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Deluge of food news: I have an overwhelming amount of stuff for you today. Ready?
Lots of places opened within the past few weeks: Chando’s Tacos in West Sacramento (2530 Boatman Avenue); Malt & Mash (715 K Street), the trendy, semi-Irish pub near the arena with eclectic bar food; Mesa Mercado (6241 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael), the long-awaited Milagro Centre restaurant by Ernesto Delgado, owner of Tequila Museo Mayahuel; and Anh Hong (4800 Florin Road, Suite A), part of a small, family-owned chain that started in Vietnam and specializes in a $16, seven-course beef dinner. Of course, there’s more.
Old Sacramento’s Ten22 turned a space next door into District (1022 Second Street), a coffee and wine bar. District uses Old Soul Co. beans and serves grab-and-go lunch items, pastries, dessert and cheese plates.
There’s also Wildwood Kitchen & Bar (556 Pavilions Lane), an upscale American restaurant from the same owners of Bistro 33. It’s a big, ambitious space, with live music and entertainment planned for the patio, according to the Sacramento Business Journal. It holds a tandoor oven for naan, though there aren’t other Indian influences on the menu. Think corn agnolotti with queso fresco and chili ($14.95); rotisserie chicken with whiskey peppercorn sauce ($22.95); and grilled rib eye with a horseradish popover ($34.95).
Two breweries opened: Big Stump Brewing Co. (1716 L Street) and Big Sexy Brewing Co. (5861 88th Street, Suite 800). Big Sexy boasts a large indoor and outdoor space. Big Stump notably diversifies Midtown’s brewery game, and it’s pouring its California State Fair award-winning hefeweizen.
Sampino’s Towne Foods (1607 F Street) started serving dinner every Friday and Saturday night. If you’ve ever craved Sampino’s meatball sub after 5 p.m., now is your chance, along with trying their pastas, risottos and other Italian fare that you didn’t even know you wanted.
Two of Sacramento’s most popular fancy spots launched lunch service: Empress Tavern (1013 K Street) and Saddle Rock (1801 L Street). Considering the chefs recently worked together, I find this to be quite the fun coincidence. Saddle Rock also just started weekend brunch.
And, finally, Cornflower Creamery (1013 L Street) closed, preserving the idea that this location is really tough. The owner is looking for another space with more traffic.