Because of the wonderful things it does: Bacchus House dresses up as ‘Wizard of Oz’ for a cause
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Somewhere over the rainbow — or over the Highway 50 hill, if one comes from El Dorado County — Bacchus House Wine Bar & Bistro underwent a “The Wizard of Oz” makeover for a good cause.
A faux yellow brick road leads up to the restaurant’s front doors and crosses by life-sized statues of the Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys, along with the 1939 film’s protagonists. Dorothy’s ruby slippers, the Cowardly Lion’s badge of courage and the Tin Man’s heart are all on display at the bar under glass. Characters are also memorialized in paintings on Bacchus House’s walls, above the doors and in blown-up movie stills.
The bistro and wine bar at 1004 E. Bidwell St., Suite 200B, in Folsom underwent its colorful transformation to raise money for Shriners Children’s Northern California, a children’s hospital in Sacramento, through a pair of five-course themed dinners.
Tickets are $250 per person for each dinner, where live actors will portray “The Wizard of Oz” characters. The July 14 dinner sold out, and the second slated for Aug. 11 is expected to do the same.
Bacchus House’s regular customers are used to themed takeovers: horror movie monsters can be seen throughout the restaurant around Halloween, and it becomes an Old World winter wonderland in December. Yet this is the most extensive redecoration yet. Owner Eric Adams planned it for two years and got memorabilia from as far away as Australia, he said.
“The Wizard of Oz” is analogous to many of Shriners’ patients’ stories, Adams said. The tornado that throws Dorothy’s life into a tailspin is the child’s diagnosis, and the foreign Land of Oz is the hospital where they end up. Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow are the new friends that help them through the difficult journey.
“It’s not always going to be nice in the hospital. There’s going to be some scary moments, there’s going to be some pain and some crazy times. That’s the Wicked Witch and the (flying) monkeys,” Adams said. “But if you stay on the yellow brick road, stay on track, we’ll get you to Emerald City, to the wizard, and get you what you need and get you back home ... and there’s no place like home.”
Bacchus House will keep “The Wizard of Oz” decor up and feature cocktail specials such as the Ruby Slippers (Maker’s Mark bourbon, Aperol, lemon, honey syrup and strawberries) until Aug. 31.
What I’m Eating
I’m not sure exactly how Loomis ended up with one of the Sacramento area’s two Burmese restaurants, but residents of the 7,000-person Placer County town lucked out by landing Green Elephant at 5911 King Road.
Co-owner and front-of-house manager Rachel Phyu immigrated to the U.S. from what’s now Myanmar at age 19 in 1985, and opened the strip mall restaurant in 2011 with her chef and longtime boyfriend Moe Thu. It’s normally just the two of them at Green Elephant. Phyu’s tie-dye t-shirt, denim shorts and convivial attitude lent a sense of informality to our meal.
I appreciate the contrasting textures in a good tea leaf salad ($13.75), and Green Elephant’s rendition hit those notes well, the soaked leaves and cabbage interrupted by the crunch of peanuts, garlic chips and seeds galore.
Phyu recommended crab fried rice to go with curry fish (both $15.75), but each had enough flavor to stand on its own. The fish in particular stood out, with big nuggets of tender, salty catfish with sweet potatoes broccoli and lotus root in a turmeric-heavy curry.
My favorite dish was Green Elephant’s chicken laksa ($14.75), a golden stew with hard-boiled eggs, red onions and chewy egg noodles. Topped with fried yellow split peas that I initially mistook for Funyuns (close call there), the laksa’s creamy coconut milk base and terrific depth of flavor kept me coming back for more.
Openings & Closings
- Tokyo Stop Sushi & Grill opened for takeout and delivery at 6616 Laguna Blvd., Suite 118, in Elk Grove July 13. Look for a substantive selection of donburi bowls, sushi platters and bento boxes, with catering available as well.
Oyster Bar, a new seafood restaurant, is opening at 4261 Truxel Road, Suite A7 in Natomas, the Sacramento Business Journal reported. Owned by Duy Pan and Kevin Phan, it will specialize in the namesake shellfish while also serving full seafood dishes such as gumbo.
Back in Folsom, Tong Thai Bistro recently opened at 25035 Blue Ravine Road, Suite 120. Look for specialty items such as salmon panang curry, crispy pork belly with sweet basil or mango ice cream over roti.
This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.