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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain Views News Saturday, July 19, 2025


THE TASTING ROOM

GROCERY OUTLET PART 2

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

Last week’s article was so well received that I decided to go 
to Grocery Outlet again to see if there were any new bargains 
this week. This is what I found at the Arcadia Grocery 
Outlet on Foothill Blvd.

The first wine that caught my attention was the 2021 
Serego Alighieri Possessioni Bianco from the Veneto region 
of Italy. With this summer heat, I thought this wine 
would cool me down. After my first taste I was spot on. 
The wine is a blend of 75% Garganega and 25% Sauvignon 
that is farmed sustainably. Garganega is the main grape of 
the Italian white wine Soave. Breathing it in, I get notes of 
stone fruit, gravel, and marine shell. On the palate I get salinity, 
apricot, lemon zest, and dried herbs. It’s still holding up very well, but I would drink this wine 
within the year. It’s chewy and savory on the finish which makes me want more!

The second wine that caught my eye was the 2021 Maris “Le Zulu” Red Wine from France. This is 
a certified organic wine that has no added sulfites and is also a vegan wine. This wine is a blend of 
70% Merlot and 30% Syrah. The wine is fermented and aged in concrete vats to retain freshness and 
purity.

I get notes of red currant, dried apricot and cacao. There’s balanced acidity on the finish that keeps 
this wine lively and uplifting. The tannins are soft and lovely. This is another great bargain!

The 2021 Serego Alighieri Possessioni Bianco is sold online from $16 to $24. I paid $4.99 and I am 
very pleased with this wine. The 2021 Maris “Le Zulu” Red Wine sells online from $17 to $24. I paid 
$5.99 and again I am very pleased with this wine. 

Get to Grocery Outlet on Foothill in Arcadia as fast as you can if you want to swoop up these deals. 
If they are sold out, you might want to try the Grocery Outlet in Altadena or Duarte to see if they 
are stocking the wines.

Join my G-Rated Wine & Social Club and I will text you deals such as these when I come across 
them. You’ll also receive my newsletter with many more great wines that I taste all the time. Email 
me at glira@gratedwine.com and you can hear about these wines before they are sold out and other 
incredible wines. 

Until next time – Salud!

ALL INDIA CAFÉ BRINGS A TASTE OF INDIA — AND A STORY 
— TO ARCADIA

By Peter Dills | Special to the Mountain Views News

Arcadia’s dining scene just got a flavorful new addition with the arrival of All India Café, 
now open at 48 E. Huntington Drive, right next to The First Cabin. If the name sounds familiar, 
it should — the café is already a hit with diners in Pasadena and Glendale, and now 
Arcadia gets its own slice of the Indian subcontinent.

The meal kicked off with a fun and authentic starter: Pani Puri Shots, a beloved Indian street 
snack where crisp, hollow puris are filled with tangy, spiced water. Pop them whole in your 
mouth and prepare for a burst of flavor. I complemented the dish with an ice-cold Flying 
Horse Beer — a taste that took me back to a memorable Indian restaurant visit in Norway. 
Funny how food and drink can bring back memories.

Inside, the restaurant is cozy yet colorful, with beautiful framed pictures of India on the 
walls. But the centerpiece here is the stunning peacock mural — impossible to miss and rich 
with cultural significance. Arcadia residents: do yourself a favor and ask your server about 
the story behind it.

Our server, Harsimran, was both gracious and knowledgeable. He proudly shared that the 
chef in the kitchen is his father — also the founder of All India Café — which adds an undeniable 
layer of family pride to the dining experience.

As for the food, the Chicken Tikka Masala was creamy 
and perfectly spiced, while the Bhindi Masala, an okra 
dish, was a standout — proof that vegetables can indeed 
be the star of the table. The naan bread, fresh and pillowy, 
was an ideal companion to soak up the sauces.

All India Café makes Indian cuisine accessible without 
sacrificing authenticity. Whether you’re a seasoned fan of 
Indian food or trying it for the first time, this is a place 
where you’ll feel welcome.

IN SUMMARY:

• Address: 48 E. Huntington Drive, Arcadia (next to 
The First Cabin)

• Must-try: Pani Puri Shots, Chicken Tikka Masala, 
Bhindi Masala

• Beer tip: Flying Horse Beer — smooth and crisp

• Atmosphere: Warm, vibrant, with a conversation-
worthy peacock mural

• Pro tip: Say hello to Harsimran and ask about the mural’s story.

With this new Arcadia location, the All India Café family continues to spread the joy of 
Indian home-style cooking — and that’s something we can all celebrate. 

Email me at thechefknows@yahoo.com and take a listen to this weeks podcast


ALL THINGS 

By Jeff Brown 

A ROBOT PERFORMED SURGERY 
ALL BY ITSELF

Almost a quarter of all surgeries in the United 
States use robots. And every one of those robots’ 
movements in the operating room is controlled 
by a surgeon. But that might begin to change. 
We're a step closer following the world's first 
surgery performed by a robot responding and 
learning in real time. Its precision and skill 
matched that of experienced surgeons.

 Researchers at Johns Hopkins University trained a robot on videos of operations, and then 
had it conduct a gallbladder removal on its own – with no mechanical help, just voice commands, 
like a theater team assisting the lead surgeon. The robot absorbed its training and 
converted it to practice, with the ability to extract the gallbladder time and time again, and 
adjusting in real-time when needed."This advancement moves us from robots that can execute 
specific surgical tasks to robots that truly understand surgical procedures," said medical 
roboticist Azwl Krieger.

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER RARE STONE 
THAT COULD BE USED TO POWER 
ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Scientists have made an exciting discovery that could 
revolutionize all of Europe's EV cars. According to 
reports by Interesting Engineering, researchers at the 
Natural History Museum in London have uncovered 
additional information surrounding the mysterious 
mineral jadarite. Known as "kryptonite's twin," 
jadarite is chemically similar to Superman's kryptonite 
and could have the potential to power electric 
vehicles across Europe.

Published in Nature Geoscience, the study emphasizes that currently, Serbia's Jadar Basin is 
still the only known source of jadarite. However, due to the mineral's unique composition, it 
could "offer huge potential" for the EV industry, according to Dr. Robin Armstrong, co-author 
of the paper. Containing both boron and lithium, the main mineral behind EV batteries, 
jadarite's composition is rare. This is because it requires "a precise alchemy of alkaline-rich 
lakes, lithium-laden volcanic glass, and the transformation of clay into crystal under tightly 
controlled conditions," stated IE.

Compared to traditional sources of lithium, jadarite has a much smaller environmental impact. 
The process of extracting jadarite is "low energy" and could be a "game-changer" for 
Europe as countries continue to transition toward green energy.


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