Maria Chacon Kniestedt

For the best Bear Claw (think light-as-air pastry with a cinnamon-sugar apple filling), head to recently opened B. J. Cinnamon, 402 East Bidwell, Folsom. Their Maple Bar with Bacon gets two thumbs up, too!

The Purple Place in El Dorado Hills—half restaurant, half bar—prides itself on fresh, delicious food and drinks served in an upscale diner-like atmosphere (and it should). But with a name like The Purple Place, there’s bound to be a “colorful” history that is just as compelling. The restaurant is built on land that once...

If your wanderings find you in Historic Folsom, and you have a hankering for an authentic old-school tavern atmosphere – complete with a great selection of American craft beers and delicious, meaty fare – head to Samuel Horne’s Tavern on Sutter Street. It’s what we did over the Christmas break one evening with my...

How far would you travel for food? You know, to sample a really special entrée or dessert that makes you think, “This is the best I’ve ever tasted!” As it turns out, I know quite a few people who are crazy like that. My friend Robin thinks nothing of traveling 30 miles to Auburn...

Recently, I met family and friends at The Lost Dog Bar & Lounge in Durango, Colo., where I sampled a truly unique and delicious take on the Arnold Palmer, a drink that is traditionally a mix of iced tea and lemonade. The Lost Dog version includes lavender lemonade vodka. The lavender notes in this...

Fellow SacFoodie Shelly and I found yet another gem of a wine bar – this time in Folsom, where we enjoyed wine, port, appetizers and dessert on a beautiful summer evening. Definitely pencil in the Back Wine Bar on your “to do” list, where you can choose from more than thirty wines, many from...

On a recent Sunday morning while most of my family slept, my daughter, sister, aunt and I headed over to the Farmers Market at 900 Sutter Street in historic Folsom. With the sun shining and a giant cup of coffee in hand, we parked on a side street and traipsed across the cobblestones to...

On a recent trip to St. Louis, I sampled some Gooey Butter Cake. Well, if I’m being honest, I did more than sample it – I couldn’t stop eating it! I had forgotten how unbelievably delicious this cake is. As its name implies, Gooey Butter Cake is a gooey confection that’s both buttery and...

Thanks to my friend Stefanie, I now have a new favorite salad. She introduced me to this simple yet satisfying meal that is now a staple on my weekly menu. It’s simple, healthy and delicious, and I love that the ingredients are ones I almost always have on hand. If you’re looking to switch...