Morsels
By Carl Kozlowski , Jennifer Alfred 08/28/2008
Make family time delicious
Not many things evoke the warm and fuzzy feelings of home as well as milk and cookies. So it seems natural that Pasadena European-style bakery/café Le Pain Quotidien is celebrating quality after-school family time with a “Cookies ’n’ Milk” promotion.
From 2:30 to 4 p.m. weekdays in September and October, the restaurant will give free milk and cookies to kids with each purchase of an adult food or drink item. On the menu are a variety of breads and pastries which can be taken out or eaten inside the hospitable café at 88 W. Colorado Blvd. in Old Pasadena.
For more information, call (626) 396-0956 or visit lepainquotidien.com. — Jennifer Alfred
Plan ahead for great eating
One of Old Pasadena’s greatest annual traditions, “A Taste of Old Pasadena,” is hitting town again from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23. For just $25, participants can join in the 17-year tradition of enjoying great samples of the fine cuisine to be had in some of the area’s best and trendiest restaurants.
Even better, 100 percent of the proceeds from the event go to local charities and scholarships for college-bound students, so get your tickets early from the Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors, located at 1060 E. Green St., No. 100, in Pasadena. Call (626) 795-2455. — Carl Kozlowski
Renewed Ranchito
Last week we took you to the oft-overlooked corner of Los Robles Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard to point out the reopening of the popular longtime pizza joint Village Pizzeria. But right across the street, Mi Ranchito restaurant has also successfully launched in a location long in need of a rebirth.
The Mexican eatery took over from the decades-old dive known as Taco Par at 445 E. Orange Grove Boulevard, whose apparent main attraction was the jarring way in which its staff yelled at customers at all times: in greeting them, taking their orders and dishing out the food. In other words, it was the closest thing to the famous “Cheeseborger! Cheeseborger! Cheeseborger!” skits from early-era “SNL” to be found in the San Gabriel Valley.
But about a year ago, Taco Par’s sign came down and its site was completely transformed into the clean new environs of Mi Ranchito, offering a selection of dozens of tasty Mexican food items at equally attractive prices. If you’re willing to drive about five minutes off the Colorado Boulevard drag and check out a great neighborhood joint, this is the place. Call (626) 792-7035.
— Carl Kozlowski
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