p8, v5.04 — Good Food & Drink — Mountain Views News

Good Food & Drink

Mountain Views News Saturday, January 22, 2011

MVNews this week: Page 8

GOOD FOOD & DRINK

Mountain Views News Saturday, January 22, 2011

Eat Well!

Café 140 South - Post Crocodile Cafe

Wine Tasting &
Cuisine Tasting

MORE THAN FOOD AND WINE AT THE

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY EVENT

The 41st Wine and Cuisine Tasting promises to be the most entertaining ever, as event chairs
work to bring you music and magic to the Villa as well as premium wines and marvelous
food. On February 18th you will be treated to the music of four great groups. Mario Lalli
of Club 322 is again sponsoring the groups as his contribution to the Friends. Mario has
booked for your enjoyment: Steve Vargas and Friends (folk, rock country acoustic); The
Echo Park Hot Club featuring harmonica virtuoso Bill Barnett (Retro ragtime, Gypsy Jazz);
2 Frets Lower (Blue Grass & Folk Blues); and Vince Meghrouni & the Downbeats Trio (Jazz).
These groups will be stationed throughout the Villa and the tents.

For almost 20 years, Magicians Steve Silverman and Will Chandler of the Magic Castle have
beguiled you with their magic. They won’t disappoint you this year as they are looking forward
to again participating.

At our Premier Event, Michael Riboli, 4th generation winemaker of San Antonio Winery
and Riboil Family Wine Estates will be there to speak about wine making and wine from his
famous winery. In addition to Mr. Riboli’s talk we will also have a very special door prize
for one lucky attendee to the Premier Event. Other door prizes will be given throughout the
main event.

You may purchase your tickets on line at www.SierraMadreLibraryFriends.org or at the Sierra
Madre Library, The Bottle Shop, Savor the Flavor, Arnold’s Frontier Hardware, and
Iris Intrigue. Tickets are $80 for the Premier and Main Event and $60 for the Main Event.
Members of the Friends of the Library will be given a $5.00 discount for the Main Event
tickets if they purchase them at the library. Premier tickets are limited to 100 guests and last
year they were sold out two weeks prior to the event, so be sure you don’t miss out this year.

There is an old adage - if it ain’t broke why fix it? Because I was in a curious mood (not to mention
hungry) this past week, I called my friend Gregg Smith and invited him out to lunch. Oddly enough I
invited him to one of his own restaurants, Café 140 South. You may remember this as the Crocodile
Café, a very reliable go-to restaurant for thousands of diners through out the years. Gregg agreed to
meet me for lunch; we picked a spot on the al fresco street side patio, so after the how are you’s and
other pleasantries, as any good reporter I asked Gregg, “So, why the change?” Gregg, answered without
blinking, “We wanted to reward our customers with an updated and better choice of entrees.” Better
choice? Gregg replied, “Expanded choices, including smaller plates, expanded wine list and a cleaner
look. We are offering a wine-by-the-glass program that will rival anyone in the area.” I glanced at the
sign and, sure enough, a glass of Opus One was available for $18. Gregg made sure I understood that
there were few other places where you can get a glass of Opus One for that price. OK, but what about
the menu? I literally have grown up eating pizza from the Crocodile and the OOOHHH-sooo-good
Oakwood grilled cheeseburger ($10.95) is a staple for many local businessmen’s weekly lunch visit.
Gregg assured me that the best of the original Crocodile menu was still in place, but his brother and
partner, Bob, and he wanted to improve on their already successful formula. Their handcrafted pizzas
($12.50 range) have been best sellers for years, but maybe just maybe they could improve on the dough?
So I ordered the Margherita pizza. I was indeed blown away by the flavor and, true to Gregg’s word,
the new dough made such a difference I even ate the crust. My host pointed out that the vine-ripened
tomatoes had been cut just minutes before.

Ah - but just one great pizza won’t sway this
reporter’s pen. When it was my turn to order, our server Jasmine came by and without once looking
down at her notes, rattled off seven or eight specials. Wow, now that’s impressive. I have to repeat to
myself ten times at my own address at times. At the top of the menu are Artichokes ($4.95), these, like the
burgers are Oakwood grilled. I know a thing
or two about Artichokes and they both looked
the part of being grilled and were fantastic. I
cheated just a bit and cut right into the sweet
spot; hey, but more food was on the way. Up
next the Thai Salad ($13.50) easily enough for
two and Gregg said, “Bravo Peter, that is our
Number 1 seller.” Plenty of chicken and just
the right amount of Thai dressing. I felt the
stomach starting to raise the white flag so I
quickly ordered the entrée. It was a newcomer
to the menu - Stout Braised Short Rib
($16.95), with the stout being one of Samuel
Smith’s and another winner. Somehow after
all this we shared a butterscotch pudding
($6.95). That didn’t last too long, either. There
is indeed something for everyone here at
the “updated” Café 140 South, yes there are
veggie dishes, plus salads, pastas, pizzas and
the expanded Wine list. Tell me what you
think? Thechefknows@yahoo.com

Fast Facts: Full Bar, valet parking at Smitty’s
lunch and dinner. Patio dining, wines by the
glass or bottle.

Café 140 South, 140 S. Lake, Pasadena,
(626) 449-9900. Website www.140south.com
for hours and updates.

Join me This Sunday afternoon at 4 PM for
Dining with Dills on Talk Radio 790 KABC

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

Win Two Tickets to the Friends
of the Library 41st Annual Wine
and Cuisine Tasting Event

February 18th at the Alverno Villa

Look for this Wine-Tasting Artwork in Mt. Views
Publications now until January 31st. Answer the
wine trivia question, complete the entry form and
drop off at the Sierra Madre Library.

Drawing Rules – Limited to one entry per
person, per Mt Views publication. Winner need
not be present to win General Admission tickets.
Completed entry from must be delivered to the
Sierra Madre Library during hours of operation, same week of publication. Drawing
tickets have no cash value and cannot be refunded. Eligible entry form does not
require a correct answer to the trivia question.

New from Sierra Madre Grocery Company –
Caramelized Onions & Roasted Garlic

Sierra Madre Grocery Company, a leading manufacturer of premium bruschetta salsas and
specialty foods, today announced the introduction of their new Caramelized Onions &
Roasted Garlic product.

Caramelized Onions & Roasted Garlic is a delicious and diverse product that can be used
in a variety of ways and to add amazing flavor to the simplest of dishes. The product can
be used as a spread on toasted baguettes or for upscale appetizers. Caramelized Onions are
perfect on sandwiches, hamburgers, steak, pizza or in a gourmet quesadilla. The possibilities
of getting creative and using this distinct product are endless.

“The Caramelized Onions & Roasted Garlic is now one of the top selling products in our
shop. We love it on a cracker with brie and topped with this outrageous product – yummy,”
said Karen Keegan, Owner of Savor The Flavor in Sierra Madre and a top specialty retailer
of the Sierra Madre Grocery Company product line.

Sierra Madre Grocery Company’s Caramelized Onions & Roasted Garlic are now available
at select retailers throughout California and a 12oz jar retails for $8.99. Case packs are also
offered and make exceptional gifts for companies to give clients and consumers alike.

Sierra Madre Grocery Company offers a full line of gourmet food products that include
Roasted Garlic & Olive Bruschetta, Black Bean & Corn Bruschetta, Sweet & Spicy Mountain
Trail Snack Mix and Sierra Seasoning Rub. The business is owned by Karen Swisher and is
made up of a successful and talented team with over 25 years of industry experience. Sierra
Madre Grocery Company is dedicated to producing healthy, fresh and reasonably priced
products for the gourmet specialty food marketplace. For more information contact 626-
355-9556 or on the web at www.sierramadregroceryco.com.

The company will be exhibiting at the Fancy Food Show this month in San Francisco
(Booth #304).

What DO You Think?

We’d like to hear from you! Contact us at:

editor@mtnviewsnews.com or