Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 30, 2011

9

GOOD FOOD & DRINK

 Mountain Views News Saturday, April 30, 2011 

AKA - AN AMERICAN BISTRO

Battled with the fervor of a Lincoln – Douglas debate. Foodies in both New York and Los Angeles 
sermonize with certainty that the best restaurants table up in their city. Pasadena has a collection of 
the world’s finest illustrations of cuisine. Noir just collected the prize of finest new restaurant by the 
Zagat guide. Parkway Grill has been knighted as the Spago of the East and Pasadena finds yet another 
star in its orbit, AKA (An American Bistro). It’s new to Pasadena, but according to owners Robert and 
Debra Simon, it’s a transplant from St. Helene’s and the Napa Valley. The restaurant is a quintessential 
bistro with a menu that integrates and blends a fusion of flavors. The restaurants summons Café 
Joucelet to mind. AKA is related to the very popular Bistro 45, they are brothers. 

AKA is the latest concept by renowned restaurateurs Deborah and Robert Simon, who also have 
operated Bistro 45 for the past 20 plus years in Pasadena, and previously launched the AKA concept 
in St. Helena two and a half years ago to critical acclaim. “Opening AKA back home in Pasadena is 
very exciting for us. We can now share for the first time with our friends in Pasadena the amazing 
flavors we discovered while in the California wine country.” Their seasoned culinary experience 
includes working with Chez Panisse, the founder Alice Waters and the incomparable Narsai David. 
During the 1980’s Robert and his father Alvin opened the affectionately remembered Café Jacoulet on 
Raymond at a time when Old Towne Pasadena was maturing. Drawing flavors and menu focus from 
California wine country sensibility and from specific, sustainable, and, where ever possible, organic 
sources. AKA’s sophisticated yet comfortable ambiance will be highlighted by gracious and abundant 
hospitality and a diverse menu featuring selections for every 
taste. Chef Jonathan Wiener’s vivid flavors pair naturally 
with an exceptional and well-priced wine selection and 
handcrafted brews from California. Speaking of wine, 
corkage is a meager ($8) here. So what to order, I must 
admit that Robert and I go way back, amazing since 
both of us have a full head of hair. Anyway, I wasn’t 
incognito, Robert insisted on picking a few of his 
favorites and I promise they will become yours as well. 
Buttermilk Onion Rings ($6), yes, the pride of comfort 
food everywhere is a restaurants feature here. An unusually seasoned dish to nibble along is the 
Portobello mushroom fries ($9), The truffle aioli makes them irresistible. If you have been following 
my columns here in the Outlook, you know that Calamari is a must for me, at ($12) the Grilled 
Calamari with chipotle and arugula is one reason this restaurant competes with the best among 
Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area. Entrees feature Cassoulet, Pork Chops, Pasta, and game 
hen but my selection was the Risotto ($18). Simple wholesome ingredients which propel flavors to 
a mind tingling level with mushrooms, artichokes and sunchokes. Robert would not let me escape 
without a sampling of the AKA Ruben with aged and house made corn beef ($14). I see myself having 
lunch on the patio with a glass of bubbly and the corn beef sandwich. On or visit the menu offered 
seven desserts, my choice is the Butterscotch pot au Crème ($8.50).

 So what does AKA mean? Alvin Knows Always. 

41 Hugos Alley at One Colorado. 

Check the web site for updates www.akabistro.com. (626) 564.8111. Watch my show on Charter Cable 
on Saturday and Sunday Nights at 7 PM on Charter 101. Follow me on Twitter and on Facebook.

KNOWN FACT: MOMS & KIDS LOVE PANCAKES

IN RESPONSE TO THIS BELOVED BREAKFAST ITEM, RENAISSANCE 
HOTELS & KIDS ACROSS AMERICA WHIP 
UP SECOND “MOTHER’S DAY PANCAKE PLAY DATE” 

Moms can sit back, relax and let the kids wear the chef’s hat again this year

Whoever said food was the way to a man’s heart, must have forgotten about the millions of moms 
who love something delicious from the kitchen on their special day. Once again Renaissance Hotels 
opens the kitchen to kids this Mother’s Day with its second annual “Mother’s Day Pancake Play Date” 
breakfast and brunch special http://www.therenaissancelife.com/easy-pancake-recipe/ at participating 
Renaissance Hotels throughout the U.S. The “Mother’s Day Pancake Play Date” is a fun, new 
annual tradition for Renaissance Hotels as they aim to provide families with an affordable way to say 
“thanks mom” while focusing on providing guests with cuisine made from indigenous ingredients. 

On Sunday, May 8th the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel will provide kids the opportunity to create 
the ultimate, custom pancake while Moms sit back and enjoy the relaxing sounds of jazz music during 
our Mothers Day Sunday Jazz Brunch. Every Sunday afternoon, the sounds from the KJAZZ 
88.1FM Champagne Brunch Series fill the air at the hotel’s Twist Restaurant from 11:00am-2:00pm. 
The KJAZZ brunches feature high quality jazz artists and live broadcasts from KJAZZ DJ's and include 
all you can eat and drink from a wide variety of stations throughout the restaurant. Choose your 
favorites from cooked to order omelettes, eggs benedict, fresh waffles, carved prime rib, hot entrees, 
salads, desserts, champagne, mimosas and much, much, more. The cost is $39.95 for adults, $19.95 
for kids 12 and under.

It’s a win-win situation for parents and kids this Mother’s Day as each Renaissance Hotel will have a 
dedicated chef’s station that includes healthy options as well as indulgent and micro-local indigenous 
ingredients for the kids to choose from as they make their mom a customized flap jack. Parents will 
have the chance to dine at their table while the kids are supervised and guided at the pancake station 
by a renowned Renaissance chef.

“Renaissance is dedicated to providing hotel guests and local patrons with unique culinary experiences 
that use the best indigenous ingredients available in each market. Our Mother’s Day Pancake 
Playdate package not only offers families with the opportunity to help kids tap into their inner-culinary 
talents, but it also helps create a memorable experience that gives back to Mom,” said Tina Edmundson, 
senior vice president lifestyle brands “The Mother’s Day flap jack experience was a popular 
event among families last year, and as a result Renaissance Hotels is excited to bring the opportunity 
back for a second year.”

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills


Do not forget your mother or grandmother on 
Mother’s DayMake your reservation now for the Four Seasons Tea Room75 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024 
RSVP (626) 355-0045
OpenTues - Sat11am - 4pmSundays 
open forgroups 
of 20 
or morePrivate SpaceAvailable 
for Bridal & 
Baby Showers, 
Birthdaysand 
Special 
Occasions
Space 
LimitedSpace 
Limited
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