Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Chef Brien is the King of Cuisine

Expectations are relatively high for the Sacramento Kings’ 2022-23 season, which tips off Wednesday night. But trade targets and free agents aren’t the only off-season additions worth noticing. It’s a fresh slate for Golden 1 Center’s concessions as well. New menu items have popped up at stands around the arena, ready to assist the game-day experience at one of the NBA’s tastiest venues. The arena’s culinary team has sourced 90% of their ingredients from within a 150-mile radius since opening in 2016, and that commitment continues today under chef Brien Kuznicki. That means beef from Panorama Meats in West Sacramento, dairy products from Petaluma Creamery and pints of Auburn Alehouse beer on tap. TOP VIDEOS Top Videos 00:55 01:30 Join Jerry Brown for an ATV tour of his ranch and memoriesof his famous corgi Sutter “It’s really focusing on what the fans want, and really having chef-inspired dishes that have (been thought about) all the way from start to finish,” said Kuznicki, who’s been Golden 1 Center’s chef or sous chef since it opened. These seven must-try items are new to Golden 1 Center’s concession stands this season. Pricing wasn’t immediately available. THE ACROPOLIS The Acropolis is a grassfed burger from Petra’s available with shaved gyro meat, feta cheese, tzatziki, red onion and tomato as one of the new Local Eats menu items for the Sacramento Kings 2022-23 NBA Season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com What it is: a towering burger composed of a grass-fed beef patty, shaved gyro meat, feta, tzatziki and sliced red onion and tomato. Served with fries. Where to find it: Petra Greek (Section 210) PLANTSPIRED BULGOGI RICE BOWL A plant-based bulgogi rice bowl from Star Ginger is available at the Media Food Tasting on Oct. 13 featuring items from their Local Eats menu for the Sacramento Kings 2022-23 NBA Season at Golden 1 Center. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com What it is: an all-vegan grain bowl with imitation beef bulgogi, cucumber, kimchi, edamame, sesame-dusted kale, đồ chua (pickled carrots and daikon) and jasmine rice from Next Generation Foods in West Sacramento. Where to find it: Star Ginger (Section 112) BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA Paragary’s BBQ Chicken Pizza, made with BBQ Mary’s chicken, house BBQ sauce, mozzarella, pickled jalapenos and fried shallots is one of the new Local Eats menu items available at Golden 1 Center for the 2022-23 Sacramento Kings Season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com What it is: a wood-fired pizza topped with Mary’s Free-Range Chicken (Fresno County), housemade barbecue sauce, house-pickled jalapeño slices, mozzarrella and fried shallots. Where to find it: Paragary’s (Sections 118 and 203) QUESABIRRIA TACOS Centro’s quesabirria tacos are filled with 16-hour slow-cooked Richards grass-fed beef and mozzarella cheese at the Media Food Tasting earlier this month featuring new Local Eats menu items for the new Kings season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com What it is: Richards Grassfed Beef (Yuba County), slow-cooked for 16 hours and stuffed alongside melted mozzarella in a crispy Mi Rancho (Clovis) tortilla. Served with a cup of consommé. Where to find it: Centro Cocina Mexicana (Section 115) SACTOWN FRIES Centro’s Sactown Fries are topped with 16-hour slow-cooked Richards grass-fed beef, nacho cheese sauce, guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream on chili lime fries. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com What it is: fries more loaded than the 1992 Dream Team. Toppings include that same 16-hour beef birria, house nacho cheese sauce, guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream over chili-lime dusted fries. Where to find it: Centro Cocina Mexicana (Section 115) SK FISH SANDWICH THE SK FISH SANDWICH FROM CAFÉ BERNARDO HAS BEER-BATTERED ROCK FISH WITH SAMBAL TARTAR SAUCE ON A BRIOCHE BUN. IT IS ONE OF THE NEW LOCAL EATS MENU ITEMS AVAILABLE AT GOLDEN 1 CENTER FOR THE SACRAMENTO KINGS 2022-23 NBA SEASON. LEZLIE STERLING LSTERLING@SACBEE.COM What it is: beer-battered rockfish with pickled red onions, shredded lettuce, sambal tartar sauce and sliced tomato on a Posh Bakery (southeastern Sacramento) brioche bun. Served with fries. Where to find it: Cafe Bernardo (Sections 101 and 216) KINGS-THEMED DOUGHNUTS Kings Donuts from Sweet Bird have purple glaze with golden crown sprinkles at the Media Food Tasting at Golden 1 Center on Oct. 13 featuring new local menu items for the Sacramento Kings season. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com What it is: a new way to celebrate a sweet win or make a tough loss more bearable. Choose the Kings Donut (purple velvet cake with a vanilla bean glaze) or a cookies-and-cream variation with that same glaze and Oreo crumbs. Where to find it: Sweet Bird (Section 219)

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/article267232722.html#storylink=cpy

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

30 Burgers in 30 Days...

LA Weekly is in the process of building one of the most comprehensive lists of the best burgers that Los Angeles has to offer.  It is an ongoing review of the 30 best burgers in LA over a 30 day period.  They have already stopped in at some of the best, as well as some that have the potential to be the best of the rest.  After the first 10 days I have decided to pick out a few of my favorites, as well as some that I will be trying very soon...

All-Time Favorites

The Apple Pan

The Counter


The New School

The Bottle Room

Comme Ca

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Counter: Hollywood


The Counter has opened yet another location in Southern California this week, near the intersection of Sunset & Fairfax.  The Counter is a one a kind Burger Joint where you create your own burger.  On a Bun or in a Bowl?  Maybe a Fried Egg and Honey Cured Bacon?  The combinations are endless, or almost endless... 312,120 to be exact!

I will be posting a full review later this week.  If you haven't been to The Counter yet, I suggest you make it the next Burger you eat.


Here is a list of all the California locations:

Westlake Village

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Soda Pop's


Wanna go grab a some lunch at Soda Pop’s?  Sounds like a quote from a 1950’s TV series, when in reality, Soda Pop's is a recently opened sandwich shop on La Cienega just north of the Beverly Center.  It is run by three guys from Boston who I feel have been inspired by the new generation of Guy Fiere’s and Adam Rickman’s.

It is a very clean environment with lots of wood and stainless steel, but still gives the warmth of an intimate sandwich shop.  All of the food is prepared in an open kitchen and you can hear and smell the bacon sizzling on the grill while you wait for your BELT.  These guys also make their own Potato Chips that are simply amazing.

They have one of the largest displays of soda I have seen.  You can even get Coke & Fanta in half liter GLASS bottles.


I have eaten a lot of BLT sandwiches in my life and these guys have seemed to create a BLT on a whole other level.  It is called the BELT and is your mom’s BLT on steroids!  Imagine two slices of toasted French white bread topped off with Apple Wood Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado and an OVER EASY EGG!



Today was my third visit to Soda Pop’s, but I still cannot stray from the BELT with Barbecue Chips and a large Coke in the bottle.  They have cookies and Rice Krispies treats that look amazing as well as slices of Sicilian Pizza on the weekends.


Soda Pop’s also offers a wide variety of salad’s including a Caesar, Cobb, Mixed Green and Nicoise, all of which you can add on Shrimp or Chicken if you are looking for some protein.


These are a few of the other sandwiches that have caught my eye, but have not tried yet:
  • Steak Bomb
  • Meatball Grinder
  • Chicken Parm
  • Italian
  • French Ham & Cheese
  • Grilled Cheese & Tomato


Morton's Power Hour



When someone says the words "Morton's Steakhouse," the first thing you think of is not necessarily a great place to go for Happy Hour.  But you are wrong.

Over the past few years Morton's has been transforming the bars in their restaurants into the one of a kind Bar 12:21.  The bar gets the name 12:21 from the opening of the first Morton's restaurant in Chicago, IL on 12/21/78.  These newly remodeled bars feature multiple flat screen TV's, more seating and some great appetizers which are properly named "Bar Bites."

Morton's offers what they call Power Hour which is their version of the Happy Hour.  It takes place 7 days a week from 5-6:30pm & 9pm-Close.  This is one of the best Happy Hour deals in the US when you consider the quality of food you are getting for a price that's next to nothing.  All of the Bar Bites are available for $5, with Beer & Wine going for $4 & $5.

The key is to only order the drinks from the Power Hour Menu.  A cocktail will cost you anywhere between $10-$14 depending on where in the country you are dining, but you can choose from one of four Power Hour drinks for only $7.  I personally recommend trying two of the Bar Bites and a Bud Light, which comes to the grand total of $14.  If you told someone you could fill up at Morton's for less than $20 including tax & tip, they would think you were crazy.

If you are looking for something a little more substantial than a snack, you can get a Morton's Prime Cheeseburger with Fries for $15, get a Sam Adams to wash it down and you're still only looking at $19 before tax & tip.

Everything on the menu is classic comfort food, but my favorite would have to be the Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip served with toasted slices of French Bread.  Top it off with some Mini Cheeseburgers and you will be stuffed!

The Beverly Hills location has three 40" TV's that always have sports from open to close.  It's a great place to go with friends and get some "cheap" food before going out or while watching a sporting event.  Nothing goes better with Monday Night Football than some Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip.

'Bar Bites' - $5
*Three Miniature Crab Cakes
Iceberg Wedge Bites
Chicken Goujonettes
*Three Prime Cheeseburgers
*Jumbo Lump Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip
*Four Petite Filet Mignon Sandwiches
Blue Cheese French Fries
Beer - $4
Sam Adams Seasonal
Budweiser
Bud Light

Wine - $5
BV Coastal Cabernet
Canyon Road Chardonnay
Cavit Pinot Grigio
Columbia Crest Merlot

Morton's Mortinis - $7
Power Hour Cosmo
Power Hour Gin or Vodka Mortini
Power Hour Mojito
Power Hour Jim Beam Manhattan

Not all Morton's locations currently off Power Hour so make sure that you call ahead.  The following locations all offer Power Hour:

Downtown LA
Burbank
Beverly Hills
Woodland Hills
Santa Ana
Sacramento

Chef Brien is the King of Cuisine Expectations are relatively high for the Sacramento Kings’ 2022-23 season, which tips off Wednesday night....