This Wednesday, February 23, join in the fun on your morning coffee run by participating in Ettore's Coffee Break from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Elks Building second floor ballroom at 921 11th Street in downtown Sacramento.

During this event, emcee Kitty O'Neal (from KFBK) will be on hand as you snack on Ettore's award-winning pastries and desserts, all beautifully prepared with the finest natural ingredients. Enjoy a steamy cup of coffee with friends and community leaders, and stick around to watch local celebrities compete in the first Pizza Making Contest, which is sure to be a sight.

Ettore's Coffee Break benefits the Youth Development Network <http://www.ydnetwork.org> , which is dedicated to creating life-changing experiences for youth success by supporting community organizations through training, networking, and policy advocacy. For 10 years, Youth Development Network's training programs, networking and public policy efforts have worked together to improve the quality of youth services across a broad range of communities, youth serving organizations, education, faith groups, juvenile justice agencies and businesses.

Ettore's European Bakery and Restaurant is located at 2376 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Sacramento and is open seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, a full line of European breakfast pastries, cookies, cakes, specialty desserts, and custom wedding cakes.

Tickets for Ettore's Coffee Break are $35 and will be available at the door. For more information, please call 916-448-2881.

by Juliet Farmer

Instead of sitting on the couch watching the Oscars this year, why not be a part of Oscar(r) Night Sacramento on Sunday, February 27, when the 12th floor penthouse venue of the Gateway Towers near Garden Highway will be transformed into a red carpet extravaganza.

Upon arrival, attendees will be greeted and interviewed celebrity-style by News10/ABC hosts Melissa Crowley and Guy Farris. The Oscar experience continues inside with elegant lighting, tasty food, and live music by Debora Ivall and members of the Romeo Void. For serious Oscar fans, there will be theater viewing in a separate area, and for those who wish to mingle, there will be VIP Lounges, a groove club, huge projection TVs, and a live television feed of the Academy Awards(r) in Hollywood.

Doors open at 4 p.m., and the Academy Awards(r) telecast live from the Kodak Theater begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $75, which includes passed heavy hors d'oeuvres and a dessert buffet; and $125, which includes passed hors d'oeuvres and buffet-style dinner in the dining room. Absolut Vodka and Hoppy Brewing Company are sponsoring the bars, parking is free, and there
will also be a silent auction area for your bidding pleasure.

The Capital City AIDS Fund (CCAF), a non-profit organization, organizes this annual event, and all proceeds from this event will benefit local HIV/AIDS agencies and programs in the Sacramento area. CCAF was founded in 1995 to raise money in support of HIV/AIDS services in the Sacramento area, and has raised and donated over $2 million to Sacramento area HIV/AIDS service providers.

For more information, click here or call 916-448-1110. To purchase tickets, click here or call 916-448-1110.

by Juliet Farmer

As the first in a series of special collaborative dinners with the nation's culinary leaders and visionaries, Ella Dining Room and Bar and Chef Kelly McCown are offering diners a rare treat on February 27 at 5:30 p.m., when Ella Dining Room and Bar is featuring dinner and conversation with chef Todd Humphries of Kitchen Door Napa and famed forager and wild food aficionado Connie Green of Wine
Forest Mushrooms for what poses a unique opportunity for food enthusiasts to meet and enjoy the work of two of America's culinary treasures.

Chef Humphries will bring his experience and passion for all things wild to this event, and Green, whose knowledge, résumé, and ingredients fill some of the greatest kitchens and cookbooks in America, including the French Laundry, Terra, and the Restaurant at Meadowood, will collaborate with Chef Humphries and Chef McCown on a journey through the beautiful and intriguing world of mushrooms and wild foods.

This event coincides with the recent release of Green's new book, The Wild Table, which includes a forward by Thomas Keller and has been lauded by chefs and experts worldwide, from Jacques Pepin to Martha Stewart. In addition, Green will have copies of her book available for purchase and signing.

Ella's five-course "Wild Table" dinner is $125 per person. The menu can be viewed here. (Optional wine pairings will be planned by Ella Sommelier Joe Vaccaro.) Ella is located at 1131 K Street. For more information, click the link above or call 916-443-3772.

On February 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Shack, 5201 Folsom Blvd. in East Sacramento, join Philharmonic Tempo for a Sacramento Philharmonic fundraiser that's sure to fill your belly and make your toes tap.

Kudos to Putah Creek Winery in Davis, which was recently awarded three medals in the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC). Formally established as the largest competition of American wines in the world in 2008, the SFCWC hosted a competition of over 4,736 wines that year. In 2011, the SFCWC continued to uphold this title with 5,050 entries from 23 states.

Putah Creek's 2011 winning wines-silver medal winner 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, bronze medal winner 2009 Chardonnay, and bronze medal winner 2009 Viognier-are each 100 percent estate grown and produced. The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, which features hints of oak and mellow tannins, was released to the public in October 2010 and has been improving with age. (The Putah Creek
Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon was also awarded a silver medal in last year's SFCWC competition.) The 2009 Chardonnay was 100 percent stainless-steel fermented, and features bright citrus and melon flavors that pair nicely with a variety of cuisine. The 2009 Viognier, which was also stainless-steel fermented, boasts balanced aromas of stone fruit and ripe tropical fruit flavors.

Founded in 2004 by Gene and Cathy Glaeser, Putah Creek Winery is located on 60 acres in Davis. The winery produces 11 different wines, including Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. Putah Creek Winery creates handcrafted, high quality wines that are balanced and approachable upon release. Putah Creek Winery wines are available at the Davis Food Co-Op, Nugget Markets in Davis,
and select local restaurants. Wines can also be ordered online here. For more information about Putah Creek Winery, call 916-747-2131 or click here.

by Juliet Farmer

Plan to head out to celebrate Valentine's Day this year? Here are three picks with varying price points, locations and food styles to help you woo your Valentine.

Gönül's J Street Café, 3839 J Street in Sacramento, is serving a four-course prix fixe menu or a la carte options from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on February 14, as well as live entertainment. The four courses include an individual split of Domaine Chandon Brut Champagne and a Rose is $50 per person. First course choices are salmon crepes with organic plum sauce and spinach ($8 a la carte); baked goat cheese in a walnut crust with organic greens and maple roasted apple ($8); southern style creamed corn with bacon ($8); beef vegetable and cremini mushroom soup ($8); or butternut squash soup ($8). Second course is a choice of beet salad with caramelized onions, maple roasted walnuts and goat cheese ($10) or mixed greens with maple roasted walnuts, raisins, feta cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette ($10). Third course is a choice of filet roast with red wine sauce ($25); turkey with a vegetable and bread stuffing and apple
dressing ($25); pumpkin and butternut squash risotto ($20); Mexican prawns with garlic and lemon, mushrooms, ginger and scallions ($25); roast leg of lamb with red wine sauce ($25); or penne pasta with artichoke and cremini mushroom ($20). Dessert is a choice of Kazan Dibi, Turkish lavender almond milk flan with lavender tuiles ($8); chocolate-coconut bread pudding with
passion fruit sauce ($8); or chocolate decadence with vanilla crème fraiche ($8). For more information, call 9165-457-1155 or click here to make a reservation.

Tsudas Old Town Eatery, 103 Sacramento Street in Auburn, is offering a one-service (6 p.m.) five-course prix fixe menu for Valentine's Day priced at $90 per couple, and featuring live acoustic music, local wines, appetizers, and a set menu with a choice of main course. After appetizers, the meal includes soup with ripe pears caramelized and paired
with rich local cream, hand-picked spices and gorgonzola cheese; salad of organic mixed greens with fresh ruby red raspberries and ripe mangos tossed in a slightly sweet and tangy vinaigrette; main of delicate pastry filled with fresh dill and Alaskan wild salmon, saffron orzo and fire roasted asparagus drizzled with a Meyer lemon crème reduction OR grilled double-cut
"local" pork filled with wild mushrooms, spinach and smoked imported gouda cheese, accompanied by "locally" brewed dark ale whipped sweet potatoes and fresh garden vegetables; dessert of heart-shaped organic raw Balinese chocolate cake with a pouring of dark chocolate ganache and fresh raspberries, and custom-made espresso drink using locally-roasted single origin Temple coffees. For more information or to make a reservation, call
530-823-2233.

Ella Dining Room and Bar, 1131 K Street in Sacramento, is serving up a special menu for Valentine's Day both February 13 and 14. The price, $125 per person, includes a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut Réserve Particulière, Reims, Champagne, France, NV; a first course of lobster bisque made with poached Maine lobster, fines herbs crème
fraiche and sterling caviar; a second course of seared day boat sea scallops, creamy white truffle polenta parmesan cream, braised early white asparagus and tiny mizuna; a third course of slow-roasted Creekstone Farms beef tenderloin, gratin of Yukon gold potatoes and turnips, tiny braised onions, Bloomsdale spinach and sauce Bordelaise; and, for dessert, a of trio
of chocolate mousse, pistachio tuile and mocha anglaise. For more information or to make a reservation, call 916-443-3772.

by Juliet Farmer

There are several local ways to celebrate this Chinese New Year, the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins February 3, 2011, and ends January 22, 2012.

To get your fill of Chinese food in a swanky setting, head to Frank Fat's at 806 L Street in Sacramento (916-442-7092) for lunch or dinner. If you're in the mood for something slightly more casual, but still want to eat with the Fat's family, try Fat City Bar & Café at 1001 Front Street in Old Sacramento (916-446-6768). And, for those in outlying areas, head to Roseville - Asia
Bistro at 1500 Eureka Road in Folsom (916-787-3287) or Folsom - Asia Bistro at 2585 Iron Point Road in Folsom (916-983-1133). For more information about Fat's family of restaurants, click here <http://www.fatsrestaurants.net/> .

If you're in the mood for some Chinese food in a classic setting, try Simon's Restaurant at 1415 16th Street in Sacramento (916-442-9437), or, if you like it super-casual, head to Harry's Café at 2026 16th Street in Sacramento (916-448-0088).

If you prefer to cook at home, I suggest Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, Apple Chicken Stir Fry, or Asparagus Stir Fry with Black Bean Sauce. If what you're making calls for hard-to-find ingredients, there are several places where you can find any ingredient you need to make the perfect Chinese dish, including Asian Food Center at 1301 Broadway in Sacramento (916-448-4397), Ho Chin Food Co. at 5069 Freeport Blvd. in Sacramento (916-455-2994), and Oto's Marketplace at 4990 Freeport Blvd. in Sacramento (916-424-2398). (Though Oto's is technically a Japanese store, it carries many traditional Asian foods.)

February 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at The Avid Reader Bookstore, 1600 Broadway in Sacramento, a discussion of food in our communities, particularly schools, will include Community Alliance with Family Farmers' Farm to School Director, Diana Aballera, who will be speaking on a panel addressing Robert Gottlieb's book, Food Justice. This discussion, Food Justice in Our Schools: The Origins and Future of California Farm to School, will also include Judith Redmond of Full Belly Farm, Susan Foerster with the Network for a Healthy California, Miguel Villarreal with Novato Unified School District Nutrition Services.

Gottlieb is Director of the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute and Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy at Occidental College <http://www.oxy.edu/> . In addition to Food Justice (MIT Press), he is also the author of Reinventing Los Angeles: Nature and Community in the Global City (MIT Press), and Forcing the Spring: The Transformation of the American Environmental Movement (Island Press). He is also the editor of two series from MIT Press: Urban and Industrial Environments, and Food, Health, and Environment, and is a long-time food and environmental justice activist and historian of social movements.

Food Justice highlights successful stories from groups and organizations across the globe that are part of an emerging food justice movement. It discussed the increasing disconnect between food and culture; the horrific conditions faced by farm workers and those who work the meatpacking and poultry plants; low-income neighborhoods that lack access to fresh and healthy food but abound in fast food restaurants and liquor stores; thousands of food products introduced each year that emphasize convenience, packaging gimmicks, and cheap food and fast food over fresh food and healthy food; and the international reach of American fast-food franchises that has been a major contributor to an epidemic of "globesity." Not all doom and gloom, the book also talks about people and groups around the world seeking to transform the food system from seed to table, profiling dynamic food justice groups and organizing efforts, the emerging new politics around
food, and a transformation of the language and understanding about food, from how food is grown to why eating has become a political act.

This is a free event. For more information, call 916-441-4400.

by Juliet Farmer

nacho sauce

On January 29, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., head to The Artisan, 1901 Del Paso Boulevard, for VegFest 2011, a free event celebrating raw, vegan and vegetarian cuisine. Special guest Michael Marks "Your Produce Man" will also be on hand for Q & A, as well as to discuss how to store your produce at 1 p.m. This event also features children’s activities, a tasting competition with guest judges, and lots of demos so you can learn how to make delicious recipes for yourself and your family using fresh, organic, delicious vegetables, fruits, nuts and more.

VegFest 2011 participants include:
Artisan Building, an arts & entertainment facility
Azna Gluten-Free Specialty Market, gluten free vegan baked goods
Bowen's Landscaping & Gardening Service
The Cultured Kitchen, online kitchenware store
Del Paso Boulevard Partnership, promoting and marketing Del Paso Boulevard
Del Rio Botanical, seed and vegetable production
Emily Webber, Food for Life Nutrition and Cooking Instructor
The Green Boheme, raw food restaurant
Gluten Free Specialty Shop, gluten-free market
The Greens Hotel, eco-conscious and environmentally friendly boutique lodging
Happy Cow.net, a compassionate eating guide
Happy Go Lucky Veggie Cuisine, a sustainable, healthy, gourmet Lunch Cart and catering
Never Felt Better Vegan Shop, vegan clothing and accessories
Nacheez, vegan nacho sauce
Raw Chocolate Love, vegan chocolate
RawSacramento, local raw food information
Sugar Plum Vegan, vegan/gluten-free baking and lunch
Sacramento Vegan Society
Sacramento News & Review
V-Dog Vegetarian Dog Food
Wells Fargo

VegFest 2011 is a great way to start the New Year right! For more information about this event, call 916-798-5516.

by Juliet Farmer

This year, Selland's Market-Café, located at 5340 H Street in East Sacramento, debuted new daily $10 Blue Plate Dinner Specials, available each day after 3 p.m. for dine in or carry out.

January's $10 Blue Plate Specials are as follows:

Mondays - Roast Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Seasonal Veggie Tuesdays - Meatloaf, Macaroni and Cheese, Seasonal Veggie Wednesdays - Open Faced Pork Sandwich with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Thursdays - Chicken Teriyaki, Asian Noodle Salad, Seasonal Veggie Fridays - Lemon Chicken Breast, Roasted Red Potatoes, Seasonal Veggie Saturdays - Barbequed Brisket Sandwich, Cavatappi Pasta Salad

In addition to the $10 daily Blue Plate Specials, Selland's also offers a variety of hot and cold seasonal fare that's sure to hit the spot. From baked sweets to savory appetizers, from sandwiches hot or cold to pizzas fresh from the oven, from salads and vegetable sides to meat and poultry dishes to die for, Selland's Market-Café has everything you need to dine in our take out a delicious meal.

Selland's Market-Café is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, click here or call 916-736-3333.

by Juliet Farmer