Are You That Woman

Travel the World through Sacramento’s Ethnic Markets

One of the most culturally diverse cities in America, the 2015 US Census reported more than 100 languages are spoken in Sacramento County.  Small portions of a historic Chinatown and Japantown remain within the central city. In South Sacramento, Little Saigon is a profusion of Vietnamese markets and restaurants. Large Asian, Russian, and Middle Eastern communities settled throughout Sacramento bringing cultural riches beyond your wildest dreams. This fusion of cultures translates into a wide array of delicious specialty markets and eateries. You can experience the world in Sacramento one bite at a time. Made-from-scratch goods are fresh and easy on the pocket.

Babylon City Market
1745 Watt Avenue, Sacramento; (916) 486-777
This Mediterranean specialty market, bakery and café features halal meats, dairy, produce, spices, and traditional Iraqi breads prepared right before your eyes. You’ll swoon over fresh-baked samoon stuffed with chicken shawarma, pickled onions, garlic and tomatoes. Kabobs, falafel, chicken tikka, and hummus are all available to eat-in or takeout.  Ask about the anise cookies.

KP International Market
10971 Olson Drive, Rancho Cordova; (916) 853-8000
A map and tour guide might help you navigate this 80,000-square foot gastronomic trip around the world.   A food court, bakery, and a dizzying assortment of culinary delights from America and Asia to Jamaica and Russia.  Come hungry! Temptations include steaming seafood ramen, plump piroshki, and Korean barbecue. Bring your passport! The Disneyland of ethnic markets, this is an all day affair. Afternoons and into the wee hours, a patio bar is all part of the voyage.

La Esperanza
5028 Franklin Boulevard, Sacramento; (916) 455-0234
Expect a line, especially on holidays. Family owned and operated, generations of locals queue-up for fresh tamales, carnitas, salsa, bolliolos, très leches cake, churros and colorful conchas. Fresh tortillas are still warm and a screaming $1.30 for two dozen. The ceviche—shrimp, tomato, cilantro, lemon and jalapeño —is to die for. There’s a full takeout menu at the deli market and all the fixings for tamales. Brightly colored piñatas adorn the ceilings of this Sacramento favorite, open 365 days a year!

New World Bakery
1713 - 10th Street, Sacramento; (916) 446-9472
Good fortunes are found here. For 26 years, the sweet aroma of Sacramento’s best fortune cookies has greeted customers. Prepared fresh Monday-Friday, three dozen cookies are only $2 a bag from this closet-sized factory.  Watch as the cookies—one-by-one—move along, drop, fortune follows, and cookie magically folded. Now that’s some good fortune. Trivia:  Fortune cookies were invented in San Francisco!

Oto’s Marketplace
4990 Freeport Boulevard, Sacramento; (916) 424-2398
If you’re craving Asian squid salad, Wagyu beef or seasoned octopus this is the place. For nearly 60 years, Oto’s has specialized in Japanese and Asian foods. Sushi Master Ray Yamamoto whips out Futomaki and Inari Combos and Dice-K Rolls. Available to eat in or takeaway, sushi and bento boxes vanish quickly.  The tchotchke selection of cups, bowls, cookware and utensils is fabulous. The market features local produce.

Sidebar:
Mahoroba Japanese Bakery –Japanese pastries, Kobe Cream Delight, Sweet Red Bean, and more. Heaven on earth. 4900 Freeport Boulevard, Sacramento.
Sampino’s Towne Food – Old-world Italian deli and market.  
1607 F Street, Sacramento

My Sacramento Linda Nakatami – Osaka-Ya

Linda Nakatami has mochi in her blood. A much sought after Japanese sweet, all mochi is not created equal. You’ll get few arguments that Osaka-Ya is Sacramento’s best.  Located on 10^th street for decades, Linda’s parents acquired the business in the 1960s; the original store was in the old J-Town.  Later, shave ice brought Osaka-Ya a new fan base. Born and raised in Sacramento, Linda lived in Japan for less than a year before returning home to help with the family business and hopes future generations follow.

People who know about us come here. We’ve been shipping to Denver for more than 40 years and deliver to Stockton every week. We’re the only manju (another popular Japanese confection) store in Sacramento. No machines – it’s all done by hand. We make several mochi flavors; our peanut butter mochi has been extremely popular. Generations of the same families come here - now great-grandkids are enjoying mochi. My mom decided to sell shave ice after an uncle gifted us a machine.  We make all of our own syrups and each year we add new flavors.  Tigers Blood—cherry, pineapple and orange—is the most popular.  Kintoki is a traditional ice filled with sweet red beans. You can also add ice cream inside. The shave ice window is open May-October, sometimes later depending on the weather. There’s always a line.

This is all I know how to do; I started working here when I was 12.  I don’t want the tradition to drift away. My mom was the mastermind and she worked very hard. I want it to live on because of my parents.

Days of Sonoma wine and roses

As symbols of love, hope and passion, roses are said to have miraculous healing powers and legendary for soothing both heart and soul. "Rose is a rose is a rose," American writer Gertrude Stein so dismissively said, but clearly she had never toured the rose gardens of Sonoma County. This is the time of year to see Sonoma's flowery bounty at its best. This pastoral landscape is filled with rose-inspired escapades of varying colors, fragrances, and form.

In any gardener’s realm, the stunning and grand Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is a long-stemmed beauty. Like delicate rose petals, pink walls wrap themselves around manicured gardens and steamy hot springs pools. The comforting embrace of a romantic suite includes a two-person Jacuzzi tub and luxurious 4-poster king-sized bed. At the inn’s Willow Stream Spa, partake of the “bathing ritual” and the source waters of Boyes Hot Springs. Then enjoy a couples’ Wine, Roses & Romance Package. This opulent pleasure includes sparkling wine and chocolate covered strawberries, daily breakfast in bed (for two), rose petal turndown, and sparkling wine tasting for two at Gloria Ferrer.

Santa Rosa residents honored their patron, Saint Rose, when naming this rose-rich community.  Roses are revered each May at the Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival. Celebrated for more than 124 years, the festival paid homage to the rose long before the distinguished horticulturalist settled in the region.  Known for his work with fruits and vegetables, Luther Burbank’s early work included hybridizing a number of roses which also played a part in his future research. Spectacular in spring, Burbank’s handiwork is beautifully displayed at the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens. Docent-led tours, April through October, include his greenhouse and Greek Revival home.

In gardening vernacular, Hotel La Rose in downtown Santa Rosa is truly Old World. Built in 1907, its timeless granite architecture belies its warm and gracious interior. Historic rooms are named for illustrious founders of Santa Rosa’s Historic Railroad Square, where the hotel resides. The newer Carriage House surrounds a rose-draped courtyard and provides modern-day amenities. As a final compliment to this flourish of flowers, Hotel La Rose’s delightful Romance Rose Package – Sonoma County champagne, chocolates and a dozen red roses–  sets the mood for love and romance.   

With more than 425 wineries and 60,000 acres of Sonoma County vineyards, the notion of wine and roses goes far beyond any fantasy. Warm days of spring and summer are ideal for sipping a luscious pink drink of Sonoma County rosé. There are dozens of options, but what could be more fitting than Flowers Vineyard & Winery’s Rosé of Pinot Noir. With aromas of rose petals and subtle hints of strawberry and grapefruit, it’s elegant and distinct. Advance reservations are required for all experiences. Due to the intimate nature of their tastings, they are unable to accommodate pets or guests under 21 years of age, including infants and small children.

Roses Sidebar:
See, Savor, and Smell Sonoma Roses

Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival – Santa Rosa
A time-honored tradition, the old-fashioned festival has boasted more than 3,500 participants in the parade and more than 20,000 spectators. Among the parade are local school marching bands, floats, equestrian teams, and units honoring local veterans. Don’t miss the Rose Bloom Competition, which may include as many as 300 entries.

Garden Valley Ranch – Petaluma
Indulge your senses! This historic ranch cuts 5,000 long-stemmed roses daily from more than 300 varieties May-October. Guided tours of the vintage garden where more than 100 hydrangeas and 35 varieties of magnolias, rose-draped pergolas, towering bay tree hedges, and California’s biggest Monterey Cypress astound amateur and professional gardeners alike. Spend the night in the beautifully-restored caretaker’s Victorian cottage on the garden grounds.

 

Russian River Rose Company – Healdsburg
Jan and Michael Tolmasoff have made roses a way of life. With rose cuttings from a feral plant in Mendocino, old homesteads, rose aficionados and others purchased throughout the years their collection now numbers more than 650 varieties from shed-eating ramblers to tiny micro-miniatures from ancient and species roses and developed exclusive cultivars registered by the American Rose Society. Guided and self-guided tours of more than 20 display gardens and vineyards include, of course, a Wine & Rose Garden.  Enjoy a fragrant demonstration of their historic Bulgarian perfume-making methods.

This southern girl understands good BBQ & hospitality

How many years since I dined at BBQ & Burgers on Sutterville? It was a long time coming and so glad we finally made it.

A party of four, we quickly made our way to the counter to order. So many delicious options. First, the staff was so welcoming - thank you very much! They were doing a brisk business on a Saturday evening, but efficient counterservice had our orders placed quickly and then delivered to our table.

The foursome ordered: Philly Cheesesteak, Brisket Sandwich, Tri-tip salad, and Smoked chicken salad. Sandwiches included fries and a side of onion rings. My smoked chicken salad was incredible. Instead of the Balsalmic vinegar salad dressing, I opted for the homemade BBQ sauce just slightly spicy perfection. Everyone agreed the food was outstanding and confirmed as not a scrap of food was left on any plate. Also, four cold beers! The little things that matter so much is that for dine-in they use real plates, utensils, and glasses. No plastics. 

And unexpected, a great band on the patio - Sum of One excellent dance band. It was a pleasant evening on the patio and clearly those outside were enjoying the vibe. We had opted to sit inside to escape the winds. The dining area is comfy inside and out. Also, the waitstaff came by more than once to ask if everything was okay, did we need more water, and to take away some empty plates. Above and beyond.

Love me some great Que! Hope to get back again soon.

Dimples Diner in Visalia Truly Classic

Gourmet food takes on a variety of options in my world. With a discerning palate, I consider myself a gourmet. In the culinary world, "gourmet" means food of exceptionally high quality, often prepared with expert care and using fine ingredients. It can be more expensive, but that's not always necessary. These were all considerations when writing about the Dimples Diner in Visalia, California.

On a recent trip to Visalia, some friends recommended Dimples Diner as a breakfast option. The last morning of our Visalia sojourn, we made the drive across town to Dimples, a 1950's era diner. So glad we did!

We want to thank Laura (Dimples Diner's second owner) and Lisa, our talented waitress who's been happily serving guests for 20 years, for another delicious adventure in Visalia. Service was definitely 5-star. Big plates of great diner food - biscuits and gravy, home fries, waffles, crisp bacon, pancakes, onion rings, burgers and more. Classic diner decor and lots of kitschy art on the walls.And the wonderful Betty Boop statue greeting all who enter.

Skilled short-order chef Abraham is a star performer. Clearly a locals favorite, we were happy to be part of the crowd. Simple things mean so much. I ordered a very basic breakfast of eggs with bacon and potatoes. I asked for eggs over medium - perfect! Bacon extra crips - perfect! And country potatoes - red potatoes with bell peppers and onion asked to be slightly crisp - also perfect! Did I leave hungry - hardly. And my husband who enjoyed a waffle with eggs and bacon - also perfect!

Smiles wide and tummies full, our Visalia travels ended on a very happy note.