Results tagged “restaurants”

February 5, 2010 10:23 AM

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Since this is the first time I'm interested in the Super Bowl, I'm curious to know who you're rooting for -- and where you're watching the game.

Most of you already have a spot, but just in case you don't, here are a couple of restaurants to consider:

  • Red Caboose Cafe: The pre-game party starts at 1:30 p.m. Your ticket Includes a tri-tip sandwich lunch, an appetizer buffet, soda or tea, and one draft Bud Light or Coors Light.

    Raffle prizes and a Nintendo Wii are part of the party. Advance tickets are $20; tickets at the door are $25. For more info, call (559) 297-9545.

  • And since I'm a Who Dat girl, I couldn't resist telling you about this one: Sequoia Brewing Co. is showing the Super Bowl at both locations with a New Orleans-themed menu: crawfish pasta, jambalaya, shrimp gumbo, fried shrimp, oyster shooters and oyster po-boys.

    There's no cover charge. Call (559) 434-2739 for more information at the North Fresno location, or (559) 264-5521 for the Tower District restaurant.


Joan Obra

February 4, 2010 11:41 AM

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YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Austin's is now going three-day-a-week with the live music at lunch. Starting today, the incomparable Ron Thompson will play during lunch on Thursdays. If you've never seen him, he's great. He also plays every Thursday night at Babylon.

UPDATE, 2/2: Starting today, Austin's live music lunch buffet is expanding to Tuesdays, when you catch Rudy Parris performing 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you like blues guitar, then be sure to check him out. Again, it costs $10 and that access to the lunch buffet and the music upstairs.

Also worth a note for blues fans, Austin's has L.A. band The 44's playing on Friday night. The group was in Fresno a few weeks ago playing MoFo Party Band's 21st anniversary party at Audie's Olympic.

Mike Oz

January 25, 2010 11:28 AM

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A few things on my brain on this came-to-soon Monday morning ...

HOLLYWOODS: The new-look Fresno Yosemite International Airport got some Twitter props from reality TV star/Playmate Holly Madison, who flew in for her appearance at The Den, Tachi Palace's nightclub. She liked the trees. That's her Twitpic -->>>

RED(ZONE)EMPTION? So I went to Red Zone Sports Grill yesterday. This may come as a shock, I know. I got invited to a football-watching party there, which Red Zone had donated for a cancer fundraiser. (That was nice of them). I didn't actually buy anything, so I don't feel like I totally sold out. Not sure I'd go back on my own, but I will say that I had a good time -- and some of the Red Zone grub was tasty.

FIGGA IT OUT: Local show promoter Faddafigga, now infamous on The Beehive for his MySpace meltdown -- warning: all links from here on have NSFW language -- has taken his rants and raves rants to Twitter. Once again, he is taking shots at local musicians. I honestly don't know why bands and other promoters in Fresno put up with this guy.

Mike Oz

January 21, 2010 12:42 PM

Newsroom Cafe, which opened on Kern St. not even a year ago, looks to be shutting its doors in a few weeks. So says this sign in its window, snapped by Bryan Harley:

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Too bad. We're always sad to see a downtown business go.

Mike Oz

January 20, 2010 11:22 AM

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UPDATE: In my column today, Wassabi owner K.C. Choi responds to complaints about the sushi roll names and the urinal in the men's bathroom at the original Wassabi.

For a look at that urinal, scroll to the bottom of this post, and read the accompanying description.

ORIGINAL POST: An interesting letter about the new Wassabi crossed my desk yesterday.

Mary Jo and George Stott of Madera, frequent shoppers at Fig Garden Village, stopped in the new Wassabi and were shocked by the names of some of the sushi rolls.

Click on the image at right to read the whole letter. Here's a snippet: "You can rest assure [sic] that we will not be eating at Wassabi and we will tell all of our friends about this gross restaurant who has moved into an upscale segment of Fig Garden Village only to try to lower its standards by outlandish and vulgar menu titles."

After the jump is a list of names they consider "crude, rude and disrespectful."

Joan Obra

December 8, 2009 4:25 PM

Ever wonder what would happen if the Worst Flier of Week wackness seeped into the world of billboard advertising? Wassabi has given us the answer:

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In fact, there's a bad local flier the billboard brings to mind. Here it is.

Now, I don't know much about Wassabi. I know it's popular. I know it's opening a Fig Garden Village location soon. And I know it has toilets shaped liked lips. But I'll be damned if I didn't see that billboard (it's near Blackstone and Sierra) and immediately think of a cheesy club flier that puts a premium on pretty girls rather than a product.

*There's not actually going to be a Worst Billboard of the Week post every week. In fact, this might be the only one ever.

Mike Oz

December 8, 2009 3:00 PM

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UPDATE: Here's some new info on the closure from Bee reporter Sandy Nax.

ORIGINAL POST: Pizza Fusion -- the Clovis eatery that pushed fresh, organic and Earth-friendly pizzas -- has shut its doors almost a year after it opened.

Mike Scott broke the news over at CBS 47's blog this morning. Bee biz reporter Sandy Nax has been trying to track down more details. Thus far, he reports that the Pizza Fusion location is currently closed (normally it would open at 11 a.m.) and there's no note to indicate what's going on.

I've tried to call over there a couple times this morning as well and got nothing -- not even a voicemail. The Clovis location, at Fowler and Herndon avenues, opened Dec. 16, 2008.

I'd never been to Pizza Fusion, but it was on my list of places-to-try. I've heard and read good things about the food and atmosphere. Guess I should have tried it sooner.

Mike Oz

December 2, 2009 5:54 PM

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The rumor mill kicked up about the future of downtown sports bar Hero's, so I did some sleuthing and here's what I found out:

The downtown sports lounge is closed until Friday, as new ownership takes over and preps for a round of changes.

The restaurant's manager Rochelle Baldwin promises a new staff and lower prices when Hero's re-opens. There will be slight changes to the menu, she says, but the current sports décor will remain.

A new name is on the horizon too -- Austin's Downtown Grill & Sports Lounge. The new owner is Patrick McLenithan, who already owns Austin's Restaurant in Sanger.

Hero's opened on New Year's Eve 2008 on Van Ness Ave. near Inyo St., promising to bring "a little bit of River Park downtown." In September, ownership was split between original owner Robert Williams and Eric Jones, the kitchen manager. Since its opening, Hero's faced a number of complains about shoddy service.

This Saturday's concert with the Eva Scow group Brazilian Jazz Collective will go on as scheduled. It starts at 8 p.m. Cover is $10.

[photo by John Walker / The Fresno Bee]

Mike Oz

November 13, 2009 5:07 PM

I know how much you 'hivers like a bargain, so here's the latest crop of cheap eats:

Pizza Fusion -- until 9 p.m. Sunday
Pizza Fusion has a deal for its e-mail club members until Sunday night. The details: Buy a regular or personal-sized pizza and get a second one free. (The second pizza has to cost the same, or less, than the one you buy. The offer is good for dine in, take out or delivery.)

Interested? Fill out a form at the restaurant or e-mail Pizza Fusion owner Mike Parisi at m.parisi@pizzafusion.com. If you're already part of the club, remember to print out the e-mail with the deal's details. Show it to the cashier or the delivery guy to get your free pizza.

Jamba Juice -- 2-5 p.m. Tuesday
Jamba Juice is giving away its new California flatbreads at participating stores for one afternoon. (Call ahead to make sure your store has 'em.)

There are four flavors. Three of them have really silly names: Tomo Artichoko, MediterranYum, Four Cheesy and Smokehouse Chicken. Warning: Some of the reviews of these breads have been pretty bad.

If you try one, feel free to leave your own review in the comments.

Wahoo's Fish Taco -- Nov. 21
All of Wahoo's locations are celebrating the chain's 21st anniversary by giving away free meals, gift cards, and more. Call the Fresno restaurant for more details.

Joan Obra

November 13, 2009 2:14 PM

The news of Pacific Seafood's upcoming closure has traveled far and fast, and some of you already have contacted me asking for the restaurant's recipes. In addition to the ones for house dressing and sauteed scallops, I also found the clam chowder in our archives.

Apologies for the delay in posting this; I've been tied up testing more Thanksgiving recipes for next week's food section.

Also please note that I have not tested the recipes below. They come straight from The Bee's archives.

Pacific Seafood's house dressing
Makes about 5 cups of dressing

1 cup wine vinegar
4 cups olive oil
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons dry mustard
1-1/2 teaspoons black pepper
2 tablespoons dry tarragon leaves
1 teaspoon salt

Blend the ingredients with a wire whisk until well blended.

This recipe was printed in The Bee on 8/7/1991.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Joan Obra

November 10, 2009 3:18 PM

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If you haven't yet checked out the latest iteration of TasteFresno, please do. This web site aims to celebrate Fresno's diverse food, and it will succeed only if we submit sources for the best local eats.

My favorite idea is the community cookbook. TasteFresno is collecting requests for restaurant dishes from Fresno restaurants. Want to know the recipe for the fish tacos at the latest Guadalajara? Or the lomo saltado at Limón? TasteFresno just might get it for you.

As someone who collects recipes from local chefs for stories, I can tell you firsthand that the bulk of work will be in the editing and the cooking. (Case in point: This week's food section features The Vintage Press Restaurante's Thanksgiving recipes, which had me brushing melted butter on a turkey, drying sourdough croutons in the oven and straining pan drippings for gravy last week.)

So, good luck to the TasteFresno folks as they embark on this endeavor. Here's a recipe to get them (and you) started: the sweet potato fries that Roy Harland used to make at Harland's and Max's.

Joan Obra

November 9, 2009 2:27 PM

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According to the latest restaurant rumor, The Chef's Table is about to shut down.

It's not true, says Mike Shirinian, who owns The Chef's Table and the Elbow Room in Fig Garden Village. Here's what is true: Executive chef Malachi Harland will leave The Chef's Table in 2010. Harland plans to spend some time cooking in Spain, Shirinian says.

That means fans of Harland's cooking should head to The Chef's Table soon for dinner or these events.

After Harland's departure, expect to see some changes at The Chef's Table. Shirinian is staying mum on the details until they're worked out. Stay tuned.

Above: Malachi Harland teaches a cooking class at The Chef's Table. Photo credit: Mark Crosse, The Fresno Bee

Joan Obra

November 3, 2009 1:11 PM

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UPDATE: As promised in this week's food pages, here is the Valley's ultimate guide for the lazy Thanksgiving dinner. These supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and delis allow you to dine out -- or take out the entire meal.

Check out the story for the full list, then browse through the menus below. (I'll add more of them as they become available.) And if you have more places to add, drop them in the comments.

Supermarkets

Joan Obra

October 7, 2009 3:37 PM

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Word of a new sports bar opening in Northwest Fresno has piqued my interest. It's called The Press Box and is supposed to open Oct. 17 with the usual sports bar amenities -- flat screens, sports memorabilia, lots of beer on tap.

The most intriguing part of The Press Box, if you ask me, is a feature that I've never seen at a bar before: A built-in breathalyzer.

According to the press release:

This will also be the only sports bar and restaurant in valley history to feature a public self serve breathalyzer to measure ones blood alcohol content level to aid in the assistance of responsible drinking and driving on those big game days.

Lots of questions: Does it really work? Is it sanitary? At the same time: How many people will go there for the gimmick of it? And it is pretty responsible, right?

So I'm not sure about this one. It's either hella awesome (FTW) or a testimonial about what a bunch of drunkards we are (WTF). Let's hear from you.

Voting Key:
WTF = What the [Fudgesicle], a.k.a. "What are you thinking?"
FTW = For the Win, a.k.a. "That idea is a victory for people everywhere."

Mike Oz

October 2, 2009 9:21 AM

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Apparently Fresno has gotten its fill of Las Vegas-styled nightlife, as Kirk Vartanian announced yesterday that The Edge space would be re-opening -- but not as a nightclub, as a high-end French restaurant.

Here are some details from today's story by George Hostetter of The Bee:

Vartanian said the restaurant will be called Le Rêve -- The Dream, in French -- and will be owned and operated by Marty Krikorian, his nephew. "I'm too busy," Vartanian said. "I don't have time to run a nightclub."


Le Rêve should open in 45 to 90 days, depending on when it receives a state liquor license, Vartanian said.

Vartanian emphasized that Le Rêve, while it will have entertainment, is not a nightclub. He said the restaurant will be suitable for children as well as adults -- "Anyone who wants a high-end meal."

Mike Oz

October 1, 2009 12:23 PM

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With the arrival of National Pizza Month, it's time for us to share our favorite spots for pies or slices.

Are you a fan of Corsaro's in Kingsburg? Luna in Clovis? Mike's Pizzeria in Fresno? Or someplace else?

Tell us what you're eating and where. And watch out for these pizza-related events:

[photo source: zpizza]

Joan Obra

September 24, 2009 12:43 PM

Beer1of1.mi_embedded.prod_affiliate.8.jpgIf you're a beer lover, you'll want to check out my story for a list of fall festivals and events hosted by local brewers. They start this weekend with the Lindsay Brewfest and the Central Valley Craft Brewers' Oktoberfest.


As you well know, these aren't the only places to drink in the Valley. If you have a favorite beer-drinking spot, drop it in the comments -- and tell us what to order.

One place that should make that list is BC's Pizza & Beer in Clovis, where 22 beers are on tap, and about 80 others are in bottles.

Today is a good time to go there: In honor of Guinness' 250th anniversary, BC's is selling a commemorative pint glass filled with your choice of Guinness beers, and a T-shirt for $12. (Skip the T-shirt, and you'll pay $7 for the glass and the beer.)

Also ask BC about the current Oktoberfest special that lasts throughout October: $15 will buy you a T-shirt and a glass filled with your choice of 6-8 German beers. There also are a variety of glasses: a Pilsner glass, a half-liter stein and 20-ounce Oktoberfest glasses.

[photo credit: John Walker, The Fresno Bee]

Joan Obra

September 22, 2009 5:56 PM

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Now that all of the weekend's food events are over, have any of you started on Restaurant Week Fresno?


We have until Oct. 9 to to try the three-course, fixed-price dinners at these restaurants. With prices at $13, $20 and $27, these are some pretty good deals.

It's a great idea, and I'm surprised our restaurants haven't done it before. Restaurant weeks are popular in many other cities, such as San Diego, Philadelphia, Austin, Palm Springs, Baltimore and Chicago.

New York started the trend. Back in 1992, New York restaurants offered three-course lunches for $19.92 during the Democratic National Convention. The meals were popular, and Restaurant Week took off.

As you try the different menus for Restaurant Week Fresno, please leave your thoughts in the comments. Do these menus excite you? Did you feel like the meal was appropriate, given the price? Did you find a dish you loved, or one you didn't care for? What about service and decor?

Hopefully, Restaurant Week Fresno will become an annual event. If you can think of anything that would make our Restaurant Week better, also share your suggestions below.

Joan Obra

September 14, 2009 2:56 PM

File this under British humor: Paul Crudden, a digital strategist in London, is invoicing companies for the time he spends waiting in their lines, shopping in their stores, eating their products and so on. (Check out a sample invoice here.)

And guess what? Some restaurants are paying up or giving him freebies. Pret A Manger paid him £62. Squat + Gobble sent this entertaining letter and a £5 customer loyalty card. He received £15 in vouchers from EAT. And £30 in vouchers from Little Chef.

Of course, he also gets rejections.

Joan Obra

August 31, 2009 10:36 AM

Here's what I did this weekend. Fill us in on your adventures in the comments.

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FRIDAY
- Went to The Met's "Let Them Eat Cake" soiree -- which included hipsters galore, yummy cupcakes, live music and a semi-private opportunity to check out the museum. Saw local band The Aircrash for the first time (I like their energy) and heard a little bit of Rademacher. I also tried my best not to draw the ire of the security guard who tailed everybody in the "I Want Candy" exhibit. For more: Check out Fresno Famous' review.

SATURDAY
- I bought 759 pounds of rocks. If you need to buy a bunch of rocks, and the guy on the corner isn't cutting it, I'd suggest Rosenbalm Rockery -- they gave a rock newbie such as myself excellent service.

Mike Oz

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