Celestino Restaurant

Our Favorite Ethnic Father’s Day Feasts

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(Gerry Furth-Sides, photo credits: Ralph Wolfgang, Acura-Hansen) Father-son managed Bone Kettle’s Father’s Day Specials in  Old Town Pasadena, feature bold Southeast Asian flavors from family-inspired recipes.   Citrus Brine Chicken Wings prepared with fried free-range chicken wings and charred lime start off a meal with a tart twist.  Loco Moco features grass-fed ground beef, duck egg, jasmine white rice, caramelized onions, and fried leek, or go for the sweet and savory Fried Chicken & Ube Waffles, served with black pepper honey sauce and watermelon cubes.  Partner and Executive Chef Erwin Tjahyadi created a special Lemongrass Pork Belly made with crispy pork belly, garlic infused soy, lemon juice, onions, tomatoes, and watercress cilantro salad – available during both Brunch and Dinner on Father’s Day.   Bone Kettle Sangria has the kick of chipotle pineapple, orange extract, and Pinot Noir.  Habanero lime, soju, cucumber juice, ginger ale, and mint does the same for the Cucumber Habanero Mule.

Loco Moco features grass-fed ground beef, duck egg, jasmine white rice, caramelized onions, and fried leek

Bone Kettle‘s Dinner featured Steak Tartare made with St. Helen’s Ranch hanger steak, chili vinaigrette, lemongrass, and krupuk is a signature dish, along with Executive Chef Erwin’s famous Bone Marrow with scallion confit, grilled baguettes, red endive, baby frisée, mizuna, and apple rhubarb dressing.  Unusual beverages include Ice-cold Beers such as the Ommengang Hennepin Saison or Eagle Rock Amwolf Pilsner.   Entrées for a hearty appetite include the Singaporean Chili Lobster with Maine lobster, confit tomatoes, sweet and spicy egg sauce, fried onions, and herbs; Big Mouth Seabass cooked in a turmeric batter, with pan-fried Okinawa soba noodles, scallions, quail eggs, and fried shallots, and the unique Beef Ribs prepared with bone marrow jus, fried onions and herbs.

Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16th, 2019 for Brunch from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and for Dinner from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm; 67 North Raymond Avenue; 626.795.5702; www.BoneKettle.com

Celestino Restaurant shares Drago family recipes of the kind that Owner and Executive Chef Calogero Drago’s their own dad would have loved in Sicily, Italy.  They they feature local, seasonal Start with the flavorful Beef Carpaccio with porcini mushrooms and black truffle, or the classic Zuppetta di Cozze e Vongole Pepate made of mussels and clams with black pepper in a delicate tomato broth.   Chef Drago is preparing something for every Dad with specials like his luxe Linguini with Lobster and Crab, and savory Bistecca alla Fiorentina; a traditional Florentine porterhouse steak perfectly prepared for Dad. The Dinner Menu adds  Specials like the Ossobuco alla Milanese and Coniglio al Forno con Salsa di Olive Nere.  Pair the Father’s Day Dinner with one of Celestino Ristorante’s robust red wines, such as the 2007 Chianti Classico Badiolo Riserva a bottle of the 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Il Poggione.   Chef Drago ‘s presents every dad with a Complimentary Glass of Vin Santo Dessert Wine.

Father’s Day Feast at Celestino Ristorante

Celestino Ristorante‘ Father’s Day Dinner on Sunday, June 16th, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm; 141 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101; 626.795.4006;www.CelestinoPasadena.com

 Inspired Chef Luca’s mom visited the kitchen at Culina & Vinoteca – Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills for mother’s day this year, and judging from the adoring kitchen staff,  everyone was inspired by her.  It will show in the Father’s Day Brunch Buffet at Culina & Vinoteca at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, that features novelty activities.

Lawn Games with the kids such as Bocce Ball, Ladder Toss and Corn Hole.  Dad can also show off his best Golf Game to Culina & Vinoteca’s 9-Hole Put-Put as there will be an attendant collecting score cards that will each be entered into Prize Drawings for prizes such as Complimentary Meals at Culina & Vinoteca.

The abundanza brunch celebration starts with Breakfast & Eggs including a performance Omelet Station; Honey Fried Chicken  with silver dollar waffles and made-to-order Belgium Waffles topped with a choice of dulce de leche, maple syrup, orange marmalade, or whipped butter, cream and preserves.  The Outdoor Grill Station offers  marinated and grilled Bone-In Cowboy Steak, or the “Beer Can” Whole Jidori Chicken.  Complimenting the heartier protein fare is a Farmers Market Salad  Chopped “Wedge” Salad served with blackened Old Bay Shrimp, oven roasted tomato, green onion, white cheddar crisps and buttermilk dressing.  So do the international food stations, including Japanese Sushi & Seafood Station; Hong Kong  Dim Sum Station, and Mexican Station. Pastry Chef Christopher Ford’s Pastries and desserts, a Carving Station andthe Children’s Buffet complete the menu.

The Culina & Vinoteca Carving Station

Culina & Vinoteca at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills‘ Father’s Day Buffet Brunch on Sunday, June 16th, 2019 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm for $139.00 (per adult),  $69.00 (children ages 5-12), and complimentary for children 4 and under: 300 South Doheny Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90048; 310.860.4000; www.CulinaRestaurant.com

 At the Raymond 1886 Executive Chef Jon Hung The Raymond 1886’s spacious outdoor patio and historic Craftsman Cottage interior ensure a historic, easy Father’s Day Brunch with such favorites as  the Family Breakfast Platter,Chef Inspired Omelets, and the popular Breakfast Burrito, along with  the Brioche Bread Pudding topped with berries, yuzu curd, and whipped sour cream.   The famous Classic Cheeseburger made with ground Kobe beef, melted cheddar cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and “Eva’s Secret Sauce” on a brioche bun is also available, with its perfect accompaniment of the bar’s Bloody Mary with Dirty Sue olive juice and an array of salts and spices.

Bloody Mary with Dirty Sue olive juice and an array of salts and spices.

Father’s Day Dinner options are equally appealing.  Oysters on the Half Shell served with a daily mignonette, or the Tartare, which changes weekly starts off the meal. Baby Gem salad with cherry tomatoes, pickled watermelon radish and green goddess dressing, or the Roasted Cauliflower with chimichurri, hazelnuts, and grated parmesan pairs with any of Executive Chef Jon Hung’s entrees.  Favorites include Seared Sea Trout with Vadouvan lentil, pickled golden raisins, brown butter, yuzu and hazelnuts; Lamb Chops served with fregola, rhubarb, mint and ricotta, and the Porchetta with Vongole and marinated cherry tomatoes.   Dessert from Pastry Chef Alexa Clark included Peanut Butter Mousse with Nutella cremeux, honeycomb, cinnamon condensed milk and lime gel, and Chocolate Bavarois served with Tahitian vanilla ice cream, pink peppercorn graham crumble and caramel.

The Raymond 1886 hours on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16th, 2019.  Brunch:  9:00 am to 2:30 pm, and for Dinner from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm; 1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105; 626.441.3136; www.TheRaymond.com

Photos: Bloody Mary, Breakfast Burrito, Family Breakfast Platter, Patio, Peanut Butter Mousse, Seared Sea Trout

Photo Credit: acuna-hansen

Five Must-Try Old School Pappardelle Dishes to “Gobble Up” (and Why)

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Pappardelle, the beautiful, large, broad, flat paste noodles fittingly got their name from the Italian verb,  “pappare”, “to gobble up”. It works for the paste standing up to heavy sauces or for every diners’ reaction.  Architects recognize only the color grey (unless they have to), and I recognize only the paste, Pappardelle,  (unless I have to).

Domingo's Italian Deli

Domingo’s Italian Deli offers many of the 310 pasta shapes with 1300 varieties of them total.

Fresh pappardelle may have fluted edges and are up to an inch wide. Dried egg versions that originate in the region of Tuscany have straight sides.  Tagliatelle, (Emilio-Romano and Marche regions)  a narrower version of Pappardelle and used for lighter sauces (see below) is similar to but a tiny bit thinner than (Roman) fettuccine.

I ask you to try them and decide for yourself.  We follow Pappardelle from north to southern Italy here.

At Osteria Bigoli, Chef-owner Claudio Marchesan’s Braised Short Ribs with Pappardelle are slowly baked in red wine, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Melt-in-your-mouth short ribs hold the sauce with an intense depth of flavor, along with endowing it with a rich, royal dark color.   The wide Pappardelle does its job of “taking on” the sauce so well it becomes a robust partner adding body to it.

Short Ribs

That Claudio Marchesan is a native of (northeast) Grado, Italy is one reason for the perfection.  When he attended ENALC, the Professional Cooking School of Rome, he studied with renowned Master Chef Giovanni Caruso, one of the still living prodigies of the one and only “August Escoffier”.   Marcheson himself made California restaurant history (and lots of fans) with Pane e Vino and Prego. Claudio Marchesan

Osteria Bigoli, 714 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Visit the website for hours and menu at bigoliosteria.com

History-making Chef at Osteria Bigoli

Sor Tino and Caffe Roma (and Toscanova and Ago restaurants)are owned by the master chef, Agostino Sciandri.  We met this Tuscan chef at the Q for quality Awards honoring Los Angeles restaurants for maintaining high standards of authenticity.

In writer Darien Morea’s report for us, “Pappardelle Cinghiale (Wild Boar Ragu), with an unctuous, rich, slightly tomatoey sauce includes large pieces of the Boar that had been cooked for hours in the sauce, is the equivalent of a rich man’s Bolognese.  Sor Tino was the first to offer wild boar in Los Angeles in the early 1990’s, now almost an Italian restaurant staple (LocalFoodEater has even down a roundup on this, our favorite dish)

 Cinghiale
“Not to name drop (but I will), I had first been introduced to this dish at the home of the father of Leonardo di Vinci in the town of Vinci, Tuscany, and Sor Tino’s version was its equal in every way.”

Sor Tino, 908 Barrington Avenue, Brentwood, CA  90049. (310) 442-8466. (//(www.sortinorestaurant.com)

Augustino Sciandri

Augustino Sciandri, master chef, restaurateur

Sor Tino Swings the Pendulum Back to Authentic Italian

Marino Ristorante in East Hollywood on Melrose serves Neapolitan fare.  Now operated by Ciro Marino’s sons, there has always been a Pappardelle Bolognese on the menu, that lists the beef, pork and veal meat sauce cooked for three hours on the stove.

Second Generation Continues Marino Ristorante Legacy in LA

Marino

Marino pappardelle with meat sauce incorporating the flavors of beef, pork, and veal, simmered over three hours

www.marinorestaurant.net.  marino Ristorante, 6001 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038,(323) 466-881.

Last only because it is the most southern, Celestino’s paste is the star of the Drago family restaurants,  serving classic Sicilian and other Italian regional dishes with a sure hand.  We had been dreaming about the unique Pappardelle on Fabiano e Morelle  (Pappardelle with Pheasant and Morel Mushrooms) as soon as we read about it on the seasonal Holiday Mushroom & Truffle Menu menu at Celestino in Pasadena’s tony south Lake district.

Fabiano e Morelle

Pappardelle on Fabiano e Morelle (wide Fettuccine with Pheasant and Morel Mushrooms)

It did not disappoint in taste, texture, and complexity.   And it is only one of the three sections to try of Morel Mushrooms, Porcini Mushrooms and Fresh Truffles from Italy.

MushroomsThe sauce teased every bit of flavor from the bird and perfectly complemented the fantastical mushrooms capped with the distinctive honeycomb appearance of ridges and pits.  They are impossible to cultivate and prized so highly they influence enthusiasts into a madcap hunt for them during the season, no pun intended.  And these are the best, from Italy!

celestinoThe legendary oldest brother Celestino (pictured above at a charity event honoring him), inspired the Pasadena restaurant of the same name, one that translates into a  gold standard restaurant since Celestino first opened on Beverly Drive a quarter-century ago.  In fact, the inspired, cheery chef is now “Cavaliere Celestino” since the Italian government knighted him a couple of years ago

Celestino Restaurant, 141cLake Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 (626) 705-4006.  //(//(www.celestinopasadena.com)

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Celestino Pasadena Upholds Royal Family Pedigree

The Garum Factory explains how the three wide, flat pasta differs ever so slightly: “Tagliatelle and fettuccine pasta appear identical, but are not quite the same, although you can substitute one for the other. Tagliatelle, of the Emigia-Romagna (which includes Bologna) and Marche regions, is usually made fresh, then cooked.  Fettucine, a shade thicker than Tagliatelle, is found more often in Roman cooking.  It may be fresh and often dried. (//thegarumfactory.net/2013/11/29/you-say-tagliatelle-i-say-fettucine/)

For example, Pizzoccheri alla Valtellinese is a dish on the menu at the  Locanda del Lago in Santa Monica. The restaurant specializes in north Italian dishes from the Lake Como area – so northern that they sometimes overlap with bordering (South Tyrol) Austria.    “Wheat Pappardelle” is listed in the ingredients along with Roast Garlic, Savoy Cabbage, Yukon Potato, Creamy Bitto  Cheese and Sage Fondue.  Turns out that  Pizzoccheri is a type of short tagliatelle made with 80% buckwheat flour and 20% wheat flour.

Locanda del Lago, 231 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, California 90401, (310) 451-3525.  //www.lagosantamonica.com
Pizzoccheri

Pizzoccheri alla Valtellinese

And it turns out that dried and fresh pasta comes in 310 shapes and varieties (over 1300 names),  So I’m mystified why this one is such a favorite of mine. Texture? Is it because it reminds me of a childhood favorite, an Austr0-Hungarian wide noodle dish with sugar and crushed walnuts?  Thai rice noodles?

My own quest for the best pappardelle began only after I (paleo) had a choice of this pasta or a salad entree on a birthday party menu at Lucille’s Trattoria a few years ago.  I loved it. (turns out it is the most popular dish on their menu). Next, I ordered it for my own birthday feast at Locanda Veneta, where this and their charcuterie board remain a lifetime memory. At the moment Locanda has only a Fettucine and a Tagliatelle on the menu!

 

Celestino Pasadena Upholds Royal Family Pedigree

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img_3463(Gerry Furth-Sides) Pasta is the star of the Drago family restaurants.  And there are as many of them as brothers, even more these days, serving classic Sicilian and other Italian regional dishes with a sure hand.

celestino-dragoThe legendary oldest brother Celestino (pictured above at a charity event honoring him), inspired the Pasadena restaurant of the same name, one that translates into a  gold standard restaurant since Celestino first opened on Beverly Drive a quarter century ago.  In fact, the inspired, cheery chef is now “Cavaliere Celestino” since the Italian government knighted him a couple of years ago

We have been dreaming about the Pappardelle on Fabiano e Morelle (wide Fettuccine with Pheasant and Morel Mushrooms) on the seasonal Holiday Mushroom & Truffle Menu menu at Celestino in Pasadena’s tony south Lake district  for almost a year now.  It did not disappoint  in taste, texture and complexity.   And it is only one of the three sections to try of Morel Mushrooms, Porcini Mushrooms and Fresh Truffles from Italy.

unknownThe sauce teased every bit of flavor from the bird and perfectly complemented the fanastical mushrooms capped with the distinctive honeycomb appearance of ridges and pits.  They are impossible to cultivate and prized so highly they influence enthusiasts into a madcap hunt for them during the season, no pun intended.  And these are the best, from Italy!

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An open kitchen (rather than a showy bar) hints that cooking is key here.  At the same time it easily blends into the warm glow of the dining room, inviting and with enough pin lights for visibility.  It also seems to add a note of warmth and inclusivity of cook and customer, and the happy faces in the kitchen don’t belie this.

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It’s almost impossible to decide whether the service or the food deserves more accolades but we started with the food so let’s go with it.

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Be careful what you ask for here.   I merely mentioned the heels of the bread and got a basketful. Without asking for it.  It is impossible to eat just one:  Drago bakery that also wholesales to restaurants is the very best in town.   Their pretzel burger bun stands alone among all others and we miss LA Farm even more just for it.

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The beautiful intense deep red ROSSO di Montepulciano from the Poggio Golo winery in Tuscany was just the medium weight wine to pair with the rich pasta and the rabbit dishes, fruity and veinous.  Known to be food-friendly and practically priced, the glorious tall German wine glasses (that looked better than they photographed) added to its allure.  Interestingly the grapes for this ROSSO de Montepulciano from the municipality of the same name in the province of Siena differs from Montepulciano wine from grapes associated most often with Abruzzo and grown all over Central Italy.

img_3461The Zuppa del Giorno (soup of the Day) was pumpkin.  And pumpkin it was, with only a bit of butter added to the smooth, silky puree.  Mario told us that they rarely used broth so that the true flavor shines through of the vegetable.  A smiling swoop of olive oil and a drizzle of Creme Fraiche tops the dish.

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A whimsical presentation of Coniglio al Forno con Salsa di Olive Nere (Roast Rabbit with Black Olive Sauce) with baby potato, carrot, a teardrop tomato and spinach was light yet substantial.

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Mario brought out the famous Nonino family Moscato grappa, teasing to take the bottle when I loved the taste so much.  Originally done to simply use the grape leftovers from the winemaking process,  grappa is made by distilling the skins, seeds, pulp and stems, known as pomace.  It is usually sharp but here the sharpness is only the intriguing tart citrus spice because the addition of the moscato pomace lends an aromatic, soft, sensuality to the grappa.    The perfect ending to a perfect evening.img_3472

 

Profiteroles and Panna Cotta ended the meal.

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The very clever, and very delicious Panna Cotta (“cooked cream” in Italian) dessert which is made with sweetened ream thickened with gelatin and molded, here  had a citrusy fruit gel in the center of each circle instead of the usual berries or caramel or chocolate sauce.  It is fascinating that while panna cotta is thought of as a traditional Piedmontese dessert from the north of Italy, it was not mentioned Italian cookbooks before the 1960’s.

img_3449Calogero Drago (shown above right with head waiter Mario, and below) also keeps a sure hand on the front of the house.  The friendly Mario (left) only looks serious … although he is serious about his position at Celestino for 15 years… and actually began his career with Chef Celestino at the original Beverly Hills location.ndae8mryaoldhdxzcctwrdbpidjbb76ezhvkqvvlikyCalogero  hosts the sprawling set of white tablecloth dining rooms and spacious,  welcoming veranda on Lake Street as easily and personally as if it would be a tiny room, chatting up the customers and directing the staff in English and Italian.   (photo above and portrait below are courtesy  Celestino Restaurant)chef-calagero-drago-celestino-ristorante-npanzanella

Calogero Drago celebrates 15 years on Lake street and is the only Drago in Pasadena.  The crazy friendly and slightly frenetic  Il Pastaio perks up Beverly Hills and Drago Centro is a major downtown LA attraction.

Celestino Ristorante & Bar also has a very limited amount of the incredibly rare White Truffle.  Those “in the know” know to ask their server for the daily white-truffle specials.

Celestino Ristorante is open for lunch week-days  from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm.  Dinner is served 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm Monday through Thursday, 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Saturday and 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm on Sunday.

The Holiday Mushroom & Truffle Menu is available through the end of December 2016. For information or reservations, please visit www.CelestinoPasadena.com or call Celestino Ristorante directly at please call 626.795.4006.

Holiday Mushroom & Truffle Menu at Celestino Ristorante

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2014-03-06 16.10.222014-03-06 23.44.30The legendary Celestino and family (pictured here at a charity event honoring them), inspired the Pasadena restaurant of the same name. name that translates into a  gold standard restaurant on the westside, ever since he opened his first place, Drago.  

Seasonal menus demonstrate this perfectly.  The Holiday Mushroom & Truffle Menu is broken up into three categories: Morel Mushrooms, Porcini Mushrooms and Fresh Quercetti Truffles form Italy. Each dish highlights the differences in taste, texture and complexity of their respective “gifts from the earth.”

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Morel Mushrooms, most commonly found in their dried form, are only available fresh for just a very brief period each year. The rich, meaty flavor and texture of these fresh honeycombed mushrooms are portrayed with simplistic elegance in dishes such as Tagliolini with Fresh Morel Mushrooms & Pecorino Cheese.  Early spring flavors can be savored in the Veal Scaloppini with Fresh Fava Beans & Fresh Morel Mushrooms. Chef Drago’s famed Risotto with Baby Scallops & Fresh Morel Mushrooms, combining the best of land and sea.

Specialties include Porcini Mushroom Soup with Black Truffle; Risotto with Fresh Porcini Mushrooms;   Homemade Wide Pappardelle with Fresh Porcini Mushrooms and  Roasted Rack of Veal with Porcini Mushrooms.

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Fresh Quercetti truffles arrive from Italy for the season.   Known for its unique mushroom shape, these delectable truffles make an appearance in a myriad of dishes on the Holiday Mushroom & Truffle Menu including the Risotto with Shaved Fresh Quercetti Truffle, Gnocchi Stuffed with Mushroom in a Quercetti Truffle Cheese Sauce and the Tortellini with Meat in Zaferan Percorino & Black Pepper Sauce with  Quercetti Truffle. Other dishes in this section featuring these truffles also include Chef Drago’s Filet of Sole with Mixed Vegetables & Shaved Quercetti Truffles and the Veal Carpaccio with Shaved Quercetti Truffle & Pecorino Cheese.

gnocci stuffed with mushroom

For those who want to take luxury to an even higher level, Celestino Ristorante & Bar boasts the incredibly rare White Truffle on hand. Availability is very limited.  Those “in the know” know to ask their server for the daily white-truffle specials.

Celestino Ristorante is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm and for dinner from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm Monday through Thursday, 5:30 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Saturday and 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm on Sunday. The Holiday Mushroom & Truffle Menu is available through the end of December 2015. For information or reservations, please visit www.CelestinoPasadena.com or call Celestino Ristorante directly at please call 626.795.4006.

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