tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47693678017548981902011-08-21T05:03:15.000-07:00Six attorneys and one marketing pro review Sacramento restaurants and share stories from their weekly dinner club feasts.We love food. And we love to talk about it.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15767350368230470825noreply@blogger.comBlogger1401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-1825654852047129802010-05-27T12:00:00.000-07:002010-05-27T13:20:18.500-07:00

I tried for a light and healthy dinner club this week. As an optional start, I offered elixirs of "sweet garlic juice" (garlic, mango, avocado, kale, cucumber, lemon) -- and everyone partook! For the app, I served French bread with a dual dip: grape seed oil and a mixture of ground coriander, cumin and sea salt. The entrée was fresh snapper with a balsamic reduction. On the side was wild rice

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-62748218719575813012010-05-23T10:21:00.000-07:002010-05-24T10:34:13.537-07:00

I really was hoping to get rid of our extra gin on you guys when I realized that, crud, british pub theme for cinco de mayo just wasn't going to cut it!! But, what type of mexican dishes have we not done lately? I decided to go the torta route: instead of meat, however, I used tilapia that I lightly dredged in flour (no egg) and a bit of cumin and red pepper, just to create a thin crust. I pan

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-5651537463076237152010-05-23T10:13:00.000-07:002010-05-24T10:35:29.972-07:00

I made burritos and poured sauce on top. People got to pick their toppings. That is all. Lisa here- Ray's burritos were awesome. Everyone loved them- we all got forms to fill out with what we wanted inside, choice of tortillas, including spinach, and yummy enchilada sauce, sour cream, and cheese on top. I'm getting hungry just thinking about them! The dessert was easy for all you looking for

Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006755691353532603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-52193310821701513652010-04-23T10:09:00.000-07:002010-04-28T12:21:25.156-07:00

Sunflower's Web siteI’ve heard about this place for years (mostly from the teachers at little C’s school) and after hearing that DC was going to skip a week, I decided to give the Sunflower café in Fair Oaks a whirl. I had heard AMAZING things about this mostly vegan place, so I asked Bernadette to join us so she could weigh in as well. This place is a kin to a drive-in — picnic tables outside

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-55760415488792966472010-04-19T11:11:00.001-07:002010-04-20T16:04:13.647-07:00

Mulvaney's Web siteWe finally got around to checking Mulvaney's out. The first and last time there was at the pubcrawl where they were making their mozzarella right in front of us. Had to go back. We finally did, and we spent and ate more than we do anywhere we go! Talk about gluttons! We should have been in the movie "Seven" where the fat guy got bounced/offed. Anyhow- we started with Prosecco,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-67220690930590747742010-04-08T09:00:00.000-07:002010-04-08T17:02:17.276-07:00

So it was the first dinner club in a while with the gang all back together. This time of year is always tricky – 70s during the day but back down to the 40s at night still means you might be in the mood for some warm comfort food. Well, in trying to balance the Spring tastes I turned to my friend’s blog www.everythingrachaelray.com for some inspiration, which is where I found the main course.

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-88429278219940012192010-03-18T12:24:00.000-07:002010-03-18T12:26:41.885-07:00

At first, I was thrilled to find out I was hosting Dinner Club on St. Patrick's Day. Then -- after lots of searching -- I found only two Irish recipes that were vegetarian. And they were kinda boring. So, I went green instead. Apps: salsa verde and spinach dip with green crudite. Entrees: asparagus soup, roasted broccoli with cheese, and cod with a cilantro and macadamia nut pesto -- and lime

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-29330750230402746992010-03-04T15:34:00.000-08:002010-03-04T15:46:43.623-08:00

I'm going to be one of the odd men out and be a little bit more critical of Ambience than the others! Rogue blogger! :) We were really hyped to try Ambience and the prix fixe meals there, but kind of got mixed impressions. The service was a little bizarre at first; I did feel that there wasn't a whole lot of enthusiasm by the wait-staff when we first arrived and the server didn't seem to know

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-5136364327186724532010-03-04T15:25:00.000-08:002010-03-11T14:13:21.227-08:00

My last dinner club, in February, needed to be quick and painless, since February is a very busy month at work. I decided to scour the crock pot recipes and get everything ready the night before to decrease dinner club stress. Usually, just pouring lots of wine helps, too. So, in the crockpot went lots of different types of beans, onion, cumin, garlic, crushed tomatoes with jalapenos, etc... For

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-21462816653694397362010-03-04T15:19:00.000-08:002010-03-11T14:14:34.732-08:00

It's been a while since I blogged, but wanted to do a quick update on my past dinner clubs. This one, I think from January, was all about comfort food and pho. The entire theme was mostly asian, with egg rolls to start, and then pho, which wasn't really authentic pho, since I did use udon noodles to make the dish a little heavier entree. I used veggie broth, added udon noodles, onions, garlic,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-35227868533731314922010-02-15T11:05:00.000-08:002010-02-15T11:26:14.899-08:00

Ginger Elizabeth's Web siteFor Valentine's Day, my hubby got me a box of chocolates. Not just any box, but a delectable selection from Ginger Elizabeth. First, I was pleasantly surprised by the present and loved the exquisite brown and pink packaging. Second, and most important, the chocolates were amazing. I'm pretty picky, in fact I don't care for those other candy vendors whose chocolates are

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-36829778644995166352010-02-15T10:56:00.000-08:002010-02-15T11:05:18.267-08:00

Plan B's Web siteI've been wanting to try this place since Leslie and Chris reviewed it. Plan B is a cute, cozy eatery near Fair Oaks and Watt. I appreciated the decor -- pretty dark colors contrasted by white brick walls. (John thought it was lacking, though.) I was impressed with their wine list, especially their wines by the glass -- many of our favorite wineries were represented. The menu is

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-73646152559963681022010-02-07T13:51:00.000-08:002010-02-15T11:21:34.897-08:00

Ambience's Web siteI couldn't wait to try Ambience after John's review so we decided to make it our Dinner Club night out restaurant. I was not disappointed and I recommend it to anyone. $45 for 5 courses (not 4 as their website says) is a steal! The inside of the restaurant is very, well, ambient. I did get lost in the maze of rooms trying to find the restroom though. To be completely

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-28760679528597136412010-02-04T08:05:00.001-08:002010-02-15T11:23:06.766-08:00

Ambience's Web siteJohn said it best when he said that Ambience in Carmichael was a "delightful find." Man, this place is good! And I have NO idea how they can offer such five star food at a prix fixe menu of five courses for $45. Our waitress started off a little shaky in the beginning (oh, that is a beer that has a "cartoon character" on it and can be sold at Trader Joes... what?), but totally

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-17044940448181959782010-01-29T12:04:00.000-08:002010-01-29T12:07:11.741-08:00

It’s been forever since I blogged but I can’t forget about our last dinner club. It was the husband’s turn to do the cooking and he knocked it out of the park. He decided on straight up Southern cooking — fried fish, buttermilk chicken (baked, although you couldn’t tell by looking at it!), baked apples with fennel and the best mashed potatoes ever made. I can’t comment too much on the

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-60541487134934537052010-01-27T09:37:00.000-08:002010-01-27T09:53:42.117-08:00

Ambience's Web site Ambience Restaurant is a surprising and delightful find – right in the middle of an unassuming strip mall in Carmichael, which we managed to find in the pouring rain thanks to our bossy Garmin navigator. Apropos of the name, the interior is casually elegant, with several rooms, some with booths, adding to the sense of place and privacy. The menu is prix fixe at $45, and has

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333981119851309825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-7349027185280557722010-01-22T22:26:00.000-08:002010-01-22T22:40:07.912-08:00

As you may (or may not) know, I am addicted to frozen yogurt. In fact it has gotten so out of control that I ate it almost every day in the last week and on one day I had it twice in one day. Embarrassing I know. My ultimate fave is taro flavored yogurt. That is why it is always a treat when Yogurtagogo in midtown has taro as a featured flavor. I make sure to get my fix every day until the

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-63186709877171538362010-01-22T22:22:00.000-08:002010-02-07T13:47:28.398-08:00

Every year around winter I make my homemade white macaroni and cheese. What better winter time comfort food than mac and cheese? I tried to keep the rest of the menu simple and healthy since our main course was going to be rich, gooey and indulgent. For an appetizer I made guilt free spinach dip served with pita chips and endive spears. I started dinner off with a wedge salad made with

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-62112482567317065592010-01-14T12:12:00.000-08:002010-01-15T22:42:24.429-08:00

I went out on an experimental limb with my roasted vegetable lasagna. The reviews on Epicurious.com encouraged deviation from the original recipe, so I came up with a lasagna layered with roasted portabello, eggplant, red peppers and zucchini. I sparingly used the bechamel sauce which the recipe called for and substituted some pesto and red sauce to make up for it. I also threw in some

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-42494225941565626282009-12-15T14:50:00.000-08:002009-12-15T22:29:03.077-08:00

Jamie's Broadway Grille's Web siteI'll make this short and sweet. I know Jamie's is a Sacramento institution. I am aware it was recently featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. None of that made my maiden dinner experience at Jamie's good. Ray, Lisa and I went for our third dinner club night out. The restaurant is a true, legitimate dive. I loved the relaxed atmosphere

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-88807684051818943332009-12-15T13:57:00.000-08:002009-12-15T22:29:42.225-08:00

Fall is hands down my favorite season. In California it comes and goes in the blink of an eye so I was so happy to host dinner club when it looked and felt like fall outside. I decided to have a meal of autumn vegetables and I planned my meal to take advantage of the fact that Trader Joe's is selling bagged, cubed sweet potatoes and butternut squash. For our dinner I made roasted fall

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-15275778475830443752009-12-14T11:32:00.000-08:002009-12-14T11:35:40.966-08:00

58 Degrees & Holding's Web siteEvery now and then, Suzanne and I hit up 58 Degrees & Holding for a weekday lunch. It's a hidden gem for the lunchtime crowd. Rarely is there more than a couple other patrons -- making for a cozy, private experience with attentive service. You can have a long, leisurely meal without worrying about them needing to turn the table, or you can request fast service if

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-67897835152465062092009-12-11T21:34:00.000-08:002009-12-14T10:07:56.326-08:00

This DC was inspired from our recent trip to Hawaii (pronounced, as any 1 week tourist will tell you, Hawaii-E). Yes, it did start with a few Mai-Tais, and no, it was not really based on any Hawaiian recipees. We started with bacon wrapped water chestnuts in a sweet soy glaze, fresh fruit and cheese appitizers. For dinner we had a pulled pork sandwich made with a pork roast slow roasted overnight

Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006755691353532603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-7148759323981530052009-12-11T21:13:00.001-08:002009-12-14T10:10:18.145-08:00

Jamie's Broadway Grille's Web siteNothing says mediocre food like a dark dive bar. Jamies lived up to the challenge. The beer was good, and, the second beer was good too. The food, well that was awful. I ordered an open faced chili cheeseburger. Hard to mess up right? Dive bars make good hamburgers, right? well, no, apparently not. Although the chili was good, the plate consisted of an

Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006755691353532603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-8411687250877971222009-12-09T11:55:00.001-08:002009-12-14T10:13:23.766-08:00

Lounge on 20's Web siteLovely lovely lovely compared to my last post on Jamie's. What can I say? Totally different caliber of cuisine. The wine we ordered was out due to a Sac Foodie event that packed the place up; we weren't thrilled with our replacement option. I think the waitress could tell we were disappointed, so all of a sudden the wine sommelier showed up. He recommended another Pinot

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-68321543448625566652009-12-09T11:38:00.000-08:002009-12-14T10:11:34.171-08:00

Jamie's Broadway Grille's Web siteSo, for our 3rd Dinner Club Night Out, we chose Jamie's because it was recently featured on the Food Network and is a local favorite. I hadn't been in years, so was looking forward to having a cocktail and some comfort food. What I got was a lot of heartburn! Ouch! My first impression was that Jamie's is extremely lively and fun, but it was packed. We barely

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-63394065053433072342009-11-24T11:32:00.000-08:002009-11-24T12:22:43.552-08:00

For this one, I whipped up a random array of dishes I thought would be Dinner Club-worthy -- no theme, just stuff I thought folks might like. App number one was a fontina and roasted red pepper pizza on a cornbread crust. The other app was black-eyed peas croquettes with a barley malt dipping sauce. The entree plate had a scoop of barley casserole and a slice of a sweet potato and goat cheese

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-75352286372813054762009-11-10T10:52:00.000-08:002009-11-24T11:36:49.077-08:00

After what seemed like the longest summer ever, the leaves are finally on the ground and it's time to break out the sweaters and hot cider. My dinner club was inspired by fall flavors. I started with a caramelized apple and onion bruschetta with melted brie as my appetizer. The bite of white wine vinegar really brought out a unique taste in the apples, but there still was a hint of sweetness.

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-68298863438127131082009-11-03T15:36:00.000-08:002009-12-14T10:15:35.837-08:00

Frank Fat's Web siteRIP OFF! M-F are 1/2 off ALL martini specials at the bar at Fat's. I've gone several times. This past time the bar was packed and we asked if we could go ahead and sit at a table and still get the 1/2 off specials. They said yes. We sat down. After 6 very weak special martinis, we were charged $48 instead of $24. Unfortunately or fortunately, someone else had already picked up

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-56459865349819994102009-11-03T15:33:00.000-08:002009-11-03T15:36:26.127-08:00

I'll make this short, but Roxy's is a fun and fancy western-themed restaurant on Fair Oaks Blvd. Thursday night they have special burger and brew specials. I got to make my own lamb burger with very yummy and diverse condiments! Don't know how much vegetarian fare is available, though. This place is very meat oriented since the owners own Lucky Dog Ranch. Most of the meat is from their ranch or

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-72790019460237866692009-11-03T15:22:00.000-08:002009-11-04T14:02:37.005-08:00

I have to say, I'm not sure what inspired me to make soup for our last dinner club... Ha ha ha. Just kidding. I love soup. Our menu was inspired by the Soup Bible and also by Taylor's, in a sense. I started out with a simple brie appetizer that our friend Laura makes. I'm not sure if it was exactly the same recipe, but for mine I poured brown sugar on top of the round brie, stuck in the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-87804892606511390652009-10-11T12:20:00.000-07:002009-10-11T12:21:12.408-07:00

I am a huge fan of sweets. I will pick sweet over savory 9 times out of 10. I usually choose frozen yogurt over ice cream but since our first dinner club night out to Hot Italian in July, I have been back twice for gelato. The first two times I went to Hot Italian for gelato I ordered the caramel salato and that is still one of my favorites. On my last trip I wanted to try something new. My

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-72834186342291242122009-10-06T16:17:00.000-07:002009-10-06T16:45:44.052-07:00

Taylor's Kitchen's Web site I cannot believe I didn't know about this charming, lovely, little place. We've shopped at Taylor's Market every once in a while, but I never even noticed the restaurant right next door. What a find! The menu at Taylor's Kitchen is interesting and current, the food itself is delicious. The decor is perfectly pleasant and the service is excellent. Its plates are not

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-37072931520568929302009-10-06T16:06:00.001-07:002009-10-06T17:18:24.464-07:00

I can't control myself at Dinner Club. I always eat too much. And I feel super stuffed (guilty and fat) afterwards. So, I decided host a healthy dinner club: nutritious and low-fat (which means no cheese! a big deal on a vegetarian menu!). We started off with baked sweet potato chips and raw broccoli with a non-fat yogurt and fresh herb dip. The salad course was a watermelon-tomato-mint-red onion

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-29980075665702841502009-10-01T21:17:00.000-07:002009-10-06T16:42:21.681-07:00

Taylor's Kitchen's Web site This place is a hit. Excellent food, service and atmosphere, with a clear focus on fresh, high quality ingredients. The five of us started with antipasto and cheese plates. Both were very nice and went well with a sparkling wine picked out by our resident bubbly-aficionado, Sandra. I shared a beet salad that tasted like the beets were ripped from their home mere hours

Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006755691353532603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-42359414445244118192009-10-01T14:05:00.000-07:002009-10-06T17:24:27.548-07:00

I am late in posting this but better late than never. I did a Central American/seafood theme this time. For appetizers I served shrimp cocktail and crackers topped with a dollop of either sour cream or El Salvadorian crema, smoked salmon and capers. For our starter I served chilled avocado soup topped with chopped shrimp and cucumber. The main dish was home made (literally with my mother

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-37921779484197934862009-10-01T13:19:00.001-07:002009-10-01T13:46:56.144-07:00

What a charming little neighborhood restaurant this is! I loved the amusing rotating ceiling fans that are literally two small fans rotating on a long blade. Our Lucien Albrecht sparkling wine paired nicely with our four cheese plate. My favorites were the Humboldt Fog and Point Reyes Blue but I am partial to both of those so it was an unfair fight. The Carmody cow's milk cheese was a nice cheese

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-73763155434714888812009-10-01T11:40:00.000-07:002009-10-01T13:17:01.993-07:00

Our long lost dinner club member Katie and her BF Paul were in town last weekend. I thought it would be fun and appropriate to get dinner club together and go on a food and drink crawl to support a good cause. I have been to both of the past Crawl for the Cure events and thought they were tremendously fun for the participants and great for local businesses and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-2043824577818078622009-10-01T11:00:00.000-07:002009-10-01T11:36:44.724-07:00

On a recent Friday, my sister and I decided to spend the day in Napa. We decided to lunch at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone restaurant because I have always been curious about what goes on inside what appears to be a castle in the Napa valley. The inside of the restaurant was nice but looked like one you would find anywhere in CA. We settled on the patio instead for the views of

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-7019154808236290622009-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:002009-10-01T10:21:26.865-07:00

Taylor's Kitchen's Web site Our 2nd dinner club outing was a lot of fun. I won't write too much about what I think the others will say, but there were some pros and cons. The pros: the service, atmosphere, and decor. What a great romantic neighborhood restaurant! I was digging the sink in the bathroom, and the 16-ply toilet paper. I'm not kidding! Ok. Maybe not 16... The waiter made a great wine

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-44043066681650086022009-09-23T13:50:00.000-07:002009-09-23T13:57:03.213-07:00

I wanted to get out and about today and try something new, so Ray picked me up for lunch to go to the Capitol Dawg. Who knew there were so many varieties of hot dogs out there? I had to try something traditional, so went with the Prop. 51 Chicago dog, grilled, with mustard, green relish, onions, tomato, kosher dill pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt on a poppy seed bun. Ray went with

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-20377193905765511862009-09-23T13:42:00.000-07:002009-09-23T13:48:46.342-07:00

The thing I love about Zelda's pizza is the pizza, of course, but also the slow-paced nature of the whole scene. It's funny that a lot of Yelp complaints for this restaurant rail on the slow service, but I think that's all part of the fun of going there! Anyone who knows me, too, knows I'm not all that patient when it comes to waiting. but, here, it's almost like it forces me to slow down and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-58060055768154882102009-09-14T13:44:00.000-07:002009-09-15T11:31:57.900-07:00

When the hubby and I were trying to decide on last week’s feast, we kept coming up with “been there, done that” ideas. Then, out of no where, we were hit with the idea of a good ole fashioned crab boil: complete with plastic table clothes and eatin’ only with our fingers. The Mr. took the laboring oar on this dinner, but I did help out by baking the corn bread muffins. We started with lump

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-22243500291179500672009-09-09T13:16:00.000-07:002009-09-16T14:37:48.877-07:00

Plan B's Web site After a long awaited date night, we finally booked a sitter for Saturday night to make it happen. Chris picked the spot - a hip little french joint just around the corner from our house called Plan B. This place was AMAZING. From the decor to the service to the food - 5 stars all the way (even when the guy who was a few scotches in knocked over our almost empty bottle of wine

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-23219817853848335912009-09-09T12:18:00.000-07:002009-09-09T17:25:15.582-07:00

Pearl on the River's Web site Despite the fact that I live around the corner from Pearl On The River, I hadn't been -- until this week. I met an old friend for lunch at Pearl, a cute spot next to Chevy's on Garden Highway. I like the warm, chic environment and was impressed with the menu. I, however, was not impressed with my roasted beet salad -- the beets didn't seem fresh, and were dry. The

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-34858668538494303412009-09-08T20:32:00.001-07:002009-09-09T17:26:56.185-07:00

Work has/had been really stressful, so I was looking for an easy yet yummy dinner club recipe. My mom served us a comfort food enchilada casserole at the beach/Pajaro one weekend, and I knew I had a winner. Enchilada casserole is essentially fresh bean and cheese burritos (you can make your own or use frozen- I made my own), layered with a can of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, olives,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-5073726432044534102009-08-23T12:27:00.000-07:002009-08-24T12:44:28.174-07:00

Overall, a fun place with good food, if you order the right pizza. I thought the place was a modern spin on a traditional pizzeria that leaves a good impression. I liked the open air feel, large tables, unique menu choices and gelato counter within reach for a cool & creamy dessert. The collection of black plastic forks on the wall was intriguing, but has left me with a secret desire to tape up

Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006755691353532603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-31612699752883920362009-08-23T11:59:00.000-07:002009-08-24T12:46:24.930-07:00

Thai iced tea was a nice accompaniment to the hot and spicy tofu pad thai and green curry shrimp. Everything I served this week was based off recipes found at http://www.importfood.com/. Spicy Pad Thai: Fish sauce, sugar, tamarind concentrate, tofu and sriracha sauce (rooster sauce) gave this pad thai a nice authentic taste. Fresh ginger, been sprouts, cilantro, and lime juice really added a

Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006755691353532603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-78122650921280411302009-08-12T13:50:00.000-07:002009-08-12T14:03:02.144-07:00

Buckhorn's Web site You go to Buckhorn for the tri-tip. Or something else meaty. I just ate their portabella sandwich. Not impressed. Nor have I been impressed with their salads. So, vegetarians beware (although the mashed potatoes are delicious - how can they not be with all that butter and salt?). Buckhorn Grill is a tasty spot for carnivores who need a quick bite.

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-24926900193350124042009-08-11T21:31:00.000-07:002009-08-13T08:51:44.235-07:00

Hot Italian's Web site Hot Italian is making a credible run for the Hippest Pizza Joint prize in our fair city. CPK has a great location but is way too corporate, Zelda's is a pain in the ass with their shotty service, and I don't have enough tattoos to hang with the Inferno Pizza crowd. So that leaves Paesano's and Hot Italian for those of you who want a pie and want to be in the scene while

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333981119851309825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-1437365129468144202009-08-06T22:52:00.000-07:002009-08-06T23:21:33.601-07:00

Tonight went out to Azukar for a salsa lesson. I had 15 minutes to kill before they opened the club for the lesson and I needed some liquid courage. I ducked into Hamburger Patties next door to grab a tequila with a beer back. Patties, formerly Hamburger Mary's, is a gay bar/restaurant. The crowd is always a great mix of gay, straight, young and older. Tonight the owner was celebrating his

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-10131551997704002562009-08-06T09:52:00.000-07:002009-08-06T09:55:31.866-07:00

Mix's Web site I did swear to not go back here after my last experience, but I didn't want to miss out my girlfriends' rendezvous last night. I have to say that Mix really is a nice place to go for drinks after work ("nice" refers to the place -- not the drinks). The service was so much better this time. Both the outside and inside bar areas are well-decorated and ideal for enjoying drinks. So,

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-29935504978749061402009-08-06T09:46:00.000-07:002009-08-06T09:50:23.372-07:00

Mulvaney's Web site Why do I always forget about this place? Probably because it's in an unassuming building on a side street in midtown. Mulvaney's is lovely and consistently good. It has a relaxed, unpretentious environment in a small, low-frills place -- but the food is top-notch. We dined here on the last Second Saturday -- the rustic courtyard is beautiful, especially when it starts to get

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-69067343609271145842009-08-05T13:19:00.000-07:002009-08-05T14:09:46.605-07:00

Hot Italian's Web site Funny, we all have slightly different perspectives on the evening. I have to say that I thought the minimalist concept worked! I loved the hanging overhead fan, which appears to be an actual propeller from an airplane. Very cool. I also really enjoyed walking through the motorcycle shop while we waited for our pizzas; it was quasi-museum and quasi-pizza joint! Loved it! I

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-21263014312087564192009-08-01T23:57:00.001-07:002009-08-05T14:07:30.804-07:00

Hot Italian's Web site Here is my take on Hot Italian. I think the idea of a motorcycle and scooter shop attached to a pizza and calzone restaurant is very weird but who am I to judge? What is even more weird is that when the restaurant is busy, the overflow crowd gets seated at little tables inside the shop. I personally would not want to eat in a motorcycle showroom with a motorcycle on one

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-50371190501222093772009-08-01T23:28:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:15:51.717-07:00

Summertime is the perfect time to serve delicious fresh fruits and veggies. For my last dinner club I decided to make two summer salads. I served a salad I found watching one of Giada's shows on the food network. It was simple, just slice fresh avocado and papaya and dress with a simple lime dressing. For the dressing, juice and zest a lime, add a pinch of salt, a quarter tsp of sugar, 1/8 tsp

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-33824182245569251332009-08-01T23:05:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:31:54.011-07:00

Bandera's Web site I haven't been to Bandera in ages. I used to go there for drinks but since I don't eat red meat or poultry, I thought my options there would be too limited. However after reading Leslie's review I decided to give Bandera another try. I arrived before my company so I had a dirty Grey Goose martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives at the bar. It was served quickly and made

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-9777329588181917402009-07-29T21:19:00.000-07:002009-08-05T14:08:41.641-07:00

Hot Italian's Web site So ... Dinner Club had its first night out on the town. (We've actually all been out together, but this is the first outing on official Dinner Club business.) That in itself was fun -- a nice change. Our agreed upon restaurant was Hot Italian. First, I love the name. Second, interesting set up with the motorcycles and bikes and related apparel. Third, great pizza. Fourth,

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-53109367982693523152009-07-26T17:51:00.000-07:002009-08-12T23:07:11.117-07:00

I celebrated my recent birthday in my favorite city, New York. When I'm in NYC my favorite things to do are eat, shop and go to Central Park. I heard so many great things about Jean Georges at 1 Central Park West in the Trump Tower that I just had to try it. They offer a relatively affordable ($14 per taste) spring tasting menu that is updated often. I had already studied the menu online and

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-68355663867037962402009-07-26T17:42:00.001-07:002009-08-03T11:46:47.858-07:00

What can I say, this was hands down the best dining experience I had in a long time and my meal cost $11 tip included!! I still dream of the pupusas I ate here. I often wonder why pupusas never really made it mainstream in California. They are SOOOO good!!! Some background first. My mom is from El Salvador. My grandma used to make pupusas that were out of this world. She taught my mom to make

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-34085480807670669432009-07-21T14:02:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:36:36.299-07:00

Rio City Cafe's Web site I had lunch plans with my friend Megan today and we weren't sure where to go. Yes, there are lots of new places popping up downtown, but since we are located on Capitol Mall we decided to enjoy the Delta breeze and head for Old Town Sac. Rio City Cafe is the perfect spot right on the river. I mean, RIGHT on the river. I wasn't all that hungry so I had the Napa salad -

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-20478477877925806392009-07-17T12:08:00.000-07:002009-07-24T10:45:48.116-07:00

At my dinner club last week, the seven of us went through seven bottles of wine. (I opened an eighth, but we didn't finish it.) I think we should change our name to Wine Club.

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-56832868004639507772009-07-16T12:10:00.001-07:002009-08-03T11:38:04.920-07:00

El Novillero's Web site Still the best Mexican food in Sacramento.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-6648544049821325112009-07-16T12:08:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:41:31.070-07:00

Fox and Goose's Web site Holy moly, Sandra! Chimay on tap!

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-89894777921196105032009-07-16T12:03:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:43:54.307-07:00

CPK's Web site California Pizza Kitchen is an oldie but a goodie. I don't really like the atmosphere around Arden Mall, so the new CPK on L Street is much welcomed in the downtown parts. I ordered the Thai Chicken pizza, and my colleague ordered the fiesta pizza that came with extras like sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. quite interesting looking! I love that the state requires certain chains to

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-41852330917307380112009-07-03T15:27:00.000-07:002009-07-03T16:02:57.976-07:00

I have to say that Katie's last review of the sliders at "Pearl" per Sandra's post was pretty accurate. When they opened, we had tried the sliders and they were perfect. Katie had mentioned to us that they were a little dry, but ok. I just reordered them a couple nights ago, and they were dry!! I also had the beet salad again and found the lack of beets disappointing; it was more of an arugula/

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-33708308152082437642009-06-25T09:02:00.000-07:002009-06-25T09:12:06.929-07:00

Summer is officially here so I thought I would test out my BBQ skills on the gang this week. I started with grilling off some french bread drizzled with olive oil that I served with goat cheese and brie, with blueberries and grapes. We had a long discussion about goat cheese and everyone agreed that you have to eat it the day of opening it or else it gets a bit funky. For dinner I made cedar

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-5482702816900626442009-06-21T18:40:00.000-07:002009-06-24T11:21:48.986-07:00

I tried this place one Thursday for my usual weekly happy hour. It is a very basic and open space with dark wood floors, booths with dark wooden tables and upholstered in black. The bar in the center is a half circle surrounded by wooden stools with black seats. I found it odd that every booth is the same size so no matter what your party size you get the same size booth though there are a few

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-14248209046859783202009-06-21T18:19:00.000-07:002009-06-21T18:35:22.432-07:00

I'm writing this review over a month after our dinner club night out dining experience. This is where my handy note book comes in to remind me of what I liked and didn't during my meal. The restaurant itself is nice inside but it was a beautiful night to eat outside. Our server was attentive if not a little clueless. He tried really hard though. I found my ginger mojito too sweet and not

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-54647664404380886842009-06-16T22:19:00.000-07:002009-06-16T22:21:00.077-07:00

Again, the food was "eh," the beers fantastic. Soccer on the tube- great! Lots of space- great! Best thing on the menu besides beverages- the soups made daily.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-11682699920359010582009-06-16T22:06:00.000-07:002009-06-18T16:49:22.560-07:00

I've always wanted to make mole' but have always been too scared to try. The guinea pigs of dinner club seemed the perfect victims. I went for an easy red mole' recipe I found online for the crockpot. In general, the ingredients are set at slow cook for 8 hours, give or take: boneless skinless chicken thighs (free range), onions, canned whole tomatoes, cider vinegar, olive oil, cocoa powder,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-3945077941315595122009-06-09T12:55:00.000-07:002009-06-10T08:15:59.103-07:00

With so many new and trendy places popping up all over town, the hubby and I have learned that we are creatures of habit. Located next to another old fav, Bandaras, Tokyo Fro's has once again not disappointed. This time, we decided to hit the sushi bar without the kiddo, although Tokyo Fro's is quite kid friendly. We went on Friday night and it was pretty packed due to their amazing 1/2 off happy

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-78547440878244519742009-06-01T17:53:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:48:49.112-07:00

Cyrus Restaurant's Web site It doesn't get much better than this. Cyrus is not in Sacramento, but it's a couple hours away (in wine country) should you have a special occasion. I won't write up a proper review -- that'd be way too long considering we had the eight-course tasting menu. Plus some champagne and caviar to start off. And there were a few special "bites" that showed up in between

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-18048005962798957952009-05-31T19:58:00.000-07:002009-05-31T20:42:04.292-07:00

Frank Fat's Web site Update - As of 5/29/09, Frank Fat's has a "recession" help-the-economy set menu for two for $38. We enjoyed every morsel, especially the potsickers and honey-walnut shrimp. Call ahead, though, in case they get rid of this deal soon!

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-54763370587416926452009-05-31T19:49:00.000-07:002009-05-31T20:37:35.920-07:00

Morton's Web site I never went to the Morton's at its old location, but a lot of my coworkers like their happy hour and a lot of the bar fare appetizers. We decided to give it a try before Concert in the Park, since a bunch of us were headed over to watch a coworker's boyfriend's band play. I was quite impressed. They have a great patio, but also a nice lounge area. They list their happy hour

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-76649147435774621982009-05-31T17:06:00.001-07:002009-06-01T18:06:12.537-07:00

Tre's Web site My curiosity got the best of me. I don't like to patronize businesses that don't appreciate their customers and after reading many atrocious reviews on Yelp I decided I should not go to Tre. However, I am always on the hunt for new happy hours to go to and Tre has one that goes from 5 until 7. I caved and decided to check it out. It is in an odd location. It is in the old El Torito

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-17628321169329898132009-05-25T14:32:00.000-07:002009-05-28T17:22:23.016-07:00

Il Fornaio's Web site A couple of us at work held a small private retirement lunch for a group of 12 at Il Fornaio the other day, and I would highly recommend for such functions. I've been to a rehearsal dinner there (my own), a wedding reception, and a bachelorette preparty-dinner, and every time they've done really well at accomodating our needs. Also a plus: they do not charge extra for the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-62299390649477024432009-05-22T20:33:00.000-07:002009-05-23T13:30:10.824-07:00

Pearl on the River's Web site Our first impression was good. We had a small plate dinner consisting of the beet salad, sliders, clams with chorizo, and polenta-mushroom tart. Coffee and bread pudding for dessert. Overall this place is a HUGE improvement over prior establishment The Blue Gecko (aka the Denny's-like-place called The Blue Gecko). Physically, the location is nice, great views of the

Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006755691353532603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-11394519815234559152009-05-22T19:58:00.000-07:002009-05-23T13:36:20.343-07:00

Our recent Dinner Clubs have leaned toward the more healthy persuasion. I had to get us back on track with this Foccacia-Basa Sandwich, sweet potato fries, and chocolate brownie & port offering. There was a light broccoli salad with fresh walnuts and dried cherries to put something green on the table and throw off the veggie-lovers, but this dinner was all about the sandwich. Basa is a white,

Rayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05006755691353532603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-49437505025831697942009-05-18T22:23:00.000-07:002009-05-19T15:04:04.735-07:00

Dragonfly's Web site I sit up at night concerned about empty restaurants. Dragonfly is the source of my latest dose of insomnia. The restaurants around it (Zocalo, Paesano's) are always packed, but Dragonfly rarely has more than a smattering of occupied tables. If it weren't for Leslie's recent review, we probably wouldn't have tried it again. It was about 7pm on a Thursday, and -- sure enough --

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333981119851309825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-56490654999361878962009-05-18T22:19:00.000-07:002009-05-28T17:23:21.242-07:00

Yogurtagogo's Web site After we finished up at Dragonfly, we walked to Yogurtagogo for dessert. It's a cute, tidy, tiny spot on the corner of L and 18th. Nothing special, but a nice option on the block. It's one of those self-serve places that sell by weight whatever concoction you put in your bowl. After going through some free samples, we shared a bowl with chocolate and tarte yogurt flavors,

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-62631673388462510042009-05-17T11:32:00.001-07:002009-05-17T15:47:01.837-07:00

58 Degree's Web site I went to 58 Degrees for some wine and a bite to eat. After ordering a trio of tastings of wonderful red wines (Mc Crea Syrah, Macchia Zin and Peter Franus Zin) I got hungry. I was thinking I would indulge in their delicious mac and cheese but I decided to try their Daily 20 menu instead. It is a three course meal for you guessed it, $20. You choose from at least two options

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-27902263479211269062009-05-14T14:43:00.000-07:002009-05-14T17:00:03.034-07:00

I was happy with the grilled zucchini I made for dinner club. And with the roasted tomatoes. The lentil salad with baked sweet potatoes wasn't great. But the white anchovy bruschetta app was a hit. ZUCCHINI SIDE DISH: I sliced the zucchini into thin planks, tossed with olive oil and grilled each side on medium heat -- to lightly sweat them out. Then I cranked up the heat to give each side some

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-78423677005330293732009-05-11T11:47:00.000-07:002009-05-11T16:10:24.124-07:00

Dragonfly's Web site After securing a babysitter for a long-waited and much-needed date night, we decided to wing it and make our final dinner choice selection once we hopped in the car on Sat night. We discussed tapas or Asian or sushi.... which led me to thinking about Dragon Fly on Capitol. It was second Saturday and we were already half way there, so we figured we check it out and if it was

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-76217425980189435112009-05-10T17:14:00.000-07:002009-05-10T17:17:59.041-07:00

Mix Downtown's Web site The last time I went to Mix, I had only positive things to say -- we sat at the bar, had decent wine and a great bartender. After my more recent visit, I doubt I'll go back again. John and I were craving margaritas, so we initially went to Zocalo. But it was packed and I really wanted to sit down (I was wearing killer heels). So we ended up at Mix. Their menu listed two

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-19106716903591998362009-05-10T16:18:00.000-07:002009-05-10T17:47:48.345-07:00

Last week I decided to make healthy pesto pasta. I used whole wheat rotelle pasta. I made the pesto differently than normal basil and pine nut pesto. For my pesto I used spinach and arugula with walnuts. You don't need the arugula if you are not a fan of the flavor. You can also substitute the walnuts for almonds if you prefer. Add salt, pepper, EVOO, garlic, red pepper flakes or a whole jalapeno

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-27129861282830366712009-05-04T19:59:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:11:29.813-07:00

The Grange's Web site When it first opened, we weren't in a hurry to check out The Grange because we heard the service was a little iffy. Now that it's been open for six months (and we needed a hot spot to eat before the Chelsea Handler show), we decided to give it go. It was worth the wait. The service, food and atmosphere at The Grange was top-notch. The hostess offered to bring us umbrellas

Bernadettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08462125500399027269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-48537341122481181622009-05-01T10:14:00.001-07:002009-05-01T15:21:11.976-07:00

We were missing 2 of our compatriots the other night, but I will recap for them and others, if interested in the recipe(s). This was probably the most healthy dinner club I have made of late ... Appetizers were sliced cucumbers with spreadable whipped cream cheese, a slice of lox, capers, and sliced red onion. The main dish was a stuffed portabello mushroom wrapped and baked in phyllo dough,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-27257133152560389352009-04-25T18:47:00.000-07:002009-05-01T15:12:18.122-07:00

Lounge on 20's Web site Until today I usually had great things to say about this place. It has a modern, open warehouse turned swanky lounge feel. The decor is nice and the red lights, candles, white curtains, white leather chairs and ottomans contrasted with the dark furniture and accents makes for a great cocktail atmosphere. The small plates are good and the service is usually good too. The

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-73330287399237967982009-04-23T09:03:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:50:06.154-07:00

I know we don't blog about out of town places, normally, but Phil's Fish Market is easily one of the best fish markets around and easily accessible on vacations, such as to Monterey or Carmel. Phil took on Bobby Flay of the Food Network channel and won for the Cioppino cookoff. We highly recommend ordering one bowl of cioppino for two people.... It is enough for two. The east coast oysters on the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-77777649489489479022009-04-23T08:50:00.000-07:002009-05-01T15:13:28.475-07:00

Ella Dining Room and Bar's Web site Recently, a prix fixe menu for Ella for April was emailed to us, so we thought we'd try it out. $25 Lunch and $35 dinner. Great prices, although the entrees are entrees from the lunch menu, which is ok, though, because if you break it down, you are definitely getting your moneys worth. As usual, the service and decor were excellent. The only downer- when we

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-87078897740962254752009-04-03T08:25:00.000-07:002009-05-01T15:16:00.916-07:00

Fat's Bistro Web site The hubby and I had a rare date night without our little one and after running a few errands, somehow stumbled upon eating at Fat's Asia Bistro & Dim Sum Bar in Folsom on Thursday night. Not surprisingly, it was packed. Overall, the service was pretty quick considering there were still people waiting to be seated when we left at the ripe hour of 8:00 pm. The decor is

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-17831193505100428532009-03-29T15:21:00.000-07:002009-05-11T16:08:38.396-07:00

Center Court's Web site Out of town people are fascinated by this place. I don't blame them! It's a great sports memorabilia bar, being that Chris Weber, former Kings' player, owns it. The food is always so-so, but if there's a game on, it's a great place. A friend from out of town and I went there, and had chicken fajitas and the grilled chicken sandwich. Both were respectable; they serve crazy

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-58751816305427076952009-03-29T15:17:00.000-07:002009-05-01T15:22:41.450-07:00

de Vere's Web site As compared to prices at Frank Fat's, see below, we went to lunch at De Vere's and for a 2:00 PM "lunner" ended up spending $50 for 4 beers, a bowl of soup, fish and chips, and a straight 15% tip. Not the best value for your buck nowadays (for all you value shoppers), but the ambience, I guess, is the reason to go. It's lively, loud, 2 bars, lots of draught options, and hot men

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-70583094135212857672009-03-29T15:12:00.000-07:002009-05-01T15:20:11.083-07:00

Frank Fat's Web site I've reviewed before, but to sum downtown Frank Fat's happy hour: 1/2 off martinis, $1.95 beers, and 1/2 off appetizers. 3-6. We had 4 drinks and 3 appetizers for $40, which included a fat tip, since I was shocked at the crazy low bill. The dim sum, lettuce wraps, and salt and pepper calamari were all cooked well, and was enough for 2 of us for dinner. Note- you must sit at

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-43451189215352040852009-03-28T16:44:00.000-07:002009-03-28T21:35:56.009-07:00

This last Wednesday I decided on a Mediterranean theme. The menu was smoky eggplant dip with crackers, Moroccan shrimp with couscous, grilled halloumi cheese and dessert was homemade berry scones with lemon curd and crème fraiche. So the dessert wasn't quite consistent with the theme. Nobody complained. The appetizer was surprisingly easy. I took one large eggplant and poked holes in it with

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-41502927372882700342009-03-23T15:22:00.000-07:002009-03-23T15:57:07.882-07:00

The Counter's Web siteBurgers ... everything a growing boy needs. My wife and I go to Whole Foods in Roseville every week because, oddly enough, the Whole Foods out there is a quicker trip for us (in Natomas) than the one on Arden. However, I don't mind going out to Roseville since right next to the Whole Foods is the newly minted The Counter (a.k.a. John's reward for chauffeuring his wife to

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333981119851309825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-46576809977713159362009-03-15T14:04:00.000-07:002009-08-03T11:49:35.424-07:00

Dinner at Cuvee in Napa was the close of a nice day of being shuttled around Napa in a limo and wine and tasting with my good friend Danielle, her mom and my new friends Maria and Lillian. Cuvee was dark and elegant but still casual. The front room is a cozy and plush lounge/bar area complete with a roaring fireplace. The lounge opens up into a large dining area that was buzzing and full of

Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267547973521715008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-63288244184397106352009-03-12T14:22:00.000-07:002009-03-23T15:38:32.584-07:00

de Vere's Web site My office has been so busy lately, so I decided to organize a unit lunch to boost morale. I wanted to try something new, so we went to De Vere's on L and 16th. As far as the food goes, we had a couple so-so's from my colleagues, and a big plus from me for the potato leek soup. Other meals tried were the chicken sandwich, cobb salad, fish and chips, and BLT with irish bacon. But

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02119824027077580297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4769367801754898190.post-18229861691363124932009-03-12T09:15:00.000-07:002009-03-23T15:54:37.277-07:00

After several weeks of gut wrenching illness in our household, we were finally ready to have the gang over for our dinner club. I started off with a shrimp cocktail and steamed edamame. Simple, but it seemed to be enjoyed. But shortly thereafter, the trouble began! I had planned on serving shrimp wrapped in rice paper along with a ramen noodle dish. Well, I had prepped the vermicelli noodles,

Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17881273579229594620noreply@blogger.com4