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FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, June 21, 2025

THE TASTING ROOM


THIS WINE IS SO GOOD – I AM 
FEATURING IT AGAIN!

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

I try not to repeat wines that I’ve featured in the 
past, but this wine is so delicious that I had to 
present it again to you. I’m talking about the 2023 
Aaron “Keola” Red Wine from Paso Robles. Last 
year I wrote about the 2022 Aaron Keola, that wine 
was so good and fought above its weight class. The 
2023 vintage is equally as good if not better. 

The 2023 vintage is a blend of 45% Petite Sirah, 
30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Syrah. Lots 
were pressed directly to French oak barrels and 
puncheons, 50% new for 18 months of elevage 
without racking. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered making this a vegan wine. 
About 480 cases were produced.

This wine is superb. You get notes of cherries, spices, and 
herbs. The fruit comes through with ripe notes, but it is always 
balanced. Dark fruit, cacao, and hints of anise highlight 
the finish. There isn’t too much of one thing over another. 
The mouthfeel is creamy while the tannins are soft on the 
lengthy finish. This is savagely delicious! You could spend 
$40 on the Justin Right Angle Red Wine, but you won’t be 
getting the quality and heavenly savoriness that the Keola 
delivers. This wine overdelivers again and again! It’s one of 
my favorite wines in the shop.

 

The 2023 Aaron “Keola” Red Wine is available at The Bottle 
Shop for $29.99. Get the special price of $26.99 when you 
mention you saw it in The Mountain Views News. This special 
price is good through June 27th. 

I am in the Tasting Room every Thursday night and Friday 
night. Join me Thursday June 26th or Friday June 27th for 
our Pride Month Tasting featuring Voon Wines. Voon was named one of the 15 new California 
wineries you need to know in 2025. Based in San Francisco, VOON is an LGBTQ+ 
label owned by partners Evan Anderson and Cameron Foxgrover specializing in low-intervention, 
small-production wines.

Until next time – Salud!

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TRIED, TRUE, AND STACKED WITH FLAVOR

Four Sandwich Spots That Deserve a Place in Your Lineup

Father’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean we pack away our appetites—or our ball 
caps. With the Dodgers chasing another postseason run and the Angels playing better than 
the headlines suggest (at least as of this writing), summer is off to a promising start. It’s the 
perfect time to revisit a few of L.A.’s most reliable sandwich joints—places that, like Clayton 
Kershaw, may not need an introduction but still earn the standing ovation.

Here are four tried-and-tested sandwich shops that continue to deliver the goods.

________________________________________

Pasadena Sandwich Company – No Frills, All Flavor

You don’t stumble into a sandwich this good by accident. PSC has been slinging meat-
packed subs since the late ’90s, and their reputation is well-earned. The vibe? Classic deli, 
no gimmicks. Whether you're ordering the “Trust the Cook” (a literal wildcard of a sandwich) 
or a hot pastrami with mustard, it’s all about craftsmanship here. Their hot sandwiches 
are worth the wait, layered thick and always fresh. The family behind the counter 
works with purpose—and that pride ends up between two slices of bread.

________________________________________

Philippe’s – Still the King of the Dip

Dodger fans know the drill. You hit Philippe’s before a home game not just because it’s tradition, 
but because that lamb dip, dunked in house-made jus and hit with a squirt of spicy 
mustard, still tastes like victory. Founded in 1908, the place doesn’t lean on nostalgia—it 
earns it. The sawdust floors, the cafeteria-style trays, the cranky charm of it all—it’s part 
of the sandwich experience. Whether you're a tourist or a local lifer, Philippe’s delivers the 
same dependable bite every time.

________________________________________

Eastside Italian Deli – Warm It Up

A few blocks from the stadium sits Eastside Deli, the kind of place where regulars don’t 
need menus. It’s old-school, with no interest in reinvention—and thank goodness for that. 
Go for the meatball, pastrami, or sausage and peppers. Just make sure it’s warm. These are 
no-nonsense sandwiches, dripping with sauce and wrapped like a gift from your Italian 
uncle. Pro tip: eat in the car with the windows down and the game on the radio.

________________________________________

Little Flower – The Picnic Sandwich

On the west edge of Pasadena, this cozy café offers a different pace. Little Flower feels like 
a secret you tell only your favorite people. Their sandwiches lean rustic and fresh—house-
roasted meats, seasonal touches, and soft bread that holds up. The ham and cheese panini 
is simple perfection, and the chicken pesto on ciabatta tastes like it was made for a picnic 
blanket under the Arroyo trees. And don’t sleep on the salted caramels at the counter.

________________________________________

In Summary

These aren’t trendy sandwich experiments or Instagram stunts. They’re the steady players, 
the ones that show up every game day and do their job right. Like Kershaw on the mound, 
these spots rely on consistency, heart, and a little seasoning.

Baseball and sandwiches: two things that should never be overcomplicated. Listen to my 
podcast this week Bob Spivak from The Daily Grill fame is my guest.

By Peter Dills | Sierra Madre Mountain Views News

thechefknows@yahoo.com


ALL THINGS 

By Jeff Brown 

NEW CALIFORNIA LAW PROHIBITS 
DRIVERS FROM USING THEIR 
PHONE EVEN FOR DIRECTIONS

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — On June 3rd an California appeals court officially declared it is 
100% illegal to have a phone in your hand while behind the wheel. Distracted driving can cause lives 
to be injured or killed.

In 2024 Bakersfield saw close to 100 incidents surrounding distracted driving or position of their 
phone. According to officers, within a split second you could possibly end someone's life. They 
encourage the community to "Put the phone down and just drive.a distracted driving ticket in California 
can range from $170-$300.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:

Many of us, myself included, often find ourselves reaching for our phones while driving for tasks 
like changing music, texting, or using navigation. I'm Eric J. Dockery, your local reporter from Bakersfield. 
On June 3, a California Appeals Court officially made it a state law that prohibits drivers 
from texting, or using GPS while behind the wheel.

In addition to 3000 fatalities, distracted driving is responsible for thousands of injuries each year. 
Current reports show that approximately 400,000 accidents in 2024 were caused by distractions, 
with mobile phone usage being a primary contributor. These numbers have remained consistent 
over the past several years, reflecting the widespread nature of distracted driving.

Caleb Kiser BPD Sergeant Traffic Division said "When you are traveling at 30, 40, or 50 miles per 
hour. That one glance away for even a second your vehicle can travel several hundred feet in that 
time frame. The ability to control your vehicle when you look away is severely impaired."

 Natasha Patricio Bakersfield Resident said "There was a young lady driving, and she literally had 
her head down while traffic was going. I thought she was a drunk driver, but after looking I could 
see her phone in her hand. Even honking at her, some people just don't care."

"Distracted driving has been an issue in our community as long as I've been here in the police department. 
Even before the change of law its always been illegal to drive a slower speed than speed 
limit. You always want to have your attention directed towards the road way not anything else in the 
vehicle."said Kiser" Something as simple as looking at your phone can severally impede someone's 
life as far as catastrophic injuries or even death. It's just not worth it to look at social media or finish 
that text."

 
550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
@ So. Side of Sierra Madre Woman’s Club 
Opened 1957: 68 Years of Service to Our Community 
Shop Closed for Summer 
So many thanks for your donations 
and support this past year!! 
Our Charities & Scholarships Thank You, too! 
Enjoy your summer! See you when the 
Shop Re-Opens 
Thur., September 4 – 10-3 
Clean, gently used donations again 
Accepted After 7/4/25 
SierraMadreWomansClub 
Wistaria 
Thrift Shop 
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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