Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 6, 2014

7

FOOD AND DRINK

Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 6, 2014 


THE BEST CRAB CAKES AROUND!

Friend, part time resident and Sierra MadreÕs Harley Rider supreme, John Ebbs, called me out to find 
the best crab cakes around. I started in Long Beach at GladstoneÕs 4 Fish, the crab cakes were good, 
but seemed to have been patted down too long, so off I headed to Zuma Beach to Paradise Cove and 
same result, good but very pedestrian. The Front Runner has very good cakes during the racing 
season, though the price has approached almost $30.

My search continues 
on, and I might 
have found the best 
of the best just by 
pure circumstance. A friend had a Òliving socialÓ deal that expired last 
Friday; we had to get to the Oceanview Restaurant post haste!! Lunch 
was our choice and man oh man did this restaurant come through. I 
spotted a crab cake entree for $15 and I couldnÕt pass up the opportunity 
to give Mr. Ebbs one last effort. The cake was about as big as 1/4 pound 
burger, not patted down, not cooked too long, it was light, airy, fluffy 
and low and behold, just like I remember in Maryland, real crab lumps. 
A reviewers dream, an unexpected surprise in Montrose, Ocean View 
restaurant gets an ÒAÓ for their cakes, also their fried pickle chips were 
sinfully good. DonÕt wait, run up to Montrose today.

Oceanview Restaurant 3826 Ocean View Blvd. Montrose CA (818) 
248-2722. Open Breakfast Lunch and Dinner

Save the Date: Monday, September 22nd the Taste of Arcadia is at the L.A. County Arboretum and 
yours truly is the guest emcee. Over 40 restaurant and wineries. Call (626) 447-2159 for advance 
tickets

Join me this Sunday at 4 PM on Radio Station KLAA AM 830, for a live.

PASTA WITH CHORIZO AND 
CHICKPEAS


TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 small shallots, chopped

3/4 pound fresh Mexican chorizo or hot Italian sausage, casings removed

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed

12 ounces small dried pasta (such as malloreddus or orecchiette)

Kosher salt

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (optional)

Finely grated Parmesan and lemon zest (for serving)

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring often, until 
beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add chorizo and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until 
browned and cooked through, 5-7 minutes.

Add tomato paste and red pepper flakes to skillet and cook, stirring, until paste darkens, about 1 
minute. Add broth; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thick-
ened, 15-20 minutes. Add chickpeas and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. 
Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.

Add pasta and 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid to sauce. Cook, stirring and adding more cooking liquid 
as needed, until sauce thickens and coats pasta, about 3 minutes.

Serve pasta topped with parsley, if using, Parmesan, and lemon zest. 


GALE KOHL & FRIENDS DO TOMATOES!

At the Arboretum, 301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007

Wednesday, September 17, 3-5pm

$50 Arboretum members; $60 non-members (includes garden admission)

Reservations Required: please call the Class Reservation Line at 626.821.4623

 

Summer means heatÉvacationÉheatÉwatermelonsÉcampÉAND TOMATOES!!! Just outside 
of the Oak Room where the Fresh Cooking classes are held is a garden filled with all varieties 
of tomato plants to celebrate the season. These tomato plants were all generously donated 
by Gary Jones of Armstrong Garden Centers so do watch their growth progress as you walk by!

 

However, NO picking please as those wonderful fruits (yesÉtomatoes are a fruit!) plus a 
few others will be the main ingredient in a delectable and fun class by Gale Kohl (of GaleÕs 
Restaurant) and Her Friends in September that focuses on Òall things tomato. Ó How about 
tomato sorbet?

 

GaleÕs Restaurant is consistently voted one of the very best and most popular establishments 
in the greater San Gabriel Valley! 

GaleÕs Restaurant: 452 S. Fair Oaks Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91105; 626-432-6705; www.
galesrestaurant.com 


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