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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

 Mountain Views NewsSaturday, September 28, 2024


TAYLOR'S STEAKHOUSE, LA 
CAÑADA

Dining at Taylor's Steakhouse in La Cañada is an 
experience steeped in history and tradition, with 
all the hallmarks of a classic steakhouse. I had the 
pleasure of sharing dinner with Bruce Taylor, the 
gracious owner and son of the original founder, 
Tex Taylor. Bruce’s passion for the restaurant, 
which has been in his family since 1953, is evident 
in every detail, from the ambiance to the food. 
Taylor's Steakhouse has been serving top-quality 
steaks for over 70 years. It all started when Tex and 
Margie Taylor bought a small bar called O'Kelley's 
Tavern in Los Angeles. As their popularity grew, so 
did their ambitions, transforming the tavern into 
the beloved steak-house it is today. Bruce took over in the 1970s, continuing his father’s legacy by 
expanding to La Cañada in 1996.

The Meal: Steak, Salad, and Martinis

For this meal, I started with the Molly Salad, Taylor’s take on the classic Wedge salad. It’s a hearty dish 
with plenty of toppings—crispy bacon, tangy blue cheese, and ripe tomatoes. The sal-ad was so filling 
that I had to pass on dessert!

As for the main course, I couldn’t resist ordering their New York Strip Steak, cooked to perfec-tion 
with a nice char on the outside and tender, juicy meat on the inside. Bruce shared his bone-less ribeye, 
which was equally impressive, with deep, rich flavors that any steak lover would ap-preciate.

To drink, I kept it simple with a classic gin martini—stiff and smooth, just as it should be. Bruce, ever 
the gracious host, opted for a glass of Chardonnay, his personal favorite. The wine list at Taylor’s is 
extensive, offering a variety of well-curated selections to pair perfectly with their steaks, though their 
martinis are also a standout. No room for dessert maybe next time.

During our conversation, Bruce Taylor shared some insights into the long-standing traditions of 
Taylor’s Steakhouse and his pride in maintaining the quality his father, Tex, established. Bruce spoke 
fondly about the restaurant’s commitment to serving the finest aged, corn-fed prime and certified 
Angus beef, highlighting how they have worked with the same meat purveyor for over 35 years to 
ensure consistency and quality.

Final Thoughts

Taylor's Steakhouse in La Cañada is the perfect spot for anyone seeking a timeless dining experi-ence. 
The combination of excellent food, a classic ambiance, and Bruce Taylor’s warm hospitality makes it a 
must-visit. Whether you're there for a steak, a martini, or a glass of Chardonnay, you're guaranteed a 
top-notch meal. 

Reservations should be considered! (818) 790-7668- 901 Foothill Blvd. Plenty of free parking back of 
restaurant

Email me at thechefknows@yahoo.com

__________

During our conversation, Bruce Taylor shared some insights into the long-standing traditions of Taylor’s 
Steakhouse and his pride in maintaining the quality his father, Tex, established. Bruce spoke fondly 
about the restaurant’s commitment to serving the finest aged, corn-fed prime and certified Angus beef, 
highlighting how they have worked with the same meat purveyor for over 35 years to ensure consistency 
and quality.

GRADE A

THE TASTING ROOM

A CLASSIC 
CALIFORNIA RED 
MADE NATURALLY

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

One of the classic California red wines for 
me is Petite Sirah. California is the largest 
grower of Petite Sirah in the world, while 
there’s hardly any plantings anywhere else in 
the world. It is not the same grape as Syrah. 
Rather, Syrah and Peloursin are the “parents” 
of Petite Sirah. The petite refers to the small 
size of the berries. Petite Sirah is known for its 
dark purple color and deep bold flavors with 
pepper and dark berry notes. Some people 
compare this wine to Cabernet Sauvignon 
and Malbec. There are several producers who 
make Petite Sirah, among my favorites are 
Aaron Wines and Once & Future. I can now 
add Monte Rio Cellars to this list. 

Monte Rio Cellars is owned by Patrick 
Cappiello and Pax Mahle. Patrick is a 
former sommelier and restaurateur turned 
winemaker, while Pax is a leading winemaker 
in California. The two work with family 
owned and organically farmed vineyards. 
Their vision of winemaking is to be very 
low intervention. Patrick ferments with 
wild yeasts, foot treads the grapes, uses very 
minimal sulfites, and ages in very neutral 
barrels. You can call this wine a natural wine, 
but it’s a natural wine that is made very well. 
It doesn’t come with all the baggage that other 
self-proclaimed natural wines made by inept 
winemakers have – it doesn’t smell like a 
hamster cage and taste like kombucha. This 
wine is gorgeous.

The 2021 Monte Rio Petite Sirah is sourced 
from the Reese Vineyard and Calvinco 
Vineyard in Lodi. The vineyards are organically farmed, and the vines average ages 
are 20-40 years old. The grapes are whole clustered (the stems remain) and carbonic 
maceration is done in stainless steel. This retains the freshness of the juice. The wine is 
aged 10 months in neutral French oak. 

As I sip this wine while writing this, I get dark blue fruit notes, floral notes, white pepper, 
a little chocolate, and herbs. It’s got a core of acidity and raciness. The white pepper comes 
through on the smooth finish. It is not a big, high alcohol, bombastic wine, but rather a 
refined Petite Sirah. I chilled the bottle a bit and I could see this pairing wonderfully with 
Mole Poblano. I love it. Come get some at The Bottle Shop before I finish it all!

The 2021 Monte Rio Cellars Petite Sirah 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, September 
30th.

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Until next time – Salud!


COUNTDOWN TO ¡PASAJE!

T-MINUS ONE WEEK TO OPENING NIGHT

We’re just one week away from the 
world premiere of ¡PASAJE!, and 
excitement is building! Opening 
night is already sold out, but you 
still have the chance to experience 
this extraordinary production 
on another night. ¡PASAJE! is a 
heartwarming and power-ful new 
musical about family, identity, and 
the complexities of cultural heritage. 
Written by J. Quiroz, with music by 
multi-GRAMMY Award winner 
Asdru Sierra, this show takes you on 
a journey with Andy, a young man 
traveling from Flagstaff to South 
El Monte, where he uncovers long-
buried family secrets.

The show beautifully weaves 
together themes of Latinx identity, 
belonging, and the deep connections 
that bind generations. With 
stunning music, vibrant characters, 
and an inspiring story, ¡PASAJE! is a 
celebration of the Latinx experience 
that will resonate with audiences from all walks of life. Don’t wait too long—tickets are flying, and 
you won’t want to miss this groundbreaking production!

¡PASAJE!

Weekends October 4 - November 3rd

Showings at 4PM & 8PM

Tickets $12-45


ALL THINGS By Jeff Brown 

OAK GLEN:A HIDDEN TREASURE

Oak Glen is a wonderful small agricultural 
community located in the foothills of the San 
Bernardino Mountains near Yucaipa off the 10.

One of the most scenic spots in Southern 
California, Oak Glen is nestled in the heart 
of Apple Country, where it is cooler in the 
summer and winter offers enough snow to make 
snowmen. 

Folks can come up and enjoy a simpler way of life, surrounded by the fresh crisp 
air and partake of the beautiful change of seasons. An hour from Los Angeles or 
Palm Springs, spend the day having some good ole’ country fun. The mile-high 
climate of Oak Glen provides a beautiful change of season. Numerous Apple 
orchards open to the public cover the slopes laden with apple blossoms in the 
spring and apples in the fall. Oak Glen offers wholesome family fun in every 
season.

Visit orchards, mountain tree fresh apples and cider, enjoy hot apple pie and 
other fresh baked apple treats at one of the family restaurants. Feed the animals 
in the animal park or browse through the many specialty shops in the Glen. 

A Bed and Breakfast, RV facilities as well as camping and group accommodations 
are available.

Fall Season - Come experience Apple Harvest. You can pick your own apples, 
raspberries or pumpkins, press your own cider, and enjoy country music, 
dancing, dinner events and other old fashioned activities. Explore and hike the 
vast and beautiful offerings of nature at The Wildlands Conservancy. Visit the 
historical Oak Glen School House Museum or take a horse drawn wagon ride 
through the orchards. Marvel at fall colors as brilliant as those of New England. 

Check their website for all the different apple farms and activities.


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