Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 19, 2014

7

FOOD AND DRINK

Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 19. 2014 


VALLEY DINING 

Welcome to the Foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and the palace where Champions are crowned. 
Santa Anita has just closed for a few months and they are racing in Del Mar, so I thought a local round 
up would be in order.

Panda Inn is the place where you may find John 
Sheriffs or Laffit Pincay digesting the enterprise of 
the day. Panda Inn is fixed with a loaded bar and 
enough space to stretch your Racing Form. The broad menu offers a classis Orange Flavored Chicken, 
the spirit warming Won Ton Soup and the vogue Chicken Wraps. Beware of Gus’s daily double, the 
two handed Mai Tai pour. 

3488 E. Foothill Blvd. Pasadena (626) 793-7300

Robin’s Wood Fire BBQ is tucked away on a vista of upper Rosemead Blvd and like a live long shot it 
produces yelps of sheer rapture. Known for ribs that tussle in a Southern Pride the Beef Ribs perfume 
in the animated scents of hickory and rubs. The tri-tip sandwich melts as ice cream in your mouth. A 
Full Bar as colorful as a jockey’s silks.

Open for lunch service or dinner 

395 N. Rosemead Pasadena (626) 351-8885. 

If you have to have a knife in your hand the steaks at the The 
Derby Restaurant are a front running winner. A delicious cut 
of Choice or Prime is offered at this Racing and Restaurant 
Institution. After the excitement of the meal take a few minutes 
of exploration and marvel at the historic old pictures, trophies, 
jockey boots and historic ribbons. The owners tell me that 
George Woolf himself made the Derby his home away from 
home in the early 1930’s and became a partner in the restaurant 
in 1938. 

233 E. Huntington Dr. Arcadia (626) 447-2430

If you have something different in mind, Din Tai Fung is 
the place for you. The San Gabriel Valley has a large Asian 
population and this restaurant has many of those transplants 
huddling in line for their famed Dumplings. I recommend a 
sampling of the Dumplings and I especially like the Xiao Long 
Bao (a dumpling packed with minced pork). Fresh Crab Meat is 
a perfect topping for this irresistible blanket wrapped treasure.

1088 S. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia (626) 446-8588

The place where winning photos dress the walls and first place entrees fill the tables is Nikki C’s. Only 
a few minutes from the Race Track it has been a retreat for all those that love the company of friends 
for years. The Ciaopino is riddled with seafood, including: always-fresh mussels, scallops and crab 
legs. Nikki C’s is a single on all of my tickets.470 S. Rosemead Blvd. Pasadena (626) 792-7437

Peter Dills Hosts a one Hour radio Show on Angels Radio KLAA AM 830 and TV Show on Charter 
cable Channel 188 on Sunday Evenings at 7 PM, he can be reached through his website www.peterdills.
com

SWEET & SAVORY BURGERS

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup soy sauce 

2 tablespoons corn syrup 

1 tablespoon lemon juice 

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 

2 green onions, thinly sliced 

2 pounds ground beef 

1/4 cup chili sauce 

1/4 cup jalapeño jelly 

8 hamburger buns 

Toppings: grilled sweet onions, grilled pineapple slices 

DIRECTIONS

Stir together first 6 ingredients; pour into a shallow pan or baking dish.

 

Shape beef into 8 patties; place in a single layer in marinade, turning to coat both sides. 
Cover and chill 4 hours. Drain, reserving marinade.

 

Grill patties over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 5 minutes on each side or until beef is 
no longer pink, brushing several times with reserved marinade. Stir together chili sauce 
and jelly. Serve patties on buns with chili sauce mixture and toppings.