
Dim sum doesn’t roll on carts at this temple to tea snacks; instead the jewel-like dumplings, noodles and other refined small plates are pictured on the extensive, often-changing menu. Hard-core foodies choose the crunchy fried chicken knees and gelatinous chicken feet. For more mainstream eaters, such seafood dishes as shrimp-stuffed eggplant, tofu rounds topped with [...]
August 30, 2010 | Posted in
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Looking for all the world like a wine bar, this place turns out to be not about drinking at all. Beyond the Olive (tagline: Celebrating Food and Living Well) is an olive oil and balsamic vinegar store that also stocks some other foods (olives, dips, tapenades, crackers) and gift items, such as bowls (for olive [...]
August 18, 2010 | Posted in
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What is left to say about the hamburger? It’s the quintessential American sandwich. It used to cost a nickel. Now, you can get a gold-flecked burger on Wall Street for $175. At Fleur de Lys in Mandalay Bay, Hubert Keller will sell you a foie-gras and black-truffle-stuffed Kobe burger, served on a brioche truffle bun [...]
July 28, 2010 | Posted in
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Taco Station opened about three months ago in a converted gas station at the intersection of Green and Chester, just west of PCC. It’s a cute little place, with outdoor-only seating under bright red umbrellas. For company you’ll have PCC and Caltech students, dog-walking locals happy to have a decent place to chow down in [...]
July 25, 2010 | Posted in
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This one’s going to be at our own Rose Bowl, and it’s set to be a doozy. Why? Two words: crowd control. The Festival‘s previous iteration, like basically every other major street food event since the food truck renaissance began, was a zoo. Huge crowds and long lines, besides being unpleasant in and of themselves, [...]
July 19, 2010 | Posted in
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Pasadena lacks a few kinds of essential food-and-drink establishments (like a proper deli and a really good gastropub à la the York), but it’s doing great in the wine bar department. There’s been a fair amount of hoopla around such places as Noir, Vertical, Bodega and the Wine Detective, but somehow we hadn’t noticed what [...]
July 15, 2010 | Posted in
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The east Altadena stop for a treat (a cookie, a slice of chocolate truffle cake, a cup of coffee), Patticakes is really famed for its special-occasion, made-to-order cakes. They are spectacular, and they taste every bit as good as they look. You’ll find a gallery of them on the website, but if you don’t see [...]
July 5, 2010 | Posted in
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The incarnation of the word “cozy,” Penelope’s is warmed by wooden tables, a fireplace, a rear patio and book-lined shelves. This café-cum-shop features great food, unusual gifts, paintings, jewelry, pottery and an eclectic selection of new and used books, including children’s books. You line up, create a sandwich (vegetarian on olive bread, tuna on sun-dried [...]
June 20, 2010 | Posted in
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It’s hard to believe that chef Yujean Kang has been cooking his elegant brand of Chinese food in Southern California for 20 years, but it’s true. He started his career as a restaurateur in the Bay Area, then moved to L.A., and finally found his real home in Old Pasadena. Kang’s sophisticated dishes, prepared with [...]
June 16, 2010 | Posted in
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Once again, the Americana is playing truck-stop for some of the hottest gourmet food trucks on the road: the Worldfare Bustaurant, The Buttermilk Truck, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Coolhaus, Vizzi, Chef Brian’s Comfort Truck, Patty Wagon, Mandoline Grill and Flying Pig. Buttermilk (breakfasty goodies), Coolhaus (ice cream sandwiches) and Grilled Cheese (duh) are established powers, while [...]
June 13, 2010 | Posted in
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