9

FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, December 14, 2024


NICK’S ON LAKE 
STREET: A RETURN 
TO EXCELLENCE

A few years ago, I had the 
pleasure of dining and 
reviewing Nick’s on Lake 
Street in Pasadena, celebrating 
a friend’s birthday with my 
group of close friends—fondly 
dubbed the “Glory Days 
Gang.” Recently, I decided to 
revisit the restaurant and see 
if it still held the charm and 
quality I remembered. Spoiler 
alert: it did.

I often remind my radio listeners about my rule of thumb: don’t order seafood on 
Sundays or Mondays. Why? Many restaurants get their deliveries on Thursdays, 
meaning the seafood might not be at its freshest by the end of the weekend. Well, my 
rule was put to the test when my friends ordered sea bass and halibut, and I couldn’t 
have been more wrong—the seafood was excellent, fresh, and perfectly prepared. 
Nick’s proved that rules are made to be broken.

Brett, one of my dining companions, ordered the Caesar Salad, which was a 
highlight of the entire meal. The romaine lettuce came as full leaves—a presentation 
I personally love. While the dressing was on the milder side, it complemented the 
salad well, making it a solid choice.

For appetizers, the shrimp taquitos were a standout, combining crispy texture with 
flavorful shrimp that set a great tone for the meal. As for my own entrée, I chose 
the baby back ribs. Now, I’m typically hesitant to order ribs at a non-BBQ-specific 
restaurant, but Nick’s delivered. The ribs were tender, well-seasoned, and reminded 
me of the quality you’d find at Houston’s—a high compliment in my book. The side 
salad here is called the Petite Bistro, still scratching my head on what was in it, but it 
was a solid 9 in my book. My friend seated just next to me raved about the meatloaf, 
which was hearty and satisfying.

The wine list at Nick’s is another highlight. I browsed through it and was impressed 
by how reasonably priced it was—both by the glass and by the bottle. It’s rare to find 
a balance of quality and affordability, but Nick’s manages it seamlessly. With food 
in the $20-$40 range, the overall value is excellent, especially for the level of service 
and attention to detail.

Speaking of service, Justin, our server, was attentive and professional, adding to 
the experience. And while the gin martini I ordered was only half-filled (a minor 
quibble), it was mixed to perfection and left me pleasantly surprised.

Nick’s on Lake Street remains a top-tier dining option for those in the Pasadena 
area. From the excellent food to the stellar service, it’s a place that deserves a spot on 
your dining rotation. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just enjoying 
a night out, Nick’s delivers quality and consistency in every bite.

Listen to my Foodie Radio Show on KRLA every Saturday at 7 PM. Or my podcast 
Peter Dills

Bon Apetite

THE TASTING ROOM


TAMALES AND WINE!

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

It’s that time of year again when the smell of tamales steaming 
fills the air. Usually, I drink coffee with my tamales. However, if 
you want to have a glass of wine with your tamales, there isn’t 
any reason not to. This Sunday I am hosting a Tamale and Wine 
Tasting, and these are the three wines that we’ll be having with 
the delicious tamales from some of the top tamale shops in Los 
Angeles.

Espuma de Piedra Blanc De Blancs Sparkling Wine, Valle de 
Guadalupe NV – This is 50% Chardonnay and 50% Sauvingnon Blanc from the Valle de Guadalupe 
in Baja California, Mexico. It’s clean, crisp, and refreshing. Notes of citrus and green apple are 
followed by a lifting, zesty finish. This sparkling wine pairs very well with tamales as it will cut 
through the richness of the pork and masa. This wine was crafted by Hugo D’ Acosta known as “The 
Pioneer of Mexican winemaking.” $33.99 MVN $32.99

Clos Benoit “La Fleur” Grenache Rosé, Valle de Guadalupe 2023 - this is a vibrant Rosé of 100% 
Grenache. It’s produced by Clos Benoit, one of the top wineries in Valle de Guadalupe. Gorgeous 
aroma with floral and spice notes. This isn’t a big wine that’s high in alcohol, but rather it is a wine 
of finesse with an undertow of body and structure. On the palate, you get notes of strawberry and 
lemon. The finish is delightful with bright acidity. Another great match for tamales! $37.99 MVN 
$35.99

Clos Benoit Red Wine, Valle de Guadalupe 2019 – 
Another magical wine from Clos Benoit. The 2019 
vintage is a blend of 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 5% 
Counoise, and 3% Mourvèdre. On the nose, notes of 
red berries, plum, and spice. On the palate, notes of 
pepper, spice, red fruit, and citrus peel. It’s so elegant 
and refined. This is an amazing wine that upends the 
notion that wines from Valle de Guadalupe aren’t that 
good. This one is excellent and worth every penny! 
$35.99 MVN $33.99

All three wines are available at The Bottle Shop. Say 
you saw it in the Mountain Views News and get the 
special MVN price.

Until next time – Salud!

Scan the QRCode to sign up for our newsletter. 


RT ROGERS BREWERY - SIERRA MADRE

RT Rogers Brewing will be hosting a Christmas jazz performance by Jim Wright 
and Jim Miller this month on two nights. Wednesday December 18th and Saturday 
December 21st.

These two musicians were regular performers at Cafe 322 playing jazz with the 
Fuzzy Logic Boptet many years ago, and Mr. Wright plays twice monthly at RT 
Rogers Brewing on a regular basis, playing his tap-guitar, which allows him to 
play bass and guitar simultaneously. 

Mr. Miller will be on the drums.

These experienced musicians will play jazzy Christmas tunes, and some jazz 
standard favorites.

There is no cover, and the performances are from 6:30 to 9PM.

RT ROGERS IS AT 38 E. MONTECITO ST. SIERRA MADRE


ALL THINGS By Jeff Brown 

LOSING 

by William Falk Editor-at-large The Week”

You feel your political tribe is losing, don't you? Nearly 
all Americans share that perception, regardless of whether 
they identify as Republicans, Democrats, or independents 
— or even if they don't much follow politics at all. This "bipartisan 
pessimism" has a substantial basis in reality, says 
David Lauter in the Los Angeles Times. Conservatives 
are, in fact, losing the culture war, as American society 
becomes increasingly secular and multicultural, church 
attendance dwindles, acceptance of gay and lesbian rights 
grows, and working women choose smaller families or no 
children at all. Progressives quite accurately feel powerless 
to stop conservative Supreme Court justices from rolling back reproductive freedoms, making 
deadly weapons even easier to get, weakening environmental and business regulations, and authorizing 
Republican state legislatures to use extreme gerrymandering to maintain power. As Election Day 
looms, both presidential candidates are warning that their defeat would trigger an existential crisis 
for America. 

But let's zoom out a bit. Democrats often felt dejected and shut out of power during the presidencies 
of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. Republicans wondered if they'd win 
another national election when Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama dominated 
Washington. American politics has always been a swinging pendulum, an arc of action and reaction. 
That's why Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was wrong when he was recently taped saying of the 
culture war, "One side or the other is going to win." In a democracy, one side wins temporarily — until 
the next election, or until death reshapes the Supreme Court. Roe seemed like a final liberal victory 
until it was reversed 50 years later, but the fulfillment of that conservative dream has cost Republicans 
dearly at the polls — and the overall number of abortions has gone up. On Nov. 6, roughly 45 percent 
of Americans will feel crushed, frightened, and angry. But defeat will contain the seeds of future victory 
— albeit a temporary one.

Wistaria Thrift Shop 
550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
@ So. Side of Sierra Madre Woman’s Club 
Opened in 1957: 67 Years of Service to Our Community 
SShhoopp && DDoonnaattiioonnss CClloosseedd 
SSaatt.. 1122//2211//2244 –– TThhuurrss.. 11//22//2255 
Wistaria Shop & its SMWC Volunteers 
Thank You for so Wholeheartedly 
Supporting Us This (& Past) Years 
With your Shopping & Donations. 
You are our “Bright Lights” Partners! 
Proceeds help support our SMWC Philanthropies & Scholarships 
DONATIONS ACCEPTED AS OF FRI., JAN 3 
Want to Volunteer With Us? 626-355-7739 
SierraMadreWomansClub.org 
SierraMadreWomansClub 
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