9

FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, January 4, 2025


CHRISTMAS DINING IN 
PASADENA: 

GAUCHO GRILL SHINES BRIGHT

Christmas dining options in Pasadena 
were slim, but this year, my daughter and I 
found a worthy spot to continue our tradition 
of a festive meal. With Panda Inn no 
longer staying open for the holiday, we were 
fortunate enough to enjoy dinner at Gaucho 
Grill on South Lake Avenue—a restaurant 
I’ve been a fan of since they opened nearly four years ago.

As many of you know, I was born in Greece and have traveled extensively, exploring 
a wide range of cuisines. While I haven’t been to Argentina, I can confidently 
say they are renowned for their beef and steaks—and Gaucho Grill lives up to that 
reputation.

The restaurant had a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for the holiday. I 
wholeheartedly recommend the steak dishes, as they are the highlight of the menu. 
My friend Dave Yost, a local restaurateur, even raved about their "Steak for Two," 
claiming it’s among the best in town. While we opted for more modest portions, we 
were thoroughly satisfied with our choices.

Our meal began with Prawns and Hearts of Palm, a starter that set the tone 
with its fresh and vibrant flavors. For our mains, we chose the Gaucho Skirt Salad 
and the Short Rib Pappardelle. Both dishes were impeccable, but the steak in each 
truly stole the show. The skirt steak was perfectly cooked, and the short rib complemented 
the pappardelle beautifully.

A small quibble: we requested to sit at the bar but were seated at a table instead. 
I'll be back for looked like a great Happy Hour menu.

When the weather permits, Gaucho Grill offers outdoor dining, adding a lovely 
option for those who enjoy al fresco meals.

Gaucho Grill provides an affordable and refreshing change of pace, and their 
commitment to quality food ensures I’ll be back. If you go, take my advice: order 
the steak—you won’t regret it. Follow me Peter Dills on my new Instagram page and 
listen at 7 PM Saturday on AM 870


BEEF AND BRUSSEL 
SPROUT STIR FRY

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound flank steak 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 

2 tablespoons peanut oil, divided 

1/2 cup beef broth or water 

1 tablespoon light brown sugar 

2 tablespoons soy sauce 

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice 

1/2 teaspoon cornstarch 

12 ounces fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved 

1 red jalapeño or red serrano pepper, sliced 

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 

Hot cooked rice 

DIRECTIONS

 

1. Cut steak diagonally across the grain into thin strips. Sprinkle with salt and 
pepper.

2. Stir-fry steak, in 2 batches, in 1 Tbsp. hot oil in a large cast-iron or stainless-steel 
skillet over high heat 2 to 3 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Transfer to a 
plate, and wipe skillet clean.

3. Whisk together beef broth and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.

4. Stir-fry Brussels sprouts in remaining 1 Tbsp. hot oil over high heat 2 minutes or 
until lightly browned. Add jalapeño pepper, ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry 1 minute. 
Pour soy sauce mixture over Brussels sprouts, and bring mixture to a boil.

 Cook, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes or until sprouts are tender. Stir in mint and 
steak. Serve over rice.


ALL THINGS By Jeff Brown 

John Wheeler A Non-Duality Expression

 

Right now, as you read this, you exist and you are aware that you 
exist. You are undoubtedly present and aware. Before the next 
thought arises, you are absolutely certain of the fact of your own 
being, your own awareness, your own presence. This awareness 
is what you are; it is what you always have been. All thoughts, 
perceptions, sensations and feelings appear within or upon that. 

This awareness does not move, change or shift at any time. It is 
always free and completely untouched. However, it is not a thing 
or an object that you can see or grasp. The mind, being simply 
thoughts arising in awareness, cannot grasp it or know it or even 
think about it. 

You cannot deny the fact of your own being. It is palpably obvious, and yet, from the time we were 
born, no one has pointed this out. Once it is pointed out it can be grasped or understood very 
quickly because it is just a matter of noticing, ‘Oh, that is what I am!’ It is a bright, luminous, empty, 
presence of awareness; it is absolutely radiant, yet without form; it is seemingly intangible, but 
the most solid fact in your existence; it is effortlessly here right now, forever untouched. Without 
taking a step, you have arrived; you are home. No practice can reveal this because practices are in 
time and in the mind. Practices aim at a result, but you (as presence-awareness) are here already, 
only you don’t recognize it till it is pointed out. Once seen, you can’t lose it, and you don’t have to 
practice to exist, to be.

John Wheeler, a speaker on nonduality and awakening. His books include Awakening to the Natural 
State, Shining in Plain View, Right Here Right Now, You Were Never Born, Light Behind Consciousness, 
Clear In Your Heart and Full Stop. A shout out to Ann at E.Waldo Ward Jam Factory 
in Sierra Madre.


Thank you to all our members, volunteers, studentsand patrons for a fabulous 2024! 
Classes resume on January 6th, 2025108 N. Baldwin, Sierra MadreCreativeArtsGroup.orgCreative Arts GroupFrom all your friends at 
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