Chef Cal DeMercurio of The Old School Restaurant on Pine Street is a local celebrity. On Saturday, he held a cooking class at his restaurant in Redding in preparation for Thanksgiving cooks looking to add a few recipes and skills.
And what an appropriate setting; the Old School Restaurant is located in what used to be the gym for Redding’s Pine Street School. We were able to see the preparation, and taste the results. This sourdough/cheese/balsamic appetizer was sublime. And Cal’s salmon spread, oooh.
Cal Whipped up a winter squash soup, and showed us how to make a ravioli for the centerpiece.
Wine pairings allowed for thoughtful contemplation of an array of flavor notes.
Cal brings the hammer down on a butterflied turkey, and then wraps it around his stuffing mix.
And we eat the results. Yum.
Then it’s time for desert. An eggnog Crème brûlée, a Crème de menthe slice with what seems like Oreo crust. My favorite dish.
We had a great time and met some terrific people in the casual and convivial setting. Cal is a gifted teacher, and we were hungry pupils. Cooking classes like this one are a fantastic opportunity to expand your culinary knowledge. Moreover, thanks to websites like CocuSocial finding cookery classes in your area has never been easier. No matter what you would like to learn about, there is sure to be a cookery class that covers what you need to know. Anyway, I’ve posted about Cal’s cooking skills at this blog before. We heard about this event from Cal and his e-mail newsletter. You should be on his list. Highly recommended. The Old School Restaurant serves up the Culinary Arts. It’s Really Redding.
Kobe opens! A few quick images.
Coolest/hottest new restaurant in Redding. We welcome Kobe and wish them great success! The only thing more delicious than these images is actually eating there.
In addition to the flaming Teppanyaki cuisine sampled here, you can order up artistic sushi with a good selection of Sake. Menu and more at the website for Kobe Seafood and Steakhouse. Lunch: 12:00 pm – 2:30pm 7 Days a week. Dinner : 5:00pm ~ 9:30 pm Sun-Thu, 5:00pm ~ 10:00pm Fri-Sat. Located at 1300 Market Street at the corner of Shasta Street. (530)244-1440.
It’s Really Redding.
Nick's Bella Vista Grill
Nick’s Grill in Bella Vista looks like an ordinary roadside food stop. Directly on Hwy 299E.
They have all the regular food one might expect. And great coffee. Really, much better coffee than you might expect. But that’s not why we’re here.
Hot pastrami sandwich nirvana. That’s what I’m talkin’ about! This is why you go to Nick’s.
Nick’s Bella Vista Grill, Hwy 299E, in the heart of beautiful Bella Vista CA.
(old) Brick’s Smokehouse BBQ & Grille, on 1718 Placer in Redding
Note: Brick’s is still going strong, but has moved since this post first ran.
There’s a new BBQ joint in town, Brick’s Barbecue and Smokehouse, on Placer just east of Court Street. Longtime Redding folks will recall this as the old Between the Bun restaurant.
You’ll be enchanted by the smell before anything else. They cook with fragrant smoke.
Looks like a family affair. Here’s owner Mike, with his son Dakota.
The kitchen is super clean. The food is terrific and plentiful. We’ll probably be regulars here, and expect they will do well.
Co-owner Solange showed off her lovely Valentine’s nails for fun. Best wishes to this fledgling family business!
Brick’s Smokehouse BBQ & Grille, 1718 Placer can be reached at (530) 245 9158
Fatboys BBQ in Redding
Fatboy’s Rotisserie in Redding is on Twin View Blvd. They have a great selection of barbeque and more, and 12 beers on tap.
The food is tasty and served in very generous portions. The pulled pork is my favorite. You can add all kinds of condiments to suit your taste.
They have a meeting room area too, as seen below, with a flat screen TV. Barbeque and beer. What’s not to like?
Fatboys Rotisserie and Sandwiches 829 Twin View Blvd Redding, CA 96003 (530) 244-7754 It’s Really Redding.
Esperanza's Tamales
Esperanza and Luis sell their Tamales at the Farmer’s Market in Redding. A yummy tamal in the morning makes the rest of the day go well (just $2). They have beef, pork, chicken, and a veggie version. All good. We like them all. You can get their salsa, and put on red or green sauce, and sour creme even. Delicious. Then, take home a half dozen or so fresh ones for dinner later (just $10). Steam them up, and wow. Wow.
As an aside, Redding based Esperanza Tamales only sells at Farmer’s markets. While they would like to have a storefront operation, they just don’t have the means to put that together. Hmm. Maybe you have an empty storefront in town. You’re not alone. There’s about a million square feet of empty commercial space in Redding. Maybe you could make these folks a deal. Low startup, moving to a better net as they build. Could be a better option for your other tenants than just another marijuana collective. Or maybe a good addition to an otherwise vacant strip mall. These tamales generate traffic. Just ask the other vendors at the Farmer’s Market. They all eat here. Call Esperanza (530) 222 8541 if this idea started some gears moving in your mind.
I’d eat there.
Really Redding
Pat Karch Band at Sundial Bridge Cafe photos
We went for a walk to the River Trail yesterday evening, down from Hilltop, a nice short cardio walk. We didn’t know there was a band playing. Approaching from the north side, we could hear Pat’s unmistakable keyboard licks from a mile away. I knew who it was after just the first few bars. Pat Karch is an awesome player.
Joe Catanio joins the trio to sing the standards. Pat is such an amazing player. Even though his singing and keyboard chops are so overwhelming, he is the kind of player who brings out the best in others around him. That’s why he plays in so many bands around here. Talent and class, the rarest combination in musicianship. Plus he’s really nice. A true Redding treasure. Upright bass player Bruce Calin, and percussionist Bobby Viramontes laid down the the groove nicely. They showed their skills and fit the bill.
Then a leisurely stroll back to the bridge brings the color.
What a great evening stroll. The river-cooled air carried waves of jazz aloft, and was perfume for all the senses. Does it get any better than this? Did I mention they are playing there again tonight?
It don’t mean a thing if it aint got that swing. The bridge was totally swingin’.
JW's Big Weenie inserted into Bug Museum
Longtime readers will recall this was once the home of Redding’s only Bug Museum. No more.
Owner/Chef Diane displays the completely renovated, and eat-off-the-floor kitchen. No bugs here. It’s bigger than I remember inside the diminutive galley.
Menu please. Mlle. de Joie pondered this for a while. Oops sorry, wrong blog. Ahem. Alongside handwritten daily specials, the expansive regular menu reveals that the venerable tube steak has been taken to soaring new culinary heights. No wine list, but hey, what’s that down there towards the bottom? “Tiger’s Blood” flavored Snow Cones. Well okay then. That sounds Redding enough.
OMG the #6 tasted every bit as good as it looks. Exquisite. Delightful. Must…stop…at…one……argh!
Ah, but I wax nostalgic for our lost Bug Museum and the cheaper gasoline prices back then. It was a true Redding original. Driven out of business by a jealous Turtle Bay Museum, no doubt. Still, this new destination restaurant for discerning diners awaits the gourmet palates of our community. It seems likely that JW’s Big Weenie will rise to…no. No! Bad Blogger. No more weenie double entendres. You are better than that. Anyway JW’s Big Weenie comes highly recommended.
JW’s Big Weenie is located at 1100 Hartnell, just east of the 4 Corners at Churn Creek Road. Call 222 2417.
Ruby's "We'll fetch your lunch!" startup brings on the flavor
I ran into foody entrepreneur Cheryl Gomes yesterday on her daily delivery run. Her lunch delivery business is named after her dog Ruby. She will bring you lunch if you call or e-mail her before 7:30 am that day. She takes special care in her preparation to make sure sandwiches don’t arrive soggy. Cheryl is a treat on her own, and her delivery is sure to brighten your day and satisfy your lunchtime needs. Call her at (530) 921 1587, or e-mail her at rubysdish@gmail.com. Highly recommended!
Where the rubber meets the track on Kool April Nites
Hope to see you at Kool April Drags this evening, and over the rest of the weekend. The weather is supposed to be perfect.
I’m only a casual fan, but I run their website. This event is their biggest of the year, and with dueling jet cars after dark, no less. Definitely worth coming out. They’ve made a lot of track improvements.
This is oldest continuously operating dragstrip in the US. A longtime Redding tradition.