Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 10, 2015

8

FOOD AND DRINK

Mountain View News Saturday, January 10, 2014

OLD SCHOOL FIST IMPRESSION AND A LOBSTER 
ROLL TO DIE FOR

This past week I finally made it to Old School Eatery, though my final review will have to wait till next week , because my findings were inconclusive because of only sampling two dishes. Spoiler alert: I did enjoy the dish that I had.

Years ago my dad Elmer Dills, would take us all the way up to Oxnard to a little restaurant in the harbor for what he thought were the best Lobster Rolls Sandwiches this side of the Atlantic, a few years back I was in Boston for a wedding and made way to feniel hall, an inside marketplace with shops and restaurants, more like counters I should say, that is where I found a lobster roll sandwich which I thought was the end all. Teamed up with a Boston Beer (not Sam Adams) it was truly a sandwich from heaven.

Circa 2015 , I have driven past by Twohey’s Restaurant on Huntington Dr. if not 1000 times, darn close to it. You know the place the cute sign with the guy with the clothespin on his nose, and the banners of 4th of July specials or Baby Back s now until then all you can eat specials. Sharing a parking lot with In n’ out must be a competitive nightmare or… well I digress. Just never felt like going in, maybe I had a preconceived thought of Marge pouring cold coffee or a patty melt that had seen better days, I know they are locally famous for serving breakfast all day and all night, but I must admit a bowl of fruit for breakfast and I am golden. 

Ah but one afternoon I stopped in and as I always try to do if I am at Hustons, Ruth Chris or now Twohey’s it is the bar or counter seating for me, I have to be in the middle of the action. Twohey’s has over 300 items on the menu, a red flag for me!! I think fifty is too many. Upon perusing the menu, hidden on the second column of the sandwich selection was a Lobster roll $12.95, nothing about world famous or house specialty, no fanfare just a brief description of Maine lobster, diced and tossed with celery and house mayo. Could it be? Could something such as this bring back those memories of driving up to Oxnard with my dad, or my trip to Boston. I say Yes! This sandwich if not right on the mark was so close that I have to my best Paul Revere and let all my neighbors know about this sandwich, served with freshly cut potato chips is a winner. Found out that GM Charlie Cristos and family hail from beantown and fact owned Jimmy’s Harbor restaurant and still import the hot dog bun from Boston. Now that is authentic. I was sold the first time having the Twohey’s Lobster Rolls sandwich, but thought I’d take advantage of editor Susan’s generous expense account and go twice, I changed things up a little and had the carrot salad, yes thumbs up. What else can I discover here at Twohey’s? Honcho Jim Cristos tells me that besides all the onion rings being made every morning they make a pretty mean chili. I will return!

Twohey’s 1224 N. Atlantic Blvd. Alhambra (626) 284-7387

Check out my new website www.peterdills.com

Next week: Old school Eatery 


CAJUN PORK 
CHOPS AND KALE


TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon jalapeno hot sauce

2 pounds thin-cut bone-in pork chops (about 6 chops)

Kosher salt

4 stalks celery, chopped

1 large white onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 14 .5-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes

1 15 -ounce can no-salt-added white beans, drained and rinsed

1 5 -ounce package chopped kale (about 6 cups packed)

DIRECTIONS

 Preheat the broiler. Whisk 1 tablespoon each olive oil, chili powder and hot sauce in a bowl. Season 
the pork chops with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pierce the chops all over with a fork and rub with the spice 
mixture on both sides; place on a rack set over a baking sheet. Set aside.

 Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. 
Add the celery, onion, garlic and the remaining 2 tablespoons chili powder. Cook, stirring, until the 
vegetables are translucent, about 8 minutes.

 Add the chicken broth and tomatoes to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by about 
one-third, about 7 minutes. Add the beans and kale; toss to coat. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and 
cook until the kale is tender, about 7 minutes. (Add up to 1/2 cup water if the mixture looks dry.) Season 
with salt.

 Meanwhile, broil the pork until browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Flip; broil until cooked through, 2 more 
minutes. Serve with the kale and beans.

 Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cajun-pork-chops-
with-kale.print.html?oc=linkback


SPECIAL MEALS AND 
DEALS DURING PASADENA 
CHEESEBURGER WEEK 

11TH TO 16TH, 2015

40 Pasadena eateries celebrate the invention of the cheeseburger 
in Pasadena with delicious offerings, specials and more

PASADENA, CA-Cheeseburger Week 2015 is 
coming in January 11th! 

 During Cheeseburger Week from January 11th 
to January 16th, 2015, Pasadena honors Lionel 
Sternberger’s genius in being the first to put cheese to 
hamburger and serve it at the Rite Spot in Pasadena 
in 1924.

 Forty of Pasadena’s favorite restaurants, lounges 
and burger joints will offer their signature burgers, 
some special creations and a deals during Pasadena 
Cheeseburger Week. Green Street Restaurant, El 
Portal, La Grande Orange, Lucky Baldwin’s and 
Whole Foods Market-Arroyo are among those 
offering specially created burgers for Cheeseburger 
Week.

 Who is whipping up something special to 
commemorate Lionel Sternberger’s invention of the 
cheeseburger?

 Green Street Restaurant unveils a very special 
Pimento Cheese Bacon Burger... “Go ahead, try to 
resist,” the restaurant says. I can’t, I’m getting one 
next week for lunch.

 El Portal and Yahiara’s returns with the Cochinita 
Pibil Burger, deliciously seasoned Yucatan pork 
grilled and served on a toasted roll.

Slater’s 50/50 offers their 1/3 pound 50/50 burger and 
a beer for $10. 

 Lucky Baldwin’s offers a discount at each of their 
three locations.

 Whole Foods Market-Arroyo Parkway has their 
new Bellvue Burger and the 110 Burger entered in the 
Cheeseburger Challenge.

 Remember, Thursday is burger day at Central Park 
Restaurant.

 Dog Haus and Dog Haus Biergarten kick things 
off with a slider eating contest on Saturday, January 
10th. Preliminary qualifying rounds are underway 
with qualifying competitions at each location.

 The invention of the cheeseburger at the Rite Spot 
has been documented by the Los Angeles Times, 
Time magazine, cheese-burger.net, Hamburger 
Heaven: the Illustrated History of the Hamburger 
and The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. 
Even CNN is on the story:

 You can also see Casey Wian’s CNN story on 
Cheeseburger Week 2012.

 The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce hosts 
the third Cheeseburger Week and Cheeseburger 
Challenge January 11th to 16th, 2015. Once again, 
you’ll be able to vote for your favorites in a number of 
categories, from traditional lunch counter burgers to 
white table cloth and gourmet cheeseburgers. We’ll 
also have an alternative cheeseburger category or 
two, as well. 

 Plan to come to Pasadena for a Cheeseburger 
Crawl, take the Cheeseburger Challenge and 
celebrate Lionel Sternberger’s culinary legacy in the 
city where the cheeseburger was first served.

Here are our participants for the 2015 Cheeseburger 
Week in Pasadena:

a/k/a Bistro 

Big Daddy’s Fire Grill 

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse 

Brookside Golf Club (lunch only) 

Cameron’s Seafood 

Central Park Restaurant 

Clearman’s Galley 

The Counter 

Del Frisco’s Grille 

Dog Haus 

Dog Haus Biergarten 

Du-pars 

El Portal Restaurant 

Gale’s (lunch only) 

Green Street Restaurant 

Grill 168 at the Hilton Pasadena 

iPic Theaters (Salt Lounge) 

Jake’s Pasadena 

Kings Row Gastropub 

La Grande Orange Cafe 

Lucky Baldwin’s Delirium Pub and Cafe 

Lucky Baldwin’s Pub 

Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste Pub and Cafe 

Meat District Company 

Melt It! a grilled cheese company 

Pie ‘n Burger 

Pita Jungle 

POP Champagne & Dessert Bar 

Real Food Daily 

Robin’s Wood Fire BBQ 

Rounds Premium Burgers 

Ruth’s Chris Steak House - Happy Hour menu 

Slater’s 50/50 

Trattoria Neapolis 

Twohey’s Restaurant 

Umami Burger 

Vertical Wine Bistro 

Whole Foods Market Arroyo Parkway 

Yahaira’s Cafe

 

 For address, menu and special offer information 
visit www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com.

 Voting in the 2015 Cheeseburger Challenge opens 
January 11, 2015, and ends January 18, 2015.

Cheeseburger Week is a Pasadena Restaurant Week 
and California Restaurant Month event presented by 
the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. Cheeseburger 
Week is generously sponsored by the City of Pasadena 
and Trusted Choice Agents of Burbank, Glendale 
and Pasadena.