January | 2009 | Food Gal

Monthly Archives: January 2009

Nutty

Posted on January 6, 2009 by foodgal 10 comments

That’s what I am.

It’s because I can’t stop eating these new Emerald Cocoa Almonds that landed in my mailbox recently as a sample. You know it’s a good day when the mailman brings you goodies like this.

The cocoa is baked into the almonds so there’s no messing up your fingers. That’s a good thing since I’ve been eating them by the handful. The wonderful roasty flavor of the nuts is married with a whisper of chocolate. It’s not so much chocolate that it tastes like candy, but just enough to give it a haunting je ne sais quoi.

I’m already wondering what these might be like baked in chocolate cookies.

Food Fun For Your Next Party

Posted on January 5, 2009 by foodgal 2 comments

Why do all the cooking for your next soiree when you can have this baby parked in front of your house or office instead?

Sancho’s Taqueria, famous for its killer fish tacos, has debuted a new catering truck that will roll on over to your venue of choice to prepare all-you-can-eat tacos. Yes, that includes tacos filled with fish, al pastor, carne asada, choriza, pollo asado, and the like. Chips and salsa are included; drinks are extra. You need a minimum of 30 people to have the truck for 90 minutes. The cost for this feeding frenzy? $600.

Martini Madness

Posted on January 1, 2009 by foodgal Leave a comment

If you’re feeling a little hung over from all that revelry on New Year’s Eve, martinis might not be exactly what you want to see right now.

But just think: You have eight days to recover before the Martini Madness Challenge 2009 rolls around at the Saddles Steakhouse at MacArthur Place Inn & Spa in Sonoma.

The Jan. 9 event (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), part of the Sonona Valley Olive Festival, will feature 10 bartenders from various Sonoma Valley restaurants and bars presenting their top martini for judging.

Enjoy the fruits of their labor (shaken or stirred?), along with appetizers and live music. Tickets are $40 per person ($45 at the door). There’s also an $85 option that includes entry to the Martini Madness festivities, plus a three-course dinner at Saddles.

Purchase tickets here.

For more fun Sonoma Valley Olive Festival events, head to Ramekins Culinary School’s Vineyard Room in Sonoma on Jan. 24 to partake in the annual Feast of the Olive Dinner. A host of chefs will prepare a five-course feast inspired by olives, with matching wine pairings. The chefs will work in teams of two to prepare each course using local, artisan olives and olive oils.