Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 13, 2010

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com

GOOD FOOD & DRINK

8

 Mountain Views News Saturday, November 13, 2010 


Do you ever go to the movies solo? How 
about sitting alone when you go out to eat? I 
recently had a conversation with a female who 
works out at my gym. She is a very attractive 
lady, trust me, she could get a date if she 
wanted one. She told me 
that she often goes to lunch 
by herself. The reason 
being is that she demands a 
first-rate restaurant where 
she feels confident that she 
will receive a terrific meal. 
In a nutshell, she said, that 
many of her friends don’t 
want to pay $30 for lunch. Many of us likely 
believe that the “L’ letter is branded on our 
forehead if we go out alone. But for me, it has 
become commonplace and the only “L’s” I am 
coping to are in my last name. 

Writing for this newspaper and getting 
material for my Saturday Night radio show, I 
am often pressed into action to go it alone. I 
have no expense account here, my friends, so 
for me, leaner is the meaner in my business. 
Frequently, if there is a bar that serves entrees 
I will just go that route. The football game 
won’t distract LA’s #1 aspiring restaurant 
critic.

Recently, as I was hanging out at a local 
eatery, I was amazed at how much our local 
mixologist (creative bartender), can endure. 
Most of the crowds I encounter are grown 
men who often become nostalgic over their 
glory days. Now, I am all for striking up a 
sports conversation, but you haven’t heard 
modern Shakespeare until you heard a sixty 
year old tell you about his days of playing 
football. In fact, I think I saw a tear come into 
that old curmudgeon’s eye. And I hate to tell 
this one out loud, but men can gossip too!! 
This is not women gossip, mind you. We talk 
about how he had to buy his corvette used, 
or we just know his girlfriend hasn’t got her 
papers. Us guys, we are more certain about 
these things. All the while, these Bartenders 
must lean in and give us their ear, or at least 
be able to fake us with their best Hollywood 
impression. 

Customers sit at a bar for a variety of reasons. 
They are lonely and want someone to talk to. 
They are tired and want to be alone. They want 
to watch the nightly football game. They want 
to try to pick up a date. Whatever the reason, 
the bartender needs to be able to interact with 
customers on their level. The lonely guy who 
wants to pour his heart out about his recent 
divorce will need an ear to listen to his problem. 
If a bartender shows irritation toward that 
customer, or just ignores them completely, 
the customer isn’t likely to come back. On the 
other hand, if the bartender insists on chatting 
up a storm with the guy who just wants some 
peace and quiet after a long day at work, that 
guy won’t come back either. A bartender needs 
to know how to read people and interact with 
them accordingly. Those types of bartenders 
who can pull that off develop a strong customer 
following. A good bartender will bring 
customers in, just because he or she innately 
understands psychology as equally as mixing 
drinks.

I did get a little irritated myself last week. I 
was at the Bowling Alley waiting for someone 
to show up, and I was alone at the bar and 
the bartender just carried on his conversation 
with a fellow employee, oblivious to me. I got 
the distinct impression that he didn’t want to 
chat about my glory days. 

Email me your thoughts thechefknows@yahoo.
com. Charter Cable Channel 101 on Saturday 
Nights at 7 PM, and my radio show at 9 PM on 
Saturday Night KABC Talk Radio 790.

Eat Well! Going at It Alone


THE CHEF KNOWS

Cafe 322 - 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. - Sierra Madre. CA

Phone (626) 836-5414 Fax: (626) 836-5787 


Pasadena’s Smokin’ Good Secret

By LaQuetta M. Shamblee on Special 
Assignment

Finding good barbeque is always a treat, 
but finding great barbeque is truly devine. I 
must say I was somewhat surprised to learn 
about Bonnie B’s Smokin’ Barbeque Heaven 
from a close friend who recently moved back 
home to southern California from Kentucky. 
At first I couldn’t figure out why she chose 
to conclude her recent birthday weekend 
celebration with a networking luncheon 
miles away from her new home in Orange 
County. Apparently the word has spread far 
and wide about the delicious cookins’ at this 
local Pasadena eatery, and she simply saved 
the best for last to convene a group of friends 
who reside in the Los Angeles area.

 

“Oh my goodness,” “Yum,” and long drawn 
out “Hmmm’s” was the chorus around the 
table after we started tasting individual orders 
of ribs, chicken, smoked salmon, sliced beef 
and hot links placed before us. They use a 
mix of secret family seasonings to prepare 
meat, poultry or fish slow smoked over oak, 
hickory or mesquite. “All of our food is 
health-consciously prepared, we don’t add 
fat, much of the fat drips off as it’s smoked,” 
says co -owner Bonnie. Three vegetarians in 
the group were satisfied with the choice of a 
fresh garden salad and an array of southern-
style vegetables, cooked without any meat 
products. We all wished we’d stashed away 
one of the jalapeno corn muffins that were 
served as a prelim to the main meal.

The groundwork for the 2009 launch of 
this successful entrepreneurial enterprise 
was laid when a co-owner, Betty convinced 
a small group of friends to start a catering 
business from the Small Business Kitchen 

Incubator in Pasadena. The response from 
the community was both immediate and 
positive as they began to deliver lunches 
to businesses, primarily along north Lake 
Avenue. When they spotted a “For Rent” 
sign, they made the leap, mortgaged their 
home, and with a much needed influx of 
capital from Bonnie’s mother, they’ve made 
impressive strides since opening their doors. 

Just two months after Bonnie and Betty 
Henderson opened their doors, they received 
a phone call from Zagat, the nation’s premier 
restaurant rating system. “Do you know 
what just happened to your restaurant?,” the 
person stated, then went on to explain that 
Zagat generally doesn’t rate a restaurant until 
it’s been in business for two to five years. 

Bonnie B’s was also recently lauded with 
dual honors by The Pasadena Weekly’s “2010 
Best of List.” Their “Best New Restaurant” 
and “Best Restaurant Staff” awards are a 
testament to the taste and quality of their 
menu, as well as the welcoming environment.

Bonnie is in charge of everything related 
to the food, and Betty handles the finances 
and everything related to the front of the 
restaurant. Of course, they offer take-out 
and offsite catering is a specialty. Bonnie 
has planned some special additions for the 
holidays, including full family dinners with 
stuffing, smothered chicken, seafood gumbo 
and other fixins. 

 

Bonnie B’s Smokin’ Barbeque Heaven is 
located at 1280 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena 
91104 and their phone number is (626) 794-
0132. Visit www.bonniebssmokin.com for 
their menu and other details. 


We bake all of our offered baked 
goods, right here in our kitchen so 
that you can share with your family 
and friends something that is both 
delicious and made with care and 
love – which is what we all look for, 
especially this time of year! 

 Our apple pies are made from 
organic apples that are brought in 
from a farm called Riley’s, at Los 
Rios Rancho in Yucaipa. Three 
types of apples go into the creation 
of our specialty pies, Granny Smith, 
Jonagold and Rome Beauty or Winesap. Each pie 
is crowned with a crumble topping, which makes 
for a much lighter pie. We offer our signature 
apple pies in both regular, and sugar free. 

But, apples pies are just the beginning of our 
homemade selections. On the pie front, we also 
carry a pumpkin and a regular or sugar free 
peach/berry pie. 

 The Bean Town bakery case also offers an 
assortment of delectable bars, including 
pumpkin, fudge brownie and a low fat fruit 
option. 

 Our carrot cake and various 
cheesecakes are a local favorite, and 
one must not forget the infamous 
chocolate layer cake which has a 
“to die for” reputation – you have 
to taste it to believe it! 

Did we mention the cupcakes? 

 The red velvet and chocolate 
are fan favorites, and baked daily. 
But this time of year our kitchen 
gets a’buzz creating Bean Town’s 
themed holiday cupcakes. 

They go fast and you don’t want to 
miss them, so be sure to order now! 

 We also carry a complete line of cookies. Our 
daily variety consists of chocolate chip, chocolate 
chip pecan, peanut butter, oatmeal and every 
kids’ favorite, M&M’s®. 

We are taking orders now for the holidays! Please 
place your holiday orders early.

BEANTOWN

45 N. Baldwin Ave.

Sierra Madre 

Bean Town brings you a taste of home to your holidays.