Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 9, 2013

A9

FOOD & DRINK

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 9, 2013 


BIG DADDY’S FIRE GRILL, ORANGEWOOD 
PLAZA, WEST PASADENA

 How many burger joints are there in Pasadena? Many! 
Have you noticed the competition in the hot dog and 
burger arena in Pasadena has increased dramatically? 
Although Bob’s Big Boy, Johnny Rocket’s and Wolfe 
Burger bowed out, it seems that Pasadena has gotten 
a lot of new burger joints, and I found one that stands 
apart from the rest: Big Daddy’s Fire Grill. How can Big 
Daddy be a strong contender? I went to the new Big 
Daddy’s after my radio show last Sunday night, wanting 
to get a burger and watch the games on one of their nine 
big screen TV’s. I was accompanied by Mr. Dean Lee, 
who films my radio show for the internet. The menu has 
as many selections as the original location on Foothill 
Blvd. They have a chicken wing appetizer (some of the 
best wings I have had in the San Gabriel Valley, marinated in a secret sauce and are fresh, never 
frozen), dawgs, grilled sandwiches, salads and, of course the burger. 

 The claim here is that each burger is freshly ground daily and hand-formed. On my first visit I had 
no proof, but after the burger “The Daddy Burger”($6.95) I wanted another! It wasn’t that the burger 
didn’t fill me up. It was just that good. My mind was racing on how I would write a full story on just 
one burger, when it occurred to me that this burger reminded me of a burger that you would have at a 
backyard BBQ. Now I ask you…. where else would you indeed have another burger? Yep, bingo! At 
a friend’s BBQ or tailgate! Friend Dean Lee had the Lamb Burger 1/3 lb. ($9.75) and promised to tell 
everyone who would listen about his find. Now, when I explained to Dean that the burger reminded 
me of one that you’d have in the backyard, this usually laid-back man acted as if I had just parted the 
Red Sea and brought the sun came out on a cloudy day. He stood up and said, “You are right Peter!” 
I ate the sandwich so fast that Dean thought I hadn’t eaten in two days. Nope, it was just that good. I 
even thought about ordering another.

 Prices here are ridiculously competitive, with 
combos available. All in all, there are plenty of 
dishes to love. There are also many beers on tap, 
as well as wine by the glass or bottle. Why Big 
Daddy’s name? Every dad claims to make the 
best backyard BBQ, and the owners might have 
the claim for the best burger. Another bonus -- 
the walls are well, wall-to-wall with nine huge flat 
screen TV’s, much like the original. Big Daddy’s 
is a great place for a burger and to hang out with 
friends and watch your favorite sporting event. 
My only minus is that the French Fries are pre-
frozen, the only blemish on another wise stellar 
performance.

Bonus: During live sporting events for home teams, beer prices are slashed !! I had a Stella for $3.50 
the usual price is $4.75. Restrictions apply. 

Big Daddy’s Fire Grill, 147 W. California Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-4900

Join me on KABC Radio 790 AM every Sunday at 5 PM


SOUTHERN PECAN PIE

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

INGREDIENTS

 1/2 (14.1-oz.) package refrigerated piecrusts 

1 tablespoon powdered sugar 

4 large eggs 

1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar 

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled to room temperature 

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

1/2 cup chopped pecans 

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

2 tablespoons milk 

1 1/2 teaspoons bourbon* 

1 1/2 cups pecan halves 

DIRECTIONS

 

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Fit piecrust into a 10-inch cast-iron skillet; sprinkle piecrust with 
powdered sugar.

2. Whisk eggs in a large bowl until foamy; whisk in brown sugar and next 6 ingredients. 
Pour mixture into piecrust, and top with pecan halves.

3. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 300°, and bake 30 more minutes. 
Turn oven off, and let pie stand in oven, with door closed, 3 hours.

*Vanilla extract may be substituted.


JOIN THE SIERRA MADRE GARDEN CLUB – 
MONDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2013 

 

LET’S DECORATE! The holidays are 
coming and it’s time to think about 
planning and creating festive table 
decorations.

Come to the November Garden Club 
meeting and be inspired by Garden Designer 
Steven Carmona and Floral Designer 
Tommy Farmer,.

Sierra Madre residents. Steven and 
Tommy will be sharing their ideas and 
expertise for creating Holiday table 
decorations using a variety of plants.

containers, fresh and dried materials. 
They will be challenging us to see what 
we can find in our own gardens to display 
creatively on our Holiday tables. 

 

Everyone is invited. 

Dinner begins at 6:30 P.M.; followed by 
the program at 7:15 P.M. Catered dinner 
is $10; reservations for dinner must 
be made 

by November 7th at 626-836-4945. There is no charge for attending only the program.

 

Location: Hart Park House Memorial Park, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. For information 
call the reservation number or visit http://www.smgarden.org/