Celebrate Oktoberfest All Year Round
Here’s where you can enjoy German food, beer and culture in the Capital Region
You don’t need to fly all the way to Munich to get an authentic Oktoberfest experience, even after October draws to a close. Whether indoors or outdoors, in Sacramento, Rocklin or Elk Grove, this area has many biergartens and other German-style spots to choose from.
In Search of Pretty Produce
Consumers want big, bright fruit, nuts and other produce. How does that affect what farmers grow?
Cuties. Chandlers. Cilantro. They all start with the letter C, but what else do those words have in common? Popularity. Do consumer preferences impact farmers and what they choose to grow?
Omakase Reimagined
The Japanese tasting menu concept is branching out to other cuisines
Omakase has evolved from a Japanese culinary tradition mostly associated with high-end sushi restaurants to a dining concept that accommodates a wide range of palates.
Savor the Layover
These local airport restaurants are worth the trip
If you’re in the Capital Region, there are plenty of interesting options — and not only at Sacramento International Airport, which is set to have a major refresh of its dining program by 2025. Whether you’re flying a jumbo jet or a crop duster, you’ll find something to nosh on when you land in and around Sacramento.
Luscious Libations
Distilleries use local, natural flavors to enhance their creations
Whether in Sacramento or the upper climbs of the Gold Country, craft distillers are ready to give the drinking public a taste of all of the possibilities within libation.
Is Tea the New Happy Hour?
These Capital Region tea rooms bring a California twist to an English tradition
Afternoon tea evokes something people have always sought — “a feeling of rarely experienced elegance and class,” Mueller says.
Jet’s Sets Off
This Midtown hotspot started out as a college student’s pandemic project
When Jet Bonanno started his shoestring home-based food operation, he never dreamed it would morph into a thriving brick-and-mortar restaurant. But that’s exactly what happened when Bonanno opened Jet’s American Grill & Bar at the ripe old age of 22.
Pop-Up Popularity
Female chefs and bakers find success outside the traditional restaurant model
These nomadic eateries, which surged in popularity around the Great Recession, came in vogue again during the COVID-19 pandemic, often as the only option for cooks in lockdown.
La Dulce Vida
Meet the Capital Region panaderos bringing creative flavors and techniques to Mexican bakery classics
Pan dulce (in English, sweet bread) is being reimagined by intrepid bakers across the Capital Region. Comstock’s recently spoke with three local panaderos who are taking pan dulce to new heights while simultaneously paying tribute to the cultural traditions and food memories that shaped them.
Reset and Drink Up
These Capital Region cafes offer food and drink with a side of health care
Across the region, health food businesses are branching beyond acai bowls and chia-seed puddings to offer customers a broader spectrum of health programs and treatments. From juice cleanses to lattes with a side of ionic detoxification, the spread of these businesses demonstrates that customers are willing to invest in their health — and are looking beyond the traditional health care system to do so.