Sanger

[dimsumgirl]

I intended to try Fermin's Steakhouse last night but got in really late after lots of commute traffic and an extended drive to the area so I wimped out and ate in Clovis near my airport area hotel.

I drove to Vitucci's on Shaw which was recommended by Kim C two years ago where I had a decent meal. Sadly, there is a Blockbuster Videon in the space that used to be Vitucci's. RIP Vitucci's! Sharing the same parking lot was Toledo's, a Mexican restaurant.

I had a decent dinner there. I ordered the chef's special dinner, a combination of camarones al mojo and carne asada steak. They started me off with a large bowl of albondigas soup. It was delicious with lots of vegetables including tomatoes, carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, cabbage and a golf-ball sized meatball with ground meat (beef?) and rice. The dinner was a generous sized serving although the shrimp were disappointing due to the lack of garlic flavor.

But today, the person hosting my visit offered me two options: lunch at the Italian place where we ate last year or a new place called Fermin's! Oh boy, oh boy! So I got to try Fermin's after all! Thanks Tavmark for tipping me off to this place.

My hostess said that the restaurant is in the location that used to be a gym. In fact, she said it is hard to think of eating in a place where she used to see people working out. The chef is Fermin Martinez. We were doing business over lunch or I would have asked more information from the wait staff and even asked to speak to the chef.

I ordered the steak salad and was really happy when the waitress asked how I would like my meat cooked. I asked for rare and the meat that came on top of the salad was actually rare! The lunch salads come with a generous bowl of soup. Today's special was the cream of broccoli. It was a generous portion and I really enjoyed it. My salad came with romaine lettuce, the steak, shredded parmesan, red onion slices and a couple of pieces of artichoke hearts. The person hosting my visit ordered the Chinese chicken salad on the recommendation of the waitress. She said the chicken was good but the salad would have been better had it not been drowned in the dressing. The greens were accompanied by chicken, mandarin oranges and a few other ingredients (not sure what else since we were doing business over lunch). There were quite a few other people in the restaurant. The other offerings were other salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes and specials. Today's specials were: BBQ prime rib sandwich, chicken sandwich (chicken breast, spinach and raspberry dressing, and another sandwich-- could have been salmon? not sure but it sounded good). I saw a salad with a grilled salmon fillet delivered to the table next to ours that looked delicious and smelled good as well.

We had several sites where I needed to go. In between places, we had a nice drive among the area orchards. We passed a place that had numerous cars. It looked like a popular spot. There were between 15 and 20 cars in the small parking lot this morning. If business did not get in the way, I would have inquired about it but I did get the name of the place. It is the Blossom Trail Cafe on Academy at Belmont. I did get a phone number: [phone]. With that many cars in front of a small casual looking spot, it must be a popular local spot. I made a mental note to get back there. I need to go back when I can check out the place. If the parking lot was any indication, it's a must try. Please post if you get there before I can get back to try the chow.

Fermin's Steakhouse
1351 7th Street (at N Street)
Sanger, CA 93657
chef: Fermin Martinez
[phone]
www.fermins-steakhouse.com

Blossom Trail Cafe
Academy and Belmont
Sanger
[phone]

[glazebrookgirl]

Thanks for the report, dimsumgirl. I remember seeing a commercial on TV for the Blossom Trail Cafe and thinking we ought to go over there. Sadly, we have not made it, yet. Your reminder will put it back on my radar.

[Toni Pacini]

Hello,
My partner Walt and I came to Sanger the first time last December on business, we moved here two months ago. The best surprise was while we strolled downtown Sanger last December, early morning, peeking in shop windows, we spotted a nice restaurant with white table cloths on well spaced tables in a roomy open dining area. As we cupped our hands and peered in someone said, would you like a menu? It was the owner of Fermin's restaurant. He opened the door and invited us in. We left with a copy of Fermin's lunch and dinner menu. We could not wait to try the huge variety of yummy entrees on both menus, from burgers to lobster. Yes, we were surprised at such a classy restaurant in a small town that offers hair salons, bridal shops and a saddlery as the main business on main street.
We went back for lunch later that day and have since moved to Sanger where we bought a home and are opening a business. We frequent Fermin's and take all visitors there to dine. In addition, I saw mention of the Blossom Trail Restaurant above. We have eaten there several times and I ate there this morning. I find it very good for breakfast and lunch. Good deserts. One thing I just noticed though, as I write this, the date and their phone number on their receipt, are both incorrect. You gotta love small towns, very laid back. We came here for laid back but we are pleased to find great food at Fermin's and Blossom Trail. I would also like to mention a small Mexican restaurant in the parking lot of a hardware store on Academy (I think the restaurants name is Hacienda?) Fantastic Mexican food. Tiny place, always crowded, good service. You might want to get take out though if you don't care for small crowded places. The food is worth it.
Toni Pacini

[dimsumgirl]

Toni:
Thanks for the great update. I loved Fermin's and can't wait to get back there. Thanks for the recs on the Blossom Trail. I intend to try the mexican resto on my next trip in the area as well. The central valley seems to do Mexican particularly well! Loved your report!