Archive for Barbara's Bites
Santa Catalina Island: So many reasons to visit
Posted by: | CommentsSanta Catalina is waiting for Thee by Barbara L. Steinberg©
Hey you travel
enthusiasts and lovers of all things
There are a number of
island getaways in
You know Catalina must be special because there are only two ways to arrive: by
sea or by air. Part of the
Back in Avalon, places to stay fall right in line with the diversity realm. From
camping to luxury vacation rentals the choices are many. On a recent visit,
ocean and hillside views greeted us each morning from a sunlit balcony at
Hamilton Cove – a vacation rental community of fully-equipped villas. It was
surreal. Mainland
Hamilton Cove Villas have a variety of rental options sleeping up to six people.
Spacious living space, balconies, flat-screen TVs, DVDs, full bath (one or two)
and endless views of
It's amazing to hear
someone say, "Catalina! There's nothing to do there." Sorry, cross
those folks right off the list. After multiple trips to Catalina I look
forward to each return. The list of distractions seems endless and something
new is always happening. A tour of the Art Deco-splendid Casino
(Italian for "place of entertainment") is another of Catalina's many
must-sees. Built in 1929, the ballroom hosted dozens of Big Bands and thousands
of music and dance enthusiasts. Many
A wide-array of dining
experiences fit right into the "island time" concept of
The Wrigley Memorial &
Botanical Garden is another diversion from the already dreamlike island
retreat. The native plant gardens are
impressive and showcase the diversity of species endemic to the
Every season is Catalina season. Check ahead for special and seasonal events. The flying-fish migration is reason enough to celebrate each July. Sign-up for one of the boat tours – you have to see it to believe this magical occurrence! Plein Air, marlin fishing, silent films, jazz, wine tasting, marathon, and more; the list of events goes on and on. The shoulder months between the end of October and pre-Memorial Day holidays offer better rates and fewer people on the island.
Who said there’s nothing do
on Catalina? Just Ask Barbara...
How the whole trip began...as a mystery departure from Sacramento
Top Ten Reasons to Visit Fairfield this Spring
Posted by: | CommentsPhotos by Barbara L. Steinberg
Days are getting longer, temperatures are warming up and there is a hint of spring in the air. If you’re suffering from cabin fever, don’t despair, your tonic is only a few miles away in good natured Fairfield!
So, put away your umbrella and overcoat and check out this list of ten popular things to do and see this spring.
2. What’s New Cupcake at Jelly Belly. Cupcake book authors Karen Tack and Alan Richardson will be teaching a hands-on cupcake decorating class at Jelly Belly celebrating their newly released book – What’s New Cupcake. The workshop takes place at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13 in the Grand Bean Room at the Jelly Belly Center. The authors’ first cupcake book was a national hit and New York Times best seller. Cost: $29.99 per person (children 5 and up). A book signing follows at 3:00 p.m. For reservations, visit www.JellyBelly.com.
3. Scenic Limited Wildflower Excursions at the Western Railway Museum. The Western Railway Museum at Rio Vista Junction will be running special Scenic Limited trains every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday in April at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. to view wildflowers, such as poppies, goldfields, brass buttons, vetch, and sheep’s sorrel. The Scenic Limited takes visitors five miles down the old Sacramento Northern Railway, south from Highway 12. During the hour long train ride, passengers will have an opportunity to view impressive displays of native wildflowers that cover the hillsides and fields. Fares: $10 for Adults; $9 for Seniors (65 years and older); and $7 for Children (ages 2 – 14). First Class service is $5 extra. (707) 374-2978. www.WRM.org.
5. Experience Rush Ranch During Their 20th Annual Open House. Enjoy a celebration of nature, art, music, dancing, and traditional crafts at Rush Ranch, a Solano Land Trust property on Grizzly Island, on Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include guided walks to Suisun Marsh, horse drawn wagon rides by Access Adventure, live music, square dancing, weaving and spinning, wood carving, flint knapping, local Native American culture, horseshoeing, blacksmithing, bats, falconry, farm animals, raffle, and art show. New this year is a Ranch Life Children’s Interactive Art Station. Admission is FREE. (707) 422-4491 or (707) 432-0150, ext. 200. www.RushRanch.net or www.SolanoLandTrust.org.
7. Tee it Up at a Fairfield Golf Course. Fairfield is home to the top two 18-hole golf courses in Solano County – Paradise Valley and Rancho Solano. Paradise Valley, praised as being the number one golf course in Solano County and best value in the North Bay area, has a spectacular layout that is enhanced by oak studded fairways and meandering creeks. It’s a favorite for golfers who enjoy a walking round of golf and is playable for golfers of all abilities. Rancho Solano, known for having a beautiful country-club-like setting, has an alluring layout with hilly terrain and undulated greens that add character to the golf course. Scenic lakes, elevated tees and well placed bunkers provide interesting features that contribute to the excitement of playing this course. Several other challenging courses are an easy drive from Fairfield.
8. Go Behind the Scenes on an Anheuser-Busch Beermaster Tour. The Beermaster Tour takes a look at the brewing of Budweiser and includes a visit to the Brew House, Finishing Cellar, Lager Cellar, and packaging facility. The two-hour tour concludes in the Hospitality Room with a product flight demonstration and product sampling. Participants will receive a variety of gifts compliments of Anheuser-Busch. Cost: $25 for adults and $10 for youth ages 13 to 20. Guests 13 to 20 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. For reservations, call (707) 429-7595 or e-mail fairfieldbrewerytour@budweisertours.com.
Take your time exploring what Fairfield and the surrounding area has to offer and stay in one of the city’s 18 hotels that offer affordable and comfortable overnight accommodations. Stay and play, or tour the region – either way, Fairfield is the perfect base camp for a spring escape.
To help plan a visit to Good Natured Fairfield, call the Fairfield Tourism Association at (707) 399-2445 or visit www.Fairfield4Fun.com
Barbara L. Steinberg is a member of:
New dining Shabu in Midtown Sacramento
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Well Really, Shabu Shabu by Barbara L. Steinberg
Finally!
At last! OMG! Sacramento has something new to cheer about in the food
realm. It's not another sushi bar. Nope, not Mexican. Not Thai. Not
just expensive libations. Though I love all of those. It is...drum roll
please...shabu shabu. The owner of Shabu,
John Voong, simplifies for some (myself included) and calls it Japanese
fondue. The only similarity is that you cook your meats and veggies in
a bubbling cauldron of amazing broth. (I chose spicy miso.) But that's
where the similarities end. I don't want to begin to try and explain
Shabu. Just go and experience this for yourself. This isn't a Japanese
steak house where food and sharp objects somersault through the air.
I
have longed for something new in Sacramento's ever-expanding dining
scene. And I was positively giddy after dining at Shabu for the first
time. In fact, you couldn't knock the smile off my face. I had to tell
someone...so I called my friend Judith. She's traveled the world...she
loves good food...she lives in Midtown...I knew I had to share the good
news with someone who would care. Someone who would get why this was so
exciting.
Member
California Welcome Center Opening in Tulare County!
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Thursday, December 10th 4:00-7:00pm
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Location: 4500 South Laspina, Tulare, CA 93274 |
Top Ice Cream Sandwiches in Sacramento & San Jose
Posted by: | CommentsBarbara's Bites on the Best Ice Cream Sandwiches in Sacramento & Beyond
by Barbara L. Steinberg©
If you haven't figured it out by now, I am very specific when it comes food. Not all things food...but there are those things I would say, "I am a snob when it comes to ______," You can fill in the blank. Now don't misunderstand...I love to eat just about anything and everything. But some things, well, I have my standards.
Ice cream is one of those things where my standards are high. But particularly, and in this case, ice cream sandwiches. It's all about the sandwich AND the ice cream. I must say I have been jaded because Sacramento has a FABULOUS cookie store...Goodie Tuchews...where they also hand-make ice cream sandwiches right before your eyes...and taste buds. Goodie Tuchews isn't alone in this world of ice cream sandwich (I.C.S.) creations, but what owner Terry O'Reilly has is more than 25 years in the cookie kingdom, producing 19...yes, that's a one and a nine, 19 varieties of cookies from which to assemble a luscious ice cream sandwich.
The combinations are nearly endless. How about Snickerdoodle top and Milk Chocolate Chip bottom. (Hmmm, how do you determine which end is up?!) Or an Oatmeal Everything (that would be raisins, nuts & chocolate chips) and Chocolate Peanut Butter. Yeoweeeee! My personal fave is the Snickerdoodle -- top and bottom. Terry only has one ice cream flavor but it's an excellent choice and also VERY local -- the wonderfully smooth and creamy vanilla ice cream from the landmark of 69 years of ice cream joy, Gunther's. If you want a special order, then Terry is happy to provide other Gunther's ice cream flavors. But be sure to plan ahead. Goodie Tuchews ice cream sandwiches have been dessert at more than one of my family celebrations -- and they are a sure winner. Located in Downtown Sacramento at 1015 L Street, you need to get your I.C.S. fix Monday - Friday -- come early...call ahead...916/444-6048.
After thinking about this whole ice cream sandwich thing, I wondered how many others were serving up this old-fashioned delight. And so decided I would punish myself in pursuit of all things sandwich and ice cream. 
Locally, my second favorite is ice cream sandwich at Masullo's at 2711 Riverside Boulevard in Land Park. A newcomer on the Sacramento dining scene and really known for their outstanding pizzas...it was the news of their ice cream sandwich that recently brought me back. It was no slouch and glad I was to enjoy and pay for a dinner of pizza and salads to get to the dessert at the end. The Masullo-made oatmeal cookie is
A-W-E-S-O-M-E! I usually like my sandwich cookie on the chewy side, but in Masullo's case the oatmeal cookie crisp with currants is outrageous. The ice cream is from another decades-old Sacramento landmark, Vic's Ice Cream. This luscious I.C.S. wins high marks as my second favorite Sacramento offering.
So, two down...and number three...the envelope please! The winner is...Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates in Midtown at 1801 L Street. The chocolates are beyond lovely; even for someone like me who's not a chocolate junky. But when I heard about the I.C.S. I had to check this out. The Parisian Macaron Ice 
Cream Sandwiches are beautiful. The "sandwich" -- a work of art -- is a wonderfully chewy macaroon-ish affair. Now remember what I said about being an ice cream snob. Well, Ginger Elizabeth gets all my points for the ice cream portion of her I.C.S. She makes the creamy stuff! It is spectacular. I had the meyer lemon I.C.S. and it was fabulous. Others would probably choose this sandwich over others, but as much as I devoured the Macron and lemon ice cream, it was a little too rich for me. Still, don't let my tastebuds stop you from rushing to Ginger Elizabeth's...she's definitely got it going on. Plus she has other tempting ice cream items and flavors. Such a talent.
Whew. I am tired...but there's one last I.C.S. I have to mention. It's from out-of-town and I stumbled upon this delightful number at this year's Sunset Celebration Weekend - a travel, garden, food and wine event on the grounds of Sunset Magazine in Menlo Park. It was my good luck to be "working" at the event and just happened up Kicks Cookies & Ice Cream...one of the many food vendors. They have a cookie and ice cream cart -- be still my heart -- ice cream sandwiches on wheels. They can come to you and your 
event but they also just opened their first store in San Jose. Anyway...I tried their homemade Snickerdoodle cookies with a scoop of Double Rainbow strawberry ice cream. Let me just say, if I find myself in San Jose I am definitely seeking them out. I think you'll agree that this dark chocolate cookie I.C.S. might be worth a drive to the Bay Area.
If you have a favorite I.C.S. you think we should know about...please, send it over.
Terry assembles my I.C.S. Barbara L. Steinberg© 
Masullo I.C.S. I think you get the point. Barbara L. Steinberg© .jpg)
Sacramento’s Grange Restaurant & Bar at The Citizen Hotel Offers Culinary I.O.U.s
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There is no need to wait until October to cash California state IOU’s when Grange Restaurant & Bar is issuing IOU’s of their own with redemption through Sept. 7, 2009. Grange, specializing in locally grown and raised artisanal food, introduces IOU Happy Hour every Monday beginning July 20, 2009, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring beer, wine, cocktails and appetizers discounted up to 60 percent. Grange Restaurant IOU’s for a complimentary appetizer will be presented upon receipt and can be used for future dining before Sept. 7, 2009.
Enjoy libations from the exclusive IOU menu featuring a strawberry basil cocktail and peach cocktail prepared with fresh local white peaches. The menu also includes a list of local California wines and beers as well as small bites such as fritto misto with squid and white fish, grilled flatbread with herbed marinated goat cheese and olives, and organic popcorn.
Located adjacent to The Citizen Hotel in Sacramento’s vibrant downtown core, Grange graces the corner of 10th & J streets within walking distance of the California State Capitol. The restaurant has been a runaway success since opening, featuring the culinary talents of famed Chef Michael Tuohy and a hopping bar scene like none other in the downtown core. Renowned nationwide for his devotion to serving the finest regional, seasonal and sustainable foods, Chef Tuohy has created a dining experience that celebrates the bounty of California perfectly paired with the state’s celebrated selection of wines and cocktails.
For more information, visit www.GrangeSacramento.com.
Grange
I.O.U
Monday Happy Hour
$6 BITES
Marinated olives/grilled flatbread
Herbed marinated goat cheese
Fritto Misto
squid / white fish / onions
lemon / caper aioli
Organic 479 Popcorn
pimenton and caramel fleur de sel
$6 MIXED DRINKS
Raspberry/ Ancho Chili
Sauza Hornitos tequila, lime, fresh raspberries,
agave nectar, ancho chilis.
Strawberry Basil
Fresh strawberries muddled with fresh basil, and combined with Square One organic vodka, fresh lime juice, and agave nectar - served up with a fresh strawberry.
Grapefruit
Finlandia Grapefruit vodka, Cointreau, fresh grapefruit juice, lime and orange. Strained and served up in a chilled glass.
Peach
Fresh local white peaches and Roederer Sparkling California wine
$5 WINES BY THE GLASS
Sauvignon Blanc, Source, Yountville
Chardonnay, Matchbook, Santa Barbara
Zinfandel, Karly Pokerville, Amador County
Syrah, Scott Harvey, Amador County
Pinot Noir, Bogle, Russian River