Taste: The region's latest food, drink & restaurant news for June 10

About a Bite Bakery
This local bakery, which specializes in mini confections, plans to open its first storefront on K Street at the end of June, replacing the former Blush Ultra Lounge nightclub next to Tequila Museo Mayahuel. About a Bite will share a 2600-square-foot space with the Downtown & Vine wine bar and will serve up signature treats like cherry chocolate streusel bars and fudgy mocha crunch bites (pictured below). Owner Jennifer Kaye launched her bakery in 2011 and has operated out of an industrial space in Gold River for the past few years. At the new downtown shop, she plans to serve Chocolate Fish coffee and Devine Gelateria ice cream, both of which will also be incorporated into her confections. Think gelato cookie sandwiches or bonbons infused with Chocolate Fish espresso. 1200 K St. 638-8949. aboutabitebakery.com

Broderick Roadhouse
Sacramento has been buzzing with news of Chris Jarosz and Matt Chong’s new dining ventures. The Broderick Roadhouse owners are slated to open four new restaurants in the coming months, from midtown to Carmichael. Localis at 2031 S Street (which formerly housed Trick Pony and Tuli Bistro) is slated for a July 1 opening with chef Chris Barnum (formerly of Cibo 7 in Roseville and Café Zorro in Auburn) at the helm. The name is Latin for “local,” and this new eatery will focus on regional purveyors and ingredients, wine pairings and a frequently changing “omakase” style-tasting menu. Expected to open a few weeks later on July 22 is Saddle Rock. Named after one of the first restaurants in Sacramento and on the West Coast, it will take the place of Capital Dime at 1801 L Street. The restaurant’s chef, Kevin O’Connor has worked in such kitchens as Blackbird, Ella and The Kitchen, and, according to Chong, is creating a menu that will highlight the best of Sacramento’s history and culture. Meanwhile, across the street, Broderick Midtown will bring all the popular West Sacramento brewpub’s favorites (like the duck burger with house-made fig jam and the Gold Rush burger topped with Broderick’s signature bacon mac and cheese) to its new spot at 1820 L Street (previously the site of a Wahoo's Fish Taco location) beginning August 1. One new addition on the menu—milkshakes—will make the perfect summer companion to Broderick's burgers and crisp, perfectly seasoned fries. And last but not least, The Patriot at 6239 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael is expected to open on Oct.1, with an eclectic menu reflecting chef-owner Jarosz’s “life journey through food,” beginning with his roots in Pittsburgh, Penn., and following the path that led him to Sacramento. broderick1893.com

California Craft Beer Summit
The first-ever California Craft Beer Summit, which will take place at the Sacramento Convention Center on Sept. 11-12, recently announced its program of events and seminars, as well as the lineup of movers and shakers in the craft beer movement who will be at the two-day event. Beer enthusiasts, home-brewers and industry vets can sit in on discussions by brewmasters like Ken Grossman (owner and founder of Chico’s Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.), Dr. Charlie Bamforth (professor of brewing science at UC Davis, aka "the Pope of Foam") and Greg Koch (CEO and co-founder of San Diego’s Stone Brewing Co.). Plus, view interactive exhibits that bring hop heads face to face with ingredients like grain, wheat and hops, and taste specialty suds from over 150 brewers across the state, like Societe Brewing Company (San Diego), Sante Adairius Rustic Ales (Capitola) and Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa) at Saturday’s Brewers Showcase at Capitol Mall. $49-$119. $239-$289 for full weekend pass. $60 for Brewers Showcase only ($70 after Sept. 3). Hours vary by event. Sacramento Convention Center. 1400 J St. (Capitol Mall at 10th and L streets for Brewers Showcase). 228-4260. cacraftbeersummit.com

The Firehouse Restaurant
Life just got a little sweeter at The Firehouse Restaurant, which unveiled three new desserts on June 5 created by pastry chef Kam Golightly, who joined the Old Sacramento establishment in April and whose résumé includes stints at Oakland’s Oliveto Restaurant & Cafe and Yountville’s Redd (which Esquire magazine listed as one of the best new restaurants in the country in 2006). Golightly brings familiar flavors dressed in elegant flair to the table with a chocolate peanut butter gianduja (a mousse-like cake served with honey foam and chocolate gelato), a stone fruit corn fritter with locally sourced apricots and cherry crema (pictured above), and a butterscotch pudding with vanilla shortbread and a pretzel that has been candied, dipped in chocolate and dusted with cocoa powder. 1112 2nd St. 442-4772. firehouseoldsac.com

The Rind
This well-loved cheese bar in midtown is building a side and front patio (pictured below) that will seat about 24 people total. Owner Sara Arbabian says she has wanted to install a patio outside of her shop ever since it opened in 2013 but it wasn’t until the City of Sacramento began working on developing a parklet in front of neighboring Capital Dime that the prospect of The Rind’s own patios could move forward. Arbabian says the design will be reflect a “modern, sophisticated space” that mimics the cozy interior of her restaurant. She hopes to open the patios by late summer or early fall. For now, the cheese shop is celebrating its second birthday on Sunday, June 14, and is hosting an anniversary party with cheese tastings, karaoke, trivia games and wine and beer flights. Tickets are $25 and the celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1801 L St. 441-7463. therindsacramento.com

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