10 days of Feasting



My pancake view from Jer-ne at Marina Del Ray

 After completing my first NPC Bodybuilding Competition in San Diego, I did what any girl would do: I pampered myself completely and took a well-deserved break from my workout schedule.

Yup, that’s right. I gave myself a 10 day vacation to eat whatever I wanted and be a couch potato before going back to the gym.

So did I pig out on burgers, steak, pizza and pasta? Um…no. Surprisingly, none of those things really tempt me and I seldom eat them.

Also I don’t eat red meat or pork so a lot of the stuff normal people eat when “off” their diet doesn’t even make it on my plate. I have never even had a Big Mac in my life.

MICHELLE'S LIST OF CRAVINGS:

What was on my list of indulgence was much more specific:



The best pancakes -EVER!



1) Pancakes -Pancakes are actually a part of my workout plan and I'm allowed to have them once a week as my cheat meal - which I'm glad because they are my comfort food.

But I'm pretty sure these pancakes that I ate the morning after my competition would not be approved by my coach.  They are from Jer-ne in Marina Del Rey and I had researched them in advance, knowing they would be the treat I would have as my first celebration meal. 

They were worth the wait and so was the journey to Jer-ne at Marina Del Ray (ha ha...I'm so puny).

 That stuff on top is graham cracker strudel and peaches.  What you are not seeing in this photo is the bowl of vanilla cream and hot maple syrup that came on the side. So good. 

I ate it all. Every. Single. Spoonful.

2) Bread and Wine – Kind of feel like I’m writing about the biblical last supper here, but for me really good bread and a glass of exceptional wine are perfection. I’m not talking bagged grocery store bread. Nope. I’m talking the thick and hearty stuff that goes great with a chilled glass of Chenin or bold Cabernet.

I was able to get my fill at George’s at the Cove in La Jolla. My “All the Breads I’ve loved before” blog goes into detail about my love of this treat so I won’t go into it now.

Fried stuff

3) Fois Gras – Yes, I know this is bad in so many ways, but what can say? It’s one of my weaknesses.

Normally, I’ll get it as a treat when I go to San Francisco, but I knew I wouldn’t be going there during my 10 days of feasting.

Instead I settled for the Fois gras at George’s (yes, the same place I got the bread). Needless to say, it was a pretty fabulous meal. 

4) Something Fried – I don’t eat a lot of fried foods as I’m a little bit sensitive to oils and bloat up like crazy, but I do like fried oysters.  Unfortunately the place I went to in La Jolla to fulfill my craving didn’t have them – so I settled for spring rolls.

While they weren't the best rolls I had ever eaten (too much chicken and not enough vegetables), I loved the atmosphere of the place and the giant fire pit on the patio.  If you go to La Jolla, being near fire is a "must have". It gets cold there at night.

Roppongi, the name of the place, also has happy hour appetizers and drinks if you go there before 6 p.m. which I did. Don't worry.  I didn't go to George's and Roppongi on the same night.  I split up my decadent treats so I could fully savor them one day at a time.

Fruity girly drink (cherry was at the bottom)

5) A Fruity Drink with a Cherry - What I did get on the same night (mostly because it was happy hour) was a super girly fruity drink. This one was called a Tokyo Rose and it fullfilled all my fruity drink cravings. 

Not only was it thick and fruity, it also came with a cherry!

6) Popcorn - Yup, that's right. I wanted plain popped corn. No butter, no flavorings - just the real thing.  Not showing you a photo of this as that would be lame.

7) Lobster - I actually was lucky and got to have lobster in three different ways during my 10 days off my training dietary plan.

Three days after my competition I was food judge for an iron-chef style of competition.  One of the mystery ingredients was lobster (bonus!).

That night I savored it poached and with a cream sauce.  Both were yummy.

Miso Marinated Black Cod

But that wasn't enough. I stopped at Navio at Half Moon Bay on my way back from San Diego and they happened to have a lobster appetizer on the menu.

How could I resist?  I had to get it once more.

Again it was poached with some sort of fruit enhanced vingarette. Grapefruit maybe?  I can't remember exactly, but I do know it was a light, delicious treat that I followed up with #8 on my list.

8) A Really Flavorful Meal - While I liked most of the foods on my training program, nothing beats a gourmet meal -- especially if you get that meal from a five-star restaurant like Navio. 

While watching the sun set over the ocean, I ordered the Miso Marinated Black Cod that was in dashi broth.  I know you're thinking this isn't exactly the most fattening of meals, but for me, it was all about the taste.  Good food doesn't have to be heavy - just yummy.

Tiny profiteroles:-(

9) Ice Cream - The last two weeks before the show, I has intense ice cream cravings. This could be because it was finally hot in Sacramento or maybe it was because one of my friends kept posting these amazing sundaes on Facebook or texting them to me on my phone.

I'm usually not a big ice cream eater, but once the craving was planted in my brain, I couldn't get it out.

I ordered the ice cream filled profiteroles from Navio for dessert, but that didn't do it. They were too small to satisfy my craving. 

So the hunt was on.  AND on my last day of decadence I found the ice cream dessert worthy of my sweet appetite. 

Ginger Elizabeth (the chocolate genius of Sacramento) has salty caramel ice cream bars made with macarons.  It was love at first bite and I knew I had finally found the treat to satisfy my ice cream craving.

Salty caramel ice cream bar

10) Chocolate - I love chocolate. I think I may have had some sort of chocolate treat every day of my 10 days of feasting (well, maybe not every day, but at least 7 of the days).

I had chocolate cupcakes, M and Ms, flourless chocolate cake, hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate chip pancakes. I even had chocolate oatmeal.

Yes, I think I am done with chocolate now and can go the next 8 weeks without feeling like I'm missing out.

READY TO HIT THE GYM
After 10 days of eating, am I ready to go back? Yup. I miss the gym, miss how flat my stomach was when it wasn't bloated and am actually missing my healthy meals. 

But I am glad I took these 10 days off to indulge. 

It's now back to the being good. 
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All the Breads I’ve Loved Before



mmmm...bread

You can’t always judge a restaurant by its printed menu, but sometimes you can judget it by its bread – or at least I can.

On Saturday, I had dinner at George's at the Cove in La Jolla. I had checked the menu on the way in, but you never can tell when eating in a touristy place by the water, just how good the food is going to be.

However, my doubts disappeared when they brought the bread. It was then I knew it was going to be a good “food” night.

Whoever picked out the bread at George’s has a carb lover's heart like me. The bread (whole grain and hearty) arrived still warm and wrapped in a cloth napkin.

But it was what it came with that made it really memorable: softened butter, gourmet cracked pepper, seasoning salt and sea salt – each in their own little container so you could sprinkle on your own dash of this and dash of that, which I did.

Do I have to say it? Yes, I do. It was heaven.

It was so good I didn’t care that it took a while for my roasted duck breast and almond crusted fois gras a while to arrive because of the 50 person private party they had going on. The chef at George’s apologized for the wait and gave me free dessert (I never refuse free dessert), but really I didn’t notice the long wait as I was busy savoring my bread and drinking my glass of Spanish red wine.

The main meal - duck and almond crusted fois gras

When it comes to good bread, time stands stills. Besides, I was enjoying the second last night of my week of indulgence after my NPC training session before I went back on my training schedule. Yup, I was going to eat every piece as slow as possible.

You know how they say you always need to make a good impression? Well, obviously this bread made the ultimate impression on me, but there are other restaurants that have done the same.

Five I can think of right now are:

1) Cheap (Tampa) – Great bread that they serve with strawberry flavored butter. They make it by adding real strawberry juice to the butter and whipping it together.

2) Senses (Toronto) – They also have three or four different types of bread that they serve you with your meal. Fabulous stuff, plus, you can purchase loaves at their bakery too.

3) Oyster Catchers (Tampa) - Here they serve you warm rolls and butter, but it’s the hickory smoked sea salt that makes their bread offerings out-of-this-world good.

4) Terra (North York) – They serve a basket of warm sliced bread that usually includes two or three different kinds. These are served with butter and at least one other spread that could include hummus, an olive tapenade or something original the chef came up with. You want to go back just to see what type of spread they are serving that day.

5) Treebeards (Houston) – I know people go there for the meat and Cajun stews, but I could go just for the jalapeno cornbread. Nothing like it anywhere.

Now that you know some of my most memorable bread places, I’ve let you in on two that have crappy bread baskets.

1) La Papillion (Toronto) –Cold sliced French bread that comes with hard butter in the foil wrappers. So not appetizing for a fine French restaurant.

2) Gus’s Fried Chicken (Memphis) – Gus’s has the best chicken maybe in North America, but they serve white Wonder Bread. Maybe you’re not supposed to eat it? Maybe it’s for soaking up the grease?

You have any favorites? Let me know.

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Food judging an Iron Chef-style challenge

Chef John Holloway

Sitting with the other two judges at Atria El Camino Gardens’ “Who’s Cuisine Will Reign Supreme” food challenge, I was nervous.  Not about how I would judge the food. No...I've eaten in enough places and written enough food articles and restaurant reviews to know what food tastes good and what food doesn't.

What I was nervous about was the mystery ingredients. What were they going to be.

“I always have a front sit when they do these events,” said Helen Trowbridge, who has been a resident at Atria El Camino Gardens for seven years. “One time the secret ingredient was oysters. They made such strange dishes.”

In the past, other secret ingredients have included salmon, hummus, spam and beets.

William Husa

This time the ingredients were lobster, lemongrass...and popcorn.  Yup, popcorn. What in the world could you make with lobster and popcorn?

It seemed, I had the easy part of the job (I think).  I just had to eat what they made.  The four local chefs had the hard part: creating the dish.

Like the popular Food Network show, the chefs had to come up with a meal using all the ingredients and present it a panel of celebrity judges which included myself William Husa and Dana Nunnery. We would judge their creations on presentation, creativity and taste. And they only had 60 minutes to do it.

I wasn't too worried though, because I knew Chef Ray Duey was on one of the teams. Duey is a world renowned Chef and fruit carver. He was part of the team that won The Food Network Challenge: The Rematch: Fantasy Fruit Sculpture.

But all of the chefs did a great job.

Duey and his partner Chef John Holloway prepared lobster risotto with feta cheese, butter poached lobster on a bed of lemongrass braised fennel and a roasted red pepper salad with spicy popcorn croutons.

Chef Susan Stangroom and Chef Katie Johnson went with a more Thai style dish that included Thai noodles in a lobster/lemongrass broth, lobster medallions with a white wine cream sauce, and a side of chocolate popcorn.

The dishes were delicious and the judging was hard.

Duey's dish won in presentation, but lacked a little in creativity (although I thought using the popcorn as salad croutons was a pretty interesting idea), whereas Stangroom's dish looked less appetizing, but used the ingredients in a more creative way. 

Both were equal in taste and Stangroom’s team won by just a couple of points.

There was just one problem -- as judges you only get to taste, not eat the whole plate as they needed to take photos.  Who knew?

Pancakes never tasted so good

After cycling in the Gold Country Century ride in Auburn on Saturday, there was only one thing I wanted. Pancakes. Light, fluffy, yummy, pancakes with maple syrup.

This probably doesn’t sound like a big deal, but because I’m still following my Bombshell Fitness meal/workout plan, I only get to have one cheat meal a week – which means I can’t eat all the food that I want, whenever I want it. This really sucks when you are a foodie like me.

Even my cheat meals are restricted to certain foods and certain portions because I guess they know that I would totally go over-board and eat everything I could in one meal if allowed. The good news is that pancakes are on my “acceptable” cheat meal list. But I’m are only allowed two (if Blogger would let me insert a sad face, it would be here.)

So on Saturday morning, I dragged my butt out of bed at 5:30 a.m., loaded my bike in the car and drove off to Auburn for the Gold Century ride. The whole time I wasn’t thinking about whether or not I would fall off my bike because of my stupid clips (still have not mastered them). I wasn’t thinking about how cold it was or whether it was going to rain on me. Nope. I was thinking about pancakes.

I biked up the 2300 feet of hills and covered 50 kilometers in 2.5 hours. It was hard work and it was cold...and windy. I hate biking in the wind. My legs were numb and I couldn’t feel my fingers. There were times towards the end when I was panting up hills and wondering if the top would ever arrive, but I made it -- all because I knew that when I crossed the finish line, I would get to have pancakes.

And they were good. Just check out the photo. Aren’t they drool-worthy?

I’m sure my fitness trainer would cringe if she saw this, but I figure if I only get to have one cheat meal a week, I’m going to have the best, most decadent pancakes I can find – and in my neighborhood, these magic pancakes are at Orphan in East Sacramento.

No, they don’t have whipped cream or chocolate sauce on them or anything really junkie, but they do have blackberries and bananas. And they are just sooooo good. I savored every bite.

I’m sure I looked a mess sitting there by myself, all sweaty and still in my biking outfit. I also had major bad hair because of the bike helmet, but I didn’t care. I was having pancakes – and I deserved them.

I was a little good (only because my fitness competition is 33 days away), and left a quarter of my pancakes behind as I figure they are probably a little bigger than the average pancake.

But man…they were delicious. I may have to get them for my cheat meal again next week.

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Who is Ginger Elizabeth?

If you don’t know Ginger Elizabeth, you’re about to get an introduction. She is the Sacramento chocolate goddess. This is because everything she touches is delightfully yummy (just look at that stuff in the window - I could eat one of each!!).

I first came across her chocolate masterpieces at the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay a couple of years ago – which some of you know is my escape place where I go on my hermit weekends. While there, I drink wine, write, stare at the waves…and eat chocolate. Ginger Elizabeth chocolate.

At the Ritz, you get Ginger’s chocolate (yes, she is a real person) at the end of your meal or if you order the chocolate wine pairing. And these chocolates are incredible. After you eat these, you’ll not only wonder why restaurants would bother giving out mints at the end of their meal and not chocolate, but you’ll also want to know where you can get more of these bite-sized goodies.

I know, I did. But in my crazy mind, I had assumed these special chocolates were only available at the Ritz—or some far away place like France or Switzerland. Little did I know I could get them in Sacramento. Who would have thought there would be incredible chocolate just blocks from my house? Amazing!!

I swear I did a little happy hop (and maybe let out a little squeal) when I walked past the Ginger Elizabeth store a couple of weeks ago on L Street -- and it was even better than I thought.

In addition to the chocolates I still dream of from the Ritz, she also has hot chocolate, cookies, cakes and other things that make a chocolate-lovers heart go pitter patter.

I haven’t actually met the chocolate goddess myself yet, but until I do, I will continue to worship her handmade treats.

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Taste Restaurant: The perfect way to end a day of wine tasting

Grilled tuna

Fine dining in Amador County’s Plymouth? I would have never considered driving 45 minutes to Plymouth for dinner, but that was before I ventured into Taste Restaurant. Now I'm telling all my friends about it because this place is too good to miss.

Located on the town’s Main Street, Taste Restaurant is a decadent delight – and the perfect way to end a day of wine tasting in the foothills. From their best-selling mushroom cigars to their main courses, you won’t be disappointed. I got the crab citrus salad, followed by the grilled tuna and practically licked my plate clean. It was soooo good.

Of course, I couldn’t stop with just that. I had to follow up my meal with one of their incredible desserts – and I recommend you do the same because they are one-of-a-kind creations that you won’t find any place else. In fact, I couldn’t decide and ended up ordering two: The carro-miso, which is a beer soaked carrot cake with mascarpone cream, and the chocolate beet cake – which sounded strange, but was the best dessert I had eaten in a while. It’s red beet mousse with chocolate gelato and raspberry coulis.

The beet cake

See? It doesn’t sound good – and it’s very red, but it’s worth every calorie.

And here's a little tip....if you want to try Taste but don’t want to spend a whole lot of money, then I recommend driving up on Monday night. That’s when they have their prix fix menu. You’ll get 3 courses for $30 – not a bad deal for the great taste of Taste!

Revolution Wines still evolving?

You just have to say the words “wine tasting” and I’m pretty much there. I love the whole concept of appetizers/small plates and wine. It’s one of the reasons I love going to Napa.

So when Revolution Wines opened at 2831 S Street I was excited. I mean, how could I not be? There was a new wine place in town and they had their own cellar. Plus, they had all the words I love in their name – “wine tasting” and “bistro.” Whoo hoo. They also do winemaker’s dinners, which I also love.

Sadly, going there was not as fabulous as I thought it was going to be.

I’ve been to Revolution Wines twice now since their opening the Fall 2010. While I still love the whole concept and their chicken thai sliders are good, both times I have been disappointed in the wines.

The first time I tried a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Grenache. Both were mediocre. But I didn’t give up. I went back again a few weeks later and tried their Zinfandel. Again, it wasn’t fabulous. But if you want to taste for yourself, they do have $3 happy hour before 6 p.m. Plus, I hear their Chenin Blanc and their port is good – I haven’t tried either, so I can’t tell you what I think.

But it was their service that was the kicker for me. It was crappy. Both times they ignored me even though it wasn’t busy. In fact, the second time I waited 45 minutes for the server to give me a menu while I watched her seat, take orders and serve two other tables who came in after me.

Am I giving up on Revolution Wines? Yes…for the moment. I’ll try them again in a few months – because I really do like the concept of having an urban winery just blocks away from where I live.

So I’m keeping my fingers crossed that as they mature as a wine bar, their service and wine selection will also evolve from average into fabulous.

Blowing the diet with the best pancakes in town

Pancakes have to be the comfort food for the food-lovers soul. I have absolutely no resistance to them--which could be why the people at Orphan Breakfast House in East Sacramento have seen me two weekends in a row.

I started off being good by getting up early and running 5 miles in the park. But somewhere around mile 3, I started fantasizing about their pancakes and how Orphan is only a block away from McKinley Park. Coincedence? I think not.

By mile 4, I had already decided that if I made through mile 5, I would jog over and look at their menu.

Only look. No eating involved. I swear, I just wanted to see what their specials were.

That was my downfall.

This Sunday their special was raspberry and poppy seed pancakes with lemon curd. OMG. How could I turn that down? It’s not like I can make those at home. I’m not even sure what goes into making a tasty lemon curd.

So yes, I ordered them…with a side of rosemary potatoes. I figured if I was already falling off the no carb wagon, I might as well go all out and get the works.

And it was worth it.

I may even be back next -- just to see what they have on the menu.

Chocolate souffle cake and the ying/yang of food

Lately, something’s changed at Tuli’s, my little neighborhood bistro. And the change is only making the place better.

The menu gotten more sophisticated, the wine selection is better and the desserts….well…the desserts are sinful. This is because they have a new pastry chef. I’m not sure where she went to school, but she knows how to make some tempting treats that make you want to come back for more.

Take for example their chocolate soufflé cake. It’s out-of-this-world good. It’s moist, chocolatety – without being too sweet -- and garnished with pomegranate seeds. Thank goodness you can only buy it by the slice because I would be getting a whole cake right now if I could. (Hint to anyone wanting to treat me for my birthday).

The desserts aren’t the only menu itmes that have gotten better. The food has also evolved.

I admit Chef Adam Pechal at Tuli’s has always done a great job, but his new Winter menu has some things on it that need to be mentioned …and savored.

Keep in mind, I haven’t tried everything yet, but I did get around to tasting something they call “Birds of another Feather”. This is a pan-roasted Guinea hen with a spicy orange glaze, and for $21, it’s a steal. It's similar to the "Chicken and cabbage" dish they had in the fall, which was good - but this is even better. The marinade is more flavorful than before and the bean puree is less lemony. The whole dish is now mouthwatering good.

They also have these catfish fingers that are also yummy for $9. But I’m warning you, these aren’t that big, so you may want to only order them if getting a salad or looking for something small. They do make a good sharing appetizer though.

But my favorite new thing on the menu has got to be the sturgeon. Man…this is so good. Plus, even though, you will feel satisfied when done because it is filling, you will also feel healthy.

I call this dish the ying/yang of food because it’s the perfect combination of a being little bit bad and a little bit good – and here’s why. The fish comes with crispy Daikon cake (crispy means fried so that’s the bit that's bad), but it’s complimented with a light mushroom Dashi broth – that's the good. But the really good is how everything works together. In fact, the broth is so yummy you’ll want to scoop it up with a spoon.

Now if only there was some way I could make my gym workout a little more ying and yang. Maybe if it came with cake at the end?

Driving up the mountain ...for lunch

After spending a day skiing or snowboarding in Tahoe, nothing says decadence like a late afternoon lunch at Manzanita. Of course, I did none of those snow sports as I haven't gotten around to learning them yet. Instead, I went up the mountain for the view and ended up at Manzanita.

Located in the Ritz Carlton at Lake Tahoe, Manzanita is the resort’s signature restaurant where renowned San Francisco chef Traci Des Jardins prepares French-inspired cuisine with mountain resort influences. The food is tasty and creative with dishes ranging from Croque-Monsieur to a hearty duck and wild mushroom stew. I got the stew and it was fabulous.

Naturally, if you do go, you need to get a beverage to go with your meal. I picked a nice cabernet from their expansive wine list, but what I really wanted to try was a glass of their hot butter rum. I've never had this before, but have heard about it in British shows and pirate movies. Don't you think Jack Sparrow would drink hot butter rum? Or maybe he'll just drink any rum.

Alas, I stayed with my red wine selection after my waiter convinced me the butter rum would not compliment my duck stew at all. He was right....but I will be driving back up the mountain and next time I'm getting dessert AND the hot rum.

AAARG Matey!!

Romancing the souffle at The Firehouse Restaurant

While the cobblestone streets and boardwalk sidewalks in Old Sacramento are killer to walk on when wearing stilettos, it does have some good restaurants. So far I’ve been to Ten22 and some Italian-style restaurant by the water, but the one place I’ve been dying to try is the Firehouse.

I’ve heard from so many of my girlfriends about the wonderful food and how the place is one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. So naturally, I had to take myself there last Saturday night and I wasn’t disappointed.

First of all they have flights of wine. Now, I love wine, but because I’m a lightweight, I hate having to narrow down my choice to one glass. So when I see wine flights on the menu, I know I'm at restaurant that will soon become dear to my heart. If you don’t know what a wine flight is then you are in for a treat. It’s basically three glasses of three different wines—but instead of being big glasses, they are smaller pours. Basically you get to try three different wines for the price of one.

At the Firehouse, you could choose between three merlots, three pinot noirs, three chardonnays, etc. Because I knew I would be getting the duck (I love duck), I got the Cabernet flight. Yum.

I’m going to skip over my Shrimp bisque as it wasn’t out of this world and move right onto my main course –which was fabulous. The duck came with a dark cherry sauce and a Guinness forth. Whoever thought of adding Guinness to duck is brilliant and deserves to win a prize. The flavors are perfect together and I totally recommend it.

But I wasn't done yet.

After consuming my duck, I went onto dessert. Let me just say, the reason I only got the soup to start instead of something like their Dungeness crab cakes or the herb encrusted brie is because I cheated and took a peak at the dessert menu before I ordered. Yes, I am a girl and sometimes dessert comes first.

And here’s why. They have soufflé!!!

I have a thing for soufflé. Not only is it rare to find in restaurants, but it always comes with some sort of amazing sauce that you get to pour on like decadent syrup. So far my favorite one has been from Chez Phillip in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis where they had this chocolate orange soufflé with a rich anglaise sauce. So good.

At the Firehouse they serve a Grand Marnier soufflé. They bring it to your table hot out of the oven, then they open the top and pour raspberry coulis and a grand marnier/anglaise sauce into it. It takes 20 minutes for them to prepare, but it’s worth the wait…and every calorie.

As you can tell, I really enjoyed my night. I'm not sure if was all the romance in the air, but I definitely had a mini love affair with my food and savored every bite.

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A taste of the French Riviera in…Malibu?

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I love the ocean. So while in California, I’ve been checking out the coast in different areas – starting in the north and slowly working my way down to the southern beaches where you can actually wear a bikini and not a fleece-lined jacket like you do in San Francisco.

I swear I get fooled every time. I mean, who would have thought you could be sweating buckets at 104 degrees in Sacramento and then drive 90 minutes to the coast to discover it is only 70 degrees there? It’s completely deceiving -- not to mention freezing!

Anyway, this time I wanted to go to “real” beach so I headed to Malibu.

I had never been to Malibu, but I have always wanted to go. Not just because it’s the supposedly where the mega-rich Los Angeles people live, but because of that sitcom “Two and a Half Men” and of course, the Malibu Barbie commercials from the 80s. Yeah…not exactly the best reasons to go, but whatever, I was going.

The drive to Malibu from Sacramento isn’t that bad. It takes about 5 and a half hours, but it goes by quickly. But that could just be me as I have no problem driving the 9 hours to Vegas from here. I’m sure there are some of you who are thinking that’s a little too long to drive just to check out where Charlie and Barbie live.

LUNCH ANYONE?

So was the beach worth it? Not really. It was nice and much warmer than Half Moon Bay and San Francisco, but it’s not like the beaches in Clearwater or Hawaii. The sand wasn’t as soft and you had to kick the seaweed away to make room for your towel. Still, the waves were nice to watch and you could wear shorts without shivering.

While the beach was just okay, what was worth the trip was the lunch.

If you’ve been to any beach then you know what kind of food you can usually find in the nearby places. It’s usually burgers, deep fried fish sandwiches, maybe some cheesy tropical hut place that serves breaded shrimp, beer and watered down margueritas.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t have a problem with those places and have eaten at them a number of times. There were even a few by the beach in Malibu where I was.

But…when given a choice between a deep fried fish sandwich and a cute little French Bistro, you know which one I’m going to choose. Yup…that’s right. The one that has clean restrooms.

MEET DANIEL FORGE OF BEAU RIVAGE RESTAURANT

You’ll find Beau Rivage off the Pacific Coast Highway and it’s totally unexpected – or at least I didn’t expect it.

You’re walking, feeling hungry, passing the fried joints, when suddenly you see it.  The European style building surrounded by flowers.

Just one look at the little bistro tables and real linen table cloths and I knew this place would have a 4-star wine list.  Suddenly the sand in my flip flops and in my hair didn't matter anymore and neither did my wet shorts.  I was going to eat...and I was going to eat well.

Eating at Beau Rivage is like eating in Provence. The food is fresh and enhanced with fresh herbs and olives. This is because the owners are the real deal. 

Owner Daniel Forge is from France and owned a hotel in Nice with his brother before moving to California 25 years ago and opening the restaurant.  His wife Luciana is from Italy and was a professional opera singer from Rome. And there is no mistaking that they know food and have brought back some of the good stuff from the Riviera.

There is also a Sunday brunch where they have a classical guitarist, but because I was having lunch at 3 p.m. I didn't get to see that.

Still, my late lunch was incredible.  Even though I was not dressed for eating in a fancy restaurant and had absolutely no make up on (I did just come off the beach), Daniel was a gracious host and treated me like I was a millionaire. 

He recommended a pan-seared sea bass with a light sauce -- which was incredible.  It melted in my mouth and was the perfect way to end my Malibu beach trip.

Sadly, I didn't get any wine as I still had a 5 hour drive ahead of me. But next time, I'm going here first and will just watch the waves from their big bay windows.

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Toogood Winery is too good to Resist

For months I’ve been hearing how Fairplay is the new Napa. And you know what? I checked it out this week and is – except it’s much cheaper and cuter. I know you are saying that's impossible as Napa is pretty darn cute...plus, it's famous.

I say Napa, Schnapa...If you are looking for an intimate wine experience, then I definitely suggest taking a drive to the Fairfield/Somerset area. It’s about an hour away from Sacramento and hidden in the midst of rolling hills. In fact, the drive there is kind of nice and relaxing. I took this winding route from Buckeye Flat (yes, it really is called that) to Diamond Springs, and then onto Mount Aukum Road. It’s scenic, fun to drive and a nice change from the generic highway stuff you see if going to Napa or Sonoma.

But here’s the thing…because it’s so scenic you might start feeling that you’re lost. At least, I did. There are no signs that grapes and wine would even be growing in the area as it all trees and hills. I wasn’t even sure I was going in the right direction until I was two miles from my destination – which was the amazing Toogood Winery.

TOO GOOD WINE IS TOO GOOD TO RESIST

I found out about the Toogood winery from the News Director at News10. Tim Geraghty has been talking about this place for months and because I know he has good taste in wine (and food), I had to check it out. And I wasn’t disappointed.

I went on a Monday afternoon and had the entire place to myself, which is the way I like it because then I can chat up everyone and get a really good tour of the place. And you may want to do this too, because for your $5 tasting fee, you get to taste about six different types of bottled wine, two barrel tastings and a couple of their ports – from the barrel and from the bottle. Plus you get to keep your tasting glass as a souvenir. Bonus!

Sadly even though I love the stuff, I'm a wine lightweight and had to do the sip and spit thing towards the end.  There were just so many wines to taste for me. Yes, it's embarrassing, but I'm sure you'll do better than I did and won't waste a drop.

Oh and did I mention that this particular winery is located inside a cave? Yup, Toogood Winery is cool figuratively and literally.

“The cave keeps the barrels at an optimal temperature naturally. There is no air conditioning in here. The earth keeps it consistent,” said Joel, my wine guide.

BARREL TASTING IS FUN…AND WEIRD

Now I’ve been to a lot of vineyards in the US, Canada, France, Germany…and well, the list can go on. I love wine, I love the whole experience of seeing where it comes from and I love talking to the wine makers. It’s like talking artists about their work and sharing a common passion.

But, in all these years of visiting vineyards, I’ve never had a barrel tasting and wasn’t even sure what it was. It turns out a barrel tasting is exactly what it sounds like – you drink from the barrel. The thing is wine from a barrel tastes completely different from drinking from a bottle.

First of all, the wine is not quite done – so it can taste a little of what I like to call “green”. You get a sense of what it may taste like when it's done a few months from now, but it’s not quite as smooth as the finished product.

“The wines you’ll be sampling will be bottled in late August/early September,” said Joel. “You’ll also sample a couple of our ports that will ready in late November.”

Tasting the wine from the barrel was interesting and if you are wine lover I recommend you give it a try. It's almost like you get to experience how the master winemaker monitors the wine as it matures. In fact, you may even notice that the nuances of the wine are a little more pronounced. Depending on the wine, you may actually taste the fruity flavors, the peppery tastes and the other flavors those famous wine guys always talk about. One of the wines I tasted definitely had a green pepper after taste which was kind of interesting, but my absolute favorite tastings were the ports.

Toogood is currently aging this citrus port that would make an excellent addition to holiday dinners and their traditional tawny port had this caramel after taste that was to die for. Yum!!

Also, there is another bonus to the checking out the barrel wines and ports. If you like them and order them now, you can get them at a discounted rate when they actually mature.  The catch is you have to order six or twelve bottles. Tempting. Very tempting.

AND THEN THERE WAS DINNER

Needless to say, my wine experience was fabulous, but if you go to Fairplay, you must go on Monday and you must go to Bocconato’s.

You see, Monday is their no menu and no corkage night, and for $20 you get two courses of incredible Italian food. Don’t worry if you are a picky eater, they let you choose from a bunch of different things, but I recommend experimenting.

I had risotto with a mascarpone cheese sauce as my appetizer, followed by this scrumptious blueberry lasagna. Who would have thought blueberries would go with lasagna, but believe me, when I tell you it was excellent. In fact, I would drive all the way there again just for this Monday night meal.

But while the food was worth the drive, what makes Monday nights really special is the company. Many of the vineyard owners and wine lovers in the area show up and sit at the community table (so sit there). They each bring their own bottles of wine and the conversation begins.

You know how I love to talk to vineyard owners and farmers about their work? Well, sharing a bottle of vino with them is even more fun. Now you don’t get that if you go to Napa.

So what vineyards do the locals recommend I try on my next trip? Charles Mitchell, Oakstone and Sierra Oaks were a few that came up.  But really, they said you can't go wrong at any of them.

So am I banning Napa forever? Not exactly.  I still like checking out that region and will still bring my out-out-town guests there if they want to go. But for the times when I want a more intimate experience, I'll take the drive to Fairplay.

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Tres Hermanas: Holy mole!

All you Taco Bell lovers are about to hate me because I am a Mexican food snob. But it’s not my fault. I'm blaming it all on the great state of Texas.

Yup…when they say “don’t mess with Texas,” they don’t just mean the people; they mean everything and that includes the incredible Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine you can get there. I swear, before I had tasted the real stuff, I was happy with the bland Americanized versions you get at fast food places and non-authentic restaurants.

THE SEARCH FOR THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD

When I moved to California I was excited, because I know you can get some pretty good stuff here. So for the last few months, I’ve been scouring Sacramento in search of the best Mexican food – and finally, on Saturday I found it.

The name of the restaurant is Tres Hermanas (2416 K Street in Midtown) and their food is to die for.

So what did I get that was so mouth-watering good? The mole of course! Anybody can make a sizzling fajita platter, but getting a good mole is hard to come by. Believe me. I know. I’ve ordered it in many Sacramento Mexican restaurants and so far onlyTres Hermanas has me coming back for more.

It’s the perfect blend of warm spices, chocolate, peanuts, chicken and sesame. It’s spicy enough to make you feel it, but not enough to leave your nose running. Man…it’s so good. Just thinking of it now has me craving it.

THE BOTTOM LINE

But here’s the scoop: If you are looking for a trendy date place -- go to Zocalo because it’s pretty - and they make a good marguerita . If you are looking for great drinks, check out Azul’s. BUT…if you are looking for simply good Mexican food and don’t care about décor, being squished or the service, then come to Tres Hermanas.

Because let's face it, when it comes to good Mexican cuisine, who cares about all that stuff? For me, it’s all about the mole.

70 Years of ice cream goodness at Gunther's

Looking for some good old fashion fun? I was last week, which was why I took a stroll down memory lane at Gunther’s Ice Cream Shop on Franklin Blvd in Sacramento. The shop has been a neighborhood icon for years and is celebrating its 70th anniversary on May 15 by offering a hotdog, a drink, chips and a scoop of ice cream for only $2.
Now that's a deal!

WHY PEOPLE LOVE GUNTHER'S ICE CREAM
Of course, while I was there having a scoop of chocolate I had to chat up a couple of the people to find out their secret of success.

“Gunther’s was the place to go in the neighborhood,” said Eva, a long time customer. “I remember after ballet class we would come here. You would see all the girls lined up in their tutus.”

Now, that's adorable, but Eva wasn't the only one in her family to go to Gunther's. Her 93-year-old grandmother also was a frequent visitor and has been going there for years. Eva says it's the place everyone in the neighborhood seems to go.

Gunther’s Quality Ice Cream Company was established in April 1940 and was owned and operated by Herman “Pop” Gunther and his wife, Iva. It was originally located on 5th Avenue and Franklin Blvd, but after the war in 1949, they opened a larger store in 1949 at its present location, on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Franklin Blvd

WHO IS JUGGLIN' JOE?
Jugglin' Joe was the first thing I saw when pulling up to Gunther's. It's this giant animated sign located on top of the building.

I was just lining up the shot with my iPhone camera when a customer yelled to me.

“You’ve got to see it at night,” he said. “There’s nothing like it.”

I did come back later, but my as you know, the iPhone camera doesn't have a flash (so hoping they add it to the next version) so the photo sucked. But now I was intrigued with this sign and the fame behind it. I simply had to get the inside scoop from the owner...and another scoop of ice cream.

“It was ‘Pop’ Gunther who designed the animated Jugglin’ Joe sign,” said Marlena Klopp, who now runs the shop with her husband Rick. “You wouldn’t believe how many people drop by to take pictures of it.”

According to Marlena, the sign is one of the few neon animated signs left in the city. Just like the taste of their homemade products, it has become one of things customers expect when they come.

There's even a tale to go with the sign. They say if you see Jugglin' Joe not catch the ice cream scoop, then you get a free cone. That has never happened, but it's not the chance to get a free cone that keeps people coming back -- it's the family atmosphere and the ice cream.

“I just dropped off one of my grandkids. I’m here for a little treat for me,” said Jackie, Gunther’s Ice Cream customer.

Jackie has been coming to Gunther’s for over 19 years. She doesn’t live in the Curtis Park area, but in another part of the city. She says her grandchildren live by Gunther’s and when visiting them, it gives her an excuse to drop in for a little something sweet.

“Sometimes they are with me, but today, it’s just treat time for me,” Jackie said.

You can’t blame her. The secret to Gunther’s good taste is high quality processing, combined with all natural ingredients and a rich cream.

For 70 years, they have been scooping up treats for the neighborhood and on Saturday May 15 they plan to celebrate in style by bringing back the 1940s. In addition to their $2 meal deal, they have a day of fun planned for people of all ages.

“There will be a barbershop quartet, swing dancers and a DJ playing 1940s songs,” said Marlena. “We’ll also have a juggler and face painting, temporary tattoos and balloons for the kids. They’ll be something for everyone.”

Gunther’s will also be paying tribute to all small businesses in the area – both new and old. They will be raffling off a Beach Comber bicycle and other prizes that were donated by local businesses in the area.

Gunther’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
Date: May 15, 2010
12 pm. To 4 p.m.
Check out my Gunther's slideshow on News10.net

Sipping a little chai in the city

I’m a Starbucks girl and have been one for years. I rejoice when they bring back the peppermint chocolate squares at Christmas, and it’s not officially fall until the pumpkin latte shows up on the menu.

I’m such a frequent customer that I know the drink board by heart. I also know which Starbucks I can find a low-fat turkey & egg breakfast sandwich in the middle afternoon… and which ones will be sold out.

But lately I’ve been cheating on my Starbucks barista. Yes, it’s true. I’ve been seduced by a new coffee bistro and its name is Temple.

IT BEGAN WITH A LOOK…AND A SIP
My love affair with Temple began innocently enough. It didn’t matter what time of day it was, but whenever I would drive by the bistro on S street, I would see all these people milling around. What was this magical place that was always busy? Why were the people leaving so happy and relaxed? Was it restaurant? Was it a great bunch place or a secret wine bar for members only?

For weeks, Temple was like a stranger across a crowded room. It would catch my eye, but there wasn’t time to stop.

Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer. I had to check it out and it was love at first sip.

BEST CHAI IN THE CITY
I’m not going to lie to you – I’m a high maintenance caffeine drinker. I’m one of those annoying people who like everything extra hot, low fat and with special stuff added, etc. In fact, I’m so high maintenance I can’t even make my drinks the way I like them at home, which is why I have to pay experts to do them in coffee shops. Yes, I’m pathetic.

Temple gets this. And they embrace it. They take the time to make every drink by hand and each time you go it tastes slightly different. Not that this is a bad thing. The drinks are always good. They taste “real.” For them, it’s all about flavor and every beverage you order will have an abundance of it – whether it’s a coffee, espresso or a latte.

Even their ice tea is packed full of flavor.

And don’t forget their specialty drinks. Their Mexican hot chocolate is to die for and their chai….ah…man…I loooove their chai. You can actually taste the spices.

Of course, if you think Starbucks is expensive, you are going to have a heart attack at Temple as they are even higher. But it’s worth it – even if I can only afford to go occasionally.

Besides, now that I found this place, I find myself going to Starbucks less often and saving my taste buds for my weekly Temple treat -- so I’m kind of saving money in a weird way.

ESPRESSO TASTING AT TEMPLE ON MAY 8
Temple isn’t just a bistro; it’s also a place where coffee lovers can gather to learn about the art serving up the perfect cup of java. They actually have classes.

The topics vary throughout the year, but on May 8 at 10 a.m. you can check out their espresso tasting class. For $15 you'll taste 5 different espressos (you'll be buzzing after) and get a half pound of any coffee of your choice. Very cool.

All their classes are at their S Street location and they only accept 20 people per class so you may want to register in advance.

MEET UP FOR COFFEE
There are two locations in Sacramento.
1014 10th St Sacramento CA 95814
916.443.4960

2829 S St.Sacramento CA 95816
916.454.1272

Tuli Bistro: Great food, but with too much zeal

Tuli, Tuli, Tuli...I find myself at Tuli Bistro in Midtown Sacramento more often than I would like just because it's convenient and it's easy to find parking.

The good news is I've never had a bad meal at Tuli's and recommend their Maple Duck if they happen to have it on the menu. It's incredible-- especially when paired with a red wine like the Barbera.  I took a picture of it, but believe, it looks much better in real life.

The mussels are also good and so are any of their risottos. Like I said, I've never been disappointed with their food. They also have a great chocolate port which is totally worth the $12.

But what bugs me every time I go is how they rush you.

I swear, if you go at 7 p.m., they will be trying to hand over the bill before 7:50 p.m. to try to get the second seating in. However, if you show up later you still can't win and savor your meal. I know, because I've tried and have showed up at 8:10 and 8:30 just to test it out....and guess what...in both case they rushed me out before 9 p.m. --even though no one was waiting and they are open until 11 (they do stop serving food at 10 pm.)

It's rush, rush, rush with zero time to actually relax and enjoy your meal or finish that last few sips of wine. I'm sorry, but if I wanted fast food, I would have gone to a fast-food restaurant and paid $5 instead of $60 per person.

No really...it's as if they contradict their good food with their zeal to get you in and out.

So here's the deal. Amazing food, but they lose a star for ruining the experience by taking away the time to actually enjoy it.

Tuli Bistro is located at 2031 S Street in Sacramento.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue - Surprisingly delicious

A new always means discovering hidden gems in the ways of food for me....and I happened to come upon one toay.  But I'm going to warn you....don't be fooled when you walk in to L&L Hawaiian Barbecue at 1049 Broadway. This place is better than it looks.
I must admit, I didn't expect much when I dropped in, but I was pleasantly surprised and I will be back.

The food is made fresh, it's inexpensive and it's good -- really, really good. I mean, where else can you get a freshly made BBQ chicken sandwich for $2.99? And this is real chicken breast; not that processed stuff you get at other places.

I'm big into chicken so I haven't tried their other food, but they did have other BBQ meats and everything was reasonable. Just remember to ask for a mini portion unless you have a big appetite. This is because $7.99 will get you this massive BBQ dinner with tons of meat, rice and macroni. The mini orders are half the price and still massive.

This place is my new hidden treasure. You'll be seeing me there quite often.

Looking for that 'drop in' sushi place in Sacramento

Being new to Sacramento, I've been spending my time trying to find stand-by favorites like the Friday night pizza place, a local wine bar, a great place to run...and of course, that sushi restaurant where you can just drop in and relax.

I may not have found any of the other things yet, but I have found my sushi place. It's Ju Hachi by Taka on 1730 S Street, because how can you not love a sushi place that has an all-day Happy Hour every day of the week? You can get a big bowl of sesame chicken for $3 (see picture below) or tempura veggies and shrimp for $4. Plus the food is fresh and I'm all about fresh when it comes to sushi because I like the raw stuff AND I like my ahi to melt in my mouth.

The daily Happy Hour specials don't really change that much -- I've been there a few times and there is always the sesame chicken, the California roll and the tempura, but what does change are the daily chef specials. Now I'm going to warn you. These specials are really good, but they are not as cheap as the Happy Hour deals. However, they are fabulous.

I've gotten the chef's sushi roll a couple of times. The combinations of what's inside the roll are a little bizarre. In fact, I've had one that was a mix of grilled vegetables, raw tuna and apple. But here's the thing - they are always good. Taka and Ed (the sushi chefs) will also make specials just for you depending on what you like or if you are vegetarian. But here's a hint: Have them make you something with scallops. Ed is a food-genius when it comes to scallops and will leaving you coming back for more.

But while I do love the food, what keeps me coming back again and again is the atmosphere at Ju Hachi. I'm always looking for that neighborhood bar where you can simply chill. Ju Hachi has that vibe -- and all the customers know it, so they are chilling too.

It's the Japanese version of "Cheers".

Ruby Tequila's dares you to take the fajita challenge

I'm always look for the best so when I heard a rumer that the best fajitas in Houston were located at the newest Midtown Mex-Tex restaurant, Ruby Tequila's Mexican Kitchen, I had to check them out.

"Our fajitas are the best in the city," said Ruby Tequila's president Cory Strickland. "In fact, if you try them and don't agree, they're FREE."

Now I bet that has your attention.

BEEF, CHICKEN AND SUNSET?
It definitely got my attention so I had to go check them out - not that I'm a fajita connoisseur or anything, but I do know a thing or two about food having written for a food trade magazine for six years. Besides, I've been eating all my life.

Ruby Tequila's is opening officially on October 12 in Midtown and the venue has three types of fajitas: Fajitas al Carbon, Shrimp Fajitas and something called a Sunset Fajita, which is like your basic chicken or beef fajita but smothered with their special homemade queso inferno.

But before we even get to the fajitas, let me tell you what impressed me most about Ruby's is that everything is fresh...really fresh. I checked out their kitchen and they don't even have a microwave or warming station, which means every order is made to order. It also means, you're not going to get rubbery quesadillas, dried out tamales or crunchy old Mexican-style rice.

"Everything is made from scratch," said Strickland. "We don't buy anything pre-prepared. We chop up all the peppers, tomatoes and onions in the kitchen, we create our marinade for the meat, and we are cooking and prepping all day long."

I checked out the cooking stations and he wasn't exaggerating. Everything was made the old fashioned way and they don't fry their meat; they actually have a mesquite oven in the kitchen so everything has an authentic smoky flavor.

"All our meat is certified Angus beef that we trim and cut in-house," Strickland said, as he showed me the actual wood they use in the oven.

I even checked out their giant cooler and there weren't bottles of processed salad dressing or jars of pre-made salsa. It even kind of smelled good in there. And if you don't believe me, you can check it out yourself.

"We have an open kitchen policy. Any customer who wants to see the kitchen is welcome to come back for a tour," said Strickland. "The pico de gallo, guacamole, sauces, salsas, tortillas and beans are made throughout the day to ensure consistent freshness on every plate. At the end of each day, any leftovers are discarded. Nothing is reheated, frozen or saved for the next day."

In fact, the made-fresh concept is carried right out to the tables as they will make your guacamole dip right in front of you to your own level of spiciness and chunkiness. In other words, you're not going to get some just-add-water powder version.

THE RITAS TO GO WITH THE FAJITAS
While the food is good, the margaritas are outstanding and according to the bartender, what makes them so good is that they are made from real ingredients.

"We don't use a mix. They are made with premium tequila, Grand Marnier, Patron and freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice," said the bartender.

Their signature margarita is their Supreme Rita. It's your choice of tequila (I got Tres Generaciones), Grand Marnier, Patron Citronge and a little lime juice for $7.99. An extra shot is only $1.00.

The bartender also recommended their Pineapple Fusion Rita.

"That one is my favorite. It's pineapple infused sauza tequila, vanilla bean and Grand Marnier," said the bartender.

SO ARE YOU UP FOR THE FAJITA CHALLENGE?
So DO they the best fajitas in town? Give them a try at one of their two locations and let me know.

You'll find Ruby Tequila's Mexican Kitchen in Willowbrook at FM 1960 and Highway 249 and in Midtown located at 2616 Louisiana at McGowen.

Oh, and they have a Happy Hour. Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and all day Wednesday, they serve $0.99 draft beer and $1.99 house margaritas.

"Our Wednesday Happy Hour turns the middle of the week into a Friday," said Strickland.

Hmmm...weekend thinking on a Wednesday. Gotta love that.