WHY Great prices and an amazingly varied selection of mainstream and esoteric Chinese grocery items. Worth a trip for the noodle case alone. WHAT The Gelson’s of Chinese supermarkets, except instead of having 60 kinds of breakfast cereal, 99 Ranch has 60 kinds of fish sauce. An absolute must-visit, with a dazzling array of Chinese [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Three reasons: Old-fashioned service with a smile. Famed meats from Alexander’s. And classic goodies from Lisa’s Bakery. WHAT This compact, all-purpose market is worth a detour. Look for the Harris Ranch beef, dry-aged prime cuts, excellent marinated poultry and carne asada, and locally made empanadas and tamales. The wine selection is very good, too. [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY For inventive (but not too risky) food and good party management. WHAT Onil Chibas is Pasadena’s hippest caterer (and restaurateur, at Elements), with food that combines the comfort of American classics with lots of Asian and Latin influences. Passed dishes might include Vietnamese-style beef skewers with chili and lemongrass as well as Italian-style caprese [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Hey, they’ve got game! (Try the buffalo burgers.) The frozen turkey meatballs are great, too. WHAT Run by a goofy bunch of guys in butcher’s whites, Harmony specializes in wild game and organic, free-range lamb, turkey, beef and chicken. Great for superb lamb chops and first-rate Thanksgiving turkeys and prices much lower than the [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY For richly flavorful and sustainably produced modern comfort food—for vegans and carnivores alike—at moderate prices. Ask about dinner parties in her kitchen. WHAT Jennie Cook’s homey style of cooking suits her Pennsylvania Dutch roots—but the surprise is the commitment to sustainability and health. Her kitchen turns out great briskets and bacon-wrapped dates as well [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Excellent Italian prosciutti, cheeses, sausages, salumi and gnocchi, sold with style and lots of sample tastes. WHAT Roma’s fans are so passionate that they are almost a cult, and their leader is Rosario, who confidently proclaims his sandwiches, prosciutti and cheeses to be the best in the world. We’re not sure about that, but [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Hawaiian opah, sashimi-grade ahi, lobster bisque and everything seafood. WHAT The premier seafood market on the eastside (or perhaps in all of L.A.), Fish King also carries a few non-seafood essentials (pasta, bread, marinades, some fresh vegetables and citrus) and a few prepared dishes, notably excellent soups. The guys behind the counter know their [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY It’s a nice spot to just hang out around wine. WHAT Former Patina sommelier Chris Meeske runs a charming, artisan-style shop that showcases handmade, distinctive bottlings at every price point. Wine education and pairing wine with food are specialties, and the frequent tastings have become a linchpin of South Pasadena’s lively food-and-wine scene. The [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Sausage-making as fine art, and especially worth a visit Thursday through Saturday, when the butchers prepare fresh brats, bangers, Swedish sausage and apple sausage. WHAT Schreiner’s house-made sausages and cured meats are shipped all over the country, and with good reason. In addition to the wondrous sausages that fill the enormous deli cases, the [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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WHY Prosciutto di Parma, fresh pizza dough, canned and marinated anchovies, excellent cold cuts. WHAT Despite adding a gelato bar and some tables at one end of the store, this venerable Italian grocery thankfully refuses to gentrify. It carries all the necessities of life, including Illy espresso beans, Italian sausage, Rustichella d’Abruzzo pasta, salt-packed capers, [...]
October 28, 2011 | Posted in
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