Dine Downtown 2009

Dine Downtown is an annual eating event for Sacramento. For one week in January, several Capital City restaurants offer $30 Prix Fixe meals. The idea is to convince people it’s a good idea to spend money on dining out, after the New Year’s and Christmas celebrations.

For many people watching their wallets, $30 is the right price for dining out.

Dine Downtown at Rio City

We went to Rio City in Old Sacramento. It’s by the water and enjoyed the relaxed, sophisticated ambiance. On the Prix Fixe menu, I ordered the prime rib, medium rare. So juicy and tender!

We also did a bottle of 2005 Renwood Old Vine Zinfandel from Amador County. We had a tasty, affordable night out!

Comfort Food on the Silver Screen

Growing up, I remember craving instant ramen for breakfast. My dad wouldn’t let me. He said it didn’t have any nutrients.

As a grown-up, I eat instant ramen whenever I want to – breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s my comfort food for all seasons. After a bad day at work, slurping up the noodles makes me feel better. When I have a cold, the savory broth soothes my throat.

I have this “anything goes” attitude when it comes to my instant ramen. I like to add fried eggs and butter to the hot noodles. I also mix in leftover veggies to the broth.

This is one of my favorite ramen mash-ups: Chicken mushroom-flavored powder, salami slices and Dijon mustard. Yum!
Ramen and Salami

When possible, I love fresh ramen. My favorite spot for handmade noodles is Sapporo-ya in San Francisco’s Japantown. This is my personal ramen heaven: a window seat at Sapporo-ya, where I can do some people-watching on the street below and gazing at steam rising from a big bowl of hot broth, noodles, veggies, meat and seafood.

Now my comfort food is taking center stage in a new movie, “The Ramen Girl.” I found out about the film on the Official Ramen Homepage

If I didn’t have any attachments in the U.S., I’d head to Japan and learn how to make the perfect bowl of ramen.