Taste: The region's latest food, drink & restaurant news
We’ve got the lowdown on what’s heating up Sacramento’s food scene this month, including a new midtown taproom, refillable wines and a new, healthy food truck.
Zocalo
Midtown and Roseville’s contemporary Mexican hotspot will be launching a revamped bar program on May 18, for the first time in years. Owner Ernesto Jimenez traveled to Mexico to meet four different distilleries, including one of Mexico’s oldest, Siete Leguas. His goal? To perfect what the house does best: margaritas. About 10 to 15 new tequilas will be introduced to the menu, including George Clooney’s Casamigos and rare vintage Tequila Ocho Añejo. Also expect a new selection of wines and local craft beers on rotation, as well as tequila tastings with existing monthly dinners. 1801 Capitol Ave. Sacramento. 441-0303. 1182 Roseville Pkwy. Roseville. 788-0303. zocalosacramento.com
Putah Creek Cafe
The homey Winters eatery that was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is upgrading its two-year-old dinner menu. Chef Darren Thompson—formerly of Ella Dining Room and Bar, Carpe Vino and Revolution Wines—came aboard five months ago and has reformatted the menu with revamped versions of existing items like the wood fire-roasted “brick chicken” dish (now a confit-style with panzanella salad). New shared plates also include popovers with truffle butter and chives, and cedar-roasted toma cheese with prosciutto and local honey. 1 Main St. Winters. 530-795-2682. putahcreekcafe.com
Granola Girl
Street food no longer means deep-fried and greasy; this new homegrown food truck featuring fresh, healthy fare is taking to the streets. Owner Saba Rahimian started Granola Girl in February 2014, but only recently decided to take her show on the road. The truck will focus on breakfast and lunch with juices, superfood shakes like the cocomo chip (with ingredients like coconut meat and mint leaves), granola bowls featuring homemade pumpkin seed flax, seasonal fruit and pink Himalayan sea salt, and slightly heavier items like the “sunny side French toast.” Granola Girl will host a grand opening May 30 at the Midtown Farmers Market, and will give the first 30 visitors a free mason jar of gluten free, vegan granola. Rahimian plans to rotate farmers markets monthly and locations around town—which will be regularly updated on Facebook and Twitter. granolagirlfoodtruck.com
Revolution Wines
This urban winery and vineyard debuted its “Renew” bottle program April 25, allowing oenophiles to take their vino to go. Similar to the growler concept at craft breweries, $5 gets you a liter-size bottle that can be brought back for refills at prices varying by the wine. Served straight from the barrel, the wine on tap will soon feature five to 10 of Revolution’s wines at a time. The first featured wine, Sacteaux—a blend that includes cabernet sauvignon and Sacramento County-grown grapes—is available for a $20 fill-up and will be joined by other selections within the next few months. 2831 S St. 444-7711. revolution-wines.com
Sac Brew Bike
Celebrating its one-year anniversary, the craft beer and food tour host will be opening a taproom in midtown in early July. The 2,400 square foot mixed-use space (formerly an art gallery) will house all three of its 15-passenger pedal-powered bikes, and share about half of the building with the new taproom. Six beers on tap will feature local craft brews like Bike Dog Brewing Company and Ruhstaller. In addition to beers and wines, the taproom will also carry local meats, cheeses and other snacks. It will be open to the public and serve primarily as a check-in area for bike tour participants to sample beer flights and mingle with other riders before hitting the road. 1519 19th St. 952-7973. sacbrewbike.com
South
Southside Park’s contemporary Southern cuisine restaurant South, which opened its doors at the end of 2014, is extending its location with a new dining room set to open May 19. Built from of a former Chinese video store, the room can be used for large parties or rented for special events. Lining the 700 square-foot space is a 49-foot-long bookshelf filled with antiques and family artifacts from husband-and-wife owners Ian and N’Gina Kavookjian. Large charcoal canvases by Sacramento-based artist Angela Oates adorn the deep grey walls, and zinc dome pendant lights illuminate the honey wood floors. The space is practically begging for a party with shared plates of fried chicken. 2005 11th St. 382-9722. weheartfriedchicken.com
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