Favorite Sacramento Haunts: Ella

Ahhh, Ella. How I adore thee. With its elegant, pale palette and impeccable service, you too will find this drop dead gorgeous spot a favorite on your list. Situated on the corner of K and 12th streets, the view is quintessential Sacramento; hurried political types, eclectic K street crowd, and a swift light rail train every few moments curving on its tracks. With a handmade gin and tonic in hand, I love sitting near the front windows and nurturing my love affair with my beautiful city. This is the kind of place you bring your out of town friends or celebrate your book being published. You dress for cocktails here, and order small bowls of salty olives or oval plates of ice cold oysters. Ella is glamorous, but never flashy. You deserve a little glamour.

Favorite Sacramento Haunts: Hina's Tea

When the day is rainy, gray and bone-chilling, head over to Hina's Tea shop on K street, across from the Golden Bear and Michael Mason Salon. This lovely tea emporium offers some of the best tea I've tasted, as well as nibbles from Old Soul and Freeport Bakery. (An added bonus: they will make you toast with Nutella!) Beverages can be ordered to go, but the real joy is in sitting down at the clean white tables, curved banquette, or small bar and having your tea brought to you for savoring. The decor is muted shades of sea greens and gray, and patrons are always hushed and relaxed. On weekends, art films are projected on a wall, but in a very unobtrusive and casual manner.

The whole place reminds me of a scene from Lost In Translation, with a pebbled floor, and one wall of the store stocked with loose tea in sleek silver pouches. You can sample any tea you like, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and Hina herself is often behind the counter. My current favorite tea is the chocolate flavored rooibos; the perfume wafting from my cup is pure heaven.

Favorite Haunts Series: Sacramento

When the weather turns cool in the evenings, one of my favorite indulgences is Oaxacan hot chocolate from Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, on L street, between 18th and 19th. It comes in a small 8 ounce cup, but the contents are rich, decadent and healing. The botanical name for chocolate is Theobroma, which means "food of the gods". This is exactly how I feel when I bring this lovely chocolate drink to my lips. A goddess with her ambrosia. Ix Chel, healing with her concoctions.

Chocolate is among the many things the Spaniards acquired from the Aztecs. The native Aztec people made a variety of chocolate drinks combined with honey, nuts, seeds, and spices. The drink was used in rituals by priests as well as nobleman. While many historic references are made to the Aztecs and chocolate, the Aztecs actually adopted the use of chocolate from the earlier Mayan Culture. Drinking this ancient potion will certainly make you feel part of this royal heritage.

resurrected!