Alfonso Portela, “Fonzie,” a coffee barista at the Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters Chocolate Fish Coffee Company in downtown, has made it into the finals at the U.S. Barista Championship in Portland, Ore., April 19 to 22. Fonzie takes his place at the competition after placing in the top six at the Southwest Regional Barista Competition in Santa Cruz in March, competing against 39 veteran top-ranking artisan baristas from Hawaii, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. This is the highest ranking any barista from Sacramento has ever reached.  Watch an interview with Fonzie as a Finalist just before going on stage here. At 21 years old, Fonzie has worked as a barista fo

Darrell Corti, owner of Sacramento’s beloved Corti Brothers, is an old fashioned and trusted shopkeeper. He is an expert in the production and history of the food and beverages he sells in his artisanal grocery and ensures that his staff is well trained to carry that knowledge to the customer. Corti handpicks the majority of his specialty products in his extensive travels and during biweekly wine tastings. He also utilizes his relationships with local artisans.  Sebastian Bariani, co-owner of Bariani Olive Oil, is an artisan producer in Sacramento who has known Corti for 19 years. "We have a long relationship with Mr. Corti. Corti Brothers was the first retailer to buy our olive oil," s