Restaurant Review: Sapporo Grill (thumbs up)

Sapporo Grill (Wednesday 1/25 @ 7pm)
4 stars = will return

Service
The restaurant was unusually busy for a Wednesday evening, and we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. We asked about sitting at the sushi bar instead, since that can often be less of a wait and it appeared as though several spots were available, but the hostess told us that there were too many large parties and reservations. I wondered about this, as I didn't know it was possible to reserve at the sushi bar, and when I asked for clarification, the hostess revealed that the underlying issue was that the server assigned to the sushi bar was also responsible for several large parties with reservations at other tables. I can definitely understand this challenge, but if large groups reserve in advance, shouldn't the manager assure that appropriate staffing levels are in place to handle all of the patrons?

Once we were seated, we perused the menu and noted some changes to the offerings (see details below under Menu Options). A server passing by noticed that we looked ready to order and didn't yet have any drinks, and she asked if we'd been helped yet. Unfortunately, the answer was no, but she assured us that she'd send our server over right away. This was an unusual experience at Sapporo, as we've been to the restaurant many times and have never before had any delay in service.

Our server, Diana, soon arrived to take our drink orders, and for the rest of the evening, she was sufficiently attentive. Her friendliness did seem a little forced at times, however, which made the interactions feel a bit less-than-genuine. So the visit was a little disappointing in the service aspect.

Food Quality
We ordered yasai grilled vegetables to share as a starter and were very pleased with the skewer of fresh veges in a light soy glaze - artichokes, mushrooms, zucchini. The request for no onions was definitely honored! Mr. E ordered 3 sushi rolls (I don't remember all of the names), and I ordered my favorite M2, which is one of the vege rolls and includes mango, mushroom, steamed asparagus, and avocado rolled in a soy wrapper. Yum! No problems with my requests for no sauce and no scallions, and Sapporo definitely rates highly every time on the fresh quality of the food and the easy accommodation of special requests.

Value
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are a great value for sushi rolls thanks to the "buy one, get one for $1" promotion. Our entire meal of 4 rolls, 1 starter, 1 cocktail, and 1 beer was $56, including tip. Considering that the regular roll prices range from $9-$14, taking advantage of this promotion is a great value!

Menu Options
One of our favorite starters in the past was the yaki ramen, but that item no longer appears on the menu. Likewise, my favorite wine (Pacific Rim Riesling) has also disappeared from the menu, which is very disappointing as the only remaining Riesling is not nearly as tasty for my palate. Other than that, however, Sapporo has a very broad set of offerings on the menu, from starters to rolls to sashimi to full-scale entrees, so it's never a problem to find something to enjoy. Also, as mentioned earlier, the kitchen never has any objection to making modifications to accommodate food allergies or restrictions, which is great for me.

Restaurant Review: Revolution Wines (thumbs up)

Revolution Wines (Friday 1/20 @ 7pm)
4 stars = Will return

Service
On a very rainy and windy night, we sought refuge in the cozy environment of this local winery, choosing a table near the side window looking out at the new patio area. We were greeted warmly and promptly, and the service throughout the evening was attentive, for the most part. The only stumbling block occured when we had finished our bottle of water and had to ask twice for a refill.

Food Quality
We ordered the chef's plate of charcuterie and cheese with fresh thin crostini, homemade ciabatta bread with oil and vinegar, marinated olives, and the roasted beet salad. Our beverages included glasses of the winery's own Revolutionary Red, Syrah, and 2 different Cabs. Everything was tasty, and we especially enjoyed the castelvetrano olives in the mix (our new favorite olives - now if we could only figure out where to buy some!). The beet salad included roasted potatoes and arugula with bacon on the side (for Mr. E's enjoyment), and was just the right portion size for dinner with the other munchies. Mr. E was very pleased with the meat options on the chef's plate, and I was impressed by the little "extras" under each type of cheese - sliced apples, dried apricots, and roasted red peppers. Yum!

Value
I had found a coupon in the News & Review for 10% off, so our total for all of the food and 4 glasses of wine was right around $70 (seems to be the magic number in our recent outings!). Revolution also has a great Friday-night pasta special each week that includes a side salad, pasta dish, and a glass of wine for $15. We decided not to take advantage of that prix fixe meal this time, but when we return on a future Friday, we may opt for that offering, depending on the type of pasta and sauce. Also, if we had been a wee bit earlier for Happy Hour 4-6pm, we could have had one of the house wines for $3 per glass. I took advantage of this offer several weeks ago when I was at Revolution with a friend earlier on a Friday evening, and the $3 glass of Syrah was yummy (regular price $7, which still isn't bad). Overall, the quality of the food and the pricing for the small plates and appetizers make this a pretty good value for wine and munchies, especially if I can find another coupon!

Menu Options
Although the menu is somewhat limited, the olives, bread, and chef's plate are reliable standbys that we could order again and again. In addition, the small plates offer a range of seasonal salads and proteins, and there were no issues with making a few modifications to our order to accommodate my food restrictions.

Restaurant Review: Michelangelo's (thumbs up)

Michelangelo's (Wednesday 1/11/12 @ 7pm)
5 stars = Will return & will actively encourage others to go

Service
Mr. E had made reservations, and we were promptly seated at one of the small tables-for-two arranged along the front wall, very European-style. Our server, Tage, arrived soon thereafter for our drink orders and to bring some of the yummy house-made rosemary bread (warm!). We haven't been to Michelangelo's for at least two years or so, but we recognized Tage as well as the owner from previous visits. I always think it's impressive to see that sort of longevity in the restaurant business, especially among the waitstaff. Throughout the entire meal, Tage was attentive without being fussy and friendly without being false, and she didn't flinch even slightly when we modified our orders. No excessive waits, no rushing to finish one thing before another arrived - the pacing was perfect.

Food Quality
One of my favorite items at Michelangelo's is the grilled calamari steak (why don't more restaurants opt for this presentation instead of the usual deep-fried route?!). My memory of the calamari appetizer with polenta proved to be quite accurate, as Mr. E and I enjoyed this dish along with the house-smoked salmon bruschetta, sans cheese sauce. Since I had mentioned my garlic & onion issues to Tage, she made sure to check with the kitchen for each dish, and even came to let us know that the salmon rub has a tiny bit of dried onion in it. That amount isn't enough to set off my radar, so we could still order the dish, but I truly appreciated her conscientiousness and attention to detail.

The portions are quite large, so I decided to opt for the chicken and olives small plate as my entree while Mr. E ordered the lentil and sausage pasta special. Both were delicious and provided some leftovers for the next day. Mr. E swapped out the penne as listed in the special for the house-made tagliatelle, which was part of the other nightly special, and again the kitchen had no problem making that substitution and still delivering our dishes in a timely fashion (unlike during last week's dinner at Tuli...).

For dessert, Mr. E ordered the flourless chocolate cake, which was accompanied by gingerbread gelato. Divine. The gelato truly tasted like gingerbread, with flavors of nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon, and the cake was rich and dense. Too dense for one sitting, in fact, so about half of the cake came home with us as well.

Value
The total for our meal of two appetizers, one small plate, one entree, one dessert, two beers, one glass of wine, and tip was $78. Keep in mind that this meal extended into the next day thanks to the leftovers, which Mr. E and I both enjoyed for dinner the next night, so that's really $78 for two total meals. Now that's what I call value!

Menu Options
Michelangelo's has expanded the menu since the last time we visited with the selection of small plates, and I really like having this option, especially since some of the yummy appetizers are quite large. The variety assures that I'll always be able to find something tasty to order, and the chef's willingness to modify dishes to meet dietary requirements moves this restaurant back to the top of our list of venues to visit frequently. Can't wait to go back soon!

Restaurant Review: Tuli Bistro (thumbs down)

Tuli Bistro (Wednesday 1/4/12 @ 7:30pm)
1 Star = Will not return & will actively encourage others not to go

Service
We were seated promptly at a 2-top near the bar. Our main server, Claudia, took our drink order as we started to peruse the menu. Once our drink order was placed, however, the arrival of Mr. E's beer and my glass of wine was less than speedy. Strike one.

Claudia then took our food order and communicated my garlic/onion issues to the kitchen, which led to a brief negotiation about a substitution for the risotto but concluded with assurances that another satisfactory item could be used in the dish under the scallops. Then the wait began. I noticed that a couple at the end of the bar who had arrived after we placed our order received two dishes before any part of our order appeared. During this time, Claudia continually returned to chat with a trio of diners at the end of the bar near us, but she didn't actively check in with our table. I signaled her to inquire about the status of our order, and we heard her ask the chef for the ETA on our food, to which the chef replied, "I'm just about to fire it." Excuse me? You're just now about to prepare an order that was placed at least 20 minutes ago and well before that other couple arrived who are already enjoying their food? Strike two.

Despite the fact that we could hear this interaction, Claudia did not return to update us for a few minutes, at which time she assured us our order would be ready in 2-3 minutes. Mr. E set his watch. Almost 5 minutes later, my scallops arrived along with another plate from some other table's order - not the correct entree for Mr. E! Strike three.

Food Quality
When we did finally get our correct order, we enjoyed the small portions (not unexpected) on our plates. My original entree was supposed to be scallops over beet-infused risotto with beet greens, but apparently the base of the risotto contains some garlic. The substitution provided was sauteed spinach and yukon gold potatoes. Relatively tasty, but as Mr. E pointed out, not really much more than breakfast potatoes that you can find almost anywhere. Mr. E's steak was fine but nothing special.

Value
Our total dinner with two drinks, two entrees, and tip was $70. That's the equivalent of about three orders from Ma Jong, most of which lead to leftovers for additional meals. I understand and appreciate that using local and seasonal foods can be more costly, and I'm willing to pay more to support this type of fare and establishment, but I want something special to result from the preparation and presentation. Tuli fell far short of this expectation.

As a sharp contrast, the previous weekend Mr. E had grilled some tri-tip for himself and some fresh scallops from Taylor's Market for me, and both items turned out beautifully. Cost of 4 scallops at Taylor's = $10. Cost of 3 scallops at Tuli's = $18. The scallops at Tuli truly weren't any better than what Mr. E had prepared, so what's the point of paying double?

Menu Options
Since I have some food allergies and limitations, two important factors for me when rating a restaurant are the variety of options available to me on the menu and how flexible the kitchen is about making accommodations. I was very excited about Tuli initially since a note at the bottom of the menu indicated "Substitutions welcome," which is not a common message to diners. Unfortunately, the actual substitutions used in my dish were lacking in creativity.

2011 Themes - Food & Wine

As I was composing my Year in Review, I noticed several themes emerging from 2011, so I'll be adding some theme-based posts to the blog over the next couple of weeks. Let's start with Food & Wine...

Brunch
For the past couple of years, I've had a monthly brunch outing with S, M, Ir & S. This group started as a way of staying in touch with M when she was no longer a volunteer at PP and then evolved to also include Ir & S when Ir left PP as well. I take responsibility for organizing the monthly date and trying to find a convenient time/location for everyone, usually in Midtown or Downtown Sac, since M doesn't mind driving from the Arden area and the rest of us live close to the grid. We've tried several different spots over the years, including Fox & Goose, Waffle Square, Bernardo's on 15th, Orphan, Crepeville (both Sac locations), Sweetwater, and Danielle's Creperie. The criteria for selecting a good spot include value/cost, menu variety, good coffee, and an option for pancakes (for M). Based on these criteria, I'd rate the above locations as follows, from best to worst:

1. Orphan (meets all criteria)


2. Crepeville (no pancakes)


3. Fox & Goose (can get crowded)


4. Bernardo's (minimal menu variety)


5. Waffle Square (falls down on coffee)


6. Danielle's (bad coffee, canned fruit)


7. Sweetwater (minimal variety, higher cost)

Mr. E and I also enjoy weekend brunch, and although we've tried a couple of other locations (Kupros Bistro most recently), we do tend to favor Orphan, with Fox & Goose in second place.

I decided to count our total brunch trips in 2011, based on my datebook and my Outlook calendar, and for the meals that were noted specifically, the frequency definitely leans heavily towards Orphan!

Orphan - 9
Bernardo's - 4 (partly b/c Mr. E watches the Bears during footbal season, so I occasionally join him for part of a game)
Fox & Goose - 3
Crepeville - 2
Waffle Square - 1
Kupros - 1
Elixir - 1
Danielle's - 1

Home Cooking
Mr. E is always very supportive of any home-cooking efforts, and I continued my baking trend with a focus on breads. The recipe for "French bread" that comes with the Kitchenaid mixer has definitely become a favorite, although it doesn't at all produce a typical French baguette, which is what we expected. Instead, the consistency is more similar to an Italian bread, with a soft middle and crusty outside. I learned that it's best to split the recipe into 6-8 demi-loaves rather than having 3-4 large loaves, so we can have a couple in the fridge and the rest in the freezer. The most recent batch was perfect, as I made 1/2 the recipe, which resulted in 4 demi-loaves, one of which was the perfect accompaniment to our Christmas crab dinner.

When we visit France, we love to have the multi-grain baguette, so I was on a quest to find a similar recipe to mimic that flavor and consistency. I found a recipe for multi-grain, seeded, crusty bread, but in my two attempts thus far, the dough simply doesn't rise much, so the loaves are rather small and VERY dense. The flavor is excellent, but I'm going to experiment with future batches by reducing the amount of seeds and using some white flour instead of all wheat flour. I'm hoping that substitution might help make the dough less solid, so this quest continues into 2012.

We did manage to find a tasty recipe for fish tacos with an Asian-style slaw, the latter of which we also made as a side for another meal. New baking experiments included Cranberry Pecan Pumpkin Cookies from the J Vineyards cookbook (outstanding!), Figgy Pudding (very, very dense, but extremely tasty once I transformed it into bread pudding), and Carrot Pumpkin Muffins (tasty but also quite dense and hard to cook all the way through). Other ongoing favorites include Cranberry Chocolate Chip Macaroons (dark chocolate, of course), Cranberry Orange Scones and/or Apricot Scones, and Whole Wheat Pizza Dough.

Date Nights
Mr. E and I have decided that January will be our month of weekly date nights to try out some of the Sac restaurants we've talked about but have never visited. We tend to return to our favorites - Ma Jong, Orphan, Sapporo, Burgers & Brew. So on the list for new spots are Tuli Bistro, The Golden Bear, and Kru (I've been with L but Mr. E hasn't been at all). However, we've learned from past experience not to experiment with a new spot for our anniversary celebration, so for that week, we'll return to our much-loved but not recently visited Michelangelo's. Let's hope that some of the new places live up to their reputations!

2011 Year In Review - Q4

October
Despite my decreased running activity, I managed to complete the Urban Cow 1/2 Marathon on the 2nd. I've done this race every year since we move to Sacramento, so I was determined to keep up the tradition, despite my slower pace. Adjusting to this difference has been quite a challenge psychologically, as it's hard not to remember how my running used to feel and what my pace used to be, and accepting that I'm no longer a 1:50ish 1/2 marathoner has been a mental triumph. These days, I try to just be content with the fact that I can still run at all rather than trying to push for more.

On the 5th, Mr. E and I headed off for our trip to Lyon and Geneva (see separate post for details), where we met up with his sister and brother-in-law for several days. We returned on the 14th and enjoyed having a whole weekend to settle back into our routine.

I've been part of a list-serve for ABDs/PhDs in the Humanities who opt for careers outside of Academia since I was in grad school at UW-Madison. The community has changed names and structures several times, and the current incarnation is called Versatile PhD. The founder, Paula Chambers, has gradually evolved the site over the years so that now ABDs/PhDs in the Sciences have their own group, and many subscribers organize local meet-ups of VPhD members to share ideas and network. I decided to give that a try for the Sacramento/Davis region, so our first meeting was on the 21st at Weatherstone Coffee in midtown Sac. We were a small group, but I'm hopeful that we might continue to meet and gradually attract new folks, especially since our next meeting is scheduled for Davis, so that might be easier and more attractive for the UC-Davis population. I also forgot to mention that in July, Paula asked me to submit an article for the online content of the web site as well as to be a member of a week-long panel discussion focused on "Careers in Grant Writing." So nice to be able to contribute to a community that has provided helpful career advice and support over the years!

Mr. E and I enjoyed another food tour on the 22nd, this time with a focus on midtown Sac as part of a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen foundation. We'd already been to several of the restaurants on the list, but we enjoyed having some tasty appetizers and visiting some new spots, especially Kupros Bistro on 21st Street.

Our Sacramento Ballet season opened with "Dracula" on the 28th, just in time for Halloween. Throughout the Fall, Mr. E was very attentive to college football, especially since the Badgers started off so strong. Thanks to the broadcast schedule, we were able to watch most of the games at home, even the heart-breaking last-minute losses 2 weeks in a row. Drat!

November
My sister and I were finally able to coordinate our schedules so that I could go visit her and B in their new home in Austin, so I made a trip to the Texas State Capitol on the 9th-12th (see separate post for details).

On the 19th, we helped S with her move for a couple of hours in the afternoon before attending the Beaujolais Nouveau festival from the Alliance Francaise in the evening. We had joined the Alliance Francaise when we first moved to Sac in 2004 but had let our membership lapse. This year, however, we decided to re-join in the hopes of having more opportunities for me to experience French language and culture, which just aren't terribly common here in NorCal.

The new Central Terminal B at the airport had opened in early October, and one of the unique features is the public art program. Mr. E and I attended a guided tour on the 20th to learn more about each piece, and it was fascinating to see the sculptures and mosaics up close rather than just passing them by as we departed for or returned from a trip.

We spent Thanksgiving with Mr. E's colleague S and his family and then repeated our wine country weekend tradition from the 25th-27th (see separate post). Mr. E had been sick for over a week at that point, and when we finally got him to the doctor on the 28th, we learned he had pneumonia! I worked from home several days that week to take care of him during that first really nasty stage. He's been gradually improving, but the full recovery period could take at least 6 weeks. Poor guy! He doesn't get sick often, so he really goes all out when an illness does finally creep in...

December
Despite his illness, Mr. E was feeling up for his scheduled trip to Houston for work the 5th-10th. He also extended his stay over the weekend to visit friends G & G and son L in their new home near Dallas. I kept busy during his absence with wine and munchies on the 9th at Revolution Wine with C, whom we'd met at the Beaujolais festival; monthly brunch on the 10th at Danielle's Creperie followed by C's lovely party that evening to celebrate her 2-year milestone of being cancer-free; and a marathon of "Top Chef" reruns with L on the 11th at home.

On the 13th, I went to a workshop sponsored by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) on "Integrating Health & Equity into the Sacramento Region's Regional Plan." Although I haven't been a member of the City Planning Commission since 2007, I've still nourished my interest in urban design and planning, and I'm especially fascinated by how such decisions can intersect with and affect public health.

Mr. E and I joined a surpisingly large group on the 17th to celebrate S & N's new apartment in the midst of other holiday preparations - cookies, holiday photo cards, final decorations, gift wrapping, etc. I had taken the lead to organize a cookie exchange and gift swap at PPMM, both of which were scheduled for the 20th, so I got to take home a mixed bag of holiday treats along with beautiful silver earrings from L, who turned out to be my "gift buddy." I also suggested a rather last-minute holiday potluck for the 22nd, which was quite well-attended.

Since we didn't have any travel or hosting plans for the holiday weekend, Mr. E and I just enjoyed some extra time off from the 23rd-26th. HP has a "shut-down" the week between Christmas and New Year's, so Mr. E is still on "break" while I'm back at work. So far this week, he's steam-cleaned the carpets, re-configured the big downstairs rug, collected and dropped off a bunch of stuff for the Salvation Army, washed down the patio, re-hung the patio lights, cleaned up paperwork from the desktop, and done multiple loads of laundry. So great to have those house chores done in time to start the New Year off fresh. :)

Happy 2012 to all!

2011 Year in Review - Q3

July
Our annual summertime visit to Mom included dinner at the new Marshfield Tavern, just behind the Roche Bros. grocery store near the high school complex. And of course we had to indulge in some fresh-from-the-Atlantic-ocean lobster on the 3rd before heading into Boston.

We went to part of the Red Sox game on the 4th, but our bleacher seats were in the bright sun, and I just couldn't tolerate the heat and humidity, so we left fairly early and enjoyed the rest of the game from the air-conditioned comfort of Boston Brewery right across the street. The Sox lost that game but emerged victorious the following evening, when we stayed for the whole game, despite the warm temps during the early innings. We made a short road trip to Salem on the 6th and walked around some of the historic area before grabbing lunch and a frozen treat prior to making our way back to Logan for our return flight.

Our schedule aligned perfectly to get us back to Sac just in time for the visit of our dear friends K & M, who now live in Phoenix, AZ. We got to meet their son J for the first time when we went out for dinner on the 8th, and then I joined the trio for a special wine-tasting at Todd Taylor at the Old Sugar Mill in nearby Clarksburg, along with P & J. Mr. E wasn't able to attend since he was getting ready for his upcoming work trip, but I brought home a couple of bottles to share. On the 9th, we spent the day on the American River with Gold Rush Whitewater Rafting on a trip organized by our gym. Lots of fun, but we were tired after the whole day in the sun and agreed that a 1/2-day excursion would be perfect next time.

Mr. E spent the 11th-15th in Houston for work, and I definitely had no desire to visit that city in the middle of the summer!!! On the 12th, I finally got to see my sports medicine doc, who confirmed the stress fracture diagnosis on the 3rd metatarsal of my right foot. He indicated that the walking boot is the proper treatment and that I'd likely be in the boot for about 6 weeks total. By this piont, I'd finally begun seeing some improvement in both the appearance and pain in my foot, so I was hopeful that the remaining 3 weeks would pass quickly.

When Mr. E returned from Houston, we caught another River Cats game on the 16th and enjoyed morning brunch at Orphan as well. On the 25th, I continued our trend of film viewing with "The Greenest Building" at The Crest. We attempted another brunch at Orphan on the 30th, but it was too busy, so we headed to 33rd Street Bistro instead. We've had mixed experiences at this restaurant, primarily because the quality of service doesn't match the food, and I'm much less forgiving of poor service than poor food. Unfortunately, this visit didn't change our impressions at all, and we were relieved to return to Orphan on the 31st and confirm our love of that spot!

August
Thanks to PPMM's new Title X grant for a health center in Carson City, I headed off to Miami Beach for a week of meetings the 1st-6th. Due to "weather" issues in the Midwest, my flights were delayed several times, but I still managed to reach my destination late on the 1st, so I didn't miss any of the meetings. Mr. E was very understanding of my need to depart on his birthday... And luckily, this was the day that marked 6 weeks in the walking boot, so I was able to leave that particular accessory at home!

We embarked on a trip to the Pacific Northwest on the 11th, flying into Seattle and then driving down to Portland to meet friends C & S and daughter C for lunch before joining my cousins W & M for dinner and an overnight. We drove back to Seattle on the 12th to watch the Sox beat the Mariners, but the outcome on the 13th wasn't quite so positive. We opted to drive up to Vancouver the morning of the 14th rather than staying for the 3rd game, which was definitely a good decision, since the Sox lost in one of Wake's multiple attempts to get his 200th win. Our trip wrapped up on the 16th.

On the 25th, we went to the Crocker for another film, this time about John Singer Sargent and one of his contemporaries, whose name I can't remember right now, which was sort of the point of the film - both artists were popular at the time, but Sargent's work has continued to be more favored.

We rounded out the month on the 28th by joining some fellow Badgers for the annual Big Ten bowling tournament. Although I grew up with candlepin bowling and didn't ever bowl ten pin until after I moved to Madison in 1997, I was one of the highest scorers on our team! Despite our small but mighty group, we didn't bring home the trophy, but maybe we'll do better next year.

September
We went to another River Cats game on the 1st and managed to watch most of the game before Mr. E dropped me off at the airport for my red-eye flight back East to visit Mom. We enjoyed several good beach days, including one with great waves for playing and body surfing, along with the requisite fresh lobster, of course! I returned on the 6th, just in time to drive to Reno on the 7th for a Title X internal team meeting.

On the 16th, Mr. E left for a long visit to Chicago. I caught another River Cats game solo that evening and then splurged on theatre two nights in a row with "The Drowsy Chaperone" from Runaway Stage Productions on the 23rd and "Mr. & Mrs. Fitch" at the Studio Theatre on the 24th. Mr. E returned on the 26th, and we made time for several date nights that week to enjoy being together again.