True Food Kitchen in Old Town Pasadena, a Truly Exceptional Experience!

tfk_logo

tfk_outside

True Food Kitchen in Old Town Pasadena is exactly, and I do mean exactly, what this city has been needing! Prior to TFK’s arrival, Old Town Pasadena was in desperate need of a few things: An awesome spot for weekend brunch, delicious hand-crafted cocktails, hip but comfortable spots to get together with friends and family, an ambiance with the wow factor of the West side, and some flavorful and fun eats … all of these voids have been filled and so much more with its arrival! Welcome True Food Kitchen, we are so excited to have you in town!

The entire menu looks amazing, and everything is perfect for sharing! Here’s what we tried on our last visit (there’s soooo much more to try, everything looks so finger-licking good).

Let’s start with the cocktail menu. Every single drink is hand-crafted to perfection with tiny bits and pieces of muddled fruits, veggies and herbs. We tried the Skinny Margarita and the Grapefruit Martini. Both were delicious, not overly sweet, and just mixed to perfection! Be sure to check out some of these refreshing cocktails while the weather’s still scorching, they’re definitely a cooling treat (I’m sure I’ll be enjoying them throughout the So Cal ‘winter’ as well)! They’re priced pretty fairly at $10-$12 per cocktail. The same thing on the West side will easily run you $15+.

tfkmargarita     img_7816

Citrus Skinny Margarita (left, $11) muddled citrus, torn mint, cucumber, ixá organic tequila

Thai Grapefruit Martini (right, $12) thai basil, grapefruit, organic vodka

Next up, let’s talk about the starters. We had the Charred Cauliflower and Squash Pizza. First things first, Vegan Almond Ricotta?? OMG quite possibly the best tasting ‘cheese’ I’ve ever had – but without any guilt! Next time I’m definitely asking for extra drops of it! The crust was perfectly crispy in all the right places, and thin enough if you’re not into all those doughy carbs. The Charred Cauliflower was just as delicious. The tahini makes it creamy (without the mayo which is which most places use) and the dates naturally sweeten it up. It’s seasoned just perfectly and feels like a guilty creamy treat, but without the guilt. TFK does a fantastic job of satisfying all of our guilty eating pleasures by making healthy versions of those bad dishes we crave.

truefoodpizza     truefoodcauliflower

Butternut Squash Pizza ($13.50) smoked onion, organic kale, vegan almond ricotta, dried cranberry (Vegan)

Charred Cauliflower ($8) harissa tahini, medjool date, dill, mint, pistachio (Vegan, Gluten Free)

On to the mains … I guess we were feeling a little Italian that night cause we ended up ordering the Lasagna Bolognese and the Spaghetti Casserole (made with spaghetti squash … get the reoccurring theme here folks? All the good tastes, without the guilt)! Both were good portions with a unique twist to somewhat traditional dishes. I added the house-made chicken sausage ($4) to the casserole for some extra protein, I think you should too!

truefoodlasanga     truefoodspahgetti

Lasagna Bolognese (left, $16) house-made chicken sausage, mushroom, spinach, lemon ricotta, herbs (Gluten Free)

Spaghetti Squash Casserole (right, $14) organic tomato, caramelized onion, zucchini, fresh mozzarella (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

And for the grande finale (we couldn’t resist), we shared the Flourless Cake. I simply can’t think of a single improvement I’d make to it, but I did add some Coconut Whipped Cream that I saw listed on another dessert item because I love anything and everything coconut. With just the right amount of bittersweet chocolate, a light crunch and some vanilla ice cream you just can’t go wrong. I don’t generally like caramel, but this one was homemade and I had no issue scooping it straight to my mouth.

img_7819

Flourless Chocolate Cake ($7) caramel, vanilla ice cream, cocoa nibs (Vegetarian, Gluten-Free)

TFK was definitely love at first sight. We’ve been back 4 times, and they’ve only been open a few weeks. I keep telling myself to slow down because I’ll get sick of it, but I really don’t think that is possible.

Check them out on Yelp, they already have hundreds of folks bragging about how amazing it is. Warning: the food pics are going to make your mouth water!

What’s even more wonderful is that they take reservations! They’ve been really busy every night of the week, so click here to reserve through Open Table.

168 W Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 639-6818
truefoodkitchen.com

Del Frisco’s Grille Pasadena – A Wonderful Addition to Lake Ave.

bar_web-ready-gallery

Del Frisco’s Grille in Pasadena an exciting new Pasadena restaurant that offers quality fine dining worthy foods in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere! They serve up a vast menu of very tasty eats that take classic American comforts food and give them a modern foodie-worthy twist. The large bar is hip and swanky, offering a perfect environment for catching up with friends over a tasty cocktail and delicious appetizers. The restaurant itself is very warm and inviting, with comfortable and roomy seating and enough space between patrons so that you don’t feel crammed in. If you’re into wine, their selection is vast and impressive.

The Grille uses local ingredients to make delicious favorites such as their Ahi Tacos and Cheesesteak Egg Rolls (pictured below) which were perfect appetizers for sharing! 

 tacos

Ahi Tacos ($17.50) 
Tuna Tartare, Avocado, Spicy Citrus Mayo

eggrolls

Cheesesteak Eggrolls ($13.00)
Sweet & Spicy Chili Sauce, Honey Mustard

The menu also includes a selection of prime steaks, hearty salads, formidable sandwiches and chef-inspired entrees. We selected the Sole Francese & The Filet Mignon trio (the Filet trio is not a regular menu item) as our main courses. The sole was one of the best I’ve had, rich with lump crab meat and a tangy lemon-butter sauce on top. To accompany our main course, we chose the Pan-Seared Wild Mushrooms, and of course who could resist the hearty Truffled Mac and Cheese (all pictured below)! The portions are generous, and everything we ordered was perfect for sharing, even with a few people.

 sole

Sole Francese ($28.50)
Lump Crab, Arugula-Cherry Tomato Salad, Chive-Lemon Butter

 

filetrio

Filet Mignon Trio ($market price)

 

maccheese     mushrooms

Truffled Mac & Cheese ($8.00) & Pan-Braised Wild Mushrooms ($9.00) 

Finally, to add fire to the already roaring flame, we ordered the Coconut Cream Pie for dessert!! We had no room left whatsoever in our stomachs to eat dessert – or so we thought.  Rich with real whipped cream, shaved white chocolate and coconut flakes it was truly irresistible and a perfect ending to a perfect dining experience.

cocout

Coconut Cream Pie ($10.50)
White Chocolate Shavings

The service was amongst the friendliest, and the ambiance is a refreshing fun addition to the classic staple restaurants on Lake Avenue. Once you experience the fresh ingredients and generous portions, you’ll see the pricing is fair as well! We certainly can’t wait to return, and are looking forward to trying Del Frisco’s Grille’s Sunday Brunch – sooner than later! Do yourself a favor and get over to try this wonderful new restaurant in Pasadena!

Check them out on YELP.

55 S. Lake Ave., Suite 150

Pasadena, CA 91101

(626) 765-9913

 

Meat District Co. – Old Town Pasadena

If there’s a perfect place for the Paleo, Atkins, Carnivorous, my favorite animal is steak kind of person – I’m pretty sure the meat Gods would deem it to be located at  Meat District Co., in Old Town Pasadena. I visited the new diggs (on Raymond & Union) over the weekend, and I must say I was very impressed. I ordered the burger & 1/2 rack combo (pictured above). The Truffle Burger ($15) was exceptional!!! With the surge of burger establishments in the area, I’ve definitely had my fair share recently. This 1/2 lb. burger was surely by far the best in town! The pork ribs were also delicious and tender!

All their beef is ‘ALL NATURAL, NEVER EVER BEEF (hormone, steroid & antibiotic free).’ They work in partnership with America’s most sustainable producers, to make sure quality and taste are always on par.

As for the menu, Meat District offers something for everyone, from five spice chicken wings and baby back ribs to nearly a dozen burgers on deck.

photo 1

photo 2

BURGER & RIB COMBO

Any 1/2 lb burger & 1/2 a rack of beef or 1/2 jumbo pork ribs

 

photo 3

TRUFFLE BURGER

1/2 lb patty with truffle parmasen, argulua, roasted peppers, tomato & truffle aioli

photo 4

JUMBO PORK RIBS

25oz Half Rack                                    45oz Full Rack

 

photo 5

 

 

Definitely two thumbs up! Give them a try and see for yourself!

69 N Raymond Ave
PasadenaCA 91103

Pasadena

Check them out on Yelp.

Slater’s 50/50 – Extreme Overindulgence at It’s Best

Another visit to Slater’s 50/50 Pasadena. Tried a few different things, was reassured that entrees are enormous and very reasonably priced, and left pleading for the assistance of a fork lift. If you love huge portions, lots of piled on tasty ingredients and are even eating on a budget (or not) this is definitely a place to indulge.

This time around my beau and I decided to share a few new things. We started with the Slater’s Fries (served with BACON ketchup — yes it’s amazing), and shared The Old Timey Burger and the Chicken & Pancakes. It was probably enough food for four people, but we tackled it as best as we could with just the two of us.

SLATER’S FRIES

I’m not sure if this is the usual protocol, but the fries were brought out as an appetizer. They were fresh cut, and barely salted. Suprisingly, they weren’t greasy at all. The bacon ketchup was absolutley amazing, I had to ask for seconds. We also sprinkled some bacon salt on top of the fries, which made them extra tasty. If you haven’t picked it up yet, the theme of the whole 50/50 experience is bacon in every nook and cranny possible.

THE OLD TIMEY

The classic American burger with Sterling Silver ground beef, American cheese, thick cut bacon, grilled onions, green leaf lettuce, tomato and 1000 island dressing on white brioche. The Old Timey burger doesn’t have the traditional 50/50 (half ground bacon, half ground beef) patty. We opted for the all ground beef patty in an attempt to save a few hundred calories. The patty was equally huge and juicy and the toppings were real good.

FRIED CHICKEN & PANCAKES

Fried chicken topped with house-made-bacon-infused-country-gravy, two strips of thick cut bacon and a sunny side up egg sandwiched between three buttermilk pancakes, smothered in real maple syrup. The Fried Chicken and Waffles was …. HUGE. That’s the first thing that came to mind. We barely made a dent on one of the pancakes, but finished the chicken. The chicken is really juicy, and the dish was real good overall, just huge.

Once again, Slater’s proves to be fantastic. Ever since it opened up last month, every single night has drawn in huge crowds. The bar is full of TV’s for sports enthusiasts, and the restaurant is warm, fun and family friendly. There’s a place for everyone here. With the addition of 2 Diet Cokes, this bill came to only $35. I’d say that’s a bargain in Pasadena.

Check them out on Yelp. With 4 stars on almost 200 reviews, I’m sure there are plenty of others that agree with me.

61 N Raymond Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
Neighborhood: Pasadena

(626) 765-9700

 

POP Champagne Bar – Old Town Pasadena

   

POP Champagne & Dessert Bar is one of a kind! It’s sexy and swanky, but warm and intimate environment is welcoming to anyone. Whether you’re on a first date, going to happy hour, a passionate foodie, or catching a night out on the town, you’re sure to have a fun and memorable experience at this Pasadena gem.

Chef Ray Vasquez has been with POP since it’s opening in 2008. His personalized creations are unique and mouth-watering! He’s always using new ingredients and ideas to create an ever changing and exciting menu. He offers a different Souffle every single night of the month. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll definitely want to look ahead and check out the Souffle calendar so you can plan your visit on the perfect night for your taste buds!

I’ve visited POP on multiple occasions, and as a self-proclaimed “foodie,” I’ve always been impressed with what I’ve ordered.

We dined at the bar last night, as we frequently do. We ordered a couple glasses of the wonderful Testarossa Chardonnay ($14 glass), an excellent recommendation by Nathaniel. We started with the soup du jour, the Chicken Tortilla. It was garnished with a baked tostada, queso cojita, onions and cilantro. I was so excited to dig in and try it that I forgot to take a photo! But, I assure you it was fantastic! For dinner entrees, we selected the Margarita Flatbread Pizza and the Trio of Sliders (pictured below). The pizza was perfectly panned out, crispy in all the right places, with a delectable balsamic reduction drizzled on top.

Margarita Flatbread Pizza $14: cherry heirloom tomatoes, basil, parmesan, marinara

Trio of Kobe Beef Sliders $19:

  1. Surf and Turf- Shrimp, Jack Cheese, Cocktail Sauce, poppy seed bun
  2. POP Burger- Garlic Aioli Mayo, Bacon, Port Salut Cheese, port wine reduction, on onion brioche
  3. “BBQ Burger- House Made BBQ, Bacon, Cheddar, Crispy onions, on sesame bun

Of course we saved room for the souffle of the day. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare, so you may want to order it when your entrees come out. I appreciate that the Vanilla Anglaise is a generous portion that will make it through the whole souffle! I don’t think we left a single crumb behind, it was amazing!

Cookies N Cream with Vanilla Anglaise $12

The moral of this story is: indulge yourself in this experience, you won’t find it anywhere else. POP’s extensive selection of champagnes, wines and artisanal beers (for those manly men that wont partake) will please everyone. Chef Ray and his team do an outstanding job of keeping the menu fresh and tasty, with a menu of delectable entrees, small plates, gourmet cheeses, caviar, charcuterie, and of course the house made desserts that will tantalize your taste buds.

If all the talk about amazing eats hasn’t convinced you to, perhaps you need to know about POP’s best kept secret, Speakeasy champagne Sundays. Every Sunday, from 5-10pm, look for the secret password on POP’s Facebook and Twitter page, and get deeply discounted bubbly all night long! You’ll even get live music, every Sunday starting at 7pm.

Check them out on Yelp.

Kings Row Gastropub – Old Town Pasadena

While the vibe at Kings Row is casual, upbeat and inviting, the folks in the kitchen offer diners some serious pub nosh. You’ll find varieties of creative reinterpretations of British classics, like their Shepherd’s Stack and Cheeky Bastard Poutine or conscientious food, sourced almost exclusively from California, is served on small plates or share plates, along with a charcuterie carte menu, blackboard specials, and an ever-changing array of delectable dishes made from the freshest ingredients from the farm and sea. Kings Row’s full bar offers more than 60 beers, specializing in small-craft and local brewers and Belgian ales and styles, as well as handcrafted cocktails, and quaint, unique wine selections.

The Duck Sliders are back folks! The first time I had these small little bites of heaven was over a year ago — because Kings Row changes their menu often, unfortunately, they flew away for a bit. The duck sliders have a Pekin style marinade, with hoisin, ginger and sesame, and are topped with a Shiitake mushroom relish and home made Chinese mustard ($11.00). Served with a side of kennebec fries (garlic, herbs & white cheese) — how could you go wrong?

We also tried the Proper Fish & Chips ($14.00), served with a side of kennebec fries — not as delectable as the duck sliders, but I appreciated the quality of the Alaskan white cod, and the fact that the IPA beer batter was thin and crispy, without that weird rubbery film that usually lies between the fish and breading. Only thing I’d add here is a little seasoning — maybe some Cajun, or even some fresh salt & pepper and I think I’d be a happy camper. The home-made tartar sauce accompanying the dish was the best I’ve ever had! It was lemony, tangy and mixed just perfectly.

The serving style of this gastropub is quite unique. You seat yourself, either in the bar, inside restaurant area, or the patio — then you walk over to the bar to order your drinks and Eats. You can cash out, or leave a tab open, but either way you’re on your own to get back to the bar for any refills or additional orders. A waiter will bring your food to you when it’s ready. Service is pretty much do it yourself – there’s a bucket of silverware and napkins on the table and jugs of water around the pub that you help yourself to.

An added treat is the incredible live music you’ll hear Thurs-Sun. My favorite is the Reggae on Sundays! The bands are always really talented, and for a moment, while you’re sipping on your hops or mimosa, you really feel like you’ve escaped on a tropical getaway!

Happy Hour – $4 well drinks, $2 off all beers, and a handful of good ‘Eats’ at discounted prices.

Everyday from 4pm-7pm

All day on Tuesday

Late Night Sun-Wed 10pm-12pm

20 E. Colorado Blvd. Ste. 102, Pasadena CA 91105   Tel: 626.793.3010
Mon-Thurs 1130am-12am Fri 1130am-2am Sat 1030am-2am Sun 1030am-12am