Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

Oh Ginger Elizabeth...you make it REALLY hard to pass you by without walking in. Especially when you (really don't) need a little dessert to top off your huge dinner.

Oh hello, macarons! I think I'll take one of each.

See that heaping pile of chocolate bark at the top center? One of those is milk chocolate with roasted almonds, hazelnuts (my favorite) and pistachios. You had me at hazelnuts..the chocolate is really just an added bonus.

Not to mention, Ginger Elizabeth also has a small espresso bar. The hot chocolate isn't too shabby either, although I do prefer a steaming cup of java.

From L to R: Chocolate ganache, hibiscus strawberry jam, and salty caramel.

Ginger Elizabeth is located in midtown at 1801 L St. #60 in Sacramento.

Paesanos (Midtown Sacramento)

Last night, my younger sister celebrated her birthday with a few friends at Paesanos in midtown. The restaurant was packed! If it hadn't been for the reservations we made earlier in the day, we might have had to wait a good thirty to forty-five minutes to be seated. The service was fabulous and quite speedy, considering the hustle and bustle in this place. 

Told you it was packed!

Daily specials

I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've eaten at Paesanos without ordering the polenta fries.

My dish - Modena di Balsamico: Angel hair pasta with seared chicken, sun dried tomatoes and basil in a balsamic reduction topped with pine nuts and parmesan. Thought I'd go for a lighter dish this time, as opposed to the many creamy dishes on their menu.

Pad Thai: Rice noodles with egg, tofu, bean sprouts, napa cabbage, spicy thai sauce, crushed peanuts and cilantro.

Mushroom Ravioli: Goat cheese, basil, garlic, sherry cream sauce.

Spicy Creole: Linguine, chicken, andouille sausage, tasso ham, shrimp, spicy creole sauce.

Happy Birthday, sis! xoxo.

Red Rabbit Kitchen and Bar

This past Saturday, my best friends and I decided to knock another restaurant off the list- Red Rabbit. The restaurant, which is located on 28th and J, is fairly new and opened in early 2012. It was St. Patrick's Day weekend, so needless to say, the restaurant (and J street in general) was packed with green everywhere. 

 Their current menu...so much goodness to choose from!

Butternut squash polenta squares with sauteed wild mushrooms, red onion confit, brie and balsamic gastrique.

Loco Moco: Fried egg, local brown rice, caramelized onions, bacon chorizo burger patty, andouille sausage and mushroom gravy.

The Healer: Hand cut pappardelle pasta, brussel sprouts, bacon, sage pesto and poached egg.

We ended up splitting a dessert - the Sweet & Salty Candy Bar Pie with a pretzel crust, salted caramel, peanut butter cream and valrhona dark chocolate ganache. Who can say no to caramel, peanut butter and chocolate all in one? 

It just so happened that we both wore green!