Posted by Nellie Bloom on Tue, Jan 04, 2011
This time of year, when the valley fog is thick, we’re all searching for a sunny spot to bolster us till spring. Zocalo delivers a Sunday Brunch that takes your soul south of the border. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is welcoming, beautiful and festive. A relaxed meal at Zocalo took the edge right off the winter valley blues.
The Brunch menu was just about entirely Mexican which I thought was a smart move. Steve had Chicken Chilaquiles ($12) and pronounced them “delicious”. Not too spicy and not greasy at all. The sauce was piquant and paired beautifully with the creamy pinto bean puree.
Little Dude had the Children’s Menu Tacos and they were perfect for him. We loved that the chicken was shredded and that it came with a fun, fragrant bowl of green cilantro rice as well as black beans. The children’s menu included a just right sized dish of vanilla ice cream and a fresh, warm churro for dessert. A fat value for $5.99. The Mexican Hot Chocolate was bueno too.
I had my favorite Mexican breakfast, Carnitas con Huevos ($12) and they were outstanding. Just the right mix of spicy, smoky chipotle sauce and rajas (roasted, seasoned chili strips). The pork was tender and juicy. The chorizo potatoes were yummy, but there was a lot of food so I didn’t do them justice. Delicious!
A key restorative feature of our little vacation was acoustic guitarist and vocalist Dinorah Curkendall. Her clear, soulful voice sang a mix of Latin classics and contemporary American standards and set the lively and friendly tone of the room. Dinorah is vibrant, warm, immensely talented entertainer who performs at venues, weddings and events all over the region.
In addition to her acoustic gigs, Dinorah has two other notable configurations. Her Crosswinds Trio is a particular favorite - Eddie Loebs kills on guitar and Oliver Camilo anchors the trio with congas, percussion and an authentic hip vibe. The five piece Crosswinds dance band is also excellent and a big crowd pleaser. It's amazing to see how Dinorah moves naturally and successfully from Besame Mucho to Bad Romance. Sacramento is lucky to have Dinorah who has serious music creds - she founded and managed Mariachi Divas who have since won two Grammys. Hot!
Brunch at Zocolo’s is an opportunity for the whole family to experience a little bit of Mexico. The families in the restaurant on Sunday were happy, relaxed and enjoying the excellent music and good food. We left refreshed and looking forward to returning.
1801 Capital AvenueSacramento, CA 95811916 441-3033
We love good Mexican food at Hip Entertainment! We also love helping you find the right music for your event and venue. Call us, and we'll answer every question. (916) 354 -9924 nellie@hipentertainment.com