Pamela Or Suzette?
They’ve been around the block, (not Pamela but maybe Suzette) birthing in Brittany (France). There are numerous variations including sope (Mexico), injera (African), crespella (Italy), pannekoeken (Denmark), pfannkuchen (Germany), dosa (India), palacsinta (Hungary), filloas (Galacia, Spain) to name a few. I’ve had them here and there in the US, the most memorable at Lutz Cafe [...]
What the G.O.A.T?
Those of us who live in Northern California are lucky, especially if you are interested in quality food. We have easy access to so many wonderful artisan food producers and growers. CSA (Consumer Sponsored Agriculture) box choices are aplenty, fresh and seasonal at your fingertips, and passionate people with visions scattered about. Three women are [...]
Have You Tried?: Lemon Grass Kitchen Sauces
What: Mai Pham, chef of Lemon Grass restaurant and local cookbook author, has just released three Lemon Grass Kitchen sauces in a jar. There are two Thai versions: Green Curry and Yellow Curry, and a Vietnamese version: Lemongrass Ginger. They’re all 8-ounce jars that make 6 servings using the recipe on each label. Why: I [...]
Gluten Free and Good!
The Azna Gluten Free Bakery Brainchild of Dawna Destafeno after she discovered she had Celiac Disease, Azna Gluten Free was born out of necessity. Actually, it was due to her son (who she was pregnant with when she discovered she had Celiac), not being able to enjoy birthday celebration desserts at school. My favorite item [...]
Going Whole (or 1/8) Hog
Happy new year! Did you go whole hog over the holidays? I’ve been meaning to post for a while about buying 1/8th of a pig last fall. Last November, we divvied up half a pig from Bledsoe Farms in Yolo County with three other families and ended up with about 27 pounds of pork! My [...]
Tea in the City
Walk in the door and an unusual but inviting aroma greets you. An urban, city feel with clean lines, you take a deep breath, look around and notice the shop is comfortable and down-to-earth with colorful leaves wondering the ceiling. Black, Green, White, Oolong, Herbal, Rooibos, Fruit and Estate; get lost in a world of [...]
Have You Tried An Amagaki Lately?
Native to China, with the botanical name “diaspyros”, persimmons are loading local trees this time of year. You might ask how they could be the “Fruit of the Gods” (Greek translation for diaspyros). However, if you’re one who has experienced a luscious, very ripe Hachiya persimmon blissfully gliding over your palate, you know how. Or [...]
Listen to the Lunch Lady!
[guest blogger Lynn Gowdy, who works at Whole Foods, will hopefully be joining Sacatomato as a regular poster] Do you care about what your kids eat for lunch? While perusing culinary-type sites on the web one evening, I stumbled upon The Renegade Lunch Lady, Chef Ann Cooper. I stopped at her website and started reading. [...]
Sweets for Your Sweetie (and Yourself)
I thought we were lucky before, when we could get Ginger Elizabeth caramels at Mulvaney’s and Taylor’s, but NOW we can get them any time we want. Do you realize the consequences of this?? Sacramento is now a true contender in the fine chocolates business. Not that I would turn down any chocolate (especially a [...]
Have You Tried?: La Clarine Goat Cheese
What: La Clarine Farm Sierra Mountain Tomme goat cheese, a semi-hard nutty raw milk cheese aged two to three months. Why: La Clarine is a biodynamic farm in the foothills, where they raise American Alpine goats with no antibiotics. Hank Beckmeyer and Caroline Hoel compost the goat manure for fertilizer, use native plants and vegetation, [...]
