No mas, Natomas.

Normally, I’d just leave the Natomas chat to those who live there, but I found myself (yet again) cruising the magnificent, sweeping boulevards of Sacramento’s red-headed stepchild today. My goal was two-fold: locate Borders and food. Both objectives were completed with great success. But, along the way, I started feeling a little mystified and then a tad empathetic toward Natomasians.

As I drove up Del Paso, I passed numerous stripmalls in varying stages of development, interspersed with wide, flat swaths of cleared land that (I can only assume) is not being built on for economic or FEMA reasons. I passed the “Town Center”–which was truly baffling. It appears to be a gas station. I mean, seriously, who is behind this (non)planning? Natomas seems to have been designed by people who subscribe to the “There’s no there, there” philosophy of suburban layout.  All the shopping centers (and there are quite a few) are identical, as if the building plans were ordered from cookie-cutter-stripmalls-r-us.com. These so-called master-planned developments do not appear to be walkable, bike-friendly, or even remotely inspired. However, you can certainly find any type of fast-food you could possibly want.

Even more baffling is that Borders is on Natomas Drive, right near a huge sign that proclaims “Natomas Park” (I didn’t see a park), but Natomas Park Drive is 5 miles south, off El Camino.

I found myself humming the theme song from “Weeds”–you know the one: “Ticky tacky, little houses..and they all look just the same.”

The saving grace of my venture was the serendipitous discovery that Tuk Tuk restaurant is located in the same sprawling center as Borders. Melly over at Cooking Schmooking had recommended it a while back, and I had forgotten about it until I drove past. The service was a bit slow, considering there were only two occupied tables and it was lunchtime. However, Melly was right–the food was excellent. I tried the green curry with chicken. The curry was medium-hot, full of complex spices, a bit on the watery side, but very flavorful anyway. I am a Thai junkie, so I probably should have asked for the “hot” level, but I’ll know for next time. The veggies, including  perfectly done eggplant, were fresh, as were the generous chunks of chicken.  The restaurant’s decor is filled with lovely, well-polished woods, low-slung tables, and huge wall sculptures. My only complaint is that they somehow determined that their very small restaurant needed not just one but *three* flat screens interspersed around the entry and dining area. Three. Why? Do people really go out to eat so they can watch TV? Call me crazy, but I think TVs in restaurant dining rooms are totally unacceptable.  Sports bars and pubs? Yeah, okay, that’s expected. But don’t these restaurants want you to pay attention to their food and/or your dining companions? Anyway, aside from the TVs,  I was glad to find this little oasis of quite good Thai food in the strange land that is Natomas.

Why do people keep building these disconnected urban barnacles that just end up being festering sinkholes of sameness? Riddle me that, Batman.

KJ and FroYo

So, 6 Degrees accidentally encountered the KJ phenom this Saturday at the newest addition to the frozen yogurt scene, Yogurtagogo in midtown. There I was, out with friends, politics the last thing on my mind, and suddenly,  there was 50% of the mayor’s race looking over my shoulder. I said hello. He seemed to be having a good time, posing for pictures with fans.

Thai food…I *heart* you

One of the things that is great about Sac-town is the availability of awesome food. You want great Mexican? Done. Italian? Done. Pacific Rim fusion? Done. Greek? Done. You get the idea.

I’m surprised when I hear (often) that Sacramento doesn’t have good restaurants…or enough of them. Granted if you compare Sac’s restaurant scene with larger cities, we’ve got fewer. Still, the choices we have are quite rich and varied–unless you’re a die-hard 4-star kinda eater, you’re unlikely to get bored with the selection.  Call me simplistic, but that’s pretty much enough to keep me happy. And even our most expensive restaurants don’t have prices in the stratosphere that is the SF dining scene.

However, even with all the choices we have, I do have my regular hangouts…the places I rely on when I’m just not in the mood to cook and want to eat out in a casual environment (i.e., it doesn’t need to be an “event”). And my fallback food is nearly always Thai. If I was limited to eating only one type of cuisine for the rest of my natural life, it would be Thai food. In every city I’ve lived in, I have made it a priority to find at least one good Thai restaurant as my backup food source.

Tasty Tuli

So, I finally made it to Tuli Bistro last night. A friend and I dropped by for an early dinner on the tiny, but pleasant patio. This is one of those restaurants I’m rooting for–small but lively, and definitely with its own character.

We shared a chop chop salad that was amazingly fresh and crunchy, with not too much dressing and perfectly cubed salami. Yum. We also ordered the creamy tomato soup, which was thick and extremely fresh, with some undertones of basil and garlic that were perfectly done. (I rarely order any type of tomato soup–I fear flashbacks to childhood experiences with the ubiquitous Campbell’s watery cream of tomato soup. However, this one actually rocked.)

For dinner, we shared the “Chicken Little” plate and the Pacific snapper over andouille sausage risotto.

On to happier news…

So, before I got all distracted by today’s headlines and a raging cold, I had planned to write about last night’s Slow Food Coffee-Port-Chocolate Soiree at Old Soul.

I dragged the SO along to the event, even though he’s not much of a coffee drinker, chocolate nibbler, or port tippler. The evening opened up with Jason Griest waxing pretty darned poetic about the aroma of coffee. His talk was like a 30-min PhD program in how to buy, appreciate, and enjoy coffee. As someone who has been patronizing Jason’s cafes for a few years now, I have always appreciated the excellent quality of his coffee, but I never fully appreciated the sourcing. I particularly appreciated his discussion of how some coffee farmers are too small to attain fair trade or organic certifications. I usually try to buy organic and/or fair trade, but Jason’s talk centered around the importance of knowing the coffee purveyor and building that relationship of trust.

 Carrying on that same theme was Eric Aafedt of Bogle Winery, who shared the winery’s Petite Sirah Port while discussing how port is made and giving a brief history lesson. Until last night, I knew Bogle wines as drinkable, inexpensive, and “from somewhere in the Delta.” Now that I know it’s a small, family-owned winery that chooses to grow grapes that are appropriate for its location, I like them even more. The SO and I both enjoyed the port, too!

The last speaker of the evening was Ginger Elizabeth, who brought several truffles for us to taste. If you had asked me yesterday if Sacramento needed a couture chocolatier, I am not sure how I would have answered. But, after listening to her very enthusiastic talk and tasting the chocolates (personal favorite: the spicy Olmec truffle), I cannot wait to go check out her newly opened shop. More info at www.gingerelizabeth.com.

All in all, a great experience. I’m more convinced than ever that there are many exciting things going on food-wise right here in Sacramento, and I’m more determined to seek out people and businesses like these three.

Best Outdoor Dining

Okay, so it’s January and something like minus 20 degrees (okay, I may be exaggerating)…but I’ve been daydreaming of outdoor dining, hanging out with friends wearing nuthin’ but a little cotton sundress and my fave Naots. I figure, with the first day of spring less than 58 days away, it’s time to start thinking about who’s got the best outdoor patios. In recent years, Sac’s had a bit of a surge–can’t imagine why it took so long for the restrauteurs to figure this one out.

While I can’t say there’s a numero uno, some of my favorites over the years are:

 * Aioli’s secret garden patio with groovy mosaic fountain.

* Paragary’s on 28th & P–strictly for cocktails, people.

* 33rd St Bistro–the only drawback is that it fronts on Folsom Blvd., which tends to be a little noisy and fume-y.

* Rio City Cafe — I don’t ever go to this place and actually eat inside, but drinkies and appetizers on the patio? Bliss.

* The Rubicon — So here’s the deal, this place has been here since before “microbrew” was coined. A midtown original, and not a shabby place to hoist a pint on a hot summer eve.

* McKinley Park — My favorite outdoor dining spot in Sac. You just have to BYO.

*  Bernardo on Capitol — Most excellent people-watching fun on a Sunday morning.

* I know I’m going to sound like a shill, but…Mulvaney’s (hey, I liked it when it was New Helvetia’s patio, too).

* For the all-encompassing scene, try Zocalo. The outdoor dining is on the corner of 19th and Capital, possibly the busiest corner in all of midtown. It’s a treat on Second Saturday–if you can find a seat.

* And how could any list be complete without mentioning Tower Cafe’s beautiful patio? A selection of international dishes, excellent beer and wine variety, offered amidst lush landscaping on one of the grooviest corners in town? It doesn’t have the people watching of midtown, but if nothing else you can enjoy the vibe on the patio and the always-eclectic and attentive waitstaff.

MFR: Most Favored Restaurants

By no means an exhaustive list, but if you’re looking for some good chow, here’s one chick’s opinion.

Hands down: Mulvaney’s is my favorite restaurant in town. If you happen to be one of my friends, wondering where to take me for my birthday, look no further. This restaurant is everything a midtown restaurant should be. Completey original, excellent food, new menu options all the time, and a friendly character of an owner to boot. I have never had a bad meal or poor service here. Another plus (and trust me, it’s gonna be a theme) there’s no stinkin’ TV in the place. The only time I’ve ever been less than 100% impressed was when one of my dining companions ordered duck pate. She was happy with it, but I had a little trouble watching her eat something that resembled a raw sausage. They don’t seem to have a website, so I am not sure what’s on the menu right now. I can safely say that I recommend everything, to anyone, at any time. (So impartial, yes?) A side note: I’m grateful to Mulvaney’s for a reason almost entirely unrelated to food. It’s housed in the old firehouse that was once New Helvetia coffeehouse for several years. I used to spend way too much time (and ingest way too much caffeine) at NH. Then it became a serious gay-man pickup scene–cute boys everywhere but not a drop to drink, in other words. Apparently, NH lost its lease, which was a crime, but then…but then, dear reader, things got even bleaker. There were threats that a Krispy Kreme (or maybe a Dunkin’) would take over the old firehouse. I don’t think I was the only midtown girl who was alarmed (I mean…for god’s sake, there’s already a Chipotle where GRETA’S used to be! How much more can we take?).  Anyway, Patrick and crew not only brought us some of the bitchenest food around, but he saved a beautiful midtown location from a completely unworthy occupant. Patronize this joint, if only for that good deed.

For less spendy evenings out, one of my standbys is Thai Palace at 33rd & J. Authentic, aromatic, pretty much orgasmic Thai food at great prices. My favorites are the green curry (all the curries are great) and pad see ew noodles. Yum!

Rio City Cafe: American cuisine right on the river. The menu’s fine, the atmosphere is business-y/upscale, but what makes this place worth it is sitting out on the deck over the river (uh, not this time of year) and sipping a cocktail. Website: www.riocitycafe.com

Danielle’s Village Creperie: I’ve been going to this place since it was at Town & Country Village. Several years ago, it moved into nicer digs at Watt and Fair Oaks. Still, I dare you to find a better crepe in town. The Karma crepe (Indian-style chicken curry) rocks my world and is worth the drive.

For those days you just need a big, juicy, gutbomb cheeseburger? I get my fix at Nationwide Freezer Meats. It’s not the only game in town, but it’s authentic, the burgers are huge, and the grease takes days to get out of my pores. (In the interests of full disclosure, I haven’t yet tried the now-famous Squeeze Inn burgers, but since everyone’s freaking out about how good they are, I’m inclined to believe the hype.)

Of course, after a few of those, you’ll need to give the arteries a break. Sunflower Drive-In, a very vegetarian friendly cafe in Fair Oaks, is just the cure. I don’t find myself in Fair Oaks very often, but when I do I plan a stop there for some healthy, and yummy, chow.

For quick, cheap, and healthy: Check out Jack’s (http://jacksurbaneats.com/) at 20th & Capitol and Opa Opa (http://www.yelp.com/biz/opa-opa-sacramento) at 56th and J. Both use the same sort of “cafeteria” style–walk up to the counter and slide your tray down the track…but far hipper than it sounds. Jack’s patio is great for people watching in the summer.