Come One Come All to the Party All of Sacramento Waits For!

Come one come all to the party all of Sacramento waits for, The Best of Sacramento Party 2008, a benefit for the March of Dimes, entirely sponsored by Sacramento Magazine. For years now The Best of Sacramento Party has be come famous; for food, libations, and the best of Sacramento’s everything! From best frozen yogurt (Big Spoon) to the best place to get a tattoo (Wild Bill’s Tattoo). But as there is so much to cover at the event the crème de la crème is really found in the food and wine, so lets focus. Upon walking though the Sacramento’s Convention Center, getting our wineglass, plate and goodie bag we were immersed in the throng of people and vendors. As people walked thought the doors there was food, wine, vendors, lights, balloons and music abound; a literal sensation overload. Working from the front to the back, as did all the other patrons, given the lines we encountered, we were able to sampled delights galore. Starting with Kru, directly from the hand of Chef Buu “Billy” Ngo, serving octopus on a beet sliver; then three selections of wine varietals from Todd Taylor Wines. In the far corner taking up an entire section of the event was The Firehouse Restaurant featuring over 35 imported and domestic cheeses overseen by Chef Deneb Williams and wines chosen by Sacramento wine legend of The Firehouse Mario Ortiz including Silver Oak, Twomey, and Far Niente; of all the booths this one was my favorite and from the ½ hour line to get to said cheese it seems it was everyone else’s as well. As we worked our way through the room we were given yummy drink samples from Red Robin, Italian meatballs from Adam Pascal’s Tuli, and sampled the larger wine selections of Rominger West and Renwood Wineries. As the masses pressed forward toward the other side of the arena you bypass a huge devotion of space saved for the silent auction. From wine bundles to art, and even a personally introduced special tasting dinner with the Dinning Diva’s (Sacramento Magazine’s philanthropic food critics) at none other than The Kitchen Restaurant, by Randall Selland himself. After that scintillating announcement, we moved through the growing crowd, passed the mess of tables in front of the stage, that showcased everything from singers to marching bands (graded once again on which one was the Best of Sacramento) to the choice entertainment of the night “Tainted Love” a 1980’s cover band from San Francisco. The occasion being so festive, people were dressed in everything from jeans to full length formal wear, the most festive we saw were two guests dressed in very dapper white coated tuxedos! On to the other side of the event we sampled from Paul Martin’s American Bistro (voted best new restaurant) sampling a scrumptious butternut squash soup, to the new Citizen Hotel’s Grange Restaurant sampling cristini with goat cheese and a rum-soaked pineapple panna cotta. Next to The Grange was Paul Martin’s next-door neighbor in Roseville Crush 29 with hot tastes and a huge line in front of them. In a great beam of green light Hoshall’s Salon and Spa had a huge hair show set up with models showcasing the edgy talents of their designers. Rounding back toward the front we visited Berryessa Gap Wines with a truly tasty Malbec and Petite Syrah. After visiting Molly Hawk of Granite Bay’s Hawk’s Restaurant and sampling their cozy multi-tiered macaroni and cheese, Soban Estates Old Vine Zinfandel wine, Gekkeikan’s Black & Gold Sake, and Sacramento legend Fat’s Chinese Restaurant we headed out. The term "best of" has always been circumspect, as all winners also turn out, by utter chance, to also be the biggest contributer to their category. But the fact that it would seem most could "buy" there way in, in no way limits the artistic merits of the winners themsleves, many are truly the "best" in Sacramento. The food abounded, the wine enthralled and once more Sacramento Magazine not only rocked a legendary party but also supported a great cause in the March of Dimes. So for all those skeptical in the past, or a veteran of this event, come one come all to Sacramento’s “Best” party.