.

The Stockton Asparagus Festival, April 25 to 27, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., $5 to $10, Downtown Stockton
It's time again for asparitas (that would be asparagus margaritas, of course)! The 23rd annual festival celebrates all things asparagus, and this year all things in eighties music as well. Choose from live shows by the Greg Kihn Band, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, or War. Chef Martin Yan will appear each day for a celebrity cooking demo and the World Deep-Fried Asparagus-Eating Competition will be held on Saturday. This is an actual competitive event, with appearances by nationally ranked eating champions like Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas. Get the details on schedule, maps, and Asparagus Alley offerings here.

Scottish Games and Festival, April 26 and 27, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Yolo County Fairgrounds
This year is the 132nd anniversary of this event! It's not specifically a food event, but with a whisky seminar and tasting event and haggis hurling contest, it seems like a fun time. Put your kilt on (even if it's a utilikilt) and dance to the bagpipes. More info here on schedule and location.

Feria 2008: A Night in Spain, April 26, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., $50, St. Francis Church
This benefit for St. Francis elementary school will feature tapas from local restaurants, a paella demonstration, a Spanish wine tasting and no-host bar, flamenco dancing, and desserts by the International Culinary Academy. Get the details at the Feria site.

The Sushi Masters State Finals, June 10, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sacramento Convention Center (Not for 6 weeks, but buy your tickets now)
A celebration of culture and cuisine with artistry and fast-paced competition, this competition features six chefs who have won regional competitions in Sacramento, SF, and LA. This has been organized annually by the California Rice Commission since 2005. The $65 admission price includes event and competition entry, sushi sampling, sake tasting, and cultural entertainment. Ticket and event information can be found at the Sushi Masters Web site. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Project, which seeks to acquire historic property considered California¹s first Japanese colony, and transition it to a state historical park and interpretive facility that pays tribute to these first colonists and the contributions that Japanese Americans have made to the state.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Grab your antihistamines and clear your palate. There are several culinary events coming up in the near future that you may want to schedule (if you aren't sneezing every two minutes):

Old Soul Friday Night BBQs
Starting tonight, Old Soul at the Weatherstone (812 21st btw. H and I) is holding the "first of many" Friday Night BBQs. Join them on the patio for Baby Back Ribs (Bledsoe pork, of course), homemade corn bread, and greens. Price is $7 per person, which sounds like a tasty deal. They will begin serving at 4 pm and go until 7 pm or so (or until sold out). I'd bet on getting there on the early side.

New Co-op Classes Scheduled
The newest cooking class schedule is out at the Sac Co-op. Sign up for a series, like Spring in the Mediterranean or The Indian Oven, or try a single class. Popular Co-op instructor Shankari Easwaran and I are teaming up to lead a class on April 15 on One Vegetable Five Ways. We'll show you how to incorporate tender, fresh spinach into five different international dishes. You can also sign up for gardening, composting, and kid and teen cooking classes. See the full schedule or call 916-455-2667.

Wine Appreciation Class
Beginning May 13, Corti Brothers wine merchant Donal Smith will again offer his introductory class. Over three Tuesdays evenings, Donal will help you taste and discuss California and international wines. You learn to indentify major grape varietals, buy and cellar wines, understand the meaning of "terroir," and taste and match hors d'oeuvres with the wines. Contact Donal at 916-203-4641 or donalswines@yahoo.com. Classes held at the Art Foundry Gallery, 1021 R St., May 13, 20, and 27 at 7:30 p.m. $90 gets you handouts, support materials, and all the wine and food you can taste during each class session.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're a foodie or gourmand or chowhound or whatever you call yourself, then it doesn't take much to convince you to attend a food event. Or the opening of a bag of chips, for that matter! But just to satisfy your conscience and your stomach, there are two good events coming up that you should look into. Both are for great causes and include food and drink, plus there's sure to be mingling aplenty.

Sacramento Public Library Foundation's 2008 Authors on the Move

The 6th annual iteration of this event occurs Saturday, March 1 at the downtown Hyatt Hotel, and will include dinner and a chance to meet a slew of authors. The "authors on the move" part refers to 39 California writers who will move from table to table, chatting with attendees. [full disclosure here: I am one of the authors who will be moving. Come find me!] Afterwards, the authors will sign copies of their books, which will be available for sale. This year's theme is "Food for Thought," so there will be quite a few cookbook, wine, and health subject authors on the menu. They include locals Georgeanne Brennan and Rick Kushman, as well as author David Shalleck, who used to work for NapaStyle chef Michael Chiarello. All proceeds will benefit the foundation. For a full list of authors and RSVP info, visit the SPLF site.

First Annual "A Toast to Hope"

This is a beer tasting and silent auction fundraiser to benefit Chicks in Crisis. CIC is a great organization that helps women experiencing crisis pregnancies. Their mission is to help women become productive members of society while making informed decisions for themselves and their children. I learned about them when I was looking into adoption options, as they sometimes have clients who choose to place their children. The event will be at Pyramid Brewery on K Street, Saturday March 8, 6 to 8 p.m. You'll get hors d'oeuvres as well as a variety of Pyramid brews. Register for the event and learn more about CIC at their site.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 6:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There's another holiday this week you might have overlooked--that's right, it's National Pie Day. Apparently designated as such by the American Pie Council, I don't really need any better excuse to make or eat pie. Sadly, the Real Pie Co. closed this past Saturday, due to too much business. (See the details here.) So, absent that excellent outlet for ready-made pie, I don't know of other great sources away from home. (If you do, please send me word! Maybe I can try a pie a day for a while. Mmmmmm.)

So get out your pie pans and bake some pie! Now is not the time to attempt lemon meringue, however. The humidity right now will likely wreck your meringue and cause it to seep sugar syrup. So, instead, stick to something with fruit or nuts, like Pear-Cardamom Pie or Apple-Cranberry Pie with almonds in the crust. Maybe you'll be so inspired you need the join the Pie of the Month Club, like my husband did a while ago. He got a coffee mug, I Heart Pie pin, and a postcard every month with a recipe and original artwork illustrating that month's flavor.

And if you're fresh out of fancy pie plates, don't forget to check the stock at Dish. She's got some neat vintage pie dishes. Maybe we can get a pie-mentum started like the cupcake craze that's currently taken hold. Pies for everyone!

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For those of you unfamiliar with the hilarious oeuvre of Monty Python, that's a "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" reference. But in all seriousness, we're not dead yet here at Sacatomato...just sleep deprived. So don't give up on us, as we promise to keep delivering the latest and greatest in local food news. And to keep that promise for today, at least, here are several upcoming foodie events for you to sink your teeth into:

Pre-Holiday Tamalada
Tamale making is an important ritual in the Mexican culture during the holidays. Women traditionally gather in the kitchen then to make dozens and even hundreds of tamales to be shared with family and friends at Christmastime. As Mexican immigrants brought their customs to the United States, many Americans have become interested in exploring this particular custom, especially because of the association of holidays and families. Chef and culinary educator Carolyn Kumpe will discuss the significance of tamale making during the holidays as well as lead a hands-on demonstration of making tamales that are savory with meat, savory vegetarian, and a sweet one. Two will be demonstrated and one will be created collectively to take home. Slow Food Sacramento is pleased to partner with the East Bay Culinary Center to hold the tamale-making seminar in the Center's beautiful new demonstration kitchen on Saturday Dec. 1 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Cost for participation is $25 for adults, $10 for children, and a discounted rate of $20 for Slow Food members. For more information, please contact Ellen Robinson at 916-362-4075, ellenr@sbcglobal.net, or Melinda McRae at 916-717-1621, mcraem@fleishman.com.

East Bay Culinary Center
522 NORTH 12TH STREET
Sacramento, CA 95814

Sunday Supper at the L
There are two upcoming winemaker dinners featuring some of the most popular wines at the L Wine Lounge and Urban Kitchen. The winemakers will attend and speak about their work.

• HdV ~ Stéphane Vivier, Winemaker
  Sunday, December 2nd
  6 p.m. Arrival; 6:30 Seating

• Ceja ~ Armando Ceja, Winemaker
  Sunday, December 16th
  6 p.m. Arrival; 6:30 Seating

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Edible Crawl for a Cure will be a gourmet food and pub crawl this Saturday through more than a dozen, primarily independent downtown and Midtown microbreweries, wine bars, restaurants, and coffee houses. It is a fund-raiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The goal of the event is to raise awareness of this genetic disease of the lungs and digestive system that currently has no cure, to focus on bringing research dollars to the Sacramento branch, and to enjoy an amazing walk across the Central City. The event is the brainchild of midtowngrid.com and the Sacramento Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Ale Captains will lead crews of 10 or more people on a gourmet and pub jaunt. Each location will pair food and drink with entertainment sprinkled along The Grid, greetings from the Sacred City Roller Derby Girls, and chalk art by Chalk It Up! to Sacramento. Discount overnight stays will be available through the Clarion Mansion Inn and Holiday Inn Express.

Tickets are $25 per person and IDs will be checked at registration. Must be 21 or over to participate. Tickets are available online or you can join the Sacramento Epicureans group with me by contacting our swashbuckling Ale Captain Paul at paul@sacramento-epicureans.com.

Just think--you'll get wined and dined, walk off some of the calories, AND donate to a good cause. It's not supposed to rain on Saturday, and the weather will be a lovely low- to mid-60s. There are several places on the route that I haven't tried yet and I'm looking forward to their goods. Here's the menu that you'll get to sample:

Continue reading "Edible Crawl for a Cure This Saturday!" »

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Coming up this Friday: Join me for a class on high-flavor, quick vegetarian recipes. They'll all be from my cookbook, Hands-Off Cooking: Low-Supervision, High-Flavor Meals for Busy People. The dishes I'll demonstrate will all be packed with flavor and perfect for the upcoming holidays. You'll taste:

• Nutty Pumpkin Lasagna (don't get rid of that Halloween pumpkin!)
  
• Caribbean Black Bean Soup
  
• Apple-Carrot Soufflé
  

The details are:
Whole Foods Market
4315 Arden Way
Call 916-488-2800 to reserve your spot!
6:30 p.m.; $35 for the class

And here's a preview to entice you. Try the variation for a different fall party hors d'oeuvre.

Nutty Pumpkin Lasagna

Hands Off: 35 minutes
Serves 6 to 8

1 cup (4 ounces) sliced almonds
One 8- or 9-ounce box no-boil (oven-ready) lasagna noodles [I buy mine at Corti Brothers]
One 29-ounce can pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth, divided
2 cups (8 ounces) mixed shredded Italian cheeses

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

2. Spread the almonds on a rimmed baking sheet (jelly-roll pan). Place the pan in the oven while it heats to toast the almonds for 10 to 12 minutes.

3. Put the noodles in a 9 x 13–inch baking dish and pour hot water over them to soak.

4. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, Parmesan, garlic, sage, salt, and pepper. Stir in 3/4 cup of the toasted almonds.

5. Remove the noodles from the baking dish and drain; discard the water. Pour 1/4 cup of the broth into the dish. Layer in 4 noodles, then half of the pumpkin mixture, smoothing it to make it even. Put in another layer of noodles and the remaining pumpkin. Top with the final layer of noodles, then sprinkle on the cheese and remaining 1/4 cup almonds. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup stock over the top.

6. Bake the lasagna for 25 minutes, or until it is browned and bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

Variation: Nutty Pumpkin Lasagna Rolls
Prepare as directed through step 4. Spray the baking dish with oil and pour in 1/4 cup of the broth. Laying each noodle flat on a work surface, spread it with pumpkin filling and roll up like a jelly-roll. Place the rolled noodle seam-side down in the pan. Repeat with the remaining noodles and filling. Sprinkle on the cheese and the remaining 1/4 cup almonds. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup stock over the top. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the rolls are browned and bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting each roll into 1-inch pieces. Serve hot.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Tomorrow at the new East Bay Culinary Center, Chef Giovanni Gaudio and his wife Sheri will be teaching a class on Italian food. Chef Gaudio is the grandson of winemakers and cooks from Piemonte and Toscano. He and his wife lead food and wine tours of Italy and, more locally, Northern California. They live in the Fairplay wine region near Placerville. You can learn more about their classes and tours at their Web site.

But in the meantime, the mouth-watering menu will be:

• Bagna Cauda: Raw Vegetables & Grissini with Warm Anchovy-Garlic Sauce
  
• Sformato di Finnochi: a Savory Fennel Flan
  
• Tajarin with Gorgonzola: Handmade Pasta made Piemontese-Style
  
• Vitello Tonnato: a Traditional Dish of Veal and Tuna
  

The class is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, October 5, at East Bay Culinary Center. But even if you can't come for the whole time, take some time for a delcious lunch. Who doesn't like a little Italian for a satisfying meal?

522 North 12th Street, just south of Richards Boulevard.
Call 440-0623 for more information.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you realize that it's already October?? How did that happen so quickly? I think I mistook September for summer and then forgot it was almost fall. In any case, two of the best food events of fall are soon upon us! Plan now to attend them both since they're thankfully on different days. Here's the deal:

Saturday, October 6, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Hoes Down Festival at Full Belly Farm, Capay Valley
This is the 20th edition of this annual festival, and last year was a gorgeous day for it. Hopefully this year will follow suit. It's $20 to get in; children 2 to 12 are $5; children under 2 are free.
If you want to camp there that night in the orchard, it's an additional $20 per car.
There are lots of activities, many geared toward teaching kids about food, such as grinding corn and making tortillas by hand. There's live music on a stage, a variety of organic food for sale, crafts to make and buy, and lots of farm animals to visit and watch (but NO dogs allowed). To learn more, visit the Hoes Down Web site and get the full schedule.

Saturday, October 13, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The 61st Armenian Food Festival, Sacramento
This yearly and very long-running festival is held at the Greek Hall, on Alhambra at F Street.
I found a great Web site last year that tells you all about Armenian food, so you can study up before you go. I'm definitely going for the lamb kabobs and lamajoon, which is a kind of Armenian pizza.
The festival is sponsored each year by the St. James Armenian Apostolic Church at 32nd and B. According to their Web site, there are more than 300 Armenian families in the Sacramento area! It's like a little United Nations around here, isn't it?

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I spend every day thinking about food: what to cook, what to write about, how to edit someone's cookbook, how to teach others to cook...and the list goes on. But there are plenty of people in the world (and some right here in Sacramento) who don't have the luxury of enough food every day. So I thought I'd highlight a local organization that is trying to reduce food insecurity in the world.

Freedom from Hunger is a non-profit organization based out of Davis. They aim to bring "sustainable and self-help solutions to the fight against hunger and poverty." The group began in 1946 as Meals for Millions and eventually evolved to offer microcredit, health, and nutrition education programs internationally. Microcredit works by providing small loans to poor women so that they can begin businesses to help them earn enough money to provide for themselves and their families. (Similarly, Dr. Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh won last year's Nobel Peace Prize for founding a bank that offers microloans to entrepreneurs. This concept of lending as little as $50 to someone who would otherwise never be able to get or even afford a regular bank loan, is extremely successful in poor countries.)

This Friday, September 28, is the 2nd annual Freedom from Hunger Day, and it has been declared an official day of awareness by the state of California. You can join others online from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to chat with FFH staff members and loan recipients who have benefited from the Freedom from Hunger programs. You could also host a viewing party for the new DVD "Ending Hunger for Good." And FFH offers a list of "10 ways you can end global hunger," including very easy suggestions like:

• Look for the "fair trade" label on foods such as chocolate and coffee (although make sure to read the recent Bee article on Starbucks first!)
  
• Skip one latte or muffin or other food treat each week and send the money instead to a charity like Freedom from Hunger that helps the hungry to help themselves
  

This isn't a guilt trip, just a chance for each of us to think more about what we have and what we can share. And maybe it will remind us to appreciate having plentiful high-quality food rather than bemoaning the price of luxuries like French chocolate (one of my favorites) or wine.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 3:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

There are bushels of food and drink events this time of year, so it's hard to pick which to go to. But two excellent choices would be the Soil Born Farm Autumn Equinox celebration and the Rhythm & Ribs Festival at Raley Field. I've been to both before and the eatin' is good. (That said, I'll miss both of them because I'm too busy with other food events. But you shouldn[t miss them!)

Oh, and here's a little trick to try for the equinox: When I was a pastry chef, we would balance uncooked eggs in the shell on their pointy ends if we got the timing right. Has anyone else ever tried this?

Soil Born Farm Urban Agriculture Project
5th Annual Fundraiser Autumn Equinox Celebration
Saturday, Sept. 22, 3000 Hurley Way, 4:30 to 8:30, $50 per person in advance from the Sacramento Co-op or Soil Born @ 486-9686.
Food and wine provided by the Waterboy, Mulvaney's, Slocum House, Bogle, Hey Mambo, and Jewel Winery, among others.
Music and a silent auction also planned. All proceeds will benefit the non-profit Urban Agriculture Project.

Rhythm & Ribs Festival
Friday through Sunday, Sept. 21 to 23, Raley Field, West Sacramento, $5/day or $10/three-day pass (or get a $5 discount coupon from Raley's and Bel Air markets)
Fri: 5 to 8 p.m.; Sat: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sun: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Belly up to the House of Ribs area with rib and barbecue vendors from around the area (costs extra).
Kid Zone for the younger set, craft vendors, and live music each day (included). Local legend Mick Martin will play at 12:30 on Sunday.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Several updates for you today:

I'll be teaching a cooking class on "Fun with Fall Vegetables" this Saturday, September 22. I'll be concentrating on those Vitamin A-rich veggies--squashes and sweet potatoes. The line-up will include Nutty Pumpkin Lasagna with Almonds and Sage, Pork Chili with Sweet Potatoes, and Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas. It's from 11 a.m. to about 2 p.m., at East Bay Restaurant Supply, 522 N. 12th St., 440-0620, $40. for the class. You'll get generous tastes of everything and I'll have my Hands-Off Cooking books available for purchase and signing.

Last week's Random Cookbook Pick (see the Book Geek Project post) was fairly uninspiring. I did make one recipe from it though--a corn cake--which was a pretty good rendition of cornbread. My husband ate the leftovers heated up with milk and molasses on top.

This week's Random Pick is yet another from my vintage and small press collection: Three Little Cookbooks in One, which is a self-published collection from the Lancaster County, PA, restaurant Miller's Smorgasbord. It's full of Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like Shoofly Pie (like pecan pie without the nuts) and Dutch Caviar (cream cheese and pepper jam). I'm much more interested in this one than the last! Maybe because I grew up near that area, or maybe because they seem to use more than salt, pepper, and cinnamon for spices.

You'll also see that I moved the cookbook listings to the left column, near the top, and have made some other sidebar changes to clean things up. Hope you find it easier to navigate.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm no great joke teller, but there's a classic Polish joke in our experience this past weekend trying to find the Polish Festival in Roseville. Whoever drew the map for the event ad was seriously living up to the Polish cliche of the dullest penny in the pond. But after several wrong turns, walking around old Roseville, and finding another event (the One Root Festival), we finally wised up and asked a postman, who pointed us in the right direction. When we finally found the Polish-American Club, it was apparent from the loud polka music that we were in the right place.

The ad claimed authentic food and folk dancing, along with a Polish butcher(!). We never found out what that meant, but $10 got us a large plate of kielbasa, pierogis, stuffed cabbage (golumpki), cucumber salad, and rye bread with butter. This isn't diet fare, but with the enthusiastic dancing we saw, it seems like you might need a bit of fat to keep you polka-ing. There were also potato pancakes (placki), which ran out quickly, Polish beer, and pastries like filled doughnuts (paczki) and crusciki, a fried dough coated in powdered sugar. (Go here to learn more about Polish cuisine.)

The best part, though, was the collection of polka CDs that had been donated by someone. They were selling for $5 each, to benefit the Scouts, and really, who can resist a polka CD? We picked up two by the excellent Texas group Brave Combo, and a classic "best of" by the Polka King himself, Frank Yankovic. You haven't lived 'til you've heard his rendition of "Who Stole the Kishka?", sung with the apparently unrelated "Weird" Al Yankovic. I added it to my growing collection of food music immediately.

So except for the disappointment of missing the Polish butcher (and I'm really curious about what he would do there), we learned a lot about Polish history from the very nice booklet that was handed out. And we got to eat Polish food, which you don't find a lot of in California, Poles not being widely known for their fine cuisine. But the next time you hear a polka, you'd be foolish not to have a beer in one hand and a juicy kielbasa in the other.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Happy Blog Day! This is the third anniversary of this online event, started to help promote less-known blogs in the Webosphere. Each blogger participating should give a list of 5 blogs that they enjoy reading, in the hopes of encouraging their readers to find new places! So here is my list of 5 interesting and unusual blogs that I enjoy:

1. David Lebovitz. Okay, so he's not exactly unknown, but this blog by a former SF-based pastry chef now "living the sweet life in Paris" is not only full of enviable food, but funny posts. It's not all chocolate (although there's plenty of that). Learn about pigeons in Paris, cute fish mongers, and what it's like to be an American foodie in Paris.

2. Dishola, a blog of reviews by the dish. That is, they take reviews from lots of people on specific dishes or food items. The only Sacramento review is for Grilled Salmon with Mango-Coconut Brown Butter Sauce at Rio City Cafe. So get on there and add some good news for the capital culinary scene!

3. Daily Tragedies written by a current Sacramento resident who uses great words like "dorktastic" to describe herself. The banner has this quote: "There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it." (Oscar Wilde)

4. Lesbian Dad is an insightful, well-written, and always entertaining blog written "by a non-biological lesbo parent who answers to the name Baba and works toward a world in which amor does indeed vincit omnia." For everyone out there with a non-traditional family (and that's a lot of us these days), you'll really enjoy this one.

5. Powell's Books blog, populated by guest blogger authors. The current author online is Laura Moriarty, who wrote The Rest of Her Life. You also get posts from the excellent "Review a Day," which is a must-read for all book addicts like myself with a never-ending list of things to be read.

To learn more about Blog Day, and who's out there blogging, visit the official Web site.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, I made the annual fair pilgimage, and I may not eat again for days. Since I'm not working at the fair this year, my husband and I had to shell out for full-price tickets, so we were trying to pack the whole thing into one afternoon. Of course, the food had to be widely sampled first and foremost. Here's a fairly inclusive account of what we ate yesterday (in order of consumption):

• one corndog with Polish sausage (better than usual coating)
• one fried peanut butter and banana sandwich (see photo above)
• one large iced coffee (note to self: powdered creamer does NOT dissolve in iced drinks)
• one fantastic smoked German sausage with grilled onions
• one medium pineapple Julius
• two small watermelon wedges
• one overpriced but delicious Margarita made with fresh peaches
• one chicken shawarma
• one funnel cake with powdered sugar and cinnamon
• at least seven bottles of water

This may not seem like a lot between two adults, but my husband ate most of it. I had already eaten brunch that morning at the Fox & Goose, so I was looking more for the icy drinks. That Margarita was pretty good, and not weak in the alcohol either! Sadly, my favorite popsicles from last year--flavored much like the Aisu pops at the Davis farmer's market--were nowhere to be found. Also gone were the pretty-good beignets, now replaced by a wood-oven pizza kitchen, which smelled good, but wasn't sampled.

This year's favorite food item was the Smokin' Sausage, handmade in Oakhurst, CA. They had a Cajun variety that looked tasty too, and if I go back, I'll definitely look that up. Non-food entertainment of choice for me was petting llamas and listening to Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, as well as some pretty good mariachi-style music.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Put this on your calendar: Opening this Saturday is the East Bay Restaurant Supply culinary center. It's a beautiful space adjacent to the well-stocked cooking supply warehouse on North 12th Street. If you haven't been there before, they sell to professionals and home cooks alike, and you can find heavy-duty sheet pans (I always have a couple of the half-sheet size for my home kitchen), a variety of silicone bakeware, and all kinds of neat kitchen gadgets.

And now they're going to be holding regular cooking classes as well. To celebrate, this Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., there will be nine cooking demos by nine local chefs as well as food samples and info. tables from food distributors and producers in the area. The schedule for the demos is:

• 8-9 a.m. Chef Ann Martin Rolke/Sacatomato: Summer fruit coffee cake, Fridge-cleaning frittata, book signing of Hands-Off Cooking
  
• 9-10 a.m. Chef Ginger Elizabeth Powers/Couture Chocolates
  
• 10-11 a.m. Chef Tim Jordan/Old Soul Bakery: Fabulous Flatbread
  
• 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Chef Oahn Nguyen/Andy Nguyen Restaurant #2: Shrimp & Pork Imperial Rolls
  
• 12-1 p.m. Chefs Dani Luzzatti and Yvette Woolston/Wine Konnection
  
• 1-2 p.m. Chef Adam Pechal/Tuli Bistro: Pizza by Tuli
  
• 2-3 p.m. Chef Michelle/Crepe Cafe: Crepes Suzette
  
• 3-4 p.m. Chef Richard Hyman/Old Arch Brewerey, Lodi: House-Made Mozzerella and Caprese Salad
  
• 4-5 p.m. Dr. Giovanni Gaudia/culinary instructor direct from Italy: Authentic Regional Italian Cooking
  

The additional information booths, with samples and demos, will include Bella Bru, Star Knife Sharpening, Ellen's Gourmet Kitchen, Cheese Works, Produce Express, Mighty Kong Muffins, Mad Dog Mesa EVOO, and many others.

It's free and open to everyone, so make sure to get there early and have breakfast with me (Chef Ann Rolke), as I make coffee cake and frittata. Then stick around to get your knives sharpened, your belly filled, and your kitchen well stocked!

East Bay Culinary Center
522 N. 12th Street (come at it from Richards Blvd., then turn south on 12th)
Saturday, August 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
440-0620

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Too bad Barry Bonds didn't hit his record-breaking home run with a zucchini bat. It would have been just in time for today's Sneak a Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch celebration! Even if you thought you were planting fewer zucchini plants this year, you probably still have a few surprisingly large squashes lurking in your garden. I swear that I check my plants every day, and then I go out and the godzilla of gourds is lurking in the underbrush for me. So I'll sneakily wait around until my neighbors are asleep and then heave one onto their porch tonight. Hee-hee! Think they'll guess who did it?

If you have just enough zucchini to enjoy yourself or you want to endear yourself to the neighbors by giving them a recipe to go with that free fruit, then try one of the following:

Heidi Swanson's 101cookbooks blog had a neat-sounding recipe for zucchini bread with crystallized ginger and curry powder.

I like to do something extremely simple but very delicious (and it uses up gobs of zucchini in one dish):

Quick Sauté of Zucchini
Recipe from The Red Cat restaurant, NYC, via the Almond Board of CA

Serves 2 to 4 as an appetizer

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 ounces sliced almonds
1 1/2 pounds zucchini, skin on, shredded (a food processor or a mandoline works well for this)
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, shaved or grated, or other hard cheese

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and sauté until golden brown. Add the zucchini and sauté for 30 seconds or until just crisp-tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mound on a plate and top with shaved cheese. Serve immediately.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Who would have thought that you'd find dinosaurs and pump organs both roaring in Lodi? The little town in the Central Valley is surprisingly full of interesting wines and odd characters. And since it's only about 40 minutes south of Sacramento, you owe it to yourself to take in some small-town charm and a sip or three of local wine.

I was scouting for an event site for a client and had a list of three locations to visit. The first was Vino Piazza in Lockeford, just east of Lodi by 8 or so miles. In a huge, old warehouse facility that used to be a big winemaking operation, there now exists an Italianate plaza with brightly painted buildings holding more than ten winery tasting rooms, a restaurant, a dinosaur skeleton, and a motherlode of minerals. One of the founders of the complex is a geologist by training, hence the artifacts. But you could spend most of a day just at this location, going from winery to winery and then settling in for a hearty Italian lunch or dinner at Gigolo's restaurant. The wineries represented include Olde Lockeford, Pasos, and Boitano Family Wines and most are open weekends only (or some Fridays), from about noon to 5. The owner of Gigolo's also runs the Country Cafe in Lockeford and apparently has a 9-foot chicken with a cowboy hat standing in her front yard. And why not?

Next up was Harmony Wynelands in Lodi, although really it was only a few miles from Vino Piazza. All the towns run together a bit down there. It is owned by Bob and Linda Hartzell. Bob used to be the president of the Grape Growers Association, and he and his wife have been running their own tasting room and visitor's center for 10 years now. You arrive down a long lane between rows of grapevines to an attractive building surrounded by flowers. From inside comes the earth-shaking sounds of a 1920s pump organ, originally housed at the Castro Theater in San Francisco. Apparently it was removed in the 50s and languished until the Hartzells bought it. The day I was there, Bob was playing thunderingly for an attentive group of retirees, a kitten gamboling around their feet. Harmony hosts many weddings and special events in their courtyard, and they sell a variety of their award-winning wines and private-label condiments like black fig vinegar and a red wine-chocolate sauce.

Continue reading "Day Trip to Lodi: Wine and Wackiness" »

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Hop to it tomato fans! There's still room at Slow Food Sacramento's Heirloom Tomato Tasting Event at the Learning Center of the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op - August 4, 4:30-7:30 p.m. $25 for Slow Food members and $30 for non-members. RSVP 455-2667 (or sign up at the Co-op Customer Service Desk).

The event benefits Sacramento County's only organic farm - Soil Born Farm Urban Agriculture Project. There will be a special presentation about Soil Born's new site along the American River - they hope to hold the event on-site next year!

The Co-op has donated the food and time of guest chefs, the ever-popular and talented Terese and Dionisio Esperas, A Healthy Kitchen.

No host wine bar featuring local and organic wines - specially paired with tomatoes!

Here's the irresistible Heirloom Tomato Tasting Menu:

1) Heirloom Tomato, fresh mozzarella and Local Olive Bruschetta

2) Grilled Artisan bread drizzled with organic local olive oil and rubbed
with garlic. Topped with a colorful assortment of heirloom tomatoes, fresh
mozzarella and Apollo olives

3) Gazpacho Duo

4) Two distinct and colorful zesty tomato gazpachos, served together-
yin/yang style- topped with avocado, wild caught-bay shrimp and cilantro.

5) Summer Heirloom Tomato Salad

6) A bountiful array of heirloom tomatoes fresh herbs, local corn and goat
cheese. Drizzled with Apollo Olive Oil and fleur de sel sea salt.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

It's still the middle of summer, but it's time already for the annual Delta Pear Fair. I never think of pears being ripe now, but every year at the State Fair, there are pears galore to sample. So this is just the beginning of the pear season and there are tons of ways to use them in recipes.

If you drive along the levee road down through the Delta, you'll see lots of pear trees on the east side. The Delta town of Courtland has become known for its annual fair, now in its 35th year. The fair is famous for its pear pie and pear fritters, and while you're there you can sample some of the great wines coming out of little wineries in the area. No need to drive all the way to Napa and pay silly tasting room prices!

According to the California Pear Advisory Board, based here in Sacramento, there are plenty of red Bartlett and Bosc pears on the market already and green Bartletts reaching their peak now. California produces 60 percent of the nation's supply of Bartletts, a variety that came to the west with settlers in the 1800s. And, did you know it's a member of the rose family?

So now that you know lots of pear facts to liven up your party conversations, hightail it down to the fair this Sunday, July 29, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. And if you stock up on pears there or at your local farmer's market, we've got a bushel of pear recipes on Sacatomato (since we started blogging during last year's pear harvest!).

Click on the Recipe tag on the left or just go straight to the posts here:
Pear-Cardamom Pie
Mache, Pear, and Avocado Salad
Pear-Cheese Tartlets with Honey and Hazelnuts
Chicken-Pear Calzones

Delta Pear Fair
Sun., July 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Courtland, off Highway 160, 20 miles south of Sacramento
Free admission; $10 parking
916-775-2000

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

A quick reminder about two upcoming cooking classes to attend:

Hands-Off Southern with Ann Martin Rolke, author of Hands-Off Cooking: Low-Supervision, High-Flavor Meals for Busy People. Tomorrow, July 21, at 1 p.m. at the Kitchen Cabinet Expo showroom. Browse the latest kitchen designs and learn what in the world Country Captain is. (Hint: it's a classic recipe from South Carolina.) Also on the menu is Mason-Dixon Cornbread. Register for $19 and get a signed copy of the cookbook as well.
9778 Business Park Drive (take Bradshaw north off of 50)
Call 364-5400 to register and for directions

Kids & Teens Summer Cooking Camp at the Sacramento Co-op
Session 1 starts Monday, July 23 and runs for a week. If your kids have seen the new movie Ratatouille, then harness that culinary curiosity and get them in the kitchen. They'll learn cooking skills, menu planning, how to use fresh produce, knife skills, measuring, kitchen math, and how to work on a team. And maybe they'll even cook for you when they get done!
Call 455-2667 for more info.
Session 2 is Aug. 6 to 10

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Real Dirt on Farmer John, a film by Taggart Siegel, follows John Peterson’s astonishing journey from Illinois farm boy to counter-culture rebel to the third generation farmer who almost lost the family farm. Today, his farm, Angelic Organics, is a beacon in the organic and biodynamic farming movements and is one of the largest CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms in the country. Peterson’s dramatic saga has its taproot in difficult economic issues facing many American farmers over the last few decades. Over-extended in debt, Peterson faced the crushing reality that he was going to have to sell off nearly all of his family’s land to pay bills. Retreating to Mexico, the soul-searching that followed led him to new, more creative ways of farming. This highly personal telling of Peterson’s story is ultimately one of redemption and healing that uplifts and inspires, leaving one’s heart wide open, while Peterson’s eccentric antics entertain throughout. I encourage you all to see it, I have watched it not once but twice and found it inspirational.

Opening Friday, July 27:
Crest Theatre
1013 K Street
Downtown Sacramento
(916) 44-CREST
www.thecrest.com

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you haven't already signed up, then be sure to check out the Learning Exchange class given by local restaurateur and author Biba Caggiano. Proprietress of Restaurant Biba in Midtown, Ms. Caggiano will be teaching at the Library Galleria in the main library at 8th and I Streets. The menu will include:

• Appetizer: Crostini with spicy scallops, garlic and sun-dried tomatoes
  
• Pasta: Spinach Ricotta gnocchi with ripe plum tomatoes, goat cheese and basil sauce
  
• Entrée: Salad of roasted pork loin, new potatoes, string beans, peas, asparagus and tomatoes with a peppery mustard dressing
  
• Dessert: Ricotta Mascarpone mousse with mixed berries and balsamic
  

The class is $69. and is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. this Friday, July 13.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sorry we've been lax lately on our Sacatomato culinary sleuthing. We've been busy eating in other towns (vacation, you know!). But now it's back to the capital cuisine beat and there are lots of upcoming food events that you should put on your calendars. Most of the food festivals have already happened for the summer, but there are classes, tastings, and a special chef event at Mulvaney's. Here's the list:

• Local cookbook author and food writer Elaine Corn will be teaching private beginner's cooking classes this September. Classes top out at 6 students, for extra personal attention. Beginners will leap to intermediate status in three weeks. That's because the smalll class size allows everyone to chop, mix, season, and cook -- hands on. In order to form this class, Elaine's giving a choice of Tuesday or Thursday evenings, starting in mid-September. Class will be set on the day most convenient for the majority.
  Choose one: Tuesday evening 6-9 pm -- Sept. 18, 25, Oct. 2 OR Thursday evening 6-9 pm -- Sept. 20, 27, Oct. 4
  Then email her with your choice and she'll get back to you on the final dates scheduled. THREE-WEEK BEGINNER SERIES
  $230, inclusive (ingredients, equipment, printed recipes, aprons and towels provided) $75 deposit due Sept. 12 Wait-listing available

• Demonstration cooking series with another local cookbook author, Ann Martin Rolke (yes, that's me!), at Kitchen Cabinet Expo, Sacramento, Rte. 50 at Bradshaw Road; demo, tasting, and book signing, $20/person or $50/all 3 classes. Each paid reservation gets you a signed copy of the book! Call 916-364-5400 for reservations:
  July 21: Hands-Off Southern, including Mason-Dixon Cornbread and Country Captain
  August 11: Hands-Off Greek, including Cucumber Salad and Medium-Rare Greek Meatloaf
  August 25: Hands-Off Indian, including Chickpea-Potato Curry and Yogurt-Dill Sauce (Raita)

• Vive la France ! A special French wine tasting, live music by the Midtown Music Makers, French cheeses and more for Bastille Day at Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op’s Community Learning Center and Cooking School, 1914 Alhambra Blvd., between S and T Streets

  Saturday, July 14, 5-7 pm; $8 per person

  Featured wines will include:
  Whites: 2005 Louis Latour Mâcon-Villages Chameroy (A lovely creamy Chardonnay from the Burgundy region); 2005 Domaine Andre Neveu Les Longues Fins Sancerre (A minerally Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley)

  Pink: 2005 Chateau de Jau “Le Jaja de Jau“ Rosé (A jaunty dry Grenache and Syrah Rose from the French Mediterranean)

  Reds: 2004 Georges DuboeufBeuajolais-Villages (A fresh and fruity Gamay from Burgundy–serve slightly chilled); 2005 Bouchard Père & Fils Burgogne (A Pinot Noir from Burgundy with ripe cherry fruit and a smooth oak finish); 2004 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône (A smoky Rhône wine that is a blend primarily of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre)

• Patrick Mulvaney Welcomes Texas Chef Tim Love for an Evening Barbecue and a Celebration of American Lamb

  You are invited to a special event on Monday, July 16, at Mulvaney's Building & Loan. The beautiful, garden patio will serve host to a family-style barbecue featuring American Lamb prepared by guest Chef Tim Love, aka "The Cowboy Chef." Chef Patrick Mulvaney has created a menu of appetizers, side dishes, and dessert to complement the succulent flavor of American Lamb. Trefethen Family Vineyards will provide perfect wine pairings.

  The barbecue begins at 6:00 p.m. with passed hors d'oeuvres. Chef Love will conduct a brief American Lamb presentation and serve dinner at 7:00 p.m. Chef Love and guest farmer, Joe Pozzi, will be on hand to answer questions regarding lamb preparation and the lamb industry.

  The event is open to the public and costs $45 per person. A discounted price of $40 is available to Slow Food members. Please contact Melinda McRae to make reservations at 916-492-5331 or melinda.mcrae@fleishman.com. Space is limited.

  The menu:

  Passed Hors D’oeurvres
  Smoked Salmon on our own Potato Chip with Crème Fraiche and Chives

  Crispy Fillo Cups filled with Summery Delights

  Family Style Dinner Service
  Ray Yeung’s Heirloom Tomatoes and Handmade Mozzarella, Basil, and Apollo Olive Oil

  Sloughhouse Corn Ravioli with Fresh Savory

  Del Rio Cherry Tomato ~ Grana Padano

  Whole Pozzi Farms Lamb Roasted on a Spit

  Smoked Belly

  Uncle Bob’s Potatoes

  Grilled Full Belly Farms Squashes

  Tuscan Salsa Verde

  Dessert
  Stone Fruit Strudels with Lavender Ice Cream

  Old Soul Coffee

  
  

  Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you know that there are more than 500 fruits and vegetables that are at risk of extinction? Slow Food USA is working hard to protect these crops, as well as hundreds of other foods and traditions. You can help too, by participating in the annual online auction. By bidding on an item you help contribute to needed funds for Slow Food USA local and national programs that protect the taste, traditions, and pleasures of food.

Slow Food Sacramento recently reorganized, with a food and wine event at the Supper Club and a farmer's market tour led by local chefs. And Slow Food Yolo has been sponsoring great events like the Village Feast (next one on Aug. 25) for several years.

There are a variety of auction items, including some from California, such as:

• Two VIP house seats to Berkeley Repertory Theater
  
• Set of signed Chez Panisse books
  
• $100 gift certificate for Niman Ranch meat
  
• Dinner for two at any Modern Mexican restaurant, including Maya in San Francisco
  

Or, bid on some items in New York, Maine, Wisconsin, or even Tuscany; try a potato of the month club, some Costa Rican coffee, or a variety of cookbooks! Start your bidding now. The auction closes on June 26.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've always wanted to go to this, but somehow I keep missing it. This year, I know ahead of time! Since 1986, the folks of Isleton in the Delta have been boiling up crawdads and dancing to bluegrass and zydeco once a year at this festival. BBQ, jambalaya, gumbo, and even alligator are also available for the authentic Louisiana experience. In fact, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, is the sister city to Isleton and offered some authentic crawdad cooking expertise when the festival was just beginning. So drive or shuttle on down to the bend in the river and bring your accordian. But keep your shirt on--this isn't Mardi Gras!

Saturday, 6/16, 9-9; Sunday, 6/17, 9-6
$5 for anyone over 12 years old
Check out the Web site for more info. on the shuttle service and directions.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Amidst the melting pot of the capital area, the Croatian American Cultural Center is a small but well-organized group. This year marks the 25th anniversary of their Extravaganza event, although the CACC has been around since 1976. With only about 100 members, they still put together several fundraisers and events each year to help promote cultural awareness. Events like this also help to preserve culture through cuisine--a benefit for those of us in the area!

In addition to a barbeque dinner, with wine, beer, and pastries, there will be children's games, dance shows, and music. Some of the listed foods for the event are grilled lamb, pork, cavapcici (beef and pork rolls), domace kobasice (smoked Croatian sausage), tortes, strudel, and traditional desserts such as ustipci, kifle, and hrstule. [Find out more about the cuisine here.]

3730 Auburn Boulevard; admission is $7 for anyone over 12 years old. Gates open at noon both Sat., June 9, and Sun., June 10. Food will be available from 1 p.m. on. On Sunday morning, there will also be a traditional Mass celebrated at 11 a.m. Visit the CACC site for directions and more info.

And now, to give you an idea of one of the dishes, here's a recipe from The World Bank Volunteer Services International Cookbook:

Cevapcici
Serves 4

1 pound ground beef sirloin
1 pound ground pork
1 egg
1/2 clove garlic, minced (about 1/2 tsp)
3 drops Tabasco sauce
3 tablespoons beef broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
Black pepper and paprika, to taste

Mix all the ingredients together and form into little sausages about 2 1/2 inches long and the thickness of your thumb. Roast them on a grill until browned, yet still pink inside. Serve with fresh bread, freshly chopped onions, and Slivowitz (Yugoslavian style).

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You are invited to join us at...

Quarry Ponds Uncorked

Featuring Placer County Wineries and local seasonal fare prepared by Pullman Kitchen.
Sip, dine and chat with our local vintners while strolling through the Market Hallway.

Sunday, June 24
4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

$30 per person
($25 for Slow Food Members)
includes a Riedel wine glass

FEATURED WINERIES
Charlie Green Family Winery  Dono dal Cielo
Fawn Ridge Winery  Mount Vernon
Ophir  Pescatore Winery
Secret Ravine Winery  Vina Castellano Winery

To make a reservation and pay by credit card
please call 916.786.5511.
To pay by check, mail check to:
Events at Quarry Ponds  5540 Douglas Blvd. Ste 110
Granite Bay, CA 95746

The Event is Sponsored by Edible Sacramento

I am really looking forward to co-hosting this event! And I hope to see all of you there!!!

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just a quick note to remind you of several foodie events this weekend:

• Sunday, June 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Filipino Fiesta 2007, Jose Rizal Community Center, 7320 Florin Mall Drive, Sacramento
  To commemorate Philippine independence, with food, fashion, singing, dancing, exhibits.
• Sunday, June 3, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  34th Annual Jewish Food Festival, Temple Israel, 5105 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton
  The oldest Jewish community west of the Rockies shares its heritage through food, music, and a silent auction. Food to include corned beef, lox and bagels, stuffed cabbage, cheesecakes, mandelbrot.
• Sat. and Sun., June 2 and 3, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  Fair Play Wine Festival, at 20 wineries in El Dorado county
  Iverson Winery, for example, will have live music and food by Rick's Custom Meats. Tickets are $35, available at any of the wineries in the association. Visit the Web site for maps and directions.
• Sunday, June 3, 1 to 3 p.m. or so
  1st Annual Sacramento Food Forums Potluck, 6777 Freehaven Drive, Sacramento
  Grilled game, banjos, and door prizes from the Waterboy, Edible Sacramento, Spoto Wines, and handsoffcooking.com (that's me!). Beer from Sac Brewing Co. There's bound to be more! Read the history of the event planning here.

  
  

  Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

[Chef Dionisio Esperas leading a class at Soil Born Farm]

Have you been meaning to brush up on your cooking skills (or learn some maybe)? Or, perhaps you have a teenager out of school for the summer and she or he needs something to keep them busy? Good cooks aren't just born knowing how to dice and sauté, they have to learn it just like any other skill. If you know how to cook, your life is much easier and more interesting: Meals are less expensive and probably healthier; you can entertain with less stress; you can learn about new cultures through making their food; you can plan ahead and know what's for dinner every night rather than going through the dinner dilemma every day. Plus, it's fun when you know how easy it can be! But my favorite thing about knowing how to cook is finding new ingredients and trying new dishes. It's much more fun than eating the same things all the time!

Upcoming Cooking Classes in the Area

El Dorado Hills Community Center, 916-333-6624
Learn Healthy Indian Cooking: Simply Dosas (June 9), Indian Lunch (July 14), Simple Snacks (Aug. 11)
more info. here

Whole Foods Market, Sacramento, 916-488-2800
A variety of demonstration and hands-on classes, including Hawaiian Style—Local Grinds, You Know Da Kine (June 7), Thai Dinner Party and Organic Wine Tasting (June 14), Indian Grilling and Chutney! (June 21)
Complete class listing here.

Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, 916-455-2667
Basic and international cuisines classes, including Seafood Basics (June 19), Gnocchi Basics (June 11); also classes specifically for kids and teens, such as Kids and Teens Summer Cooking Camp (suggested ages 9-15). Session 1: July 23-27, 9 am-12 pm; Session 2: August 6-10, 9 am-12 pm Class schedule here.

Napoli Culinary Academy, Sacramento, 916-921-9999
You can enroll as a culinary student or just sign up for individual classes. Discounts as you sign up for multiple classes. Classes include a variety of International Cuisine and Indian Cooking choices. Look for the p.m. class schedules here.

An Occasional Chocolate, Roseville, 916-390-2576
Schedule a candy-making class for a family or group at your convenience. Choose from a hand-dipped chocolates class or decorating chocolates class.
Fill out a scheduling form and get more info. here.

Masque Ristorante, El Dorado Hills, 916-933-8555
Pastry chef Ginger Elizabeth leads hands-on classes including Breakfast Pastries (June 9), Plated Desserts (July 21), Cake Decorating (August 11)
Click on "events" at the Masque Web site for more detail.

Jr. Chef Cooking Camp, South Sacramento, 916-691-4323
Weeklong cooking camp during June and August for kids 10 to 15. They learn about shopping, menu planning, nutrition, and cooking.

Davis Food Co-op, Davis, 530-758-2667
Sign up for single, 3-class, or 5-class passes. Jam On It (June 7), Sesational Salsas (June 19), Quick & Spicy Grilling with Wine (June 30)
Spring class schedule here.

A Healthy Kitchen, Sacramento area, 916-739-0659
Chefs Dionisio Esperas and Terese Hollander are well-known in the area for their classes at the Co-op and Learning Exchange. They're also available for private classes and group demos. Class titles like Thrill of the Grill and Flavorful Low-Fat are just two of many choices. Visit their Web site for their currently scheduled classes and info. on how to book a group class.

If you know of others in the area, please let us know! Sometimes the best cooking instruction is in someone's house or restaurant during the off-hours.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yes, there's the Jazz Festival this weekend, along with countless barbecues and ice cream socials (if you're lucky), on the schedule. But the event I've been looking forward to for a year now is the Punjabi American Festival. This time last spring, I wrote an article for Edible Sacramento magazine about the incredible ethnic diversity of this area. Did you know that Sutter county has a 10 percent Punjabi population? And that Punjabis have lived in that area since the late 1800s? It's amazing the things you learn when you start asking questions.

The Punjabi American Heritage Society has only been organized since 1993, but apparently Sutter county, especially, has long hosted immigrants from the north of India. Many came here seeking familiar-looking land for agricultural work. They stayed and flourished and helped to build one of the first Sikh temples in the U.S. in Stockton in 1915. There's a fascinating treatise on South Asian Pioneers in California from UC Berkeley that's worth reading.

Anyway, I'll be driving up to the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds this Sunday, the 27th, to check out the Punjabi festival from 11 a.m. to sunset. Apparently there are lots of dance and music demonstrations, craft booths, food (yep, that's the big draw for me!), and a screening of the documentary "Divided We Fall." On a U.S. tour now, the filmmakers were recently interviewed on CNN. The film deals with the murder of a Punjabi-American after September 11 and "deftly explores race, religion, and what it means to be American in times of national crisis."

Don't miss this great opportunity to learn more about another culture and our own melting pot of a culture while eating well and enjoying the beginning of summer! And if you want a preview, look at the festival newsletter for details and a recipe for Chicken Curry. You have to buy your tickets in advance ($10) by 8 p.m. tomorrow night. See the PAHS site for details.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just when it gets warm enough out to work on your garden or take a long bike ride, the food and wine events multiply like spring squirrels. This weekend there are at least three on my foodie radar and one coming up in June that you should know about as well:

Dad's 3rd Annual BFD
See the previous post. Saturday, from 2 p.m. onwards.

Lodi ZinFest
Starting tonight at 6 with fireworks, wine tastings, dinner, and music at Lodi Lake Park ($75.). Continuing Sat. from 12 to 7 p.m. ($25) with more wine, music from the Smithereens (flashback to the 80s!), restaurant tastings, crafts, cooking demos, "Blend Your Own Zin" tent. If you're still standing on Sunday, open houses at Lodi-area wineries all day. Get directions and details here.

15th Annual Pacific Rim Street Fest
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Old Sacramento; free admission. Started by legendary restaurateur Frank Fat, this festival celebrates all aspects of a wide variety of Asian cultures. Lots of food, dancing, music, and crafts. This year's overall theme is Tea, and how each culture uses this popular plant. Food vendors will include the Buddhist Church of Florin, Nishiki Sushi, and Thai Kebob BBQ. More details here.

PLAN AHEAD: You're invited to the 1st annual Sac Food Forums Potluck and Shindig!
Sunday, June 3, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
This long-anticipated event looks to be full of delicious and interesting fare, including grilled elk, venison, buffalo, pheasant, plain ol' chicken, veggie chili, lumpia (!), salads, and cupcakes. A keg, some music, and local foodies will round out the fare. RSVP now and see what's what at the Food Forums event topic.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The third annual Boil 'n' Fry Day to benefit Make-a-Wish Foundation launches at 2 p.m. this Saturday, May 19, in the Dad's parking lot. Crawfish, hot wings, and local beer will be available aplenty for $20 all you can eat (in advance) or $25 (at the door). If you're not eating, the tickets are $10 for all the music you can hear. There will be local groups, including Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, Johnny Dilks and the Country Soul Brothers, Hellbound Glory, Shelby Cobra, and many more. Raffles prizes and hillbilly games will take place as well as a dunk tank! [or is that drunk tank??]

It should be a fun, sunny, and delicious time and 100% of the net proceeds will go to Make-a-Wish. You hardly need any other reason to hightail it to Dad's on Saturday. Buy your tickets there or at Brown Paper Tickets.

Dad's
1310 S Street, Sacramento
916-448-DADS or

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Saturday, May 19, 2007
12:30 – 4:00 pm
Picnic at 1 p.m. Ranch tour at 3 p.m.
Fred and Alice Manas’ Double Bar O Angus Ranch
25838 County Road 21 A
Esparto, CA
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.slowfoodyolo.com

Slow Food Yolo has purchased a grass-fed and grain-finished Angus steer from Esparto rancher Fred Manas. The 21-day, dry-aged beef from our steer will be divided up into 10 lbs/per ticket of flash-frozen, vacuum packed 2-lb. lean portions to take home. We will serve Manas Angus hamburgers, hot off the grill, with side dishes from Slow Food members and guests.
In Slow Food Yolo style, bring your picnic hamper with place settings, napkins, silverware, drinking glass and drinks. We'll provide water, you provide your own favorite beverage. Please also bring an appetizer, a salad, a side dish or a dessert to share pot luck.
After lunch at the ranch, we’ll tour the Manas Ranch with Fred. Afterward, you will pick up the hamburger you ordered. Remember to bring a cooler with blue ice to keep your meat frozen!
$55 ticket for two people - Slow Food members
$65 ticket for two people - Non-Slow Food members
Ticket price includes ranch tour, hamburgers for two at lunch and 10 lbs. beef.
Sponsored in collaboration with Capay Valley Grown. The Davis Food Co-op is a 2007 Slow Food Yolo Sponsor

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Why are there suddenly so many food events when we're starting to bare our winter-pale bodies? Blame it on the need to get out of the house and enjoy the bounty of warmer weather. The only solution is to bike from one event to another. So put your helmet on and sprint to:

Dining Out For Life
Sacramento CARES (Center for AIDS Research, Education, and Services) is hosting the local portion of this nationwide event. Participating restaurants, including Bella Bru, 58 Degrees, Ernesto's, and Mulvaney's, will donate 25% of the earnings from tomorrow's (Thursday 4/26) receipts. Find a generous business near you for an extra-good reason to eat out.

Stockton Asparagus Festival
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 to 7
Two years ago, I tasted an asparita there (that would be an asparagus-flavored margarita). How can you miss that? See more on our previous post.

A Day on the Farm
This Saturday, April 28, at Soil Born Farm, a genuine urban farm on Hurley Way in Sacramento. Organic plant sale, outdoor cooking class, organic lunch, children's activities and more! From 10 to 4. You can also help with planting, weeding, seeding, and cleaning, a great way to get kids (and yourself?) familiar with growing organic food. Call 486-9686 for more information.

South American Chocolate Tasting
Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 at Old Soul Company, 1716 L Street (down the alley). Chef Ginger Elizabeth (who makes those fantastic caramels), will be leading this class and tasting. $39, call 443-7685 for more information.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

THIS SUNDAY,
APRIL 22 at SACRAMENTO'S EARTH DAY CELEBRATION!
Come celebrate the things we love about Sacramento
as we work together to cultivate a sustainable future!

Event Highlights:
• many local acts, artisans and peformers
• over 125 booths and displays (info, demos, arts, crafts)
• yummy food and local organic farmers
• hands-on activities for all ages
• wildlife presentations
• healing arts interactive area and stage
• walk the beautiful Earth Day labyrinth
• free valet bike parking (courtesy of SABA)
• e-waste collection (courtesy of HMR, batteries, cell phones,
ink cartridges, etc.)
• a sustainable vision for Sacramento!

Entertainment:Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers (a local legend), Sacramento's hip hop collective Tribe of Levi, Santana-inspired Sacraed Fire, jazz and pop Grace Woods Trio, local favorite Lisa Phenix, and belly-dancing collective Red Tent!

Important resources and information for sustainable living throughout the year, delicious foods from local eateries, farmers, and the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop, an amazing wildlife exhibit, and a beautiful labyrinth!

Also interactive demonstrations of healing arts such as massage, tai chi, reiki and other forms of body work, fun children's activities, and much, much more!

Volunteers needed for many areas. Set-up 7-11 am. Hands-on activities 11-2, and 2-5. Clean-up 5-7 pm. Please check-in at the volunteer table near the info booth. Thank you!

Earth Day brings together diverse individuals and organizations from around the Sacramento area to celebrate our shared passion of creating a sustainable society

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 8:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Date: Always the last full weekend of April.

Time: Friday, April 27, 2007 10am - 7pm
Saturday, April 28, 2007 10am - 7pm
Sunday, April 29, 2007 10am - 7pm

Where: Downtown Stockton, CA

Cost: Ages 10 and Under: FREE
Teens ages 11-17: $5.00
Adults: $10.00
Seniors: $5.00

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New dates,New times!

April 20, 2007 - 5:00pm to 9:00pm

April 21, 2007 - 10:00am to 7:00pm

April 22, 2007 - 10:00am to 4:00pm

Placer County Fairgrounds
800 All America City Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95678

Placer County Strawberry Festival

Festival Admission Gates And Parking Lots Close

ONE HOUR PRIOR To The Festival Closing.

Please Arrive Early For The Featured Entertainment.

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I know that you all make your weekly trek to the farmers market and I applaud you. But if you are one of the very few who do not make it a part of your weekly regime then this should make it a bit easier.

DOWNTOWN-CERTIFIED FARMERS’ MARKETS COMING IN MAY
Local growers to featuring fresh fruits and vegetables at the peak of their season

SACRAMENTO, CA (April 10, 2007)—May 1 through October 31, come to the Downtown Sacramento Certified Farmers’ Markets, and select the finest fruits, vegetables, baked goods, flowers, herbs, and cheeses. Come and support local growers, and enjoy the metropolitan atmosphere of Downtown Sacramento.

Downtown Farmers Markets | 10 am- 2pm
Tuesdays: Roosevelt Park 10th & P streets | Fremont Park 15th & P streets
Wednesday: Cesar Chavez Plaza 10th & J streets
Thursday: Downtown Plaza 4th & K streets

The markets offer patrons a chance to come face to face with their food source. The Farmers’ Markets are a wonderful break from the ordinary grocery store. They offer the freshest California grown seasonal favorites from asparagus in the spring to apples in the fall.

“You get to buy directly from the grower, and only fresh, vine ripened fruits and vegetables will be offered to customers,” said Dan Best coordinator for Certified Farmers’ Markets. “Customers don’t have to wonder where the food comes from anymore, because now they have the chance to meet and greet the local growers.”

From business professionals to students, the Farmers’ Markets offer a great chance to get outside and enjoy fresh locally grown produce. “You get a chance to get out of the four walls and fluorescent lights of your cubicle, and get out in the sun,” said Best.

So don't make me give you reason number 5,646 because you know I will!!!

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 5:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

2ND ANNUAL
All proceeds will be used to help develop the 25-acre
American River farm site.
Create the garden of your dreams by selecting from a
host of organic vegetable, herb and flower starts. Imagine
picking your favorite heirloom tomatoes for your dinner
salad or cutting a beautiful sunflower for a table bouquet.
Organic starts are hard to fi nd so take advantage of the
day and come to the farm early for the best selection.
Vegetables Heirloom and Cherry Tomatoes, Eggplant, Peppers,
Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Cucumbers, Melons,
Kale, Collard Greens, Arugula, Pumpkins, Lettuce
Flowers Sunflowers, Zinnias, Morning Glories, Nasturtiums
Herbs Basil, Parsley, Dill, Cilantro
Outdoor Cooking 11am
Warm weather is almost here and it will be perfect for
grilling and stir-frying vegetables fresh from the garden.
Join Dionisio Esperas, grill-master and co-owner of A
Healthy Kitchen for an outdoor class that will really sizzle!
Garden Bed Prep 10 am and 1pm
Learn how to transition your land from a winter of weeds
to a seed bed of deep fertile soil. Shawn Harrison and
Marco Franciosa, co-founders of Soil Born Farm will lead a
workshop on basic bed preparation. They will give examples
of different techniques, including double digging, single
digging, sheet mulching and conservation or no-till systems.
The workshop will also include a discussion on compost
applications and supplemental fertility.
Farm Tours 10 am and 1pm
Tour Soil Born Farm with one of the farmers of the project
and hear the unlikely story of how a small piece of urban
land was transformed into a certifi ed organic farm and education
center. You’ll get a sense of how organic agriculture
works with nature to create a balanced system without the
need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

3000 Hurley Way, Sacramento l More info: 486-9686
Between Fulton and Watt Ave. Parking at Jonas Salk High Tech Academy

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Work , Learn, Eat & Celebrate!
Saturday, April 28 l 10am– 4 pm l Free
3000 Hurley Way, Sacramento l More info: 486-9686
Between Fulton and Watt Ave. Parking at Jonas Salk High Tech Academy
The day’s events at Soil Born Farm include:
Community Learning
Education Tables Hosted by:
Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition,
a local group working to bring more community and
school gardens to the Sacramento area.
Edible Sacramento,
the magazine that celebrates the
harvest of the Sacramento Valley. Building ties between farmers, winemakers, food artisans and the rest of our community.
Green Sacramento,
specializing in green building and
design products including paint, fl ooring, beds and more.
Sacramento Hunger Coalition
which surrounds low-income housing with food-producing landscaping to
improve access to food that is affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate.
Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op,
a trusted source of natural foods and products and a reliable resource for
consumer information since 1973. Organic Sacramento, promoting regional collaboration
between farmers, consumers and businesses in encouraging organic, locally grown, and sustainable food systems. Jonas Salk Garden Leadership Club, a youth leadership
program of the SBFUAP dedicated to empowering youth with life skills and community service.

Soil Born Farm
Urban Agriculture Project
Sponsored by:
1900 Alhambra Blvd.
916 455.2667
Hours 7am–10pm
www.sacfoodcoop.com

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association is holding a special wine tasting as part of their national tour this Thursday, March 29th at the Hyatt Regency.

Tickets are $45.00 for the consumer tasting and can be purchased at 831.375.9400

Participating Wineries

Wineries that will be featured on the 2007 National Tour include:
Arroyo Seco Vineyards · Bernardus Vineyards and Winery · Blackstone Winery · Carmel Road Winery · De Tiera Vineyards · Estancia · Hahn Estates / Smith & Hook Winery · J Lohr Vineyards and Wines · Jekel Vineyards · Lockwood Vineyard & Winery · Manzoni Estate Vineyard · Marilyn Remark Winery · Meador Estate · Michaud Vineyard · Paraiso Vineyards · Pessagno Winery · Riboli Family Wine Estates · San Saba Vineyards · Scheid Vineyards · Tamas Estates · Ventana Vineyards · Wente Vineyards

-----------------------------------------------------

Location and Facility Description

Hyatt Regency Sacramento

------------------------------------------------------

Contact Details

Address
Hyatt Regency Sacramento
At Capitol Park
1209 L. Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Website
http://www.sacramento.hyatt.com

--------------------------------------------------

Time

Trade / Media
2:00pm – 5:00pm

Consumer
6:00pm – 9:00pm

----------------------------------------------------

Co-Sponsors

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Cure Breast Cancer, Inc.
and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers.

--------------------------------------------------------

Reservations

Call:
831.375.9400

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sacramento Slow Food is coming back in a big way! The organization has been on a temporary hiatus but is coming back with a bang with a multitude of wonderful events. Here is the SAVE THE DATE information for our spring event. I truly hope to see each and every one of you in attendance. Actually I think the limit is 60 persons so I hope to see at least that many of you.

SAVE THE DATE!

APRIL 29, 2007

SACRAMENTO SLOW FOOD CONVIVIUM
PRESENTS

SLOW BITES

A MIXER FOR SLOW FOOD MEMBERS AND GUESTS

AT THE SUPPER CLUB
hosted by chef/owner Matt Woolston
$30 (without wine)/$40 (with wine)

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW

for more information about Slow Food:
Slow Food USA
About Slow Food

for information about the Supper Club:
Supper Club

If you are interested in attending this event, please RSVP to the following email address.

SlowfoodSacto@ comcast.net

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, there are official days for everything from trivia to trees, so why not a day to celebrate that fabulous animal, the pig? Ever since 1972 (who knew?), March 1st has been National Pig Day to honor those smarter-than-you-think animals. And since this is the Year of the Pig (or Boar) on the Chinese calendar, then it's a double-special day.

How can you celebrate?

• watch the movies "Babe" or "Charlotte's Web"
  
• go to the Sacramento Zoo
  
• wear pink and eat nothing but pork all day
  
• read Peter Kaminsky's book Pig Perfect : Encounters with Remarkable Swine and Some Great Ways to Cook Them or Sy Montgomery's book The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood
  
• go to the Davis Farmer's Market this Saturday for their Pig Day celebration and buy some organic Bledsoe pork, or just pet some baby pigs and look for the great iron pig cut-outs for your garden
  

While they are quite delicious, pigs are often overlooked for their high level of intelligence. Some experts place them just after humans, primates, and dolphins on the scale of smarts. John Bledsoe attests to that in his experience raising them. He equates his pigs with humans in temperament, saying, "If you're nice to the pigs and don't hurt them, they're not afraid of you." Seems common sense, and the United Pet Pig Registry says of training them, "You are now working with a tough little animal that thinks a lot higher of himself from the very beginning. And he was blessed with intelligence."

Oh--and did you know that pigs don't sweat? That's why they like to roll in mud; it keeps them cool.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you been feeling woefully undereducated every time you go to a restaurant or winery? Do you want to know what people mean when they talk about bouquet and legs on a wine? Well starting March 13, Donal Smith of the legendary wine department at Corti Brothers will teach a three-session wine appreciation class.

Normally offered through the Learning Exchange, this series will be held at Evan's Kitchen restaurant, where you'll also get to taste hors d'oeuvres with the wines and discuss how they work together. The class will include:

• Tasting wine in a step-by-step format
  
• Identifying major grape varietietals and their traits
  
• Learning how to use the Davis scale wine evaluation chart
  
• How to buy wines at the price that works for you
  
• Discussing wine growing regions
  
• Learning how to open bottles with different cork pullers
  
• Suggested pairings of wine and food
  
• Learning how wine is made, including a visit by a special winemaker guest
  

So make sure to sign up, because they need at least 25 students to hold the class as scheduled. The dates are:

Tuesdays, March 13, 20, and 27, 7:30 p.m.
at Evan's Kitchen, 855 57th Street (in the Antique Mall)

Call Donal Smith to register, at 203-4641 or donalswines@yahoo.com

$85 plus $5 materials fee to: Corti Bros., Donal Smith/Wine Dept., 5810 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, 95819

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

You say potato, I say yam. So which is it? Tomorrow at the 18th annual Sweet Potato Festival, you can quiz the cooks and pie makers and see what they say. But most likely, you'll be tasting goodies made of an orange-fleshed tuber that may be called either a sweet potato OR a yam, even though those plants are not botanically related (nor are either related to potatoes). Confused yet? Well, in the photo above, the orange tuber was labeled "yam" and the white one "sweet potato" at the market. (Not helping, right?)

Here's some clarification: Both sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) and yams (Dioscorea) originated in the New World and were carried to Europe and Africa by early explorers. True yams are not usually sweet, but more starchy, and the word "yam" came from the West African word for these tubers: inhame. But when West Africans were brought to the southern U.S. as slaves, they called the similar looking sweet potatoes by the same name, so that we now have many people calling true sweet potatoes "yams."

Outside of the U.S. (like in many Latin American countries), however, "sweet potatoes" are in fact yams--that is, less sweet and starchier than what we usually eat here OR they're actually Dioscorea varieties. This is not getting less confusing, is it?

Well, whatever you choose to call the tubers you find in various markets, they can be a variety of colors and a range of sweetnesses. The commonly available Beauregard or Garnet yams are true sweet potatoes, and that's most likely what will be used in recipes at the Sweet Potato Festival. California grows a lot of sweet potatoes, mostly in Merced, Fresno, and Stanislaus counties, although they are grown in this area as well. A great site from Nakashima Farms in Livingston has some helpful detail and photos on the varieties that they grow.

So look up Elizabeth Schneider's well-researched book Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini for a bit more scientific and photographic detail if you're interested. And by all means, do some eating research at the festival sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Sacramento Valley Section. In addition to a pie contest, you'll find music, other foods, and crafts. And it's FREE to get in.

Pannell-Meadowview Community Center
2450 Meadowview Road (at 24th St.; take Mack Rd. exit from 99S)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
491-6850

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

This Saturday night, the Old Sacramento Business Association will host their Waterfront Crabfest from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The benefit for the marketing and programs for the association will take place at the California State Railroad Museum at 2nd and I Streets .

This year’s feast will include hot crab, pasta, salad, and fresh bread. A no-host bar with beer, wine, and soft drinks will also be available. The event will feature a silent auction, a live auction led by DSP Executive Director Michael Ault, dance lessons, a chef demo, and music performed by Sacramento’s own Betty and the Boomers.

This is the 3rd year that the OSBA has hosted the event, although it was held under a different name for a few years previously.

Tickets are $50/person or $450/table of 10
916-445-3054 or 445-3102 for more information

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:42 PM | Permalink

The Lunar New Year is almost here, and we'll be keeping our ears open for a variety of events in the Asian community. The Year of the Boar (or Pig) doesn't start until February 10, but you can get a jump on the celebration this weekend.

This Saturday at Sac State University, the Chinese New Year Culture Association is throwing an advance new year bash. There will be traditional lion dances (with the big dragon-headed puppets), martial arts demos, a wide variety of musical acts, and undoubtedly, food.

The event will be held 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the University Union, 6000 J Street; admission is $1 for children under 12 and $5 for adults. You can get more info. and directions from the Chinese New Year Culture Assn. site.

Also planned is the Asian Resources Center 27th annual Lunar New Year Dinner, on February 22nd. It will be held at King Palace Seafood restaurant on Stockton Boulevard. Five hundred community leaders, business owners, and public officials are expected to attend. Contact Stephanie at 916.919.5902 for sponsorship or dinner tickets.

Look for more coming soon on traditional foods and customs of the various Asian new year celebrations!

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citrus Nursery Visit and Citrus Tasting
February 10, 2007

Join Slow Food Yolo on a private tour and tasting at Four Winds Growers, a wholesale citrus nursery tucked in the hills behind Winters. Mary Helen Seeger, co-owner, and great granddaughter of the founder of Four Winds Nursery, based in Fremont, will be leading the
tour. You will visit the citrus orchards, with their full-grown trees, the extensive green houses, and outdoor growing areas, while Mary Helen explains about nursery production, and the characteristics of the different citrus.

The tour will be followed by a tasting of the many citrus that are in season, including the Indigo kumquat and mandarin cross, a pale pink lemon, and blood oranges.

Please bring a clipboard for the information sheet Mary Helen will give you, including where to buy the trees locally, and to take notes on the trees and the tasting.

The group will be meeting at a designated spot near the nursery at 9:30 AM to carpool up the hill, leaving at 9:45 AM.

It is a wholesale nursery, so unfortunately, you will not be able to purchase trees directly from Four Winds Growers.

After the tour, you might want to sample some of downtown Winters restaurants for lunch, such as Ficelle's, Putah Creek Cafe, Steady Eddy's, Cody's Deli, Chuy's Taqueria, or El Pueblo Tacqueria.

Cost: $10.00 for Slow Food Members, $15.00 for non-members.

To reserve, please mail checks to: Slow Food Yolo c/o 1436 Pinnacles Street Davis, CA 95616 or visit their Web site for more information.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

For the first time, the annual PlacerGROWN Farm Conference will offer workshops of interest to the general community. The workshop strand titled “Eat Local! Connecting with Your Local Food System” will offer four sessions that will inform and inspire eaters to get to know their local producers and get connected with the bounty of fabulous food grown in Placer County and the surrounding region. The presentations will offer information on the nutritional benefits of a local seasonal diet, cooking tips and sources of fresh, local, in-season produce, meat, wine and value-added products.

Jessica Prentice, professional chef, food activist, speaker and author will present “Food and the Hunger Connection”. In this workshop she will discuss her book Full Moon Feast and the themes it focuses on namely bringing food back into the context of relationship: to the earth, to place, to each other, and to our history and ancestors. Signed copies of her book will be available for sale during the conference.

Jessica is also a cofounder of Locavores and the Eat Local Challenge, groups of local food activists groups that have challenged people from the San Francisco Bay area and all over the world to eat within a 100 mile radius of their home for the month of August. In 2006 the challenge was extended to the month of May.

Continue reading "PlacerGROWN Farm Conference - Not just for Farmers Anymore" »

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Davis Food-Coop is hosting a wine tasting to benefit the Good Humus Farm Preservation Project this Friday January 19th from 6pm-8pm.

They will be tasting through the Zins of California

Cline Zinfandel
Jewel Zinfandel
Perry Creek Zin Man
Kunde Estate Zinfandel
Sobon Estate "Fiddletown" Zinfandel
Rosenblum Paso Robles Zinfandel
Rosenblum Aparicio Zinfandel
Rosenblum Zinfandel Port

$1.00 per taste - all proceeds benefit the Equity Trust for the Good Humus Farm Preservation Project

I really hope to see you all there!
Davis Food Co-op is located at 620 G Street - Downtown Davis
530.258.2667
www.davisfood.coop

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At its Jan. 2, 2007, meeting, the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op Board of Directors voted to assign the lease for the Co-op's Elk Grove store to Grocery Outlet, pending final negotiations of transfer. This will result in the closing of the Co-op's Elk Grove store at the end of January.

This beautiful 20,000-foot store designed to be energy efficient and use sustainable building materials, has unfortunately not been able to draw the amount of business they need to stay open. They have 13 years left on their lease, though, so they have looked for a business to take over the full lease so that the Sacramento Co-op can continue to survive.

In a rapidly growing area, with what seems to be an increased concern in the source and healthiness of our food supply, why did the Elk Grove store not succeed? Perhaps people thought that they had to be members to shop there? I'm embarrassed to admit that I never went there because I'm closer to the Sacramento location (where I am, in fact, a member). So I feel especially sad that this beautiful and well-thought-out business is not going to make it. I missed my chance--did you too?

Co-op owners and shoppers are invited to attend two meetings in the Co-op's Community Learning Centers to learn more about this decision and its impact on the Co-op. The meetings will be held on:

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 6:30-8:30 pm, Elk Grove
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 6:30-8:30 pm, Sacramento
Saturday, Jan. 13, 1:30-3:30 pm, Elk Grove

Paul Cultrera, General Manager, wrote in his announcement:
We opened the Elk Grove store with great hopes and enthusiasm, having built a beautiful space whose green design features incorporated our commitment to environmental responsibility. Since its opening, the store provided employment for nearly 100 people, and brought nourishing foods to thousands of area residents. Our Community Learning Center classes and weekly Music in The Market events gave people a great place to socialize and learn. The list of community groups, schools, churches, health care providers and events that our Marketing Team made contact with or participated in runs on for pages and pages. We trust that the work we did in the Elk Grove community will carry over for a long time among the many folks there who got our message. The store’s closing is a sad event and a cause for regrets for what it could have been. Fortunately though, we have been given an opportunity to move on from this venture, to regain our footing and to continue to offer from our Sacramento store the variety of locally grown, organic and natural foods that people have always looked to us for over the
years.

Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
8517 Bond Rd.
Elk Grove

Store Hours:
Open Daily to Everyone
Elk Grove: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
916-714-7100

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What a deal! If you've been wanting to try some of the great restaurants in downtown, make plans now to join the Dine Downtown Restaurant Week. From this Saturday, the 13th, through next Friday, the 19th, participating restaurants will be offering three-course prix fixe menus for $30 a person.

Mason's offering includes Baby Valley Greens with a red wine vinaigrette, Wild Tazamian Salmon with wilted spinach and brown butter, and Valrhona Molten Chocolate Cake. Yum! Gaylord India will offer vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus, including first courses of either soup, tandoori chicken, seekh kabab, and chicken tikka masala OR tomato soup, mixed vegetable pakora, and pappadum (plus entrees and dessert).

Participating restaurants are:
4th Street Grille
58º & Holding
Brew it Up!
Chanterelle
Chops
Dawson's at the Hyatt
Esquire Grill
Gaylord India
Kru
Mason's
Michelangelo's
Morgan's at the Sheraton
Restaurant 55º
Rio City Cafe
Sakura
Sofia Restaurant
Spataro

Visit the Downtown Sacramento Partnership page to download sample menus, get a map of participating restaurants, and possibly win a gift certificate for the dining event.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you heard of Hands On Sacramento? It's a great online organization that lists volunteer opportunities all around our area. You can search by type of activity, type of beneficiary (kids, animals, homeless), and area of activity (downtown, north Sac, etc.).

On Tuesday, I volunteered to teach a kids' cooking class at Skylab on the old McClellan Air Force Base. Skylab is part of Cottage Housing Industries, which helps formerly homeless families gain skills and stability to move forward in their lives. They run a great program for the children there with all kinds of activities and events. Once a month, they have Let's Cook, a class for about 12 kids, where they get to help with the cooking and learn some new skills. Then they get to eat what they saw made (or a premade version of it!). It was a fun way to expose eager children to the fun of cooking and they got an immediate reward--tasty food and copies of the recipes.

You can also sign up for other food-related events like serving lunch at Loaves & Fishes, making brown bag lunches for the Sacramento Food Bank, or even teaching people how to use a solar cooker! It's a great way to sign up to help in the community and really match your interests and skills to people who need them. Of course, there are lots of non-food activities too, so find your niche and get your hands on some projects.

Hands On Sacramento

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you heard of the Small Planet Fund? Being that it is the time of giving and thanks, I feel it is important to let you know that they are now in the throes of an online fundraising event that will not only enable you to bid but win on wonderful prizes. It also gives your the opportunity to give back to a group that is doing so much for our planet, local traditions, and mankind. Founded by authors Anna Lappé and Frances Moore Lappé (Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet), the Fund supports courageous movements bringing to life on-the-ground, citizen-led solutions to hunger, poverty, and environmental devastation around the world. The volunteer-run Fund raises money from individual donations, book sales, and fundraising events.The auction started on the 5th and runs through the 15th so don't delay in getting a holiday gift for someone special--one that really does make a difference! Here is a link to their current auction.....Small Planet Fund Online Auction

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Local food blogger Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes referred her friend Alejandro to us to help him GIVE AWAY 800 bottles of olive oil. Yep, a holiday present for you or someone else and all you have to do is pay the shipping. Now this isn't a local food item, but we thought you might like the opportunity to sample a selection of four oils that you can taste against each other. (And Alejandro did used to live in San Francisco, so he was semi-local.) The boxes that Alejandro is giving away contain four 100-milliliter bottles: 1 each from Italy, Spain, Greece, and California (Central Coast). They have different flavor profiles, such as grassy, fruity, or peppery. This is a neat chance to learn more about the differences in olive oils.

Their site says, "We take great pains to baby these oils on their journey from their origins to your kitchen. We fanatically protect our oils from heat and light--two major threats to the quality of extra-virgin olive oils--and we never sell to stores for fear that our product will not be treated with sufficient care."

So go to the special Alejandro & Martin page that's been set up for you lucky readers and click away. (Each person is limited to 10 boxes, so don't get too greedy.) And while you're there, look at the Olive Oil of the Month Club and other oils that you can try. Perfect ideas for holiday gifts!

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

The 100-Mile Diet is a site started by Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon in Vancouver. They decided to try to only eat food produced within 100 miles of their apartment. They had some challenges, like how to eat bread without any local wheat, but eventually relaxed the rules a bit to allow for locally milled wheat (although it wasn't grown locally). In any case, lots of people took them up on the challenge, and some even limited the scope to within 50 miles!

Now, this idea is somewhat controversial, especially with people who live in parts of the country (read: almost everywhere else) that don't have year-round farming. If you're interested in exploring some other points of view on the eat local issue, visit the great post (and comments) on Michael Ruhlman's site.

But, for us extremely lucky Central Valley Californians, now there's a 100-Mile Thanksgiving Challenge going, and the 100-Mile Diet site will show you the 100-mile radius from your home address. You can also sign up for email alerts on the local food movement. So I started thinking: What could we eat for Thanksgiving that was produced within 100 miles? Here's what's on my proposed menu, with some explanations and sources:

The Turkey I've ordered a Branigan free-range turkey from Taylor's Market. Branigan's farm is in Woodland, and they grow their birds a bit longer than usual, to acquire more flavor. Their site lists other stores that carry their birds. Diestel Turkey Ranch in Sonora is another local choice. Their turkeys are sold at the Sacramento Co-op.

The Vegetables Whether you prefer white potatoes or yams, beets or glazed carrots, you can find a farmer who grows these locally by visiting the Davis Farmers Market site. If you like the classic green bean casserole, then you're out of luck, since they're out of season right now. Although you might look for canned green beans from a local farm if you have to have them. That still counts! You can also search the PlacerGrown site for local producers.

The Rolls and Butter Did you know that California's wheat flour milling is the second largest in the U.S.? A trip to the Sac Co-op found bulk all-purpose and pastry flours from Giusto's in South San Francisco. They mill organically grown wheat from the western U.S., so there's no guarantee it's from within 100 miles of you, but pretty close. You could also buy some locally made breads from the farmer's market. As for butter, we've got lots of dairys nearby. Both Straus and Clover Stornetta are brands that are produced within 100 miles. For something a little different, try Meyenberg goat butter from Turlock.

The Stuffing If you're baking rolls for dinner, then you can bake extra and make them into the stuffing. Or, you might consider a rice stuffing, using Lundberg rice, dried fruit, onions, and fresh herbs. Or, go the Southern route and make a cornbread stuffing with nuggets of locally made sausage from the Elk Grove Sacramento Co-op or Diestel.

The Cranberries Now, this is a real challenge. We just don't grow cranberries in California. So, a little flexibility is required. How about making a fig chutney or a blueberry sauce instead? When I was in Costa Rica one Thanksgiving, they served blackberry sauce with the turkey and it was delicious!

The Salad This is easy. There are a multitude of local farmers who have salad greens. Arugula is fresh this time of year, and can be tossed with slices of persimmon and onion. Dress it with a vinaigrette made with Bariani olive oil.

The Pie Since we do have local wheat (yay!), we can have pie. I'm a fan of butter and shortening or lard in my crust. Lard is more likely local, and you can fill the pie with Courtland pears for a pear-cardamom pie or local apples, pumpkin, or even pecans (although walnuts are a good choice too).

The Wine Lots of choices here, since there are thousands of acres of wine grapes within 100 miles. For really local flavor, try Clarksburg's Bogle Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc or Lodi's Michael David Vineyards wines. Or look for Amador County wines. Your choices are wide ranging.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Hey its that time of year again for one of my favorite fall activities. The 13th annual Mountain Mandarin Festival is this weekend and if you don't have plans this is the perfect way to spend a crisp fall day. The festival is on both Saturday (9-5pm) and Sunday (9-4pm)

Here is the link for directions to the event Mandarin Festival Directions"

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And what do food people do when they meet? They eat lots of yummy food and drink some delcious wines! Garrett of Vanilla Garlic brilliantly hosted a potluck for the area food bloggers this past Saturday so that we could meet. Many of us email each other and fanatically read each other's posts, but haven't actually met. So we had lots of fun trying to place faces with Web sites and photographing each other's food.

Like other foodie events I've been to, everyone brought something to represent their cooking style and present their best flavors. But unlike chef gatherings, we all had to whip out our digital cameras and get postable images of all the goodies (and each other). I didn't get all of the great dishes, but Cakegrrl got some great ones. Some of my favorite dishes (and decent photos) from the event are:

Fethiye's feta-stuffed rolls

Brendon's blackened spice-rubbed pork tenderloin

Melly and Dave's Buccaneer Chicken (the recipe for this and some of the other dishes)

Garett's Earl Grey and Murcott orange cupcakes

I took my favorite pear-cardamom pie from my friend Susan Purdy's fantastic book As Easy As Pie. See above for the recipe or click here.

*Jennifer* here...just wanting to add in a huge thanks for being included. It was a great honor to meet all the local food bloggers that are certainly keeping it real and exposing us to new wonderful recipes and restaurant reviews. Everyone was so kind and the food was really a treat!

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

An article in today's SacBee announced the reopening of the Florin Ceritified Farmer's Market on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon. It reminded me to add a link to Sacatomato on where and when to find our regional farmer's markets (under Farmer's Markets in the right column). We're lucky that our relatively mild weather allows for markets year-round! Go to a few different ones—you'll see a wide variety in the people from one to the other. I like to go to the Asian market on Sunday mornings at 5th and Broadway on my way to the under-the-freeway market at 6th and X. But I also like the fancier Davis market on Saturdays, with hot food for sale, musicians, and crafts (check out Nina & Tom Family Fashions for cute produce-themed t-shirts).

Don't be shy about asking farmers how to cook something you're not familiar with. Sometimes I buy things just because I've never tried it before and then I figure out what to do! Of course, a few hundred cookbooks in my reference library helps. A couple of my favorites for produce recipes are Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini: The Essential Reference and Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America's Farmers' Marketsby Deborah Madison (sister of Yolo farmer Michael Madison—author of Blithe Tomato).

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This Saturday in Oregon House (north of Grass Valley and Yuba City), make plans to attend the North Yuba Harvest Festival of food, wine, olive oil, and the arts. There will be newly pressed olive oil from Apollo Olive Oil (2006 Gold Medal winner at the LA County Fair and World's Top Ten olive oil by the I Maestri Oleari, one of the most prestigious olive oil panels in the world!).

You'll also find gourmet food from area restaurants, children's events, crafts, and live music. Tour of local wineries and the olive mill are also planned. The only hitch is that this is reservation only, but it's FREE!

Saturday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
800-655-3277 for information and reservations

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was at the “Food to Grow on Event” in McKinley Park this past Sunday. The event was put on by One Village, which is a collaborative of community groups that have come together to develop 12-18 months of programs geared toward families with young children. The event itself was very nice and I am always struck by how cool McKinley Park is and dream of living somewhere in the vicinity someday. Anyhow, of all the interesting booths that were there, there were two that really stood out. One was a Greek restaurant by the name of Opa Opa (located at 5644 J Street tel. 916-451.4000) which had the most unbelievable falafel and lamb meatballs. I was hungry (I am always hungry), but trust me the falafel was a stand out and if it tasted this good at an event I can only imagine how good it is at the restaurant. I was also informed that adjacent to the restaurant they have a sweet shop so I am going to have to make my way over there and give it a whirl. The second was an 18-year-old kid by the name of Tyler Stone hosting a demonstration kitchen booth. This kid was as composed and as knowledgeable as any food network chef and I kept thinking "god this kid has to go on top chef." Apparently he is pretty famous around these parts already, as he has cooked for Arnold, the Maloofs, and is scheduled to cook for Dick Cheney (I will save my comments) next month. He has a cookbook out entitled “The Kid’s Cooking,” which you can buy directly from him at http://www.cheftylerstone.com There are a plethora of great recipes in there that, of course, are great to cook with kids so I recommend checking it out.

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

If you don't have plans yet this weekend, here are a few opportunities to expand your food and wine knowledge:

California State Championship Chili Cook-Off
Saturday, 10/21 at Woodbridge Winery, 5950 E. Woodbridge Road, Acampo
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with judging at 2; free admission
209-365-8139
The three California teams with the highest scores will qualify for the Terlingua International Chili Cook-Off in Terlingua, Texas in November 2007, and will receive an etched 3-liter bottle of Woodbridge Select Vineyard Series by Robert Mondavi.

Placerville Downtown Association's Art & Wine Festival
35 foothill wineries will offer tastings at various merchant locations on Main Street
Saturday, 10/21, 6 to 9 p.m.; $25
530-672-3436

Carvalho Family Wines Octoberfest
Sat. & Sun., 10/21 & 22, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Old Sugar Mill, 35265 Willow Avenue, Clarksburg
916-744-1615
German food ($8) and local wines (free tastings!)

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Just the Facts:
When: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006,
Hours: 2 - 5 p.m.
Where: Downtown Auburn, California
Who: Wineries, restaurants, caterers and the Auburn business community team with the Placer County Wine & Grape Association to showcase food and wine from the Sierra Foothills wine region.
Cost: $35 per person (in advance)
$40 if purchased "at the door".

(Must be 21 or older to participate)

Continue reading "Auburn Wine Festival" »

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Did you make it to the 19th annual Hoes Down festival last Saturday at Full Belly Farm? If not, you missed a gorgeous day of Indian summer in the Capay Valley. There were horse-drawn wagons, hay forts, a silent auction, delicious organic food, and LOTS of kids. I tried a bean and cheese burrito and the most perfect pear I've ever eaten. It was a Warren, and only about 2 inches tall. I also ate a surprisingly good whole wheat tortilla made by a 4-year-old, from wheat berries that he ground and then kneaded and pressed. There were lots of animals to pet or watch and some pretty entertaining people, too--not to mention musicians. Plus a blacksmith! And a masseuse! And a farmer's market!

Put it on your calendar for next year. You can camp overnight in the picturesque orchards and enjoy breakfast and workshops on the farm the next day, too.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The other day Ann and I were asked “What would we serve a food blogger?” By fellow Sacramento food blogger Garrett from Vanilla Garlic.

So I sat down, during dinner (what a concept) with my husband last night and we cracked out a menu. I tried to be true to the season and of course we had to pair each course with wine. It goes a little like this....

Passed Appetizers – Flatbread topped with calabrese, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and olives (If you read my post the other day you will realize we are on a little flatbread kick but hey it’s my party and they’re really good.)
Wine
Paolo Saracco Moscato di Asti 2005

First Course – Fall squash soup with red curry, heirloom peppers and housemade goat cheese crème.
Wine
Maximim Grunhauser Herrenberg Kabinett 2005

Second Course- Housemade linguini with Chorizo and Clams
Wine
Sartarelli Verdicchio Classico 2005

Third Course- Braised Short Ribs with root vegetables
Wine
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape 2003

Dessert Course- Housemade coffee ice cream ligeois
Wine
Inniskillin Cabernet Franc Ice Wine 2003
Or
“Cat Nap” which is steamed milk and frangelico

Ann will also be providing a menu, because of course just one party won’t do!

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It's the 60th annual Armenian food festival this year. Sixty years! St. James Armenian Church sponsors this annual event featuring traditional food, folk dancing, and crafts. Some of the specialties will include lamb kebabs, dolma (stuffed grape leaves), pilaf (rice), lamajoon (Armenian pizza), and baklava. You can be sure that there will be some grilled meats, breads, and a variety of fruit and vegetable dishes. Armenian food has some similarities to Greek and Indian cuisines (such as the cheese called paneer), but it is more like the foods of the countries that surround it: Georgia, Turkey, and Iran.

Learn more about this flavorful culture at the festival:
Saturday October 7, 11:30 to 10 p.m.
Greek Hall, 614 Alhambra Boulevard (at F)
$5 admission; $3 after 5

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Monday, October 9, Corti Brothers is sponsoring a single-malt scotch tasting at Spataro Restaurant (1415 L St.). If you're a fan of scotch or want to learn more about this fascinating drink, you should belly up to the bar. The admission fee is $60 and you'll get 15% off any purchase. Some of the scotches to be sampled include:

• Rosebank 14-year Lowland
  
• Edradour 10-year Highland
  
• Un-Chillfiltered Macallan 14-year Speyside
  
• Clynelish Cask Strength 15-year Speyside
  
• Laphroaig Cask Strength 13-year Islay
  

The special guest is Ed Kohl, who represents signatory single-malt scotches. He will talk about each of the offerings.

Space is limited; registration is required. Call 916-736-3800 for information and reservations. October 9; 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 1:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last Shameless plug of the day...
Hoes Down Harvest Festival
Don't miss the 19th annual Hoes Down Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 7! This all-day celebration of the harvest season offers a unique opportunity to enjoy rural life on an organic family farm with educational tours, workshops, hayrides and an abundance of food and music. The Hoes Down has been featured in National Geographic magazine and its Children’s Area had been described as “the best in the state.” There’s something for everyone in the family at the Hoes Down. Kids have their own area with arts and crafts, nature walks, storytelling, games, a petting zoo, hay rides, and terrific contests! Other all ages activities include hands-on workshops, craft booths, farmers’ market, farm tours, dancing, and much more. The celebration continues on Sunday with hands on activities, farm tours, and other activities on farms throughout the Capay Valley.
Pre-registration is required for Sunday events.
More information is available at http://www.hoesdown.org See you there!

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I am on a shamless plug... blog session here today of some great fall events that I think every family should check out. First is the...
Taste of Capay
Benefit Dinner & Auction for Capay Valley Vision
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Noon - 4:00 p.m.
At Taber Ranch Event Center
This year will be the 3rd Annual Taste of Capay Benefit Dinner and Auction for Capay Valley Vision. This year we will feature regional chefs using their culinary skills on Capay Valley Grown products. Featured chef, Patrick Mulvaney of Mulvaney’s Building and Loan will bring his art to your palates along with chefs Phillip Wang, John Oldham and Kira O’Donnell. With the pairings of the award winning wines from Capay Valley Vineyards and live music this event will be lively for all. Finally a live and silent auction, conducted by Yolo County Supervisor, Mike McGowan, will highlight unique art, adventures, and agricultural products of the Capay Valley. This will truly be a celebration of the tastes, sights and beauty of the Capay Valley.
Other event features include sponsor recognition by our Yolo County Supervisor, Duane Chamberlain; the music of the Putah Creek Muckrackers and carriage wagon rides courtesy of Three Feathers Ranch. For more information contact Sue Heitman or Chelsea Becker (530) 787-3353 or at http://www.capayvalleyvision.org

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I would hope that all of you are Slow Food members. If not you really should check out the organization to learn more about their causes http://www.slowfood.com/but briefly, the founder of the Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini, recognized in 1986 that the industrialization of food was standardizing taste and leading to the annihilation of thousands of food varieties and flavors. Concerned that the world was quickly reaching a point of no return, he wanted to reach out to consumers and demonstrate to them that they have choices over fast food and supermarket homogenization. He rallied his friends and began to speak out at every available opportunity and soon the movement was born and Slow Food was created. Today the organization is active in 50 countries and has a worldwide membership of over 80,000.

Continue reading "Are you a part of Slow Food?" »

Posted by Jennifer Cliff at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

For the last two days of the state fair, I cooked with pears in the California Foodstyle building. If you saw the show, these are the recipes:

Pear-Blue Cheese Pizza
Fruit Crisp
Cheesy Pear Quiche
Mache, Pear, and Avocado Salad

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So the state fair is already two weeks along, but there's a week left to visit CalExpo and see for yourself how many food items can be eaten from a stick. Really--everything from corndogs to pickles to watermelon! But I was determined to find some good food at the fair that wasn't fried or covered in whipped cream and/or cheese. Not that I don't appreciate my funnel cakes, but I knew there were some more worthy edibles to be found.

So the first stop my husband and I made was at Cafe Orleans, underneath the tower buildings. It's right by the water and allegedly sells beignets (or "biegnet's" as they spell them) based on the legendary New Orleans Cafe du Monde recipe. Well, my husband grew up in NO, so he's a tough customer. It was promising that we had to wait for them to come out of the fryer, and then we got a little cardboard boat of six smallish but piping hot beignets covered in powdered sugar for $3.75. They were smaller than Cafe du Monde's version and not so blanketed in sugar that you inhaled it while trying to eat, but they were just a bit too doughy. Another 10 seconds in the fryer might have helped, but we were off to a pretty good start.

Continue reading "Fair Food Without Grease (mostly)" »

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You can see the results of our area's multi-ethnicity not just in restaurants and markets, but in the plethora of food festivals held every year. Some of them, like the Armenian Food Festival, have occurred for sixty years!

Jewish Food Faire, Congregation Beth Shalom (fall)
Placer Farm and Barn Festival, featuring Bulgarian barbecue (fall)
Fair Oaks’toberfest, with German food and beer (October)
Heritage Hispanic Festival, Roseville (fall)
St. Joseph Family Fun Fest, Filipino dinner (fall)
Greek Festival, Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation (summer)
Armenian food Festival, St. James Armenian Apostolic Church (fall)
Indian Independence Day, Orangevale (August)
2nd Annual Isleton Multicultural Festival (fall)
Festival del Mariachi, Elk Grove (summer)
12th Annual Punjabi-American Festival, Yuba City (spring)
14th Annual Pacific Rim Street Fest, Sacramento (spring)
15th Festival de la Familia, Cal Expo (spring)
Sacramento Tet Festival, Vietnamese New Year (February)

Posted by Ann Martin Rolke at 9:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)