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The Modesto Bee

partner publisher · 26.9K followers
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New Oakdale restaurant should be mentioned when talking about good barbecue

A question I am frequently asked and see on social media often is, “Which restaurant has the best barbecue in the Stanislaus County region?” After visiting recently opened Craft BBQ Smokehouse & Catering in Oakdale, I believe it should be part of the conversation. Craft BBQ restaurant opened Nov. 12 on E. F St., two years after owners Jesse Padilla and Matt Martin launched the brand as a catering company. Martin, former Valley Meal Prep owner, and Padilla, a longtime Modesto chef, expanded with a food trailer, which they opened behind an old Valley Meal Prep building in Modesto June 2025. The duo planned to open a restaurant in that McHenry Avenue space, but it was sold to different restaurateurs — more on that later. When they found the building in Oakdale, a former Chinese food and sushi buffet, they acquired a prime location and a new business idea : a salad bar and barbecue buffet. Menu items you cannot miss at Craft BBQ The $11.97 one-trip or $17.97 unlimited salad bar was launched with the opening of the restaurant. The barbecue buffet equipment is set up but, per my previous conversations with Padilla and Martin, the option will likely

Oakdale, CA · 1d

fastfoodclub.com

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Six Gold Rush Towns In California Where Old Saloons Still Serve Lunch

California’s Gold Rush towns still have a few old saloons where you can grab a midday meal under the same roof miners once knew. Some of these buildings date back to the 1850s, and they still open their doors for lunch today. This list covers six of them, from...

California · 3d
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Easy Everyday Recipes

partner publisher · 33.4K followers
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Texas Roadhouse faces costly fallout from viral racist hoax

A viral social-media allegation that Texas Roadhouse says was completely false still managed to leave...

Citrus Heights, CA · 2d

The Modesto Bee

partner publisher · 26.9K followers
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Classic rock group set bring its mega-hits to Modesto's Gallo Center. Who, when

Get the Eat. Sip. Play. newsletter in your inbox Available now: Sign up here for the best food, drink and entertainment coverage in Stanislaus County. Gallo Center audiences will be ready to get down at an upcoming concert. KC & The Sunshine Band is set to perform at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at the downtown Modesto venue. Limited tickets remain available. Led by Harry Wayne “KC” Casey, the rock/disco-centric band formed in 1973. Casey said in an online story on ktalnews.com that “he wants to keep uplifting people and getting them to dance with his music.” “I think people are looking for any kind of escape to feel good and to feel happy,” he was quoted in the story. “It’s kind of a blessing for me, because that’s what it was intended to do. I’m so happy that it’s still doing it generation after generation.” The band usually features 15 artists playing horns, singing backup and dancing, according to the story. The group’s well-known mega-hits include “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “Get Down Tonight” and “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty.” Remaining tickets are $78 to $118 for the show at the Gallo Center, 1000 I St. in

Modesto, CA · 4d

The Sacramento Bee

partner publisher · 142.6K followers

Local church kitchen given red placard for more than 100 rodent droppings. What else?

The cooking facility inside a Florin church was given a red placard after health inspectors found 153 rodent droppings throughout. What do these inspections mean? While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide . A red placard, however, signals “imminent danger to public health and safety” and suspends an establishment’s health permit until violations are corrected. This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination . In contrast, a green placard means a restaurant passed inspection. The county performs about 14,000 inspections annually and about 97% of establishments pass, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee. Approximately 1% of inspections result in a closure, he said. These were the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Thursday, Nov. 5, through Wednesday, Nov. 11. If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com . How to report a business to the health department For readers who would like to report a local restaurant, food truck or café for health violations, you can file a complaint with the facility’s local environmental

Sacramento County, CA · 1d

CBS Sacramento

partner publisher · 205.3K followers

Highway 50 in El Dorado County is California's deer collision hotspot

A new report from UC Davis researchers highlights the number of wild animals killed on California roads each year, with deer collisions particularly common in western El Dorado County.

El Dorado County, CA · 2d

decorhint.com

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This Unassuming California Taco Shop Earned Michelin Recognition In 2026 For Its Sonoran-Style Burritos And Handmade Flour Tortillas

The flour in these tortillas comes from a mill town in Sonora, Mexico, and one of the owners has personally hauled it north. That’s dedication you can roll around a pile of mesquite-grilled steak. The tortillas come out thin, buttery, and soft. The meats get their smoky edge from...

Los Angeles, CA · 3d

familydestinationsguide.com

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This Hidden Chocolate Bar In California Is A Dream Come True For Dessert Lovers

Most great discoveries don’t announce themselves, and Annabelle’s Chocolate Lounge in El Dorado, California is proof that the best things are often the ones you have to go looking for. It’s a handcrafted chocolate lounge sitting quietly in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and it is absolutely worth the...

El Dorado County, CA · 8d

The Coconut Mama

partner publisher · 40.1K followers

Baba’s Hot Chicken opening 3 new locations in California (38 around the U.S.)

Baba’s Hot Chicken is planning three more restaurants in California, with Irvine, Roseville and Napa on the list. The Riverside-born chain is joining a state where other fried-chicken brands are…

California · 6d

easternsierranow.com

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More California Communities Becoming ‘Bear Country’ as Black Bears Seen in Lower Elevations

More California Communities Becoming ‘Bear Country’ as Black Bears Seen in Lower Elevations. California’s black bears are on the move and turning up in some surprising places. In early August, a yearling black bear was spotted within the Roseville and Rocklin city limits in Placer County. Earlier...

California · 1d

The Modesto Bee

partner publisher · 26.9K followers

Modesto's Fruit Yard Amphitheater announces first 2027 season concert. Who, when

Get the Eat. Sip. Play. newsletter in your inbox Available now: Sign up here for the best food, drink and entertainment coverage in Stanislaus County. Barely a month after its final show of the current year, the Fruit Yard Amphitheater has announced its first concert for the 2027 season. Country rocker Cody Jinks and his band The Tonedeaf Hippies will play 7 p.m. Friday, June 11 at the Modesto venue. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13. The performance is part his The Working Man Tour, “built around Jinks’ commitment to his fans and keeping live music affordable and accessible,” according to a press release. “The tour takes a different approach to the modern concert experience, with ticket options designed to allow groups of four to attend for $100–$150 total,” according to the release. Availability is limited in some locations. Jinks’ tour also plans to offer market-specific food and drink specials where possible. The release did not indicate if the above options would be available at the Modesto stop. Jinks performs a blend of outlaw country and rock ’n’ roll. He’s known for songs including “Loud and Heavy” and “Hippies and Cowboys.” The concert will follow the

Modesto, CA · 4d

The Modesto Bee

partner publisher · 26.9K followers

I tried out a Modesto doughnut shop on a $25 budget. Why it's ‘the best in town'

As someone who was born and raised in the Modesto area, I know how passionate Modestans are about Mr. T’s doughnuts. Although I’m a little nervous to admit this, I’ve never been a big fan of Mr. T’s. Delicate Donut Shop . For the longest time, doughnuts just weren’t my thing. Growing up, I was health conscious and pretty picky about how I chose to indulge. Don’t get me wrong — I’ll take a chocolate chip cookie or sweetened iced coffee any day of the week. Doughnuts just never seemed worth the calories or extra sugar to me. However, my attitude has definitely changed thanks to my latest On a Budget adventure. Modesto Bee reader Claudia Newcorn, who previously suggested I visit Modesto’s Village Health Foods , recommended another local place for me to try on a $25 budget: We Donuts . “They have a wide array of pastries as well as a good, well-priced lunch menu,” Claudia told me. “The prices are surprisingly low for the size of these items. I had to double check my receipt to make sure she hadn’t under-charged me.” I headed to the doughnut shop chain’s newer Modesto location to see what I could

Modesto, CA · 12h

unearththevoyage.com

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New Finds Arrive Every Week At This Huge California Antique Warehouse Where Treasure Hunters Lose Hours

Some buildings look plain from the parking lot and then swallow your whole afternoon once you step inside. That is exactly what happens at a big antique spot tucked into California’s Central Valley, where dozens of dealers fill the aisles with glassware, records, furniture, and odd little treasures. Regulars...

Salida, CA · 2d

fastfoodclub.com

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Seven California Small-Town Bakeries Selling Out Of Pie Every Thanksgiving Week

Every November, a lot of Californians quietly accept that their turkey is negotiable but the pie is not. The trouble is that the best pies in the state often come from tiny towns, mountain hamlets, and roadside farm stands, and those places run out fast once Thanksgiving week arrives. This...

California · 2d

The Modesto Bee

partner publisher · 26.9K followers

Modesto and Oakdale getting new Chipotle restaurants. Here's when they'll open

At the beginning of the year, some Modesto residents speculated that a Chipotle Mexican Grill was being built in The Marketplace shopping center on Oakdale Road. They were correct. In February, the company would only confirm that it was scheduled to open a new location in Modesto in 2027. Now, representatives for Chipotle are saying that location, at 3401 Oakdale Road, Suite 300, will open Nov. 18. It’s not the only Chipotle opening soon in Stanislaus County. One at 1595 E. F St. in Oakdale will open before the end of the year, according to a news release. Both restaurants feature a drive-thru lane and will be open 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Chipotle is hiring for around 30 jobs per location, according to the release. Learn more at chipotle.com/careers .

Modesto, CA · 3d

KDRV

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Southern Oregon Holiday Market returns

This award winning market includes over 200 vendors from across Oregon and northern California. The Southern Oregon Holiday Market is back at the Expo, bringing more than 200 vendors from across Oregon and Northern California together for the region's largest holiday shopping event.

Oregon · 1d

csusignal.com

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Offline Comedy brings secret standup comedy shows to the 209

Offline Comedy brings no-phone, secret-location comedy shows to the 209. It offers residents of Turlock, Modesto, Merced and more a chance to get off of their phones and check out live standup comedy. Offline Comedy’s creator, Andrew Nosrati, wanted to bring excitement to the 209. As a Turlock native, Nosrati...

Turlock, CA · 1d

wanderingcalifornia.com

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Lodi Wine Country Guide: Zinfandel Tastings & Farm Stands

Lodi sits 35 miles south of Sacramento in the San Joaquin Valley, and it offers some of the most relaxed wine tasting in California. This Lodi wine country guide is built for a slow weekend: old-vine Zinfandel, farm stands, and a downtown farmers market, with no need to plan every stop in advance. It suits first-time visitors, couples escaping Sacramento or the Bay Area, and anyone who likes good wine without Napa prices.

Lodi, CA · 3d

hoodline.com

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Manteca Dance Studio Stages 37th Holiday Show While Hunting for New Home

More than 100 dancers from a Manteca studio that has taught faith-based dance since 1989 are set to take the stage in Ripon next weekend for the 37th annual staging of “The Heart of the Holidays.” Two performances are planned at The One Church, with the show arriving just as the studio navigates an uncertain future for its own physical space.

Manteca, CA · 1d