SUNDANCE BOOKS AND MUSIC: ANOTHER ATTRACTION FOR NON-GAMBLERS IN RENO

Reno is widely known as a casino town, but where can you take visitors who don’t care to gamble?  I’ve previously blogged about a few noteworthy educational attractions for kids of all ages, such as the Wilbur D. May Museum at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, the Animal Ark wildlife sanctuary, the scenic campus of University of Nevada, Reno and the free pipe organ concerts at Trinity Episcopal Church near the Truckee River.

But how is it that I’ve so long overlooked Sundance Books and Music?  This independent book store has apparently been a Reno institution for 25 years, although not always at its current location, 121 California Ave. (the corner of California and Sierra).

This magnificent building, dating back to 1906, was home to a mining magnate and store owner named William Levy.  What a wonderful way to repurpose an historic residence.

Sundance Books and Music has a wide selection of new and old books, CDs, vinyl records, greeting cards and gift items, artfully arranged in themed rooms. 

I love collecting cookbooks and the shelves at Sundance offer many titles that I haven’t seen at Reno’s Barnes and Noble, including some that focus on Northern Nevada families and their culinary traditions.

Bookworms and history buffs could spend a long time browsing at Sundance, admiring the handsome environment as much as the wares.

The surrounding neighborhood is a gem, too.  It’s just south and west of downtown, but noticeably cleaner, quieter and more civilized. While some online reviewers have described this area as Midtown, I think it’s much more aligned with Reno's artsy “Cal Ave” district.  

Within easy walking distance of Sundance are the Nevada Museum of Art, Arte Italia and an array of family-friendly coffee shops and restaurants, including Newman’s Deli, Rubicon Deli, Blue Plate, My Favorite Muffin and more.  

For more information, visit http://www.sundancebookstore.com/  and

http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe/what-to-do/arts-culture/art-district

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LITTLE HOUSE ON CENTER STREET IS A BIG TREAT IN MIDTOWN RENO

Midtown Reno is an evolving neighborhood, the type of community that could someday be a darling of food and travel magazines like Sunset, Cooking Light and EveryDay with Rachael Ray.  Every new "sweet spot" like Little House on Center Street brings Midtown a notch closer to being a rave-worthy destination for both townies and tourists.

Located at 725 S. Center St., the restaurant opened two-and-a-half months ago, according to our cheerful server.  This clean, bright and very homey space has an open kitchen and lots of inexpensive choices for breakfast or lunch.  It’s open daily, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Little House On Center Street on a sunny Friday, about noon

On a sunny Friday, about noon, my husband and I nabbed a prime table in front of the big picture window.   Seated near us were small groups of folks in business attire, a couple of “ladies who lunch,” some college students and two families with young children.  (Attention, parents: The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum is just up the street!)

Several parties were dining at outdoor tables, too —and the street scene was lively, yet laid-back. 

It’s crazy how different Midtown looks and feels when you’re not smack-dab on the main drag, Virginia Street.  Staunch Renoites might bristle when I say this, but at Little House On Center Street, I didn’t feel like I was just shy of downtown Reno.  And that was refreshing.

Getting back to the food at Little House, I ordered the California Street Omelet, made with tomatoes, onions, jack cheese and avocado.  Coarsely-grated hash browns and wheat toast accompanied the pleasingly plump and fluffy egg creation, for $7.99.

Little House's California Street Omelet with potatoes (wheat toast not pictured)

My husband chose the also-substantial Ortega Burger ($9.25) featuring bacon, green chile, jack cheese, mayo, onion, lettuce and tomato. He opted for fries on the side, but a salad could have been an alternative.

Little House's Ortega Burger with fries

A couple of iced teas set us back an additional $3.50.

While thoroughly enjoying our fresh-tasting meals, I noticed a sticker on the window, saying that Little House on Center Street is a member of the Creative Coalition of Midtown.

Like-minded artists and small business owners in the Midtown area are collaborating on special events to promote neighborhood pride. Among upcoming shindigs, the coalition will host a Spring Fling from 5-9 p.m. this Friday, April 25 (2014).  For more information about this and other scheduled happenings in Midtown, visit http://creativecoalitionreno.com/

For information about Little House On Center Street, call (775) 737-9598 or visit

http://littlehousereno.com/

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PINING FOR POLISH CUISINE IN SOUTH RENO (PART 3)

Holidays inevitably spark memories of unique foods which were traditionally served by your family — and Easter is no exception.

On a recent shopping trek through South Reno, I spotted a couple of hard-to-find items that were always on my Polish grandparents’ Easter table when I was growing up in Chicago.

At Cost Plus World Market, 4987 S. Virginia St., I saw a jar of the red beet-horseradish that my Polish grandfather used to make from scratch. He called it chrzan (pronounced like “shaan”).  

Red beet-horseradish, imported from Poland, available at Cost Plus World Market in South Reno

Oh, the eye-stinging fumes from the grating of the horseradish!  No wonder he tackled this chore in the basement, with the windows wide open and a fan operating at full blast.  In any case, in Polish households, this red beet-horseradish mixture is a popular condiment atop hard-boiled Easter eggs, ham and Polish sausage.

The brand sold at World Market is Cracovia.  The jar (1 pound, 7.63 ounces) sells for $2.99.

And in the same section of World Market, there were a few other food products imported from Poland, including dill pickles and pickled cabbage and mushrooms.

At South Reno's location of WinCo Foods, 9750 S. Virginia St., I bought a loaf of Sweet Raisin Bread made by the Eurobake bakery in Portland, Ore.  The 19-ounce loaf cost $2.89.

Sweet Raisin Bread, reminiscent of a Polish bread, found at WinCo in South Reno

My mom, who was born in the U.S. but speaks fluent Polish, calls this type of bread plecionka (prounounced “ple-CHOON-ka”).  I’ve also heard it called “kukielka” (“koo-KEL-ka) or chalka (“howka”).

It is similar to challah bread, a dense egg-twist bread that is shiny and dark on the outside, light yellow and tender on the inside.  And this version contains raisins, although I would prefer a lot more of them.

I guess I could put “learn how to make plecionka” on my to-do list.  In fact, I messaged the Nothing To It Culinary Center, 225 Crummer Ln. in South Reno, to ask if they’ve ever considered offering classes about Eastern European cuisine, such as Polish.  I was told that they might conduct such classes if there’s sufficient interest.

For more information about Nothing To It, call (775) 828-2628 or visit http://www.nothingtoit.com/

For more tips on where to find Polish foods (or reasonable substitutes) in South Reno, look for my previous blog posts, PINING FOR POLISH CUISINE IN SOUTH RENO (PARTS 1 AND 2).

Also, an UPDATE!  Thanks to my mom in Chicago, I discovered a Polish cooking show called "Poland On A Plate," sponsored by Krakus Ham.  This gourmet Polish ham is not sold in Reno, but the series presents many traditional Polish recipes and Polish twists on American favorites.  The series is hosted by the lovely Basia Brown, with guest appearances from some of Chicago's prominent chefs.   

Here's a link to some (English-language) videos on Polvision, Chicago's powerful Polish-language TV channel:
http://www.polvision.com/program/poland-on-a-plate

And here's the home page for Poland On A Plate, with more information about the series and more recipes:  http://www.polandonaplate.com/Poland_on_a_Plate/Poland_on_a_Plate_Home.html

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WHEN MICKEY ROONEY VISITED UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO

I have known, for a while, that the lovely campus of University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) was the setting for a number of Hollywood movies in the 1940s.  Today, with the news about the passing of film legend Mickey Rooney, I remembered that one of those movies was Rooney’s “Andy Hardy’s Blonde Trouble.”

This link from UNR tells more about this movie and other college capers that were shot on the campus during that era:

https://knowledgecenter.unr.edu/digital_collections/exhibits/university_history/events/silver_screen.aspx

What fun it would be to know where else Rooney and co-stars from “Andy Hardy’s Blonde Trouble” spent time in Reno, during the making of that movie.

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LENTEN LUNCHES IN SOUTH RENO

I’m not a vegetarian but I often eat meatless meals during Lent and at other times, too — because veggies taste good and are good for you (and me).

On Ash Wednesday, I planned to buy a Pepper and Egg Sandwich for lunch.  This item is a Lenten mainstay in my native Chicago.  But a quick Google search for Pepper and Egg Sandwiches in South Reno turned out to be futile.  Sometimes I’ve succumbed to the lure, pun intended, of McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish during Lent. But this time, I wanted something that wasn’t breaded, deep-fried and drowned in Tartar sauce.

I went to Spicy Pickle, 5210 Longley Ln., Suite 100; (775) 852-4440.  My vegetarian lunch choice, the Aphrodite Flatbread Pizza ($7.99), was a winner.

Aphrodite Flatbread Pizza at Spicy Pickle in South Reno

The good-sized pizza featured sliced, fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, red onion, feta, mozzarella and oregano, on a thin, crispy crust, with a pickle spear on the side.  It was colorful, flavorful and not at all heavy or greasy.

I’d order Spicy Pickle’s Aphrodite pizza again, for a Lenten lunch or at any time.

Here’s a quick recap of a few more South Reno spots that serve delicious, meat-free lunch dishes:

Not far from Spicy Pickle, you’ll find La Posada Real, 5270 Longley Ln.; (775) 852-1227. 

Meatless Mexican goodies are available at LaPosada Real

Their cheese enchiladas are great, as are their chile rellenos.  Vegetable fajitas are another satisfying option at La Posada Real.

Returning to the theme of “eggs for a Lenten lunch,” you can’t go wrong with the sensational vegetarian omelettes at Squeeze In, 25 Foothill Rd., Suite 3; (775) 853-6090.

Among my go-to veggie omelettes at Squeeze In are Neighbor Jackson (with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, avocado and jack cheese) and Gary’s Gord (spinach, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, mushrooms).

 Other veggie combos, with or without cheese, are available, too.

Squeeze In normally serves its omelettes with spuds, toast and a choice of sauce (tomato-pesto, mushroom or cheese).  I often request a side of soup or salad instead of the potatoes — and Egg Beaters instead of whole eggs.  Heavenly and healthy!

Squeeze In veggie omelette made with Egg Beaters and served with salad

Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs, 720 S. Meadows Pkwy; (775) 851-7200, is another outstanding place to order egg dishes.  They have veggie omelettes with hash browns and toast but their signature dish, as far as I’m concerned, is their Monterey Skillets with entrees such as Huevos Rancheros or Chile Relleno with Eggs, pictured here:

Peg's Monterey Skillet with Chile Relleno and Eggs

The beans and tangy slaw as sides are outrageously good.  And there’s so much food on these platters that I end up giving my potatoes to my hubby or son.

Asian restaurants are sure bets for Lenten lunches, as well, especially if you want to go vegan.  Remarkable rice or noodle dishes (with shrimp, tofu or just veggies) can be found at Asian Paradise, 1131 Steamboat Pkwy; (775) 870-1788 and Bangkok Cuisine South, 5851 S. Virginia St.; (775) 284-3802, along with Caie’s Oriental Café’, 770 S. Meadows Pkwy., Suite 101; (775) 853-9668.

My son is wild about Pad Thai at Bangkok Cuisine South; he orders it with chicken but you can customize your order to go meatless.

Pad Thai at Bangkok Cuisine South, available with or without meat

And in my opinion, the Kung Pao Shrimp at Caie’s, available with either peanuts or cashews, is superb.

If you’re undecided about what to eat, or you’re lunching with a crowd (including individuals who might not be doing the meatless thing for Lent), a no-fail choice is Whole Foods, 6139 S. Virginia St.; (775) 852-1227.

Whole Foods in South Reno has a vast selection of veggie lunch items!

I love their hot soup bar, which always offers several vegetarian and/or vegan selections.  

They sell pizza by the slice, including plain cheese or veggie.

 

Plus, Whole Foods' salad bar and "Global Cuisine" bar feature a myriad of meatless munchies, including Italian, Indian, American, etc.  But don’t forget that these mix-and-match choices sell for $8.49 per pound. Your personalized smorgasbord plate from Whole Foods may cost more than you expect.

For “grab and go” Lenten lunches that are kinder to your wallet, visit the deli cases at WinCo, 9750 S. Virginia St.; (775) 853-7474 or Smith’s, 750 S. Meadows Pkwy; (775) 851-8060.  Both sell lunch-sized salads and sandwiches such as tuna or egg salad.

With all these Lenten lunch options in South Reno — and these are just a sampling — does one really need a Pepper and Egg Sandwich joint?  Well, yes, it would be nice, but I’ll keep searching.

  

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PACZKI DAY IN SOUTH RENO

Paczki Day 2014 falls on Tuesday, March 4.  If you’re not Polish and/or not from the Midwest, you probably just mumbled, “Whaaat?”

Paczki (pronounced POONCH-kee) are dense, deep-fried Polish pastries filled with fruity jelly or buttercream and often sprinkled with powdered sugar.  They’re gobbled up with gusto on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) in cities and towns with large Polish populations.  You know, it's the last day to indulge in treats before the beginning of Lent. 

In my hometown of Chicago, everyone is Polish on Paczki Day — just as all of Chicago becomes Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

Long lines form outside of Chicago bakeries, which sell thousands of paczki packed with blueberry, strawberry, peach, prune, lemon, apricot, any fruit you can name — as well as custard or chocolate cream and sometimes poppyseed.  Note: The singular form of paczki is paczek (pronounced like pooncheck).

Displaced Midwesterners won’t find Paczki Day extravaganzas at the South Reno casinos.  Wouldn’t it be fun to see “Paczki at the Peppermill” become the winter equivalent of Hot August Nights?

Yet imagine my amazement this past weekend, almost a month before Paczki Day, as I walked into the local Smith’s  (750 S. Meadows Pkwy.) and spotted — right in the doorway, next to the shopping carts — a display of paczki. 

They were even labeled PACZKI, not jelly doughnuts or bismarcks as they’d be called in most supermarkets.  My husband teased me, “They must have heard you were in town.”

At Smith’s, the paczki choices  (in containers of four for $2.39) were lemon, strawberry, blueberry, Bavarian Cream and apple.  I bought strawberry paczki but was peeved to find out that the package actually contained apple paczki.  

Smith's apple paczek (mislabeled as strawberry)

It wasn’t a crisis but sort of like asking for Dr. Pepper and getting Pepsi instead.

This morning at Doughboys Donuts  (57 Damonte Ranch Pkwy.), jelly-filled varieties included lemon, strawberry, blueberry, Bavarian Cream and raspberry.  Items here are sold a la carte and I ordered (and received!) one with lemon filling ($1.10). 

Lemon-filled paczek from Doughboys Donuts

In a taste test, I think the Doughboys Donuts version won, not only because I prefer lemon over apple filling, but also because the texture of the dough was lighter.

Do I anticipate that mobs will storm Smith’s or Doughboys on the morning of March 4, chanting, “PACZKI …. PACKZI … PACZKI …?”  

Not really, but both of these South Reno stores are clean, bright and friendly. A safer bet than the grungy-looking Jelly Donut Coin Laundry in Midtown Reno. 

Jelly donuts at a laundromat?  Why?

UPDATE!  Are you fearless enough to try making your own paczki at home?  Here's a link to a video demonstration from Bogna Solak of Chicago's Oak Mill Bakery.  The video is part of the "Poland On A Plate" series that airs on Chicago's Polvision and is sponsored by Krakus Ham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBLO-flHt5M

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GOOD TIMES AND GREEN BEANS AT SOUTH RENO'S SOUTH CREEK PIZZA

South Creek Pizza, 45 Foothill Rd., may no longer be South Reno’s best-kept secret.  On a recent Friday evening, droves of diners dug into beautiful, Naples-style pizzas handmade from fresh, local and international ingredients.

The busy dining room at South Creek Pizza in South Reno

About a month earlier, on our first visit to South Creek Pizza, my husband and I were surprised when the hostess asked if we wanted to sit at the bar.  There were lots of empty tables, but the hostess explained that we’d be able to watch the kitchen staff prepare our food.  “It’s fun for first-timers,” she promised.

The bar at South Creek Pizza

Sitting at the bar was indeed fun and informative.  The friendly young pizza artist working directly in front of us explained that the pizzas are baked in 90 seconds in a 900-degree, wood-fired, brick oven imported from Italy. 

The special 900-degree oven at South Creek Pizza

Our server presented us with a small, complimentary dish of CeCi, which the South Creek Pizza menu describes as “chickpeas prepared with EVOO, SarVecchio Parmesan, onions, basil, cracked black pepper and chili flakes.”

CeCi at South Creek Pizza

We also ordered an appetizer of Fire Roasted Fresh Green Beans ($6), tossed with bread crumbs and chili oil.  These were extraordinary green beans! 

Fire Roasted Fresh Green Beans at South Creek Pizza

I know, it sounds kooky to rave about a common vegetable, but the preparation was quite interesting.  The chili oil seemed like something you’d find in an Asian eatery, yet our "pizza whisperer" suggested that we save it as a dipping sauce for our pizza crust.  He didn’t steer us wrong.  It was so delicious that we ordered the green bean dish again on our next trip to South Creek Pizza.

As for entrees, on our initial visit to South Creek Pizza, I chose a Spinaci Pizza ($16) while my hubby opted for the Classic Pizza (also $16), both of which are listed on the menu as South Creek Originals.

The Spinaci features tender spinach, fresh mozzarella, Gruyere, ricotta, SarVecchio Parmesan, garlic, cracked black pepper and sea salt.

Spinaci Pizza at South Creek Pizza

The Classic is topped with tomatoes, Italian sausage, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, shiitake mushrooms, basil, garlic, ricotta and sea salt.

Classic Pizza at South Creek Pizza

Both were delightful, even though we’re forever hooked on Chicago pizzas, which have radically different types of crust.  Whether you’re talking about thin-crust, deep-dish or stuffed, Chicago pizza crusts are not at all “bready,” but crisp and often underscored by cornmeal.  Toppings on Chicago pizzas are also much more generous than on those of the Neapolitan ilk.

By contrast, South Creek Pizza’s menu notes, “Our artisan Neapolitan-style dough is made from type ‘00’ flour imported from Italy and is cold fermented for at least 48 hours.  This technique produces a soft, chewy crust … .”

So for me, as a native Chicagoan, and my husband, who didn’t grow up in Chicago but lived there for 20-some years, eating Naples-style pizza with soft, chewy crust seems almost blasphemous.  But life is all about trying new things and in the absence of a Chicago pizza restaurant in South Reno, we can be flexible.

On another trip to South Creek Pizza, this time accompanied by our college student son, we also tried a traditional Margherita Pizza ($14).

Margherita Pizza at South Creek Pizza

The Margherita was dressed with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, EVOO and sea salt.

Simple, but tasty — and my slight objection is that the toppings were definitely skimpy, as compared to the pizzas to which I’m accustomed.  (More cheese, pretty please?)

Other pizza offerings at South Creek include Originals topped with items such as meatballs, bacon or sliced pears, as well as Guest pizzas inspired by restaurants in New York, New Jersey and right here in Reno (Campo, located downtown).

Also available are cheese and salumi plates, a number of salads, a few desserts, beer and wine.  A couple seated near us, the other night, split a lovely-looking salad.  It appeared to have been the Daggi Salad ($9) with mixed greens, smoked blue cheese crumbles, bacon, grape tomatoes, avocado, red onion and blue cheese dressing.  I’m eager to try that on a future visit.

For more information about South Creek Pizza, visit http://www.southcreekpizza.com/

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