What’s poppin’ for the Oscars? Try some of the best popcorn makers in the Sacramento area

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What’s poppin’?

With the Academy Awards on Sunday night (5 p.m. on Channel 10, streaming on abc.com), many of us are jamming away to watch the best of the best from the last year in movies (or rewatching Lady Bird, no judgment here). Junior Mints and Sour Patch Kids might satiate a sweet tooth, but there’s no movie snack more snackable than popcorn.

These five local options can help bring an extra kernel of fun to your viewing.

Carmazzi Caramel Corn: It lacks a physical location and still uses grandma’s seven-ingredient recipe, but Karen Carmazzi’s company (run with her son Paul) is the most noticeable popcorn player around Sacramento. Caramel corn is the classic sold in at least 30 local stores, wineries, breweries and eateries. Chocolate-drizzled and vegan versions are available as well.

The Popcorn Store: Owners Dave and Erika Benavides are the only area producers with multiple storefronts — 9679 E. Stockton Blvd. in Elk Grove and 6819 Lonetree Blvd. in Rocklin. The Popcorn Store’s 30+ flavors include espresso, habanero and cinnabun, the last of which coats cinnamon popcorn in a white chocolate glaze. Some can also be found in shops such as Yogurt Pop in Rancho Murieta.

Catrina’s Gourmet Popcorn: Brianna Williams uses her mom’s 33-year-old recipe to make bags of Cajun corn, as well as buttered, spicy garlic and cinnamon toast flavors. The Roseville-based online business supports human trafficking survivors, of which Williams is one.

Truthful Kernel: Father-son duo Jon and Tommy Jew use just three ingredients (locally grown corn, Napa grapeseed oil and sea salt) to make their five-ounce bags of organic popcorn, which have 20 grams of fiber and can be bought at Sacramento International Airport and local grocery stores. They offer three flavors: original, brown butter and cheddar. Look for salted honey, cayenne and black pepper lime flavors in the future.

Nibblers Popcorn Co.: Founded by Sacramento natives (and junior high sweethearts) Rob and Melanie Sweeney in 2018, Nibblers sells 58 varieties of popcorn in the El Dorado Hills Town Center, with flavors ranging from peanut butter chocolate to baked potato. Nibblers also carries 563 types of candy, making it a great place to pick up classic and new-school sweets for your movie night.

What I’m Eating

Shige Tokita is the godfather of Sacramento’s sushi scene, the mentor of acclaimed chefs such as Lou Valente of Southpaw Sushi, Ray Yamamoto in Oto’s Marketplace and Ju Hachi founder Taka Watanabe. I drove to Carmichael for dinner at Shige Sushi, Tokita’s humble strip mall location at 5938 Madison Ave., to see Tokita’s craft at work.

Tokita can do the sauce-covered giganto-rolls preferred by some, such as a chef’s special ($12 for five pieces) with hamachi, salmon, tuna, avocado and masago. But Shige Sushi is a sushi purist’s destination. The seven counter seats are reserved for customers ordering nigiri served on wood blocks, like the hotate (scallops), tai (red snapper) and ruby-red katsuo (bonito), all served in pairs for $8.

The nigiri rice was well-packed, and the seafood, some of which comes imported from Japan, was choice. Unfortunately, the latter was often covered up, rather than complemented, by a heavy-handed streak of wasabi, making it hard to fully appreciate.

Shishito tempura ($6.80) was excellent, battered and fried just enough to let the usually-not-hot peppers shine through. I also liked the simplicity of Tokita’s ikayaki ($14), a large plate of grilled squid rings and tentacles served with soy sauce and ginger.

Openings & Closings

• Insight Coffee Roasters is closing its Southside Park roastery and cafe at the end of March but will open a new West Sacramento home base later this spring, the company announced on social media. The exact location has yet to be disclosed.
• Sticking in West Sacramento, longtime Mexican favorite Sal’s Tacos is back open at 400 C St. after a 14-month shutdown due to a fire. Founded nearly 50 years ago by Sal Galvan, it was sold in 2018 to Ernesto Delgado, the force behind Mayahuel and La Cosecha in downtown Sacramento and Mesa Mercado in Carmichael.
• Fair Oaks is buzzing over Divided Sky Tavern’s recent opening at 4894 San Juan Ave. Owned by Ian Branning, its list of eclectic bar bites includes Reuben egg rolls, crawfish hush puppies and Thai curry mussels.
  
  

I’m hungry already.