Dumplings to die for, a mistress of disguise, toothsome tacos, culinary classes paired with cinematic classics, health-forward push-pops, dance-powered lemonade purveyors, and much more.

Here’s our annual list showcasing dozens of the local people, places and things that are just our type.

Photo by Sol Ricco

BEST TRIBUTE IN A TORTILLA

With its salty-greasy ground beef filling, finely shredded cheese and crisp lettuce in a Parmesan-dusted crispy shell, the classic Jimboy’s taco has few peers as a Sacramento fast-food icon. But we should make room at the top for The Bambi, the staggeringly delicious flagship taco at Bambi Vegan Tacos in Boulevard Park. Created as a Jimboy’s homage by Bambi founder (and Sacramento native) Chad Novick, the crave-worthy taco starts with a blend of mushrooms, onions, garlic confit, peppers and a secret spice mix cooked down over hours. The umami-bomb filling goes straight into a fresh-fried crispy shell (sourced from tortilla geniuses at the Elk Grove-based Mi Rancho) that Novick and Co. sprinkle with a fine coating of plant-based Parmesan. Next comes vegan cheddar and a finishing touch of texture and refreshment: a cabbage slaw tossed in a “crema” of aquafaba, lime juice, cucumber, garlic and a trace of Dijon mustard to bind the inventive ingredients. Like a cover song that is as addictive as the original, The Bambi is a flavor phenomenon you can’t get out of your head. bambivegantacos.com —Stu VanAirsdale

BEST PLACE TO BUY A TWO-WHEELER FOR TWO

Maybe you spotted that cute couple cruising East Sacramento yard sales on their vintage Schwinn tandem bike and stopped to ask them about it. And maybe they directed you to the Sutterville Bicycle Company, tucked away behind Sacramento City College, where sure enough, there sits a row of revived Schwinn tandems, winking in the sunlight and whispering, “Love me, buy me, and your relationship will be perfection!” Tandems are a passion of owner Jeff Dzurinko, who collects forgotten specimens, restores functionality while leaving their classic patinas and maybe buffing up the chrome details, and sells them—not just to collectors, but also real bike folks in search of a fun spin. Move over, vanlifers—it’s the tandem cyclists’ turn to nurture our dreams of riding off into the sunset. suttervillebicycle.com —Hillary Louise Johnson

Photo by Hope Suson, Courtesy of Ecojoyous

BEST MAKER OF SUSTAINABLE JOY

Hope Suson is on a mission. What started as crafting her own soap and candles and a fondness for sewing blossomed three years ago into Ecojoyous—a maker-fueled charge to help Sacramento live better and cleaner. A longtime art teacher for schools throughout the region, she has been selling her homemade, plastic-free, eco-conscious products online and at gatherings like the Midtown Farmers Market. And as of August, after leaving behind over 20 years in education, Suson opened a brick-and-mortar version of her sustainable goods shop in Old Sacramento. But on top of offering everything from her cotton reusable bags to upcycled pillows of lavender to rose-oil-infused soap—not to mention an inventory of planet-healthy products from other similarly minded companies—she’s also planning to soon hold maker workshops and classes, helping all of us spread a little joy ourselves. ecojoyous.com —Sean Timm

BEST NEW RESTAURANTS THAT ARE READY FOR TAKEOFF

Sacramento may be America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, but plans for a new slate of local restaurants and bars at the Sacramento International Airport have us thinking Farm-to-Flight  has a nice ring too. This fall sees construction begin on a multiyear rollout of local noshworthy additions to Sacramento’s pair of terminals. First up is the Michelin-rated Nixtaco, which is set to open near the end of this year, along with Bawk! and Temple Coffee. The next phase of launches in 2025 will welcome fellow regional faves Cafe Bernardo, Magpie, Centro Cocina Mexicana, New Helvetia Brewing Company and OneSpeed Pizza, followed by Midtown Spirits touching down in 2026. How’s that for a group of epicurean Avengers? Soon even the late boarders among us will want to arrive at the airport three hours early. —S.T.

BEST COFFEE IN YOUR POCKET

The words “instant coffee” don’t exactly arouse the senses, especially for enthusiasts who like to search out top-quality, fresh-roasted beans en route to exquisite joe. But what if everybody did  have access to flawless coffee in an instant? That’s the question that Auburn-based Remedy Supply Co. has asked—and answered—with its assortment of instant coffee that defies the dreary conventional standard of lousy, bitter grounds in a jar. The flagship “Golden Hour” blend merges Guatemalan and Papua New Guinean coffees for a nutty, chocolate and caramel flavor trifecta, while stirring and serving the seasonal “Sweater Weather” over ice—despite its name—makes a refreshing, subtly spicy-sweet iced coffee for even the warmest days. (Remedy also offers its decaf “Pillow Talk” variety for those seeking instant flavor without the jolt.) The instant offerings all derive from beans ground super-fine and made into a highly concentrated drink that is freeze-dried without losing flavor or aroma. It’s a perfect coffee solution from the backcountry to the boardroom—and every cup in between. remedysupplyco.com —S.V.

BEST LATE-NIGHT AL PASTOR

You’ve been Netflixing in full goblin mode. Suddenly it’s 11 p.m., you’re ravenous, and you remember that Reddit thread about Tacos El Alebrije, a pop-up with a cult following that appears in a vacant parking lot on the corner of Watt and Whitney avenues in Arden-Arcade from 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays through Sundays. You spot the festive lights from across the intersection, the commercial-sized griddle sizzling with fresh-pressed corn tortillas, and best of all, that glistening, succulent spit of pork al pastor, stained orange-red from achiote, rich with cumin and pepper and licked by flame. It’s doled out into tacos, topped with chopped onion and cilantro, and a daub of roasted pineapple, and tastes best devoured on the spot at a folding plastic picnic table, or sitting in your Subaru. Welcome to the cult, fellow goblins. @tacos_el_alebrije on Instagram —H.L.J.

Photo courtesy of Friends of El Dorado Trail

BEST TRAIL FOR LOCKING EYES WITH A LOVE INTEREST

Winding 37 miles between Folsom and Camino, the El Dorado Trail crosses all manner of Sierra foothill terrain and has something for everyone. The paved, accessible section that runs between the Missouri Flat trailhead and downtown Placerville may appeal to romantics in particular—they’ll just need to stop at the hardware store first: About a mile from the trailhead, you’ll make a thrilling traverse of the wood-paved Weber Creek railroad trestle, soaring 100 feet over a leafy canyon, with a dramatic overlook where you can add a padlock engraved with your and your love’s initials to the hundreds of others latched to the metal grid barriers since the trail opened in 2009. If you strolled here on foot, this is a good turn-back point, but if you’re on two wheels, carry on 2.5 miles further to downtown Placerville to split a Reuben sandwich with blueberry slaw at the locally famous Timmy’s Brown Bag on Main Street, all before flying back down the hill on the wings of love. eldoradotrail.org —H.L.J.

Photo by Roger Jones, courtesy of the Sacramento Area Sewer District

BEST-KEPT HABITAT SECRET

When the Sacramento Area Sewer District built its central wastewater treatment facility near Elk Grove in the 1970s, it ingeniously established a buffer of 2,150 acres to protect generations of nearby residents from odor, noise and other nuisances. That foresight led to the aptly named Bufferlands, a thriving wetlands refuge with a dazzling range of plant and animal life (including a binocular-popping 247 known species of birds). While otherwise closed to the public, the Bufferlands hosts frequent opportunities for visitors: We’ve swooned through kaleidoscopic wildflower tours in the spring and gazed in awe at migratory birds threading the sky in winter. Meanwhile, on monthly “Twilight on the Bufferlands” hikes this summer, the Delta breeze coalesces with the valley sunset and bountiful wildlife for an unlikely Sacramento gem hiding in plain sight. sacsewer.com/bufferlands —S.V.

Photo by Anna Wick, courtesy of Journey to the Dumpling

BEST DUMPLINGS WRAPPED IN NOSTALGIA

It takes a second to figure out why the dense filling in Journey to the Dumpling’s Impossible dumplings evoke such improbably strong memories. But a quick glance at the neon-style decorative lighting within the new midtown Sacramento location helps explain: These mostly savory, slightly sweet plant-based treats—which are seasoned with white onion, celery, black pepper and vegetable bouillon, and are also available at Journey’s original Elk Grove location—hit much like the late-night Jack in the Box tacos that fueled our youth. Except the meat is neither a mystery—nor meat—and the experience is entirely less oily. That is, until you dip the dumplings in Journey’s spiky-sweet house-made chili oil, which only heightens the thrilling throw back effect. journeytothedumpling.com —Carla Meyer

BEST COOL POTATO SALAD FOR WHATEVER THE WEATHER

This summer will bring all sorts of newfangled takes on potato salad. None will match the elegant play of depth and brightness in OneSpeed’s pickled beet, potato and trout salad, a favorite since the pizzeria opened 15 years ago and as much a staple as the East Sacramento neighborhood regulars who crowd around the bar on weeknights. The salad circumvents the mayonnaise vs. vinegar debate by offering a side of rich, house-made aioli as potential companion to the vinaigrette that dresses the creamy red potato, perfectly hard-boiled egg and extra-pop-adding pickled beet and onion. And capers deliver a salty snap, while the smoked trout evokes wood fire, reminding us that this tuber spectacular is the perfect accompaniment to cold winter nights too. onespeedpizza.com —C.M.

BEST SEEDS WITH YOUR READS

Sure, the Sacramento Public Library is an indispensable treasure trove of books and other materials about gardening and food. But we’ve harvested much more than knowledge from its shelves, where visitors can also pick up free envelopes of seeds for cultivating at home—no library card required. SPL’s “seed libraries” originated in 2012 at the Colonial Heights branch (which boasts an on-site “Read & Feed” community garden) and have since expanded to 13 branches systemwide, from Isleton to Orangevale. The selection features dozens of high-quality heirloom seeds from sources like the UC Davis Arboretum, including ornamental native wildflowers like clarkia, lupine and phacelia. But don’t miss the seasonal edible plants: A recent springtime visit to the McKinley branch offered a seed bonanza of squash, peppers, snap peas, radish and herbs that will yield a fresh bounty come summer. Now, where is the cookbook section? saclibrary.org —S.V.

Renderings by Mangolin Creative (Cheetah Run) and SHR Studios (Patio), courtesy of The Sacramento Zoological Society

BEST NEW ZOO VIEWS

Imagine: You enter a color-dappled courtyard beneath an artistic arboreal canopy of colored glass and behold a rolling African savanna of free-roaming giraffes, zebras and more. Those magical first steps into the new zoo in Elk Grove—the future home of the Sacramento Zoo currently in Land Park—may still be five years off, but construction plans and fundraising are underway after the Elk Grove City Council gave its final approval for the ambitious wildlife destination in May. Lead design firm SHR Studios, whose clients have included the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Dallas Zoo and the London Zoo, are drawing on theme-park innovations—like Disney’s hub-and-spoke layout and environmental theming—to bring plenty of Mickey-esque magic to the fast-growing suburb. It’s a fitting inspiration given that the Sacramento Zoo’s executive director Jason Jacobs actually started his career at Disney World’s animal Kingdom park in Florida. Grabbing a spot inside a stationary safari jeep to watch cheetahs prowl? Eating savanna-side on the dining patio overlooking grazing giraffes? Or heading through a tunnel under the savanna itself to reach a treehouse observation tower? It’s all enough to make us roar with excitement. saczoo.org —S.T.

Photo by Mckenzie Logan, courtesy of Sun & Soil Health Company

BEST STEALTH HEALTH PUSHERS

Extruded in a heart-shaped column of frozen deliciousness, Sun & Soil Health Company’s frozen fruit push-pops sneak healthy ingredients into summer fun flavors. For example, the blushing pink strawberry pop, which tastes of sweet, fragrant strawberries reminiscent of U-pick days of childhood, is sweetened only with banana and honey, and draws body and richness from hemp seeds and cashews, with a health-enhancing boost from ashwagandha, a common folk remedy for stress and anxiety. And psst, don’t tell your kids there’s a dose of cruciferous kale hidden in that blueberry pop staining their grins a glorious purple. sunandsoil.health —H.L.J.

BEST COLONIAL REDISCOVERY

It’s hard to imagine how or why 22 Japanese immigrants decided in 1869 that a remote outpost roughly 6 miles from downtown Placerville was the place to establish a new home. But as you wind your way deep into the foothills, past the rolling vineyards and placid goat herds of the present day, there it is: Wakamatsu Farm, the site of the first Japanese settlement in the United States. Even historians don’t quite know the origin story of the long-since dissolved colony of tea and silk cultivators, but today the American River Conservancy owns and manages the 272-acre site with its modestly charming teahouse and schedule of meditation sessions, poetry workshops and tea ceremonies. The deep, mysterious soul of the place abides in the light of its huge skies and the shadows of its proud oaks, while a small lake invites quiet strolls around the farm’s well-maintained (and wheelchair-accessible) 1.5-mile trail loop. Meanwhile, volunteers looking to get their hands dirty can attend the farm’s Wednesday workdays to dig, plant, haul, harvest and otherwise carry forth the industrious spirit of this bucolic wonder tucked away in the hills. arconservancy.org/wakamatsu —S.V.

Photo courtesy of Capital Tuk-Tuk

BEST WAY TO TUK IN THE SIGHTS

The wind in your hair. Our art-adorned city around you. The bemused smiles of bystanders watching you drive past. These are some of the simple joys we’ve experienced riding in a tuk-tuk, a three-wheeled, open-air, rickshaw-like automobile that may be more commonly associated with Europe and Asia but is one of a kind in the River City, thanks to Capital Tuk-Tuk. Founded by Angel De La O and Manushi Weerasinghe—herself inspired by memories of her family’s tuk-tuk during her childhood in Sri Lanka—the fully electric personal tours (which start at $100 per group of up to six people) put nothing between you and the sights and sounds of the capital region as your private open-air vehicle zips between local landmarks like Tower Bridge, the State Capitol, the R Street Corridor and more. Though currently still a single tuk-tuk operation, you can also sign up for other breezy rides, from a mural tour to a pub crawl and even seasonal offerings like a wintertime roll through the Fabulous 40s’ best holiday lights. Consider us tuk-ed in. capitaltuktuk.com —S.T.

BEST VIENNOISERIE THAT’S ALSO A SQUARE MEAL

What happens when a native daughter of America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital mashes up fresh seasonal produce with classic French pastry technique? Magic. That’s the only word to describe Moonbelly Bakery’s veggie croissant squares filled with combo bombs like sweet, aromatic carrot and feta, or umami-rich mushroom and Gruyère topped with fresh scallions (now available year-round after debuting as a winter exclusive). The seasonal ingredients are lovingly nestled into puffed, glassy, gloriously brittle nests of thousand-layer laminated pastry. Ever since Sacramento-born baker Lucía Plumb-Reyes opened Moonbelly in a tucked-away storefront on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento two years ago, fans have lined up down the block bright and early—the shop is open Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.—tittering with excitement. Who knew eating your vegetables could be this magnifique? moonbellybakery.com —H.L.J.

BEST NEW PAVED PATH FORWARD

Bike commuters, dog walkers, joggers and families with strollers rejoice: The spanking new Del Rio Trail—which opened in May—is a stately, flowy stretch of pavement that follows an old rail line that is flanked by narrow strips of greensward and snakes behind backyards and back alleys. Nearly five miles of signed, serene path have been added to the fabric of our city, stitching together neighborhoods from Meadowview to Land Park with a ribbon of pure joy and making our world a better place for alternative forms of transportation. There’s something magical about running or riding through Sacramento’s densest districts with nothing but birdsong between the major intersections—a tantalizing glimpse into a kinder, gentler urban core. —H.L.J.

BEST GARDEN(ING) PARTY

What started 26 years ago with three dozen plant geeks trading tips in Fair Oaks has blossomed into the annual Harvest Day, a can’t-miss binge of garden gawking and wisdom that attracts thousands of green thumbs and novices alike from around the region. Need advice? Ask any of the more than 100 on-site Sacramento County Master Gardeners (graduates of a rigorous University of California gardening program) for their insights, or seek enlightenment from keynote speakers dispensing lessons in soil or citrus trees. You can also draw inspiration by exploring the expertly maintained grounds of the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, from the groomed grasses and salvias of the Water-Efficient Landscape gardens to the bursting berry bushes and fruit orchards. And don’t forget the goody bag—often containing complimentary seeds and growing guides—at the gate. The homegrown cherry on top: Harvest Day is free to attend, so it won’t cost a thing to reap this unique Sacramento bounty. sacmg.ucanr.edu —S.V.

Photos by Kristen Ker Anderson, courtesy of @mamakerrr

BEST WOMAN OF A THOUSAND FACES

While the rest of us spent the early days of the pandemic binge-watching Tiger King  and experimenting with sourdough, Kristin Ker Anderson was teaching herself to transform—literally. Working from a makeshift bedroom studio in Arden-Arcade, the makeup artist mastered special-effects techniques to achieve stunning morphs into aliens, animals, queens and other creations of her wildly colorful imagination. Captured in videos that have drawn about a million followers (and counting) between Instagram and TikTok, Anderson’s quick-cut work bops along to a backdrop of music and voices. Some are charmingly quirky (like her transition from a woman to a rooster, set to Taylor Swift’s hit “Blank Space”); others are marvels of illusion and craft (like her ingenious use of shadowing and color to change her face into that of a turtle, horse or polar bear). But they all leave us watching (and re-watching, and re-re-watching) and wondering, “How did she do that?” mamakerrr.com —S.V.

Photo by Sean Timm

BEST DRIVE-BY GIANTS

In 1970, Auburn dentist and amateur sculptor Kenneth Fox unveiled two massive concrete statues in his practice’s parking lot on Auburn Ravine Road off of Elm Avenue. The eye-popping nude figures—a 17-foot-tall praying woman, followed by an even larger man struggling to break free of chains—were the first two of six pieces in what have become known as The Great Statues of Auburn, a sculpture series that has gone from scandalizing (local schools once rerouted bus routes to avoid the nudes) to mesmerizing (like a 42-foot-tall, bow-wielding Amazon) since Fox completed it a half-century ago. Make an afternoon of searching out the colossal creations, which also include towering historical tributes like a Chinese railroad worker outside Auburn’s Gold Rush Museum and the city’s first gold prospector Claude Chana in Old Town Auburn. Thankfully, these hidden-in-plain-sight treasures are hard to miss. —S.T.

Photo courtesy of Xsight Media and Dipped N Color Splat Studio

BEST PLACE TO CHANNEL YOUR INNER JACKSON POLLOCK

What’s the difference between an art studio and a splat  studio? Old Sacramento’s Dipped N Color Splat Studio answers that without saying a word: Acrylic coats the floor, walls, windows and ceiling of this all-ages sanctum of creativity—and if that wasn’t indication enough, the squirt gun, squeegee and goggles in your paint basket clear up any remaining doubts. Don’t worry about making a mess here, where artists of every skill level and age (along with parental guardians who are welcome to supervise for free) don protective ponchos and go to fast, furious work on a 16-by-20-inch canvas, using the tools provided—or even just your bare hands. Founded by the aptly named Monet Dyson, a local mom who used painting to bond with her toddler son, the studio—which won Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s Calling All Dreamers contest in April 2023—hosted special events like glow-in-the-dark paint days this summer as it marked its first anniversary. Color us inspired. dippedncolorsplatstudio.com —S.T.

Kennie Williams Jr. (Photo by Radora Williams)

BEST KIDULT LEMONADE STAND

Sacramento has its version of the Partridge Family—but instead of singing, the Williamses are slinging homemade lemonade out of a painted-up box truck—complete with dance moves. Radora Williams and Kennie Williams Jr. found raising three boys thirsty work, what with all the football and baseball games under the blazing Sacramento sunshine, so the Elk Grove clan started Cali Made Lemonade in May 2023 as a fun lark, setting up at sporting events and later graduating to street fairs like Sactown’s Finest Market. You can recognize the group in part by their matching lemon-yellow Crocs—the better to boogie while shaking up cup after cup of their sweet and simple recipe: just water, ice, sugar and lemon (peel, seeds and all), muddled right in a 32-ounce cup with a wooden pestle for a lip-smacking ahhhh. @calimadelemonade916 on instagram —H.L.J.

BEST PLACE TO BYOB (BUILD YOUR OWN BIKE)

Plunk down $50 for parts and $5 an hour for access to all the tools and expertise you could ever need, and you can leave the Davis Bike Collective’s Build a Bike program with a beautiful bicycle constructed by you. You’ll work under the patient tutelage of skilled volunteers who range from retirees who remember vintage “10 speeds” to Gen Z mountain bike shredders younger than the 20-year-old Collective itself. Start your build by picking a frame among those hanging from the downtown Davis shop’s ceiling, then rummage through dozens upon dozens of bins in old metal file cabinets and wooden library card-catalog drawers with labels like “stems” or “caliper brakes” or “headset spacers”—and by all means, feel free to ask staff exactly what those mystery items are and how to use them. And though you came for a bike, you’ll stay for the camaraderie and good cheer. davisbikecollective.org —H.L.J.

Chef-owner Hassi Sadri (Photo courtesy of Napoli Culinary Academy)

BEST DIY DINNER AND A MOVIE

Combining culinary classes and cinematic classics is an offer our taste buds can’t refuse. Chef Hassi Sadri’s Napoli Culinary Academy welcomes home cooks to whip up three-course meals based on a rotating array of filmic inspirations—think Sicilian chicken Parmesan with The Godfather, or Chicago-style stuffed pizza with The Untouchables. The evening starts at the demo station of the Arden-Arcade eatery, where chef-owner Hassi Sadri and his team teach the cooking techniques behind each dish, from managing the temperature of a stew to the proper way of filling a cannoli. Then it’s aprons on and into the kitchen where you mix, simmer and make your meal alongside the culinary school’s actual students, before returning to the dining room where the movie is played in the background and a well-earned dinner is served. Some Godfather-ly advice? Definitely take the cannoli. napoliculinaryacademy.com —S.T.

Photo by Beth Young

BEST PHOTOS THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Beth Young’s day job running the busy Sacramento office of the architectural firm HGA can leave her craving a long, leisurely bask in nature at the end of the week. So she practices “slow photography,” which is all about taking the time to develop a deep connection with your subject. It’s no surprise then that Young’s heady landscapes—from soaring mountain vistas to blurred-lens, bee’s-eye-view close-ups of poppy fields—aren’t just pretty: They somehow capture that emotional yearning for nature. While overseeing the renovation of a hospital chapel in 2010, she had a big aha  moment around how to marry her profession and her passion. Today, citing studies that have proven that patients exposed to the sight of nature recover faster and need less medication, Young creates murals that bring the soothing, restorative properties of her nature photography into the local Kaiser, Sutter and Dignity Health hospitals, and the UC Davis Medical Center. Sounds like a prescription for wellness with only positive side effects. www.optimalfocusphotography.com —H.L.J.

BEST BYGONE BURGER REVIVAL

Absence could never make our hearts grow fonder for Greta Cafe’s carrot nut burger, since our affection for its earthy goodness was infinite at first bite in the 1990s. But when it went MIA—twice!—yearning naturally commenced. First, the beloved Greta’s closed in 2000. Then Mother—the downtown meatless spot where chef-owner (and former Greta’s cook) Mike Thiemann introduced his own tasty iteration of the burger in 2014—shut down four years ago. Thankfully for us, the third time was indeed the charm, and Mother’s triumphant reopening in midtown last year included the best version yet, with agave mustard, pickle and a provolone slab enhancing rather than obscuring the wholesomeness of the patty made from mixed nuts, carrot, garlic, cumin and seasoned chickpea flour. Our hearts—and bellies—are full after reuniting with this twice-lost love. mothersacramento.com —C.M.

BEST PLACE TO WING IT

Improv comedy classes have a lot going for them, from the social benefits of building confidence and meeting new folks to the scientifically proven perks of building a limber, quick-thinking brain. If you want to sharpen your ad-lib skills but are not yet ready to join the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Sacramento Comedy Spot in midtown has just the thing: Offered Monday nights, its Improv Taste Test is an affordable ($10), accessible and low-pressure entry point for the improv-curious or anyone looking for a uniquely fun night out. Hurling invisible pizzas across a room to strangers? Check. Juggling imaginary chainsaws with a date? That’s on the table too at these 90-minute sessions, which often sell out with 18 participants and fly by with fast-moving exercises like “Operations Manual” (where attendees concoct instructions for a pretend product) and “John the Loquacious Farmer” (where folks briefly act out a character and job conceived by banter partners on the spot). Who says that you—especially  you—can’t make it up? saccomedyspot.com —S.V.

Photo courtesy of Billy Ngo

BEST OSCAR-WORTHY KITCHEN KING

Whether you’re savoring fresh sushi bliss at Kru, slurping away on delectable noodles at Kodaiko Ramen & Bar, or digging into a heaping toothsome bowl at Fish Face Poke Bar, it’s not hard to see why Billy Ngo—who owns all three restaurants—is considered one of the best chefs in the city. But the James Beard Awards (aka the Oscars of the food world) made that official in April when it named Ngo as the first Sacramento chef ever to be a finalist for best chef in California. Born in a Hong Kong refugee camp, Ngo grew up in Sacramento, opened Kru in 2005 and has been doling out many of our favorite dishes (like his handcrafted duck dumplings) ever since. His newest venture, Chu Mai, opens in Richmond Grove this fall, promising an Asian combination eatery bringing together Vietnamese and Chinese flavors—like pork and eel dumplings with black truffle and sweet soy glaze. We’ll have one of everything, thank you. —S.T.

BEST SPORKFUL OF GOODNESS

Move over, “farm-to-fork”—the unofficial “farm-to-spork” era has arrived in the Sacramento region, thanks to Yolo County farmers Hope Sippola and Shayne Zurilgen. The duo created the Davis-based Spork Food Hub in 2021 with the mission of expanding the market for regional farms to area schools in need of healthy food for kids. This unique partnership not only helps bring much-needed nutritious lunches and snacks to more than 30 area school districts—from Natomas Unified to West Sacramento’s Washington Unified—but also boosts business for dozens of small and medium-sized growers (including numerous women-and BIPOC-owned producers like Moua Farm in Elverta, Rainwater Ranch in Winters and Lucero Organic Farms in Galt). The Spork model isn’t just an all-around triumph of sustainability; it also makes school kitchens hotbeds of imagination for staff and students alike: Roasted butternut squash, honey Brussels sprouts and sesame cabbage slaw are just a few fresh examples of what’s on the menu in Natomas, for instance. “It is the schools’ commitment that gives us value,” Zurilgen says. “If we can get them these kinds of high-quality ingredients, they get really creative.” Farm-to-spork FTW! sporkfoodhub.com —S.V.

Photo by Sean Timm

BEST LLAMA-POWERED ESCAPE FROM IT ALL

Over a river and through the woods, a rustic otherworld of stress-melting denizens await: New Leaf Llama Farm raises, breeds and trains more than 30 of the titular South American animals in the hills of a forested 15-acre Yuba County property, and owner Sarah McGovern also offers the chance to visit and take a walk on the calm side with your very own llama companion. The furry stress-reducing friends—ours were named Sprite and Fancy—are happy to accompany you as McGovern leads guests through her pastoral gardens and the surrounding woods, sharing insights about the llamas and the old Gold Country landscape alike. The tour ends in an idyllic poolside yard where the ruminants graze and McGovern serves seasonal homemade pies like mixed berry and apple (our favorite). To make a day of it this summer and beat the heat, bring a sandwich and a swimsuit, and settle in. On this llama walk, the only hard part is walking away. airbnb.com/experiences/905563 —S.T.