Dine Downtown: Ella Dining Room and Bar
Dine Downtown is an excellent way to enjoy all the flavors that Sacramento restaurants have to offer. It’s an easy excuse to eat out at a fancy restaurant while benefiting the Food Literacy Center.
Garlic Parsnip Soup
This year, I dragged my date to experience his first meal at Ella Dining Room and Bar. Their Dine Downtown menu was completely vegetarian and offered two choices for the starter, entrée and dessert. There was also the choice of adding wine pairings to each course.
The first course was an option between soup and salad. We both chose the garlic, parsnip soup. It was paired with a light, crisp white wine that complemented the flavors of the dish.
Handcut Parpparedlle
The second and main course was a choice between Grilled Cauliflower Gratin and Handcut Papparedelle. We chose both. The pasta was served with a poached egg on the top, fulfilling my desire for protein, and served in a delicious sauce of leeks and chili and lemon. The cauliflower gratin was served with roasted beets and smoked gouda, reminding me that cauliflower can be delicious under the guidance of a chef. This course was paired with a bold, red wine.
The final course was the highlight of the meal: dessert. Having been to Ella before, I was familiar with the Sticky Toffee Pudding and chose this standing favorite to end my night. My date chose the Passion Fruit Tart with toasted vanilla bean meringue – a fresh, zesty way to end the meal and not nearly as heavy as the toffee pudding. Both were paired with dessert wines that complemented and highlighted our choices.
Ella’s Dine Downtown menu was satisfying and delicious, and the experience was made even better by our amazing server, Joe, who provided excellent service and conversation (and a great story about a safari in Africa).
Make sure you take advantage of Dine Downtown’s last weekend. See all the participating restaurants here or make a reservation at Ella’s by calling (916) 443-3772.
