88 
Mountain Views-News Saturday January 10, 2026 FOOD - DRINK - FUN 88 
Mountain Views-News Saturday January 10, 2026 FOOD - DRINK - FUN 
Peter A. Dills 

https://
podlink/1116885432 


HAVE YOU MET JOEY? 

WELL, YOU SHOULD. 

Joey runs The Diplomat (Lemon and Myrtle), and judging by 
the steady stream of calls and comments I get on my podcast 
(Dining with Dills), plenty of people already believe the 
Diplomat is the best place to eat in Monrovia. Enough people 
said it, so I checked it out—and I’ll say this right up front: what 
I had wasn’t just good, it was great. Hold on, I’ll get to that. 

Joey has been in the restaurant business for years. As we 
talked shop, he mentioned several former spots, includingMediterranean Garden Grill, a restaurant on Foothill that myfather reviewed years ago—back before I taught him everythinghe knew. LOL. 

(Red Bull was absolutely kicking in.) 

Walking in, I had my eye on the lule kabob. I’m a kabob guy and I’m rarely disappointed, no 
matter where I dine. But Joey was there, took one look at me, calmly removed the menu from 
my hands and said, “Bring Peter the lamb chops.” 

Smart move. 

Not good. Great. 

New Zealand export lamb, under 25 pounds—which means tender, flavorful, and cooked 
just right. This is the kind of dish that makes conversation stop.
If lamb or kabobs aren’t your thing, don’t worry. The menu has range—well-executed 
proteins, familiar comfort dishes, and enough variety to keep both adventurous diners and 
traditionalists happy. This isn’t a one-note kitchen. 

The room itself may surprise you. If you’re expecting traditional Middle Eastern, Lebanese, 
or Armenian décor—photos of the homeland, flags, that sort of thing—you won’t find it 
here. The Diplomat feels more like a modern distillery or upscale neighborhood spot. Joey 
summed it up best: “Great food and sinful drinks.” 
Alright then. Sign me up—just as soon as Dry January is over. 

I did spend some quality time with the drink menu. If you’re into high-end bourbons and 
gins, The Diplomat is a serious contender. And if you’re more of a Coors Light person? Five 
bucks. That same beer runs nine dollars just about everywhere else. 

I rounded things out with a side of eggplant and rice and walked away more than satisfied. 
Again, you’ll find plenty of Pita sandwiches, chicken and that sort of familiar food plus 
Baklava!. 
Is it the best restaurant in Monrovia? 
I won’t pretend I’ve eaten everywhere. But I will say this: what I had was excellent, the prices 
were fair, the drink menu is legit, and Joey clearly knows what he’s doing. 

Check out The Diplomat soon.
And if Joey takes the menu out of your hands—let him.
Hey All Pizza Week is coming up, shoot me an email on your favorite spot. thechefknows@
yahoo.com 

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! 
Call Patricia 
626-818-2698
THE TASTING ROOM 

TRYnuary! 

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 January and for lots of people that means giving up 
alcohol during the month. We’ve all heard reports on 
studies of the health effects of alcohol consumption. 
Unless you do a deep dive into the various studies, you 
probably don’t have a clear understanding of the evidence. 
To help sort things out, I advise you to read Robert 
M. Kaplan’s article on why he is skipping Dry January 
after weighing the scientific evidence. Google it online. 


My take on this is the same as my viewpoint on tasting 
wine - balanced and in moderation. I adore wines that are balanced. I adore wines that 
exhibit alcohol in moderation. By balance I mean that a wine has good fruit - not too rich 
and not too austere. The wine has a balance in the acidity that is present. There’s a balance 
throughout the wine that is pleasing and attractive. In addition to the balance, I love wines 
that aren’t blockbusters with regards to alcohol. I can feel the alcohol coursing through mybody when the wine is running hot. That is not pleasant at all. I prefer wine that shows moderation. 
Wine such as this goes much better with food. And for me, wine shared over food 
with friends is the focal point of enjoying wine. 

People think I drink wine every single day. I don’t. In my job capacity I taste a lot of wine 
that I spit out. However, when I do drink wine, it’s usually with friends and it’s with a meal. 
So, when I do drink wine, I make damn sure it’s a good and balanced wine. I am not going to 
waste my window for enjoying good wine on Meiomi which is crap and loaded with sugar. I 
am not going to waste my time with Josh or Justin. Those wines are everywhere and they’re 
not that good. I search for well made, small-production, sustainable wines that are produced 
by passionate winemakers. 

When I find a good wine, I enjoy it in moderation. Do I have wine with every meal? No I 
don’t. I enjoy wine tremendously, but when you overindulge, it isn’t enjoyable. We all hear 
stories about people who drink until they puke. Where is the enjoyment in that? If you drink 
to the point of getting a headache or not feeling well - maybe it’s best to drink in moderation. 
Sure, I’d like everyone to drink every single day as that would be great for the wine industry. 
That’s not what I am espousing here. I want people to enjoy wine. I want people to take the 
time and pick a wine that is damn good and not pick a wine off the grocery shelf because 
it’s there and everywhere. I want people to enjoy wine over a meal with friends. Spend some 
extra time enjoying friendships with fellow wine lovers. After years of isolation, spending 
time with people is very positive and healthy. But do this in moderation so you don’t feel like 
you must abstain for a month. When a doctor tells you to change your diet to better your 
health, they aren’t telling you to cut out all food for a month. They are telling you to choose 
wisely by not eating highly processed foods and to find better alternatives. They are telling 
you to eat in moderation. They are telling you to find balance. 

For me, Drynuary is not an option. If you think it is for you, bless you and good on ya for 
trying. Instead, I am taking the path of TRYnuary - where we explore new wines or wines 
that might have gotten pushed aside over the years that should be revisited. All these wines 
will be balanced. All these wines will be family run, small-production, and sustainable. They 
won’t be highly processed or formulaic. They’ll be damn good. Join me all this month to 
share good wine with good friends. Come together for wine. Wine is food. Wine is sustainable. 
Wine is historical. Wine is social. Wine is discovery. Wine is artisan & family. 

Here's the TRYnuary schedule for The Bottle Shop Tasting Room this month….. 

Thurs and Fri Jan 8 & 9 Orange Wines Explained! 
Thurs & Fri Jan 15 & 16 Wines We’ve Forgotten About 
Thurs & Fri Jan 22 & 23 Never Bored with Bordeaux 
Thurs & Fri Jan 29 & 30 Guess The Wine Blind Tasting! 

Until next time – Salud! 


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