You either live in Pasadena or you’re visiting here from Pennsylvania or Utah. Either way, New Year’s 2023 is only going to happen once. Respond accordingly.
Three of our favorite eateries—Celestino Ristorante, The Raymond 1886, and Mi Piace—are among the many local restaurants offering special New’s Year’s menus and celebrations.
Executive Chef and owner Calogero Drago is planning something delicious for New Year’s Eve at Celestino Ristorante with his New Year’s Eve menu, or guests can enjoy any of their favorite dishes from Celestino Ristorante’s Sicilian Signature Dinner Menu, complimented by a Specialty Cocktail, Bottle of Wine, or Champagne from their award-winning wine list.
Chef Drago likes to say, “Life is beautiful,” and his Saturday night menu may have you saying the same thing.
Celestino Ristorante will be open on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31st, 2022, from 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm; Celestino Ristorante will be closed on New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2023; 141 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105; 626.795.4006; www.CelestinoPasadena.com. Photos by Celestino Ristorante.
South down Fair Oaks Avenue, the Raymond 1886 will be offering a Three-Course New Year’s Eve Tasting Menu ($155.00 per person).
The evening begins with the First Course featuring a choice of Scallop Rockefeller, sea scallop, garlic bread crumbs, spinach, and Champagne butter, or Grape & Prosciutto Salad with prosciutto di parma, frisée, red grapes and gorgonzola dolce.
The second course offers a choice of Cornish Game Hen served with cranberry orange harissa and roasted root vegetables, Branzino, or Mediterranean Sea Bass served with roasted bell pepper purée, lentils and fennel, or ChateauBriand filet mignon, with pommes purée, crispy Brussels sprouts leaves, and bone marrow bordelaise, or Stuffed Eggplant with Moroccan spiced lentils, baby heirloom tomatoes, sweet peppers, and romesco.
Dessert is a choice of either the Chocolate Lava Cake or Pumpkin Spice Panna Cotta. The New Year’s Eve Tasting Menu will pair nicely with a bottle of wine from The Raymond 1886’s award-winning Wine List or the full 1886 cocktail list, along with a complimentary champagne toast. Clink!
The Raymond 1886 will be open for New Year’s Eve Dinner, Saturday, December 31st, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm; The Raymond 1886 will be closed on New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2023; 1250 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105; 626.441.3136; www.TheRaymond.com. Photos courtesy of The Raymond 1886
If it’s something more lively you’re looking for on New Year’s Eve, Executive Chef Gil Saulnier’s Mi Piace Signature Menu Specials, along with music and a midnight celebration, might fit the bill.
Perhaps some Ravioli con Salsiccia with sautéed mild Italian sausage, wilted broccolini, sundried tomatoes, sliced garlic and white wine finished with Pecorino cheese; or grilled double lamb chops prepared with a Port wine demi-glace and roasted Yukon potatoes, or the decadent Spaghetti Aragosta comprised of sautéed diced lobster tail tossed with spaghetti in a San Marzano smokey chipotle cream sauce?
You’re hungry right now.
Mi Piace’s spectacular desserts are a big part of their New Year’s Eve celebration, like the Midnight Fantasy, a chocolate cake with Swiss bittersweet chocolate fudge and raspberry purée, the Tiramisu, or a New York Cheesecake with a creamy graham cracker crust and fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
Pair dinner with any one of Mi Piace’s wines or try their Ciao Bello cocktail comprised of Borghetti Espresso Liqueur, Galliano Liqueur, almond milk, and espresso, and then head over to the Mi Piace Lounge for live music from 10 p.m. to 1a.m. with party favors, a countdown to the New Year, and a complimentary champagne toast as the clock strikes the midnight hour.
You could also head to Mi Piace after viewing the Rose Parade to carry on and continue the celebration!
Did you know that New Year’s Day is also National Bloody Mary Day? A Mi Piace Classic Bloody Mary with some Absolut vodka, house-made spicy Bloody Mary mix, celery salted rim, and crisp celery stalk garnish.
Your first meal of the new year could be Homemade Ricotta con Crostini, served with a sweet organic lavender honey and Tahitian vanilla and a savory lemon zest with extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, fleur de Sel, and served with grilled ciabatta, or the Carpaccio, made of paper thin sliced raw prime beef filet mignon topped with arugula, shaved Reggiano, capers, and honey dry mustard vinaigrette.
Or one could share a handmade pasta like the Pappardelle Bolognese, prepared with natural skirt steak, seasoned pancetta, Porcini mushroom, vegetable mirepoix, San Marzano tomatoes and touch of cream, or the Gnocchi, made with potato, spinach, and goat cheese gnocchi with roasted ricotta in a caramelized garlic and basil marinara sauce.
The Milanese, a breaded, pounded, sautéed 16-ounce veal chop with a demi-glace lemon parsley sauce, served with arugula salad with buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes, tossed in an Italian dressing coil start the year off on a serious note, or the equally definitive Pollo al Prezzemolo, with Mary’s Free-Range organic grilled chicken stuffed with fresh herbs in a caramelized garlic, parsley, lemon, butter sauce, accompanied with whipped potatoes and fresh vegetables.
Happy New Yum.
Mi Piace will be open on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31, 2022, for Lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m; The Mi Piace Lounge will be open on New Year’s Eve from 11 a.m. to 1:30 am; Mi Piace will be open on New Year’s Day from 11a.m. to 11 pm; 25 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91105; ( 626)795.3131; www.MiPiace.com. Photos by Wonho Photos
