The Breakfast “Rooster” Crows at Australian Sangers & Joe in Pasadena

Sangers & Joe’s Guest Chef, Rouha Sadighi’s Sunday Morning Feasts prove once again that no matter how formal a Pasadena neighborhood, this one being a tucked-away Old Town section lined with magnificent buildings and trees, the feeling is always friendly and inviting.  “Sanger,” by the way, is the Australian term for sandwiches and, “Joe,” means coffee.

The restaurant redefines and evolves the original concept of Sanger & of Joe, it  continues to shine as a “new Old Town resident” with special guest chef events. The spiffy cafe offers a globally inspired menu of sandwiches and farm fresh salads and pastries on on their hearty menu of breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes.  In addition to their line up of gourmet coffees and teas, there are options of natural sodas plus select beer and wine options.

On Saturdays and Sundays, a special Brunch is is prepared under the capable, whimsical hand of Chef Rouha Sadighi of The Rooster.The names of the dishes, and even the chef in her TV appearances, may appear playful, but the food is hearty, layered with beautifully balanced, natural flavor.  It is everything you ever wanted in a breakfast all in one or two dishes.

We loved the “Are You Kidding Me” gigantic fluffy French Toast, dipped in pancake batter and fried, and served with fresh preserves. A choice of applewood bacon or sausage sits on the side of the mountain, and two over medium eggs. We asked for, and got, two poached eggs instead ($14 and easily serves two or more – “which is the idea,” said the chef with a smile.)  We also asked for maple syrup to go with our French toast, and we got it! It was real of course.

Even as a destination, the journey is fun, and easier to reach then cross-town LA in traffic.   Zip up the Arroyo Parkway on a Sunday morning, right to the end. Turn left on Holly and you come upon airy, spiffy Sanger & Joe’s.

It’s almost as if the block on Holly was designed for a film set. The Sunday morning Farmer’s Market outside of is only one of the ongoing events that makes turns the block into a party. Everyone just seems happy to be there. And, voila!  parking appears on almost all the streets within easy walking distance.

The airy space, with full glass front window overlooking the street scene, is welcoming from the minute you walk through the door. Next to it, metal-plated mirror fixated near the entrance reflects light throughout the interior, in which antique and contemporary elements are thoughtfully placed. Counter seating provides a view of the outdoors and there is a community table. White subway tile lines the walls, with pockets of organic blue-grey and orange color drawing the eye to different areas. Bell-shape sconces hold overheat lighting; they turn out to be stagelights retrieved from the Philadelphia Civic Center.

Customers order across a counter with a shiny white granite top. It cuts down on the serving time. Servers bring the food, and also help with any additional orders. To this end, silverware, glassware and even a beautiful water container are placed invitingly on a side table.

Consulting Chef and cookbook author, Claudio Dell’ Anno (brother of one of the partners) crated the Australian, European and American-inspired menu after selling his Michelin starred restaurant Ciccio in Belgium.

Week-day Breakfast features a healthy variety of dishes that are time consuming to make at home, whether because purchasing fresh ingredients to prep time. The list includes Granola & Yogurt with fresh fruit to Steak & Eggs plate served with rosemary garlic roasted potatoes. Smoked Salmon Bagel is served with cream cheese, red onions and cornichons. The Crushed Avocado with lime and toast and Joe’s Scramble mixed with fresh kale, onions, herbed tomatoes and burrata, have become favorites, along with the Breakfast Sanger topped with scrambled eggs, melted cheese and Applewood bacon. A Choose Your Own Adventure menu section offers small plates of mix and match sides.

Beverage options range from creamy coffee creations and Aussie-inspired Joes to hot Tea, fresh Juices, Bottled Drinks and an eclectic array of Beer and Wine options procured by Spin The Bottle Wine Studio in Toluca Lake

Remember to look at the extensive coffee menu (using LaMill Coffee from Silver Lake).   The perfect example of opulence and creativity is the Belgian Mocha is prepared with Arabica coffee and European style cocoa. The thoughtfulness is apparent in the Babycchino with steamed milk and a sprinkling of chocolate or cinnamon for young Joe customers. Tea selections are available in Earl Grey, Jasmine Pearls Green Tea, Moroccan Mint and Chai.

Freshly squeezed Juices are available, including Orange, Grapefruit and Mint-Lemonade. The ample glass-fronted fridges hole classic glass bottles of naturally flavored handcrafted sodas from Boylan’s Orange Soda and Diet Root Beer to Bubble Up, Fentiman’s Cola, Capone Ginger Beer, Virgil’s Cream Soda and Steward’s Grape Soda. Rounding them out are Blue Monkey Coconut Water, fruit flavored Kombucha and San Pellegrino flavored cans of Blood Orange, Limonata and Aranciata, along with

Sangers & Joe, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.sangersandjoe.com or call Sangers & Joe directly at (323) 553-0563.

No matter how formal a Pasadena neighborhood the feeling is always friendly. Sanger & Joe’s proves this once again as a “new Old Town resident” on a classic section of Old Town lined with magnificent buildings and trees. Sangers & Joe offers a globally inspired menu of gourmet coffees and teas, pastries, farm fresh sandwiches and salads, select wine and beer and special guest chef menus.

On Saturdays and Sundays, breakfast transforms into Brunch, under the able hand of Chef Rouha Sadighi, who adds her own touch

There is the “Are You Kidding Me” gigantic fluffy French Toast dipped in pancake batter and fried, and served with fresh preserves. A choice of applewood bacon or sausage sits on the side of the mountain, and two over medium eggs. We asked for, and got, two poached eggs instead ($14 and easily serves two or more – “which is the idea,” said the chef with a smile.)

macerated strawberries and syrup, crispy Fried Chicken & Waffles as well as a Waffle with berries and cream and two types of benedicts, including the Eggs Benedict with poached eggs, Parisian ham and spinach atop an English muffin drizzled with Hollandaise sauce and the Smoked Salmon Benedict.

Even as a destination, the journey is fun, and easier to reach then cross-town LA in traffic.   Zip up the Arroyo Parkway on a Sunday morning, right to the end. Turn left on Holly and you come upon airy, spiffy Sanger & Joe’s.   It’s almost as if the block on Holly was designed for a film set. The Sunday morning Farmer’s Market outside of is only one of the ongoing events that makes turns the block into a party. Everyone just seems happy to be there. And, there is parking on almost all the streets within easy walking distance.

“Sanger,” by the way, is the Australian term for sandwiches and, “Joe,” means coffee. Along with a number of breakfast, lunch and brunch dishes, the list of coffees, teas, natural sodas and beer and wine options is substantial.

The airy space Beginning with the design, antique elements stand out in a clean and inviting space draped in white subway tile with a smooth white granite countertop, and community tables with pops of bright orange and blue. Bell-shape sconces hold overheat lighting, stagelights retrieved from the Philadelphia Civic Center. A metal-plated mirror fixated near the entrance reflects light throughout the interior.

Consulting Chef and cookbook author, Claudio Dell’ Anno (brother of one of the partners) crated the Australian, European and American-inspired menu after selling his Michelin starred restaurant Ciccio in Belgium.

Week-day Breakfast features a healthy variety of dishes that are time consuming to make at home, whether because purchasing fresh ingredients to prep time. The list includes Granola & Yogurt with fresh fruit to Steak & Eggs plate served with rosemary garlic roasted potatoes. Smoked Salmon Bagel is served with cream cheese, red onions and cornichons. The Crushed Avocado with lime and toast and Joe’s Scramble mixed with fresh kale, onions, herbed tomatoes and burrata, have become favorites, along with the Breakfast Sanger topped with scrambled eggs, melted cheese and Applewood bacon. A Choose Your Own Adventure menu section offers small plates of mix and match sides.

Beverage options range from creamy coffee creations and Aussie-inspired Joes to hot Tea, fresh Juices, Bottled Drinks and an eclectic array of Beer and Wine options procured by Spin The Bottle Wine Studio in Toluca Lake

Remember to look at the extensive coffee menu (using LaMill Coffee from Silver Lake). The perfect example of opulence and creativity is the Belgian Mocha is prepared with Arabica coffee and European style cocoa. The thoughtfulness is apparent in the Babycchino with steamed milk and a sprinkling of chocolate or cinnamon for young Joe customers. Tea selections are available in Earl Grey, Jasmine Pearls Green Tea, Moroccan Mint and Chai.

Freshly squeezed Juices are available, including Orange, Grapefruit and Mint-Lemonade. The ample glass-fronted fridges hole classic glass bottles of naturally flavored handcrafted sodas from Boylan’s Orange Soda and Diet Root Beer to Bubble Up, Fentiman’s Cola, Capone Ginger Beer, Virgil’s Cream Soda and Steward’s Grape Soda. Rounding them out are Blue Monkey Coconut Water, fruit flavored Kombucha and San Pellegrino flavored cans of Blood Orange, Limonata and Aranciata, along with

Sangers & Joe, open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.sangersandjoe.com or call Sangers & Joe directly at (323) 553-0563.

For more information, please visit www.sangersandjoe.com or call Sangers & Joe directly at 323.553.0563.