Squaw Valley is known worldwide as a bastion of athletic extremism. On Friday, April 23rd, extremists of another sort showcase their talents at the Mamasake Sushi and Wasabi Eating Nationals.

Mamasake, the hip, popular Squaw Valley eatery located at Fountain Court in the heart of the Village at Squaw Valley, is known for its daily $5 happy hour special “Beer and a Hand Roll.”  They also offers a fantastic sushi menu and a large variety of beers on tap as well as 15 different types of sake, and innovative sake cocktails. Serving modern and traditional sushi, sashimi, and hand rolls, nigri, and cold and cooked tapas. This is a popular spot for local’s and visitors alike.

The restaurant’s annual spring competition consists of two categories. The sushi-eating contest pits the contestant against the clock and a lot of sushi. The competitor who devours the most handrolls within five minutes running time claims the top podium.

During the wasabi eating event competitors go head to head chewing increasing amounts of wasabi until a winner has left his opponent crying in their sake.

Celebrity judges have not been announced yet but usually consist of very notable Ski, and Snowboard personalities add to the festivities.

The event starts at 4:20 p.m. on the Mamasake patio. Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. Entries are limited in each category. Prizes are awarded to finalists. The public is invited to attend this eye-watering competition. All ages are welcome. Libations and food are available, including an all-day $5 beer and hand roll and other specials.

Mamasake opens daily at 11:30 p.m. For more information call Mamasake at (530) 584-0110

Lake Tahoe’s first-ever Restaurant Week showcases High Sierra fine dining, giving local food aficionados and visitors an opportunity to enjoy the best in mountain cuisine Sunday, September 5 (Labor Day weekend) through Sunday, September 12.

There are no passes, tickets or coupons needed to take part in Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week. Instead guests simply visit their favorite participating restaurants – both new and established eateries and bistros are taking part – offering three-course, prix-fixe menus throughout the Tahoe-Truckee region for $20, $30 and $40 per person.

“Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week was designed to put the spotlight on the stellar chefs and charming restaurants that make up the Tahoe-Truckee dining scene,” said Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week Event Producer Pettit Gilwee. “Many of which are located in historic venues and provide menus based on local, organic and seasonal cuisine. But the event is also geared to hit home Lake Tahoe’s idyllic fall season, with its spectacular foliage and warm weather that makes for fantastic hiking, kayaking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities.”

According to Gilwee,  “The visitor doesn’t know state lines and they sure don’t know county lines. And if they do, they don’t care. They know Lake Tahoe, and Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week is intended to give them another reason to extend their vacation plans or visit during a non-traditional time of year to take part in something we all love to do – eat fantastic food!”
“Special events sell a destination,” said Executive Director Carol Chaplin of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “It motivates potential guests who might be thinking about booking Tahoe to actually take that next step and do it.”

Lake Tahoe officially got on the foodie map 25 years ago with the inception of the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival, a three-day event that provides cooking seminars with celebrity chefs, private wine tastings and a gourmet marketplace. This year, the annual event is scheduled for the later part of Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week, September 10-12, outside at the Village at Northstar. The food fare continues into October with the Truckee Wine, Walk & Shop (October 2), Passport to Dining (October 7) in Kings Beach and the Tahoe Chocolate Festival (November) in Crystal Bay.

To learn more about Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week, a list of participating dining establishments and menus, sponsorship opportunities, and how to take part, visit www.TahoeRestaurantWeek.com or call Pettit Gilwee at 530-583-2138.

Where the Truckee River meets Reno in the Eastern Sierra, water isn’t the only thing that flows. Here, a lively community of breweries and pubs has sprung up, offering visitors to the gateway to the Nevada desert a place to quench their thirst with microbrew beers, listen to a few tunes and get a taste of fun.

For years, downtown Reno has been enjoying the handcrafted goodness of the beers at Silver Peak Brewery, where at any given time there beer aficionados will find brews like Red Roadster, XXX Blonde, Baileywheat Hefeweizen, Peavine Porter and Silver Peak IPA while enjoying a great dinner menu as well as kicked back social scene.

Down the road in Sparks at Victorian Square, the brewers at Great Basin Brewing Co. are busy with batches of the famous “Icky” IPA (Ichthyosaur IPA, which seems to be the favorite among locals and visitors alike), or any one of a dozen or so craft beers with names like Jackpot Porter, Katie’s Cream Ale, Mollie’s Irish Stout, Nevada Gold, Old Fitz Bourbon Stout, Risky Biscuit Barley Wine, Rock Mai Bock, Stone Mother Marzen, Truckee River Red, Wheeler Peak Wheat and Whoop-Ass Witbier.

Nevada’s oldest and most decorated brewery serves it all with a hearty helping of live music, great pub-house fare and local flavor.

The area’s newest brewery, Buckbean, has quickly gained a following, as much for the tastiness of their signature beers like Orange Blossom Ale and Black Noddy, to their unique packaging – tall (16 ounce) cans. Or visitors are welcome to step into the brewery’s tasting room to get it straight from the tap.

Dozens of bars, nightclubs and restaurants support Nevada’s homegrown beers. So if you’re in town, hit up the favorites – Silver Peak, Great Basin, Brew Brothers, BJs – or just order something local. Your tastebuds will thank you.

Resources:

• Silver Peak
• Great Basin Brewing Company
• Buckbean
• Brew Brothers
• BJs
• Fifty Fifty

Reno-Tahoe knows how to throw a party, and one of the biggest excuses of the year is Halloween. Here’s a breakdown of some the region’s Halloween events. If you know of an event not listed here, please submit in the comment section:

• Magic Underground: Through Oct. 31 Famous magician couple Kalin and Jinger will present a special Halloween show at the Magic Underground in Reno.
• Halloween Hallow: Downtown Reno merchants put on this annual event, with fun for the kids, candy and entertainment.
• Ghost Night: Bring the kids to historic Virginia City for “Ghost Night,” with a parade, costume contests and other haunted happenings.
• Trick or Treat in the Streets: Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m. at the National Automobile Museum in downtown Reno.
• Trick or Treat Street: Oct. 31 from 4-7 p.m. at Circus Circus in Reno.
• The Reno Zombie Crawl: Bring your best zombie outfit and hit several downtown Reno hot spots the evening of Oct. 31.
• Halloween Skin and Scare Ball: Oct. 31- Nov. 1 at Edge nightclub, or hit Cal Neva, Gold Dust West, Harrah’s Reno or the Peppermill Reno for one of several local parties.
• Halloween Monster Mash: Oct. 31 at Pearl Champagne Lounge at the Grand Sierra Resort.
• 11th Annual Freakers’ Ball: Oct. 31 at Bruka Theatre in Downtown Reno.
• Freaks of Fashion – Circus of Wonders: Oct. 31, 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. – features live music by Keyser Soze, fashion by Haute Trash, drink specials and a costume contest.
• Night at the Mansion: Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at 10 p.m. at BuBinga Lounge at the Eldorado Hotel Casino.