A Hot Bag of Amazing

What night out on the town would be complete without something sweet (besides my smiling face saying goodnight)? That's exactly what Baby Mama, Baby Daddy and myself were thinking about on our record breaking weekend. We had already gone to Zocalo's, Mix for the first time, Lucca's, DeVere's, and back to Mix... so what harm was one more stop going to do?

The three of us turned the corner onto 16th Street and walked down just one block over to the corner of 16th and K Streets to dine at an oldy but goody: Bistro 33 Midtown. Yes, it is the same restaurant as the one I visited on this Monday night, but this one's just a little bit more in terms of the people who eat there and what they're eating. Take the Kobe Beef slider's for example... or what we had that night: Turkey and Doughnuts.

No, it wasn't some experimental/trendy-on-the-edge-of-barftastic dish... they were two separate meals, but equally good.

Baby Daddy was looking for something hearty to soak up the night's drinks, so he perused the menu and opted for the Singapore Turkey Sliders.

These little buddies were made with turkey, some hearty cole-slaw with gigantic chunks of cabbage and carrots, a Thai peanut dipping sauce and freshly made potato chips. Baby Daddy was once again kind enough to share a bite with us lady-folk... and I was pretty impressed considering my paltry poultry experience earlier that night at Lucca's (rimshot!). The turkey was pretty well seasoned, but what made it tasty was the tangy Asian slaw on top... it added some good crunch. My favorite part though were the potato chips. They were perfectly salted and SUPER greasy... which late at night and after a couple of drinks is just what everyone needs.

While Baby Daddy made a good choice- yet again- I felt I had to redeem myself from my previous meal choice... so I went for a fail-proof snack that everyone loves: Doughnuts :)



These aren't just any balls of fat though... they're shaken. This spot is famous for their "Hot Bag O Doughnuts." They bring the bite sized pieces to the table in a brown paper bag, and shake 'em up in the cinnamon and sugar mix before pouring them out piping hot.... Soooooooooo gooooooood. Just look at them! My favorite part (and this is why America is so great) is that they serve the doughnuts with DIPPING SAUCES. Yes, dipping sauces for your doughnuts. And not one or two... but three! And not just your standard chocolate and maple... they give you a little bit of three gourmet goops.

The first is a freshly made Strawberry Compote which is nice and tart to offset the sweetness of the sugar-covered hole. The second is a rich homemade chocolate ganache-like spread which is incredibly rich. The last is my favorite for so many reasons: Homemade Honey Butter. Seriously. Butter for your doughnuts. With more sugar added. I don't think I can say much more than that. I'll let you soak it in.............................................................................................................................................. If you've suddenly got the urge to gain five pounds in one sitting... check your watch first (and your cholesterol). They only serve the Hot Bag O Doughnuts for breakfast (obviously) or late-night (smart move).

As much as I love that plate of heaven, I knew we couldn't have it for two meals in a row. So the next morning when we woke up and the childless parents wanted to know what was for breakfast, I decided on a place that I knew would please everybody. Just like we had breakfast for dessert the night before, we were about to have dessert for breakfast (mind-blowing I know!).

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

...Opening all the windows in my apartment on a summer night.

Windows on three out of four sides of my pad + the infamous Delta Breeze = Summer Heaven.

My Life in Lyrics- Track # 2

Busy, busy couple of days. Trying to recover from the (non existent) roaches, busy at work, and avoiding the gym as much as possible. It's hard work! I've had this song playing non stop for two weeks now.

"we are very busy people
we are very busy people

there's crusty socks
and stacks of pizza boxes
making trails straight
to the bed

and when we're done
sleeping we'll stay busy
dreaming of the things
we don't have yet

well there's a long
long list of chores
and shit to do before
we play, oh let's just
piss away the day"



Hey The Limousines, thanks for playing my song.

It's a Jungle Out There

Thank goodness the night was not over for Baby Mama, Baby Daddy and myself after the disappointment that was dinner. I don't think the two would have given much thought about visiting me ever again if it wasn't for how the rest of our night went.

We decided to chase the bad memories of Lucca's down with some cold ones over at DeVere's. This is the Irish Pub I told you guys about on my last record-breaking trip. This time around we were just going for some beers... us and the rest of Sacramento and its greater area. We got there and it was PACKED. It took a good amount of time just bob and weave my way to the bar. It's a good thing I have pasty white skin, freckles and red hair because my fellow Irishmen behind the bar served me up quickly. Others were waiting there a bit longer just to put their orders in. I went with my fav SnakeBite, and Baby Mama and Baby Daddy went with some kind of beer on tap that I clearly can't remember.

Normally I love the place. It's a great place to catch up with a bunch of friends, and wander from group of friends to group of friends and chit chat and throw back a few. But if it's just 2 or 3 of you, your going to better served (litterally) going to some place just a tid bit more intimate. We weren't even halfway done with our drinks when we decided all the commotion was all just a little too much for us, and we left.

Baby Mama and Baby Daddy wanted to head back up to the rooftop lounge above DeVere's that we had been to earlier that evening on our Safari where we saw Cougars and Manthers. The problem with Mix is that if you're on a big night out (which we were. Lots of drink and food already consumed with lots more in the future), the cover charge come nightfall hits your wallet pretty hard. It's $20 a head to be able to walk up the stairs to enjoy the night air. Now, that's par for the course in Sacramento so I'm not saying it's more expensive than other places... But it's just that it can get pricey if you're planning on going someplace else rather than the rooftop petting zoo. That's why Baby Daddy turned on his charm.

A few smooth words to the doorman-bouncer-guy and quick shake of the hands, Baby Daddy got the three of us in for half the price. Once upstairs we tried to find a spot just as good as what we had before, but had to settle for a little more exposed spot. It wasn't all that bad though. We did get a nice view of a Manther in his natural habitat. His mating ritual involved sharing the fruits of his labor (cash turned into alcohol) with his unassuming mating partners (a group of 20 something women). But the would-be partners were not to be fooled. They knew their extra bright colors and patterns made them more appealing than most others... and that the Manther's molting fur (slightly balding head) and mangy coat (denim shorts) were no match for them. They huddled together and formed a pack and thwarted the Manther's advances in hopes of finding a more fit one that would be better fit to raise their young. Or buy them more expensive drinks. Same thing really.

After our lesson in the ways of the wild, we moved over to the bar next to the dance floor and proceeded to watch a whole 'nother breed of animals on the prowl. This mix included slightly inebriated young females, slightly inebriated old females, and a few men looking to capitalize. Good times!

We had a round of drinks while taking it all in, and decided the night would not be complete without a(nother) nightcap at a(nother) great light night people watching spot. But we didn't need a tranquilizer dart to make it out of our next place alive, just another stomach ;)

My Life in Lyrics- Track #1

Having a GREAT time tonight moving all of my furniture to the middle of each room because my apartment complex thought this week would be a great time to spray for roaches (don't worry, they're not on the third floor yet)... And I started humming the perfect song for the occasion:

"I got bugs
I got bugs in my room
Bugs in my bed
Bugs in my ears
Their eggs in my head
Bugs in my pockets
Bugs in my shoes
Bugs in the way I feel about you"

Hey Pearl Jam, thanks for the soundtrack.

-- an iPost

Disappointed by Men

The Friday night Baby Mama, Baby Daddy and I had wasn’t over after the Manther sighting… we had a date with the Governor and his fine culinary friend Lucca. But sadly, all did not end well…

As we were finishing it up at Mix, the three of us spent a bit debating about whether to give up our great corner spot at the lounge and head over to everyone’s favorite Lucca’s, or take our chances on the small plates where we were at. Having never been disappointed by Lucca’s before—and with cheesy polenta on our minds—Baby Mama and I convinced Baby Daddy to head over the eatery on 16th and J Streets. This place serves up a sort of Italian-y/Mediterranean-y mix of food… and it’s just what we needed to soak up some of our drinks if we were going to continue on our record setting night.

I had received an invite from the Governor earlier that day (we’re like this: {fingers crossed}), and he called ahead to make reservations for the four of us. Usually that place can get pretty packed so I recommend calling ahead. After all, everyone wants their chance to take a peek at the Governator. It’s the state’s worst kept secret (other than the fact that they may have a small money problem on their hands) that this is Arnold’s favorite lunch spot. He likes to post up on the back patio, smoke a cigar, and gnaw on some sausage. He says Lucca’s sausage reminds him of the kind he would eat at home. I’ve never had sausage from Austria… But really, when's the last time you heard a foreigner say that something “reminds me of home…” and you didn’t have the urge to shove whatever they were talking about in your mouth? Well, food-wise at least.

When we got to Lucca’s they didn’t seat us in the Governor’s fav patio… and in fact, it turns out the Governor didn’t even show up for our date (how rude!). But that didn’t keep us from enjoying the great outdoors. We got seated on the main patio. This outdoor area is off to the side and covered so it stays nice and cool in the summer, and warm in the winter with all the heat lamps. There’s also a nice outdoor fireplace where you can request to be perched in front of. We all did that for my dad’s birthday one year… in the middle of December. The heat lamps and fireplace made it the perfect temperature, and we got to enjoy the fresh air. It’s kind of the reverse of my other favorite dining experience: Sitting outside in the heat and getting a cold blast from inside.

I don’t remember what we had to drink when we got there, but I’m pretty sure I was trying to pace myself so I went with a Diet Coke. I’m not sure what anyone else had to drink because all I could remember was the food. For better or for worse.

Now, I’ve been to Lucca’s many times and never walked away disappointed. Especially after ordering mine and Baby Mama’s fav Polenta. They serve a huge dish of this cheesy cornmeal mixture as a side, and top it with fresh homemade marinara sauce. Calling it a side dish is deceiving, because it’s definitely enough to count as an entire meal. Baby Mama and I split it this time around. It was so creamy and cheesy tasting, that I imagine they use a whole stick of butter and whole wheel of cheese to make it. They use Fontina, so the cheese doesn’t taste doesn’t bite you… it just makes you want to move it all around the inside of your mouth to ensure that every possible taste bud gets to covered in goodness.

After the polenta and my mouth had a sweet reunion, the main courses were served. Baby Mama and I decided to split the Chicken Saltimbocca, and Baby Daddy went for the steak.

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off and delve straight into the bad. It’s not that the chicken was bad, just sooooo disappointing for Lucca’s. Everyone raves about this place whenever we go there, so to get served a meal that tasted like Thanksgiving in a cafeteria made me really sad for Lucca’s. Kind of like a mother being disappointed in a child when they don’t do well on a test in a subject they excel at…. or me being disappointed in Kobe for missing a no-look-through-the-legs-behind-the-back-blindfolded-while-handcuffed dunk. It’s like “Come on! I know you can do better!” I know because I’ve tasted better from Lucca’s.

When I read the description of the chicken on the menu, I thought it looked delish: stuffed chicken breast with pancetta, Fontina and sage with mashed potatoes. I had just had a love affair with the Fontina in the polenta, this can’t be much different, right? Well, not really. The chicken was dry and it wasn’t so much “stuffed” as it was “accessorized” with the equivalent of a quarter of a sage life and one shred of cheese. Then, it was topped off with what tasted like the type of gravy you make out of those little packets at the grocery store. Just add water. Oh, it makes me sad just writing about how disappointed I was. Eh tu, Lucca?

Thank goodness Baby Daddy was on this trip. His dish nearly saved the night (he has to be good for something ;) ). He ordered the Grilled Bistro Steak topped with a blue cheese sauce and was served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. The meat was perfectly cooked and the creamy bite of the blue cheese sauce balanced out the meatiness of the slab of cow on his plate (sounds appetizing huh?).

We decided to skip on dessert because we had still had a long night ahead of us. But I didn’t walk away empty-handed. The night’s meal taught me a couple of lessons:

1) Don’t trust men who wear high heels. (Sorry Governor, I don’t take being stood up lightly). You know what they say about short men, Governor? Me either.

2) Don’t order chicken off a restaurant menu. Ever. Come on, there are so many better things to try.

3) Go more places with Baby Daddy….

As we learned later that night-- whether it be ordering the right dishes, or slipping the right guy the right amount of cash—he’s a handy guy to have around. At least one guy was good for something that night.

What's a Male Version of Cougar?

Because that's what myself, Baby Mama and Baby's Daddy were dealing with when we started the new Freckled Record.

After Zocalo's we headed over to this new-er bar in downtown, called Mix. It's a rooftop bar that serves small plates. And when the sun goes down the cover charge goes up and it turns into a club... one the of the hottest in downtown.

For their Happy Hour, from 4-7, they don't charge to lounge around in their open-air digs. The whole lounge isn't totally out in the open... the back half is covered. And in the winter they pop a huge tent over the other half, making it semi-open-air. In the summer it can get pretty hot up there if you're their for Happy Hour... but when the sun starts to go down it's one of the best places to just sit back and relax. We got there just as the sun was heading down, and took up a GREAT spot in the corner. This place has retro-style lounge chairs, Adirondack chairs, and benches all around the perimeter with cushions and pillows.


That was the view from our corner spot. (The woman on the left is a perfect example of the type of people that like to frequent this place. Not saying anything bad... just saying. The key demo for this place is the over 30 crowd. 'Nuff said.)

We sat back and ordered a few beers to water down the cocktails we had just had. They've got a specialty cocktail menu, a wine list, and small plate menu. I've tried some of the small plates when they first opened and wasn't overly impressed, but I'd be willing to give it another try (if you're in town I'll let you treat me to some ;). We decided to stick to just beers as we had reservations later on that evening.

Just because we didn't eat doesn't mean we didn't have a lot to digest. There were some interesting people there. Including the male version of the cougar to our left. I've heard of Mougar, Billy Goat, Trout, a Cobra or a Manther. I'm going to go with Manther. I say he was staring at Baby Mama, but Baby Mama says he was staring at me (poor guy must have already had his beer goggles on).

Anywho, the three of us (Baby Daddy included, not Manther) concocted the story of our lives if he were to approach us. The first two characters were Baby Daddy and Baby Mama:


These two were in Sac getting to know hockey big-wigs because he was looking to make the move from playing overseas to playing in Cali. Next up was Baby Mama's cousin, who was Baby Daddy's assistant:


The story couldn't be that hard to keep straight, right?

We eagerly awaited Manther's approach, but alas, he never came. I didn't know whether to be flattered or embarrassed that a balding man his late thirties didn't hit on me. It didn't matter... we had dinner reservations to catch at one of my family's favorite spots. After all, we had a date with the Gov-nuh.

New Freckled Record!

Oh, I can always count on you guys to help me in quest to gain as much weight as possible. That's what friends and family are for. In the case of a couple of weekends ago, I had family to blame for the extra pounds I was carrying around come Monday morning. And I had them to thank for helping me set a new record: Seven eateries in only two days! Really it was nine if you count the places we went twice. (If you remember, the old record was six eateries in three days.)

After I finished up in Redding I raced home in eager anticipation of what I knew was ahead: Visitors! Oh, how I love visits. Especially from people I like ;) My two cousins came up the other weekend- Baby Mama and her Baby's Daddy- and we had a grand ol' time. At least I'd like to think so. I'm sure they left wondering how much longer I'll survive up here with all the food and drink consuming that I've got going on.

Baby Mama and Baby Daddy came up on a Friday evening... sans baby. You know what that meant, right? Time to par-tay! They were looking forward to walking around and having a couple of cocktails, and I was looking forward to showing them how I roll/waddle.

Our first stop was just down the block from me (isn't everything?). We strolled into Zocalo- which is a fancy Mexican food place- right at the end of Happy Hour and were able to order up some of their specialty drinks. We all started off with their house special Blackberry Margarita:


This little mix is pretty tasty. The blackberries give a nice tartness and the Agave (natural sweetener) made sure to mask the alcohol just enough that you could drink and drink and drink and drink and not feel it... until you stand up. It was a little too sweet for Baby Daddy... his next drink was a Caipirinha (let me try this out... KIE-purr-een-YAH). It's normally made super strong with Cachaça, which is a Brazilian distilled liquor. It's been a while, but I don't remember this version to be anything to write home about. Baby Mama on the other hand, was perfectly content with the sweet Blackberry Margarita:


The happy hour prices were $5 a drink... but normally they're $10. I recommend trying it out first during Happy Hour... and then decide if it's worth going back to pay full price. In my opinion, they're good drinks- but not great. So I'm a Happy Hour girl there :)

One thing that didn't cost a dime, and is a great thing about this place... is that they give you chips and salsa with your drinks, even if you're sitting at the bar. But it's not your every-day chips and salsa:


At Zocalo's they give you freshly made tortilla chips, two different salsa choice (one is sp-sp-spicy and the other is mild) and a bean dip. The bean dip is my fav. No, it's not Frito-Lay bean dip (does that even contain beans?). Here they mash up some really smokey tasting black beans (and I'm sure some other stuff) and top it with some crumbled Cotija cheese. Now those close to me can tell you that I don't normally like smokey-tasting food, but the smokey flavor mixed the Cotija- and sometimes dipped again into the salsa- is pretty good. It's nothing fancy, but it's the perfect compliment to their cocktails.

After we were done with our drinks and chips we decided the night was still young and we still had A LOT of room left in our little tummies. We decided to head over to this fab roof-top bar/club thingy/place. I would go into more detail, but what would that leave me with to write about tomorrow?? Come on people! I've got to keep you coming back for more!

So let me revert to my old career and give you a little teaser: "Coming up, the story of three pretty young thangs who spent a night on the town that included cougars, a near brush with the Governator, and a Hot Bag of Donuts... after the break." Take that Katie Couric!

ROAD TRIP: Redding: A Trip That Would Make the Grandpas Proud

So if you recall (or just scroll down) I was spending some time up in fantastic Redding on a business trip. Now, I give this place a bad rap. It's hot(ter than Fresno), it's far away (from everything), and it's shopping and food scene blows. However, leaving my description of the town at that would not be fair. It is in a gorgeous setting, with trees, cliffs, Mt. Shasta nearby, and the Sacramento River winding through and through... which is how I entertained myself during the trip.

The first night I spent there, I just daydreamed about being back in Sac. The second night I decided to make the most of my trip, and the most of what I had brought along with me.

Before I left, I packed up my golf clubs. I've been wanting to get back onto the driving range for a couple of months now, and I thought this trip would be the perfect time to get back into the swing of things (rim-shot!). I pulled out my trusty Yelp! app on my iPhone to look up the best range. There were quite a few to pick from. The one I ultimately went with didn't have the most appealing descriptions of hosts, facilities, or range balls... but the name intrigued me: Aqua Golf.



This little rink-a-dink range is right on the Sacramento River. The "range"? It's the water. This was the most fun I've ever had just hitting balls. And I was all by myself (well except for the hot "range" dude that puttered around in a little boat scooping up balls with a skimmer... with his shirt off). The best part was that with my first swing, I hit the ball over 100 yards! Without whiffing! Without slicing! Without me relying on my grandpa! The easy going may have had something to do with the range balls being extra-floaty. I'm sure that made them extra-light. But for a large bucket of balls for $9, I really can't complain.

After I left the range I drove up the river a bit to a place where my other grandpa told me I had to visit. The Sundial Bridge.



Apparently there's only 2 or 3 of these in the world. I was shocked to see how many people were out there on a Wednesday night... a lot of families walking, teens trying to put the moves on each other, or punks riding their skateboards around. They were all out there for a good reason: The bridge is awesome at night. The bottom part that you walk across is lit up from the underside. The huge support cables coming down from the "dial" make for some pretty artsy angles. (As you can see, I'm as good of a art critic as I am a food critic.)



I didn't spend much time there... just enough time to walk from one end to the other and back. But that won't keep me from recommending it to any of you... or from coming back and telling my grandpa I did as I was told. That is a lot to ask of me. After all, I'm only 25 years old ;)

Mmmm Mmmm Good

This the cherry on top of my heart-attack-sunday. Although, if dessert has fruit inside, does that make healthy? Or does it at least count towards my two servings a day? There has to be something good that came from SpiderWoman and my trip to 33rd Street Bistro, other than the taste of this beauty.

We hem and hawed over whether or not to get dessert considering what he had already had to eat that night (see below). Unfortunately I have no self control, so of course I said we should get it.

33rd Street Bistro has a pretty good dessert selection. Actually they're owned by the same group that owns Riverside Clubhouse that offers up the amazing chocolate cake, and Bistro serves it too. Or, as I mentioned earlier, they've got the Trio... but that's for a night where I eat settle for soup and salad. So we decided to split the special of the night: Nectarine Cobbler.

Their cobbler was nothing extravagant or extra special. It was just simply good. The nectarines gave the dessert a lighter taste than the typical Peach Cobbler that most restaurants put on their menus... meaning the taste of the fruit didn't overpower the entire dessert. Plus it didn't taste like they put a ton of sugar in the filling so it wasn't like eating filling from the can. The crumble topping was just sweet enough and buttery and melted in my mouth, and the ice cream on top was homemade... you can't go wrong with that. All those tastes combined made for a rather filling, but not pants-busting feeling afterward. Especially since we shared. The one thing that would have made it better (besides sharing it with Kobe instead of SpiderWoman) would have been if they removed the peel for the nectarine before cooking. Every couple of bites I could feel the thin peel on my tongue after it separated from the fruit. Good roughage I guess, but not my cup of tea.

We polished that baby off and headed home, both saying we should remember that place when looking for a laid back dinner on a nice night in Sac.

Now if only I knew of place like that up here in Redding where I'm spending my last night of a business trip. Actually... the trip was more interesting than I thought it would be. It didn't involve any fantastic meals (as a result of last week's splurges I decided it might be better to bring my own food and control what I shove into my pie-hole (or Cobbler-hole)), but I did have a good time tonight. I'll have to fill you in on my walk on water, and my experience with mossy balls (what!?!). Don't worry, it's PG.

Perfect Monday Night in Sac

Oh if only I were in my bed writing about the wonderful time I had tonight from the comfort of my own bed. Instead I'm sitting on a hotel couch in Redding, eating olives from Safeway, wishing it were last Monday. That's when I had the perfect Monday night in Sac.

After work, Spiderwoman and I headed over to Trader Joe's. I consider myself an expert in Trader Joe's shopping, so I filled her in on some of my super secret insider tips. Like did you know their pre-marinated Korean beef ribs are perfect for cooking? Or that their asparagus can either be steamed or oven roasted? Where would Spiderwoman or you guys be without me filling you in?!? Anywho, we walked the store and I continued to point out the obvious... then decided we had enough food-shopping and wanted to do some food-consuming.

My first thought was to head right next door to Burr's Fountain, located on Folsom Boulevard near 49th Street. I've always driven by and seen people sitting on the picnic tables outside and they looked like they were enjoying themselves. Well, they must have been enjoying their ice cream, because I don't think they would like as happy if they were eating dinner there. Inside they have a sort of deli that serves up mostly sandwiches. Everything looked pretty plain and possibly not so fresh. With so many great places to grab a sandwich in Sac, I wasn't going to waste my calories there.

Spiderwoman and I wanted to try some place new, but every place I pulled on Yelp was closed on Mondays. I was trying to think of what was close, and remembered one of my favorite dinner spots. How could I forget? 33rd Street Bistro was right down the street, had a nice little patio, and had some delish sandwiches on the menu. Off we went.

We drove over to the restaurant located on 33rd Street and Folsom Boulevard. There are a couple of other locations in El Dorado Hills, Davis and Midtown (just down the street on 16th and K Streets), but this one is my fave. The Midtown location is a little on the trendier side, so I never feel as laid back in there. However, with that comes great people watching, especially for weekend brunch (hot bag of donuts! Seriously!). The Davis location is actually pretty awesome with a humongous outdoor eating area, but is too far away for me to enjoy. And the El Dorado Hills location... well I actually haven't been out there but I can't imagine it's better than the original location Spiderwoman and I chose.

We set up shop on the front patio which sits right on the Folsom Boulevard sidewalk. It's the perfect spot to watch people drive by, ride by on their bikes, or run or walk by. And on a night like we were having, it was the perfect spot to just sit back and enjoy the awesome weather. Nothing beats a summer night in Sac.

We couldn't decide on what to eat because it all looked good (especially after grocery shopping). Last time I was there I had the Tillamook Cheddar Cheeseburger and Fries, and finished it off with their much loved Trio of desserts (how can you go wrong with three normal sized portions of dessert? By the way, my pants can answer that question). Because we couldn't settle on anything we decided to split. First up, The Gorge:


This hearty sandwich is loaded with turkey, bacon, havarti, greens and mayo on a ciabatta bun. You can see they don't skimp on the turkey which is a plus right off the bat. Combined with the soft texture of the havarti and distinguishable creamy-ish taste, the luxurious herby mayo (any time I eat full-fat mayo I consider it luxurious), crispy bacon and the hearty bun... MMMMM MMMMM MMMMM. It is a very satisfying sandwich. Well, it was a satisfying half. Next up was The Puget Sound:


This super-calorie treat is a mix of crab, shrimp and artichokes topped with Tillamook cheddar sandwiched between two crusty pieces of sourdough. The genius part is the sourdough served with seafood... perfect combo. I don't know what the binding part of the mix is... I'm assuming mayo and possibly a bit of cream cheese. Either way it makes for a super rich filling. The seafood taste was not overpowering as teh creaminess took care of that. Not exactly the healthiest choice but that's why they serve it with salad right?

It was too bad the salad the sandwiches came with wasn't all that great, because I barely ate any of it... making my meal even that much healthier for me. It's basically just greens and a very light dressing of olive oil and a little bit of vinegar (or even just plane old lemon juice). No tomatoes, no croutons, no cheese, no nothing. I thought, If I wanted diet food I clearly wouldn't have ordered the sandwich!

The lack of greens in my meal would have been the perfect excuse to turn down dessert. I didn't need more calories in the form of bad carbs and saturated fat... but what fun would that have been? I have you guys to entertain and tell my adventures to. If I passed on dessert, would you have been satisfied with just tales of sandwiches? I think not!

But-- and there's always a but (or in the case of this meal, a butt)-- how could I survive my second night in Redding if I didn't have dessert to reminisce about? We will all have to wait until tomorrow to hear about the dessert that I know will at least make one of you ready to hop in the car and come visit me. In Sac, not Redding.

Anatomy of California

Last we spoke-- actually I was blogging and you were reading, almost like speaking... so I'm going to call it Bloking. Let's start over:

Last we bloke, I left you all begging for more (ha!) about my trip to the butt of California... so let me fill you in.

This trip- of course- involves more wine. It was the annual Wine in the Pines in Pine Mountain. Where? Well if California is a person, then Redding is the hair (scorching red for the hot hot heat), Sacramento is the head (full of geniuses like me), San Francisco is the mouth (when's the last time you heard the city shut up about anything?), Fresno is the armpit (no explanation needed), LA is the legs (Hollywood Baby! Show off 'em gams!), and San Diego is the feet (run for the border!). Then where, you ask, is Pine Mountain? It's the butt of course! This is how I explain where it is to people who ask: "It's in the range between LA and the Valley. You know when you're driving up the grapevine from the Valley, and you see that big Flying J Plaza? It's off that exit towards the west, about 20 minutes back." That usually works. Almost everyone has stopped at the Flying J to take a tinkle or leave a present ;)

So last weekend I met up with whole dam fam at my parent's cabin. My aunt and uncle have a cabin up there too. My cousins and two other couples joined us and we spent the day waddling through the event tasting wine, beer, food, and a little bit of white trash fashion. As usual I don't remember much (because I really don't remember anything, not because I was drinking). It's hard to remember any details about these wine tasting events anyways because there are so many goodies to taste.

The best part of the event was leaving. Not because we weren't enjoying ourselves, but because that means we got to head back to the cabin and eat and drink even more! Better yet we got to eat good family cooking! The guests brought over appetizers and salads, and my dad made delish tri-tip. Our dessert was my favorite special brownies. No, not those kind of special brownies. Remember, this was a family event. These ones have Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (the little ones wrapped in foil) in the center of each piece. Mmmmmmmmm. What better way to end a day in the butt, than with a dessert with a chocolate surprise.

P.S. You're welcome for the visual!

Once Upon a Time...

Does wine tasting two weekends in a row make me an alcoholic? If the answer is yes then what you are about to read is entirely fictional.

Once upon a time there was this red-headed freckled girl who had some friends in high places, and a family that loved her. Those friends invited her to join them on a Grape Escape to downtown Sac, and that family got her a ticket to Wine in the Pines.

The Grape Escape is an grand wine-food-beer-dessert tasting event in the enchanted Cesar Chavez Park. The cost is normally $40 in advance or $50 at the door (or gate)… but my friends and I got in free because that’s how we roll. Actually, that’s how my friend rolls, and I just waddle along. Said friend—Mrs. Burgundy—got me, my parents, and Mister in for free last year too. Even if it wasn’t free… I’d splurge on a ticket. For an evening of entertainment, drinks and food, it’s worth it. With more than 100 wineries and restaurants flaunting their stuff, you can try wines you wouldn’t find anywhere else (for better or for worse) and try food from restaurants that people normally pay $40 for a first course at.

Now if I were a true wine connoisseur I would be able to 1) use words like undertone, tannin, and robust, and 2) recall what I drank . But I’m not. I know when I like something, and when I don’t. Take, for example, an adorable elderly couple running a booth all by themselves. However, upon closer inspection the adorable couple wasn’t adorable, they were cratchety. The bottle labels looked like they were printed on a home computer, and the wine tasted like it was brewed in their bathtub-- the same one that they get their sponge baths in.

But something I did like was the Renwood Syrah: nice and grapey without being too sweet. Or the Carvalho Petite Syrah Port: thick and sweet like your normal port but with a much more winey-flavor (you like that description? What did I tell you.).

Of course what I enjoyed the most, was not the grape concoctions… but the one made with bad carbs and cheese. The food there was the perfect remedy to a belly begging to be filled with something other than fermented fruit. My favorite (I may have gone back for seconds) was Mason’s Mac & Cheese. Mason’s is a higher-end restaurant on the corner of 15th and L Streets. Their Mac & Cheese is made with the shell-shaped pasta and multiple cheeses that goop together and get all stringy when you shovel a forkful of it towards your mouth. The tastiest part is that it’s topped with herby breadcrumbs… mmmm.

The food wasn’t all a “hit.” We stopped at the MIX booth, and tried what we thought was bruschetta. Unfortunately for Mrs. Burgundy, it wasn’t pink tomatoes perched on top of a tortilla chip, but pink tuna. Now I’m big tuna fan, but this was little on the warm side… and didn’t quite go with tortilla chips. It was a big disappointment because a lot of good could have come from that tuna. Someone needs to call PETA and let them know of the crime against that poor fish. It would have been much better served in a Sea Steak Poke Salad (Call me PETA! I’m free for PSA’s!). I was sad MIX's food wasn't so hot, because their restaurant/club is one of the hottest new places in Sacramento. It's on the roof above DeVere's, and has an open-air dance floor and great seating for a night full of people watching.

Well I’ve already told you how this chapter ends… with a trip to Mikuni’s for more drinks, a stop at Rick’s Dessert Diner and another pit stop at DeVere’s for more drinks with friends (I may have left that part out earlier. It was fun. Packed, but fun.). Now any good fiction writer will leave their reader with a cliffhanger to make them want to read the next chapter... So how’s this for a cliffhanger: A short time after that event I was drinking wine from the butt of California.

Sugar Rush

One place I always forget about when I've got a sweet tooth, is a place that is THE perfect remedy for such an affliction. Pieces of cake that are bigger than the plate they're on ( like Strawberry Amaretto Poppyseed or Orange Cranberry), pies that overflow from their tins (try Cherry Rhubarb Raspberry or Pumpkin Pecan Cheese), tortes with the perfect flavor combinations (how about Strawberry Kiwi or Chocolate Kahlua Bombe), and pastries and dessert bars that would satisfy the fat kid screaming to come out of all of us (Pumpkin or Lemon). Oh I could go on and on about Rick's Dessert Diner, but a picture is worth a thousand calories:


People, that is what they call Raspberry Diva. While I don't consider myself a big raspberry fan, or a diva (shock!), I do consider myself a fan of desserts that are meant for sharing. The best part about desserts that are meant for sharing, is not sharing them. I eat it aaalllll by myself- feel guilty about it afterwards-but ultimately come out as a better person because I looked a challenge square in the frosting and conquered it. What better place to accomplish that AND gain five pounds than this little 50's style diner on K Street between 23rd and 24th Streets. My friends and I made our way over there after an afternoon of wine tasting in the park (more to come) and cocktails at Mikuni's. Anyone who doesn't want dessert after a day like that is no friend of mine.

We walked in there and got in line with about 10 other people. This place is always packed, especially late-night. Rick's has hours made for days like the one we were having: Open until 1AM on Fridays and Saturdays. The wait goes quickly so you better pick your poison quickly. The glorious options are displayed in two large cases, the first filled with cheesecakes, pastries, pies and dessert bars. The second case has the cakes that are cut into to show the multitude of layers and filings. The Raspberry Diva I chose was poppy seed cake with a raspberry preserves and raspberry buttercream filling, topped with more raspberry buttercream frosting. As expected, it was super sweet, but oh-so-good. Their buttercream frosting is the good, expensive tasting stuff. The kind that doesn't leave your mouth feeling like it just got sprayed with Crisco (don't eat the Crisco!). And the poppy seeds in the cake gave it a nice texture (and a nice surprise later when I smiled and a friend pointed to them in my teeth). Sadly, that night was not a night I accomplished my goal of eating the whole thing. There just wasn't enough room in that tiny stomach of mine (ha!).

Now I don't remember exactly what my friends had (see note above on wine tasting and cocktails), but I know they enjoyed theirs just as I much I did mine. For a peak at how good you could have it, check out their dessert menu here. And let me know when you're going, I'll buy a dessert we can share, then tell you to get your own ;)

Time Travel

Let’s go back, way back. All of the way back to the very beginning of my three day weekend, which started on a Friday night… late Friday night.

It’s not very often I’m in town on a weekend, and when I am I like to hit up friends from my old job and see what they’re up to. Usually they’re attending or throwing some going away party, because that’s how the business goes. And that’s how it went Friday night.

I called up Blondie to see what was going down and much to my delight, she was meeting up for a going away party (Gasp!) at one of my favorite places to grab a drink: Riverside Clubhouse on Riverside Blvd., just off of Broadway by Target. I think it’s a favorite because it brings back memories of my going away party, and almost every going away party I’ve been to in Sac for that matter. I’m also a big fan because it’s a great solo-dining spot: Good food, good drinks, nice bartenders, big TVs, modern setting and interesting people.

Of course these going away parties don’t start until everyone gets off at 11PM, so when we got there I expected the place to be packed full of the young professional, young urban family crowd that’s usually there. Sadly, that was not the case. It looks like Riverside is feeling the effects of Sac’s sad state of affairs. The place was practically empty. All the more reason for me to order as much as I could to help them out ;)

My favorite cocktail to order anywhere is a Lime Rickey, and Riverside was the first place I’ve had one… and I still haven’t been able to find a place that makes one that tastes even close, or even knows how to make one at all. It’s nothing fancy, just Grey Goose, lime juice, and soda. Like I said, nothing fancy but it’s def the best thirst quenching, food-neutral drinky drink.

I ponied up to the U-shaped stone bar and ordered one, and was helped by some guy that has worked there for a while. I remember this because he bailed me out one night when I was dining solo at the bar, and two drunk ‘tards kept hitting on me. He didn’t remember me (it had been a while) but I’ll always remember him calling them a cab before they even finished their food :)

I took my drink to the patio- one of the best I’ve EVER been to. It’s covered in those triangular shaped sail thingys, has tables and lounge chairs, a three tiered fire pit, and waterfall along the entire back wall. This place has also got those garage-type doors like at Capitol Garage that gives you the nice indoor/outdoor mix if you sit anywhere near it. And if you’re not down with the great outdoors, there’s a lounge area near the entrance with tables, an open floor for dancing or mingling, and an ultra-swank gas fireplace with glass instead of coals. Oh yeah, and a huge TV.

We all opted for the patio and I stayed out there until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. It was 12:30PM after all, and I am getting old (don’t worry it was sleepiness, not drinkiness. I only had one). I had to leave there without having my fav dessert: Warm Chocolate Cake. Don’t worry as much as I like that place, I guarantee you’ll hear more about that. And see more once I figure this picture thing out.

So I left Riverside and bid farewell to the gigantic bull on top of the building (don’t ask), apologized for not being able to spend more, and hopped into my time travel machine (it’s real), that brought me back to today so I could tell you about my adventures. That, my friends (well most of you are family), is how you spend a three day weekend in Sacramento. I dare you to come up here and try to beat six places in three days (Call me!).

The Cherry on Top

With two Snake-Bites, two Newcastles, a big dose of Kobe, and a mix of cheesecake and fries in my belly, one would think it would be a good time to call it a night. Well one would be wrong. Next stop: Sushi.

The two Women and I decided to keep Number 3 within walking distance (mostly because we had to roll ourselves out of the Garage), and all agreed that Mikuni's was our best option. Mikuni's is a great place to go not just for sushi, but for a good meal in general. On 16th St. between J and K streets, it's got a large double-sided bar with large TV's that can be seen from almost every table, a sushi bar, and an upstairs section. The hostesses took one look at us-- and put us upstairs... as far away from the public as possible. No need to scare off potential customers.

My favorite thing to order at Mikuni's is their Sea Steak Poke Salad. Made with seaweed, cucumbers, seared tuna all tossed in a sesame sauce that has a vinegar-ry bite to it... it's my favorite meal whether I'm looking to eat healthy or pig out. They serve a pretty good sized portion of it, so it's perfect for sharing too. We started out with that, and quickly agreed on three rolls to share: The Train Wreck (Shrimp tempura, spicy avo blend, crab mix topped with copped unagi,sea steak, sesame seeds, onion, spicy zing zag sauce and unagi sauce), The Japanese Mafia (Scallop cream cheese, crab salad, shrimp, avo, fresh salmon, 2 special
sauces, lightly torched masago and onion), and unfortunately something else that I couldn't remember (you're welcome).

Now I'm no sushi expert, but sometimes I like to pretend. With that said, I'm not sure if Mikuni's rolls classify as authentic Japanese food. Don't get me wrong, they're delicious. What with their endless ingredients on the inside AND out, and displays of color on top with all their sauces. But, all that kind of takes away from the main point of sushi for me: the seafood! Somewhere in that grab-bag of flavor is a lovely piece of raw tuna or semi-chewy chunk of scallop. But with all that other crap all over it, how am I supposed to enjoy those tastes?

I don't want that last rant keep your from going to Mikuni's. If you're in the mood for a roll and are looking for an authentic, fishy tasting kind of place... this may not be for you. BUT, if you want to taste a plethora of things in one bite, love sauce on your rolls, and want to eat a piece of art, then go ahead and dig in. And don't forget about the versatile Sea Steak Poke Salad.

With the combination of those four things and seeing that I had already consumed enough alcohol for one night, I stuck with my trusty sidekick: Diet Coke. If you didn't know, that's the best way to start and end your day-- with a DC in your system. And that's how I ended mine. After all was consumed, (even the last two pieces of rolls that no one seemed to have room for, but amazingly found a spot in our stomachs for) we decided to pass on the dessert. Especially considering we already ate it at stop number two.

So the three of us waddled back home just like we waddled into de Vere's, only about 10 pounds lighter, $50 poorer, and down a 3 for 1 voucher. But don't worry, there are plenty more vouchers for anyone who wants one.

1 Down, 2 to Go….

After SpiderWoman, IronWoman and I left de Vere’s, we went to the other side of the block to a personal favorite, Capitol Garage. Located on the corner of a parking garage on 15th and K Streets, this restaurant was the first I ever visited as a newbie here in Sac, so it holds a special place in my heart. It's the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat or sip on a drink during warmer weather. It's got two garage doors in place of two walls on either side of the entrance, and they roll 'em up when the weather is right. It's the best feeling to sit on that patio and get the mix of the AC blowing from the inside and the warm weather of the outside. Kind of like riding in your car with your windows down and AC blasting in the middle of the summer.

This time the three of us skipped the patio and sat up at the bar so I could get a clear view of the TV (and Kobe's butt). I ordered a Newcastle (Gasp! A Beer! I admit, I like the sweet carmel-ly flavor of this one), as did IronWoman. SpiderWoman was thoughtful enough to order some dessert and share it with two willing taste-testers. She ordered the S'more Cheesecake, and it wasn't the first time for either of us. The two of us had gone to the Garage earlier in the week with coupons in hand for a "Buy 1 Get 1 Free” special. Now that’s a real special. We shared two appetizers and the same cheesecake. She was more impressed with it than I was… having had better cheesecake at places like Tower Café, and even the Cheesecake Factory. Not to say this wasn’t good… it’s just not fall-out-of-your-chair amazing. The crust wasn't graham-cracker-crunchy enough for me, and the marshmallow topping didn’t taste enough like a marshmallow. It could have used a good torching on top to give it that campfire taste. However, with a nice drizzle of chocolate sauce across the top, the flavors did all blend together for a sweet treat. Especially after two beers. Yup, I drank TWO beers.

We stayed at the Garage for the rest of the second half, and lucky for the two Women, the Lakers won. If they hadn’t, I don’t think I would have been game for number three of our 3 for 1 special.

2 down, 1 to go....

3 for 1 Restaurant Special

Ooooh if only the 3 for 1 special was as cheap as it sounds. My 3 for 1 restaurant special did not involve the enjoyment of 3 restaurants for the price of 1. It was more like 3 restaurants in one night. That's how the Saturday of my three day weekend went.

SpiderWoman, another friend and I went out on Saturday night to celebrate all things Lakers. OK,I was the only one interested the Purple & Gold out of the three of us... but that was still good enough for me. SpiderWoman has absolutely no interest in basketball, and the other friend enjoys all sports. Not only does she enjoy watching athletes... but she's one serious athlete herself. So much so that from here on out she'll be called IronWoman.

SpiderWoman, IronWoman and I started out our night at DeVere's Irish Pub on L Street between 15th & 16th Streets. This spot opened up earlier this year, and has been packed ever since. The owners (three guys just as white as me) have said they were looking to open a place just like a pub in Ireland: an extension of one's living room. Perfect! My living room is my favorite place to watch Lakers games... so the three of us waddled inside.

There are two main parts to the Pub: The front has a long bar, and some booths and some pub tables & chairs. If you walk past the front onto the back, there's some more tables and a little bit shorter bar... but there is great service back there. That's where we plopped down, with a large flat screen in plain view. For a drink I opted for a Snake-Bite. A Snake-Bite is half beer, and half hard cider (perfect for me because I'm not so big on the beer). IronWoman had a NewCastle, and SpiderWoman stuck with soda. As for grub, I was saving room for whatever else was coming up that night... and the two Women ordered an Irish-American Grilled Cheese to split. I've had this one before, seeing that I am grilled cheese connoisseur. It's made with Dubliner and American cheeses, and served with a tomato on it (which I usually add anyways). The Dubliner cheese has one of those super-melty consistencies that gets all over your face and hands and whatever else gets close to it. The 'wich is made on your choice of bread... but everyone knows the crusty Sourdough is the best (even if it does cut up the roof of your mouth). This masterpiece also comes with your choice of "Chips or Crisps." The "Chips" are fries and the "Crisps"are potato chips. It's a little backwards, but makes sense if you remember the "Chips" in "Fish and Chips" is actually fries. Both are yummy here either way... the "Chips" being large wedges, served on the crispy side.

Two Snake-Bites and some left over fries later I was ready for a change. It was half time in the game... and when the Lakers changed sides... so did we. We went to the other side of the block to a family favorite.

1 down 2 to go...

The Best Mornings Ever

OK, I'm still working backwards on last weekend's adventures in food. So before there were spiders, milkshakes and burgers... there were coffee and magazines.

My absolute favorite thing to do on a weekend morning (on the rare occasion I am actually in town), is to wake up, walk down to my favorite coffee spot, buy a few mags, and sit back and read and people watch. That's just what I did, and this time joined by my spider killing friend, who from here on out shall be called SpiderWoman.

SpiderWoman and I had plans to meet there at 10:30 Monday morning (remember, it was a three day weekend). I had woken up a early, and decided to go for a little stroll before our planned meeting time. So I laced up my new Nikes (bright LiveStrong Yellow.... LOVE them) and headed out the door. Normally I like to walk through the neighborhoods around me and check out the historic homes and see what's on the market, but Sunday I decided on an easy stroll around Capitol Park. 

I live right across from the park, and if you walk the path all of the way around it, it's just over a mile. That's why it's a favorite for runners and walkers alike. Plus, there's only two spots where you might have to wait at a crosswalk (both are entrances to the Capitol's underground parking garage). Anywho, I started my walk around there, and observed the following: a wedding in progress (the Rose Garden is a constant merry-go-round of weddings in the warmer months), a horse taking a potty break (CHP offices patrol the park on four legs), and a tourist yelling at a homeless person. Ah, what a beautiful day.

Thirty minutes later I made it to my destination: Peet's Coffee. Oh Peet's, how I love thee. I got stuck on Peet's after trying their sugar-free-nonfat mocha. If you think it sounds less than appettezing, that must be because you've tried the same thing at Starbucks. If so, you'd be right. BUT, this version of the 195 calorie drink (medium, no whip) does not taste like chemicals, as its counterpart does. This one tastes like the real thing. So much so that the first couple of times I ordered it and tasted it, I went back to them and asked if they were sure they made it sugar-free-nonfat. They assured me it was, and I have been a loyal drinker ever since. 

Now the best part about the Peet's that I frequent, is that it's built in this complex that takes up an entire block between J and K streets. It's part of the MARRS (Midtown Art, Retail and Restaurant Scene) building. There are nine different businesses that open up onto a huge wooden deck. Peet's is on the end of the building, and therefore gets a nice large chunk of the deck, with MARRS supplied chairs and tables. This is the perfect place to sit down with your drink, as evidenced by the steady stream of people rotating out of the tables with their dogs/lovers/friends/laptops/small children. 

SpiderWoman and I stepped inside to place our orders. They already knew what I wanted (they always do) and started my order right away. SpiderWoman ordered a hot chocolate and savory ham and cheese muffin to boot. Once we got our orders we stepped outside on the glorious deck. Of course the tables were all taken, so we wandered down a bit and took a seat on a bench. We chit-chatted and I tried a bit of the muffin. To her dismay it wasn't warm (and Peet's advised they did not have a microwave), but still pretty tasty. It wasn't so much a muffin as a really dense bundle of goodness. It had small chunks of ham, and the amount of cheese inside made it really thick. Probably not the healthiest choice, but worth the calories. 

After SpiderWoman left I headed right next door to Newsbeat. I'm pretty sure Newsbeat has every magazine ever made, and can print up any Newspaper that is published. I like to go in and scour the fitness section (wishful thinking), home section (more wishes) and local publications. This time I picked up Sacramento Magazine (where I read about Burgers & Brew), and Sactown Magazine.

Magazines in hand and sugar-free-nonfat-extra-hot-mocha in my belly, I opted to head back home rather than wait around for a table to open. So I walked back, fully satisfied with what I had accomplished already that day. After all, it's was a holiday. The fact that I even got dressed was a miracle in itself. Little did I know I would nearly die that night (see below).

Spiders and Milkshakes

I know "Spiders and Milkshakes" don't necessarily go together, but in the world of Me on Monday night all by myself in my apartment, it does.

Monday night I finally decided to do what I had been avoiding (by going out and eating/drinking) doing all weekend: cleaning. I decided to start with my guest closet, because I had to replace a broken closet rod (whoda thunk a rod cannot support an entire closet full of jackets?). Much to my delight, when I started to lift the rod, a gigantic spider the size of my fist crawled by my hand. And by size of my fist I mean the size of a quarter. It was not only humongous, but it was fuzzy, and had white spots on it. I did a freak-out dance and scream combo and ran out of the room and closed the door. Being that I can't even look at a spider without throwing up in my mouth, there was no possible way I would consider doing something about it ALL BY MYSELF. So I called someone who I thought would be able to help me: My boyfriend. Who does not live with me. Because he lives two and a half hours away. Of course he would be able to help on a Monday night when it's almost 10PM, right? Here's how it went:

Me: "Mister! There's a spider in my closet and it's HUUUUUGE! And furry! It might be a black widow!"
Mister: "There's a what? (giggles) What do you want me to do about it?"
Me: "I want you drive up here and kill it! I can't even look at it!"
Mister: "Well just leave it then."
Me: "I can't leave it! It could crawl out of the closet and find me, or go somewhere where I can't find it. Plus the babies could eat it!" (Don't worry. Not real babies.)
Mister: "Well then you're really going to have to kill it. Go to the store and get some bug spray, and just spray the [heck] out of it."
Me: "I can't. I need you come up here. You HAVE to come up here."
Mister: "I would if I could. Is there someone else you can call who actually lives close?"
Me: "Why yes there is.... "

Who better to save me than a friend from my old job who I swore had to have more cajones than me. I call her up.... and she promptly tells me there's no way she can handle spiders either. She made me feel better, though, by saying "It could jump off the wall onto you and bite you and kill you!" That's what friends are for.

Next on the list is someone who I clearly remember not being afraid of spiders. I remember being in Texas with her and making her kill one for me. Now that's a true friend. "So how do you feel about spiders?" It's not hard to make this girl laugh, but she let out the biggest laugh I've heard in a while. "Why do you need me to kill one for you? You know I'm going to make fun of you forever for it!" If that's the price I had to pay for being able to sleep that night, then so be it. She came right over, and with a killer flip-flop in hand.

By the time she got there, the spider had relocated to OUTSIDE of the closet (he was fast). I couldn't even watch her try to kill the thing, so I just listened. SMACK! "Aahhhhhh!" SMACK! "Oh, he's not dead yet!" SMACK! "Aahhhh!" FLUSH! I was relieved. And I knew I had to repay the girl for coming over at almost 10PM on a Monday night. That's where the milkshakes come in.

I tolder her about "Burgers & Brews" (where I had been earlier that day) and that I had seen milkshakes on the menu. She was down. We got there and were led to a table outside. I forget that nights in Sac can get a bit chilly once you throw in the Delta Breeze, but luckily I was wearing my P.J's: Long sleave shirt, leggings, and Uggs (or $130 house slippers if you ask her). I promptly ordered a strawberry shake and she ordered a chocolate one with a side salad (those two go together, right?). The shakes were as good as shakes get (hard to go wrong). The strawberry was smooth and sweet (no chunks), and the chocolate was super rich and tasty. And all for a decent price. The exact total of the bill shall remain a secret. You never reveal the price of presents. However, I can tell you the one she gave me was priceless.

Starting From the Bottom

So let me tell you (all two of you, three if I count myself) about my last great adventure of the three day weekend. Don't worry... you won't miss anything. I'll work my way backwards. I know you were worried.

Anyways, on Sunday I had promised myself I wasn't going to eat crap and wasn't going to spend money on crap. Lord knows I had done that enough already. So when I read about a new restaurant JUST down the street from me-- owned by the same people that run Crepeville (you'll def hear more about that)-- I knew I couldn't resist. The place is called Burgers & Brew, and served just that. It just opened about a month ago, next to stand-by's R15 and Cafe Bernardo. Also, its located right underneath some awesome condos that just opened, and are practically all sold (think exposed brick walls, ducting, plumbing, huge windows, roof-top deck, floor to ceiling kitchen cabs). Back to the food...

So I stopped by and ordered at the counter. I later found out they have table service in the evenings. And by later I mean a coupe of hours later when I went back for more (More on that sad story tomorrow. It has something to do with spiders). I ordered a Bacon-Jalepeno Cheeseburger. It came with regular fries, so I of course upgraded to garlic fries. Let me tell you about these garlic fries. They were the best. Ever. They weren't like fries you get at other places, with the garlic chunks so big they burn your mouth. I want to say they were made with crushed garlic (or at least it was the best mincing job I've ever seen), and fried up extra crispy. The garlic flavor didn't overwhelm when I bit into it, but instead the garlic taste lingered a little longer(sexy!). Oh and word to the wise: If you like ranch dressing with your fries, I hope you like Hidden Valley. Straight out of the bottle.

The best part of the fries were that I saved them until I was done with my burger. That meant that all of the grease and juice from the burger (there was A LOT), got all over the fries so they tasted like garlic-burger-fries. The burger itself was impressive. Not going to say it's the best I've ever had (that goes to The Squeeze-Inn), but it might now be Top 3. It was extra juicy and greasy and cooked to order (medium for me). The burger was garnished by bacon (hard to go wrong), marinated jalepenos (tasted more like regular), and a jalepeno mayonnaise (masked by the flavor of the regular jalapenos). Despite the marinated jalapenos not being marinated, the burger was still really good.

As for the "Brews" in "Burgers & Brews," I stuck with a diet coke. But they DID have a large selection on tap and an even larger in bottles. And wine too! This is def a place my dad and brother are going to LOVE. Good food. Good drinks. Good location. Good patio. Sold.

AND, the best part of the whole thing: The food wasn't crap and the prices weren't either ($11 total). So I didn't break my promise :)

So I Thought About It...

As I sat in six different restaurants/gathering spots this weekend (give me a break... it's a three day weekend) I thought long and hard about whether or not I wanted to post about them. Sure, I love to know what I have to say... but does anyone else (besides my Mom)? The answer I came up with: No. But 2 people is good enough for me.

With that said, let diarrhea of the fingers begin.

Coming Soon...

Trying to figure out if I'll really have the time for this... More to come?