Ettore's European Bakery & Restaurant

This is what perfection looks like.

Ettore's European Bakery & Restaurant

2376 Fair Oaks Boulevard

Sacramento, CA

Visits to Ettore’s always present me with culinary dilemmas: Special of the Day or Ettore’s Award-Winning Hamburger on their Cheddar Scallion Bun?  Single-serving dessert, or cake for eight?  Table seating, or a counter spot facing the kitchen that will make me crave every damn thing coming out of that kitchen?

No matter the choice, the result will be the same: full belly, guaranteed satisfaction, and pure guilt until my next stint on the treadmill.

One of the few authentic European-style bakeries in the area, Ettore’s is a go-to destination if you’re looking for decadent desserts made with the highest quality ingredients.  From eclairs to cookies to princess cakes and seasonal offerings, each is made with exceptional attention to detail.  Glossy fruit tarts behind the pastry case look magazine-ready.  Anything with chocolate is superbly rich and dark, but not overly sugary.

The same care is taken on the restaurant side.  Offering one of the better Caesar salads in Sacramento, Ettore’s version is a meal in itself if you consume the accompanying basket of fresh-baked bread (good enough not to share).  The aforementioned Award-Winning Hamburger is legendary, and cooked to rare perfection if requested.  That seasoned patty, juicy and dripping from a housemade bun will put others to shame.

Come for the gourmet restaurant fare, stay for the wildly unique dessert selections.  You can work it all off tomorrow.

Fresh Freeze

Follow the arrows to YUM!

Fresh Freeze
3023 F Street
Eureka, CA

I love, love, love a good diner when I’m travelling.  How can you go wrong with a burger and a malt?  You can’t.

I stuck to all-American cuisine during a recent visit to Humboldt County since the week leading up to my trip was full of Asian and Mexican food.  I love both, but needed a break; and when I happened upon an old-fashioned diner that could have been plucked right out of the 1950s, I knew I was in luck.

Clue #1: Big sign out front.  HUGE, in fact.  And lit with neon!  I treasured my parking spot right next to it.

Clue #2: Lots of locals in line, many of whom called in their orders.  These people could be trusted.

Clue #3: Both kids and adults with sky-high dipped cones.  The kind you stare at if only to catch a glimpse of that first bite which could easily turn into a disappointing battle against gravity.

I ordered my Cheeseburger, Onion Rings and Rocky Road Malt (WHAT!) and got comfy in a booth.  Stomach growling, the wait was a little painful, but surely rewarding.

“Cheeseburger” was a misnomer.  More appropriates names would be “Giant Cheeseburger”, “Colossal Cheeseburger”, “You Won’t Have Room for Onion Rings after Eating This Cheeseburger” or “No, Seriously… You Won’t Have Room for Onion Rings after Eating This Cheeseburger”.  Although full, I was shamed into finishing off those crunchy rings.

I always seem to have room for dessert, so that Rocky Road Malt?  No problemo.  Heavy on the malt powder, thick, sweet and crunchy from peanuts (an unexpected, delicious choice), it provided a tasty dip for my last onion ring.  Besides, you should never let a perfectly good vegetable go to waste…

Petra Greek

Gym cheat days are the BEST.

Petra Greek
1122 16^th Street

Sacramento, CA

Friday night's spontaneous midnight trip to Petra Greek was likely one of the best life decisions I've made.  Ever.  EVER.

At 12am, huge portions of meat were still being broiled to perfection, veggies were being chopped, and flatbread warmed to the ideal temperature.  When it all came together, it was nothing less than bliss.  I wanted that damn gyro to last forever.

A packed house with a steady flow of customers indicated to me that I'd stumbled onto something special.  I'd be willing to walk through blocks of drunken douchebags for a single gyro.  That's a bold statement for an old hag like me.

Viva Cocolat

Limited time!  Eat now!

Viva Cocolat

110 Petaluma Boulevard N.

Petaluma, CA

Sometimes, chocolate is meant to be shared.  How else would I be able to justify ordering a $20 “fondue experience” immediately following breakfast?

Breakfast consisted of a Bacon and Egg Hand Pie across the street at the Petaluma Pie Company, so I was ready for something sweet.  Fully intending to pick up just a quick piece of chocolate (or two) to round out my morning, my eyeballs were accosted by a blackboard with two words in yellow fluorescent lettering: CHOCOLATE FONDUE.

Attention all chocolate shops: mentioning something is available only on Fridays and Saturdays will pique my interest.  Why?  Because I’m a sucker for marketing.  Case in point: I exclaimed “Sweet! This is available right now!” to my pseudo sister-in-law as I practically sprinted to the counter.  I didn’t have to twist her arm much.  We sat down and attempted to master a peg-jumping game which I assume was strategically placed there to take our minds off the long and arduous 10-minute wait while the fondue was being prepared.

Soon enough, an embarrassingly large platter of dipping items arrived: fresh slices of green apple, strawberries and bananas, angel food cake, marshmallows, Rice Krispie treats, and salty pretzels for a savory kick.  We dunked each into the warm, smooth milk chocolate and kept on dunking.  And dunking.  And licking our lips.  And dunking.  This continued until we were scraping the bottom of the fondue cup, realizing it was only 11:30 in the morning.

I felt customers staring at us while we sat back and rubbed our bellies.  I didn’t care.   The blackboard clearly stated this treat is only offered two days a week.  Why would I be silly enough to pass that up?

Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant

Look familiar?

Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant
24505 West Dorris Avenue

Coalinga, CA

You see them for miles before catching your first glimpse of the restaurant: cows.  Lots of cows.  I’m talking thousands upon thousands of cows.

Let’s face it: travelling up and down Interstate 5 can become a little boring at times.  Harris Ranch is a nice break from boring.

Harris Ranch supplies grocery stores and restaurants with some of the tastiest beef around.  You can try it for yourself here at the Harris Ranch Restaurant, pick out your own steaks inside of the Country Store, or grab a few on your next visit to your grocer.

I made the unfortunate mistake of scarfing down a huge breakfast before hopping on the 5 this particular morning, so my digestive track was still in full effect as I pulled up to the ranch to stretch my legs.  Lucky for me, however, I’m never too full for sweets, and I located a bakery case in the Country Store chock full of fresh-baked cookies.

Life often presents difficult decisions: White Chocolate Macadamia or Toffee?  Snickerdoodles or Macaroons?  I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and realized I didn’t have to choose!  I bought them all!  I figured I’d munch on one now and save the rest for the long drive home.

Well, you can guess how that turned out.  Fresh-baked cookies are almost always amazing.  These were tender, chewy, and not at all skimpy on the ingredients.  Thirty minutes later all four cookies had vanished.  I figured it was my reward for sparing a cow that day.

Huong Lan Sandwiches

This Bahn Mi was worth the body check.

Huong Lan Sandwiches
6930 65^th Street, Suite 109

Sacramento, CA

One of my New Year resolutions is to LET THINGS GO.  My lunch trip to Huong Lan allowed me to practice this concept twice: first, when I had to battle a parking lot full of Asian drivers; and second, when an old lady rudely threw her entire body into me just to get a closer look at the menu above the cashier.

It was all worth it.

A few minutes later, and only $3 lighter, I was in my car, driving down Stockton Boulevard back to my office while making some very unladylike attempts to devour a #7 (Grilled Pork Banh Mi) with one hand on the steering wheel.  Delicious.

Now that I think about it, I should probably stop criticizing Asian drivers...

Nena's Mexican Restaurant

One day, I may learn about portion control.

Nena's Mexican Restaurant

445 W. Weber Avenue, Suite 120

Stockton, CA

Eating one of Nena’s warm, soft, chewy, pillowy flour tortillas right off the press makes you feel like snuggling underneath a blanket…a blanket made of Nena’s warm, soft, chewy, pillowy flour tortillas.

Arguably the best Mexican restaurant in Stockton, Nena’s holds the secret to nearly three decades of success: classic recipes with bold flavors, relaxed atmosphere, congenial staff, and, with the recent move to the downtown waterfront, sweeping views of the Delta.  On weekends, crowds spill out onto patio seating and servers adjust umbrella shading or space heating to suit your needs.

What’s good here?  Everything’s good here.  Most recently, I was extremely pleased with my Taco Vampiro, chock full of steak, chorizo, cheese, onions and cilantro wrapped in a corn tortilla that had been dipped in red enchilada sauce and pressed into finely chopped red chilies.  The fiery flames were quelled by the crema and Cotija cheese topping my crispy Pork Chimichanga.

On morning occasions, it’s all about the Chilaquiles.  Sadly, I’ll usually put away half a basket of chips and salsa before my entrée arrives; so when my platter of (more) tortilla chips sautéed in red sauce and mingling with eggs and cheese appears, I am silently kicking myself.  After further carb-loading with another fresh tortilla, I may as well call it a day.

Tip well and, if you’re a regular, accept a kiss on the cheek from Nena herself.  She’s the one dressed to the nines with amazing shoes…every time.