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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain Views-News Saturday November 1, 2025


I DID IT MY WAY (AN 
APOLOGY OF SORTS)

By Peter Dills – L.A.’s Dining Doctor

Maybe it’s time I say I’m sorry. Not for anything scandalous—
no tax evasion, no speeding tickets—just for the simple culinary 
“crimes” that I keep on committing.

I’m sorry for wanting French fries that actually taste like potatoes—
hot, crisp, and fresh, the way they used to be when the cook wore an 
apron, not a headset. For the record, Islands and In-N-Out still do 
them right—fresh, golden, and fried with love, not laziness.

I apologize for crab cakes that are made with, well, crab—and not a breadcrumb filler with identity 
issues. If $60 is in your budget, there’s a front-runner in Arcadia that serves one worth the splurge. 
And if Moonshadows in Malibu is still open, theirs used to be as good as a seaside sunset.

Forgive me for loving real Champagne, the kind that comes from France, not from a can. I know 
“sparkling wine” is the polite term, but a real celebration deserves bubbles with a passport.

I apologize for handing over a $100 bill and not wanting four $20s back. Call me old-fashioned, but 
if you break my rhythm, you probably just broke that $20 tip, too.

I’m sorry for believing a Caesar salad should be made tableside—with garlic, egg, and anchovy—
while someone hums “Fly Me to the Moon.” Few still do it right, but the classic Dal Rae in Pico 
Rivera certainly keeps the tradition alive. Arroyo Chop House makes a dang good one as well.

Forgive me for demanding a martini that’s smooth, cold, and confident—like Sinatra himself—
with no ice chips clinging to the rim like stage fright. When I want it done right, I head to Plate 38 
in Pasadena.

And yes, I’ll take my Mai Tai with Myers’s Rum, thank you very much. If I’m going to dream of 
the islands, I don’t want to taste chemistry. For my money, Canoe House and Islands both know 
how to mix one worth humming about.

I’ll confess to loving a burger made from fresh beef, ground that day, juicy enough to leave a 
memory. For value, Hook Burger on Foothill is tough to beat, and of course, the legend of Pie ’n 
Burger speaks for itself.

And while we’re clearing the air, I like my chili without beans—because some songs, and some 
recipes, don’t need backup singers. Carney’s and Smitty’s both get that tune just right.

And when it comes to steak, well, nobody swings like Taylor’s Steakhouse—the true gold standard.

So there you have it—my little apology to the culinary world. If expecting a little care, craft, and 
class is out of tune with today’s tempo—then I’ll keep on crooning off-key.

Because when it comes to food, drink, and life itself—
I did it my way.

IN SUMMARY:

I apologize that when the waiter asks, “How is everything?” or “Do you want salt and pepper?” I 
reply, “I don’t know yet—I haven’t tasted it.”
Yes, I want it my way.

— Peter Dills
Host of “Dining with Dills” Dining with Dills Podcast


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