CA
5 Reasons For a Culinary Group Tour
1. Do you have a Family/Class Reunion in the near future?
So, you have your family in town for little Bobby’s graduation and the ceremony lasts 3 hours. And you have 3 more days with your relatives. What are you going to do? You’ve gone bowling, hiking and seen 4 movies. I have a fabulous idea: FOOD TOUR! Walking out in the fresh air, learning about history and (the best of all!) EATING! Nothing brings families closer together than food. Meeting chefs and owners of local restaurants and tasting delicious food is a perfect way to spend the day with the ones your love. Showcasing your hometown (or destination for that matter) is a fabulous way to spark conversation and open up discussions about local food and agriculture. And Uncle Fred can’t complain if you are feeding him right?!
2. It's your turn to plan a Girls Day Out?
I cannot tell you how often I stop and look at my day planner and say to myself, “it’s been too long since I’ve seen my girlfriends.” If you are anything like me- work seems to get in the way of everything! Sit down, email your girls and carve out a day to meet up. The rule is--- no one can cancel. You won’t be sorry you did this. There is nothing better than getting together with the women that know you best and experiencing the behind the scenes of the culinary world. (cocktail tastings also make life fabulous!) Catching up with your friends, tasting amazingly delicious food and walking around beautiful settings--- adds up to being the most perfect of days. Book Club, Bible Study Group, Red Hat Society, Cooking Club, Travel Club.....bring all your girlfriends and let Local Roots take care of the rest! Need More Reasons? Click Here!
This could be my favorite time of year. The weather warming up, the trees starting to bloom and best of all... my mouth watering at the new, fresh produce. With that being said, I have compiled a list of some ‘foodie’ events happening in California in April. Get your calendars ready and put a bib on. If you love food, wine and fun- this list of events is for you. Enjoy! (Blogger- Bethany Woy)
Sacramento Turn Verein Bockbier Festival- April 5: 6pm-12am, April 6: 3pm-12am
Tickets: Adult $20, Children under 12 $5
Turn Verein Hall- 3349 J Street, Sacramento
http://stvbockbierfest2013-zvents.eventbrite.com/
A traditional bockbier is a strong dark beer usually brewed around Christmas or the Spring. Well, it’s that time of year ladies and gentlemen! The celebration kicks off the first week in April and will take place at the historic (and beautiful) Turn Verein hall here in Sacramento. The festival will showcase the authentic Bockbier from Germany, traditional German music from local bands and delicious, mouth-watering food. Special performances of traditional German dances will be performed during both days. An amazing, educational and best of all delicious way to spend the weekend!
Festa di Vino- April 6: 6:30pm-10pm
Tickets: Adult $45
Scottish Rite Masonic Center-6151 H Street Sacramento
http://festadivino.com/
Music. Dancing. Live auction. And best of all... FOOD. A lot of food.
This tasty event and will be showcasing over 20 local restaurants and 20 local wineries. Some of our local favorites (Ambrosia Cafe, Blackbird Kitchen & Bar, Firestone Bar- truly the list goes on and on) will be contributing at the event. A true celebration of food and wine. Right up my alley.
Sacramento Beer and Chili Festival - April 6: 1pm-4pm
Tickets: Adult $35 pre-order, $40 day off
Fremont Park- 1515 Q Street, Sacramento
http://sacramentobeerandchilifestival.com/
Sacramento Artists Council in partnership with the Grid Agency and Dad’s Kitchen is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Beer and Chili Festival. I don’t know about you but when I hear chili and beer as a combination my mouth instantly starts to water. The pair just seem to go so well: like peanut butter and jelly. The Festival is a fundraiser for The Sacramento Artists Council and raises money for art programs that help at-risk children, children of homeless families and fund adopt a school art programs for Sacramento schools. Not only will you have your fill of delicious beer and chili, the money for the event goes to an amazing cause. You can feel like you’ve helped the community while gorging yourself! My kind of event! The festival will begin with a chili cook off competition (industry and individual) and unlimited beer tastings provide by local breweries. (Mad River Brewing, Lost Coast and Speakeasy Ales--- just to name a few!)
Sierra Foothills Food and Wine Bus Tour- April 14: 10:30am- 2:30pm
Tickets: Adult $69,
Newcastle, California
http://localrootsfoodtours.com/farm-tours/
Wouldn’t you love to take the back roads through the beautiful California olives trees, vineyards and fruit farms? Want to know how vineyards can tell when it’s time to pick their grapes or how to grow the best tomatoes? We are so fortunate to live in the “Farm to Fork Capital of America”. Now is time to jump on board the Local Roots Food Tours Culinary Passport bus and explore the cornucopia of agriculture. Tickets include: transportation in a 14 passenger executive bus, a 4 hour bus ride with stops at independent farms, local vineyards and a local produce market. A trained local guide ready to showcase their knowledge of the area. Hands-on, one on one access, from owners of the farms, orchards and vineyards. A catered 4 COURSE GOURMET LUNCH (what a deal!) and a reusable Local Roots Food Tours shopping bag. Can you say amazing weekend?! Don’t you want to be able to get to know this area of California a little better? This is the way to do it! Click for more events!
Gourmet on ‘K’ Culinary Walking Tour is everything gourmet along one of Sacramento’s most historical areas. Tour participants will be guided down Sacramento’s original main street exploring the beautiful architecture with many stories dating back to the mid 1800?s. Learn stories along the walking route such as how Sutter selected the area along Front and K streets to harvest lumber for his fort and how the famed street became the premier location for department stores, theaters and hotels. Even locals will enjoy this culinary excursion, enlightening their views of the most controversial street in Sacramento.
Sacramento has recently been named the “Farm to Fork Capital of the Nation” by Mayor Kevin Johnson. K Street is seeing an urban revitalization with more and more empty storefronts becoming filled with excellent foodie establishments along with some local dive bars that boast locally produced ingredients on their menus. Join Local Roots Food Tours as they share with their participants what’s “hot” on local farm to table cuisine by experiencing up to 6 different stops along “Downtown on Kay”. Click to continue reading!
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Wondering where to go to explore Northern California’s excellent food and wine scene? Get out your maps and chart your foodie course.....October is filled with some delicious venues and fun adventures!
It’s a Hoes Down Festival!! Full Belly Farm, Yolo County, CA
October 6 & 7, 2012 MAIN FESTIVAL: Saturday, October 6, 2012 11am - 11 pm Admission Prices: Adults: $20 each when purchased online; $25 when purchased at the gate, Children (2-12): $5 each anytime! Under 2: Free
Saturday Night Camping: $25 per car- no reservations are needed!
No dogs allowed - service animals are welcome!
Sunday Celebration, October 7, 2012
Please note: The main festival day and a majority of the activities occur on Saturday, October 6. Specialized Hands-On Seminars on a variety of subjects. Pre-registration is required. www.hoesdown.org
Sonoma County Harvest Fair
October 5-7, 2012 A celebration of the local harvest featuring three full days of wine tasting with 150+ wineries, wine sales, marketplace, chef demonstrations and workshops, farm and harvest agricultural activities for children and adults, the World Championship Grape Stomp, live music, an art show and sale, crafters pavilion, farm animals to meet, and much more. Make plans to join us and taste the best of Sonoma County! 12-7pm Friday, 10-7pm Sat & Sunday www.harvestfair.org
19th Annual Calaveras Grape Stomp, Murphys, CA
October 6th, 2012 9:30am - 5:00pm Murphys Community Park.
25 pounds of wine grapes freshly picked, a half wine barrel fitted with a spout, a partner and you. More than 100 teams throughout the state and beyond compete each year to vie for the prestigious 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards. Click to continue!
Take part in Local Roots Food Tours; "Walk This Way" Ticket Promotion!
The hot temps are dissipating and cooler temperatures are ahead.....are you looking for Things To Do in Sacramento? Trying to get away from the city and exploring the foothills? Come join our culinary walking food tours and enjoy the wonderful walk!
Ticket sales are thru September 29th: Buy an adult ticket to one of our 3 food & cultural walking tours in Sacramento or Murphys and receive $15.00 off each adult ticket price. Tour ticket NEEDS TO BE USED BY SEPTEMBER 30th, 2012. Use code: "WALK" to receive discount. No other additional discounts apply. Each ticket price includes all food, drinks, trained culinary concierge and taxes.
Enjoy a day out eating, drinking, laughing, learning, exploring and most importantly WALKING through beautiful neighborhoods and off the beaten path streets on one of our 3 hour walking tour routes. A unique outing that will tantalize your tastebuds, stir your mind and wake up your senses! Click to learn more!
Eat. Walk. Talk. Can you repeat after me? Eat. Walk. Talk.
Exploring your palate while learning history, culture and meeting chefs and artisan shop owners all in a 3 hour foodie adventure is becoming the tour attraction to be on in Northern California. Trends come and go with food but the following walking food tours are blossoming with hungry tour participants being led in every direction to great food, great fun and great friends. Walking food tours take participants behind the scenes and into hidden gem restaurants and shops that offer tastings to temp your taste buds.
Top 8 Northern California Food Tours:
1. Local Roots Food Tours - Sacramento, California
Local Roots Food Tours is Sacramento's only food touring company which offers 5 different types of walking food and cultural tours as well as farm tours in and around Sacramento, California. Voted #1 Tour in Sacramento in 2011-2012! http://www.localrootsfoodtours.com; 1-800-407-8918 Tours offered Tuesdays thru Saturdays - Tours run year round.
2. Gourmet Walks - San Franciso, CA
Gourmet walks takes individuals on 4 different types of culinary tour routes; one being offered in Napa Valley, CA. Chocolate tour? You bet! Sneek inside the world of Japan World in San Fran and see what you have been missing! http://www.gourmetwalks.com
3. Santa Cruz & Capitola Food Tours - Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz is a mecca for foodies....great mom and pop venues along with some great beer! Fun city, fun people and lots of recreation..what more could you ask for except a tour around town eating, walking and talking! Traveling beyond Santa Cruz, one must visit Capitola down the road and share in some excellent cuisine. Voted #1 Tour in Santa Cruz. http://www.santacruzfoodtour.com Click to continue!
Wine, Wine, Wine! (by Bethany Woy)
It used to be quite a process to organize a trip to Wine Country, plan out which wineries you wanted to try, find someone willing to be your designated driver and check times and availability at each winery. With the growing trend of wine tasting happening not only in California but also all over the United States, tasting rooms have been popping up all over the place. A typical tasting room is operated by a winery (usually in a vineyard) where bottling, production and shipping take place. Some wineries operate multiple tasting rooms in different cities. Sometimes smaller wineries join together in a single tasting room so they may showcase their product.
If you’ve never attended a wine tasting at a tasting room: Please do. It’s an amazing experience. I know wine tasting can be an overwhelming thing and sometimes wine gets a bad wrap because people think it can be pretentious. I promise you it’s not. Make it a hobby! It’s fascinating the amount of time the wine making process is and it’s a beautiful science. You can so quickly get in touch with your palette and food will start tasting different! And desserts! Pairing wine and food can be so much fun!
What should you be looking for in a wine while you are tasting? Here are the basics: Click to learn more!
Come enjoy the finest wine and food in gorgeous Murphys, CA! Aptly named “Queen of the Sierras”, and one of Sunset magazine’s Top Ten Coolest Small Towns, Murphys is a superb destination for fine dining and wine tasting, and this tour shows you the best of both worlds. Stroll along 1800’s-era Italian brick and stone buildings where talented chefs and vintners now produce their mouth-watering dishes and award-winning vintages.
Our 3-hour tour includes up to 9 stops at the best restaurants and shops. You’ll eat unique dishes made from fresh, locally-sourced produce & taste fabulous, locally-made wines. Click to learn more!