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Greg Sabin

Food Writer

About This Author

Greg Sabin is a nationally published food writer, actor, improvisational comedian, banjo player and financial planner. He does not wear hats.

Articles by this author

Perfect Aim

Chef Brad Cecchi and his team at Canon have six mentions in Michelin guides. It’s easy to see why. Canon is an elegantly casual dining room that highlights every ingredient in the enterprise, whether those ingredients are on the plate, in the glass or part of the exceptional service.

Opened in 2017, Canon began as a strange room in a strange place. Almost invisible near Stockton Boulevard, the vibe was different. Experiments with dim sum-style delivery and adventures in fermentation came and went. Now Canon is among the city’s best restaurants.

The feel of Canon’s dining room is modern—a big departure from the surroundings. The stark, industrial nature of 34th Street camouflages what lies within.

Even Better

Selland Hospitality Group is a juggernaut on the restaurant scene, from grab-and-go to Michelin stars. Most popular among the collection are Sellands Neighborhood Cafe and Bar.

With locations at H Street and Broadway, and another in El Dorado Hills, the casual restaurants combine high-end cooking and cafe accessibility.

But times change. While the food at Sellands stays consistent and delightful, the style and look of the Broadway and H Street locations have leveled up.

Trophy Kitchen

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There may be no bigger advocate for Sacramento’s place in the culinary landscape than Patrick Mulvaney. His passion for the region’s food carries weight.

“The first question people ask is my opinion on any of a number of culinary questions,” he says. “But the second one should definitely be about the Sacramento region. It should be about what’s going on at UC Davis. It should be about what’s going on with the farmers throughout the region. It should be about what’s going on at the Capitol.”

If Mulvaney sounds like a professional advocate, it’s because he is one.

More than advocating for the town he calls home, Mulvaney fights for causes such as feeding hungry children and improving school lunches.

Restaurant Revamp

Two years ago, I wrote a couple of paragraphs about a new wine bar at Southside Park called Betty.

Here was a comfortable and cute place for a bottle of wine, package of macaroni or quick bite. Two years and an ownership change later, Betty’s a must-visit destination.

The revamped Betty is more than a wine bar. Led by Chris Barnum-Dann, chef at Michelin-starred Localis, Betty serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with approachable, unpretentious, satisfying style.

A local wine bar should offer vino from around California, plus global labels. Betty is far more ambitious. To call it a wine bar discounts its range.

Filipino Flavors

Joanne Suavillo and her husband Ray have run The Lumpia Truck for more than five years. Their new restaurant, Spoon and Fork, is a grab-and-go spot on Broadway that serves some of the most flavorful dishes in town.

The Suavillo’s restaurant is new. Yet the food and service act like they’ve been open for years. In a way, they have.

“We’re still figuring out a few things with staffing,” Ray Suavillo tells me. “But we’ve been running the truck for years and could turn over 1,000 plates without batting an eye.”