DINNER: Mulvaney's at the B&L

Mulvaney's Web site

Perfect. That summarizes Mulvaney's in one word. The decor is rustic but nice. The bathrooms are another story but you don't care about that do you? To start, we were presented with an amuse bouche of crostini topped with pistachio paste, citrus and a dot of brie with a ribbon of bleu cheese running through it. I spread the topping over my crostini before I ate it. Not everyone was a fan of the citrus but I loved it. It was a perfect flavor combo, salty, creamy yet clean from the citrus. Bread was served aside polished seashells filled with butter topped with crunchy brown Hawaiian sea salt naturally colored by clay. The bread was slightly disappointing, chewy and generic not rustic and fresh. The beet salad got thumbs up from Monica. It was a 3 beet salad dressed in oil over arugula, just how I like it. Rachel raved about the celery and potato soup. The scallops were devoured quickly. I tried someone else's fettuccini with seafood and bok choy or some such green. I thought it was ok, nothing more. My entrée however still has my mouth watering. Snapper over sticky rice and sautéed spinach in a shallow bowl of broth. I don't recall the specific ingredients but if I recall correctly the broth was tofu based (as in miso soup) with fish sauce. The dish included mushrooms, sautéed spinach and shredded carrots. It was delicate, well balanced, a tinge smoky and ever so slightly sweet. It was to die for!!! I do have to point out the rice was not true Thai sticky rice. All is forgiven since I don't think true sticky rice could have made the dish more perfect. Dessert was a Valrhona ding dong cake of chocolate mousse and ganache made to look like a hostess ding dong. We couldn't resist the port or a cheese plate. Delicious!!! The service was absolutely flawless. Our server was helpful, unassuming and explained the ingredients I was unfamiliar with without a hint of snootiness. The quiet but attentive servers were the utmost professionals, always present to fill a water glass and fold a napkin when someone got up. I love that they were always present when needed but you hardly noticed them and they certainly didn't make a fuss. I cannot wait to return to Mulvaney's.

DINNER: Aioli Bodega Espanola

Aioli Bodega Espanola's Web site

My friend Rachel had a birthday dinner for 12 at Aioli recently. Although it looks charming and cozy, the restaurant feels slightly cramped and very warm. Our server was a nice but somewhat brusque Frenchman. In assisting us with wine he immediately asked for a price range. Upon getting one he said "I'll take care of you" and disappeared without asking our preferences. He returned with a bottle that he poured and left with the empty bottle without telling us what the wine was. I was a bit put off but others appreciated his take charge attitude. I admit the wine he selected, a Guelbezu Azul 2005, was a crowd pleaser and even came in under the budget we gave. He was helpful in telling us how many tapas to order and stopping us when we had ordered enough. There were some odd choices the restaurant made like serving the cheese plate with 2 spoons and making ravioli with what appeared to be won ton wrappers. Read on for a food recap. The halibut with white wine and capers Rachel ordered was perfect. The patatas bravas on the other hand were not spicy or hot. The gambas (shrimp) were slightly overcooked. Herb and cheese stuffed ravioli in sage butter in my opinion had almost no filling or flavor. However, my friend Joni loved them and others seemed to like them too. The mussels in sherry sauce were a huge flop. The mussels had a horrible taste. My friend Bri and I agree on this completely. The house cheese filled bourek (pastry triangles) were doughy and delicious. The traditional tortillas tre colores were good but there were pieces of eggshell in the dish, a big no no. Salmon with lemon and capers was perfect, the chicken with mustard sauce was not a table favorite, the raw tuna served on spinach with tomato confit was blah. Chris devoured every bite of his rib eye giving it a thumbs up. For dessert, the birthday girl got an almond meal cake doused in fruit syrup. Many described it as tasting like froot loops cereal which I love by the way. I loved the texture of the almond meal and I tasted a hint of jasmine. At least I thought I did. Remember, I had a few glasses of wine by that point. Overall, this place has good date ambience but the food is hit or miss. In nice weather it has a small but gorgeous patio that has the perfect romantic date ambience.

COCKTAILING: Bridges on the River

Bridges on the River's Web site

I want to love Bridges on the River. I really do. I keep trying to give it chance after chance after chance. It's a family run neighborhood restaurant right on the river, and, during the summers, they have great outside seating with view and the occasional band. I just wish the food was more consistent, and wish the upstairs service was, as well. The bar, I thought, was nicer when it was smaller and cozier; now, with the remodel, it seems a bit open and cold. Nonetheless, if you go -- the owner told us he's starting to do nightly 2 for 1 specials; that may get us back in the door for dinner. What is always consistently good is the brie appetizer with roasted garlic and a sort of compote over bread toasts. Can't complain about the cocktails!

COCKTAILING: de Vere's

de Vere's Web site

Sandra was right, de Vere's has quite a mixed crowd. We were lucky enough to get a little table in the front section, the place was packed at 5:30 on Thursday. To my right was a table of four senior citizens finishing up an early supper, the men were drinking beer and the ladies were sipping Irish coffees -- adorable! To my left was a slew of men in suits. CUTE men in suits -- all you single ladies need to check out this place. Henry, one of the owners, stopped by our table and explained that nearly everything in de Vere's came from his family in Ireland. I was impressed with how far removed I felt from Sacramento's L & 16th locale; with no windows and the detailed decor, de Vere's whisked me back to the pub-laden trip I took to Ireland years ago. Debbie and Phyllis sampled and enthusiastically reviewed the Belfast Tini, the Irish Tini and the Shillelagh -- all whiskey-based drinks (a couple were served in martini glasses). I was not in an adventurous mood so I sipped the Edna Valley chard. We ordered the Fish & Chips to share, which I doused in the malt vinegar they keep on the table -- delish. By 7pm, a lot of the crowd had cleared out. It was by no means empty, but de Vere's is obviously popular with the post-work drink crowd. My only complaint is the lack of valet parking. But, if you work within walking distance of de Vere's (or parking issues don't faze you), check out this cheery new spot. de Vere's is a nice contrast to its uber-sleek upstairs neighbor, MiX, and a unique addition to the growing host of midtown restaurants.

DINNER: Mikuni (midtown)

Mikuni's Web site

After hitting hot spots de Vere's and MiX, the girls and I headed to good ol' Mikuni to finish off our night. This midtown restaurant is still popular despite the throng of hip, new eateries popping up around it. We ordered only a few rolls (gotta love that special sauce) because we already had a fair amount of apps. I've enjoyed every single thing I've ever ordered at Mikuni -- the hamachi, tuna steaks, all the nigiri -- it's all good. Every time I go to Mikuni, I order the sparkling sake (see photo), a refreshing alternative to wine or beer that goes very well with sushi. If you're ever there with a big group, you can't go wrong with the party platters -- quite a good bang for your buck (that's saying a lot for sushi). The service at Mikuni is great, and really quick. They're all about the sushi, not much fanfare. It's the ever-present crowd that gives this place a cool vibe -- without them the downstairs eating area would look more like a school cafeteria than a restaurant. It's pretty loud, so doesn't top the list for a romantic date (upstairs is a tad quieter), but it's always a fab choice for drinks, fun and (of course) sushi.

DINNER: La Fiesta Mexican

We have been going to this place for years now to satisfy our craving for authentic Mexican food. When you need a night to throw healthy out the window and relax with some chips, salsa and margarita's this place fits the bill. Located right on 65th street, this spot offers no-frills, friendly and quick service. They do have a small bar so if you are in the mood to watch a game with a plate of nachos it's doable here. Claire loves the decor and recently discovered the chicklet machine by the front door. I ALWAYS have the veggie burrito served "wet" and I devour it each time. Full of beans, Mexican rice, guac, and all the extras, it's a steal at only $5.99. Chris has been known to get the steak burrito or quesadilla and has usually been happy with the very generous portion. The menu is pretty big, with all the items that come to mind - enchiladas, combo plates, tacos, you get it. It seems to be a family run business, which is always nice to support in these hard times. So the next time you are in East Sacto and want to grub on some good Mexican, check out La Fiesta Mexican.

DINNER CLUB RECAP: Lisa's Dessert

Can I just say that I loved Lisa's idea to garnish Hostess Ding Dongs with fancy berry syrup, whipped cream and fruit? Creative, funny and yummy.

WINE: Old Sugar Mill and Bogle Vineyards, Clarksburg

Thanks to mom and dad visiting, I had a great excuse to excuse myself from work. Saturday was Ports and Chocolate weekend at Bogle Vineyards and the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg, CA. I won't make this too lengthy, but let's just say, we prefer less crowded weekends when we bring a picnic and don't have to deal with pushy people trying to get their 100th pour. Too many short obnoxious men taking up too much room and being overly domineering and loud. Do you really need to drape yourself over 5 feet of the entire tasting area and monopolize the vintner's attention when there are about 50 other people waiting? I think not. Typical jerks trying to get their free stuff. Seemed to be more about the "free" and not about the tasting of the wine. Bogle- still a favorite, mostly a reason to support local businesses; best wines- Phantom and Old Vine Zinfandel. Old Sugar Mill- great ambience, but Ray described the wine, at times, as vintner's dysentery. Carvalho- bad; immature wines. Solomon- disgusting; sugary water. Revolution- respectable Pinot Grigio, if just for the price. Heringer- the best petite syrah port we tasted on that particular day. Todd Taylor- this is probably the best winery in that complex/area. I think it's better than Bogle (sorry Bogle). It seems that their wines are more complex than the sugar water we drank at all the others. Their wines probably compete with Napa- I think most of their grapes are from Amador County and some regional Monterey areas. The Tempranillo, Primitivo, and "Clockspring" Zin are must tries. The best food we had that day- some random deli in between Bogle and the sugar mill on the main road.

Yogurtland

Yogurtland Web site

Why oh why do we not have a Yogurtland in Sacramento? It is a question I ask myself every time I'm in LA. I love frozen yogurt. Some might say I am addicted. I eat it almost every single day during the summer months. When I'm in Los Angeles where it is almost always summer, I stop into Yogurtland for the most delicious yogurt ever! Yesterday was one of those days. Yogurtland is one of those DIY places with a variety of yogurt choices and both dry toppings as well as wet toppings. They also have a variety of fresh fruit toppings that always look fresh. I go to the Hollywood location on Sunset Blvd. It is always clean and bright. My absolute favorite flavor is Taro. I have never seen Taro flavor in ice cream or yogurt before. I have seen green tea and Yogurtland has that too. But Taro is my fave! I add shredded coconut and mochi to mine. At only 30 cents per ounce this is a really cheap treat! For now if you are in Sacramento and you crave Yogurtland, you will have to go to the bay area to get it. They have a website with all of their locations. If you love yogurt, I would try this place!

COCKTAILING: Mix Downtown

Mix Downtown's Web site

I went to Mix on Thursday for happy hour. This place is undeniably sexy. It has a sleek, modern and sophisticated feel to it. It is a complete singles heaven. Sexy as it may be, it lacks a bit of substance in the staff. The first thing you notice is the dim, swanky atmosphere. The place is an interesting mixture of cold industrial and rich swank. It combines cold concrete, warm wooden accents, rich velvety textures, leather and stainless steel. When you walk in you immediately go upstairs toward a mirrored wall of candles. It opens up to a choice of the indoor lounge to your right or the open patio to the left. The large patio is perfect for summer nights but it does have heat lamps and fire pits for when it gets chilly. There is plenty of seating but also plenty of room to mingle. Next to it is one of the two bars. The bar is gray with brushed steel stools. There is a small alcove at one end of the bar with couches, a flat screen TV, a window overlooking L Street and velvety privacy curtains that can be drawn for privacy. The indoor lounge is set up so that along one wall is the bar, along the opposite wall is a series of three nooks with leather couches and privacy curtains that can be drawn for an intimate party. The large middle area is all velvet couches, chairs, tables and several oversized ottomans. Let's get to the food and drinks. Happy hour here is great. It goes from 4-7 and offers half price small plates and several drink specials. My friend Pam and I both tried wine after the bartender informed us he still had never made one of their specialty cocktails since they opened a week into January! I had the J Lohr Merlot and she had the Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc. Neither of us was impressed with our wine. We decided to order food. We had several questions for our server but although she was very cute and polite she didn't know anything about the dishes on the menu. We settled on the beet salad, ahi poke, macaroni and cheese and the cheese plate. The beet salad was fair. It was served with mache, crumbled cheese and walnuts. There wasn't anything outstanding about the salad but it wasn't bad at all. It had a bit of a kick which could have been clove. I thought I tasted wasabi at one point and looking at the menu I see now it was horseradish. We dug into the mac and cheese after that. It was short little tube pasta with cheese sauce and topped with an herbed breadcrumb topping. It was pretty good. Not spectacular but pretty darned tasty. It was not too rich or cheesy but it really hit the spot. The poke was next. This was my favorite dish. It was absolutely delicious except for a tiny, tiny tinge of fishiness. It was standard poke with soy dressing served with seaweed and accompanied by house made taro chips that were good but too oily. Finally the cheese plate. It came with 3 cheeses but our server couldn't tell us exactly what they were and she mixed up the order of mild to pungent. The first was a soft bleu, the second a hard cheese and the last a creamy mild cheese. They were all very good. They were served with dry figs, apricots, cherries, honey, bread and almonds. We drank three happy hour martinis each during our meal. The vodka was Skyy. For some reason I was charged $6.75 for mine instead of $6.50. I couldn't complain since our total bill (excluding the two wines) was only about $61! There were lots and lots of good looking professionals. This was a 30 and up crowd and a fairly attractive crowd too. I will definitely be going back for many more happy hours.

DINNER CLUB RECAP: Meringue Dessert

I was so proud of the meringue I made for Dinner Club that I posted a picture of it on Facebook. I think I received about 20 requests for the recipe. I have to say that I am now a huge fan of this egg white dessert and I don't know why it's not more prevalent -- in restaurants or in home cooking. It's a cinch to make and it's less fattening than cake or pie. (OK, meringue isn't as satisfying as cake or pie since it's lighter and healthier, but it's still a worthy dessert.) This meringue was inspired by Jamie Oliver's cooking show, but since I didn't really follow the recipe, I don't think I'm violating any copyrights by posting it here: Preheat the oven to 300F. Beat SIX EGG WHITES until stiff peaks form. Add one and 1/4 cup SUGAR, and a pinch of SALT to the whites. Beat until sugar is dissolved (not grainy when you rub mixture between your fingers). Grate the zest of an ORANGE into the whites and mix it up. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heap the mixture onto the sheet into whatever shape you want (to fit your dessert platter) -- just make sure it's two to three inches in height. Make lots of peaks and valley on the top with a spatula. Bake for one hour and 25 minutes. After it cools, you can add whatever toppings you want. I drizzled on melted DARK CHOCOLATE, vanilla cream (whip together 1 pint CREAM, 1 tblsp. POWDERED SUGAR, 1 tblsp. VANILLA), BERRIES that I soaked in Gran Marnier, and toasted HAZELNUTS. Serves 8.

DINNER: Woody's Grill & Bar

Woody's Grill & Bar Web site

Now I know what you are thinking... Woody's? Really? Well not all dinners have to be filled with fruity cocktails and fancy apps. The family was running errands and Claire was reaching her breaking point unless she was able to have a hog dog soon. Well, we were on Watt Avenue, so Woody's fit the bill. I have to say, I wasn't expecting very much of this place but was pleasantly surprised (don't get too excited, though). It had a large bar area with flat screens viewable from your table --- a plus since NCAA basketball is in full force. Claire liked the island themed decorations and that kept her entertained until her precious dog arrived. Woody's menu is what you would expect, burgers, dogs, salads, fish tacos... you get it. Chris was able to choose between two hefferveisens. Claire had apple juice with unlimited refills (always a plus). Chris was in the mood for a burger and had a nice selection to choose from --- he said the onion mushroom burger hit the spot, which came along with endless steak fries which everyone (me) enjoyed. Claire had a corn dog from the kids menu which also came with fries. For me, on the other hand, it was a bit more tricky. Being a pescotarian, I figured I would have one or two options at most. A had the taco salad with shrimp --- it was HUGE! Topped with gauc, olives, beans, tomatoes, salsa: in the biggest taco shell I'd seen in a while. They did have a yummy veggie burger option that I'd probably get next time. One warning: Do not eat here if attempting to diet. I usually try to eat healthy and this place did not have any options to fit that need. I would estimate that even my taco "salad" had a good 1000 calories in it. I guess it's all about portion control, right? We walked out with a $30 bill - and gave our server a generous tip because he was caring and attentive to Claire, which isn't something I always see a family-friendly joints.

COCKTAILING: L Wine Lounge

L Wine Lounge Web site

It was a romantic Saturday: after doing our taxes and squeezing in a game of racquetball, we saw "He's Just Not That Into You" and then had drinks and appetizers at L Wine Lounge. I've always had a nice time at this place. There's usually a place to sit (important in my book) at the bar or in the "lounge" area. L has a cool, modern atmosphere -- perfect for many occasions, like laughing it up with a group or having an intimate conversation with your spouse. I had the Sparkler flight -- three generous tastes of sparkling wine. John had a Malbec from a Yolo vineyard, which was quite tasty. We ordered several appetizers: a pizzetta (pretty good -- but how can you mess up bread and cheese?), meatballs (John loved them, I liked them) and the white anchovy plate (delish!). Later on, I ordered a glass of red, I think it was the Barbera, which was wonderful. John, too, had another glass of red (can't remember which) and liked it. (Yeah, I know. We need to start writing these down since our memory fails us once we get to drink number two.) We drank those with a round of bread that comes with a yummy crumbly spice dipping mixture (I tasted coriander, wish I knew what else was in there). By the time we left, we were full enough to call our happy hour a dinner. I've started to favor drinks and apps at wine bars instead of structured dinners at restaurants -- it not only costs less, but I don't get overly full and come home with leftovers that I never eat. L Wine Lounge has consistently offered up tasty food, great wine and attentive service. I've heard others disagree (post your comments below!), but L Wine Lounge gets a big thumbs up from me.

LUNCH: Grange Restaurant

Grange Restaurnant's Web site

I was excited to try this nice new place but I have to admit I was disappointed. I work downtown so I was just a short walk away. I had pretty high expectations for Grange. It started well. The Citizen building is old and gorgeous and the space Grange occupies is also very well done. Our bread was rustic and fresh and served with an amazing herbes de Provence spread. Our appetizer was marinated olives served with flatbread drizzled with olive oil and topped with goat cheese. It was fine. The flatbread was grilled but looked soggy from the oil. I ordered the lunch special of a salad and fish tacos. I settled on the watercress and frisee salad with Point Reyes blue cheese and roasted pears. It looked a bit sad. I couldn't taste even a hint of the walnut vinaigrette, I had to search for the tiny crumbles of cheese, and the pears were flavorless. I ordered the overpriced Rosemary cocktail. I couldn't taste the rosemary at all but pieces of it kept floating into my mouth with each sip. My fish tacos on the other hand were outstanding, if a bit spicy. The fish was lightly fried and topped with cabbage and fresh green salsa. The beans that accompanied them were not bad. I also tried my friend's mushroom risotto. I am usually very disappointed when I order risotto in restaurants but this one was very good. It was earthy, flavorful, mushroomy and had a great consistency. My other friend ordered the Petrale Sole with French fries that he really enjoyed. I indulged in dessert for the sake of our readers. ;) The pudding cake was very good. In my eagerness to get to the best part of the meal I neglected to note the type of sauce it came with. I can tell you that it was a tasty liqueur sauce with candied fruit. And I'll even admit that I ate every last bite of it. Overall, for the hefty price (around $50 total for my lunch with tax and tip) I expected much better food.

COCKTAILING: de Vere's Irish Pub

de Vere's Web site

I checked this brand new place out after work and as soon as I walked in I felt overwhelmed. It was about 6:15 on a Thursday and the place was packed to the rafters. I know it is the newest downtown spot but it caught me off guard for pub atmosphere. It is a very large space with bar and small table seating. It has two sections front and back that are equally pub like but for some reason that I couldn't quite put my finger on, the feel is distinctly "upscale." I found a spot belly up to the bar and ordered a de Vere's Irish Red Ale. It was very good. For my next, I wanted to try a beer I never had. I saw two on the list I had never tried. Unfortunately for me they were out. Really, on a Thursday night?! I decided on the de Vere's Irish Lager and I liked it even better than the red ale. It was light, clean and delicious. For food my friend and I settled on the broccoli cheese soup and the chips with Dublin dipping sauces. My soup was very good. It wasn't heavy or creamy like I thought it would be and it had lots of fresh broccoli pieces in it. The chips however disappointed. They were steak cut fries and instead of dipping sauces we got something I can only describe as gravy butter dip. It was pretty awful. The bartenders were friendly and the older suits at the bar next to my friend and me were even friendlier. It was quite a mixed crowd but after work it was heavy on the older professional crowd. Unfortunately they don't offer any sort of happy hour. That is a big minus for this place considering its location. My friend Pam described de Vere's as the place that the Streets of London crowds go when they've grown up and got real jobs. Well put.

DINNER: Esquire Grill

Esquire Grill's Web site

Awww ...This is where my husband took me on our first date. Over four years ago and it doesn't seem to have changed at all. And it's still popular: it was packed on Wednesday night. You can't go wrong ordering red meat here. I had the lamb, which was really good. John's steak was even better. They've got the sauces that go with their meats down to perfection, nice and peppery. One of our friends ordered the Mahi Mahi and he said it was good, too. We ordered several apps: the seared tuna was divine, a must try next time you go. The crab cake was not as good as it used to be. The calamari was, well, just like any other calamari. Esquire's wine list is not as extensive as you'd think, but that's only an issue if you're a connoisseur and eat at there a lot. They do have decent wines by the glass and a small array of decadent reds by the bottle. Steve ordered two bottles of some of the best stuff they have and I was in heaven! The five of us finished every drop ... in addition to the other drinks we had. Melissa ordered fun cocktails off the menu and enjoyed them all. The champagne by the split (both options) were not very good. In fact, the pricier rose was awful, in my opinion, so stick to the non-bubblies unless you're ordering a proper-sized bottle. With all the new places in town, don't forget about Esquire for an elegant meat-and-potatoes meal.

DINNER: Bandera

Bandera's Web site

Some how our initially planned dinner date to La Boheme miraculously morphed into dinner at Bandera's. My husband wasn't feeling in the mood to try something that was seemingly stuffy so we hit the fav around the corner. Since we are parents to a 2 year old -- we had no shame at starting our date at the ripe old hour of 5:30 pm. We started the night off with freshly made margaritas and I now recall how great a real one is rather than that green stuff that comes out of a screw cap bottle. Next came the to-die-for tuna poke with mango and shrimp. This is one of the reasons we go to this place --- I think my husband might just dream about this dish at night, it's that good. We then vowed to try new dishes: I very much enjoyed their signature cornbread (this didn't come out of a box, folks) and their smoked Salmon plate. The fish was light and tasty --- not at all oily and wet looking, which is what I've experienced at other places and usually steer clear of anything "smoked." By now I was on to a glass of pinot noir: a generous pouring with a $8 price tag. We snuck in what was called a "nice little house salad" --- and it was just that, topped with bits of goat cheese and wonderfully flavorful cherry tomatoes (amazing that they found such tasty ones this time of year). At this point in the evening we were probably pushing 6:45 (I know!) and there was not an empty seat in the house. The staff was excellent. At no point did we feel rushed even though we were only munching on apps. After adjusting our belt buckles, we dove into their main dishes: I got their grilled veggie platter that never disappoints: full of seasonal delights such as grilled red cabbage and purple cauliflower. The hub got the signature rotisserie chicken that he said was delish. With 6 cocktails and all this food, our bill was just a hair over $100. Even though I wanted to try a new place, Bandera's gets a thumbs up, and once again doesn't disappoint.

LUNCH: The Big Salad Shoppe

Blast! I've been working way too much lately, and haven't had much time to make lunch or go grocery shopping. SO! Usually when I want a quickly made to-go lunch, I head to the Big Salad Shoppe on L Street between 10th and 9th. I vowed to never go back to this place for sandwiches, but it's just way too convenient for me. Most everyone I know at work only order salads. They make a mean salad. I guess that's why it's called the "Big Salad" shoppe and not the tiny salad shop. Brilliant. Any salad there is decent. The guys I know always walk away full. I think you can get 1/2 salads. So, if this is your first time there, I would recommend their salads or soup. Sandwiches are spotty. I remember thinking the rolls were dry and gross. Lately, I've just been ordering regular turkey on sourdough, and the sourdough has been pleasant enough. Can't really ruin a turkey sandwich though! Sorry, no cocktails and limited space. Everyone can hear your conversations and the line usually wraps around the tables when busy. To wit- don't go out of your way, but if you work nearby, it's something to try and they are fairly quick with the orders.

DINNER: Roxy Rocks It

Roxy's Web site

I was too lazy to go shopping and cook, so we headed to Roxy for a late dinner. The atmosphere is great for a nice late meal. Modern meats the Pondorosa, with the owner's Dixon ranch beef front and center on the menu. We had the bacon wrapped shrimp with an arugula pesto to start. Excellent. Lisa had the beet salad - very tasty, I had the butternut squash soup -good, but a bit too much heavy cream for my taste; I only ate half of it so I could eat some of my entree. Typically I avoid the specials, as the regular menu items are tried and true with most establishments. Most of the bad entrees I have ever had were specials, so I usually avoid them (Latitudes and Waterboy come to mind). Not so tonight, they had a New York steak with fresh gnocchi & asparagus. Outstanding. The staff was very attentive and pleasant. I wouldn’t go there if I were trying to hook up. Watch out for the tipsy Volvo drivers on the way out of the parking lot- (I guess her date didn't go so well).

LUNCH: 33rd Street Bistro

33rd Street Bistro's Web site

Am I the only one who doesn't like this place? I don't hate it, I just think it's pretty average -- on par with an Applebee's. Because many of my friends frequent it, I eat at 33rd Street Bistro regularly. I've had some brunch dishes that were fine. The sandwiches are pretty good, the salads are OK (dressing tastes like it's from a bottle, though) and the wine list is completely uninspired. Which, again, is fine for a garden-variety diner, but not what I consider "bistro" fare. A casual workday lunch? Sure. A dinner date or special occasion? No, thanks.

COCKTAILING: The Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan's Web site

I finally made it to The Cosmopolitan -- or Cosmo, as some folks call it -- for happy hour. Loved it! It has a nice, new, modern, upbeat feel. I got there at 5:30, it wasn't too crowded so we got a prime spot at the bar. By the time I left, around 8pm, the bar and the restaurant were pretty busy. (That's right, my "happy hour" lasts at least a couple hours.) I didn't recognize some of the wines they were pouring -- which is a good sign. I love to try new wines and I'm grateful the buyer doesn't go with the standard Sacramento flow. We shared some apps: the scallops were delish (but only three per plate) and the cheese plate was OK. (Compared to those of nearby wine bars, Cosmo's cheese plate doesn't stand out.) The service was good, but the kitchen became slow later in the evening when they got busy. Our bartender was fantastic -- some cutie who claimed to be from NYC -- who was more than happy to let us sample several wines and offered to split our last glass of wine (we were debating on whether to have another, should have cut ourselves off at that point, but hadn't finished our late-arriving cheese plate). I only have a couple minor quibbles: champagne and valet parking. I wish they had a better champagne by the glass, or at least more options. And they do not offer valet parking, but do validate at the nearby garage. Regardless, I'm eager to go back to Cosmo -- for drinks or for dinner -- sooner than later.

LUNCH: Lotus

I went to a work lunch today at Lotus with a group of coworkers. It was a birthday lunch and we had a large group of about 18 total so we all ordered ahead. That being said, this review won't really tell you much about the service since it was ready when we arrived. Today I was looking forward to eating a nice crisp, spicy Som Tum salad. I first had Som Tum when I went to Thailand back in 2001. It is a crisp salad of shredded green papaya with lime, fish sauce, chili, dry shrimp, peanuts, green beans, garlic and tomato. It is flavorful, light and a great combo of sweet and spicy. I was very disappointed with Lotus's version. When it arrived I stopped the server to ask if it was papaya salad. It looked like pad thai to me. Som Tum salad is supposed to look green. This salad looked orangey like the white pad thai noodles drenched in sauce do. He confirmed it was and he left. I tried it. It was drippy and the shredded papaya was soft, not crisp. The papaya was completely drenched in sauce that was WAY too spicy. I can handle spicy food but this had the skin under my eyes sweating! It was completely off balance in a dish that is supposed to be light and whose flavors need to be carefully balanced. My other complaint is that the salad tasted overwhelmingly of fish sauce for the first few minutes that my taste buds could still register anything other than chili. It did not contain dried shrimp that I could see nor did it contain green beans. It did have tomatoes and it was served over lettuce. That being said my coworkers Rachel and Meghan both had the red curry with tofu and both of them really liked it. The veggies included red and green bell pepper, basil and bamboo shoots. I tried a piece of the tofu and it was good. Rachel ordered hers Thai spicy and I noticed her coughing and watery eyed during the meal. Apparently they added jalapeno to her dish. My coworker Judie had the L2 pork over noodles dish. She loves it and orders it every time she goes to Lotus. Her dish came in a large shallow bowl and looked like pork slices over noodles. Judie described the pork as BBQ pork having an oaky, grilled flavor served over light rice noodles with green onion, cilantro, lettuce, peanuts, carrots and fish sauce. During our meal, I kept overhearing rave reviews at the table about the tofu at Lotus. I myself am what I call a pescatarian meaning the only meat I eat is seafood. As such, I always look for good seafood and tofu dishes. Next time I go to Lotus I will stick to the tofu dishes. I should mention that they recently painted the interior green and hung new art. It looks better but largely the same. It is sort of hard to find as it is in a sunken courtyard on the corner of 5th and J. It is great for the downtown lunch crowd but if you drive there you can park in the mall directly across the street.

DINNER: Masullo Pizza - with the kids

Masullo's Web site

Last night the whole family tried Masullo Pizza on Riverside Blvd. with a friend, her husband and their two year old girl. My friend had raved about this place and had been several times, so we decided to try it with them in order to fulfill a long over due dinner date. It's located in what appears to be a pretty lonely looking strip mall, close to Riverside Clubhouse. It's minimalist looking with concrete floors and long darkwood tables with mostly benches to sit on. The place is small, probably could seat 30 people. Since we had two 2 year-olds with us I wasn't expecting anything fancy and this place certainly met that requirement. They did have hi-chairs available but we opted to let the kids climb around on the benches (and tables). As they were getting squirrelly after a long day of Montessori daycare and waiting for the pizza - my friend and I took the girls over to see the open kitchen: with complete viewing of the pizzas being made and placed into the wood burning oven. This was a plus in keeping them entertained. The menu was simple: a few standard Italian starters, green salads, olive plate, the usual. The pizzas were all individual sized. Probably a good 12 inches but a VERY thin crust. I promised myself that I wouldn't eat the whole thing, but after giving a slice or two to Claire and my husband - my plate was empty. I was impressed by their selections: mine was topped with red onion, goat cheese, oyster mushrooms and mozzarella. However, if you are craving a deep dish or even normal thickness pizza, this is not your place. Overall I enjoyed the experience, but I would not go here to satisfy a heavy pizza craving. As for kid friendly - the open kitchen was a good distraction while waiting for our food to arrive, but all the concrete and openness made it loud when the girls got rambunctious.

DINNER CLUB RECAP: Dough!

I switched my dinner club turn from the traditional Wednesday night to Super Bowl Sunday, so it was obvious I couldn't serve up some pan-crusted frou frou or anything that had a "touch of" or "hint of" anything. Well, I could, but I would then have to turn in my Man Card for at least a year. The Super Bowl means two things: (1) waking up the following day $150 bucks lighter because YOU WERE CERTAIN the Steelers would cover; and (2) eating gastronomically offensive amounts of food that are dipped in or topped with something. Bonus if you can eat the food with your hands. Pizza fit the bill. Having sustained myself on pizza for a good part of my life, I have arrived at a few, simple truths about our flatbread friend. Good pizza means thinly pressed dough and an honest amount of fresh toppings. And less cheese. Please don't start with your story about that deep dish pizza in Chicago that had 14 pounds of mozzarella and was the Best Thing You Ever Ate. Four out of five doctors agree that you are lucky to still be alive. If you make pizza, find a simple dough recipe and follow the recipe EXACTLY. Don't do what I did, which was to make the dough the night before and put it in the fridge to keep it from rising. It didn't stop rising. And, yes, I awoke Sunday morning to a doughball the size of a beach ball inside my humble fridge. I hacked it into six pieces and tried to roll the super-sized dough monster out flat, only to have it shrink again. Cold dough does not roll out quietly. But, 14 naughty words and two beers later, it was flatter than the Kings in the fourth quarter. [Laugh track here.] If you keep dough at room temp, and it should work out better for you. Get yourself a pizza stone. I like to heat the stone first, put the dough on the stone, and then add toppings. It makes for a crispier crust. For toppings, I made a seafood pizza (topped with clams still in their shells because I'm fancy), meat pizza, and a veggie pizza. Make your own sauce or buy some good stuff in a jar. Whatever. After ten minutes in a 475 degree oven, you get pizza, for a crowd. And my Man Card is saved for another day.