Christmas Eve Dinner & A Drive at LA’s Top Three Ethnic Favorites

December 19, 2018

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(Gerry Furth-Sides, photos courtesy Casita Del Campo, Celestino, The Raymond 1886). Celebrate the best of California this year with a holiday dinner with a drive or great walk before or after. The food is the best you will find anywhere. The spectacular Silverlake Reservoir is within running distance of Casita Del Campo (I know. I used to do it everyday!) And Pasadena city lights and even the Rose Parade route are but a few minutes away from Celestino or The Raymond 1886 in Pasadena. For holiday hours, please see the restaurant websites. Links to our write-ups of these restaurants are below).

Silverlake: Casita Del Campo celebrates Navidad for the entire month of December with their signature, Chile en Nogada, a traditional Mexican Holiday dish. Fresh poblano green chilis stuffed with ground beef and dressed in Nogada (a walnut cream sauce) are garnished with pomegranate seeds, cranberries, and parsley. Holiday Pomegranate Margarita adds a modern spin on a classic Mexican cocktail. Desserts worth walking off include James’s Buñuelos or Casita Del Campo’s signature Flan.

Casita del Campo Pomegranate Margarita

Chile en Nogada,

Casita del Campo Interior,

Casita Del Campo, 1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027; 323.662.4255. For holiday hours and details please see: www.CasitadelCampo.com

Celestino Ristorante: Celestino Ristorante celebrates Christmas Eve with a Four-Course Prix-Fixe Menu ($78.00 per person) created by Owner and Chef Calogero Drago or enjoy any of these Holiday specials à la carte or dine from the regular menu. Traditional holiday dishes include Zuppa di Moscardini con Crostini all’Aglio e Olio Aromatico, baby octopus stew with toasted garlic bread. The Pasta e Risotto course highlights include Marscapone e Caviale, bow tie pasta with smoked salmon, asparagus, Mascarpone cheese and caviar. And traditional holiday favorites stand out with the Baccala all’Acqua Pazza with fresh cod with a lemon caper sauce, olives and potato, the Cioppino Alla Mediterranea, mixed seafood stew in a tomato wine sauce. A dessert worth walking off is the Tartufo di Cedri con Fragole Marinate with lemon truffle sorbet with fresh marinated strawberries.

Celestino Dining Room

Celestino Pasta Variety

Celestino Ristorante 141 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105; 626.795.4006; www.CelestinoPasadena.com

The Raymond 1886: Just being in the airy patio enclosed by tall trees across the way or inside cozy bar restaurant at The Raymond 1886 is holiday festive. This year the historic restaurant offers a Christmas Eve Five-Course Dinner ($120.00 per person). International starter dishes include French Onion Soup with sourdough croutons and Gruyère, and a Smoked Salmon Brioche with lemon-dill crème fraiche. Second course options include scallops, beefsteak or the Artichoke Ravioli with sautéed spinach, spiced butternut squash sauce and preserved lemon. Sweets include the Warm Rice Pudding with apricot biscotti and a jolly Peppermint Marshmallow as the petit four. The Raymond 1886 offers child-friendly dishes as well, such as the a burger or the Cacio e Pepe pasta make the entire family happy.