Summer Guide 2015 Food & Drink picks

Cheap. Dranks.

Pre-Flite Lounge and The Hideaway

It’s crucial that your summer days be lubricated by affordable cocktails. Enter Pre-Flite and The Hideaway, two central-city haunts with quasi-dive bar vibes that don’t bust the budget. The new Pre-Flite (located at 1011 10th Street in the alley) is a dark, shotgun-style underground bar that’s conveniently also good for shotgunning shots. Hideaway (2565 Franklin Boulevard), meanwhile, boasts an oft-forgotten back patio and cheap pints. Bonus: Local bands have been playing Hideaway for matinee shows, very fun. N.M.

More addictive than Pringles

Yang’s Noodles cold spicy beef tendon appetizer

This Chinese spot along south Sacramento’s Stockton Boulevard strip is mostly known for its rich, hot soups and delicate but savory house-made noodle dishes and dumplings—not the most summer-friendly fare. Enter the spicy beef tendon appetizer: the chef braises the tendon, freezes it, then shaves it thin, and finishes it with some house spice treatment and garnish. Doesn’t sound addicting—but Yang’s spicy beef tendon is the new Pringles. OK, I can do better than that: This beef tendon makes you run faster than Drake in the six. (I’m terrible at this.) 5860 Stockton Boulevard, (916) 392-9988. N.M.

Skinny tacos

Lettuce cups at Chando’s Tacos

Just because it’s swimsuit season or whatever doesn’t mean that we should stop feasting on carnitas, carne asada and adobada. Luckily, Chando’s Tacos introduced a lettuce wrap option earlier this year, which means your succulent meat can be devoured via green vessel instead of carbs. Hello, itty-bitty bikini. 863 Arden Way, www.chandostacos.com. J.B.

Legit Taiwanese-style shaved Ice

Vampire Penguin

Taiwanese-style shaved ice is taking over thanks to Vampire Penguin’s rapid expansion. The place does it the right way, too: They use a frozen cylinder of a flavored ice cream-esque concoction, and shave it off into a bowl. Then, you can add whatever toppings you want (condensed milk is a great start). It’s not “shaved ice,” or “shave ice” in the sense that it’s not just ice. It’s its own thing, and it’s a great frozen treat for when the thermometer reaches 100. Various locations; www.facebook.com/
VampirePenguin916. J.M.

Four-dollar chicken on a stick

Late-night gai satay at Thai Canteen

It’s late and you’re with pals, and perhaps nobody is sober. The two top priorities are food and drink, more or less in that order, and you sure wouldn’t say no to a patio as well. Thai Canteen offers all of this, with late-night specials Tuesday through Saturday that start at 9 p.m. Get yourself the gai satay, grilled skewers of chicken that’ll perk you right back up, which you can get at a discounted $4 during late nights. 1501 16th Street, Suite 109; www.canteensac.org. A.S.

Overthinking and drinking

Karma Brew

With a warm, wooden, worn and somewhat cramped interior, Karma Brew provides a relaxed and intimate place to get some beers along with small-plate offerings. The patio seating, dressed with throw pillows, gives a nice view of the busy intersection of 16th and P streets, as well as Fremont Park. It’s a comfy haven for chatting beer with knowledgeable servers and overthinking your problems as you pensively smoke cigarettes. 1530 16th Street, Suite A; www.karmabrews.com. A.S.

Perfect summer sandwich

CREAM of Elk Grove

Do cookies rule everything around you? Well, the cookies at CREAM rule—mainly because it’s hot and they have ice cream in between them. The custom ice cream cookie sandwiches at this sweets franchise are a great way to cool down this summer. Also, try the ice cream tacos and regular waffle cones. Vegan and gluten-free options are available, too. 8469 Elk Grove Boulevard, www.creamnation.com. J.M.

A fresher, nap-free lunch

Selland’s Market Cafe deli case salads

Hot Sacramento days call for the kind of lunch that won’t leave you weighed down and ready for a nap—unless it’s a lazy Sunday, of course, then have at it. The rest of the week we recommend Selland’s Market Cafe deli case for a farm-fresh selection of cool salads such as the Goat Cheese and Apple ($5.95 for a small, $7.95 for the large) with mixed greens, toasted walnuts and a green balsamic dressing. Or, maybe the Bahn Mi Salad ($4.95 and $6.95) with pickled matchstick carrots and daikon radish, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeno and a soy lime vinaigrette that packs a bit of a bite. Carnivores also have plenty of solid options including the Roasted Salmon Filet on Quinoa ($12.95) with kale, pecans, Parmesan cheese and a lemon vinaigrette. Craving something more decadent? OK, fine, a hearty cheese pizza ($10.75) is pretty tasty, too.5340 H Street, www.sellands.com. R.L.

Fire in the belly

House Kombucha Ginger Fire

House Kombucha, an Oakland-based maker of the popular fermented drink, has a solid line of tasty options (including the refreshing Hibiscus Rose) but it’s the Ginger Fire that sets it apart. Unlike most other ginger-based kombucha options, this one gives your belly a real kick with its blend of white tea, dried ginger root and—wait for it—real hot chili peppers. Available for $3.99 a bottle at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op (1900 Alhambra Boulevard), it makes for the perfect summer day wake-up call. www.housekombucha.com. R.L.

No ostriches were hurt in the making of this shake

Cookie’s Drive-In frostie or shake

This old-school East Sac roadside diner gets a lot of attention for its exotic burgers—ostrich, elk, camel, etc.—but on a toasty summer afternoon it’s better to stick a straw into one of Cookie’s super-rich, thick and creamy shakes or frosties. Keep it retro with a vanilla or chocolate option or try the Oreo Cookie Shake. It’s practically a meal in itself—no safari animals required. 5640 H Street, (916) 457-8353. R.L.

A sea of iced tea

Nautilus Tea Company

Nautilus Tea Company stocks an intriguing collection of teas from around the world, and its friendly staff will brew and ice any one of them for $2.50. At current count, there are 84 varieties, enough to try a different tea nearly every day this summer. You can also order any tea in an iced latte or a “fizz”—a concoction of tea, seltzer and flavored syrups. Red berry fizzes are the most popular, made with a fruity hibiscus tisane and either rose or simple syrup, although some discerning customers prefer a fizzy Nepali oolong. 11771 Fair Oaks Boulevard in Fair Oaks, www.nautilustea.com. B.C.

More shaved-ice goodness

Ice parfait at Sweet and Shavery

It’s not shaved ice, it’s Italian ice. Or to East Coast weirdos, it’s known as “water ice.” Either way, Sweet and Shavery’s ice is superfine to the point of being lush. Top it with a dollop of creamy, dense frozen custard—soft-serve made richer with egg yolks—and you’ve got one of the most refreshing summer treats in the whole region. Picture the beloved 50/50 at Gunther’s Ice Cream, but with a more interesting textural contrast, more options and less sugary sweetness. 210 E Street in Davis, www.facebook.com/SweetandShavery. J.B.

Get your kids to garden

Farming class at Soil Born Farms

Kids entering first grade up to 12th grade can learn how to farm and cook this summer, eat fresh fruits and explore nature at Soil Born Farm’s Summer Day Camp. There are different groups for different grade levels, and it’s $195 for a week of activities. Our hope: Maybe the camp will create tomorrow’s best farm-to-fork chefs. Soil Born Farms American River Ranch, 2140 Chase Drive in Rancho Cordova; www.soilborn.org. J.M.