Fork it

Ah, mid-September: cue sweaty people everywhere because they’re overly excited about wearing their new wool sweaters; cue jokes about girls who drink Pumpkin Spice Lattes, which are maybe even more obnoxious at this point than Pumpkin Spice Lattes; cue the time of year for Sacramento to get its farm-to-forkiest with Restaurant Week, the Farm-to-Fork Festival and Legends of Wine. Options abound for the bounty-loving (even if you’re not a high roller who happened to snag a $199 ticket for the Tower Bridge Dinner before it sold out):

Since September 8 and through the 25th, more than 75 restaurants and purveyors in the region will have special menus or items showcasing locally sourced food for Restaurant Week. Critical darlings and crowd favorites like Empress Tavern (1013 K Street), Grange Restaurant & Bar (926 J Street), Hawks Provisions + Public House (1525 Alhambra Boulevard) and Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co. (1630 S Street) are all participating, as well as some of the less-usual suspects (Thunder Valley Casino!) spread all throughout the region. Visit www.farmtofork.com/
events/restaurant-week for a full list of restaurants.

On Friday, September 16, Legends of Wine, one of the marquee events of the program, takes place on the west steps of the Capitol (1300 10th Street). Local food-scene staples Darrell Corti and chef David Berkeley will curate a wine list comprised of regional varietals and pair them with cheeses and other small bites. Tickets are $65 and the event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; attendees must be 21 or older. Visit www.farmtofork.com/
events/legends-of-wine to find out more.

The big celebration with the Farm-to-Fork Festival goes down on Saturday, September 24, at Capitol Mall from Third to Ninth streets. Attendees will get to sample food from restaurants, breweries, wineries and farms specifically showcasing the local bounty, plus there will be live-cooking demonstrations and a headlining set by the Wallflowers. Attendance is free and the festivities run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit www.farmtofork.com/
events/farmtoforkfestival to find out more.