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Mountain View News Saturday, October 31, 2026 FOOD & DRINK & SURVIVING 88 
Mountain View News Saturday, October 31, 2026 FOOD & DRINK & SURVIVING 
THE PRICE IS RICE: 

The Great San Gabriel ValleySushi Wars 

Last Saturday night, I picked up my daughterLauren at Los Angeles International Airport.
After navigating airport traffic, I figured we'd 
grab something quick to eat. Panda Expresssounded pretty good to me.
Lauren had other ideas. 

"Dad, how about Sugarfish?" 

So much for a quick, inexpensive dinner.
I'm not a sushi expert. Heck, those supermarketsushi packs are usually pretty good to me.
Lauren, on the other hand, loves Sugarfish.
She swears by it. They don't offer the kind of 
discounts I'm looking for, and apparently theydon't have to. They've built a loyal followingbased on quality and consistency. 

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

[Nyerges is author of “How to Survive Anywhere” and other books. He teaches classes onsurvival skills at Pasadena City College and on-line. He can be reached at www.SchoolofSelfReliance.
com.] 

IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET BACK TO THE ROOTS OF 
HALLOWE’EN? 

What is Hallowe’en all about? Why has the day that was once called All Hallows 
Eve devolved into a day of fun and fear? Wasn’t it once regarded as a Holy Day? So 
how was this day recognized before it was all commercialized into a scary night? Is it 

possible to discover the roots of this day, and observe it in its original fashion today? 

How can we answer these questions? We’d need to dig up whatever historical facts to show how thisday was commemorated before 1700, more or less. Though it’s hard to be 100% certain, we at canassume that “commercialization” didn’t really exist in 1700, and all the European and some Americancommemorations before that year probably retained some semblance of what the day was all about,
originally. 

So, first, let’s begin with the day. 

But this article isn't about Sugarfish. This article is about Dills Deals. 

Before we get started, a little food trivia. Does the word "sushi" actually refer to the fish or the rice? I'll 
give you the answer at the end of this column. 

Have you noticed what's happening around town? Banners advertising happy hours. Buy-one-get-onespecials. All-you-can-eat sushi. Restaurants practically begging us to come inside and enjoy a bargain. 

It reminds me of the gas wars from years ago. Remember when one gas station would lower its priceand the station across the street would respond? Only this time we're talking spicy tuna rolls and 
Sapporo beer instead of unleaded gasoline. 

Could the San Gabriel Valley be in the middle of its own Sushi Wars? I think we are.
A while back, I had lunch at Tomikawa Sushi on Foothill Boulevard in Pasadena with my friend JesseJames Youngblood. Old-timers will remember the location as the former Kabuki before Kabuki movedto Colorado Boulevard and San Gabriel Boulevard. 

The deal caught my eye immediately: an all-you-can-eat lunch for around $25, including appetizers,
rolls and premium rolls. At the time of my visit, the special was offered Monday through Thursday 
until 3 p.m. 

Jesse got his money's worth. Me? I tapped out long before he did. 

Yes, they time you. And no, don't ask for a doggie bag. That's not the deal. The idea is simple: eat whatyou can, enjoy yourself and leave room for the next customer. 

Was it the best sushi I've ever had? I don't know. As I said, I'm not a sushi expert. But I know value 
when I see it. 

Right across from Chiquita Bonita, Haruka Sushi has advertised happy hours and buy-one-get-onespecials. I haven't personally tried every item on the menu, but I appreciate restaurants that understanddiners are watching their dollars. 

My friend Shawn Broes reminded me not to forget Sushi Roku. He's right. I do like their happy hour. 
It's a little more upscale, and you're certainly not going to confuse it with an all-you-can-eat buffet. But 
if you arrive at the right time, you can enjoy premium sushi and cocktails without taking out a second 
mortgage. 

Truth be told, my favorite sushi spot is Kabuki on Colorado Boulevard.
Sure, they've raised the price of Sapporo over the years, but a beer for around $3 during happy hourstill gets my attention. 

Maybe it's Pink, Cindy, Anita and the rest of the servers who know my order before I sit down: onesake, one Sapporo and a large ice water, right around 4 p.m.
Maybe it's habit. Maybe it's comfort. Or maybe it's because the scallop hand roll is very good and I havetheir Krab salad when I want to be healthy. Notice the "K"? 

Or maybe it's their Red Mask Club, where you eat sushi to earn sushi.
Whatever the reason, I keep coming back. 

Then there's Panda Inn, another Pasadena institution. During its impressive remodel, the restaurantadded a sushi bar and even an omakase experience. 

A Chinese restaurant serving sushi? Maybe twenty years ago that would have seemed strange. Not 
anymore. 

Diners want choices. They want value. They want a little bit of everything. And restaurants are adapting.
That's not strange. That's smart. 

Now, I know what some of my Sierra Madre and Arcadia readers are thinking. Peter, what about thesushi restaurants closer to home? Fair question. 

The San Gabriel Valley certainly doesn't suffer from a shortage of Japanese restaurants. From 
neighborhood sushi counters to upscale dining rooms, there are plenty of choices beyond Pasadena.
And that's what makes these Sushi Wars so interesting. Competition gives diners a reason to explore.
Some people chase the freshest uni or the rarest toro. Me? I'm looking for a good deal, friendly faces 
and a place where they know my name. 

After more than twenty years of reviewing restaurants for Mountain Views News, I've learnedsomething important: the best dining experience isn't always the most expensive one. 

Sometimes it's the restaurant where the bartender remembers your drink, the server remembers yourname and the bill doesn't require a second look. 

So here's my challenge to readers in Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia and Pasadena. 

Who has the best sushi deal in the San Gabriel Valley? 

I'm willing to investigate. After all, somebody has to do the research. If I missed your favorite sushi 
spot, send me an email. We can always revisit the Sushi Wars. 

And now, the answer to our trivia question. 

It's the rice! 
The word sushi refers to rice seasoned with vinegar, not raw fish. In fact, sushi doesn't have to contain 
fish at all. You can have sushi with vegetables, eggs or other ingredients. Raw fish served without sushirice is called sashimi. 
So there you have it. The price is rice!
I'm just Peter Dills, looking for my next Dills Deal. 


It is believed that the ancient Celts observed something called a “Samhain festival” towards the end ofOctober. Says the World Book Encyclopedia. “The Celts believed that the dead could walk among theliving at this time. During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead. Elements of the customs canbe traced to a Druid ceremony in pre-Christian times. The Celts had festivals for two major gods—asun god and a god of the dead (called Samhain), whose festival was held on November 1, the beginningof the Celtic New Year. 

This day, or period, was to mark the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. 

Samhain (pronounced “sow-in,” which means “summer’s end,” or the name of a god, or both) is seenby some Wiccans as a time to celebrate the lives of those who have died, and it often involves payingrespect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets and other loved ones who havedied. In some rituals the spirits of the dead are invited to attend the festivities. 

Various sorts of activities done on Samhain have been described over the centuries. In Ireland, Samhain 
was a time to take stock of the herds and food supplies. Cattle were brought to the winter pastures aftersix months in the higher summer pastures. Then, the people chose which animals to slaughter beforethe winter. After the slaughter of the animals, there would be feasting. And obviously, if you aren’t ananimal-raising farmer, how would you celebrate this aspect, except for the feasting? 

The Catholic Church was aware of all the so-called “pagan” observances, and had their own day tocommemorate the dead, May 13. This began in 609 or 610 A.D., when Pope Boniface the 4th dedicatedthe Pantheon— the Roman temple of all the gods—to Mary and all the martyrs. Later that date was 
changed by Pope Gregory III (731-741 A.D.), who dedicated a chapel in Rome to all the saints andordered that they be honored on November 1. It’s unclear precisely why the date was changed, but likelyit was to overshadow the pre-existing Samhain, so called “pagan,” commemorations.
In the 11th century, November 2nd was assigned as "All Souls’ Day" in commemoration of the dead.
So this began the use of the term Hallow’s Eve, or Hallowe’en for October 31. 

Hallowe’en customs are similar to the observance of Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, commonlypracticed in Mexico and which can be traced to early Aztec times. Apparently, this “day of the dead”
was originally commemorated in Mexico in May, and was changed to November 2 sometime afterSpanish contact, possibly to correspond with the “Christian” tradition.
FOOD and GIFTING 
Trick or treating in modern times goes back to leaving food and wine for roaming dead spirits andghosts. The custom was referred to as "going a-souling" and was eventually practiced only by thechildren who would visit the houses in their neighborhoods and be given gifts of ale, food and money.
It was believed the spirits of the dead returned to visit their old homes during this time, so in ancienttimes, people left food out for them and arranged chairs so that the dead would be able to rest. 

Treats called “soul cakes” were given out in memory of the departed. The Middle Age practice of 
souling — going door to door begging for food in return for prayers — became popular and is even 
referenced by William Shakespeare in 1593. This is obviously the root of the modern “trick or treating”
for mini Snickers bars, a practice no doubt loved by every dentist. 

Seasonal foods such as apples and nuts were often used in the Samhain rituals. Apples were peeled,
the peel tossed over the shoulder, and its shape examined to see if it formed the first letter of the future 
spouse's name. Nuts were roasted on the hearth and then interpreted – if the nuts stayed together, sowould the couple. Egg whites were dropped in water, and the shapes foretold the number of futurechildren. Children would also chase crows and divine some of these things from the number of birdsor the direction they flew. 

COSTUMES 
Celts would wear masks when they left their homes during the night hours during Samhain days,
because they hoped they would avoid being recognized by the ghosts and be mistaken merely for fellowghosts. 

“Mumming” and “Guising” were a part of Samhain from at least the 16th century and was recorded inparts of Ireland, Scotland, Mann and Wales. It involved people going from house to house in costume(or in disguise), usually reciting songs or verses in exchange for food. It is suggested that it evolved froma tradition whereby people impersonated the souls of the dead, and received offerings on their behalf.
Impersonating these spirits or souls was also believed to protect oneself from them. One researcher 
suggests that the ancient festival included people in masks or costumes representing these spirits, andthat the modern custom came directly from this. 

PARADES 
Pagan Celtic priestesses and their followers would roam the countryside, chanting songs in orderto frighten away the evil spirits thought to be out on Halloween night. I wonder how that could be 
practiced in your neighborhood? 

FIRES 
Bonfires were a big part of the festival in many areas of western Europe. Bonfires were typically liton hilltops at Samhain where everyone could see them, and there were rituals involving them. We 
concluded that a small, safe backyard fire might be a good addition to celebrating the day, thoughwe were pretty sure that local fire departments would take a very dim view if fires were built on localhilltops! 

Bonfires comes from the root, “bone-fires” because the priests sacrificed animals and supposedly evenpeople in an attempt to appease the sun god, while also looking for future omens. The fire was saidto be a type of sympathetic magic, where the fire mimicked the sun, which has the power to holdback the darkness of winter. Burning the fires was also believed to be a way of banishing evil, at least 
symbolically. 

The belief that the souls of the dead return home on one night of the year seems to have ancient originsand is found in many cultures throughout the world. 

CONCLUSION 

So what should we conclude from all this? Is there an ideal way to commemorate this ancient day, andstill avoid the trappings of commercialization? Is it even possible in today’s world? 

I like the way that the Day of the Dead is commemorated. There are altars with pictures of the dearlydeparted, and plates of good food. Candles are lit, rather than a big bonfire which the local fire 
department would frown upon. Families gather, and talk in respectful tones about their departed 
relatives. Yes, of course, even the Day of the Dead has turned into wild partying in some quarters, butif you seek a return to roots of the ancient commemoration of the dead, perhaps begin here. 

Begin with family or neighborhood gatherings. Prepare a good meal, and keep in the mind the foodsthat your beloved departeds enjoyed. This is not necessarily because you think their spirits will cometo eat (last I checked, ghosts don’t need to eat), but because having, for example, your mother’s favoritedish will give you another reason to talk about your mother, and to remember all the good things shedid. 

This is at least a start, and it elevates our day of ghoulish and pointless fear-mongering into one thatreconnects us with our roots. 


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