Dining Guide

The FoodChainThe 2012 Food & Dining Guide

a special presentation by

FROM FARM TO FORKMORE THAN EVER PEOPLE ARE SEEKING ORGANICALLY GROWN FOODS FORTHEIR FAMILIES

A NEW LEAFLOCAL BUSINESSES AIM TO TURN PASADENA ONTOTHE BENEFITS OF TEA

NATURE’S WAYLOCAL RESTAURANTS KEEP FRESHNESS AND SUSTAINABILITY ON THE TIPS OF OUR TONGUES

DINING GUIDE 2012 PASADENA WEEKLY 3

EDITOR Kevin UhrichDEPUTY EDITOR André ColemanART DIRECTOR Kent BancroftJUNIOR DESIGNER Carla Cortez PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Richard Garcia, Rochelle BassarearFOOD WRITERS Sara Cardine, Rebecca Kuzins, Dan O’HeronADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon SALES AND MARKETING Brenda Clarke, Joseluis Correa, Leslie Lamm, JJ WeilandOFFICE ASSISTANT Gina GiovacchiniVICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE Michael NagamiHUMAN RESOURCES Andrea BakerBUSINESS MANAGER Angela WangACCOUNTING Alysia Chavez, Monica MacCreeV P OF OPERATIONS FOR SOUTHLAND PUBLISHING David ComdenPUBLISHER Jon Guynn

CONTACT US PHONE (626) 584-1500FAX (626) 795-0149MAILING ADDRESS 50 S. De Lacey Ave. Suite 200 Pasadena, CA 91105

©2012 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

5 FROM FARM TO FORKMORE THAN EVER PEOPLE ARE SEEKING ORGANICALLY GROWNFOODS FOR THEIR FAMILIES BY REBECCA KUZINS

11 A NEW LEAFLOCAL BUSINESSES AIM TO TURN PASADENA ONTO THE BENE-FITS OF TEABY SARA CARDINE

19 THE FOOD CHAINNOT SURE WHERE TO EAT TONIGHT? USE THIS HANDY DINING GUIDE TO GREATER PASADENA

37 NATURE’S WAYLOCAL RESTAURANTS KEEP FRESHNESS AND SUSTAINABILITYON THE TIPS OF OUR TONGUESBY DAN O’HERON

ABOUT THE COVER: Photo courtesy of Kabuki Japanese Restaurant | ABOVE: Photo courtesy Gyu-Kaku

37

2 0 1 2 D I N I N G G U I D E


PASADENA WEEKLY DINING GUIDE 20124


B Y R E B E C C A K U Z I N S

FROM FARM TO FORK

MORE THAN EVER PEOPLE ARE SEEKING ORGANICALLY GROWN FOODS FOR THEIR FAMILIES

FROM FARM TO FORK

DIANA SINGLETON HAD TO THINK FOR A MOMENT AFTER BEING

ASKED RECENTLY WHY SHE WAS SHOPPING FOR ORGANIC

PRODUCTS AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET. “I’ve been buying organic since 1981, so I don’t even think about it

anymore,” Singleton said finally. “Organic foods are healthier. I likesupporting local and organic farmers; the food is good for you,because the farmers preserve the soil. I want to live longer and I wantto feel good.”

Singleton is one of a small but growing group of grocery shoppers.Still, it is true that many Americans do not share her enthusiasm forfruits, vegetables and other foods grown and raised without the use ofpesticides, chemical fertilizers or genetic modifications and which arenot processed with chemicals and other additives.

In a recent survey, National Public Radio’s “Planet Money” foundthat shoppers in 2012 were spending 22.9 percent of their grocerymoney on processed foods and sweets — almost double what theyspent in 1982. Expenditures for fruits and vegetables (14.6 percent)and beverages (11.1 percent) essentially remained the same duringthe 30-year period, while shoppers purchased less meat (from 31.3 to21.5 percent) and more grains and baked goods (from 13.2 to 14.4percent).

These figures indicate that frozen dinners, canned soups, snacksand other high-calorie processed foods are still the staples of manyAmericans’ diets — and one reason for the massive rise in obesity. Butthese statistics don’t tell the whole story.

— C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 7


C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 5


The growth of processedfood purchases has beenaccompanied by a muchsmaller but nonethelesssignificant rise in sales oforganic products. Accordingto the Organic Trade Associa-tion, a membership-basedassociation for the industry inNorth America, sales of organicfoods and beverages reached$29.22 billion in 2011, a 9.5percent increase over theprevious year and more than 28times the $1 billion of organicspurchased in 1990.Organic foodsales nowrepresent 4.2percent ofall US foodsales, upfrom 4 percentin 2010.

Grocery stores haveresponded to this increase byoffering customers a rangeof organic products.According to theassociation, 55percent of allorganic foodandbeveragessold in theUnited Stateswere availableat nationalgrocery chains,club and warehousestores and other mass-market merchandisers — thesame places where shoppershave traditionally purchasedprocessed food. Natural health

food storesaccounted foranother 38percent of sales,with an

additional 7.4percent being sold

at farmers’ markets. Although organic foods are

often more expensive thanconventional products, manyshoppers are willing to payhigher prices to obtain whatthey perceive as better qualitymerchandise. Like Singleton,several customers recentlyshopping at Whole Foods onArroyo Parkway cited the“healthiness” of organicproducts as one of theirprimary reasons for patronizing

the store. Whole Foods, anAustin, Texas-based chain withtwo stores in Pasadena, boastsit was “the first nationallycertified organic grower in the

United States.” Sprouts FarmersMarket, another

national grocerychain with astore inPasadena, alsooffers organicfoods. Thechain describes

itself as ahybridization of

natural foods store,a farmers’ market and a

conventional supermarket,”featuring both “conventional”and organic produce.

Organic produce can also bepurchased at Trader Joe’s, a

— C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 9

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 7

national chain launched inPasadena in the late 1960s. Acorporate spokesperson saidthat 80 percent of the chain’sproducts are sold “underneaththe Trader Joe’s brand” labeland contain “no artificialcolors, flavors or preserva-tives.”

A group of local residents hasplans to open a food co-op inAltadena, which will featurelocally and organically grownproducts. Brian Chiu, one of theorganizers of the Arroyo FoodCo-op, said the proposedstore currently hasenrolled 490member-ownersout of the 500that will beneeded tofinance theoperation.

While thefruit andvegetables sold atPasadena’s threefarmer’s markets are notcertified organic, many of theproducts are organically grown.And all of the items are certifiedby countyagriculturedepartmentsas beinglocallygrown,which meansthat the farmersare selling the sameproducts that they havepersonally raised. Pasadena’sfarmers’ markets feature

merchandise from vendors whocome from a wide swath ofsouthern California, from as far

north as Fresno toas far south as

San Diego. Gretchen

Sterling, themarkets’

manager, said theavailability of locally

grown products is a key reasonfor the markets’ popularity:“People want to build arelationship with the people

who grow their food,” shesaid. “Here, they can

talk to growers.”Remarks by

some of theshoppers whoattended arecentSaturday

morning marketat Victory Park

bear out Sterling’scomments.

Rebecca McMillan saidshe shops at the farmers’market because she likes “asense of community. I do preferfresh fruits and vegetables tothose that have been sitting inthe market. There’s a difference— and these are better.”

Another shopper, KarenBrown, said she likes the

market’s produce because “it’sfresher, tastier, and I’msupporting local businesses.And there’s also a greaterchance that I’m not eatingpesticides.” ■



B Y S A R A C A R D I N E

IN THE WORLD OF GASTRONOMY, MUCH ATTENTION IS PAID

TO FOOD — WHERE IT COMES FROM, HOW IT IS SELECTED

AND PREPARED AND FINALLY PRESENTED FOR DINERS OR

LOVED ONES. SOMETIMES OVERLOOKED IS THE ROLE A

GOOD BEVERAGE CAN PLAY, EITHER WHEN PAIRED WITH

FOOD OR IN A STANDALONE FASHION, IN THE OVERALL

ENJOYMENT OF A WELL-ROUNDED MEAL.

A NEWLEAF

— C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 1 3

LOCAL BUSINESSES AIM TO TURN PASADENA ONTO THE BENEFITS OF TEA


C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1 1


The city itself has a richculinary pedigree, but onlyrecently havedestinationsdedicated to theenjoyment of oneparticularbeverage begunto enjoy a wideraudience in andaround Pasadena.At a time when manybusinesses try to be allthings to all people, thesevenues stay the course,focusing on enlighteningvisitors about theculturally acceptedways toconsumebeverageswhile alsoencourag-ing them tocreate newtraditions.

Take tea,for example, adrink with avery long andsometimes complicatedprovenance. Though Americansdrink a lot of iced tea (some-thing people in tea-drinkingcountries hardly ever consume),coffee and soda predominate asbeverages of choice. Still, inPasadena, there are a fewbusinesses that strive to wakepeople up to the virtues of tea.

Open just three months,Flour+Tea (238 S. Arroyo Ave.,Pasadena (626/698-1058,flourandtea.com), offerspatrons much more than just

bulk leaves and brewing pots.Instead, you will find a

menu that appealsto novices and

pros alike — itlets you decideyour ownmood andpalate and

then gives youseveral different

ways to build offthat basic template.

Shaken teas letcustomers choose a base tea:oolong, black, green or

chamomile. If you arealready lost, staff

members will tellyou oolong offers

something mildand black isbolder, whilegreenprovides anantioxidant

boost andchamomile

relaxes. Once youindicate your

sweetness level, pick fromflavors like lychee, kumquat,honey, blueberry or just go withplain. The ingredients areshaken vigorously with ice andserved immediately.

For its bakery component,Flour+Tea serves several goods,baked in-house, many of whichuse tea as a main ingredient. Trya green tea macaron, or clouds— light as angel-food cakes thatreplace denser cupcakes butstill pack a flavor punch.

“You just have to find


Green tea macaronsPH

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something that you like,” saysproprietor Johnson Wang.

Because of the owners’connections to Asian distribu-tors and therelationshipthey keepwith theirparentcompanies,TenRen andTenFu Tea,the largest teagrowers in theworld, customerscan come into Flour+Tea andnot only choose from a wideselection, but special orderrarer varieties direct fromChina.

“My dream is to letpeople enjoy teathe way it is inits naked,natural state,”said GeneralManagerNancy Ou.“Here, youcan becomeyour ownalchemist.”

Anotherdestination forPasadena tea drinkers is BirdPick Tea & Herb (10 S. DeLaceyAve. (626/773-4372, bird-pick.com), which opened itsflagship store in Old Pasadenain 2008. Since then, ManagingDirector Lan Ong has quietlywatched as coffee drinkersmake the switch to a new

morning brew.“I truly believe that we can

revolutionize tea,” Ong says.“Tea has definitely gained

momentum and awareness interms of health benefits,

versatility andconsciousness. I haveseen numerous healthaficionados latch ontotea as a nourishing and

stimulating alternativeto coffee. It’s amazing to

see patrons convert theirmorning coffee to morning

tea.”The store’s tranquil ambience

attracts all levels of tea drinkers— from amateurs to connois-

seurs — and a pure teabar serves up

classics as wellas infused

icedcreations.Bird Pick’smission,Ong says,is to

celebratetea culture

by encouragingcustomers to

indulge in theirsenses while discovering theirperfect cup of tea.

“We aim to share our passionand knowledge by providinginformation on Chinese TeaCulture, as well as showing thehealth benefits of tea andperhaps, a new lifestyle,” sheadds. ■



BEST OF PASADENA—2011—

BEST RESTAURANTAVANTI CAFÉ

111 N. LAKE AVE., PASADENA(626) 577-4688 | AVANTICAFE.COM

BEST NEW RESTAURANTPLATE 38

2361 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA,(626) 793-7100 | PLATE38.COM

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH SMITTY’S GRILL

110 S. LAKE AVE., PASADENA(626) 792-9999 | SMITTYSGRILL.COM

BEST CHEAP EATSMIX N MUNCH

CEREAL & GRILLED CHEESE 1005 MISSION ST., SOUTH PASADENA(626) 441-8808 | MIXNMUNCH.COM

BEST OUTDOOR DININGLA GRANDE ORANGE CAFÉ

260 S. RAYMOND AVE., PASADENA(626) 356-4444

LGOSTATIONCAFE.COM

BEST RESTAURANT STAFFCELESTINO’S

141 S. LAKE AVE., PASADENA(626) 795-4006

CELESTINOPASADENA.COM

BEST SPECIALOCCASION DININGPARKWAY GRILL

510 S. ARROYO PARKWAY, PASADENA(626) 795-1001

THEPARKWAYGRILL.COM

BEST FAMILY RESTAURANTTWOHEY’S RESTAURANT

1224 N. ATLANTIC BLVD., ALHAMBRA(626) 284-7387 | TWOHEYS.COM

BEST LATE NIGHT SNACKCONRAD’S

861 E. WALNUT ST., PASADENA(626) 577-7603

KING TACO 45 N. ARROYO PARKWAY, PASADENA

(626) 792-0405 | KINGTACO.COM

LUCKY BOY 640 S. ARROYO PARKWAY, PASADENA

(626) 793-0120LUCKYBOYBURGERS.COM

BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH THE LANGHAM HUNTINGTON

HOTEL & SPA1401 S. OAK KNOLL AVE., PASADENA

(626) 568-3900PASADENA.LANGHAMHOTELS.COM

BEST ARMENIAN FOOD ZANKOU CHICKEN

1296 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA(626) 405-1502

BEST BAKERY EURO PANE BAKERY

950 E. COLORADO BLVD., STE 107,PASADENA

(626) 577-1828300 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA

(626) 844-8804

BEST BBQ GUS’S BBQ

808 FAIR OAKS AVE., SOUTH PASADENA

(626) 799-3251 | GUSSBBQ.COM

BEST BREAKFASTTWOHEY’S RESTAURANT

1224 N. ATLANTIC BLVD., ALHAMBRA(626) 284-7387 | TWOHEYS.COM

BEST BUFFETSOUPLANTATION

201 S. LAKE AVE., PASADENA(626) 577-4798 | SOUPLANTA-

TION.COM

BEST BURGERTWOHEY’S RESTAURANT

1224 N. ATLANTIC BLVD. ALHAMBRA(626) 284-7387 | TWOHEYS.COM

BEST BURRITOBURRITO EXPRESS

1597 E. WASHINGTON BLVD., PASADENA

(626) 798-0844

BEST CALIFORNIA CUISINEGREEN STREET RESTAURANT

146 S. SHOPPERS LANE, PASADENA(626) 577-7170

GREENSTREETRESTAURANT.COM

BEST CARIBBEAN FOODKINGSTON CAFÉ

333 S. FAIR OAKS AVE., PASADENA(626) 405-8080 | KINGSTONCAFE.COM

BEST CHINESE FOODFU-SHING CHINESE RESTAURANT


FUSHINGRESTAURANT.COM

BEST DELI/SANDWICHESLOVEBIRD’S CAFE

921 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA(626) 583-8888 | LOVEBIRDSCAFE.COM

PASADENA SANDWICH CO. 259 SIERRA MADRE VILLA AVE.,

PASADENA(626) 578-1616

BEST CUPCAKESDOTS CUPCAKES

400 S. ARROYO PARKWAY, PASADENA(626) 568-3687

DOTSCUPCAKES.COM

BEST DESSERTEURO PANE BAKERY

345 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA(626) 844-8804.

BEST FRENCH FOODCHEVAL BLANC

41 S. DE LACEY AVE., PASADENA(626) 577-4141 | CHEVAL-

BLANCBISTRO.COM

BISTRO DE LA GARE921 MERIDIAN AVE., A, SOUTH

PASADENA(626) 799-8828

BISTRODELAGARE.COM

BEST HEALTH FOODGRASSROOTS NATURAL MARKET

AND KITCHEN 1119 FAIR OAKS AVE.,

SOUTH PASADENA(626) 799-0156

OREAN THE HEALTH EXPRESS 817 N. LAKE AVE., PASADENA

(626) 794-0861OREANSHEALTHEXPRESS.COM

BEST ICE CREAM/YOGURT/GELATO

CARMELA’S ICE CREAM 2495 E. WASHINGTON BLVD.,

PASADENA(626) 797-1405

CARMELAICECREAM.COM

BEST INDEPENDENT COFFEE HOUSEJONES COFFEE ROASTERS

693 S. RAYMOND AVE., PASADENA(626) 564-9291 | THEBESTCOFFEE.COM

BEST INDIAN FOODAKBAR CUISINE OF INDIA

44 N. FAIR OAKS AVE., PASADENA(626) 577-9916

AKBARCUISINEOFINDIA.COM

BEST ITALIAN FOODCELESTINO’S RISTORANTE


CELESTINOPASADENA.COM

BEST JAPANESE/SUSHIKABUKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

3589 E. FOOTHILL BLVD., PASADENA(626) 351-8963

88 W. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA(626) 568-9310

KABUKIRESTAURANTS.COM

BEST JUICE BARJAMBA JUICE

64 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA (626) 666-1500

204 S. LAKE AVE., PASADENA(626) 744-5200 | JAMBAJUICE.COM

BEST LOCAL BREWERYCRAFTSMAN BREWING CO.

1260 LINCOLN AVE., UNIT 100,PASADENA

(626) 296-2537CRAFTSMANBREWING.COM

BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOODBURGER CONTINENTAL


BURGERCONTINENTAL.COM

BEST MEXICAN FOODEL PORTAL

695 E. GREEN ST., PASADENA(626) 795-8553

ELPORTALRESTAURANT.COM

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD

SAHARA2226 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA

(626) 795-6900SAHARAPASADENA.COM

BEST LOCAL PIZZAAVANTI CAFÉ

111 N. LAKE AVE., PASADENA(626) 577-4688 | AVANTICAFE.COM

BEST SEAFOODCAMERON’S SEAFOOD

1978 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA(626) 793-3474 | CAMERONS4FISH.COM

BEST SOUL FOODBIG MAMA’S RIB SHACK

1453 N. LAKE AVE., PASADENA(626) 797-1792

BIGMAMASRIBSHACK.COM

BEST SOUTH AMERICAN FOODMALBEC NEW

ARGENTINIAN CUISINE1001 E. GREEN ST., PASADENA

(626) 683-0550 | MALBECCUISINE.COM

BEST SPANISH FOODBAR CELONA


BARCELONAPASADENA.COM

BEST STEAKHOUSERUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE

385 E. COLORADO BLVD., PASADENA(626) 583-8122 | RUTHSCHRIS.COM

BEST TACOKING TACO

45 N. ARROYO PARKWAY, PASADENA(626) 792-0405 | KINGTACO.COM

BEST TEA HOUSESCARLET TEA ROOM

18 W. GREEN ST., PASADENA(626) 577-0051

SCARLETTEAROOM.COM

BEST THAI FOODSALADANG

363 S. FAIR OAKS AVE., PASADENA(626) 793-8123

BEST VEGETARIAN FOODMY VEGAN

633 S. ARROYO PARKWAY, PASADENA(626) 578-9017 | MY-VEGAN.COM

BEST VIETNAMESE FOODINDOCHINE


2011 BEST OF PASADENADINING RECAP

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST YEAR’S WINNERS.VOTING FOR THE 2012 BEST OF PASADENA BEGINS AUGUST 2.

THIS YEAR’S WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE OCTOBER 11BEST OF PASADENA SPECIAL ISSUE.


1810 ARGENTINIAN RESTAURANT121 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 795-56581810restaurant.comOwners Marcello Sala and Gustavo Landgrebe established this Argentinian restaurant on thesite of another Argentine eatery, the uninspired Gaucho Grill. Amid unpretentious surround-ings of brickwork and dark wood tables, 1810 succeeds where its predecessor missed themark. "It's what we like and what we know," Sala says simply. Dishes fuse varied South Ameri-can flavors; even a few homemade recipes from Sala's grandmother make an appearance.Overall, this is a great place to bring the family. "It's no-fuss food, simple and easy," he says.

300 PASADENA3545 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena(626) 351-8858300Pasadena.comSitting home at night isn’t up anyone’s alley so strike up some fun at 300 Pasadena. Tokeep things interesting, we have daily specials for you and your friends to enjoy like:· Hula Bowl - enjoy a grand luau every Friday night this summer.· Happy Bowl Hour – come relax the day away; weekdays from 5-7pm.

38 DEGREES ALE HOUSE & GRILL100 W. Main St., Alhambra(626) 282-203838degreesalhambra.com38 Degrees Ale House & Grill http://www.38degreesalhambra.com, can be found indowntown Alhambra. This good-as-it-gets ale house offers 38 taps of elite craft beer suchas Ballast Point Sculpin and Russian River's Pliny the Elder along with over 100 bottledbeers and house crafted cocktails. The food features fantastic Burgers and entrees suchas Balsamic Baby Back Stack, Blackened Catfish, & Chicken & Dumplings all designed byChef James Boyle. Visit 38 degrees for a great craft beer & food experience.

A’ FLOAT SUSHI87 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 379-2221A Float Sushi dishes up high-quality sushi at some of Pasadena’s lowest prices. A uniquedining experience, A’ Float Sushi’s lunch and dinner offerings are delicious delights, suchas eight pieces of sashimi for $6.15, lunch special eight-item plates for $6.95, and sushiplates starting at $1.98. Take advantage of 90 minutes of free parking at the SchoolhouseParking Building nearby.

ALL INDIA CAFÉ39 South Fair Oaks Ave Pasadena(626) 440-0309allindiacafe.com“An unassuming” Indian that fans call the best in Pasadena, specializing in a fascinatingand extensive menu of Authentic Indian home-style cooking. We use only natural spicesand ingredients. We do not add artificial colorings or preservatives. We offer many sump-tuous dishes that are lean healthful, and low in fat. Many vegan and vegetarian dishesare also available. We offer daily specials, which include a chicken curry of the day, a veg-etable special, a lentil and rice of the day.

AVANTI CAFÉ111 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena(626) 577-4901Avanticafe.comAvanti Cafe has won Pasadena Weekly’s “Best Gourmet Pizza” for 16 years. Avanti Café isdedicated to providing exciting gourmet cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere and spe-cializes in gourmet pizzas prepared in an imported oak-wood-fired Italian oven, with pizzadough especially formulated to accent a natural oak-wood flavor. Choose from a deli-cious assortment of California-style toppings, each prepared from the freshest ingredi-ents, or select from their many popular pasta or calzone dishes, and variety of salads

BAR CELONA MODERN SPANISH RESTAURANT AND TAPAS BAR46 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 405-1000barcelonapasadena.comInspired by the au courant food capital of the world, this stylized version of a modernSpanish tapas bar and restaurant brings Spain’s passion for great food and wine to OldPasadena with a vibrant selection of tapas (small plates), paella and Spanish entrees,plus specially blended sangria. A stunningly beautiful wine and martini lounge will enticeyou with live music, flamenco bands and deejays. We have a late-night lounge andmenu. Private dining rooms are available.

BEYOND THE OLIVE10 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena(626) 844-EVOO (3866)Beyondtheolive.comWe are the premier source for the education, tasting and purchasing of California’s high-quality, extra virgin olive oils, gourmet vinegars, specialty food products and merchandise.Our olive oils and vinegars are almost exclusively produced and bottled in California —not shipped from Europe. In this economy, why not support your local economy? We arelocated in the heart of Old Pasadena at Raymond and Colorado.

BIG DADDY’S FIRE GRILL2122 E. Foothill Blvd Pasadena (626) 796-1266bigdaddysfiregrill.com Big Daddy's Fire Grill offers premium quality foods & ingredients, featuring our hand craft-ed Hamburgers using FRESH 100% Angus Beef, FRESH Grilled Marinated Sandwiches, andFRESH Sausages and Dawgs, which are infused with garlic and FRESH herbs & spicesand grilled on a Wood Fire to give our meats the sublime smokiness that can only beachieved when grilling on our Oakwood Fire Grill, which by definition makes Big Daddy'sFire Grill... better than all the rest.

BIG MAMA’S RIB SHACK1453 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena(626) 797-1792bigmamas-ribshack.comBARBECUE BLUES AND BOOZE. Southern cooking to die for. The best eating this side ofthe Mississippi! Our unique cooking and Southern hospitality attracts eaters from every-

NOT SURE WHERE TO EAT TONIGHT? USE THIS HANDY DINING GUIDE TO GREATER PASADENA

A D V E R T I S I N G S U P P L E M E N T

THE FOOD CHAIN


KABUKI Japanese Restaurant has beenreceiving “Best of” awards since 1994.They have received rave reviews from

food critics and writers, but the mostimportant recognition received is from theirguests. KABUKI assures their guests willexperience the best in service and food. Oneof the many reasons why they are consistentlyvoted the Best of the Best!

Since 1991, the vision of KABUKIJapanese Restaurant has been to createhigh-energy, family-friendly and value-orientedJapanese restaurants. It is an everydaymission to deliver quality and freshness, greatservice, clean restaurants and value to eachguest. Ultimately, the hope is that customerswill come to appreciate Japanese cuisine ascomfort food. This all starts at first step insidethe restaurant as guests are greeted withIRASHAI-MASE!

Here you will experience the cuisine andbeverages passionately crafted by twogentlemen who are not only dedicated toproviding the best in Japanese cuisine, butalso dedicated to spreading the culture ofJapanese dining. The tireless efforts ofExecutive Corporate Chef Masa Kurihara andMaster Sake Sommelier Yuji Matsumoto areaimed to attain total satisfaction from first sipto last bite. They will be heartbroken feltotherwise.

Presently, KABUKI Restaurants, Inc.operates 15 KABUKI Japanese Restaurants inArizona, California and Nevada. They arecommitted to bringing the KABUKI JapaneseRestaurant experience to many morecommunities throughout America. Despiterecent expansion, the same humble attitudesfrom 1991 remain; to treat each customer andemployee like family and to care about thecommunities in which they serve.

Come to the place voted “Best HappyHour” in 2011 by the Readers of PasadenaWeekly, Monday-Friday from 3-6pm andenjoy specially priced appetizers, sushi rolls,beer, wine & more (Pasadena & OldPasadena locations). Enjoy reverse HappyHour Monday–Thursday from 9pm-close andSunday from 8pm-close (Old Pasadenalocation only). DOMO ARI-GATO GOZAI-MASU!

KABUKI88 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 568-8553kabukirestaurants.com


The newly opened Haven Gastropub + Brewery breathes new lifeinto the heart of Old Pasadena withits deliciously innovative take on

seasonal, gourmet comfort food pairedwith unique craft beers, boutique wines,and specialty cocktails.

With an exceptional selection of localand international craft beers by the bottleand on tap, Haven Gastropub + Breweryalso boasts its very own on-site brewery.Haven Brewing, overseen by BrewmasterDavid Larsen, produces year-round brewsand small-batch seasonal varietals in arotating selection of styles, including richImperial Stouts, Bavarian-StyleHefeweizen, and hoppy IPAs. But HavenGastropub + Brewery doesn’t stop at beer- a selection from the curated global winelist and one of the handcrafted pre-Prohibition era cocktails make anunforgettable addition to any diningexperience.

Executive Chef Greg Daniels featuresfarmers’ markets specials, house-made

charcuterie, flatbreads, and entrées bursting with local California bounty.The menu highlights an array of snacksincluding a Hand Twisted Pretzel withIlocano Asin Philippine Sea Salt, BeerMustard, Bacon-Fontina CheeseSauce;Porchetta di Testa with a Roulade ofHog's Head, Arugula, Lemon-ShallotVinaigrette & Shaved Pecorino; and PorkRillettes, a "Confiture de Cochon" served ina Mason Jar with Toasted Sourdough.Larger plates include Duck Confit Poutinewith Port Salut and Pommes Frites; LambFlatbread with Merguez Sausage, Arugula,Cherry Tomato, Egg & HousemadeSriracha; and Whole Roasted Suckling Pig- naturally and humanely raised, servedfamily style. Pastry Chef Santanna Salas’delightfully unexpected dessert menu is theperfect finale with unique classics such asS’Mores with Coconut Marshmallow, MilkChocolate & Graham Cracker and theHaven Beer Float with Samuel Smith'sOrganic Strawberry Ale, Vanilla Ice Cream& Warm Cookies.

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HAVEN GASTROPUB42 S. DeLacey Ave., Pasadena(626) 768-9555havengastropub.com


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GUIDE TOLOCAL DINING42. 1810 ARGENTINEAN RESTAURANT

121 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 795-56581810restaurant.com

2. 300 PASADENA3545 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena(626) 351-8858300pasadena.com

43. 38º ALE HOUSE & GRILL100 W. Main St., Alhambra(626) 282-2038charliestrio.com

11. A’FLOAT SUSHI87 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 729-9779

21. ALL INDIA CAFE39 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena(626) 440-0309allindiacafe.com

14. AVANTI CAFÉ111 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena(626) 577-4688 | avanticafe.com

45. BAR CELONA MODERN SPANISH TAPAS BAR46 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 405-1000barcelonapasadena.com

3. BEYOND THE OLIVE10 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena(626) 844-3866beyondtheolive.com

32. BIG DADDY’S FIRE GRILL2122 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena(626) 698-8139bigdaddysfiregrill.com

36. BIG MAMMA’S RIB SHACK1453 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena(626) 797-1792bigmamas-ribshack.com

52. BISTRO DE LA GARE921 Meridian Ave. #A,South Pasadena(626) 799-8828bistrodelagare.com

4. BUCA DI BEPPO80 W. Green St., Pasadena(626) 792-7272 | bucadibeppo.com

10. BURRITO EXPRESS1597 E. Washington, Pasadena(626) 798-0844burritoexpresspasadena.com

46. CAFÈ BIZOU91 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena(626) 792-9923cafebizou.com

16. CAMERON’S SEAFOOD1978 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 793-3474camerons4fish.com

39. CANOE HOUSE805 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena(626) 799-4169canoehouserestaurant.com

5. CHEERS BAR & GRILL717 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel(626) 353-0091

18. THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE2029 Lake Ave., Altadena(626) 794-2424coffeegallery.com

28. COLOMBO’S RESTAURANT & CATERING1833 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock(323) 254-9138colombosrestaurant.com

57. DOG HAUS

105 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena(626) 577-HAUSdoghausdogs.com

58. DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN93 E. Green St., Pasadena(626) 683-0808doghausdogs.com

59. DOG HAUS410 E. Main St., Alhambra(626) 282-HAUSdoghausdogs.com

30. DOMINICO’S2411 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena(626) 797-6459originaldomenicos.com

9. EDEN GARDEN BAR & GRILL175 E. Holly St., Pasadena(626) 440-1421edengardenbarandgrill.com

47. EL PORTAL695 E. Green St., Pasadena(626) 795-8553elportalrestaurant.com

55. FIREFLY BISTRO1009 El Centro St., South Pasadena(626) 441-2443 | eatatfirefly.com

17. GANDOLFO’S NEW YORK DELICATESSEN105 N. Hill Ave. #102, Pasadena(626) 303-7117Mobile: (626) 405-2900gandolfosdeli.com

37. GARNISH CAFE2277 Huntington Dr., San Marino(626) 844-8889

33. GOOD FOOD MARKET1864 E. Washington Blvd. #106,Pasadena(626) 794-5367goodfoodpasadena.com

31. HAVEN GASTROPUB42 S. DeLacey Ave., Pasadena (626) 798-9555havengastropub.com

27. IL FORNAIO24 W. Union St., Pasadena(626) 683-9797 | ilforniao.com

48. IX TAPA CANTINA119 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 304-1000cantinaixtapa.com

1. KABUKI88 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 568-9310kabukirestaurants.com

29. THE KITCHEN78 W. Union St., Pasadena(626) 796-9802thekitchenpasadena.com

25. LA CARAVANA1306 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena(626) 791-7378

12. MAMMA’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA710 Fair Oaks, South Pasadena(626) 799-1344311 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena(626) 405-9877mammasbrickoven.com

7. MARGARITA’S MEXICAN FOOD155 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena(626) 449-4224margaritasmexicanfood.com

41. MONOPOLE WINE21 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena(626) 577-9463

6. NEW DELHI950 E. Colorado Blvd #205.,Pasadena(626) 405-0666newdelhipalacepasadena.com

49. NEW MOON2138 Verdugo Blvd., Montrose(818) 249-4393

newmoonrestaurants.com

22. NOVEL CAFE1713 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 683-3309novelcafe.com

54. OBA181 E. Glenarm St., Pasadena(626) 799-8543 | obasushi.com

24. PASADENA FARMER’S MARKET3 locations:363 E. Villa St.El Molino @ UnionVictory Park @ Sierra Madrepasadenafarmersmarket.org

38. REAL FOOD DAILY899 East Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena(626) 844-8900realfood.com

53. REDWHITE + BLUEZZ70 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena(626) 792-4441redwhitebluezz.com

60. ROY’S HAWAIIAN FUSION641 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena(626) 356-4066roysrestaurant.com

19. SALADANG + SALADANG SONG363 & 383 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena(626) 793-8123(626) 793-5200

15. SCARLET TEA ROOM18 W. Green St., Pasadena(626) 577-0051scarlettearoom.com

23. SPRING GARDEN187 N. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena(626) 396-2531

20. THE STILLROOM181 E. Glenarm St., Pasadena(626) 799-0700stillroomla.com

35. SUSHI BAR YOSHIDA2026 Huntington Dr., San Marino(626) 281-9292

13. SUSHI ROKU33 Miller Alley at One ColoradoBlvd., Pasadena(626) 683-3000 | sushiroku.com

34. SWEET & SAVORY2142 Huntington Dr., San Marino(626) 293-8877sweetandsavorysm.com

50. TOPS WALNUT1792 E. Walnut Ave., Pasadena(626) 584-0244topsburger.com

56. TRATTORIA NEAPOLIS336 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena(626) 792-3000trattorianeapolis.com

26. UEDF TAKE OUT2191 N. Lake Ave., Altadena(626) 794-0277

40. VILLA SORRISO168 W. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena(626) 793-2233sorrisopasadena.com

44. VINO AT TRIOS10 N. First St., Alhambra(626) 284-4674 | charliestrio.com

8. ZELO’S PIZZERIA328 E. Foothill Blvd., Arcadia(626) 358-8298

51. ZUGO’S CAFÈ74 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.,Sierra Madre | (626) 836-5700zugoscafe.com



With threemarkets openeach week,

Pasadena’s CertifiedFarmers’ Market offersmore opportunities to buyfresh than ever before!Saturday’s Victory Parkmarket is the largest inthe San Gabriel Valleyand has fruits, vegeta-bles, eggs, honey, plants,cut flowers, grass-fedbeef, fish, bakery items,jams, mustards and otherspecialty items producedby food artisans.

Why should you carewhere you buy yourproduce? Seasonalfreshness and ripenessare two big reasons. Walkthrough the produce aisleof any grocery store and ask yourself ‘where is the fabulous smell of ripestrawberries or peaches?’ It’s not there because of the ‘travel’ factor thatrequires fruits to be picked before ripeness in order to make the journey tothe grocery store. At the area’s farmers markets you will smell the fruit beforeyou see it. Our farmers pick the fruit when it’s ready to get the best taste.

We want you to have the best tasting food for your table!You should shop more often in the summer to get the freshest items.

That’s one of the reasons we have the summer evening market in thePlayhouse District operating each Wednesday evening through September.

Our markets also provide the opportunity to meet the farmers. You canask questions on how things are grown, and discover that they don’t haveto use pesticides or preservatives because shelf life isn’t an issue. Visit ourwebsite to learn about our growers - where they grow their produce, whattheir season is, and at which market they can be found.

Everything at our markets is California grown as part of the CaliforniaDirect Market Program. This means no resale; no selling of items thefarmers didn’t grow themselves. Each grower has a ‘certified producercertificate’ that assures what they grow is inspected by their counties’Agriculture Department. Sponsored by the City of Pasadena HumanServices and Recreation department, each market accepts EBT and theCalFresh Program. Plus, we urge you to comply with Pasadena’s newordinance about plastic. Please bring your own reusable bags.

PASADENA FARMER’S MARKET 3 locations:363 E. Villa St. • El Molino @ Union • Victory Park @Sierra Madrepasadenafarmersmarket.org

where. It is true "down home" Southern food, crafted with careful attention to the tradi-tion and love handed down from Big Mama's original personal recipes. HAVE YOU ATE ATBIG MAMA’S YET? Go to our website and see some real something to eat. Hal Ay Loo Ya!

BISTRO DE LA GARE696 E. Colorado Blvd (Arcade Lane), Pasadena(626) 795-3793buanathai.com

You’ll love the hidden pleasures you’ll discover at Bua Na! Of the many Thai restaurants inPasadena that deserve five stars in most rating systems, Bua Na is the pick of the glitter.Out of sight from traffic on Colorado Boulevard and Green Street in the city’s PlayhouseDistrict, Bua Na is tucked away in the idle of fashionable Arcade Lane.

BUCA DI DEPPO80 W. Green St., Pasadena(626) 792-7272bucadibeppo.comOpen daily for lunch and dinner, Buca di Beppo is conveniently located at the corner ofGreen Street and South DeLacey Avenue in Old Pasadena. Buca di Beppo hosts events of allsizes and offers four different packages to choose from for groups of 20 or more. It’s the per-fect setting for any group to experience a fun, energetic and welcoming Italian family styledinner. Buca di Beppo also caters — a perfect fit for business and social events of all sizes.

BURRITO EXPRESS 1597 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena(626) 798-0844 burritoexpresspasadena.com Delicious, fresh and fast, Burrito Express has been serving outstanding meals in the samePasadena location since it opened in 1978. Our food is prepared fresh daily, using thesame recipes for the last 30 years. We received “Best Burrito” honors in the PasadenaWeekly’s 2008 Best of Pasadena readers’ poll and have appeared on the MyFoxLA 2008Best of L.A. Hotlist. We open for breakfast at 8 a.m. and keep serving until 9 p.m.

CAFÉ BIZOU 91 N. Raymond Ave., Old Pasadena(626) 792-9923Cafebizou.comReader Recommended Pasadena’s Best French Restaurant! If you like French food, youwill be pleasantly surprised to discover this charming Old Pasadena favorite. Cozy and litby candles, it features an extensive menu of Francophile favorites. Diner’s favoritesinclude the pink lobster bisque, steak frites with grilled tomatoes, and tuna tartar. Butdon’t leave without trying the heavenly flourless cake or tiramisu. Come in for our Sum-mer Festival with pre-fix menus for lunch $15 and dinner $25. A favorite with wine buffsfor its $2 corkage fee.

CAMERON’S SEAFOOD1978 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 793-3474Camerons4fish.comIn 1984, Cameron’s Seafood has been serving its freshest seafood, and has become alandmark in Pasadena. Cameron’s brings the ocean home with its San Francisco-stylerestaurant. Its exhibition-style kitchen allows patrons to watch their fresh catch beingcooked over mesquite wood grills that burn all day long. Enjoy our outdoor patio dining ora drink in our friendly bar while watching your favorite sporting event.

CANOE HOUSE805 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena(626) 799-4169canoehouserestaurant.comFrom Pies to Mai Tais. The owners of Wild Thyme Cafe have brought a whole new conceptto town, a West Coast Hawaiian restaurant. The Canoe House menu is a Hawaiian fusionconcept build around popular island favorites like slow-cooked Kalua pork, macadamianut-crusted Mahi Mahi, fish tacos, and pineapple upside-down cake, along with Americanclassics like gourmet burgers and grilled sausages. The Canoe House also features a fullbar with scrumptious Hawaiian cocktails, Martinis and 12 beers on tap.

COLOMBO’S ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE & JAZZ CLUB 1833 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles(323) 254-9138 colombosrestaurant.net An Eagle Rock tradition since 1954, Colombo's is relaxed fine dining, great nightly jazz

and a retro vibe, making this a local institution. The menu was created and refined by Annand Sam Colombo and their pizzas, pastas, seafood, prime rib and desserts have beenhoned to perfection. They are famous for their Porterhouse steaks with roasted garlic, andred wine sauce is recommended. However, there is no wrong selection.

COURTYARD CAFE1547 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena(626) 296-1547courtyardcafeonlake.comDiscover Pasadena's newest coffee spot. Tucked away in Hopkin's Village, we offer premiumcoffees, teas, espresso drinks and smoothies. To accompany your favorite beverage thereare homemade breads, cream scones, coffeecakes, cobblers, sugar-free treats, and muchmore. And our pasties are "handheld" breakfasts like: SF Joe, Creole Chicken, Denver,MooShu, and Italian. Or build your own breakfast Come relax in our courtyard or take-out.Open from Wed-Sat, 8am. Ample free parking!

DOG HAUS105 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena • (626) 577-HAUS 93 E. Green St., Pasadena • (626) 683-0808 410 E. Main St., Alhambra • (626) 282-HAUS Dog Haus, Pasadena’s choice for gourmet hot dogs, sausages and burgers, has some-thing for everyone, including hand cut fries, over 30 delicious toppings, handmade milkshakes,80's music and old school bottled sodas. With three locations, including OldPasadena’s Dog Haus Biergarten, which features craft beers and classic cocktails, DogHaus is making the San Gabriel Valley Los Angeles’ top hot dog destination. Plus, our foodmakes being in the Dog Haus fun.

DOMENICO’S 2411 E. Washington Blvd. Pasadena (626) 797-6459originaldomenicos.com We are a 3rd generation family restaurant that makes pizza the way you want. Every din-ner is made with Mama Rosa's original recipes. We are known for our pizzas and ourmouthwatering Antipasto Salad. Domenico's is one of Pasadena's oldest restaurant. Weare entirely dedicated to providing our guests with the very finest quality cuisine, excep-tional service and genuine hospitality at our extraordinary landmark location and award-winning restaurants

EDEN GARDEN BAR & GRILL175 E. Holly St., Pasadena(626) 440-1421Located in downtown Pasadena, in a historic red brick building that surrounds our gor-geous outdoor patio. We offer the best in Mediterranean cuisine, we take pride in ourfreshens and flavor of every dish. We are the perfect place for an afternoon lunch withfriends or colleagues. We also have an incredible new Brunch every Sunday starting at9:00. We have a brand new banquet hall great for any occasion. Please come in andsay hello.

EL PORTAL 625 E. Green St., Pasadena(626) 795-8553 elportalrestaurant.com Pasadena Weekly readers have been rewarding El Portal with the title of Best MexicanFood in the city for years. This charming little hacienda with brick walls, festive colors, fineart and a California elegant courtyard brings the authentic cuisine of Mexico and theYucatan region to your table. Enjoy premium-tequila margaritas with strolling mariachison Fridays, a romantic evening of guitar serenades on Saturday nights, ending the week-end with Mariachi Bella on Sunday.

FIREFLY BISTRO1009 El Centro St., South Pasadena(626) 441.2443www.eatatfirefly.comLet euphoria settle into your soul as you feast on the scrumptious offerings at Firefly, aquaint bistro located in historic South Pasadena. Come for dinner or Sunday brunchand enjoy unusual, creative menu options (interesting twists on classic brunch dishes)prepared with love and whimsy. Very pleasant patio setting with a canopy allowing fil-tered sunlight, romantic at night, yet not stuffy. Check out the website for music – wineand song. Also perfect for your event, shower or wedding.




— C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1 9



Chef Paul Rosenbluh joined theSoul Kitchen staff as sous chefin 1997, bringing with him a

wealth of experience acquired at someof the country's finest dining establish-ments. Paul received his training atCalifornia Culinary Academy in SanFrancisco, where his externshipincluded work at Palomino and CypressClub. He then moved to Austin, Texas,

whereheserved as sous chef at Coyote Caféuntil it closed.

Paul worked at several high-endrestaurants, including Granita, Joe’s andCampanile, to develop a feel for LosAngeles tastes. Then, in September2001, he put his creative mind to workand developed his own restaurant. Hejoined forces with actor Carl Weintraub,hispartner

and the restaurant's maitre d’. With South Pasadena as their location

preference, they opened Firefly Bistro onJuly 18, 2002. Weintraub loves that therestaurant is a family affair, because hebelieves that "food tastes best when it'sprepared with love.”

Since then, Firefly Bistro has beenreceiving critical nods from the LosAngeles Times, Los Angeles Magazineand Angeleno Magazine. Firefly Bistro hasthe facilities, staff and expertise to host any kind of party or event.

FIREFLY BISTRO1009 El Centro St., South Pasadena(626) 441-2443 • eatatfirefly.com

GARNISH CAFÉ 2277 Huntington Dr., San Marino(626) 844-8889Garnish Café is a full-service café opened by Glorious Gourmet catering in October2010. This perfect sunny spot for a morning coffee and pastry is tucked away onHuntington Drive in the heart of San Marino. Garnish offers a place to dine in ortake out, Monday through Saturday. They source locally using the freshest seasonalingredients available. Check the Garnish Café facebook page for menu selections

GOOD FOOD MARKET1864 E. Washington Blvd #106, Pasadena(626) 794-5367Proudly serving the richly diverse people of Pasadena for over twenty five years,Good Food Market specializes in Middle Eastern, European, Latin, and domesticproducts. A family owned business; we offer a wide variety of fresh fruits, meats,and cheeses from across the world. Our family encourages you to stop by andexplore all that we have to offer. You will enjoy our store as much as we enjoy theopportunity to serve you and your family.

HAVEN GASTROPUB 42 S. De Lacy Ave., Old Pasadena(626) 768-9555The newly opened Haven Gastropub + Brewery breathes new life into the heart ofOld Pasadena with its deliciously innovative take on gourmet, seasonal comfortfood paired with unique craft beers, boutique wines, and specialty cocktails. Featur-ing a 52-tap selection of draft beer and wine, Haven also boasts its very own on-site brewery. Overseen by Brewmaster David Larsen, Haven Brewing produces year-round unique brews, come by for a taste of something different in Old Pasadena.

IL FORNAIO24 W. Union St., Pasadenawww.ilfornaio.comIl Fornaio is an authentic Italian dining experience celebrating a fusion of the finestfood and wine. Our culinary creations blend fresh seasonal ingredients with Italianflavors, accompanied by our award-winning wine list, artisan cocktails, freshlybaked bread and olive oil. Our four elegant private dining rooms or charmingcourtyard patio can seat between 20 and 80 people. With an onsite event coordi-nator who secures every detail from start to finish, Il Fornaio is the perfect back-drop to your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or wedding.

IXTAPA CANTINA & RESTAURANT119 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena(626) 304-1000cantinaixtapa.comIx Tapa, the latest offering from restaurateur Jack Huang, combines a restaurant,sports bar and club with Mexican cuisine. Ix Tapa specialties include pollo en molepoblano (chicken in our house-made, spicy red mole sauce) and chile relleno(poblano pepper stuffed with ground beef or cheese, topped with a red chili) aswell as traditional mariscos. The 7,000-plus square feet of space has a resort-likefeeling and accommodates live music, dancing and a complete schedule of week-ly entertainment options.

KABUKI 88 W. Colorado Blvd., #103. Pasadena(626) 568-9310 3539 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena(626) 351-8963 201 N. San Fernando Road, Burbank (818) 843-7999 Since 1991, our vision for Kabuki Japanese Restaurant has been to create high-ener-gy, family-friendly and value-oriented Japanese restaurants. It is our everyday missionto deliver quality and freshness, great service and value to our guests with the ulti-mate hope that our guests will come to appreciate Japanese cuisine as comfortfood. Experience the cuisine and beverages passionately crafted to provide you thebest in Japanese cuisine and to spreading the culture of Japan dining to our guests.

LA CARAVANA 1306 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena (626) 791-7378By far the best Salvadorean place north of LA. We also serve great fruit drinks





El Portal caters to the entire family,proudly serving “honest-to-goodness fresh food” in the form

of authentic Yucatán dishes with aMayan flavor, in addition to traditionalMexican food.

Located in the heart of the PasadenaPlayhouse District, El Portal offers warm,comfortable family atmosphere. Enjoy thelittle hacienda of brick walls, fireplace,fiesta colors and charming courtyard fordining “al fresco,” and have fun with ourmariachis from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays. On Saturdays, enjoy guitar musicwith Duet Alanniz from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.Sundays check out Mariachi Bella.

But at El Portal, the real magic occurs in the kitchen. Our Chef Cesarshares his time and talent with the Langham Hotel in Pasadena andconsistently delivers the highest quality cuisine.

After dinner, enjoy any of eight ice cream flavors at Vanessa’s Café,located in Arcade Lane, just across from our bar. Vanessa’s also offers agreat selection of specialty coffees, pastries, desserts, fresh-squeezedjuices and smoothies.

And when you’re searching for a great place for breakfast, look nofurther than Yahaira’s Café, also located in Arcade Lane. Yahaira’s is andopen for breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon.

Mark your calendar for El Portal’s Tequila Tasting Sept. 13.


EL PORTAL RESTAURANT 695 E. Green St., Pasadena(626) 795-8553elportalrestaurant.com

that are perfect during those hot summer days. We serve the most amazing,pupusas, ever, That's literally all that needs . When you eat at La Caravana youfeel like you are in San Salvador so next time you are in North Lake come byand visit La Caravana

MAMMA’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA 710 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena(626) 799-1344311 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena(626) 405-9877Mammasbrickoven.comOne look at Mamma’s Brick Oven menu and you’ll never order ordinary pizza everagain. This ambitious menu boasts everything from artichoke hearts to sundriedtomatoes to pesto and goat cheese. Mamma’s offers handcrafted pizza, pastas,calzones, Stromboli and much more. You’ll be the talk of the town when you serveMamma’s Brick Oven Pizza or Pasta at your next party!"

MARGARITA’S155 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena(626) 449-4224 margaritasmexicanfood.com The name may say Margaritas, but this is a full-service Mexican restaurant. Tortillasare made by hand daily, and the weekday Pronto Buffet Brunch allows you toquickly and inexpensively eat to your heart’s content. Yes, the margaritas are to diefor. Also open for Sunday brunch.

MONOPOLE WINE21 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena(626) 577-9463Located in Pasadena’s Playhouse District, Monopole Wine offers hand selected,artisanal wines from Europe and around the globe at a competitive price with anemphasis on educating the consumer. Explore the store with our highly trainedstaff or relax at our wine bar which in addition to offering a selection of wines by-the-glass, also offers inspired tastings and themed wine flights nightly. With spe-cialty wine tastings and monthly educational events, we encourage you to tasteand learn before you buy.

NEW DELHI PALACE 950 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 405-0666 newdelhipalace.com For a dish that truly represents the cookery of northern India’s romantic Punjabregion, try the fragrant chicken tikka masala — simmered in a skillet for hours tobring the chicken to a luminous orange glow. The meal is enhanced by the restau-rant’s adherence to Punjabi traditions of generosity and hospitality to visitors. Also,don’t miss the New Delhi Champagne brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

NEW MOON2138 Verdugo Blvd., Montrose(818) 249-4393 newmoonresaurant.comThe popular, award-winning New Moon is Zagat listed with locations in Montrose,Downtown L.A., and Valencia. Our families' recipes have been developed overthree generations, and continue the philosophy of food as a dynamic and evolvingart form. We've updated and re-imagined Chinese classics for contemporary tastesusing fresh and seasonal ingredients. Nestled in quaint Montrose, we also featurean inviting lounge with a full bar and an extensive wine list.

NEW YORK GANDOLFO’S DELICATESSEN102 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena(626) 405-2900gandolfosdeli.comThe nation’s only authentic New York style deli franchise was created to deliverthe bold and quality flavors of New York to the main streets of America. Gandol-fo’s world famous sandwiches are names are the Rockefeller Reuben, theKnuckle, Central Park and the King of Queens. Gandolfo's also offers breakfastsandwiches. Gandolfo’s Catering: We offer delivery service for catered break-fasts, lunches and dinners at your home or office. Try our box lunches. ONEBITE…ANE YOU’RE THERE!





Music, people & food come hand in hand since the time of IceAge. Cheers Bar & Grill is a place for friends, lunch meetings,social gatherings….you can come and sing to impress or just

drink to forget. Cheers is the place where people take mini vacations tobreak away from a hectic day or just to celebrate life as they go along.Happy hour is from 5pm to 7pm, Monday through Friday. Karaoke beginsafter 7pm and you will hear people singing in both English and Chinese ontwo separate stages! Tuesday night Karaoke in English and Spanish. Livemusic every night till 1:30am. Sunday nights refresh your soul with liveReggae music till 11pm. Starting in September of 2012, Cheers Bar &Grill will be open from 11:30 am to 1:30am. New Happy Hour will thenstart at 11:30am and go until 7pm, Monday through Friday. Happy Houroffers $2 off all beer – glass/bottle/pitcher, domestic and imports. Partiescan be arranged for all ages. Full bar and friendly bartenders serving allcocktails, 8 draft beers and over 20 bottled beers at all times. We offerfood from many cultures! Hungarian to Native American, from fried rice tofried portabellas mushrooms. We will continue to modify our events withplans for Salsa Nights, Open Mic, Jazz and Blues. Cheers has a stagewith a piano, a keyboard, congas and a drum set so that anyone whowants to share their own music and their talents, can do so. Throughmusic, we can unite all cultures and races, accept the differences andshare the beauty of diversities. Through MUSIC we bring WORLDPEACE. Stop in for a drink and a dose of world peace – we are located at717 S. San Gabriel Blvd. in San Gabriel between Broadway & Mission.

CHEERS BAR & GRILL717 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel(626) 353-0091

NOVEL CAFÉ1713 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 683-3309novelcafepasadena.comPasadena’s quintessential neighborhood restaurant is Novel Café. With the arrival ofChef Alberto Morales (Elements Café), Novel Cafe has introduced an exciting new din-ner menu, a smart new bar program offering the finest in craft and local beers andsmall production wines, affording a vibrant bar scene and daily Happy Hour. Enjoyinteresting dining options day and night - for a working breakfast, meeting friends forafter work burgers and beer, Novel Café Pasadena will satisfy. See you there!

OBA SUSHI181 E. Glenarm St., Pasadena(626) 799-8543Obasushi.comOne part passion, two parts persistence and a sprinkle of devition are the ingredi-ents that led this band of sushi devotees to open their first restaurant in a nonde-script Pasadena strip mail. A staff with a combined 30 years of experience inJapanese cuisine produces the finest Izakaya selections this side of Little Tokyo.Premium kanchiku and osakaya sakes are crowd favorites, and so are select beerssuch as Hitachino and Echigo. Gracious service is to be expected, but the real drawis the delectable sushi!

PASADENA CERTIFIED FARMER’S MARKET(626) 449-0179Pasadenafamersmarket.orgTuesdays – Villa Parke CenterWednesday – El Molino @ UnionSaturdays – Victory ParkEnjoy fresh local fruits, vegetables and farm products! If you have never been to aFarmers market, you are in for a real treat. You’ll love the experience of buyingdirectly from the farmer that grows the food. What you’ll love even more is thefresh, delicious taste of locally grown, nutritious fruits, vegetables and farm prod-ucts. Our certified vendors only sell what they grow. Or, to put it another way, theywon’t sell you anything that they did not grow. You know where your food camefrom and who grew it for you! The market is cash only, and we accept EBT

REAL FOOD DAILY899 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena(626) 844-8900www.realfood.comThe menu contains whimsically-named dishes with Asian, Italian, Indian, and Latininfluences. You may also order macrobiotic dishes and seasonal ingredients inrotating specials. Their commitment to using high-quality organically grown pro-duce and ingredients is commendable and you can see the many practices ofsustainable and green living right down to the soy ink stained floor. Ann is theauthor of “Vegan Family Meals, Real Food for Everyone” and “The Real Food DailyCookbook.”

REDWHITE+BLUEZZ70 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena(626) 792-4441 redwhitebluezz.comCurrently celebrating our sixth year, redwhite+bluezz is known for live jazz everynight, cutting-edge American cuisine and Brunch+All That Jazz every Sunday. Ourmenu reinvents classic dishes with style and panache and features local and sus-tainably sourced ingredients prepared by Cordon Bleu trained chefs. We featurePasadena’s best wine list, as well as an acclaimed selection of artisan cheesesand charcuterie. Guests enjoy our contemporary take on historic architecture andour casual yet sophisticated atmosphere.

ROY’S HAWAIIAN FUSION CUISINE621 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 356-4066Roysrestaurant.comAt Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine, each menu creation is a fusion of flavors foundin our freshest local ingredients with European sauces and bold Asian spices andserved with the spirit of Aloha, creating a dining experience that leaves you feelinglike you’ve found paradise.






Amid unpretentious surroundings of brickwork and dark wood tables,1810 Argentinean Restaurant owners Marcelo Sala and GustavoLandgrebe succeed where their competitors missed the mark.

“It’s what we like and what we know,” Sala says simply. Dishes fuse variedSouth American flavors. Even a few homemade recipes from Sala’s grand-mother make an appearance. Overall, this is a great place to bring the family.

“It’s no-fuss food; simple and easy,” Sala says.Taste the Entrana ($16), a skirt steak with mushroom sauce, grilled zucchini

and mashers. Minimally seasoned using only salt and top-quality beef, Salaallows the meat to express itself. Traditionally grilled medium well, this dishwon’t send you running for a steak knife.

The Milanesa Napolitana ($15) blankets a tender chicken breast withpomodoro sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and thinly sliced ham.

Proudly taking our name after what was known as a spontaneousintellectual meeting called “Cabildo Abierto” in Buenos Aires between May 22and May 25 in 1810. The meeting came under strong pressure from the militiasand a crowd formed in front of the Cabildo. This large group of middle- toupper-class citizens favored the stance of local politicians, and the Cabildoended up creating the Primera Junta, or First Assembly — the first form of localgovernment in the territory that would later become Argentina.

Spain would never recover dominion over our territory. Every May 25 wecelebrate by preparing traditional “criollo” dishes, and it’s fair to say that ourwhole country stops to commemorate one of our most patriotic holidays.

Taking its name from the Argentinean Revolution of May 1810, thisnew casual restaurant focuses on traditional Argentinean dishes with only thefinest ingredients. Specialties include skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, grilledchicken with mushrooms and garlic sauce and homemade gnocchi.

1810 ARGENTINE RESTAURANT1810 Argentinean Restaurant121 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena(626) 795-56581810restaurant.com

SALADANG & SALADANG SONG363 & 383 S. Fair Oaks, Pasadena (626) 792-8123(626) 793-5200If you want the best Thai food in the San Gabriel Valley, or pretty much anywhere,this is the place to go. Saladang serves more of the traditional Thai food peopleare familiar with. Saladang Song, song meaning two, offers more seafood and dish-es you might not have heard of in a Thai restaurant. The food is an excellent bal-ance of the Thai trinity in many of their dishes. Enjoy your meal at Saladang's.

SCARLET TEA ROOM & FINE DINING18 W. Green St., Pasadena(626) 577-0051scarlettearoom.comThe new Scarlet Tea Room & Fine Dining is sure to evoke romance between cou-ples and laughter between friends, creating memories for a lifetime. The extraordi-nary ambiance affords itself to afternoon tea getaways or late-night dinner ren-dezvous with live music ensembles. With an array of imported tea selections andexploratory culinary masterpieces, Scarlet is sure to expand your horizons. Scarletis not just a tea room — it is a way of life.

SPRING GARDEN187 N. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena(626) 796-2531Spring Garden isn’t exactly a great “little” restaurant. It’s a very “large” restaurant, withthe edges of the dining room scalloped with booths and a big round table in themiddle. Spring Garden is a restaurant that far exceeds your average Chinese estab-lishment since 1976. The quality of the food is authentic, delicious and fresh. Somefavorite dishes are honey walnut shrimp, sizzling rice soup, egg foo young and home-made dumplings. The service is exceptional and a pleasurable atmosphere.

SUSHI BAR YOSHIDA2026 Huntington Dr., San Marino(626) 281-9292For almost 20 years, Sushi Bar Yoshida has quietly offered the freshest, most deliciousfish and traditional Japanese dishes in the San Gabriel Valley. Locals come to savorthe traditional Japanese dishes of Albacore tuna, toro, and Japanese scallops pre-pared as only sushi chef and owner Yoshi can. Yoshida is also a destination for greatsushi and unique seasonal items such as live sweet shrimp, lobster, soft shell crab,shirako, and wild salmon. Once you’ve experienced the exceptional fish Yoshi himselfselects daily, you’ll join the multitude of regulars who won’t go anywhere else.

SUSHI ROKU33 Miller Alley at One Colorado, Pasadena(626) 683-3000Sushiroku.comSushi Roku’s new menu highlights the innovative, globally inspired Japanese cui-sine that has made it an LA fixture. Experience our Sushi Roku 2.0 Signatures, orsample our specialty cocktails, extensive wine, sake, and Japanese beer collection.Stop by Sundays & Mondays for our re-imagined All Night Happy Hour or visit from5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for Sushi Roku 2.0 Signatures.

SWEET & SAVORY2142 Huntington Dr., San Marino(626) 293-8877 • Sweetandsavorysm.comSweet & Savory is the realization of owner Dora Liang’s desire to bring delicious,homemade, American baked goods and comfort-food to her friends and neighbors inthe San Gabriel Valley. More than just an award winning bakery, we serve breakfast,lunch, takeout dinners, and cater events. Everything at Sweet & Savory reflects Dora’sstyle of rustic cooking and baking using only the freshest, seasonal ingredients. Sweet& Savory is the Yin and the Yang we all seek in satisfying our discriminating palate.

THE KITCHEN ITALIAN CAFÉ AND PIZZERIA78 W. Union St., Pasadena(626) 796-9802 • thekitchenitaliancafe.comThe Kitchen Italian Café and Pizzeria is one of Old Pasadena’s hidden gems, wellknown by businesspeople and pizza lovers alike. Inside the rustic brick buildingyou’ll find New York, Sicilian and Chicago-style pizzas, all made with fresh ingredi-ents and available by the slice, half pan or full pan. Homemade soups, pastas andcalzones can be savored for lunch or dinner.






T rattoria Neapolis is a new,upscale-rustic 150-seat food-focused Italian restaurant from

owner Perry Vidalakis, featuring award-winning Chef Bryant Wigger andGeneral Manager James Bottoms.

The restaurant has a seasonally drivenmenu of antipasti, pasta, pizza, salads,main courses, side dishes and desserts.The chef values making items such aspasta, bread and salami in-house.

Trattoria Neapolis has a primelocation in a beautiful building with abundant free parking. Hatch DesignGroup, one of LA’s premier designers, has executed a beautiful designemploying marble, imported tile, custom wrought iron and other high-quality finishes.

The restaurant features a wood-burning oven imported from Naplesand a custom wood-burning grill. The wine program was created byDiego Meraviglia, one of LA’s top Italian wine professionals and vicepresident of the North American Sommelier Association. The wineprogram features wines from Italy and California, an affordable selectionof 50 bottles no more than $50 per bottle, with many higher value wineson the full list, 24 wines by the glass, custom-made temperature-controlled wine storage and our own in-house sommelier.

The beer program features 14 craft beers on tap and more by thebottle. The beer list focuses on artisanal brewers in LA County and Italyand is created by Christian Perozzi, who LA Magazine called LA’s topbeer sommelier. The restaurant has a dedicated keg cooler and an in-house beer sommelier, Hallie Beaune.

The restaurant has a high-quality mixology program of classic andoriginal cocktails created by Vincenzo Marianella, called the Godfather ofthe LA cocktail scene who was just nominated for American Bartenderof the Year, and in-house Bar Manager, Ken Baranda.

The restaurant is working closely with Stumptown coffee, one of thenation’s finest super-premium roasters. The restaurant has already beenfeatured in pieces by Eater LA, Zagat, the LA Times, Daily Dish andother fine media.

TRATTORIA NEAPOLIS 336 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena(626) 792-3000trattorianeapolis.com

Zugo’s Café in downtown Sierra Madre is a small, intimate Italianeatery with a true Roman flair.

Chez Grossi, owner with his wife Sherry, was born and raised in thecenter of Rome. His love for cooking and great food was instilled by hismother, Palmira. Chez recalls his mother going to the outdoor marketevery day with her string bag to find the freshest ingredients. On the wayhome, she would stop at the panificio and the alimentari for fresh breadand cheeses.

Chez’s love for cooking (and eating!) prompted him to open the caféfive years ago. He wanted an environment that evoked the Italy he knewand loved. Good, fresh food and a great wine list, with 65 differentwines, are what have evolved.

Chez also wanted to make dining out a fulfilling experience atreasonable prices. Artisan bread baked during the day and served withextra virgin olive oil and a nice spring mix tossed salad with house-madedressing comes with every entrée.

Most Fridays and Saturdays music is offered by classical guitaristGary Ibarra.

Menus are available at zugoscafe.com. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

ZUGO’S CAFE74 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre(626) 836-5700zugoscafe.com.

THE COFFEE GALLERY BACKSTAGE2029 N. Lake Ave., Altadena(626) 798-6236Coffeegallery.comThe Coffee Gallery Backstage is a 49-seat showroom connected to a coffee housecalled The Coffee Gallery. The Backstage portion hosts live entertainment suitablefor all ages with a fine sound system, good lights, comfortable seating and killeratmosphere. Reservations are strongly recommended. The Coffee Gallery has agreat selection of coffee, tea, sandwiches, salads, desserts and snacks.

THE STILLROOM SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & LOUNGE181 E. Glenarm St. Pasadena(626) 799-0700StillRoomla.comWelcome to The StillRoom Seafood Restaurant & Lounge, where you will enjoy hand-crafted cocktails, expertly prepared seafood and other restaurant classics in our sultrylounge, stylish dining room, fireside bar or garden patio. With Executive Chef SamGoldman in the kitchen, we’re certain to appeal to anyone who appreciates a remark-able dining and drinking experience in a unique, inviting environment. Inquire aboutour on-site private event options and our off-site food and beverage catering services!

TOPS ON WALNUT1792 E. Walnut St., Pasadena • (626) 584-0244. topsburger.comYou can’t leave here hungry. Not with 14 burgers, 13 Mexican dishes, 17 sandwiches,three types of hot dogs, seven salads and 12 types of breakfasts on the menu — allat great value prices. Charbroiled chicken plates, rib-eye steak plates, fish and chipsand chicken strips add hearty heft at dinner for those hungry for just a little bit more.Nothing is pre-cooked. The portions of fresh onion rings and fries, sweet potato friesand zucchini are legendary, as are the best pastrami sandwiches in town.

TRATTORIA NEAPOLIS, ITALIAN RESTAURANT & BAR336 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena • (626) 792-3000Trattoria Neapolis is a new upscale rustic Italian restaurant and bar in Pasadena com-bining the best of Italy and California with an award-winning chef and a highly experi-enced GM. The restaurant will have a full menu of antipasti, pasta, pizza, salads, sec-ondi, contorni and desserts and strong wine beer, cocktail and coffee programs.

UEDF- TAKE-OUT 2191 N. Lake Ave., Altadena • (626) 794-0277UEDF is a take-out restaurant where all foods are prepared fresh and on-the-spot. Itsspecialty is halal foods which is the Muslim terminology for wholesome and withoutchemicals or preservatives. . Orders are cooked on the spot by its owner, Abdul J.Muhammad Specials on Friday and Saturday include barbeque chicken, string beans,potato salad, mixed cabbage and collards and yams. Stop by, you'll be glad you did.

VILLA SORRISO ITALIAN, SEAFOOD, STEAKS168 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena • (626) 793-2233sorrisopasadena.comLocated at the western gateway to Old Pasadena, this luxurious Mediterranean gemboasts romantic outdoor cabanas, a crackling fire pit and a lushly landscaped court-yard complete with cascading fountain. The Martini Bar and Lounge is a favoritelate-night hangout. In addition to a menu of classic Italian favorites, fresh seafood,steaks and chops, the evening passes into to night at the Villa with live music, danc-ing, deejays and a wonderful late menu. Private dining rooms are available.

ZELO PIZZERIA328 E. Foothill Blvd., Arcadia • (626) 358-8298It’s the cornmeal crust that makes this pizzeria stand out from the rest. Zelo Pizze-ria in Arcadia is a truly unique place to fill your pizza craving. This locally ownedestablishment’s signature dish is the fresh corn, balsamic-marinated, oven-roastedred onion pie. Don’t be intimidated and don’t make substitutions! This dish is trulyunique and a worthy competitor for the area’s best pizza.

ZUGO’S CAFÉ74 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre(626) 836-5700 • zugoscafe.comOwners, Chez and Sherry Grossi have built their menus and food preparation usingChez's mother Palmira's ethos: fresh, quality ingredients prepared from scratch. Allentrees are served with a side salad and fresh bread, which is baked throughoutthe day. Their wine list is extensive and features award-winning wines from aroundthe world. While dining at Zugos you feel like you’re in a café in Italy.





BEST BURGER IN PASADENA!!! Grilled Sandwiches, Dawgs &Sausages. Everything is fresh and handmade with 100% AngusBeef. Big Daddy’s is the only Gourmet burger place that grills and

smokes all of its meats on an oakwood fire.Since it makes us uncomfortable to talk about ourselves, we prefer to let

others do all the talking.PASADENA WEEKLY BY DAN O’HERON: “I was stricken dumb with

amazement at the price/quality ratio. “This really tastes good,” I said to a pal.And again, “This really tastes good.” And to give plain glee greater weight:“Absolutely, it’s ‘a once bitten, twice sighs’ adult hamburger experience.”

ZAGAT EDITOR AND RADIO TALK SHOW HOST MERRILL SCHINDLERsays "Big Daddy’s is fast and fun with unexpected pleasures... a seriouscontender for the title of Best Burger in Pasadena.”

TALKRADIO 790 KABC BY PETER DILLS – “Dining with Dills” Talk Radioon Sunday evenings: “Can Big Daddy be a contender? I’m shouting it fromthe rooftops… Yes it can!”

LOS ANGELES TIMES PASADENA SUN BY REBECCA BRYANT: “ThePasadena “gourmet fast-food restaurant” delivers on a promise of freshingredients… Big Daddy’s is a cut above the double-double.”

PASADENA NOW BY MR. PASADENA: “I am here to tell you that BigDaddy’s Fire Grill is going to be your guilty pleasure… It is the real deal.”

BIG DADDY’S FIRE GRILL2122 E. Foothill Blvd Pasadena 626-796-1266bigdaddysfiregrill.com


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LOCAL RESTAURANTS KEEP FRESHNESS AND SUSTAINABILITY ON THE TIPS OF OUR TONGUES

There’s a certain relief in hearing that the term “farm to fork”has not become a wilted metaphor like “fresh as a daisy.”

For awhile, there was a danger that we were getting morearoused by terms like “molecular gastronomy,” those scientificcooking processes that change the chemical structure of ingredi-ents. How impressive is the chemical reaction by which a liquidpaste, squirted from a tube, transforms into fluttering pasta when


Pita Jungle’sWood-Fired Salmon



it hits hot water? To me, it brings more to mindaspirin than entrée.

And what would we do without “irradiation,”an ingenious food-zapping technique whichgives producers extra time to sell theirproducts? And don’t forget “flavorites,” thecrony of irradiators that manufactureflavors and fragrances to make nutritionallynegligible food seem delicious. Think “fastfood.”

I like to think that it’s still nature-ripenedfoods that want to be eaten. Let’s call it“Crucial Moment Cuisine” — eat it before it goesaway.

So what are some local restaurants doing to keepwords like freshness and sustainability on the tips of ourtongues?

Closer to “farm to fork” is Parkway Grill’s (510 S. Arroyo

Parkway, Pasadena, 626/795-1001) take on “backyard totable.” Adjacent to the restaurant, is an herb and spice garden.This convenience may be responsible for arguably the bestCaesar salad in town.

For a close-up of freshness — as close as the “cu” in cucumber— Gyu-Kaku (70 W. Green St., Old Pasadena, 626/405-

4842) diminishes the distance between the point of cooking andpoint of consumption with smokeless braziers centered conve-niently in the middle of every table.

Smokeless? The circular brazier, topped by a latticed grill that

covers a deep cone of glowing charcoal, is ringed by asuction coil that inhales smoke before it rises (OK,begrudgingly let’s give technology credit for “breath-

less heat.”) Vegetarians can have a field day withmedley of foil-packaged veggies.

No one makes a more daring close call thanPasadena’s Lennie LaGuire, who providescolorful spreads of jams and jellies for The

Market on Holly (57 E. Holly St.,

Pasadena, 626/844-8811). Usually verydelicate in picking California fruits themoment they ripen, it’s not a dainty hand

among blossoms that is caught raiding aneighbor’s tree. You can’t be more local and

artisanal than that. (Market owners assured methat a trade agreement among neighbors had been

signed.) In fishing for seasonal freshness, you can pull out a

boatload from Cameron’s Seafood (1978 E. Colorado Blvd.,

Pasadena, 626/793-3474). At themoment, fresh Alaskan Copper Riversalmon, bright-eyed with moist pinkgills, is just 24 to 48 hours from thecutting room here. And, at any giventime — by hooking opah in thewarm waters around Hawaii — Ican expect to taste of the finelytextured pink flesh of this distinctlyrich-flavored fish at just the right time.

In a remarkable contrast, at one end of thepole, owner Pete Gallanis tries to reel in the best catch of

the day; at the other, science wants to make cuisine dujour from his chubby worms.

Saladish (12 W. Colorado

Blvd., Old Pasadena,

PICTURED: Gyu-Kaku’s smokeless brazier (1) Parkway Grill’s herb garden (2)


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Garnish Café is a full-service café opened by Glorious Gourmetcatering in October 2010. This perfect sunny spot for a morningcoffee and pastry is tucked away on Huntington Drive in the heart

of San Marino. Garnish offers a wide variety of pastries, Panini, soups,salads, and coffee drinks, as well as a charming location and atmosphere.Their hours and selection are perfect for accommodating all of yourbreakfast and lunch needs. All-day breakfast items like their popularbreakfast burritos and sandwiches bring a unique spin to your morning.The breakfast Panini is a classic savory dish with eggs and bacon andcheese, sandwiched in between two pieces of French toast.

Garnish Café’s personal atmosphere and neighborhood feel gives SanMarino what it was lacking before, a place to come in and get your dinnerfor the family.

The take away dinners, coming in the fall, will make your life eveneasier. Call ahead and order dinner for one or a crowd. It will be ready foryou to pick up that afternoon. Check the Garnish Café facebook page formenu selections.

For lunch, you can grab salads, soups, or sandwiches, like theirsucculent short-rib Panini, or any of their daily-special salads. A largemenu of thirst quenching ice teas in unique flavors like dark cherry andblueberry make it a great place to come in and cool off.

Looking to grab something and go? Call ahead and pick up anythingon the menu as well as their pastries, or drinks. Two in-house French-trained pastry chefs make decadent desserts and pastries that will satiateany sweet tooth. This home-style café is the perfect place for a lazyweekend spot or a mid-week lunch stop. Garnish offers a place to dine inor take out, Monday through Saturday. They source locally using thefreshest seasonal ingredients available.

GARNISH CAFÉ2277 Huntington Dr. San Marino(626) 844-8889


626/304-3109) spouts enoughsalad recipes to cater to adifferent taste each day for six

months. The most ambitiousgreen foragers should beflocking to its door. But not sofast. When it first opened,people were speaking ill of thelettuce — that it was yellowand limp, not green andcrispy. Lately, I’m hearingthat they are turning over anew leaf for good purpose.

At the moment, incontrast, chefs at Pita


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PICTURED: Cameron’s Seafood (3-4) Lennie LaGuire’s Ellelle Kitchen Backyard Grapefruit Marmalade With Campari (5)

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Lennie LaGuire’s Ellelle KitchenCentral Coast Raspberry

NEW MOON2138 Verdugo Blvd. Montrose CA 91020 (818) 249-4393newmoonrestaurants.com

New Moon Restaurants, with locations in downtown Los Angeles,Montrose and Santa Clarita, has a following that goes back threegenerations. From the very beginning when the restaurant opened its

doors in 1956, people began making New Moon their place for special eventsand for just the occasional night out; it was the combination of great food,attentive service and a relaxed atmosphere that set the pace for New Moon’senduring success. 3rd generation restaurateur Colin Tom has taken the best ofhis family’s recipes, brought them up to date and expanded the scope of hismenu using an excellent blend of seasonal ingredients; classic Chinese cuisinehas been re-imagined with the lightness and freshness that comes from livingin California. In downtown Los Angeles, New Moon has been a lunchtimemainstay for the financial and garment districts for years. The combination oftable service, takeout and catering has made New Moon a popular choice forthe business crowd. Word of mouth and a following from downtown madeNew Moon Montrose an immediate success when it opened in 2005.Complementing the quality of the extensive menu was an impressive wine list,a full bar, and Happy Hour menus and special drink prices. With a hip,contemporary setting to match the sophisticated menu, Zagat-rated NewMoon has been consistently voted best and favorite restaurant by the readersof both The Foothill Leader and The Glendale News-Press. In 2007, NewMoon opened its most stylish location yet in Valenica. With a heated, coveredpatio, and a room large enough to accommodate large parties, New Mooncontinues to expand its scope of operation.


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For two decades, Real Food Daily hasbeen on the Westside of LA, and manyof us have been making the long trek.

Finally, RFD has opened in our town.Their inviting dining room, expansive menu, organic wine and beer list, and

organic juice bar and bakery exemplify how satisfying vegan dining can be.The menu contains whimsically-named dishes with Asian, Italian,

Indian, and Latin influences. You may also order macrobiotic dishes andseasonal ingredients in rotating specials. Their commitment to using high-quality organically grown produce and ingredients is commendable andyou can see the many practices of sustainable and green living right downto the soy ink stained floor. The Pasadena location uses simple, naturalwoods on both the walls and as table tops. A large, solid oak communitytable sits in the middle of a spacious dining room that has banquettes andbooths. One booth is large enough to host a party of 12 to 16. A largecovered patio with skylights is an inviting oasis from the hustle and bustleof Pasadena’s South Lake Avenue shopping district.

Real Food Daily was started by Ann Gentry, who as executive chef,food educator and pioneer, has raised the standard of vegan andvegetarian cooking in this country. Bon Appétit magazine declared “AnnGentry, the creator of Real Food Daily, has taken two different Californiatrends — vegetarian foods and the organic seasonal cooking popularizedby Alice Waters of Chez Panisse — and come up with a cuisine that is asinteresting and delicious as it is healthful.”

Ann is the author of “Vegan Family Meals, Real Food for Everyone” and“The Real Food Daily Cookbook.” She can also be seen on The DishNetwork and Verizon Fios on the Veria channel hosting her own cookingshow, “Naturally Delicious.”

Other RFD location are in Santa Monica and West Hollywood, with a fourthoutpost opening at Los Angeles international Airport the end of the year.

REAL FOOD DAILY899 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena(626) 844-8900www.realfood.com


Jungle (43 E. Colorado Blvd., Old Pasadena, 626/432-

7482) routinely discard limp leaves. And fresh greens undoubt-edly are rinsed under cold water and dried. Healthy orbad-for-you dressings won’t stick to wet leaves.

There’s plenty of lettuce around, but you don’t have to have iton your plate every day. Yet Green Street Restaurant (146

Shoppers Lane, Pasadena 626/577-7170), the Aesop-fabledsalad maker, presents a problem of sustainability — they sellabout 1,000 a week of just one kind, the lovely “Dianne.”

While I admit to being an omnivore, after tasting Green

Earth Vegan Cuisine’s (37 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Old

Pasadena, 626/584-0268) pairing of lemongrass tofu and alacy filigree of crunchy yellow pasta, I felt like a dyed-in-thewool carnivore wanting to be sheared. I took a chance that wasabsolutely delicious.

For risk-free vegans, Orean The Health Express’s (817 N.

Lake Ave., 626/794-0861) all vegetable products, styled in trueburger joint fashion, contain no milk, meats, fish or refinedsugar.

Molecular gastronomy’s effort to take chefs where nospacecraft has gone before is an interesting conversation piece.But more interesting is talk about farm-to-fork freshness, andthe efforts of keeping sustainability a revolving door.

As Meryl Streep might say: “Screw science.” ■

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PICTURED: Green Earth Vegan Cuisine (6) Salad at Green Street Restaurant (7)

Pita Jungle’s Yellowfin Tuna Honey Sesame Salad (8)

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New York Gandolfo’s Delicatessen Thenation’s only authentic New York style delifranchise was created to deliver the bold and

quality flavors of New York to the main streets ofAmerica. We have always led in food quality, butnow we have a highly supportive system to matchthe quality of our menu. Gandolfo’s is that rarecombination of taste, value, and ambiance.

Gandolfo’s world famous sandwiches with sandwichnames like the Rockefeller Reuben, the Knuckle, CentralPark and the King of Queens. Gandolfo’s has broughtNew York City to America. Gandolfo’s sandwiches arepiled with meat, and the variety of choices can becompared to no other sandwich franchise.

Gandolfo's also offered breakfast sandwiches. Itsets itself apart by serving fresh deli sides as an option,next to the ubiquitous bag of chips. People have theexpectation that we are an authentic New York deli,and that means fresh-sliced meat and cheese everyday. We bake our bread every day, too, and havefantastic pickles. We also serve the best potato saladyou'll ever eat.

Gandolfo’s Catering: Gandolfo’s New York Deli-catessen is pleased to offer delivery service for catered

breakfasts, lunches and dinners at your home or office.Our trained delivery staff is always courteous, on timeand professional. We welcome same-day orders, butappreciate as much advance notice as possible so thatwe can better accommodate your guests. Deliveryminimums and charges may apply. Also try our boxlunches. ONE BITE…AND YOU’RE THERE!

I traveled all over the United States looking for agreat sandwich concept to invest in. I wanted to findconcept that stood above the rest. From toasted subs,to cold sandwiches all I found was Chips and zeropersonality. And, then I found myself in Provo, Utah atthe original Gandolfo’s New York Deli. That is where Ifound what I was looking for.

While eating the best sandwich I had ever tasted, Isat in the Gandolfo’s and observed the deli. The friendlyatmosphere and the New York style deli case took mestraight to the Big Apple; I instantly knew thatGandolfo’s quality ingredients and New York personalitywere exactly what I was looking for. What can I say,“One bite and I was there!”

Dan PoolOwner and CEO

GANDOLFO’S NEW YORK DELICATESSEN105 N Hill Ave, Ste 102Pasadena, CA 91106(626) 405-2900www.gandolfosdeli.com

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Dining Guide