Eat, Drink & Be Merry in Sacramento
There’s something special about Sacramento. Sure it doesn’t have the glamorous movie stars of Los Angeles or the “foggy East-Coast meets West-Coast charm” of San Francisco, but don’t discount Sacramento just yet! As the oldest incorporated city in California, Sacramento has retained its bygone charm with tree-lined streets and gorgeous Victorian architecture. I lived in Sacramento for three years and the things that I miss (besides my friends) are the beautiful golden/red leaves in fall, fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers markets, and my favorite local restaurants, cafes and bars.
Food Glorious Food
Sacramento is aptly named America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital for so many delicious reasons! With more than 1.5 acres of farms and ranches, the region not only supplies fresh produce nationally and internationally but also is home to more than 40 farmers markets. There are various food and wine festivals in the region as well as the very special Farm-to-Fork Gala Dinner held at the Tower Bridge.
If you can’t make it to the festivals, there are so many amazing restaurants and cafes in the city. For a special occasion, the Kitchen serves up an intimate dinner centered around, well, the kitchen! My friends who have dined there rave about the Kitchen’s seasonal and creative dishes. Each ingredient is celebrated and comes together in a beautifully delicious way. It’s in my bucket list of restaurants to dine at!
My absolute favorite restaurant in Sacramento isn’t a fancy place at all. Quan Nem Ninh Hoa is a hole-in-a-wall Vietnamese joint that’s really popular with locals. It may not be close to any tourist attractions but it’s worth the 15 minute drive from downtown to try the special DIY fresh rolls. It comes with grilled pork, crispy prawn spring rolls, flat rice noodles, herbs and vegetables, and a gorgeous dipping sauce that brings everything together. It’s an explosion of flavor in your mouth – sweet, crunchy, savory, fresh, and even spicy if you add the homemade roasted chili sauce. I’ve traveled throughout Asia and have never tasted anything quite as good as that. I dare say that Quan Nem Ninh Hoa is the best Vietnamese restaurant I’ve ever been to!
Cafes Galore
If you need to get caffeinated or just want to unwind with a good book, Sacramento has plenty of independent coffee shops to perk you up! Old Soul and Temple roast their own beans and have a wonderful selection of specialty teas too. My friend Rikki introduced me to Temple’s “Bliss” tea — peppermint leaves infused in vanilla soy milk and coconut milk, and sweetened with honey. As a die-hard coffee drinker, I was a bit skeptical of the combination of flavors. But Rikki said that “it’s heaven in a cup” and she was so right! I’ve tried making my own sad imitations since I don’t live in Sacramento anymore, but it can never beat the original heaven in a cup!
Luscious Libations
Sacramento has a wide variety of bars for every kind of personality. There are dive bars, karaoke bars, gay bars, upscale “office crowd” bars (supposedly also known as cougar bars), converted industrial space hipster bars, and bars with live music. I love bars with great food too so Red Rabbit is my top choice! It also helps that their servers and bartenders are genuinely friendly and welcoming to everyone. They don’t try too hard to be cool, they just are! They have a wide range of awesome and creative cocktails, and my favorite is the Krawkow Saltmine. It’s fresh, gingery and lemony, and will quench your thirst while making you buzzed.
There are so many other wonderful restaurants, cafes and bars in Sacramento. You can just spend a couple of days eating and drinking your way through this deliciously gorgeous city! Put Sacramento on top of your foodie bucket list. Your stomach will thank you!
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