On a Tank of Gas: January

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Follow the Trail of Tasty Treats And Fully Capture the Region's Flavor

By Janice Dice

Now, the holidays are over and the crowds are gone, providing the lull between seasons that’s the ideal time to sample a real taste of the Sacramento region.
    Whether taking a day trip or heading for a weekend getaway, hitting the road to visit foodfriendly venues can be a romantic ride or a fun family adventure.
    One way to get started is to head west on Interstate 80 for sweet treats and a cold brew in Fairfield. At the Jelly Belly Candy Company, the maker of more than 150 confections — including the late President Ronald Reagan’s favorite brand of jelly beans, plus gummies, sours and chocolates — there is a visitor center that offers a sampling bar, exhibition kitchen and 40-minute walking tours, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    On weekends and holidays, when workers are off duty and the stainless steel mixers and robotic packagers are silent, visitors may take virtual video tours of the plant before nibbling the latest flavor concoctions, such as caramel apple, mango, buttered popcorn and kiwi jelly beans.
    Can’t get your fill of jelly beans at the sample bar? The Visitor Center Café serves jelly bean–shaped hamburgers and pizzas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Call (800) 953-5592 or visit the website for more information.
    The neighboring Anheuser-Busch bottling plant also has tours and samples. Through May, tours are given Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors view the famous beechwood aging cellar, the production floor and the high-speed packing lines that fill thousands of Budweiser beer cans and bottles each minute.
Continued...

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