October 2020
Fine living in the greater Pasadena area
ROOTED IN
History
THIS CHARMING CRAFTSMAN HAS A BOUNTIFUL GARDEN
'WE'RE IN SURVIVAL MODE’
EXERCISE HAS NEW MEANING DURING COVID
+ VROMAN'S
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arroyo VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 10 | OCTOBER 2020
06 ‘WE’RE IN SURVIVAL MODE’ Exercising takes on new meaning during COVID-19 —By Jana Monji
10 READING A PANDEMIC Vroman’s is adapting to life during COVID-19 —By Mathew Foresta
12 A BOTANICAL SPA SANCTUARY Studio Jhoiey creates a peaceful space for the Pasadena Showcase House of Design —By Kamala Kirk
14 ROOTED IN HISTORY This South Pasadena craftsman is a turn-of-the-century charmer with a bountiful garden —By Kamala Kirk
16 A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Ronald McDonald Houses adapt to the new norm —By Nikhil Misra-Bhambri
22 GIVING MUSIC A SHOT Saro Paparian is ‘insulated’ from North Kingsley’s buzz —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
23 VIRTUALLY ALIVE Pasadena Meals on Wheels feeds those who can’t feed themselves —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
24 THE NEW NORMAL Wonderful Wednesdays with Onil Chibas at Deluxe 1717 —By Frier McCollister
25 SAPORI DI786 DEGREES Ali Haider Ali is all about community—and pizza —By Nikhil Misra-Bhambri
DEPARTMENTS
20 HOME AND DESIGN Fall Home Trends
27 CULINARY CUPBOARD Triple-Threat Cheesecake
arroyo
fine living in the greater pasadena area
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco -Karasinski ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres CONTRIBUTORS Frier McCollister, Nikhil MisraBhambri, Kamala Kirk, Jana Monji PHOTOGRAPHERS Luis Chavez ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Bruce Haring OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta ON THE COVER: Maryann Garger and Nick Fletcher's home, photographed by Luis Chavez
TIMES MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine V.P. OF OPERATIONS Michael Hiatt ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Zac Reynolds CONTACT US EDITORIAL christina@timespublications.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS 161 South Pasadena, Ste. B, South Pasadena, CA 91030 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2020 Times Media Group All rights reserved.
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Carmen Amaya, co-owner of Hardcore Fitness BootCamp
‘We’re in Survival Mode’ EXERCISING TAKES ON NEW MEANING DURING COVID-19
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STORY BY JANA MONJI | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
hese are confusing times, and fitness can provide a better outlet than bingewatching every TV series you missed and some that even predate you. If you just need to burn some sweat, Hardcore Fitness Bootcamp has full live home workouts, and the Pasadena location can provide outdoor sweat time. According to owner Carmen Anaya, Hardcore has a lot of equipment that is mobile. The business has also “been impacted because a lot of members are afraid to be out and be in groups.” Those who do come will find social distancing protocols and a 30-minute gap between classes. “It’s more of a mental wellness thing at this point so people are having the social interaction.” Under these circumstances, “We’re in survival mode; it’s not a time to grow our business.” Before COVID-19 hit, there had been talk about make more virtual workouts available, but under the current restrictions, Zoom classes became a matter of necessity. Arroyo reached out to the management of Equinox and Gold’s Gym but at press time had not received a response. If you need to find calm and inner focus, both Yoga House and Hot Yoga are up and running with virtual classes. You can rise from a casual walker to a potential teacher or find discipline comparable to being a competitive gymnast. It all depends upon the path that you choose. Hot Yoga is a Pasadena favorite, making Pasadena Weekly’s best of list 10 times. Formerly known as Bikram Yoga Pasadena, owner Val Sklar Robinson was recently featured in the 2019 Netflix documentary “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator.” Despite Bikram Choudhury’s questionable behavior, Bikram Yoga continues to have a following, and a loyal one, in Pasadena. Robinson says, “I love this yoga; it’s the most important thing I do. It helps me stay out of pain and have mental and physical strength.” She considers it “one
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of the most effective ways to move your whole body” and “get all the stress out of your body.” COVID-19 is the perfect time to talk about Hot Yoga, because what is central to its practice is making your health a priority. She’s steaming mad that although “we are not a healthy country” she doesn’t hear more talk “about how to get better health outcomes through nutrition and exercise right now.” Most of the talk is about vaccines and pharmaceuticals, which, while important, may be a long way off. Exercise and nutrition are things we all can do right now, she asserts. Hot Yoga devotee Judy Beserra was introduced by a co-worker 13 years ago, and although that person dropped after about a year, Beserra averaged five days a week every single week before COVID-19 restrictions came down. Once a competitive gymnast, Beserra says, “It makes you feel so good and helps you improve your mental focus.” That mental focus has benefits for friends and family, because Beserra feels it makes her less flakey because “my word is my word.” Working in commercial real estate with everyone backing out of a field she had under contract, Beserra finds she struggles without the in-person classes and the hot-room workouts. She even worries that with her family link to alcoholism she might slip down that slope if she doesn’t have this support. If you’re thinking yoga pants are just for women, the 55-year-old Javier Alvarez will prove you wrong. Of course, Choudhury was a man, but Alvarez, who has been going to Hot Yoga since 2013, only sees four or five men at the pre-COVID-19 on-site classes. He began yoga because he started to have health issues. He had run, played basketball and lifted weights before, but by 2013, he had gained weight and suffered from knee and back problems most of his life. Alvarez was searching for a low-impact workout. He also had migraine headaches two to three times a month and was experiencing anxiety attacks. continued on page 8
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Farzaneh Noori, owner of Yoga House Pasadena
“Within three months doing three times a week, I noticed my migraines lessened; my anxiety lessened.” He also lost weight. Over the years, “I’d drop off for a few months, and in two or three months, I’d start getting headaches and feeling panicky.” Before COVID-19 hit, Alvarez was being “real consistent,” and while he’s been doing the virtual, like Beserra, he says, “I need that hot temperature for a better workout.” Alvarez also feels, “I don’t think men understand it’s a good workout. It’s up there with doing basketball training. It’s brutal activity.” When Hot Yoga was temporarily reopened, Alvarez notes, Val was very conscientious about marking everything out so that people were 6 feet apart and entered and exited with strict protocol. “I truly believe this is medicine for me; it’s a shame they’re taking that away.” Farzaneh Noori, owner and co-founder of Yoga House, was introduced to yoga in 1987 when she was pregnant and had an advertising job. In 1997, she opened Yoga House in a small studio that quickly expanded six months later. “Our practice makes us pause and reflect on what this intuitive self is telling us,” Noori says. The COVID-19 situation is almost as if “the universe wants us to reflect on what can we do differently, what is our potential to be more than we were before.” Yoga House offers free meditation classes on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 8 a.m. “Often people think they have to have a quiet mind,” and that might seem overwhelming or daunting and not achievable. “It’s not that you have to clear the mind, but look at those thoughts and not be reacting.” To help visualize, Noori says, “It’s like clouds. Clouds come and go.” Breathing mindfully helps, and Noori is full of advice on how to stay healthy and calm. Because Yoga House is about the inner journey, it takes a no mirror approach. Calm is certainly something that Yoga House student Dianna Lee needs. She is a writer concerned with educational conference strategy, and she helps educational organizations talk about their success stories. Now she’s working from home, but all those after-school programs she had been working on no longer exist and might not for a while. The community of teachers and students are at the center of much chaotic change nationwide. When Lee started yoga in 2014, she recalls, “I was looking for stress release from graduate school.” Lee was at the USC Annenberg Communications program. Starting as a beginner, she found practicing yoga her “saving grace” and Yoga House helped her stay grounded and centered, keeping her mentally and physically healthy. She is really grateful for the Zoom classes that Noori had online the day after the shutdown started. “It helps us to remain connected to a really great community of teachers and fellow students.” Although prior to Yoga House, Lee just walked for exercise, she has taken teacher classes because “I fell in love with it unexpectedly.” She adds, “I heard about the mind-body connection but didn’t understand until I experienced it. Yoga is so much more than a physical practice.” Karen Tanji is under a different kind of COVID-19 chaos. She is co-owner to three Old Pasadena restaurants, and she characterizes the effects of COVID-19 as “brutal.” Tanji, like Alvarez, used to suffer from migraines, but because she now has such body awareness, she knows how to counteract them when she feels that she’s starting to tense up. For Tanji, meditation is “slowing down, listening to yourself.” She’s taking three to four classes a week to help her deal with everyday stress of the surrealness of everything in these COVID-19 times. With a family history of high blood pressure and cholesterol and heart issues, she feels yoga has helped her overall health. Because COVID-19 is, as Noori puts it, “a marathon and not a sprint,” take time to make your health a priority. Be mindful of what you eat, how your exercise, and exercise some kindness when you put that face mask on and go out into the Pasadena community.
HARDCORE FITNESS BOOT CAMP 2180 E. Walnut Street, Unit A, Pasadena 626-486-2562 hardcorefitnessbootcamp.com/pasadena-ca
HOT YOGA PASADENA 2089 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena 626-304-9642, hotyogapasadena.com
YOGA HOUSE Val Sklar, owner of Hot Yoga in Pasadena 8 | ARROYO | 10.20
11 W. State Street, Pasadena 626-403-3961, yogahouse.com
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Reading a Pandemic VROMAN’S IS ADAPTING TO LIFE DURING COVID-19
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BY MATHEW FORESTA
roman’s has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, economic downturns and over a dozen presidents. Now, the beloved Pasadena bookstore is weathering the storm of COVID-19.Just like many retailers it has been a hard few months, but it’s still up and running. This isn’t to say things still aren’t tough. Bookstores across the country have been trying to find ways to adapt. Online orders offered relief to some, but many here in California are still struggling. Julia Cowlishaw, Vroman’s CEO, says the company used the industry wholesaler Ingram to fulfill online orders during the first phase of the shutdown, until curbside service was allowed again. She explains that during this time sales were down 90%. “When the pandemic hit, we furloughed either fully or partially all employees except senior management and a few key positions. Furlough enabled employees with heath care coverage to retain coverage, and we are gradually calling employees back to work as business requires,” she says. The store tried multiple initiatives to try and mitigate the economic effects of the pandemic. Cowlishaw explains these include an online “Vroman’s Live” series of author events put in place in April, curbside pickup, adding more gifts to the website, and reducing expenses. Still, things are not totally back to normal. Despite the uptick in online orders, Cowlishaw admits the financial position is “precarious” even with sales returning to 50% of what they were this time last year. Even so, the store on Colorado Boulevard is coming back to life. Customers are allowed inside again, and the store is open seven days a week. Hand sanitizer stations are placed throughout the store, and shields protect counters and checkout stations. The mask requirement is strictly enforced, as is social distancing. “All of our employees are screened before they come into work by somebody asking routine question, ‘Have you been in contact with anybody? Are you showing symptoms?’ We check our temperature before we come into work every day. Everybody sanitizes when they first get in,” says Jalen Bell-Syftestad, the card and gift supervisor at the Colorado Boulevard location. “You want to keep hold of your own pen. One person at a computer at a time, maintaining social distancing. That’s kind of all on our part making sure employees, making sure that we’re wiping things down after we use them, making sure we aren’t clustering together.” 10 | ARROYO | 10.20
Cowlishaw says none of her employees have contracted coronavirus. In light of all the precautions, Bell-Syftestad says she feels safe at work. That sentiment is echoed by Nicolle Shaw, assistant manager for customer service. At a time when millions of Americans are financially struggling after losing their jobs to the shutdown, Shaw is glad that Vroman’s has remained open. “I actually was one of the first ones back in the building, so it was great to be able to continue working. It was kind of a little light of being able to keep doing what I was doing and not having to worry about my job or whether or not the business was going to be OK,” she says. Pasadena resident Ignacio Luevano says he, too, appreciates the store staying open. He came by to purchase “The Four Agreements.” Like many, he has found more time to read during the shutdown. “A lot more, and I sell real estate, so I have plenty of time because of the pandemic,” he says. As customers have returned, some trends in their purchases have become noticeable. Bell-Syftestad says books on gardening and self-help have been popular in addition to greeting cards. Not surprisingly, Shaw says there was an initial surge in titles related to pandemics. Now, anti-racist books are big sellers. She explains it’s important for booksellers to stay open in times of crisis. “We found very quickly that the first resource people reached for in trying to cope or learn or deal with this has been to find books,” she says. Despite its important place in the community, Vroman’s is not out of the woods. Cowlishaw made it clear that the next few months are critical in determining how the store emerges from the pandemic. “That really depends on how long the recession lasts, what the government does, and when and how people return to shopping,” she says. “This is by far the biggest disruption Vroman’s has experienced in 126 years. We’re committed to getting through it; however, the recovery will be a long one and we need the support of our community. We encourage everyone to shop local and shop early for the holidays.”
VROMAN’S BOOKSTORE 695 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena 626-449-5320, vromansbookstore.com
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A Botanical Spa Sanctuary STUDIO JHOIEY CREATES A PEACEFUL SPACE FOR THE PASADENA SHOWCASE HOUSE OF DESIGN BY KAMALA KIRK
The primary bedroom suite is a contrast of feminine and masculine that was achieved by combining designer Jhoiey Ramirez’s own fabric with a gold-threaded wood grain pattern bedding from The Linen House to set the relaxed elegance of the room.
The centerpiece of the bathroom suite is a copper tub from Americh set against green and white wall tile from Walker Zanger’s Botanicals collection. 12 | ARROYO | 10.20
Photos courtesy Pasadena Showcase House of Design
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he annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design is one of the oldest and most successful fundraising house and garden tours across the country. In 1965, the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee—now known as Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts—held the first Showcase House, and it was a huge success. Since then, the event has grown throughout the years to include local vendors, artists and more in order to raise funds for music programs, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Pasadena series of concerts, and to award gifts and grants to other nonprofit organizations. Every year, a different home is selected to be the Showcase House, and different interior and landscape designers participate by transforming and decorating various parts of the house. After the complete transformation, more than 30,000 people walk through to experience the home in person, and also have the opportunity to buy the furnishings and décor. Due to COVID-19, this year’s event has gone virtual, but the experience promises to be just as grand as previous years. The 2020 Pasadena Showcase House of Design will be unveiled to the public virtually on Friday, October 2. The interactive virtual tour, Ultimate Viewpoints:56, will feature stunning photography, 360-degree views and informative videos. The 2020 Pasadena Showcase House of Design is Locke House, a 1937 federal-country estate in Arcadia that was designed by renowned architect Gerard R. Colcord. Designer Jhoiey Ramirez, who owns the Los Angeles-based, full-service design firm Studio Jhoiey, was the mastermind behind the home’s primary bedroom and bathroom suite, which she transformed into a beautiful botanical theme. “The inspirations were both the architecture and the history of the house and its architect,” Ramirez says. “Being built in the late 1930s by an architect known as a ‘Hollywood Society Architect’ and during the time when the beautification of Arcadia through planting its parkways and bowling greens was in full bloom, we envisioned a client for the space who wants to turn the volume up on glamour and yet still have the space feel relaxed, feminine yet wouldn’t alienate the masculine, and be very dramatic and tactile. We made use of the different tones of green and lots of botanical patterns to achieve this concept. Using lighting to create drama was also a theme followed through the entire suite.” The bathroom suite features wall tiles from Walker Zanger’s Botanicals collection, which included a pattern called “Tahiti” that perfectly matched all the green tones that Ramirez had initially picked from the Dunn Edwards color palette (refined green, midnight garden, fresh sod and white picket fence). She also fearlessly mixed metals with the Sawyer Tub from Americh in Smooth Copper, which was paired with polished gold faucets and fixtures from Franz Viegener to elevate the room so that it would feel like a luxurious spa retreat. “We paired brass with polished gold to add a jewel-like feel to the suite, with plumbing fixtures with modern details that perfectly marry the traditional elements of the room with the Edge Cross collection by Franz Viegener,” Ramirez says. “Now we cannot call it a relaxation suite without using every bit of spa elements for it, from the soaking tub to the dry sauna and a complete Smart Shower with steam experience from ThermaSol for immersive relaxation to the max. The experience is enhanced by being enveloped in aromatherapy, steam, chromatherapy and sound therapy all integrated into the shower with a rain showerhead. Being in this bathroom suite, the limit is your imagination.” Just a few steps away in the primary bedroom suite, Ramirez selected a porcelain slab tile from Walker Zanger that had the same look as the marble mantel that already existed in the room. She used the slab tile as a panel behind the bedside table sconce and in the steam shower enclosure.
While it was a challenge to find floral print bedding that would complement the wood grain pattern in the bedroom and appeal to both feminine and masculine tastes, Ramirez found it in the Designers Guild Indian Sunflower Graphite Bedding from The Linen House, which had a gold threaded wood grain pattern that she combined with her own fabric to complete the bedding and really set the relaxed elegance of the room. She also threw in a Kevin O’Brien burnout silk velvet pillow in Woodgrain Velvet from the same place. “Continuing this push and pull of feminine and masculine, glamour and relaxation, we used lighting to achieve that balance as well,” Ramirez says. “Using crystal ceiling fixtures and wall scones from Allegri Crystal by Kalco Lighting and mixing it with the fashion-forward ruggedness of Hooked wall sconces and Stoned desk lamp from Buster + Punch with a brass finish to tie them all together, we really embraced the eclecticism of the traditional and the modern.” To control the abundance of natural light with both room darkening and light filtering effects, Ramirez used Smith & Noble’s Day/Night shade with a drapery Island Leaf/Green to add softness to the space and bring more botanical patterns. To further soften the details of the ceiling that really replicated all the federal details of the home, she asked Arpy L’Artist to hand paint a mural using the colors from the Dunn Edwards palette. “I enjoyed the freedom of imagining my client’s profile and how they will use the room and all the ways they can enjoy it, and this was even before we were all stuck at home due to the pandemic,” Ramirez says. “It was so timely, which gave it even more meaning to us. Pushing the boundaries of design and what can be done in space and how it can be achieved—that challenge really enhances the enjoyment of creating this space. We are completely in love with the final result. It was better than we imagined it. We are also glad that we can push our boundaries and be able to fit in the traditional aspects of the house.” The 2020 Pasadena Showcase House of Design Unveiled virtually Friday, October 2 Minimum donation of $25 requested 714-442-3872, support@admitoneproducts.com, pasadenashowcase.org
The space integrates tech and wellness with ThermaSol’s Smart Shower, which is controlled by the ThermaTouch Smart Touchscreen that offers precise control over everything from water and steam temperature and duration to lighting, sound and chromatherapy.
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Rooted in History THIS SOUTH PASADENA CRAFTSMAN IS A TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY CHARMER WITH A BOUNTIFUL GARDEN
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STORY BY KAMALA KIRK | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
hen Maryann Garger and Nick Fletcher visited a South Pasadena craftsman home for sale in 2016, they immediately experienced feelings of déjà vu. As it turned out, the house belonged to friends of theirs, and Maryann and their son Dylan had been to a birthday party at the home several years before. “At the birthday party, I remembered wandering into the backyard and being amazed by how big it was,” Garger says. “It just struck me how beautiful the trees and plants were, and there was a 100-year-old avocado tree that stretched over the yard. I’m an avid gardener, so that’s what drew me in.” During the house tour, night began to fall, and the lights went on, creating a magical effect. While standing in the midst of the vast yard surrounded by old trees, the couple fell in love with the home, and three months later, they moved in. “Prior to buying our current house, we had lived in South Pasadena for almost 13 years,” Garger says. “We moved here for the schools and we wanted to raise our children in a community where we could be involved as parents. It’s a great place to raise a family because everyone knows each other, and it made me happy that my kids could have a childhood similar to mine, riding bikes outside and playing with other children.” Built in 1913 by Josiah Thompson, the turn-of-the-century home was restored and upgraded by its previous owners, who were careful to preserve the home’s tradition and charm. “When we moved in and were getting our alarm system installed, one of the workmen happened to be a wood expert and pointed out that our home had oldgrowth wood everywhere,” Garger says. “It’s an extremely rare form of wood that is made from trees that are over a thousand years old.” After walking down a long path, guests are greeted by an old-fashioned front porch with a rocking chair and original front door featuring beveled glass inserts. The 3,562-square-foot home has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, exposed hardwood floors and deep crown wood molding throughout. The spacious living room, which 14 | ARROYO | 10.20
has hosted multiple family holiday gatherings over the years, is defined by a matteglazed Grueby tile fireplace with an arts-and-crafts mantel and craftsman-style wood mullioned windows. “The living room is my husband’s favorite room in the house, which is where he’s set up his home office during the pandemic,” Garger says. “It has lots of windows for him to look out of and watch people walk by.” The formal dining room includes hardwood floors with a decorative stain rug pattern and a finely crafted built-in china cabinet with leaded glass accents. Every year during the holidays, Garger sets up a miniature Christmas Village in the china cabinet, which adds a festive touch to the room. One of the main highlights is the kitchen, which has expansive tile counter tops, abundant oak cabinetry and a walk-in pantry. The kitchen was updated by the previous owners, one of whom worked as a production designer, and features unique custom details such as a removable island. “Our kitchen had been designed specifically for the purpose of shooting television commercials by the previous owners,” Garger says. “A few summers ago, I was visiting relatives back in Maine, and while I was getting my nails done at a salon, a Metamucil commercial came on and I immediately recognized my kitchen. Before we moved into the house, they had shot all these different commercials there, so we always keep our eyes open for our house when we’re watching television.” French doors open from the breakfast area and family room out onto a pergolacovered patio and lush park-like grounds that include a swimming pool, a guesthouse that Garger’s mother lives in, chicken coop for their eight chickens, and a tiny 8-by10-foot cabin at the end of the property that Garger has transformed into her “she shed” with an upholstered chair, desk and a baker’s rack for all her seedlings. “I live back there. It’s my little oasis during the pandemic where I work on different garden projects,” Garger says. “It’s great to have this space where I can look out and see all of my vegetables and fruits in the garden.”
One of the first things that Garger did after moving into their home was plant different types of fruit trees, including pomegranate, lime, lemon, blood orange and olives, and grape vines. She also has a vegetable garden where she grows zucchini, echinacea, heirloom tomatoes, eggplant and jalapeno peppers, in addition to a rare bean plant that was previously extinct. “I love really rare seeds that have a story to them, and I got this particular seed from an heirloom seed company,” Garger says. “It came from a bean plant that was 1,500 years old and the seeds had been found in a cave in New Mexico. Of the 24 seeds I had, I was able to germinate three and grow them in my backyard. It’s like a time travel plant.” The backyard also has a wide variety of flowers and other botanical delights, including camellias, azaleas, hibiscus flowers and gardenias, in addition to rose bushes that Garger planted for her husband, who is from the United Kingdom. When the couple’s 17-year-old daughter Nikki’s summer plans for volunteering at The Huntington Hospital had fallen through due to COVID-19, Garger helped her build a farm stand as a pandemic project and every weekend they sold fresh fruits, vegetables and eggs from their garden. Pretty soon word got out and other neighbors joined in, bringing their fresh produce to sell at the farm stand as well. “Back in Maine, where I grew up, it was very common to put up a farm stand during the summer,” Garger explains. “It became this really productive thing for my daughter to do, and now the focus of her college essay is on how she turned lemons into lemonade. The whole community rallied around us and we ended up making over a thousand dollars, which we’re planning to donate to the local schools.” Another interesting fact about the home is one of its former owners was television personality Dr. Francis C. Baxter, who lived there during the 1960s and won multiple Emmy Awards for his program “Shakespeare on TV.” “It’s interesting to imagine him occupying this exact same space, just at a different time,” Garger says. “One of the things that’s so special about owning an old house are the memories that it holds. We love the fact that we’re able to eat things and decorate the table with flowers that we grew in our very own garden. It’s very satisfying to be self-sustainable like that.” Maryann Garger
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Ronald McDonald Houses welcome families of ill children. Recent residents include, top row from left, Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Irma Preciado, Sara Burgoin, Caterin Camacho, Cindy Lopez, Ileana Monroy and Alicia Monroy. Bottom row, from left, are Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Santiago Preciado, Gloria Armenta and Ana Paula Pinto.
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES ADAPT TO THE NEW NORM BY NIKHIL MISRA-BHAMBRI
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Photos courtesy Ronald McDonald Houses
A Home Away from Home
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onald McDonald House occupies two craftsmen-style houses on Pasadena Avenue across from the Huntington Hospital. If not for the colorful “Ronald McDonald House” signs in front, they would blend in completely with the neighborhood. Passersby would have no clue about the humanitarian mission and compassionate services these houses’ staff provide. For 16 years, the house has provided a “home away from home” for families whose children are undergoing critical medical treatment at places like Huntington Hospital and Shriners for Children Medical Center. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it strives to provide a safe but welcoming and comfortable place for distraught families so that they can devote all their energies on their children’s health. Since Pasadena’s Ronald McDonald House opened in 2004 as one of eight programs in Southern California’s Ronald McDonald House Charity, it has welcomed 24,000 families from around the United States, Central America, the Middle East and South America. Every night, 17 families are served and provided with beds, fresh-cooked meals and other amenities. Aided greatly by volunteers in the pre-COVID-19 period, groups bring food and cook together for the parents and children staying in the house.
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Diana Hernandez and Delia Durazo celebrate the chance to be discharged from the hospital.
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According to Mara Leong-Maguinez, executive director, the center “looks and feels like a real home. Everyone can build relationships with one another because they all stay together in the same space.” The house contains a shared living room where residents take part in activities, like movie night, bingo, holiday celebrations, and arts and crafts activities. Ana Flores, who arrived from Mexico with her daughter in March, says, “We feel safe here and are thankful the house provides us with everything we need.” With the onset of the pandemic, however, the house has been forced to adapt its practices. While the house continues to serve current residents, it temporarily restricted new families from joining. Its main priority is to protect the health and safety of families already staying in the house. To protect the families, the house has made several changes and has trained staff members in safety rules. It is unable to allow visitors and
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volunteers to enter the houses. However, while there are no on-site volunteers, local restaurants continue to provide pre-packed meals. Similarly, volunteers continue to engage children in virtual arts and crafts sessions. They have taken advantage of virtual software to recreate some of the pre-COVID-19 experiences. Families use Zoom for their therapeutic sessions, and children participate in activities through digital platforms. “We look forward to the future when visitors and volunteers can join us in person, but we depend on the advice of local officials and community health guidelines to determine when that will be safe,” says LeongMaguinez. The houses’ interactive activities were always a key source of homelike comfort for the visiting residents. “We have been working really hard to make sure the family experience is not severely altered by not being able to have in-person gatherings,” Leong-Maguinez says. Changes in hospital procedures due to COVID-19 have impacted families staying at the house. For the past few months, hospitals have only provided emergent medical treatments. As a result, there was a reduction in the number of children who received hospital treatment. “It is very stressful for parents when they are seeking care for their child and there is now a whole new level of stress on their plate,” LeongMaguinez says. “We are trying to ease the burden of things they have to worry about by being here as a supportive service.” All Ronald McDonald Houses have a plan for returning to full operations as soon as it is feasible. As part of the plan, Pasadena’s Ronald McDonald House will follow the guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Department of Health, World Health Organization, and its local partner medical centers. All families undergo COVID-19 and wellness testing before they can stay at the house. As part of social distance measures, there is restricted access to communal spaces, and families have to follow a schedule for use of kitchens and laundry facilities. The Ronald McDonald House has adapted to the “new normal” and continues to extend a helping hand to suffering members of the community. Due to the added stress of delayed medical procedures, the house has become an even greater community asset. For many families it is the only source of hope as they strive to help their children. “We rely on community support to keep our doors open,” LeongMaguinez says. “We will continue to adapt our organization to meet the needs of our community, while ensuring everybody stays safe and healthy. No one knows what will happen in the future, but the need to keep families close to one another, and their medical care, is more important now than ever. With the support of the Pasadena community, we will continue to be here for families when they need us the most.”
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HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
FALL HOME TRENDS The pandemic changed society; now it’s changing homes By Bruce Haring
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ou’ve been spending a lot of time in your house. Maybe you’re even among the fortunate ones who get to work from home and have discovered that you actually are more productive and haven’t missed the commute time on our overcrowded Southern California freeways. But along with those good points, you may have noticed most homes are not set up to enhance the combination of home office with your family and leisure lifestyle. Sure, the dining room table was fine at first. But eventually, you want to have a space where you can shut off the world and focus on the tasks at hand without taking over a space that has other uses. There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic will be a society shaper in years to come, and that extends to real estate and home design. Things like dedicated video conferencing rooms, huge areas for storage and bigger kitchens, and voice activated technology to limit touching surfaces will soon become more common. There are also more radical changes envisioned on the horizon. THE FUTURE IS NOW
It’s possible in some environments that garages start to fade as car ownership becomes a hobby with the rise of on-demand transportation with driverless cars. As home schooling becomes more than an emergency measure, it’s also possible that rooms dedicated to online learning become standard features. Some may want a large, open space where they can store gym equipment, now that exercising with many others carries greater risks. Amenities like swimming pools, small basketball courts, and proximity to places like trails become shining gems of home ownership Separation of many of these spaces is essential. No one wants to be on a business call and have a television blaring in the background. As a result, the trend toward open concepts in home design may start to return to walled-off areas, the better to isolate and focus pods for specific tasks in an era where larger gatherings are suddenly problematic. The rise of so-called “smart homes” is also becoming more popular. Using sensors and wireless contact, these features allow hands-free contact and voice or image-driven access to certain features in the home. This eliminates a lot of contact with surfaces that normally require turning, twisting or a key. You’re already seeing faucets that turn on with hand motions. Now get ready for automatic toilet flushing, voice-activated entry to your home, and the ability to perform tasks like turning on lights or opening curtains with simple commands. In the latest U.S. Census Bureau report, home centers, hardware stores, garden centers and building materials suppliers realized a year-over-year sales increase of 22.6%, leading all retail categories. That means that people have suddenly found the time to take care of those long-standing projects in the home, now that they no longer face commute time (or maybe even shower time, on some days). 20 | ARROYO | 10.20
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FALL TRENDS
Here are trends emerging in Southern California as we head into the fall and winter months. Many of these may become particularly important if a second wave of coronavirus further locks down society, requiring home life to take on multiple facets for living. Office staging: We’ve already seen some embarrassing moments happen during at-home Zoom calls, with children entering a room unexpectedly, dogs barking, cats climbing, and people doing what they shouldn’t in the background. But smart people are starting to stage their work areas to project authority and confidence. Bookcases are making a comeback, as the shelves convey a sense of seriousness. Some are color coordinating their walls to provide a better background for viewers. Strong locks on the office/Zoom space are also becoming a must, and more powerful Wi-Fi options, including extenders that will boost the signal to all areas of the home, are becoming increasingly common. Pantry and storage: Most homes have some sort of pantry, but in a just-in-time world, few paid attention to its capacity. That’s changing, as circumstances in the real world have made homeowners realize that storage space for food and other supplies is an attractive amenity. Many are expanding their kitchen islands and installing more drawers for cookware, canned goods and spices, not to mention providing more space for cooking, now that dining out is less of an option in many locations. Outdoor living spaces: Although Southern California has long trended toward extending the outdoor living space and incorporating it into the overall home design, that space is even more crucial in the coming years, particularly if the open concept design fades. Because travel is curtailed for the moment and vacations are more of
a staycation, the living space in your backyard is your getaway, and many homeowners are focusing more intently on sprucing up that space. Outdoor furniture sales are spiking, particularly in our warm weather climate. And since food supply chain issues have emerged, many are instituting larger backyard gardens that have a practical purpose in the pandemic age. Along with these trends, greater attention to landscaping and attractive outdoor lighting is becoming more important to homeowners and prospective homebuyers. Dedicated workout space: Although TV commercials seem to suggest that the only place to work out is in a location with floorto-ceiling windows and 20-foot ceilings, there are other options. Basement workout rooms are a growing trend, as going to the gym gives way to going to the basement for your daily sweat. Multiple living areas: Despite what you see on HGTV, not everyone wants an open concept, and in the post-pandemic world, having dedicated spaces in the home is becoming more attractive. That doesn’t necessarily mean closing off spaces from the rest of the house. It can simply be creating distinct living areas for family activities; quiet spaces for home offices; and even quieter spaces where you can go to read, relax and decompress from the rest of the household. In some cases, homeowners are creating “concept” rooms that are distinctly different from the rest of the décor, creating a sense of truly getting away from it all by staging areas more extensively with plants and mood lighting. These are just some of the trends that are emerging as we navigate an uncertain future. Although some of the concepts may seem radical, it’s likely that many of them will become requirements as society shifts many of its bedrock assumptions. Being aware of that attitude adjustment and its ramifications for living will give you an edge when it comes time to sell your home.
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Even though he’s guiding the ship, when we’re working on the music, he isn’t calling the shots. “He approaches us as bandmates. As a result of that, the music is a nice representation of the three of us. It’s a nice witches brew of all of our backgrounds and creative inclinations. Shavo’s a big hip-hop head, and there’s a lot of that going on.”
Giving Music a Shot SARO PAPARIAN IS ‘INSULATED’ FROM NORTH KINGSLEY’S BUZZ BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
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aro Paparian was living in Armenia and teaching electronic music, when he saw System of a Down in concert celebrating the nation’s centennial. “I was on Shavo’s side of the stage,” he says about bassist Shavo Odadjian. “I remember getting this feeling like, ‘I really love music and I think it might be worth giving it another shot, outside of teaching it. I want to be a part of the process of music, popular music.’” The Pasadena native didn’t anticipate ever being “the guy on the stage.” He worked as a music producer and preferred to stay behind the scenes. He returned to Los Angeles and spent time writing songs between his home state and Armenia. He pushed Armenian bands through an LA management company. In 2017, he decided to go for broke, called longtime friend Ray Hawthorne and the two decided to give their music a shot. After an unexpected meeting with Odadjian, the three formed North Kingsley, a new musical collaboration that also features lyricist/vocalist Hawthorne and producer Paparian, who joked he plays the laptop. Odadjian plays bass as well as guitar for North Kingsley. The collective released its debut single, the hard-hitting, hip-hop-inspired “Like That?” followed by its parent three-track EP, “Vol. 1,” on August 14 on Odadjian’s 22 Red label. “I’m an Armenian American kid from LA,” Paparian says. “I love this. “It’s nice to finally see it out. People are responding well to it. Ray and I are new to the game. I have a lot of confidence in how he’s guiding us forward. We’re a bit insulated to it (the response), Ray and me. We’re just in the studio working, keeping our heads down.” Paparian says the project is very much a partnership; however, he and Hawthorne are following Odadjian’s guidance. Fans can expect to hear music that is a departure from System of a Down. “It’s something Shavo’s adamant about,” he says. “We’re making music that we want to hear. That’s the fun part about it. This isn’t Shavo’s first rodeo.
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Hometown proud Born and raised in Pasadena, Paparian is thankful for his childhood environment. His father, Bill Paparian, was Pasadena’s mayor from 1995 to 1997. “I was exposed to a lot of events,” he says. “Politics was a standard discussion in the house. My mom, being the kind of Armenian warrior that she is, had a weird mix, as I look back now. We had Armenian and American dynamics in the household.” Paparian attended High Point Academy and La Salle College Preparatory. After graduation, he studied at Pasadena City College for a few years and then Cal State Northridge. He worked at the Apple Store while studying at Cal State Northridge, and it was there that he met Hawthorne. “We were talking in the store one time when it was slow,” he says. “We found out we were each into hip-hop. I would go every Wednesday to this old beat-up club/bar called The Airliner, which is closed. Ray would go to that as well. “We were doing our own things. I was a guitarist. We just started working together. Ray was doing the production work when we were messing around. I learned a lot about studio production from him.” Three days after graduating university, he told Hawthorne he would see him in six months because he was headed to Armenia. “I didn’t come back for six years,” he says. “I studied sociology with the plan of going to law school to follow in my dad’s footsteps. That six months turned into six years. I kept music as a hobby. I was going to do music on the side as a hobby.” Paparian is a fourth-generation Armenian American. His great-grandfather, Nishan Paparian, came through Ellis Island from Palu, Western Armenia, moved to the United States in 1907 and married an Irish woman. His mother, Sona, and her family left for Syria to escape genocide. “My dad doesn’t speak a lick of Armenian, but my mom does,” he says. “I went to non-Armenian schools.” Paparian headed to Armenia to get to the family’s roots. His three cousins moved to Armenia from Pasadena when they were young and Paparian was in middle school. “I look at my cousins and I see them as Armenian,” he says. “I was trying to get to my roots and relearn the language. I know both dialects now. “The city (Yerevan) was beautiful. You know, you grow up in Pasadena, you go overseas and you’re just struck by the romance of the whole thing.” He was offered a job the first summer at the “massive” nonprofit school Tumo Center for Creative Technologies in Yerevan. An administrator told Paparian the music school’s staff and the students wanted to learn more about electronic computer-based music. “I learned so much of that working with Ray,” he says. “They hired me to build up their music department. I got to work with kids and talk to them about music and music production. The job was really fulfilling. My oldest brother still works with Tumo.” When he arrived home, he called Hawthorne to work on music together. They rented a studio from Odadjian’s friend. “(Odadjian) walked in the studio one day and he started talking to me because he saw me working with Logic,” he says about the digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac. “He says, ‘I really want to learn this. Would you mind teaching me?’ I love his personality. He has great energy. We struck a really nice rapport. We met up in the studio the first day so I could teach him, and he says, ‘Let’s start making a track.’” That was two years ago, and now North Kingsley—named after the gritty Los Angeles street on which Odadjian grew up—has come to fruition. The band still spends most of its days in the studio creating new songs. “All three of us really care about this,” he says. “Shavo is very detail oriented. He’s an older brother figure for me. Every once in a while, when we’re recording a song, I’ll watch him play guitar and I have this moment of bliss, ‘That’s Shavo from System of a Down.’” North Kingsley northkingsley.com
Virtually Alive
FOREST LAWN’S DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVITIES HIT FACEBOOK
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BY PEYTON CLARK
he Forrest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale is keeping safety in mind while honoring those who have lost their lives. This year’s Día de los Muertos celebration is going virtual from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, November 1. Forest Lawn will transform viewers’ homes into majestic spaces for remembrance with marigolds, live and larger-than-life sculpture Catrinas, folkloric dance performances, mariachi music and a Bob Baker Marionette Theater performance. Father Mario Juarez from Christ Cathedral will lead a bilingual religious ceremony, accompanied by Mariachi Juvenil Herencia Mexicana. “We cannot stop it. We had to continue the tradition and celebration. We had to find a way to make it work,” says Guatemala-born Mateo Gomez, Forest Lawn’s director of communications. Instead of mourning the deceased, this holiday celebrates and honors them with food, music and brightly colored festivities. “This has been a hard year in many ways, but mostly many people have lost their loved ones due to COVID and many people are grieving,” Gomez says. Considering that, Forest Lawn had to find a way to continue the anticipated event. The staff decided to take it to Facebook, while being respectful, healthy and safe. Gomez and the Forest Lawn team are confident viewers will enjoy the experience. The mariachi band will perform in one corner of the building, the dancers in another and the priests in the center of the room. Everyone will wear masks and continue to follow social distancing mandates. “We are expecting anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 live viewers on the day of the event,” Gomez says. Those who cannot watch live will have the opportunity to view at a later time via a Facebook link. “We strongly believe that no one is ever forgotten and that we honor and celebrate the life of every single person and loved one,” Gomez says. The Day of the Dead event is widely known and a huge melting pot of culture, authenticity, love and honor. Forest Lawn’s online Día de los Muertos celebration marks the second appearance of 6-foot-tall Catrina sculptures, along with artisanal creations crafted purely by Forest Lawn’s floral designers and authentically inspired by Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. The playful characters, like the skeletal woman, remind the survivors to be true to themselves and enjoy their lives. Forest Lawn gives each of the Catrina sculptures their own personality, with distinct costumes and accessories, complete and inspired by the early 20th century, which was the time period where Catrinas were first popularized by Jose Guadalupe Posada and Diego Rivera. “Back in 2010, Forest Lawn created this beautiful environment in the cemetery for the large Hispanic community to celebrate the lives of their lost loved ones,” Gomez says. Three years ago, they opened their Glendale site, and last year, 10,000 people enjoyed the event in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. The original site, Glendale has been a Southern California landmark since 1906. “The key of the celebration is that our loved ones have only left us physically, but they live in our hearts forever,” Gomez says. Forest Lawn’s Día de los Muertos Celebration Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, November 1 facebook.com/forestlawn 10.20 | ARROYO | 23
Casey Cullinane, Masako Yatabe, Alberto Morales, chef Onil Chibas and Mimi Montero
THE NEW NORMAL
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS WITH ONIL CHIBAS AT DELUXE 1717
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Grilled local halibut farmers market salad
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STORY BY FRIER MCCOLLISTER | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
t’s an otherwise sleepy morning at 1717 Washington Street in Pasadena. Except it’s Wednesday. At Deluxe 1717—secret headquarters of chef Onil Chibas—Wednesday is when it all happens, and things start early here. By 9 a.m., a bustling team has converged. The cheerful Mimi Montero ushers us into the small “dining room” dominated by a long single dining table, which, in turn, is commandeered by Casey Cullinane and a pile of spreadsheets, busily organizing “delivery logistics.” As we make our way to the kitchen in back, we encounter local master baker Masako Yatabe, prepping scones at one counter, and executive chef Alberto Morales stewing over the stoves. There’s a pleasant sense of effortlessly cooperative collaboration. Hovering brightly over all this activity is the ever-ebullient maestro Chibas. The atmosphere is wonderful. Appropriately enough, “Wonderful Wednesdays” is Chibas’ answer to the exigencies and challenges of the pandemic lockdown. Chefs of Chibas’ caliber have devised various solutions to the takeout and delivery conundrum. From elaborate bento boxes to packaged family-style meal sets, fine dining chefs pivoted to offer a wide gamut of choices during the pandemic. Chibas’ “Wonderful Wednesdays” is one of the best. Each Wednesday, a mindfully curated and crafted four-course dinner is delivered across greater Los Angeles to each week’s subscribers. Every Wednesday menu features a starter and choice of a meat, fish or plant-based entree, two side dishes and dessert. Delivered in the afternoon, the meals are packaged with instructions for reheating (when necessary). Why Wednesday? Give it a try. It’s the day when you hit the wall with meal planning and prep. It’s the day when you want to answer your door and have a cheerful person hand you a couple of bags packed with deliciousness. The catch? You have to be “on the list” of those who receive the weekly menus via email. Now you know! Chibas may be the most-gifted classically trained local chef in town. He’s also largely unsung, except for the legions of long-time fans already in the know. Deluxe 1717 is the latest twist in the long trajectory of his journey. Born to Black Cuban American parents in New York City, Chibas grew up in Queens until moving to South Lancaster, Massachusetts, when he was 12 years old. He studied musicology while playing bassoon at Boston College. His introduction to food came while working front of house in Boston-area restaurants immediately following college. Innately creative, Chibas initially pursued a career in film and moved to Los Angeles in 1991, accordingly. Within months of arriving in Los Angeles, he met his husband-to-be—John Orders, a nonprofit administrator and consultant—and began a six-year stint working in animation production and marketing at Disney. In the meantime, he produced and directed a short film, which loosely presaged his engagement with food, called “Grazer.” The couple moved to Chicago for a year, when Orders served as associate director of the Museum of Contemporary Art. On return to Los Angeles, Chibas continued working in production and marketing at Sony and Dreamworks until 2004, when “I hit a wall with animation,” as he puts it. Following his gut, as it were, Chibas enrolled in the 15-month culinary program at the now-shuttered Cordon Bleu culinary academy in Pasadena, where he met long-time collaborator Alberto Morales. He soon opened Elements Kitchen as a catering operation. “I didn’t want to be a chef or have a restaurant, so of course I became a chef and had a restaurant.” A lunch café opened out of the catering business, and before long, interested backers began encouraging larger ambitions. His formal restaurant—Elements— opened in the courtyard dining space across from Pasadena Playhouse in 2010. A fine-dining concept featuring imaginative and changing seasonal menus, Elements
Ready-to-serve cool hanger steak
Sapori
DI786 DEGREES ALI HAIDER ALI IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY—AND PIZZA STORY BY NIKHIL MISRA-BHAMBRI | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
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set a high local standard and was well ahead of its time. So much so that a combination of professional and personal exigencies forced its untimely closure in 2012. Regardless, Chibas’ reliable base of catering clients continued to grow. Working out of his home kitchen until the volume of business made it untenable, he began looking for a new space. Minutes away from Chibas’ capacious, northwest Pasadena home he shares with Orders, Deluxe 1717’s well-equipped kitchen and small dining room provided the perfect venue for prepping and staging his catering jobs, while providing fresh inspiration for some new ideas. Before long, Chibas began hosting multicourse weekend dinners at Deluxe 1717. Served family style at the long communal table, guests had to be “on the list” of Chibas’ extended family of friends, colleagues and clients. Collaboration is always a key component. Chibas is on the board of the Urban Homestead Institute (Pasadena Weekly, April 22) and the thriving local urban farm routinely supplies fresh produce for his dinners. In the last year, he began a guest chef series that began with an eight-course kaiseki-style Japanese feast engineered by Yatabe. Peripatetic local genius chef Laurent Quenioux (Pasadena Weekly, April 1) maintained a beachhead at the location for several months last year as well. Hey, it’s Wednesday! What’s for dinner? This particular week, we are still in the midst of a heatwave, and no reheating is required. Let’s start with chilled melon and ginger soup with savory pancetta and grana padano parmesan scones (courtesy of Yatabe). Among the three entree choices is grilled halibut bedded on a market salad of “sweet and sour” beets, stone fruit, heirloom tomatoes and sweet peppers with Verjus dressing. No fish? Marinated hangar steak grilled rare and served cool with a Persian cucumber, fig and red onion salad might fit the bill. No meat? No problem! Semolina artisanal conchiglie pasta with piquillo pepper aioli dressed out with roasted eggplant and fennel is the pasta salad that only Chibas could concoct. Each entree is accompanied by lemon verbena pilaf and green and purple beans with pine nuts and holy basil. Dessert? How about fruit cake cobbler with brown sugar cream, which also happens to be gluten free, by the way. Now, you can also order cookies by Luvvie’s Delights. These chocolate chip, oatmeal and walnut confections are the work of long-time Chibas collaborator Marva Sutton. This week, the halibut and steak entree dinners were priced at $45 each and the pasta salad at $38. A $7 charge is added for home delivery. Prices vary slightly from week to week depending on the menu and payment can be made via Venmo, Zelle, CashApp or check. Orders must be placed by 6 p.m. Tuesday, the day before delivery. By the way, the packaging and containers can be returned for reuse. As Chibas explains, he’s not out for individual bragging rights. Again, it’s the collaboration that counts. “I have good taste. I know how to curate,” he says. “It sparks so much more creativity.” Until his small, exquisite and exclusive dining room at Deluxe 1717 opens again, all the evidence you need is in a paper bag delivered directly to your door on Wednesday. What could be more wonderful?
DELUXE 1717 “Wonderful Wednesdays” 1717 E. Washington Street, Pasadena 626-818-3963, chibasevents.com
ost people associate a good night out in Pasadena with dining at a fine restaurant or bar in Colorado Boulevard’s Old Town. Northern Pasadena’s East Washington Boulevard is emerging as a mellower, less-crowded alternative to Old Town. Sapori di 786 Degrees is tucked among multiethnic cafes and Armenian-owned shops and bakeries. In summer 2019, master chef pizzaiolo Ali Haider Ali brought his awardwinning, distinctive pizza to Pasadena’s East Washington Village by opening Sapori di 786 Degrees. His first restaurant, 786 Degrees, opened in Sun Valley in 2015, and since then Ali brought a long list of accolades back to the community. In 2018, Mayor Eric Garcetti awarded Ali’s restaurant 786 Degrees as the “business of the year.” The chef earned “entrepreneur of the year” for his innovative ideas. Recently, his pizzerias were regarded as California’s best by USA Today. At that time, many Pasadena culinary critics, friends and TV personalities recommended that he should spread his gooey delights to Pasadena. “That is when they offered this second opportunity,” Ali says. Born from a mixed ethnic background, Ali was educated in Los Angeles. He’s blessed to speak six languages, thanks to his Italian, Indian and Iraqi heritage. He is the first in his family and friendship circle to become a restauranteur. “I always wanted to serve something unique and, at the same time, include flavors from all around the world,” Ali says. “I could not find any restaurant doing that, especially halal, being a foodie at heart. (So) I decided I might as well believe in my vision and let my passion take the lead.” Ali is a certified pizzaiolo (master of pizza making) from Naples, the motherland of pizza. “I am honored to be part of United States Pizza Team as the ambassador and proud to represent America internationally at different pizza competitions,” Ali says. He has achieved national and international world pizza championship awards eight times. His national awards include recognition from Yelp (“highest-rated pizzeria in the nation”) and Food Network (“best-tasting pizza in the nation”). “Being someone’s favorite pizzeria is more prestigious to me than being the best,” he says. Ali’s pizzas boast international flavors. They’re baked on two of the world’s 14 authentic imported wood-fired ovens that were custom made from Mount Vesuvius lava rock. “Flavors are beautiful everywhere, all around the world,” Ali says. “So, why just stick to one style? Why not take the best of the best from different countries and present it like a painting on the pizza? The pizza is like the canvas.” The Bombay tikka masala pizza contains San Marzano tomatoes, chicken kabob pieces, mango chutney and paneer with the signature saffron tikka sauce, the latter of which takes three days to make. Middle Eastern influences shine on the Istanbul pizza, which has chicken Turkish doner kabob meat, which is marinated for 72 hours, and is finished with fresh cucumbers and an authentic yogurt base sauce haidari sauce—all made in house. The Habibi takes diners to Egypt and is piled with smoked mozzarella and Egyptian garlic yogurt sauce with the award-winning lamb koftas. El Chapo is a Mexican-themed spicy pizza with beef chorizo, grilled onions, cilantro, San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella. continued on page 26 10.20 | ARROYO | 25
Chef pizzaiolo Ali Haider Ali
Chef pizzaiolo Ali Haider Ali takes a pizza out of the oven.
continued from page 25
Napolitana Margherita D.O.C. is the pizza for which he earned the Vera Pizza Napolitana certification. For this pizza, the mozzarella di Bufala is imported from the Campania region of Italy. Every recipe is Ali’s signature creation, and the majority of the spices are sourced internationally. His saffron comes straight from Iran, and the spices for the Habibi come from Alexandria, Egypt. “All of my food is gourmet,” Ali says. “Sadly, I cannot just walk into a store and pick up any sauce or spice. It has to be from an authentic source, because it’s a matter of complementing and representing the flavors from those countries.” The COVID-19 pandemic has largely impacted Ali’s business strategy. Prior to the pandemic, his business was 70% dine-in and 30% takeout, and now it is 100% takeout, as safety comes first. His gourmet pizzas are specifically designed to be served as soon as they come out of the oven—just like in Naples. However, this overnight change in the norms has forced him to quickly readapt. Now, customers receive instructions on how to reheat the pizzas at home. Ali goes above and beyond the city’s requirements. “Whatever the city requires, we are doing 20% extra to make sure all guests’ and teams’ health is a No. 1 priority,” Ali says. The restaurant is disinfected and sanitized every week by professionals. To ensure minimal contact, the restaurant has redesigned its website to suit the times. Customers place their orders online at 786degrees.com and can watch videos to learn more about the pizzas. Once guests arrive, they take their hot and fresh pizza from a food warmer near the entrance, and they are out the door in 30 seconds. There is zero interaction. During these times of crisis, Ali and his restaurant have become extremely valuable assets to the community. They make pizzas for lunch and dinner for elderly folks who are in quarantine or homebound, and for front-line workers. “If you know of any neighbor or community elder who is in need of hot and fresh food, their pizzas will be on us,” Ali says. “I’m all about community. If community did not support us all this time, we were nobody. This is the time to give back and give back double, as there are so many community members facing difficulties with their livelihood.” In short, he says he believes, “because you were a fan and supported us until now, it is our turn to give back.” Ali’s international fame is due to his unique, artistic take on his craft. His knack of creating a colorful world map on pizza dough allows Angelenos to enjoy one of their favorite foods while savoring other international delicacies. His business presence on Pasadena’s Washington Boulevard has broadened the local’s culinary palate, while providing them with the love and care they need in the midst of the toughest of circumstances. “I appreciate all our pizza addicts who keep coming back,” Ali says. “In return, I promise the highest caliber of pizza they expect from us, and lots of love and respect in return.”
SAPORI DI 786 DEGREES 1709 E. Washington Boulevard, Pasadena 626-460-2786, 786degrees.com 26 | ARROYO | 10.20
TRIPLE-THREAT
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Cheesecake STORY BY EMILY CHAVEZ | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ
very autumn, the breeze sweeps me away into a world of warm spices as the temperatures cool. As much as I try to resist getting caught up in the obsession with all the flavors of the season, I surrender each time. This time around, I wanted to combine three of my favorite things: pumpkin spice lattes, cheesecake and pumpkin pie. The steps to this delectable dessert are simple enough for the novice cheesecake maker. The browned butter graham cracker crust has a deep, nutty flavor, while the creamy cheesecake is rich in fragrant spices and slightly sweet pumpkin. With a little planning, this seasonal sweet treat could be the showstopper at your next dinner or event.
PUMPKIN SPICE CHEESECAKE HANDS-ON TIME: 40 MINUTES | READY IN: 6 HOURS MAKES 8 SERVINGS
INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 CUPS GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS, ABOUT 15 CRACKERS 5 TABLESPOONS BUTTER, MELTED AND BROWNED 1 TABLESPOON SUGAR 1 TEASPOON CINNAMON 32 OUNCES CREAM CHEESE, ROOM TEMPERATURE 1/2 TEASPOON SALT 1 CUP SUGAR 3/4 CUP BROWN SUGAR 1 VANILLA BEAN OR 2 TEASPOONS VANILLA EXTRACT 5 EGGS, ROOM TEMPERATURE 2 TABLESPOONS FLOUR 1 CUP CANNED PUMPKIN PUREE 3/4 CUP SOUR CREAM 1 TEASPOON CINNAMON 1/2 TEASPOON NUTMEG 1/4 TEASPOON ALLSPICE 1/4 TEASPOON CLOVES 1/2 TEASPOON GINGER NOTE: USE A 10-INCH SPRINGFORM PAN AND EXTRA-WIDE FOIL FOR BEST RESULTS. 1. TO MAKE THE GRAHAM CRACKER BASE, BLEND TOGETHER THE GRAHAM CRACKERS, 1 TABLESPOON SUGAR AND 1 TABLESPOON CINNAMON IN A FOOD PROCESSOR UNTIL WELL MIXED. ADD IN THE MELTED BUTTER AND PULSE UNTIL CRUMBLY. 2. FIRMLY PRESS DOWN THE GRAHAM CRACKER BASE INTO THE BOTTOM OF A SPRINGFORM PAN AND BAKE FOR 10-15 MINUTES, OR UNTIL DARK GOLD IN COLOR, AT 350 DEGREES. 3. REMOVE FROM THE OVEN AND REDUCE THE OVEN TO 300 DEGREES. 4. IN A STAND MIXER, WHISK THE CREAM CHEESE UNTIL SMOOTH. 5. ADD REMAINING SUGARS AND SALT AND WHISK UNTIL CREAMY.
6. ADD EGGS ONE AT A TIME, MIXING IN BETWEEN EACH ADDITION. 7. SPRINKLE IN FLOUR, PUMPKIN PUREE, SOUR CREAM, SPICES AND SEEDS FROM THE VANILLA BEAN OR VANILLA EXTRACT AND MIX UNTIL FULLY INCORPORATED. 8. FOIL WRAP THE OUTSIDE AND BOTTOM OF THE SPRINGFORM PAN WITH THE BAKED GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST, THEN POUR THE FILLING INTO THE PAN. 9. PLACE THE FOIL-WRAPPED PAN INTO A LARGE ROASTING PAN AND THEN FILL THE ROASTING PAN WITH BOILING WATER AT LEAST 1 INCH DEEP. 10. BAKE AT 300 DEGREES FOR ABOUT 60 TO 70 MINUTES OR UNTIL SET WITH A WOBBLY CENTER. TURN OFF THE OVEN AND KEEP THE CHEESECAKE INSIDE TO REST FOR 1 HOUR. 11. REMOVE FROM THE OVEN AND COOL TO ROOM TEMPERATURE AND THEN COVER WITH A TOWEL OR PAPER TOWEL AND REFRIGERATE FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS OR OVERNIGHT FOR BEST RESULTS BEFORE SERVING. 10.20 | ARROYO | 27
Like an impressionist painter controls their canvas, a landscape’s mood can be heavily impacted by the utilization of color. We have discussed how line, shape, form, and texture can distinguish the different elements, focus, structure, flow and general ambiance of your design. This article focuses on the indispensable factor of color, which can subtly or dramatically contribute to design goals. Color can be found in much more than just the fleeting blooms of the flowering shrubs we cherish in our landscapes. Look to foliage, bark, fruit, and natural or man-made elements to achieve a unique and lasting impact. Color within plant material can be used to create contrast and direct focus against a background typically dominant with green hues. While artist’s color theory can get complicated, developing a color scheme for your landscape design doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Start by identifying the base mood for the design space. Is the intent to create a sense of peace and relaxation, as typically associated with the “cool” side of the color wheel? Or, is the goal to instill feelings of excitement and joy, represented on the “warm” side of the wheel? From this point we may create pops of focus and contrast by using complementary, or opposite, colors from the color wheel. For practical over emotional elements of scheme choice, consider the impact on spatial perception. Cool colors tend to recede into the landscape, tricking the eye into thinking the area is larger by playing 28 | ARROYO | 10.20
with shade. Warm colors sit closer to the forefront, drawing attention to natural features by capturing and reflecting light. Sound too complicated? Too much color variety can be overwhelming and confusing. A fun, easy trick to prevent color chaos is to play with monochromatic scheme, or simply working with shades of a single color. Visualizing how to achieve this desired landscape harmony can be illustrated by the parallels between landscape design and musical orchestration, which we will explore next time.
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