Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, October 22, 2016

8

FOOD AND DRINK

Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 22, 2016 

Recently, I was the recipient of an exceptional
question from reader Amber Moyes of Monrovia.
It appears that Rodeo Drive and their wine list 
may have migrated to a location near us. Amber 
was at the Langham Hotel and enjoyed a glass of Black Stallion Cabernet ($15), and she asked this 
writer to investigate how establishments come up with prices of wines by the glass. I dream of a day 
when a poor restaurant critic may soothe his many worries with an exceptional glass of wine and not be 
required to carry a bag of diamonds as payment. Like the majority of us, Amber strikes me as a regular 
consumer of wine; a person who is not cheap but searches for value when she is dining out. I must 
admit I, too, like the gentle view from the Tap Room over looking the 50 acres of greenery.

I reached out to my many sources in the industry and this is what I found out. Ian Blackburn, founder 
of Learnaboutwine.com, said, “That ($15) is common for a good glass of wine and the math works out 
to ($52) for the full bottle at that price per glass.” While many chain restaurants use a Libby wine glass 
which costs a couple of bucks, upscale 
restaurants use a higher quality glass, 
so you can guess that the cost of the 
glass might be just a bit lower than 
what they paid for the entire bottle. 
My next call was to Randy, who 
owns the Domenico’s restaurant on 
Washington in Pasadena. He tells 
me that his wine purveyors suggest to 
“tripling the cost of the bottle”. This 
means if you see a bottle for $30 at 
your favorite restaurant, by this rule 
of thumb, they paid $10 for it.” 

Ok, so how about corkage fees? Most 
restaurants charge $4-$15 for this 
service because, yes, they still have to open your bottle and clean the glasses. I find it that is unacceptable 
to bring in a bottle of wine that is already listed on the restaurant’s menu. If it is an owner-occupied 
restaurant, often it is a good gesture to let the owner sample the wine that you have brought in. Who 
picks the wine? Erudite wine broker Eddie Ramirez offers this insightful advice, “Always have the wine 
list when ordering, and I do not recommend asking the servers for a wine recommendation unless you 
do not have any issues with the price.” My suggestion to Amber and my readers is it to never blindly 
let the server choose the wine for you and be careful on the “ House Wine” I stayed at a resort in South 
Laguna just a few years ago and my bill was $110!!

I hope this helps. I learned something as well. 

Join me on Sunday at 3 PM on Charter Channel 188 for Dining w/Dills follow me on Twitter 
kingofcuisine.

Listen to my new radio show 3 PM Saturday KLAA AM 830

Just Opened: Flemings Pasadena 

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

Julie’s Favorite Family Recipes

LIME-CURRY TOFU STIR-FRY

Ingredients

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 (16 ounce) package extra-firm tofu, cut into bite-sized cubes

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root

2 tablespoons red curry paste

1 pound zucchini, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

3 tablespoons lime juice

3 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk

Directions

Heat the peanut oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add the tofu and stir-fry until golden 
brown. Remove the tofu and set aside, leaving the remaining oil in the wok.

Stir the ginger and curry paste into the hot oil for a few seconds until the curry paste is fragrant and 
the ginger begins to turn golden. Add the zucchini and bell pepper; cook and stir for 1 minute. Pour 
in the lime juice, soy sauce, maple syrup, coconut milk, and tofu. Bring the coconut milk to a simmer, 
and cook a few minutes until the vegetables are tender and the tofu is hot. Stir in the chopped basil 
just before serving


HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

THE JOY OF YOGA


FEELING ANXIOUS? 

YOGA CAN HELP

If you experience 
chronic anxiety 
or just from time 
to time, yoga 
is a wonderful 
solution. It usually works immediately and functions 
as a long term tool for wellness. Anxiety is the 
reason why many people come to yoga in the first 
place. It’s first aid for the mind! The relief is almost 
unexplainable. In fact, my own personal journey 
in yoga began when I attended class, on a friend’s 
suggestion, after I disclosed that I was suffering. 

 So what class is best when you’re experiencing 
anxiety? As a student, personally, I cannot just 
“relax” walking into a yoga class when I’m anxious. 
A (brief) seated posture to establish the breath is ok, 
but then I’ve got to get moving! It’s best to experience 
dynamic movement with the breath to begin. Believe 
it or not, the “monkey mind” needs many jobs to do 
in order slow down. Movement, conscious breath 
and drishti (gaze) are just a few components. Once 
I have tuned into my breath, and moved my body a 
little, poses with longer holds become accessible. It’s 
in the longer holds, with conscious, smooth breaths 
that I can find a deeper sense of calm and stability. 
It takes a little work to hang in there, but it’s well 
worth it. The rest of the class is do-able, enjoyable 
and satisfying. 

 Each time anxiety is soothed through natural 
means, new positive habits are created. The mind 
experiences the feeling of being “ok”. The collective 
of these experiences has an impact. 

 Many yoga practices (and poses) activate the 
parasympathetic nervous system which produces 
the body’s natural calming response. The more we 
can get in touch with this feeling, the feeling of being 
calm and grounded, the better. It can become the 
new normal. 

Come find relief in class at Yoga Madre! 

Namaste friends,

Keely Totten


California Business Complex & 
Self Storage Monrovia 
2600 California Ave. Monrovia, 91016 
We’re your place when you’re out of 
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.Professional ManagementCall: 626-303-7917 
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