Cafe Carmel~ Coffee Excellence in Carmel $-$$

Dennis and I LOVE Carmel. We go here at least once a year…mostly on our wedding anniversary, sometimes for a car race. We love the quaint town, amazing food, the people and of course the cars! We usually stay just off of Ocean Drive…the main street of Carmel proper. Ocean Drive is packed full of delicious restaurants, boutiques, people with their dogs and exotic cars.
In the mornings, we stroll over to Cafe Carmel Coffee House for a fantastic mocha and a breakfast item.  That is one of the fantastic things about Carmel, everything is within walking distance. Stroll along its tree and flower lined streets, greet locals with their fur babies and step into Cafe Carmel for something warm to drink and tasty to eat.

Here’s the information to find this fab place when your down there.

The Cafe Mocha! Hot, chocolate-y goodness with flair. This is the creamiest, chocolatey mocha and I have ever had and is one of my favorites!

Breakfast burrito with bacon and avocado! So delicious! One burrito is enough for 2 people. It’s huge! Burrito is under $12!

  Éclair~

Carmel Coffee does salads, soups, sandwiches, desserts, ice cream and much more! This is truly one of my favorite coffee places in Carmel. Forget Starbucks (although, I do love you Starbucks), get a fantastic coffee and pastry and sit in the window to watch exotic cars and pooches go by. I love Carmel and can’t wait to return!

For more information on this fantastic place: Click Here

Blue Nami~ Japan meets Roseville $$

I love sushi. Plain and simple. Blue Nami is located off of Eureka Road and Rocky Ridge in Roseville. Don’t let the exterior fool you. Walk through its doors and you are in for a treat.  You are greeted by twinkle lights and a friendly staff (I’m a sucker for twinkle lights). Some days when we walk in, there are hundreds of origami swans hanging from the ceiling. The atmosphere really sets the mood for the place. Atmosphere is just as important to me as food…well, almost as important. Dimly lit, twinkle lights; it’s a wonderful place for a date.

Dennis and I went here the other night and sat at the sushi bar. Usually we sit at a table, but I must confess, if it’s just you two, I recommend the sushi bar. It is so much fun to watch the sushi chefs create beautiful rolls.

I just love the menus. Dark leather with gold print. You know you’re in for a treat.

This is our view from our seats. Look at all the yummy fish!

You can fill out this form and hand it to your waiter. Quick and easy!

After we ordered, our appetizer arrived. Broccoli with a delish dressing on it. It was a nice change from edamame

The gentleman next to us bought us scallop sake shooters. This little babies are only $2 each and are super yummy. Little spicy but so tasty!

      

Here we have Yellowtail & Salmon nigiri. Buttery and sweat to the palette. Both Yellowtail & Salmon are $5.50.

Here are our beautiful rolls! We like to order off the 50% off menu. Yes, you read correctly…50% menu!

Micky roll: $6.50

Kauai: $6.50

Yummy Yummy: $5.50

I have to admit, I have not tried anything past the house rolls page (half off menu), but I know there is more delicious items to try. I always like to observe other tables and see what they have ordered. Dishes here are a work of art. And for the non-sushi eaters, they have a pretty mean bento box! Loaded with lots of food, you won’t leave hungry. I enjoy the presentation of the food, the freshness of the fish and the romantic atmosphere. It can be a little noisy sometimes, but hey, the secret is out that Blue Nami is a great place to eat. This place good give Mikuni’s a run for there money.

For more information: Click Here

Stay tuned: Dennis and I are going to “tour” local sushi hot spots and rate them! If you have any suggestions for local sushi hot spots, let me know!

Milos~ $

Milos Grill is located in the center of the food court at Roseville Galleria. Not only can you experience premier shopping, but premier food! Milos is amazing! It’s not mall food! Honestly, this is my favorite place to go for Greek food. Inexpensive, delicious and fabulous! Plus, they have my favorite beer on tap…Blue Moon. And yes, they serve it with an orange slice. Even the beer is affordable: a 16oz is $3 and and the large (which oz it is, I can’t remember) is $5! For $2 dollars more, you get a large beer!

I don’t have a photo of it, but they have some pretty amazing Greek salads and garlic fries. The garlic fries rival that of Gordon Biersch. The salad is loaded with lamb gyros, kalamata olives, tomatoes, peppercinis, onions and flavor!

Lamb Gyro with small Blue Moon: $12

  Another shot of the fab Lamb Gyro

The down side to visiting this location is that it is located in the heart of the food court. So that means noisy! I have to admit though, as soon as you sink your teeth into the Lamb Gyro, all the noise seems to melt away. After your dinner, walk off your meal by shopping the mall. This place may be inexpensive, but it has 5 star flavor!

For more information on their menu and other locations: Click Here

Michaelangelo’s @ Barton Art Gallery $$$

This charming little bistro is located at 1725 I Street in downtown Sacramento. It shares the building with a gallery. The menu is made up of traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist added. Items can be made gluten free or vegan if so desired. This little bistro is a cozy, romantic place to take your loved one to on a special date. Brick walls, candle light, good wine and amazing food makes this place a charming place to eat. It is a little on the spendy side, but it’s about the experience. After dinner, stroll the local galleries or do some shopping at the quaint boutiques just a couple of streets over. This cute little place also has a lunch menu if you are in the area around noon.

The first time I went here, it was in December and I had ordered a fantastic Beef Tenderloin ($22). While a little on the expensive side, the chef had done wonders with this meat. It was so tender and juicy! Cooked medium rare, it was perfection!

Bruschetta Pomodoro ($9)

Beef Tenderloin with veggies

  Polermo ($10)

Tiramisu ($7)

One tip to eating at this bistro: Go there on the weekends with reservations. The second time we had eaten here, it was during the weekdays and there was a different chef. Let me tell you, the secondary chef is not nearly as good as the weekend chef.

For more information: Michelangelo’s Website

Source~ A Global Tapas Experience $$-$$$

The Source $$-$$$~ what can I say? This place is magical! I love Spain and everything that is Spain, which includes their amazing food and drinks. The Source is one of a couple of Tapas restaurants located in the Sacramento-Roseville area (the other being Tapa the World~ I will be going here soon. Tapa is located downtown on J street). The Source is located at the Quarry Ponds (Granite Bay's attempt at the Fountains). Aside from that, the restaurant is amazing. I know, I already said that...but it is!
Source

This fab eatery posts an authentic atmosphere of Spain with a modern twist. There is a nice patio area where you can enjoy your Spanish food with a beautiful view of the Quarry Pond which looks like a small lake. It's so serene. I have only been here for lunch and enjoyed its charming atmosphere. I can only imagine how romantic it would be in the evening. Ok, on to the food...

I enjoyed a lovely glass of Sangria

 Stuffed California Dates Pintxos ($7.50) This

is amazing. So much so, that we ordered a 2nd

helping. The dates are sweet, the bacon is

juicy plus there are a few more delectables

awaiting inside this delicious tapa.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus ($4.50) 

Jamon Serrono Milenum ($16.50)

This is special ham from Spain. It is melt in your

mouth goodness that you don't want to miss. It's 

paired with honeydew melon here.  

Spanish Tapa Sampler Plate ($22.50)

This plate comes with Chorizzo (yes, that belongs to

Spain and not Mexico), kalamata olives grown in Spain,

Manchego Cheese (goat cheese that is so smooth),

and few other nibbles. 

The Source has tapas from all over the world, but they mainly focus on Spain. This place can be a little spendy if your not careful, but trust me...it is worth every penny! This is a wonderful place for a light lunch, a romantic date or just to get outside. I will definitely go back.

One more thing...on Wednesdays, they have a special meal deal for Paella with a beer or Sangria. I would love to try that out.

Yard House...A Roseville Gem $$$

Last night we ate at the Yard House. I know, you're thinking "You're blogging about a chain restaurant?" I know...it's still new to the area and we don't have any others around town so it doesn't count yet. One of our goals with this blog is to not eat at chain restaurants. We want to highlight the unique food places around town. The Yard House is located at the Fountains in Roseville. The Foutains is a fabulous place to find good food, desserts, shopping and more. With the warmer weather now here, they have Friday Night Fairs, car shows, crafts and every Tuesday they have a farmer's market. What a great place to go.

 $$$

The Yard House is THE place to go for beer. They boast over 128 beers on tap! Their food is no slouch either. I caution you, this place can add up fast. The appetizers are fantastic as are the main courses. I have not had dessert here, but if it's anything like their food, I can imagine it's pretty darn good. http://www.yardhouse.com/Default.aspx 

Here is a shot of the bar. That is a LOT of taps. They

also make excellent mixed drinks too if you are not

feeling a beer.

This shot is of Pear Cider ($6.50) and Leinenkugel ($6.25)

Roasted Tomato and Garlic Hummus (not on the menu,

at least on their website) is around $7. I didn't pay for this

one so I can't tell you for sure.

This is the Ahi Crunchi salad. It was amazing! Slightly

spicy, but super Delicious. ($15.95)

Grilled Pastrami Sandwich with string fries ($10.95)

Dennis had this and said it was absolutely fabulous. Packed

with lots of flavor.

So with the tip, our dinner was $50. That was for 2 beers, seared ahi salad and a pastrami sandwich. Kind of spendy, but it was very delicious. It's also an experience. It is really something to see all beers on tap. The one draw back to this place is it's kind of loud. But, the service is good, the food is amazing and all the beers! Definitely worth the try and I will go back.

The Place...A New Roseville Find $$

Hi, my name is Cori and my husband is Dennis. We love finding new and fabulous places to eat. We love food and we love eating food. So this blog is dedicated to that love. This is our first post. I am so excited. So with that said, I introduce to you our first find...

Tonight, and every Tuesday in May, June and July, Roseville hosts the Tuesday Night Market. This market boasts hot rods, good eats and shopping, plus people watching. Well, this Tuesday night, Dennis and I ventured out to scope out the cars and see what we could find for dinner. As we meandered past the food vendors, we spotted The Place. I have seen this place as I have driven past it on my way to where ever. It was under construction for a good while and then...it opened.

 $$

The Place, if you couldn't tell from their logo is an Italian restaurant. The restaurant is nestled amongst quaint shops on Vernon Street. The inside of The Place reminds me of a wine cellar. The menu ranges from pizza, calzones to traditional pasta dishes with a modern twist. The Place makes their own bread, has a full bar and their kitchen is in view of the public so you can witness the magic that happens here. Their pizzas are wood fired in an oven and are available all day until the fresh dough runs out. Here is their website for more information! http://www.thatlittleitalianplace.com/thatlittleitalianplace.com/ThePlace.html

We began our our meal with some ice tea ($2). Generic, I know, but this tea was REALLY good! Plus I loved what they did with the lemons! Look at the cute little cup for the sugar!

 Lemon wedge had designs cut into it!

We began our meal with Bruschetta bandiera ($7) and my goodness

this was so fabulous! Fresh avocado, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil

and of course, cheese! It was toasted to perfection! Seriously, the best

bruschetta I have ever had! And we had it in Italy too!

 Savor the goodness!

For dinner, we ordered the Salsciccia ($15), a pizza dish.

Thin crust pizza with Italian sausage, sweet caramelized

onions, garlic chili oil. It was perfect to share.

And last, but certainly not least, we had dessert...tiramisu ($7).

There are no words to describe how amazing this dish was.

Fluffy, light, creamy, chocolaty. Need I say more?

The price...I know you're thinking...wow! Expensive dinner. Two ice teas, an appetizer, a pizza and a dessert: $33. The Place is a great place to go on a date and not break the bank. I will definitely be back!