Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 31, 2013

7

FOOD & DRINK

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 31, 2013 


I LOST MY LUGGAGE?

Just hallways apart at the Old Santa Fe Train Station in Pasadena are the Luggage Room Restaurant and, 
on the other side, the LA Grade Orange, efficiently known as “LGO”. I have visited both restaurants in 
the past week and have had mixed results (let it be known I ate at the bars at both restaurants for this 
review). The good first: La Grande Orange’s happy hour is one of the best in town - sangria, beer, and 
wonderful food including a Kale Salad and the “almost” famous tacos are a real hit, and the crowd is 
just in this reviewer’s age range. It’s a real comfortable place to hang out and enjoy.

Tuesday nights are my running club night at the 
Biergarten in Old Pasadena, just up the street 
from the Luggage Room. After we run we like to 
pick a local spot to put the calories right back on, 
and Tuesday’s destination was the Luggage Room. Equipped with cash and running shoes a group 
of us nibbled on freshly baked pizza and locally crafted beer from a simple menu of pizza and salads. 
The restaurant was packed for a Tuesday - it seems it’s locals night, and pizza is one of the easiest and 
cheapest items to make (buy one pizza get the next one for $5, a trick learned from The TV Show 
(“Bar Rescue”). Unfortunately, the pizza was plain, and the beer was room temperature (which we 
can blame on a refrigerator or compressor). I wish I could blame it on the service or lack of staff, but 
I just can’t …the service was good, and there were plenty of worker bees. Despite this visit I would go 
back, just to hang out with the 80’s gang I grew up with, but for food I’d go to the other side and eat at 
LGO!! Oh, why is it named the Luggage Room? The restaurant was the old Santa Fe Train Station and 
yep, it was the luggage storage 
room.

The Luggage Room 260 S. 
Raymond Ave. Pasadena (626) 
356-4440

News and Notes

Starbucks is coming! Starbucks 
is coming!! Construction on 
the drive-thru on Rosemead is 
almost complete. Dios Mio!

Taste of Arcadia

September 23rd. 5:30 PM to 
9 PM, Los Angeles County 
Arboretum in Arcadia. I’ll be 
pouring beer and wine at the 
Football area. Call (626) 447-
2159

www.peterdills.com

Listen to Dining w/Dills on 790 AM KABC For more food tips Sunday at 5 PM

CHEF DREWNO’S PORK POTSTICKERS 
W/BLACK VINEGAR 
DIPPING SAUCE

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

INGREDIENTS FOR POTSTICKER FILLING

3 lbS pork butt

1 tbsp cure salt

2 tbsp chopped garlic

1 tbsp chopped ginger

2 tbsp sugar

¼ cup oyster sauce

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp white pepper

¼ cup chopped cilantro

½ cup scallions, thinly sliced

1 tbsp sesame oil

¼ cup dried cherries, reconstituted, drained

¼ cup dried apricots, reconstituted, drained

¼ cup golden raisins, reconstituted, drained

DIRECTIONS: 

Mix all ingredients in bowl. Place in freezer for 20 minutes. Grind in mixer with ¼ inch die. Mix 
in KitchenAid with paddle attachment.

TO FILL POSTICKERS

INGREDIENTS: 

Store bought potsticker skins

Egg Yolks

POTSTICKER DIRECTIONS: 

Place potsticker skin on table. Brush half with egg yolk. Place small amount of filling in center 
of skin. Fold skin in half, and pleat along top using thumb and forefinger. Press bottom gently 
against cutting board, then bend in crescent shape.

Place in boiling water, cook 3 to 4 minutes til fully cooked through. Drain.

Place in hot sauté pan with peanut oil and cook on one side until golden brown. Remove and 
place on plate with black vinegar dipping sauce (recipe follows). Garnish with carrot strings, 
beet strings, and daikon strings.

FOR BLACK VINEGAR DIPPING SAUCE

4 tsp black vinegar

1/8 cup chili oil

4 tsp sugar

2 tbsp soy sauce (Kikkoman or Yamasa )

2 tbsp mushroom soy sauce

¼ cup rice vinegar

2 tbsp ginger, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS: 


THE ARBORETUM’S FIRST COOKING CLASS 
FOR THE FALL IS ON WEDNESDAY, 

SEPTEMBER 11 WITH THE FABULOUS GALE 
KOHL AND SURPRISE GUEST CHEF PEGGY 
DARK!!! 

Please call the Class Registration line at 626.821.4623 to register as 
space is limited! This is a demonstration class…except for the eating 
part!!! There are lots of samples for you to taste and wine for you to 
sip! Join the celebration in honor of Mexican Independence Day!! Jill

Gale Kohl (ABOVE) with SURPRISE GUEST CHEF Peggy Dark from The Kitchen For Exploring 
Foods Celebrate Mexican Independence Day!

Accompanied by Chef Beningo Zarate

Wednesday, September 11 from 3-5pm

$50 Arboretum members / $60 non-members

Call 626.821.4623 to register – space is limited!

We are in for a treat! 

Every September 15th, Mexicans commemorate the war of Independence, which was actually initiated 
in the small town of Dolores in Guanajuato Mexico on September 16, 1810. On that day Miguel 
Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest from a wealthy family of Mexican-born Spaniards or criollos, 
rallied his parishioners to rise up in arms against the Spanish crown. 

However, we are going to raise our hands in applause when we taste some of Gale’s – and SURPRISE 
GUEST CHEF Peggy Dark’s - fabulous dishes from our neighbor to the south…ever-so-delicious 
Tomatillo Salsa with Avocado and Queso Fresco, snappy chili rellenos with a delicious tomato sauce, 
Peggy’s famous chicken enchiladas with cheese sauce…and more! Who knew that Gale (from Gale’s 
Restaurant - known for Italian cuisine!) would delight us in yet another culture! Don’t miss these 
fabulous chefs! Call soon as space is limited!!!