Posts Tagged ‘Things to do in Sacramento’

5 Reasons For a Food or Farm Group Tour by Bethany Woy

1.  Do you have a Family/Class Reunion in the near future?

So, you have your family in town for little Bobby’s graduation and the ceremony lasts 3 hours. And you have 3 more days with your relatives. What are you going to do? You’ve gone bowling, hiking and seen 4 movies. I have a fabulous idea: FOOD TOUR! Walking out in the fresh air, learning about history and (the best of all!) EATING! Nothing brings families closer together than food. Meeting chefs and owners of local restaurants and tasting delicious food is a perfect way to spend the day with the ones your love. Showcasing your hometown (or destination for that matter) is a fabulous way to spark conversation and open up discussions about local food and agriculture. And Uncle Fred can’t complain if you are feeding him right?!

2.  It’s your turn to plan a Girls Day Out?

I cannot tell you how often I stop and look at my day planner and say to myself, “it’s been too long since I’ve seen my girlfriends.” If you are anything like me- work seems to get in the way of everything! Sit down, email your girls and carve out a day to meet up. The rule is— no one can cancel. You won’t be sorry you did this. There is nothing better than getting together with the women that know you best and experiencing the behind the scenes of the culinary world. (cocktail tastings also make life fabulous!) Catching up with your friends, tasting amazingly delicious food and walking around beautiful settings— adds up to being the most perfect of days.  Book Club, Bible Study Group, Red Hat Society, Cooking Club, Travel Club…..bring all your girlfriends and let Local Roots take care of the rest!

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This could be my favorite time of year. The weather warming up, the trees starting to bloom and best of all… my mouth watering at the new, fresh produce. With that being said, I have compiled a list of some ‘foodie’ events happening in California in April. Get your calendars ready and put a bib on. If you love food, wine and fun- this list of events is for you. Enjoy!  (Blogger- Bethany Woy)

Sacramento Turn Verein Bockbier Festival- April 5: 6pm-12am, April 6: 3pm-12am
Tickets: Adult $20, Children under 12 $5
Turn Verein Hall- 3349 J Street, Sacramento

http://stvbockbierfest2013-zvents.eventbrite.com/

A traditional bockbier is a strong dark beer usually brewed around Christmas or the Spring. Well, it’s that time of year ladies and gentlemen! The celebration kicks off the first week in April and will take place at the historic (and beautiful) Turn Verein hall here in Sacramento. The festival will showcase the authentic Bockbier from Germany, traditional German music from local bands and delicious, mouth-watering food. Special performances of traditional German dances will be performed during both days. An amazing, educational and best of all delicious way to spend the weekend!

Festa di Vino- April 6: 6:30pm-10pm
Tickets: Adult $45
Scottish Rite Masonic Center-6151 H Street Sacramento

http://festadivino.com/

Music. Dancing. Live auction. And best of all… FOOD. A lot of food.
This tasty event  and will be showcasing over 20 local restaurants and 20 local wineries. Some of our local favorites (Ambrosia Cafe, Blackbird Kitchen & Bar, Firestone Bar- truly the list goes on and on) will be contributing at the event. A true celebration of food and wine. Right up my alley.

Sacramento Beer and Chili Festival – April 6: 1pm-4pm
Tickets: Adult $35 pre-order, $40 day off
Fremont Park- 1515 Q Street, Sacramento

http://sacramentobeerandchilifestival.com/

Sacramento Artists Council in partnership with the Grid Agency and Dad’s Kitchen is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Beer and Chili Festival. I don’t know about you but when I hear chili and beer as a combination my mouth instantly starts to water. The pair just seem to go so well: like peanut butter and jelly.  The Festival is a fundraiser for The Sacramento Artists Council and raises money for art programs that help at-risk children, children of homeless families and fund adopt a school art programs for Sacramento schools. Not only will you have your fill of delicious beer and chili, the money for the event goes to an amazing cause. You can feel like you’ve helped the community while gorging yourself! My kind of event! The festival will begin with a chili cook off competition (industry and individual) and unlimited beer tastings provide by local breweries. (Mad River Brewing, Lost Coast and Speakeasy Ales— just to name a few!)

Sierra Foothills Food and Wine Bus Tour- April 14: 10:30am- 2:30pm
Tickets: Adult $69,
Newcastle, California

http://local-food-tours.com/culinary-cultural-experience/farm-tours/

Wouldn’t you love to take the back roads through the beautiful California olives trees, vineyards and fruit farms? Want to know how vineyards can tell when it’s time to pick their grapes or how to grow the best tomatoes? We are so fortunate to live in the “Farm to Fork Capital of America”. Now is time to jump on board the Local Roots Food Tours Culinary Passport bus and explore the cornucopia of agriculture. Tickets include: transportation in a 14 passenger executive bus, a 4 hour bus ride with stops at independent farms, local  vineyards and a local produce market. A trained local guide ready to showcase their knowledge of the area. Hands-on, one on one access, from owners of the farms, orchards and vineyards. A catered 4 COURSE GOURMET LUNCH (what a deal!) and a reusable Local Roots Food Tours shopping bag. Can you say amazing weekend?! Don’t you want to be able to get to know this area of California a little better? This is the way to do it!

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Get your mobile calendars out…..March is just around the corner with many opportunities to explore your palates in and around Northern California.  Take the time to savor each moment by planning ahead and mapping out every weekend’s foodie adventure for the month of March.  No reason to get up and dig in!

March Foodie Events

Capital Beerfest -  Sacramento, CA
Saturday, March 2nd – 9am – 5pm – Cal Expo
The 3rd annual Capital Beerfest is expected to attract almost 90 breweries, including every Sacramento-area brewery. Celebrate the close of Sacramento Beer Week with one of the largest beer festivals in Northern California. The generosity of brewers, attendees and partners benefits the Runnin’ for Rhett Scholarship and the Runnin’ for Rhett Youth Fitness Program.                  Tickets:  www.capitalbeerfest.com

Pig Out at Pig Day – Davis, CA
Saturday, March 2nd -  8am – 1pm – Central Park
Come celebrate National Pig Day at the Davis Farmers Market.  This is a Piggie themed event for the whole family.  Lots of fun filled food, activities and entertainment all celebrating the plump pink and fabulous pig!  We encourage you to come in pig attire.  Davis Farmers Market is one of the top markets in Northern California – bring your market bags and baskets to fill up on all your local fresh produce, fruits and meats.   www.davisfarmersmarket.org

Spring Obsession Art & Wine Show 2013 – Murphys, CA
Sat & Sunday, March 2nd &3rd – 10am – 5pm – Ironstone Vineyards
16th Annual Art Show, Wine Tasting and Food.  There will be art in action, art demonstrations and cooking demos by chefs. Live music and daffodil flowers exhibit on the ground level. Ironstone Vineyards is a beautiful place set in the Sierras Foothills north of Sonora and south of Lake Tahoe.  www.ironstonevineyards.com

Sierra Foothills Farm & Wine Bus Tour – Placer County, CA
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Gourmet on ‘K’ Culinary Walking Tour is everything gourmet along one of Sacramento’s most historical areas.  Tour participants will be guided down Sacramento’s original main street exploring the beautiful architecture with many stories dating back to the mid 1800?s.  Learn stories along the walking route such as how Sutter selected the area along Front and K streets to harvest lumber for his fort and how the famed street became the premier location for department stores, theaters and hotels.  Even locals will enjoy this culinary excursion, enlightening their views of the most controversial street in Sacramento.

Sacramento has recently been named the “Farm to Fork Capital of the Nation” by Mayor Kevin Johnson.  K Street is seeing an urban revitalization with more and more empty storefronts becoming filled with excellent foodie establishments along with some local dive bars that boast locally produced ingredients on their menus.  Join Local Roots Food Tours as they share with their participants what’s “hot” on local farm to table cuisine by experiencing up to 6 different stops along “Downtown on Kay”.
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Trying to figure out something clever and unique for your better half or friend but the same old box of chocolates seems to be more and more cliche’?  Thinking of dinner reservations for Valentine’s amongst the other 20 million individuals with the same thought?  Forget all this nonsense.

Be creative.  Be fun.  Be unique.

Local Roots Food Tours Valentine Gift Certificate Special

Purchase a Valentine Food Tour Gift Certificate Booklet for 2 and receive $30.00 off your final price.  These special gift certificates are good for any of our walking food tour adventures in Sacramento or Murphys, CA.  The certificates do NOT have to be used in February….pick a month and surprise your loved one!  Food tour gift certificate includes a 3.5 hour walking food tour to either our City of Trees Food & Cultural Walking Tour OR Origins of Sacramento Food & History Walking Tour OR our getaway tour – Murphys Food &  Wine Walking Tour.  You pick and we will guide and make sure your bellies are full!  To learn more about each of these tours please click on their links above.

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Join us on our special VALENTINES FOODIE LOVE TOUR – Thursday, February 14th, AND Friday February 15th, 2013!   We have two different food lover tours to choose from – each unique and filled with some great food and delicious desserts!  Tours will sell out so don’t hesitate in making plans to join us.  Group sizes will be kept small and intimate.

ORIGINS OF SACRAMENTO FOODIE LOVE TOUR -Thurs. Feb 14th & Friday Feb 15th – 2:30pm to 5:00pm .  Walking tour route will include 4 food stops; 3 main courses, 1 cocktail and two chocolate desserts all focusing on fresh, local ingredients.  Special Ticket Price:  $42.00 per adult ticket.  No child tickets.  Click to purchase special Valentine Food Tour Tickets.

MURPHYS FOOD & WINE LOVERS FOOD TOUR - Thurs. Feb 14th & Friday Feb 15th – 11:30am to 3:00pm.  Walking tour route will include 7 stops including 2 main courses with wine and beer pairings, a cheese and wine pairing, a dessert, a special treat at a chocolate shop and keeping things spicy at one of the most popular shops in town – a gourmet spice shop.  Ticket price includes personal shopping bag to hold all your yummy food products in.  Ticket price: $55 per person adult ticket.  No child tickets.   Click to purchase special Valentine tickets.

Do you know anyone on your gift list who loves to eat?  Ever consider giving a gift that touches one’s “foodie soul” and fills them up literally?  Walking Food Tours are in great demand throughout the nation and trendy for 2012 and certainly will be a popular activity for 2013!  Who doesn’t like to eat?  Right!?  Go ahead, and make their day!  Treat your family, friend, coworker and your Secret Santa recipient to a culinary adventure – let them decide where, how and when.  Our sales team at Local Roots Food Tours will be happy to assist you in your gift order this season;  we can mail out gift certificates directly to you or to your recipient with a holiday message personalized by you or we can email your booklet to you for distribution on Christmas morning.  Just let us know and we will accommodate your needs.  Our goal is to make it as simple as possible for you and be ready for the recipients to redeem their gifts for the tour they select.  Sound good?  Here’s our Deals:

Local Roots Food Tours is offering STOCKING STUFFER SPECIALS this holiday season:

The Feast of Five (But Really 6!):   Buy our holiday gift certificate booklet for $300 and receive 6 Walking Food Tour Tickets redeemable for ANY of our Culinary Walking Food Tours in Sacramento and Murphy’s.  These gift certificates can be used individually and redeemed for any tour date. There is no expiration date.  Retail Value: $400.00 -  A $100.00 SAVINGS!

The Aggie Adventure:  Buy our holiday farm tour package for $275 and receive 4 Sierra Foothills Farm & Wine Bus Tour Tickets AND a Featured Holiday Foodie Gift Box
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Wondering where to go to explore Northern California’s excellent food and wine scene?  Get out your maps and chart your foodie course…..October is filled with some delicious venues and fun adventures!

It’s a Hoes Down Festival!!  Full Belly Farm, Yolo County, CA
October 6 & 7, 2012   MAIN FESTIVAL: Saturday, October 6, 2012  11am – 11 pm  Admission Prices:  Adults: $20 each when purchased online; $25 when purchased at the gate, Children (2-12): $5 each anytime!  Under 2: Free
Saturday Night Camping: $25 per car- no reservations are needed!
No dogs allowed – service animals are welcome! 
Sunday Celebration, October 7, 2012
Please note: The main festival day and a majority of the activities occur on Saturday, October 6.   Specialized Hands-On Seminars on a variety of subjects. Pre-registration is required.  www.hoesdown.org

Sonoma County Harvest Fair
October 5-7, 2012  A celebration of the local harvest featuring three full days of wine tasting with 150+ wineries, wine sales, marketplace, chef demonstrations and workshops, farm and harvest agricultural activities for children and adults, the World Championship Grape Stomp, live music, an art show and sale, crafters pavilion, farm animals to meet, and much more.  Make plans to join us and taste the best of Sonoma County! 12-7pm Friday, 10-7pm Sat & Sunday   www.harvestfair.org
19th Annual Calaveras Grape Stomp, Murphys, CA
October 6th, 2012  9:30am – 5:00pm  Murphys Community Park.
25 pounds of wine grapes freshly picked, a half wine barrel fitted with a spout, a partner and you.  More than 100 teams throughout the state and beyond compete each year to vie for the prestigious 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards.
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Take part in Local Roots Food Tours; “Walk This Way” Ticket Promotion!

The hot temps are dissipating and cooler temperatures are ahead…..are you looking for Things To Do in Sacramento?  Trying to get away from the city and exploring the foothills?  Come join our culinary walking food tours and enjoy the wonderful walk!

Ticket sales are thru September 29th:  Buy an adult ticket to one of our 3 food & cultural walking tours in Sacramento or Murphys and receive $15.00 off each adult ticket price.  Tour ticket NEEDS TO BE USED BY SEPTEMBER 30th, 2012.  Use code: “WALK” to receive discount.  No other additional discounts apply.  Each ticket price includes all food, drinks, trained culinary concierge and taxes.

Enjoy a day out eating, drinking, laughing, learning, exploring and most importantly WALKING through beautiful neighborhoods and off the beaten path streets on one of our 3 hour walking tour routes. A unique outing that will tantalize your tastebuds, stir your mind and wake up your senses!

Click to learn more!

Eat. Walk. Talk.  Can you repeat after me?  Eat. Walk. Talk.

Exploring your palate while learning history, culture and meeting chefs and artisan shop owners all in a 3 hour foodie adventure is becoming the tour attraction to be on in Northern California.  Trends come and go with food but the following walking food tours are blossoming with hungry tour participants being led in every direction to great food, great fun and great friends.  Walking food tours take participants behind the scenes and into hidden gem restaurants and shops that offer tastings to temp your taste buds.

Top 8 Northern California Food Tours:

1.  Local Roots Food Tours – Sacramento, California

Local Roots Food Tours is Sacramento’s only food touring company which offers 5 different types of walking food and cultural tours as well as farm tours in and around Sacramento, California.  Voted #1 Tour in Sacramento in 2011-2012!   http://www.localrootsfoodtours.com; 1-800-407-8918  Tours offered Tuesdays thru Saturdays -  Tours run year round.

2.  Gourmet Walks – San Franciso, CA

Gourmet walks takes individuals on 4 different types of culinary tour routes; one being offered in Napa Valley, CA.  Chocolate tour?  You bet!  Sneek inside the world of Japan World in San Fran and see what you have been missing!  http://www.gourmetwalks.com

3.  Santa Cruz & Capitola Food Tours – Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz is a mecca for foodies….great mom and pop venues along with some great beer!  Fun city, fun people and lots of recreation..what more could you ask for except a tour around town eating, walking and talking!  Traveling beyond Santa Cruz, one must visit Capitola down the road and share in some excellent cuisine.  Voted #1 Tour in Santa Cruz.  http://www.santacruzfoodtour.com
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Summer time is about EXPLORING….getting out and about and attending as many foodie events as possible in Northern California.  Want to know where?  We have compiled a listing of a few food related events for the month of July.  Get our your GPS, your fork, bib and appetite and come along as we journey thru some of Northern California’s foodie adventures!

July 14, 2012  – 5th ANNUAL CAPAY TOMATO FESTIVAL – Farm Fresh To You and Capay Organic invite the public to the 5th Annual Capay Tomato, the farm’s festival that celebrates the great taste of organic heirloom and cherry tomatoes. The event will offer activities for all ages, including tomato tastings, farm tours, tractor tram rides, crafts and live music (3 bands) throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Farm fresh tacos and sandwiches, Pop Nation popsicles and local wine and beer will be sold. Attendees are invited to camp overnight in the farm orchards.
Buy tickets online until July 9th. $20 online; $25 at door; kids 12 and under are free.  1-800-796-6009 during business hours.

July 13-15, 2012 – BRENTWOOD CORNFEST!   Celebrating our agricultural heritage in a three-day weekend of fun, food and entertainment.  Plenty of local grown corn and fun filled corn activities; kid’s zone, live music, lots of food with corn of course, local brews and wine.  Tickets available: 925-634-3344 ? Brentwood, California
July 14, 2012 – Wine Country Big Q  Join us at the second annual Kansas City Barbecue Society sanctioned competition at Sonoma Academy in Santa Rosa. Some of the best Pit Masters will be here to serve you up a slice. Sample great barbecued meats, world class wines, and award-winning brews while enjoying great country and blues music. ? Santa Rosa, CA

July 19-21, 2012 – California Wine Festival 2012 – The ‘Biggest Wine Festival Under the Sun.’ Over 200 of California’s finest wines from every wine region in the state – showcasing a total of over 350 fine wines. Over 2,500 wine fans will grab their glass and start swirling and sipping, while live music on stage keeps the party going.  Santa Barbara, CA

July 20-21, 2012 – Marysville Peach Fest – The 12th Annual Marysville Peach Festival is going to be an exciting event with a wide variety of new and returning craft vendors, food vendors cooking for every taste bud, several delicious choices of peach related foods, and great entertainment for all ages. Details call: (530) 749-3954, Marysville, CA

July 21, 2012 – 11th Annual Taste of the Delta – ?A great foodie event where you can come either by car or boat!  Held at the Village West Marina, the event showcases wineries and restaurants in the California Delta region. Guests sample wines and foods, enjoy vendor booths, live music, and silent and live auctions. Stockton, CA   916-777-4041
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