After cultivating a sizeable number of devotees at organic comfort-food haven Elements Café, chef Onil Chibas decided to open an elegant, spacious restaurant just a few blocks away, next to the recently closed Pasadena Playhouse. Here the innovative menu is organized by ""elements,"" a.k.a. main ingredients such as duck, lobster and squash, making it easy for diners to locate unique dishes that appeal to their tastes. The ""new American"" menu changes according to the season, Chibas says, and in mid-winter diners can indulge in hearty dishes such as satisfyingly simple lobster risotto, chicken sausage with parsnip puree, and delectable monkfish curry served with root vegetables and lobster steamed rice. Kim chi tacos in handmade corn tortillas heaping with marinated flank steak were so tasty that they won over even the non-red-meat eaters in our group. Glass walls surrounding the spacious kitchen give diners a voyeuristic glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes, and dark wood-paneled walls and a marble floor add an understated elegance to the otherwise earthy décor. Elements Kitchen's knowledgeable and friendly staff will happily recommend the perfect wine to pair with your meal or a port to go with dessert, including the impossible-to-resist white chocolate and coffee mousse with milk chocolate ganache, and macadamia brulee on bitter coco ""soil."" In short, this relaxed yet elegant restaurant is a delightful addition to Pasadena's growing gastro experience.
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