http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/62222/Sacramento_hosts_inaugural_Bacon_Fest
Local musician Brian Guido and Nick Miller, Managing Editor for Sacramento News & Review, have joined forces with five local restaurants to put together the first Sacramento Bacon Fest, held from Jan. 20 – 22.
Guido said he got inspiration from reading about similar events in Des Moines and Chicago and decided that Sacramento needed something where local chefs can get together and showcase their talent to the community.
“This is the place I call home,” Guido, who moved to Sacramento in 1992, said. “I felt that this city was just as good of a place to have an event like this, given the talented chefs that we have here.”
Guido said that he approached Miller, who he has known for eight years, with the idea while at a show at Beatnik Studios.
Together, they worked with Luigi’s Slice Fungarden, Magpie Market Café, Pangaea Two Brews Café, The Golden Bear and Mulvaney’s Building and Loan to host bacon-inspired events at each location.
Guido said it was easy to choose the venues, as he is a fan of every location that is participating.
“The focus is on the craftsmanship of making quality-made bacon,” Guido said, “and our talented food community.”
Jan. 20
Kevin Bacon Tribute Night at Luigi’s Slice Fungarden
105 20th Street
8 p.m.
$5
All ages
Luigi’s will be serving a special Bacon Supreme Pizza and will host live music from local bands Jem and Scout, Aaron King, The Foxtails, John Conley, 50-Watt Heavy – the band Guido is currently in – and others, who will be performing songs from Kevin Bacon movies.
For more information, visit the website or call 447-1255
Jan. 21
Breakfast/Brunch at Magpie Caterers Market and Cafe
1409 R Street, Ste. 102
7:30 a.m. – till the food is gone
Magpie will be going off the beaten path with its menu for the Bacon Fest as the cafe and catering company usually serves baked goods that can be eaten on the go.
“We’re going to take advantage of the morning to do breakfast/brunch,” said co-owner Ed Roehr. “The whole menu will be different.”
Roehr added that he is seeing this as a day to celebrate a change in Magpie’s daily menu.
“We’re just looking forward to giving it a shot,” Roehr said.
For more information, visit the website or call 452-7594.
Jan. 21
Bacon in Beers at Pangaea Two Brews Café
2743 Franklin Blvd.
4 p.m. – close
Guest chef Jason Azevedo will be at Pangaea Two Brews Cafe to cook a special four-item menu, and each item will be paired with a beer.
The cafe will also serve beer with bacon in the glass.
For more information, visit the website or call 454-4942
Jan. 22
Brunch at The Golden Bear
2326 K Street
10 a.m.
21+
Although the Bacon Fest menu is still in development, The Golden Bear’s co-owner Kimio Bazett said it will have a lot of bacon in it, including the cocktails.
“We’re looking to be innovative and exciting with the bacon,” Bazett said, “something that hasn’t been seen.”
He added that there will be at least one, if not two, cocktails with bacon in them. There will also be food and drink specials for the bacon lovers.
For more information, visit the website or call 441-2242.
Jan. 22
Chef Competition at Mulvaney’s B&L Pig Next Door
1215 19th Street
1-5 p.m.
$20
Local celebrities will judge bacon-inspired meals created by local chefs. The chefs must enter the contest beforehand, and then a panel chooses who gets to compete at the event.
Small bacon plates, beer and wine will be served.
For more information, visit the website or call 441-6022.
Guido said this was the first event he planned of this caliber and that he hopes to expand next year.
“I think it will be a good boost for the restaurant/bar community during a traditionally slow period,” he added, “and to show people what good quality products taste like.”
Miller said he sees this event as a break from the ever-looming New Year’s resolutions.
“After the holidays, people always resolve to lose weight and eat healthy and the like,” Miller said. “I say screw that: Float a piece of bacon in your beer, relax for the weekend and enjoy some fine swine.”
For more information about Sacramento Bacon Fest, visit the Facebook page.