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FOOD - DRINK -FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, August 3, 2024

RESTAURANT REVIEW: 
AMIGOS - A TIMELESS 
FAVORITE IN PASADENA

While everyone is 
constantly on the lookout 
for what’s new and trendy, 
Amigos, located at the 
corner of Colorado and 
Wilson (1071 E Colorado 
Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106), 
has been a reliable and 
beloved establishment for 
as long as I can remember. 
The name “Amigos” translates to “Friends” in 
English, which perfectly encapsulates the welcoming and dependable atmosphere of this restaurant.

Amigos offers traditional Mexican cuisine, and that’s exactly what makes it so special to me. From 
burritos and taco plates to arguably the best margarita in town, this place has it all. Is it fancy? No, but 
that’s part of its charm.

The atmosphere at Amigos is inviting and comfortable, with an open kitchen that allows diners to see 
their meals being prepared. The spacious dining room provides plenty of seating, making it perfect for 
family dinners or casual nights out. The bar and dining room are divided, offering an ideal setup for 
parties or larger gatherings. Located just around the corner from Caltech and PCC, it’s a convenient 
spot for students and faculty alike.

On my latest visit, I decided to enjoy the dining room experience with my daughter, Lauren. As soon as 
we sat down, we were greeted with fresh chips and salsa and, on this hot summer day, plenty of water. 
Our server, Lalo was very attentive and made some excellent suggestions.

My go-to at Amigos is usually the chimichangas as a starter or the Amigos Nachos. On this visit, 
I opted for the Burrito Verde, a consistent winner that thankfully hasn’t yet reached the $20 range. 
Lauren enjoyed the cheese enchiladas, which were as delightful as ever.

Amigos has been serving great Mexican food since 1990, and it’s clear why they have such a loyal 
following. With its dependable quality and warm atmosphere, I’ll definitely be back to Amigos.

For those who appreciate good, traditional Mexican food and a welcoming environment, Amigos is 
a must visit. Whether you’re enjoying a night out at the bar or a family dinner in the dining room, 
Amigos will not disappoint.

THE TASTING ROOM


A RED WINE IN THIS 
WEATHER? MOST 
DEFINITELY!

I’m Gustavo Lira, Tasting Room Manager 
and Wine Buyer at The Bottle Shop in 
Sierra Madre with another wine and 
spirits selection. 

Yes, you can enjoy red wine in this hot 
weather. The La Kiuva Rouge De Vallee 
2021 is a red wine that you can chill and 
enjoy by itself or with food. 

La Kiuva was founded in 1975 and is a cooperative of about 60 growers who own 
60 acres of vineyards in the northwest region of Italy bordering Switzerland and 
France. The total production of these 60 growers is 8,000 cases and most of the 
vineyards are farmed organically with the rest farming sustainably. Most of the 
vineyards are at an elevation of 1200 to 1500 feet and are planted on extremely 
steep terraces. The combination of the soil, altitude and Alpine climate ensure 
that the grapes grown here produce wines that are fresh and complex. The wine 
spent eight months in oak and in stainless steel tanks. It was aged an additional 
six months in the bottle before release.

This wine is 70% Picotendro (aka 
Nebbiolo), and the rest is made up of 
Gros Vien, Neyret, and Cornal, all local 
indigenous grapes. This wine, although 
primarily Nebbiolo, is a lighter version 
of Nebbiolo. It reminds me of Gamay. 
It’s an elegant light-bodied wine. Notes 
of cherry, leather, and spice abound on 
the nose. On the palate, there are notes 
of crisp, fresh red fruit, cranberry, and 
more spice. The acidity is well balanced. 
The finish is crisp, lively, and long. 

If you are a red wine lover and think 
you can’t have red wine in this heat, 
I am telling you that this wine is a 
refreshing and delicious red wine that 
can be enjoyed in any type of weather. 
Get it this weekend and enjoy a unique 
and delicious wine. 

The La Kiuva Rouge De Vallee 2021 is 
available at The Bottle Shop for $19.99. 
Say you saw it in the Mountain Views 
News and get it for $17.99 through 
Monday, August 5th.

Upcoming at The Tasting Room: Sunday August 4th at 3pm – Chilled Wines 
For A Heat Wave. Thursday & Friday August 8 & 9 – Tasty Wines Under $25.

Scan the QRCode to sign up for our newsletter. Until next time – Salud!


ALL THINGS 

By Jeff Brown 


FROSTBITE: HOW REFRIGERATION 
CHANGED OUR FOOD, OUR 
PLANET, AND OURSELVES 

by NicolaTwiley

 

How often do we open the fridge or peer into 
the freezer with the expectation that we’ll find 
something fresh and ready to eat? It’s an everyday act—but just a century 
ago, eating food that had been refrigerated was cause for both fear and 
excitement. The introduction of artificial refrigeration overturned millennia 
of dietary history, launching a new chapter in human nutrition. We could 
now overcome not just rot, but seasonality and geography. Tomatoes in 
January? Avocados in Shanghai? All possible.

In Frostbite, New Yorker contributor and cohost of the award-winning 
podcast Gastropod Nicola Twilley takes readers on a tour of the cold 
chain from farm to fridge, visiting off-the-beaten-path landmarks such as 
Missouri’s subterranean cheese caves, the banana-ripening rooms of New 
York City, and the vast refrigerated tanks that store the nation’s orange 
juice reserves. Today, nearly three-quarters of everything on the average 
American plate is processed, shipped, stored, and sold under refrigeration. 
It’s impossible to make sense of our food system without understanding the 
all-but-invisible network of thermal control that underpins it. Twilley’s eye-
opening book is the first to reveal the transformative impact refrigeration 
has had on our health and our guts; our farms, tables, kitchens, and cities; 
global economics and politics; and even our environment.

In the developed world, we’ve reaped the benefits of refrigeration for more 
than a century, but the costs are catching up with us. We’ve eroded our 
connection to our food and redefined what “fresh” means. More important, 
refrigeration is one of the leading contributors to climate change. As the 
developing world races to build a US-style cold chain, Twilley asks: Can we 
reduce our dependence on refrigeration? Should we? A deeply researched 
and reported, original, and entertaining dive into the most important 
invention in the history of food and drink, Frostbite makes the case for a 
recalibration of our relationship with the fridge—and how our future might 
depend on it. 


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