Appetizers

By Allen Pierleoni
apierleoni@sacbee.com

The latest title in the multi-author James Bond pastiche - "Carte Blanche" - is a cut above the last several entries to have furthered the exploits of Agent 007. That's because the estate of the late novelist Ian Fleming (who created Bond) wisely contracted with veteran international-thriller novelist Jeffery Deaver to write the book.

The updated Bond still likes his cocktails, and Deaver created one just for this tale. Appropriately, he calls it the Carte Blanche. Which reminds us of another Bond-centric drink - the Vesper - that appeared in "Casino Royale" (the book and the film).

Has anybody actually tasted the two cocktails? We wanted to do just that, so we made our way to the Shady Lady saloon and there met with owner Jason Boggs and mixologist Sean Eggers.

By Allen Pierleoni
apierleoni@sacbee.com

The Market at Pavilions, formerly David Berkley, is out of business.

A sign on the glass front door tells the story: "The Market at Pavilions is no longer open for business effective July 1. Thank you for your loyal patronage."

The specialty-foods store had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors in late April.

The store's most visible co-owner Greg Rhategan could not be reached for comment this morning.

Donahue Schriber is the Costa Mesa-based retail-property company that owns Pavilions, Town & Country Village and Natomas Marketplace, all in Sacramento, as well as 75 other shopping destinations in four Western states.

"The closure of the Market (was linked to) an internal business issue that Greg Rhategan continues to deal with," said Audrey Yokota, director of marketing for Donahue Schriber. "We want to find a replacement (for the Market) soon. Our leasing agents are currently working very hard on that, talking with a number of players and prospects."

By Allen Pierleoni
apierleoni@sacbee.com

The popular Corner restaurant on J Street in East Sacramento closed its doors today, but will reopen May 27 with a new name, new owner and revamped menu.

The Corner will become Clark's Corner, named after owner Clark Branscum, who grew up in East Sacramento. He will serve as the restaurant's general manager and operator, he said in a phone interview today.

The building was originally Shakey's, an iconic pizza place that opened in 1954. Decades later, the space was occupied by Sweetwater, which relocated to Midtown, then became the Corner in October 2009.