WHY For the little-known Muslim fare of Xinjiang, China’s autonomous far western region. WHAT The food at this homey café, a mesh of Chinese elements and central Asian nomad cooking, likely bears little resemblance to anything you’ve eaten in L.A. Sure, Xinjiang lamb kebabs are well known, but owner Munire Omar brings out zhuafan, a [...]
January 27, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY Shear Rock Farm heirloom tomatoes in the summer and greens in the winter, and Sunny Yasuda’s Glassell Park backyard avocados and citrus. WHAT Although technically showcasing growers only (no prepared food to speak of), this 18-year-old city market doesn’t have a lot of soul or variety. Its one long row of stalls doesn’t invite [...]
January 23, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY Better-than-you’d-think cooking in a no-frills café. WHAT Owner Robert Humphreys brings his classical training (at Patina and elsewhere) to his funky, everyday café, and the result is a gift for East Pasadenans. There’s good coffee in the morning, worthwhile and affordable wines and beers at night, and one of the best burgers in Pasadena. [...]
January 20, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY Serious dogs served on grilled King’s Hawaiian bread. WHAT These are solid, substantial hot dogs, often topped with bacon and/or chili. Skip the heavy, bland El Mariachi, but consider the BLAST dog, with bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato and serrano chili, and by all means try the tater tots. The addition of a beer garden [...]
January 12, 2012 | Posted in
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WHY The crispy portobello fries with truffle aioli. Did we mention the fries? WHAT Veteran Rose City restaurateur (Bistro 45) Robert Simon moved his St. Helena restaurant, AKA, to One Colorado in Old Town, and Pasadena is stoked to have a local boy making good in the midst of the chain eateries. The eclectic menu [...]
December 31, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY A multi-purpose café with indie cred in the midst of corporate Old Pasadena. WHAT Of course, Intelligentsia Pasadena has its own pour-over coffees, a gleaming espresso machine and practiced baristas. But this new location, in a historic brick building furnished with reclaimed church pews and electric blue walls, also has a beer and wine [...]
December 30, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Good, straightforward Indian cooking with a few not-too-trendy modern touches, including Indian-inspired tacos. Excellent-value lunch menu. WHAT Radhika calls itself a ‘modern Indian bistro,’ which sounds gimmicky but is actually quite accurate. The interior is cozy, done in deep colors. Service is attentive and kind. There’s a good list of wines and beers. And [...]
December 29, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY First-rate house-roasted beans or coffee to drink on-site in a spacious, peaceful setting. WHAT Can’t find a seat at Jones? Then head to this fine coffeehouse, which also roasts its own beans (they’re excellent) and has a lot more room to hang out than its west Pasadena competitor. Founded by Fuller Seminary folks, it [...]
December 7, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY To check out SoCal’s first Vietnamese-American gastropub. WHAT Happy-hour specials and a half-dozen brews on tap pair with beer-friendly food that mirrors the everyday flavors most Vietnamese-American kids grow up eating—with a slightly creative twist. Good examples include the grilled mini skewers of curry-marinated chicken or beef and the sliders on Hawaiian buns (pulled [...]
November 17, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Who wouldn’t want to learn how to make cluster candies, chocolate pizzas and marshmallow buddies? WHAT From the front, this strip-mall place on a lost stretch of Route 66 looks like nothing more than a place to buy candy molds, and in fact it is an excellent supply house for bakers and candy makers. [...]
November 15, 2011 | Posted in
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