Appetizers

By Cathie Anderson
canderson@sacbee.com

After a nationwide search, the Selland Group has hired John Griffiths to be its chef de cuisine at The Kitchen.

The Kitchen's former head chef, Noah Zonca, is part of the team developing the new Capital Dime restaurant at 1801 L St. in midtown Sacramento.

Zonca didn't go to culinary school. He learned his trade at The Kitchen, starting out as a dishwasher there. Griffiths, on the other hand, is a graduate of the culinary program at Schoolcraft College outside Detroit. He's been an executive chef for many years now and comes to The Kitchen from a position as campus executive chef at Washington University in St. Louis.

By Andrea Gallo
agallo@sacbee.com

Sacramento's longtime coffee staple Java City is closing its doors today at 1800 Capitol Ave.

Instead of pouring coffee at café locations, the company will focus on its wholesale product, according to Craig Hettrich, Java City CEO.

Paesanos, Java City's next-door neighbor, will take over the location with another "casual dining concept," said Koren Beard, Paesanos general manager.

Beard said the business will be a separate entity, but will be owned by the same company and have the same executive chef. She said the new business should open in late summer.

By Al Pierleoni
apierleoni@sacbee.com

Sorry, foodies, the April 26 appearance in Sacramento by award-winning food writer and restaurant critic Ruth Reichl has sold out -- but there's a waiting list, and there's still space at the pre-event reception.

To join the waiting list for "An Evening with Ruth Reichl" at 7:30 p.m. at the Crest Theatre, call (916) 737-1300 or e-mail info@californialectures.org.

The pre-event fundraising reception -- dubbed "Garlic and Sapphires" after one of Reichl's memoirs -- will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Citizen Hotel, 926 J St., Sacramento. Cost is $100 per person, tax-deductible. Register at www.californialectures.org or (916) 737-1300.

Reichl is a former restaurant critic for the New York Times and Los Angeles Times and the author of several books. She is a four-time James Beard Award winner.

The Citizen Hotel reception will feature Bombay Sapphire martinis and California wines, with "garlic surprises and seasonal dishes." It is co-sponsored by Grange restaurant and the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op.

Call The Bee's Al Pierleoni, (916) 321-1128.