Tasty Tidbits
Photo: Dragonfly

Sous Chef Joins Dragonfly
Dragonfly has welcomed a new addition to its staff, Sous Chef Chris Watkins. Watkins’ extensive background and many talents will help him bring new expertise and experience while continuing to push culinary boundaries with the rest of the Dragonfly team.

After graduating from Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Watkins began his culinary career at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof in Switzerland. Following his endeavors abroad, Watkins moved back to the states where he spent six years working at several different restaurants in San Francisco including Jardiniere, Frission, Elizabeth Daniel, Coi and Compton Place. As the lead line cook or sous chef he perfected his skills working with local farmers and preparing high quality menu items, as well as supervising fellow staff. In 2006 he became the executive sous chef at The Plumed Horse in Saratoga, Calif. In more recent years Watkins gained experience in Truckee while he worked at the West Shore Café and most recently, at PlumpJack’s.

“It’s always fun to bring new people into the mix at Dragonfly,” said Chef/Owner Billy McCullough. “The people I surround myself with often offer learning experiences for me as they bring their expertise to the restaurant, which is different from my culinary background.”

Dragonfly Restaurant and Sushi Bar is located upstairs at 10118 Donner Pass Road, in downtown Truckee. Reservations for dinner are recommended. The Sushi Bar is first-come, first-served. Check out Dragonfly at www.dragonflycuisine.com or on Facebook or Twitter, or call (530) 587-0557.

Fields to Fork
Cedar House Sport Hotel and Stella Restaurant presents Fields to Fork, A Toolbox for the Informed Eater, on July 30 for lunch and guest lecture series at 9 a.m. Lectures include “Healthy Soils, Healthy Foods” and “What Every Mother and Grandmother Should Know about Organic Labeling” with Stephen Bird from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Executive Chef Jacob Burton of Stella and Suzanne Ashworth of Del Rio Botanicals present “Fresh From the Farm” with a cooking demonstration and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Caroline Wadlin presents “The No. 1 Secret to Healthy Eating” from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., along with Dr. Daniel Smith, discussing “Soils to Our Supplements: Modern Nutrition for Health and Wellness.” The lecture series and lunch is $60 per person, and reservations are required. Call (800) 404-1065.

Barbecue Weekend
The popular BBQ Weekend returns to Resort at Squaw Creek from Aug. 27 to 29 with cooking demonstrations, culinary and beverage tastings and a chili cook-off. Guests will find that Resort at Squaw Creek’s second annual BBQ Weekend is no ordinary backyard barbecue. Grilled menu items include filet mignon with spicy mango chutney on a handmade tostada, New York strip steak, mesquite-rubbed chicken breast, tequila-lime marinated shrimp and Sandy’s Pub award-winning baby back pork ribs. Items for children such as hot dogs and pizza will be served, too.
A BBQ Weekend package is available for two adults starting at $199, per Deluxe Guestroom, per night, based on a two-night minimum. Children 12 and under can be added to the barbecue for $20 per night. Additional adults can be added for $40 per night. Tickets to all events are included in the package.
The weekend festivities kickoff on Aug. 27 with a Summer Passions reception featuring wine tastings, cooking demos, including Chef Chad Shrewsbury’s “nitro” cuisine, and gourmet appetizers. On Saturday, the morning begins with a mimosa and Bellini bar. The kids’ pizzeria opens in the afternoon, along with a chili cook-off featuring the resort’s chefs alongside barbecue weekend attendees. The evening culminates with the Chuck Wagon Cookout, with an array of barbecued delights for all palates. Sunday morning wraps up with a Bloody Mary bar on the Six Peaks Grille Deck. For a complete list of events and menus, visit the calendar section at www.visitsquawcreek.com. To make a reservation, visit the Web site and use promo code BBQRSC, or call (800) 401-9501.

Tootsie’s ice cream opens
The newly opened Tootsie’s ice cream parlor in Tahoe City, offers a delightful selection of delectable frozen yogurt, ice cream, sundaes and more.
Located in the Lighthouse Shopping Center, adjacent to Safeway, Tootsie’s is the brainchild of longtime locals Syd and Mike Earley, who previously owned Syd’s Bagelry in Tahoe City and Dockside Market in Homewood.
“We saw a real need for a fun, old fashioned ice cream parlor in Tahoe City,” Syd says. “The ice cream parlor is an American institution that is just as relevant today as it was a century ago. The economy goes up and down, but people still deserve to treat themselves, right?”
The Earleys understand the local culture and Tootsie’s menu reflects both their knowledge and sense of humor. Customers will see all their favorite area landmarks represented on the sundae menu, including everything from the Tahoe Rim Trail, Blackwood Canyon and Sugar Pine to the D.L. Bliss, Lake Aloha and West Face. The Road Construction sundae, with its rocky road ice cream, is a lighthearted homage to Tahoe locals’ least favorite season. And, the Laker Blue sundae with its luscious blueberry sauce reflects the couple’s spirit of community involvement as $1 of each sundae’s cost goes to the North Tahoe Middle School and North Tahoe High School’s parent-teacher organization, VIPS.
Still, sundaes are just part of the fun at Tootsie’s. Self-serve frozen yogurt is sold by the ounce with plenty of fancy toppings to add some sweet pizzazz. Tootsie’s also offers delicious ice cream sodas and milk shakes.
Parents of two sons, the Earleys understand that sometimes one needs to imbibe in something a tad more nourishing. With this in mind, Tootsie’s also offers a hot dog bar where people can select from veggie, all-beef, chicken sausage or Polish and then add a myriad of toppings.
Located at 950 North Lake Blvd., Tootsie’s Sundaes and Yogurt is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call (530) 581-4300.

Half-price summer specials
Dragonfly has cooked up some enticing summer specials to tempt budget-conscious locals and visitors thinking about dining out. Pick from a special half-priced 15 item menu while seated at the sushi bar. Combine this deal with discounted drinks if you arrive in time for happy hour. Through the end of the summer, Dragonfly is hosting a happening Happy Hour between 5 and 6 p.m. with half-priced drinks be it a specialty cocktail or a well drink, wine or beer. The happy hour special applies to guests seated anywhere in the restaurant. For details, call (530) 587-0557.

Summer menu at Six Peaks
Chef de Cuisine Chad Shrewsbury, along with Resort at Squaw Creek’s Executive Chef Jason Friendy, has prepared a new dinner menu for the resort’s signature restaurant, Six Peaks Grille. In addition to an array of inventive cuisine, from appetizers to desserts, guests will find attractive new pricing and small plate options for dinner. Also, an all-new evening patio dining experience has been unveiled on the deck overlooking Squaw Valley.
Appetizers include dishes such as a Short Rib Sandwich comprised of grilled brioche, Oregon huckleberries and truffle fondue. Other appetizers include Diver Scallops with cauliflower puree, capers and carrot reduction, or the Foie Gras Slider with peach-currant compote and rosemary infused micro greens. Several pasta dishes will be featured, including a Ravioli Tasting Plate, with the chef’s daily selection of four unique raviolis, and a Spicy Shrimp Sauté, served with angel hair pasta, pancetta, capers, peppers, basil and tomatoes.
New to Six Peaks Grille will be hand-made gourmet pizzas made with whole wheat dough. Classics like Filet Mignon, Pacific Salmon, Maine Lobster Tail and Duck Breast will be offered in large and small plate concepts, with a variety of accompaniments available.
Six Peaks Grille has a full complement of wines in the cellar, featuring many award-winning California wines, as well as sought after varietals from around the world.
Open seven days a week for breakfast, and Wednesday through Sunday for dinner, Six Peaks Grille offers expansive views of Squaw Valley and the surrounding peaks. On Thursday nights, the restaurant offers Three-Course Thursdays, featuring a prix fixe menu at $30 per person, plus tax and gratuity. A portion of the proceeds from Three-Course Thursdays is donated to the Tahoe Forest Hospital Cancer Center. On Friday and Saturday evenings, a special Chef’s Tasting menu, which changes weekly, is available. Online reservations can be made in the Dining section of the Resort at Squaw Creek site at www.visitsquawcreek.com or by phone at (530) 581-6621.

PlumpJack deals, events
PlumpJack Café in Olympic Valley is offering Happy Hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday featuring specials on house wines, beers, well drinks and a Mystery Wine Flight. As well, enjoy $10 wings, ribs, pizza and burgers.
PlumpJack also hosts Summer Winemaker Events on selection Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. allowing guests to mingle with a featured winemaker and enjoy wines by the glass, flight or paired with the Chef’s Tasting Menu. Upcoming events include Peay Vineyards on July 29; Skinner Vineyards on Aug. 12; Phil and Arden Coturri Wine & Olive Oil on Aug. 26; and Truchard Wines on Sept. 10. For details or to make a reservation, visit www.plumpjackcafe.com or call (530) 583-1578.

T-Club specials
The Tourist Club in downtown Truckee offers ongoing specials includes Beat the Clock from 9 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday with drink prices starting at .50 cents and going up .50 cents each half hour until 11 p.m. Wednesday is Industry Night where patrons spin the wheel for drink discounts and free prizes all night.

Locals discount program
Mikuni at the Village at Northstar is offering a Mikuni Koki Club Frequent Diner Program to all full-time residents of Truckee and North Lake Tahoe with special offers from select Village merchants, including 20 percent and weekly specials at Mikuni.
Sign up at www.mikunisushi.com to receive a club card with an EOP (Equal Opportunity Pricing) sticker. Participating merchants offering discounts include 001 Oakley, Ambassador Toys, Balance Holistic Health, Chocolate Bar, Earthly Delights, Spirits in Stone, The North Face, Villager Candle Shop and more.

Dining deals at Caliente
Caliente hosts ChupaCabra Thursdays featuring $4.75 ChupaCabras all night.
Caliente also offers Tequila Tasting on the first Thursday of every month starting at 5 p.m. featuring a distillery representative and complimentary appetizers with the seminar. Cost is $10 or included with the purchase of any specialty drink. Call (530) 546-1000 or visit www.calientetahoe.com.
Call (530) 587-8688.

Tiki Tuesday
River Ranch hosts Friday Night Prime with $23 prime rib on Friday nights. Call (530) 583-4264.

Dining specials at Las Panchitas
Las Panchitas in Kings Beach offers daily lunch specials, along with a Dinner Special from 4 to 10 p.m. featuring 25 percent off Mexican Combo dinners. As well, enjoy the Early Bird Special from 4 to 6 p.m. with discounted margaritas, Dos Equis and Draft Bud. Call (530) 546-4539.

Cottonwood deals
Cottonwood in Truckee is hosting Happy Hour nightly from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and all night long in the Bar and Fireplace Room on Acoustic Thursdays with discounted microbrews, French margaritas and special Happy Hour menu items. Call (530) 587-5711.

Lodge at Tahoe Donner deals
The Lodge at Tahoe Donner is offering great deals with specials during Happy Hour in the Pub, featuring 25 percent off the Pub Menu from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Music in the Grotto Wednesday every week starting at 5:30 p.m. On No Corkage Tuesdays, The Lodge will waive the corkage fee when you bring in a bottle of wine. For details, call (530) 587-9455.

Moody’s dinner deals
Moody’s Bistro & Lounge in Truckee is offering $20 Steak Frites Mondays at the bar featuring the infamous Meat & Potatoes meal with a glass of wine. Also, enjoy Unscrew Yourself with BYOW on Sunday nights with free corkage.
Enjoy Half Price Wine List on Tuesday nights and Spaghetti & Meatballs plus Vino for $18 on Wednesday nights.

First Sunday Jazz Brunch
The Crystal Bay Casino presents its First Sunday Jazz Brunch on the first Sunday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Crystal Bay Steak & Lobster House.
Chef Geno has prepared a menu combining the best of Tahoe and the Big Easy. Enjoy New Orleans-inspired cocktails and desserts, along with a not so traditional selection of brunch items served with the chef’s homemade biscuits or Danish and some jazz sax lagniappe. Reservations are suggested and may be made by calling (775) 833-6333.

Dinner at Lake Mary
Sugar Bowl Resort continues its fine dining experience by hosting seven Saturday dinners at its exclusive Lake Mary Cabin this summer. Enjoy spacious patio style dining with sweeping views of the high alpine lake, The Palisades and Mount Disney. Enjoy French-inspired California cuisine from 5 to 9 p.m., with dinners supporting local nonprofit organizations with 5 percent of gross earnings from each evening going directly to the local charities.
Benefit dinners are: Sugar Bowl Academy on July 31, Arts For the Schools on Aug. 7, Pacific Crest Trail Association on Aug. 21, and Donner Summit Historical Society on Aug. 28. Reservations are recommended, and may be made by calling (530) 426-7002.

Green Drinks
Pacific Crest/Bar of America in downtown Truckee hosts Green Drinks on the last Wednesday of every month. The Green Drinks mission is to bring people together in a casual environment to talk about green issues. For details, e-mail greendrinkstruckee@gmail.com or visit www.greendrinks.org.

Bike for coffee
Bicycle to Truckee Thursdays to receive a free coffee coupon from Elijah Bleu’s House of Coffee. Cyclists are eligible to receive a coupon for a free 12-ounce Elijah Bleus French press coffee when they park their rides at Cyclepaths newest location at 10200 Donner Pass Road for Truckee Thursdays.
Bicyclists are asked to park their bikes (locks are encouraged) in the racks in front of Cyclepaths where they will receive a coupon to be redeemed at Elijah Bleu’s House. Truckee Thursday is every Thursday through Aug. 19 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Biltmore offers dining deals
Tahoe Biltmore offers a $9.95 Prime Rib Dinner on Tuesdays with Wicked Wine Wednesdays at Conrad’s that includes half off a bottle of wine with the purchase of an entrée. Or, bring your own bottle and waive the corkage fee. And, enjoy a $14.99 T-Bone Dinner Special starting at 4 p.m. nightly.
Happy Hour is offered daily at the Breeze bar from 3 to 7 p.m. with drink specials. And, enjoy Happy Hour in the Lobby Bar on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 8 p.m. with 25-cent chicken wings.

Nine & Dine deal
Resort at Squaw Creek is offering its Nine & Dine package for golfers to nine holes in late afternoon and follow the time on the links with a prix-fixe three-course dinner in Six Peaks Grille for $59 per person; tax is included, but gratuity is not included. Because the dinner coincides with Three-Course Thursdays, $2 from each dinner is donated to the Tahoe Forest Cancer Center.
The Nine & Dine is available on Thursdays through the summer and fall with a round of golf beginning between 4 and 5:30 p.m. Dinner in Six Peaks Grille is served until 10 p.m. For reservation, call (530) 581-6637.

Sunset package at High Camp
Squaw Valley USA is offering a Sunset Dinner Package for $49 at High Camp after 5 p.m.; packages are $39 per person before 5. The package includes a Scenic Cable Car ride and a three-course dinner at the Poolside Café. The package is available Friday and Saturday after 5 p.m. through Aug. 21.
Also, enjoy California/Asian Style PuPu’s from 5 to 7:30 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday. For details or reservations, call (530) 452-7278.

Summer deals at Lone Eagle
Lone Eagle Grille at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe is hosting a number of summer specials. Enjoy Lakeside Lunch with outdoor lakeside dinner and half-price wines by the glass this summer. New menu items include Spinach Salad with pan seared scallops, saffron pears, toasted pecans and gorgonzola with a port wine vinaigrette; and a Mesquite Grilled Buffalo Burger with tomato-bacon jam and gruyere on a whole wheat Kaiser and served with rosemary Asiago French fries.
On Sunday, enjoy À La Carte Brunch, which also features five rotating breakfast specials and $10 all-you-can-drink champagne mimosas from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Or, enjoy Happy Hour in the lounge where all wines by the glass are half prices from 4 to 6 p.m. from Sunday to Wednesday. For reservations, call (775) 886-6899.
Through Labor Day, Pier 111 invites visitors to walk, swim or sail up to one of the most unique destinations on the lake. Offering light, beach fare, Thirsty Thursdays promise drink specials on signature cocktails like the Pier Pear and Sierra Cloud Margarita and live entertainment until the sun goes down.

Northstar dining specials
Village at Northstar is offering Thank God It’s Thursday dining deals. At Baxter’s, enjoy a three-course meal for $35. Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar offers three rolls for $30 for Koki Club members; free to join. North of the Boarder offers $2 beers from 4 to 6 p.m.
Olivier Napa Valley offers a complimentary bottle of signature Tapenade with $25 purchase. Also, enjoy 50 percent of kids’ menu entrees with purchase at Rubicon Pizza. And, at The Chocolate Bar, enjoy free chocolate fondue with purchase.
Also, enjoy free evening valet parking with dining purchase. Some restrictions apply. Visit www.northstarattahoe.com.

Jake’s lobster nights
Jake’s also offers Live Maine Lobster on Friday and Saturday nights featuring 11⁄2 lb. lobster served with drawn butter, salad and red potatoes for $32 (limited quantities) in the dining room or cafe bar. For more information, call (530) 583-0188.

Dinner in the Barn
Mark Estee, executive chef and co-owner of Moody’s Bistro & Lounge, will host the restaurant’s third annual Dinner in the Barn series at Sierra Valley Farms near Sierraville. Estee and Moody’s Chef de Cuisine Guy Frenette will prepare a feast using produce so fresh it grew in the field hours before they serve the four-course meal in a 1936-era barn.
Estee and Gary Romano, whose family has owned Sierra Valley Farms for 100 years, will host the dinners on Aug. 28 and 29 and Sept. 4 and 5. The dinners allow people to make the connection between the food they eat and its origin and enjoy the experience of being on a farm.
Diners will gather for a four-course meal served family style at Sierra Valley Farms, a certified organic farm and native plant nursery on the Feather River. Estee and Frenette will improvise the menu based on which fresh, organic vegetables are ready to be picked or pulled from the ground that day. The selections, which can be adapted to accommodate vegetarian diners, will be paired accordingly with red and white wines.
The atmosphere is as important as the fresh-picked produce. Guests will enjoy the meals while seated inside a barn built in 1936 by Romano’s uncles. Live music will add to the festive atmosphere. Before dinner, guests can participate in a tour of the farm.
The farm tour begins at 5 p.m. and dinner is served at 6 p.m. Each Dinner in the Barn event is $125 per person, which includes the four-course dinner, wine, beverages, farm tour, tax and tip. Kids are welcome, but will be charged at the adult price. That evening’s menu will be available the day of the event. The event is limited to 60 people and is expected to sell out. Truckee Tahoe Transportation will offer guests rides to and from the barn dinners. For reservations to Dinner in the Barn, call Moody’s at (530) 587-8688 or for more information visit www.moodysbistro.com.

Avec Wine + Food to open
Sure to delight diehard foodies and wine lovers alike, Avec Wine + Food is set to open this summer in Truckee at The Rock.
After a summer spent exploring local wine and food traditions in Europe, owners Rose Levinson and Chris Cooke decided to pursue their dream of opening a wine and food shop in Tahoe-Truckee. While traveling, their enviable business homework ranged from cooking classes in Tuscany to learning the art of cheese making at a goat farm in France.
Coupled with an extensive wine selection, Avec will offer gourmet specialty foods and a deli featuring housemade delicacies. From select artisan cheeses and chocolates to savory condiments and spices, Avec’s grocery shelves will provide tasty fodder for creative at-home meals and beyond.
In addition to the gourmet lunch and dinner items in the deli, Avec Wine + Food also will offer light breakfast fare including pastries, coffee and a wide range of teas. The couple assures that the menu will rotate with something new and seasonal always popping up.
Avec Wine + Food is located at The Rock multi-use center, next to the roundabout at 11209 Brockway Road, 101C. For more information, call (530) 582-1903 or visit www.avecwineandfood.com.