Savor summer at Bambu, Leatherby's, Mendocino Farms

Now that summer is close, school is officially out and the sun is showing off its heat, the much-anticipated season for adventure has begun. Try new desserts at Bambu Dessert Drinks, escape the heat with Leatherby's ice cream and relish a hot honey peach & prosciutto sandwich from Mendocino Farms. Bambu Dessert Drinks is an Asian-inspired establishment located at 1870 Prairie City Road, Suite 300, in Folsom. Bambu held a grand opening event on May 20, welcoming more than 600 customers that day alone. "Each beverage is carefully crafted to order using fresh ingredients, with our drinks made fresh daily from scratch, prioritizing optimal taste," Bambu says. "... Food is something that brings people together and is meant to be enjoyed. Chè is a relatively new experience for many people, and through our offerings, we aim to introduce them to the wonders of Vietnamese cuisine." Bambu's website further describes its chè as "made to order using fresh cut & drained coconut water plus house-prepared coconut milk combined with a unique selection of fresh, healthy, and delicious ingredients." Another summer pit stop is the new Leatherby's location at 2455 Iron Point Road in Folsom. Its May 29 grand opening welcomed more than 2,000 guests. The community showed its overwhelming support by lining up for the event before the doors even opened, and packed the creamery until after closing. Matthew Leatherby is grateful for the community's excitement about the family's new restaurant location and hopes people will continue to enjoy the old-fashioned experience that's been brought to Folsom's backyard. "My grandfather, when he opened 40-plus years ago, he wanted to work somewhere he could change the world in some small way," Leatherby says about the business' family friendly history and why it remains a kid-friendly environment. "... We've always tried to be a gathering place. We've got people from all walks of life." Leatherby states around 15 members of the family (including cousins, uncles and many more involved in the restaurants) were "working, talking, telling stories, going table to table" on opening day. Leatherby's is known for its big portions of ice cream, old-fashioned aesthetic and friendly staff, and will definitely be the place to stop this summer to cool down and connect with friends and family. A new eatery is coming to Folsom near summer's end. Mendocino Farms has 56 locations, reaching the people of California, Washington and even Texas. The local location will be at 165 Placerville Road. Whitney Schwartz, who works at Mendocino Farms for its new store openings and local sales marketing team, says Mendocino Farms is excited to reach out to Folsom and engage with locals, commuters and everyone in between. The company is known for its fresh food, locally sourced ingredients and diverse menu. Mendocino Farms offers accommodations for allergies and dietary restrictions, including (but not limited to) vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian diets. Its most popular item is the avocado & quinoa superfood ensalada, but all are encouraged to try new things, such as the seasonal hot honey peach & prosciutto sandwich. "The Sac area has been so receptive of our fresh, bold flavors," Schwartz says about the menu and why Folsom is the perfect spot for its newest location. "We change our menu throughout the year so it allows people to come in to try something new." Schwartz encourages those curious about Mendocino Farms' menu, the business and grand opening events to visit the website.