Armed with craft supplies, writing utensils and fond food memories, attendants at Saturday’s “Kitchen Diaries” event, the third in a series of four Food Talks held at Cafe Bernardo, set about creating their own “cookbook journals:” keepsakes meant to preserve and honor the recipes and culinary experiences that shape us. Author and writing coach Janice Kelley, along with illustrator and art instructor Joy Gee, guided the group through the writing and crafting process. Kelley began the workshop by engaging participants in a writing exercise meant to stimulate their creative writing skills as well as their memories. “One of my favorite things to do is help people tell their stories,” Kelle

Two East Sacramento restaurants with Mediterranean roots – Gönül's J Street Cafe and Formoli's Bistro – are trading places this month. Gönül's will be the first to open in its new location. After eight years near the corner of 39th and J streets, owner Gönül Blum will open just six blocks away at 3260 J St. on Wednesday. In about two weeks, chef Aimal Formoli and wife Suzanne Ricci will reopen their restaurant in Blum's former space at 3839 J St. Blum first made an offer to switch locations with the couple two years ago because she wanted to downsize her restaurant. "I have way too much room that I don't use," Blum said. "I just wanted something cozy." With the move, Blum's restaurant

Sacramento's growing food scene is being documented by an expanding community of local food bloggers. The city and surrounding area have at least 30 blogs dedicated to two things all its residents have in common: food and eating. Foodies can find blogs dedicated to cooking and eating locally, frugally, gluten-free or raw. There are also people who concentrate on baking, desserts, finding the best burger or even hunting and gathering ingredients. "The world of food blogging is fascinating because there are so many camps," said Awake at the Whisk blogger Amber Stott. "There are people who just do recipes. Then you've got people like Munchie Musings – she does a lot of restaurant reviews.

Foodies were out in full force Wednesday when executive chef Michael Tuohy of Grange Restaurant & Bar kicked off his personalized farmers market tours for the season. Follow The Chef tours are led each week at the farmers market in downtown’s Cesar Chavez Plaza, across from the restaurant at 926 J St. The markets – and the tours – run from May through October. A wet winter has delayed some crops, including certain stone fruits. But Tuohy and Grange Executive Sous Chef Brad Cecchi found strawberries, asparagus, snap peas and more when they took 11 people there in the morning. Tuohy started the tours two years ago to inspire Sacramentans to buy locally at farmers markets and to help bring

Before the events of this weekend were overtaken by Sunday night's historic news of Bin Laden's assassination, and then immediately by this morning's local news of the Maloofs' decision not to leave for Anaheim (yet), this weekend was already pretty great. Downtown and Midtown were bumpin' all weekend. I spent a lot of it on my bike, morning, noon and night, and I was not alone. I felt like I was in Sacramento future. But in fact, I was in Sacramento NOW. Despite terrible news early last week - Sacramento's job market is clearly, measurably the worst in the country, our new budget may have to cut public safety in a way we've never done, and our air quality is Top 10 worst in the nation -

Six chefs. Five secret ingredients. Three dishes. Forty-five minutes. While hundreds watch. That's what's happening Friday when the Celebrity Chef Challenge by InAlliance takes place in Sacramento. Half a dozen local chefs will compete in this Iron Chef-style cook-off that raises money to help people with developmental disabilities. The nonprofit's ninth annual chef challenge will be much more spontaneous than other types of cooking contests because no one will know what the secret ingredients are until minutes before the event begins. The chefs are planning to have a good time in this friendly competition. "It's going to be fun," said Evan's Kitchen owner Evan Elsberry. "We're going to

"It’s about a wood-burning oven, which will make so much more than pizzas," claimed Mary Kimball, executive director of the Center for Land-Based Learning at Sunday's inaugural Dinner on the Farm. The Center for Land-Based Learning aims to inspire and motivate people of all ages, especially youth, to promote a healthy interplay between agriculture, nature, and society through their actions and as leaders in their communities. They do this through engaging elementary- and high-school children about agriculture and cooking in a farm setting. When invited to this dinner, I originally thought I was looking at another form of urban agriculture project, but this seems to be going far beyond

Dine Downtown is back with stomachs and wallets rejoicing. Restaurants across the grid opened their doors, welcoming patrons with tantalizing three- or four-course dinners for $30. I decided to eat at Biba Tuesday night for the first time. As a lifelong resident of Sacramento, the aura of Biba is undeniable. From her now classic cooking show, Biba's Italian Kitchen, multiple cookbooks and award-winning cuisine, Biba Caggiano is a powerhouse in Northern Italian cuisine. With so much hype resting on the meal, I'm happy to report it didn't disappoint my high expectations. The antipasto offered a choice of Polpette di Granchio e Cappe Sante (crab and prawn cake) or Barbabietole Arrosto (beet

Why do you live in the Downtown/Southside Park/R Street Corridor/Richmond Grove area? What are the great things about it? Is there anything that you wish were different?   One of the main reasons I love Downtown is the easy access to other interesting neighborhoods and events.  Here’s a sampling of activities and events from the past month that I could walk to or ride my bike to:   Chalk it Up Friday Night Concerts at Caesar Chavez Parkmovies at Southside Park Andy Warhol's Athlete Portraits Star at The Crocker Art Museum Several farmer’s markets (Cesar Chavez Plaza, Fremont Park, Roosevelt Park & under the freeway at X and 3rd) Gold Rush Days in Old Town San Francisco Mime Troupe