Interesting People
Wine & Shine
When I catch up with Elizabeth-Rose Mandalou by phone, she apologizes if I hear weird noises. The restaurateur is busy delivering wine to the local eateries—Woodlake Tavern and Uptown Pizza on Del Paso Boulevard, and Allora on Folsom Boulevard—which she owns with husband Deneb Williams.
Rock Star Chef
Many restaurants experience a high turnover rate, but The Oak Café at American River College takes the concept to another level. Open for lunch Wednesday through Friday, The Oak Café is staffed entirely with students of the ARC Culinary Program, with a menu that changes every week.
Passion for Podcasts
Prolific host and producer Johnny Flores had already started and ended one podcast by the time he took an Improv 101 class at the Sacramento Comedy Spot.
Flores had been an ardent fan of improv comedy since he was a child, but his broadcasting skills at the time were unpolished, and he found that he tended to wait for his turn to speak in lieu of listening.
Long Live Lofings
In this age of Home Depot and other impersonal big-box behemoths, it is refreshing—one might even say illuminating—that there are still small business venues that offer one-on-one customer service, nearly 60 years’ worth of expertise, and a family-owned enterprise that enhances both customer needs and community profile.
On the Run
Scott Abbott readily admits that his favorite thing about running is when he’s done running.
“It’s such a physically demanding endeavor,” says Abbott, a championship runner, coach and executive director of the Sacramento Running Association, which operates the California International Marathon.
Keeping it Simple
If KCRA-TV anchor Edie Lambert ever decides to leave television, working for the Metro Chamber of Commerce could be a new career path. Lambert loves Sacramento. But don’t get your hopes up too high, chamber folks. Lambert is pretty smitten with her job.
