Becky Grunewald is a downtown Sacramento resident who has been writing about food and culture in Sacramento for 15 years. She’s written for the late, great, Midtown Monthly magazine, Sacramento News & Review (for which she served a stint as their primary food reviewer), Eater.com, The Sacramento Bee, and more. She loves Sac’s hot summers and filthy rivers, Masullo’s margherita pizza (with anchovies), Jimboy’s bean and cheese tacos, Gunther’s rocky road and Urban Roots’ Guacamole is Extra.
By this person
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.
Reeling Them In
Local restaurants use Instagram Reels and TikTok to attract customers
Your experience of social media may be as a fun time-waster, an angst-producing FOMO (fear of missing out) machine or the reason you know your Uncle Dennis believes in ancient aliens. But to many restaurant owners, social media is a necessity.
Is It All Good?
Why is ‘good’ such a popular word among brands in the Capital Region and beyond?
Feeling good lately? Does the country, the world, seem good? With
a divided electorate, a multiply indicted candidate, the dregs of
a pandemic swirling through our psyches, and the hottest summer
on record, sometimes it’s hard to find the good.
Gambling on Dining Dollars
Local casinos amp up their food offerings to attract a younger and more diverse clientele
Chris Gibase, president and chief operating officer of Sky River Casino in Elk Grove, goes so far as to assert that Sky River “is a place for foodies.” And the new casino, which opened in August 2022 and is owned by the Wilton Rancheria tribe, isn’t the only local gambling spot that’s placing its bets on food service.
That’s Show Business
The complex economy behind the Capital Region’s thriving local theater scene
COVID-19 exposed the stark realities of the precarious economic state of the theater industry, but even regular theatergoers may not look past the glamour and drama of live theater to the grit, sweat and dollars that go into it.
Women in Leadership: Cindy Petersen
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
As superintendent and CEO of Gateway Community Charters, Dr. Cindy Petersen has grown Gateway Community Charters from a single school in 2003 to nine today, which serve over 5,000 children and employ 700 staff.
Women in Leadership: Leah Burdick
Our annual salute to extraordinary women breaking barriers and rising to the top
As chief growth officer of PRIDE Industries, Leah Burdick connects people with disabilities with resources and ultimately jobs.
Keeping Calm and Carrying On in Sacramento
Are the Capital Region’s British-themed businesses affected by economic volatility in the UK?
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the resignations of two prime ministers and the rapid plummet of the pound, the British economy is more volatile than it’s been in decades. Has the ripple effect reached British businesses on this side of the pond?
Sacramento’s Mexican Restaurants Serve Hometown Memories
Why it pays to sell regional specialties instead of only banking on burritos
Mexican restaurants in the greater Sacramento area span Mexico’s map, going way beyond typical Cali-Mex standards to represent the country’s regional cuisines.
Touchstone Brewing Company Climbs High
A microbrewery opens alongside Sacramento Pipeworks climbing gym
Ryan Campagna is a long-time climber, a home brewer and now, the founder of Touchstone Brewing Company.
On the Fast Track: Dr. Melanie Okoro
Meet 13 young professionals who are on the fast track, bringing new ideas and innovations to the Capital Region
As founder and CEO of Eco-Alpha Environmental and
Engineering Services, Melanie Okoro is focused on being
a leader in her field. Her business
streamlines environmental permitting processes and maintains
electrical systems for large companies in the Capital
Region.
On the Fast Track: Latoya Jackson-Lainez
Meet 13 young professionals who are on the fast track, bringing new ideas and innovations to the Capital Region
With a background in communications, an approachable demeanor and a passion for equity and education, Latoya Jackson-Lainez has found her calling as director of diversity, EEO and Title IX for Sierra College.
Bowls of Dreams
Sacramento ramen shops are keeping fans fed while adapting to market demands
For these chefs, cult followings are built through
next-level broth, experimentation and a healthy dose of
nostalgia.
Ghosts of Chain Restaurants Past
What happens when franchises go out of business — but the branches remain?
We explore the lonely outposts formerly part of a family of franchises. Although they have no corporate parent to provide updated decor or menus, these idiosyncratic restaurants are still well loved by many Sacramentans.
Strange Bedfellows
Business, like politics, brings together unexpected partners
Here are three Capital Region businesses that teamed up with
other creators to build truly local collaborations.
Anh Phoong: The Woman Behind the Billboard
Many Californians know Sacramento-based personal injury lawyer Anh Phoong for her catchy slogan, “Something wrong? Call Anh Phoong!” We gave her a call.