01.08.2024

Today’s Forecast

52º | Partly cloudy | 7% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:23 a.m. | Sunset 5:01 p.m.

🍪 Q+A with the Cookie Queen

Q+A: Amanda Long, owner of Lucian’s Food

Amanda Long proudly displays two packets of her allergen-free cookies.

Lucian’s Food comes in a full-size cookie form or five small cookie bites. | Photo by SACtoday staff

Saleswoman and mother of four Amanda Long’s small business career was born out of necessity.

Lucian, Long’s youngest child, was diagnosed at six months old with autism and an extensive range of allergies — the most difficult of them being his intolerance to breast milk and every attempted formula.

Enter Lucian’s Food, an allergen-free dessert line that focuses on nutrition and texture. It was the result of Long’s deep dive into palatable nutrients and appealing ingredients for Lucian.

Half of a thick chocolate chip cookie sits on a wrapper on a table. — The “Hempty Dempty” cookie is named after Lucian’s favorite song, “Humpty Dumpty.”
|
Photo by SACtoday staff

Editor’s note: This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: What was your first victory in finding food for Lucian?

A: I started giving him rice milk, but there weren’t enough fats and nutrients. So, I started blending hemp seed into his rice milk, and that’s when he was able to get the omegas, the fats and the proteins. And then after that, I was like, “Okay, now he’s actually wanting to eat.” Hemp seeds are the base for every single product I make.

Q: So, why cookies?

A: I don’t want it to be just a cookie. I want it to be about getting what they need from their diet so they can concentrate and function. A lot of autistic children have texture issues, so they’re only eating foods for stimulus. I needed to create something he would actually eat. I went through probably 100 of them before the texture came out right, and then he just devoured them.

What's next for Lucian's Food?

Events

Monday, Jan. 8

Book Club | Monday, Jan. 8 | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th St., Sacramento | Free | Meet for a discussion on “When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit,” the first book in an internationally acclaimed trilogy by Judith Kerr.
Riff Fest | Monday, Jan. 8 | 6-9:30 p.m. | STAB! Comedy Theater, 1710 Broadway, Sacramento | Donations accepted | Bring your A-game or just tune in and watch this battle of wits + comedy competition.

Tuesday, Jan. 9

Second Chances | Tuesday, Jan. 9 + Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Sacramento Fine Arts Center, 5330 Gibbons Dr., Ste. B, Carmichael | Free | Peruse this art show comprised of mixed-media art, hand-picked by 400 members of Sacramento Fine Arts Center.
Recharge @ the Library | Tuesday, Jan. 9 | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Sacramento Central Library, 828 I St., Sacramento | Free | This 13+ event offers refreshments, games, movies, artistic activities + more.
Clay Lab | Tuesday, Jan. 9 | 5-8 p.m. | Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S St., Sacramento | $20+ | What can you make out of 10 lbs of clay + three hours’ time? Find out at this event for all ages.

Wednesday, Jan. 10

Open Mic | Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 6-8 p.m. | Torch Club, 904 15th St., Sacramento | $10 | Get out of your comfort zone + perform for a live audience or drop-in to discover new local talents.
Paints & Pints | Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 6-8 p.m. | Porchlight Brewing Company, 866 57th St., Sacramento | $25+ | Paint a winter landscape + fuel your creativity with a beer or craft soda.
Cruise-In | Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 4-8 p.m. | California Burgers, 8537 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights | Cost of purchase | Grab a burger while you check out vintage and classic cars, and stick around for raffle prizes.
Trivia Night | Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 7-9 p.m. | High Water Brewing, 1210 66th St., Sacramento | Cost of purchase | Test your knowledge in multiple rounds as you compete for a $25 beer voucher.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Coming Soon

Plant-forward eatery and convenience store Love Child is slated to open this spring at the Ice Blocks (1715 R St.). The owners describe this business as a “micro bodega,” which will offer grab-and-go vegan foods + ethically sourced meats. (Sac Biz Journal)

Civic

A new shelter-and-service campus is now accepting clients in north Sacramento. The site features 60 sleeping cabins + 40 trailers to house up to 240 people experiencing homelessness, as well as on-site restrooms with showers.

Drink

Sacramento’s only zero-proof bar, The Teetotalist, is kicking off a series of pop-up events in honor of Dry January. You can catch the booze-free business in Propagate’s Jungle Room (1700 I St.) every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this month (except Friday, Jan. 12) for non-alcoholic drinks + small bites. (KCRA 3)

Fun Fact

Did you know the Sacramento History Museum just surpassed one billion views on YouTube? Comments often say, “Protect Howard at all costs,” referring to the TikTok famous letterpress operator who has garnered an endearingly supportive following on the platform. (KCRA 3)

Announced

America’s most realistic dinosaur experience is coming to Sacramento this year — Jurassic Quest visitors can expect life-like dinosaur displays, themed rides, shows, fossil digs, photo opportunities + more. The event runs from Friday, Jan. 12, to Sunday, Jan. 14, with tickets ranging from $15 to $42. (FOX40)

Wellness

Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper joined victims advocates + nonprofit groups in unveiling a “soft interview room” at the Sheriff’s Office in South Sac. The room is tailored specifically for victims and their families, with the intent to offer a safe space for those recounting traumatic experiences. (Sac Bee)

Closed

In late December, Onit Coffee closed both locations in Arden Fair + Elk Grove. The coffee chain’s website, phone numbers, and social media channels went dark around the same time. At this time, no comments have been made by owners on any next moves or future prospects. (Sac Biz Journal)

Trending

Looking for your new favorite water bottle? The Owala Travel Tumbler combines the best of Stanley’s viral tumbler with Owala’s smart design. We’re liking color “Bunny Hop.”*

ICYMI

Fan art, trinkets + cosplay galore

SacAnime 2024: Cosplay, fan art + trinkets galore

Four cosplayers are dressed as Star Wars characters, donning storm trooper wear and helmets.

These Star Wars cosplayers stole the show at SacAnime. | Photo by SACtoday staff

In case you missed it — SacAnime brought thousands of anime lovers and cosplay enthusiasts to downtown Sacramento Friday, Jan. 5, through Sunday, Jan. 7.

Guests of honor at the convention included voice actors like Colleen Clinkenbeard (Monkey D. Luffy in the English dub of “One Piece”) + Yuri Lowenthal (Sasuke Uchiha in the English dub of “Naruto”).

Art vendors like Jackie Archer Art and Chibitasm sold handmade stickers, key chains, and more memorabilia featuring fan favorite characters.

Our favorite part, of course, were the incredible costumes put together by visiting fans.

Attendees could also browse wares from shops like Triforce Cosplay and Accessories to beef up their cosplay arsenals.

If this event sounds right up your alley, then you won’t want to miss the ComicVerse Convention on Sunday, Feb. 4 — tickets are on sale now.

The Buy

The Buy 1.08.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Sustainably sourced coffee. Or maybe some organic matcha. Or a low-caffeine chai blend, or a hot toddy spice mix — whatever your favorite warm beverage, it’s waiting for you in Six & Main’s locally-sourced coffee and tea collection.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Madeline

From the editor

In case you missed it in the full online article — I’m obsessed with this video capturing the moment Lucian found his snacks at the Sacramento Kings stadium concessions. 🥹

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