Sacramento is the epicenter of California politics, but until recently, the local food scene didn’t move the needle much. It clearly helps when hometown heroes like Mike Thiemann return. The seasonal, local cooking proponent previously worked for Merriman’s on Hawaii’s Big Island and as Tyler Florence’s culinary director. Thiemann moved back to Sacramento to raise his daughter (now two daughters) and to open Empress Tavern. While his more elaborate downtown restaurant was under construction, he debuted Mother down the block. This casual vegetarian restaurant features a patio that’s geared towards cooler weather and rotating menus.

This is a long winded way of saying that Thiemann’s seasonal approach also carries over to the beverage program at Mother. The seasonal menu recently included very good Peach Lemonade ($3) that tasted like the essence of summer on a blistering, soul-crushing, 90-plus degree day.