Tasting Chico, celebrating kids

When it comes to local foodie events, few rival the annual Taste of Chico. I admittedly hadn’t attended in several years, since before the beer garden was added in the municipal parking lot, so I was excited when my boyfriend came home the day before with a pair of tickets he’d purchased ($45 at the door seemed too expensive; they were $35 in advance).

We made it downtown about an hour after the start time at noon. With the length of the lines, however, it was clear we should have gone earlier—it was virtually impossible to use all our stamps. As it was, we grabbed one drink or bite and enjoyed it while queuing up for another. That said, we had a ton of fun.

We started out in the beer garden, tasting some Lassen Traditional Cidery ciders and other beverages before heading out to the adjacent roads. Turned out our two faves of the day—Café Petra and Gold Country Casino’s Safire—were in line with others’ experiences (I put out a Facebook poll). The prime rib at Two Twenty Restaurant was also very tasty—and a preview of its changing identity; it will reopen as Diamond Steakhouse on Tuesday (Oct. 2).

Others touted Uncle Skinny’s BBQ, Gogi’s Cafe and Live Life Juice Co., but we unfortunately didn’t make it to those booths. Our favorite beverage spot: Tres Hombres, where four punches got you a grande blended passionfruit margarita. Salud!

Expansion plans If you’ve been to Crush in the past couple weeks, you’ve likely noticed the construction project going on right outside the door. Here’s what’s happening: The restaurant is building out its second-story patio and—my favorite part—adding restrooms up there, too, so customers don’t have to traipse down two flights of stairs (or wait for the elevator) to use the loo.

A few blocks away at Fifth Street Steakhouse, plans have been revealed to grow that restaurant into the lot next door, which was once home to Grace Jr. Expect an expanded patio there, including fire pits and an outdoor bar.

Buns out After hearing that Bottoms Up Espresso had opened over at East First and Mangrove avenues, Melissa Daugherty and I decided to check it out for an afternoon caffeine fix. While my coffee drink (“Sweet Cheeks”) was too sweet for my taste, I think we agreed that the baristas, while not dressed particularly professionally, were far from indecent.

Future entrepreneurs Kids often have better imaginations than we adults do, it seems. So, I can only guess what cool business ideas Chico’s youth (ages 6-17) have come up with for this year’s Biz Kidz Business Showcase. Head on over to the Chico Mall to find out—this Saturday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., by the entrance to Dick’s Sporting Goods and JCPenney—and support their entrepreneurial spirits.

Dogoodery I want to give a shout-out to the Chico Sunrise Rotary Club for its recent event celebrating the donation of $1,200 worth of books to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley. I’m sure they’ll go to good use!