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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, February 22, 2025

LORD EMPANADA – 

A Royal Treat in Monrovia

I wish I could say I discovered Lord Empanada, 
but many others have come before me. 
In fact, Yelp has already crowned this humble 
spot one of the Top 100 Places to Eat in the 
country—#61 to be exact. With a ranking like 
that, I had to see for myself what all the fuss 
was about.

First things first: these empanadas are fried, 
not baked—a crispy, golden contrast to the 
more common oven-baked versions. And the fillings? Well, let’s just say choosing was 
nearly impossible. Birria or Al Pastor? I went back and forth before doing the only 
logical thing: ordering a bit of everything. (Pro tip: don’t skip the apple pie empanada 
for dessert!)

The interior is cozy and inviting, the kind of place where you feel at home the moment 
you walk in. It’s clear that Lord Empanada has already built a loyal following. And to 
you regulars reading this, I know—I probably missed some of your favorites. But this 
is just a first impression review, and I’ll be back for more.

If you go, be sure to ask for Ryan—he knows his empanadas inside and out and was 
even a guest on my radio show this past Sunday night. Missed the segment? No worries, 
you can still catch it on my podcast.

So, save yourself the money on a trip to Argentina and check out Lord Empanada instead. 
You’ll find all the flavors you crave, plus a few local brews to wash them down.

Lord Empanada has earned its title, and if you haven’t been yet, consider this your 
royal invitation.

Four and a half Stars!!!!!


THE TASTING ROOM


WHEN WINE MEANS SO MUCH MORE.

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

My good friend Wes Hagen came to visit me the other day. We 
sat down at my place and tasted about ten wines over bowls 
of homemade Fideo and Calabacitas Guisadas. One of the 
many thought-provoking statements I remember of his over 
the years is that a bottle of wine is an investment to keep the 
people we love at table for an extra hour every day.

Throughout the years I have shared countless bottles of wine 
with friends and loved ones. I remember a Manni Nössing 
Kerner from Italy that I shared with my son a couple of years 
ago over a meal. He had just come back from a trip to Italy, and it was the first bottle we had 
shared together. That moment will be an everlasting memory for me. Another great memory 
for me was the time I shared a bottle of Aaron Petite Sirah with two very dear friends of mine. I 
remember thinking that I didn’t want to finish the bottle since it was so delicious. I savored every 
drop from that bottle. We marveled at the brilliance of the winemaker – Aaron Jackson, a person 
who I consider one of the best winemakers in the country. We also laughed that my friends had 
been imploring me to bring Aaron’s wines into the shop, and finally I did once I had tasted them 
and was blown away by Aaron’s skill. This is another memory that will stay with me forever. If you 
come into the Tasting Room, I will show you the exact spot where this happened. 

Good memories. Good times. That’s when wine is so much more than wine. It’s an experience. It’s 
an adventure. It’s spending time with friends and loved ones. It isn’t so much talking about wine, 
but it’s about having conversations that make you think, feel, and connect. 

I’ll again be sharing a 2016 Aaron Petite Sirah with these same friends that I shared an Aaron 
Petite Sirah with years ago. I know we’ll have a great bottle of wine, great conversation, and great 
memories of past wines and conversations. After all we’ve been through this year, that is something 
we all should strive for and savor. Here’s to you and to keeping your loved ones at table for 
an extra hour each day. 

If you are ever up in Paso Robles, stop by Aaron’s Tasting Room and tell them I sent you. It’s in 
Tin City and is managed by Katie Lewis. It’s a winery you should not miss when you are up in 
Paso Robles.

The 2022 Aaron Petite Sirah is available at The Bottle Shop for $56.99. It’s one of the best Petite 
Sirahs around. It’s got savory, wild herbal notes, pepper, smoked meats, blackberry, and licorice. 
The alcohol level is restrained, the tannins are polished, and the finish is lengthy. This is what Petite 
Sirah should be! Say you saw it in the Mountain Views News and get the MVN special price 
of $52.99. Special price good through February 28.

Next week at The Bottle Shop Tasting Room – DEI Wine Tasting. Delicious, exciting, and incredible 
wines made by women!

Please keep in mind all those who have suffered and are trying to rebuild from the Eaton Fire. 
Visit DenaMadreStrong.com to learn how you can continue to help those impacted by the Eaton 
Fire. 

Until next time – Salud!

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ALL THINGS By Jeff Brown 


ENDS OF THE EARTH: JOURNEYS TO THE POLAR 

REGIONS IN SEARCH OF LIFE, THE COSMOS, AND 
OUR FUTURE by Neil Shubin 

The bestselling author of Your Inner Fish takes readers on an epic 
adventure to the North and South Poles to reveal the secrets locked 
in the ice about life, the cosmos, and our planet’s future.

Renowned scientist & paleontologist Neil Shubin has made extraordinary 
discoveries by leading scientific expeditions to the 
sweeping ice landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctic. He’s survived 
polar storms, traveled in temperatures that can freeze flesh in seconds, 
and worked hundreds of miles from the nearest humans, all 
to deepen our understanding of our world.

 

Written with infectious enthusiasm and irresistible curiosity, Ends 
of the Earth blends travel writing, science, and history in a book brimming with surprising and 
wonderful discoveries. Shubin retraces his steps on a “dinosaur dance floor,” showing us where 
these beasts had populated the once tropical lands at the poles. He takes readers meteor hunting, 
as meteorites preserved in the ice can be older than our planet and can tell us about our galaxy’s 
formation. Readers also encounter insects and fish that develop their own anti-freeze, and aquatic 
life in ancient lakes hidden miles under the ice that haven’t seen the surface in centuries. It turns 
out that explorers and scientists have found these extreme environments as prime ground for making 
scientific breakthroughs across a vast range of knowledge.

 

Shubin shares unforgettable moments from centuries of expeditions to reveal just how far scientists 
will go to understand polar regions. In the end, what happens at the poles does not stay in the 
poles—the ends of the earth offer profound stories that will forever change our view of life and the 
entire planet.


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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