Dining Al Fresco at Saso in Pasadena

I was in the courtyard of the newish Saso, feeling rusty while I captured photos of my lunch while I sat across the table from my new friend, Carrie. It has been a long time since I had devoted a moment to photograph a meal and it felt like neither my hands or eyes worked. You know that scene in Party Girl where Leo forgets how to DJ? That was me holding my camera. Worse yet, I had bought a new mirrorless Sony digital, as to look inconspicuous at meals, and I was stumbling with every step of the photo making process. I looked up and across the patio I saw an old friend waving. It was the gorgeous Alexis Halejian, an angel in the distance. Always a treasure to be around, I skipped over to her table where she gave me a warm embrace. It had been years since I had seen her but I always held the utmost respect for this individual. Of all the people I connected with in food publicity, she was the best. Across from her was a stylish restaurant owner whose work I was familiar with. It was pleasant connection between the three of us, all grown women who loved to eat. Alexis introduced me and in all sincerity shared that I was one of the first people she saw capture food beautifully online it became a thing. I was honored in that moment, especially as I was struggling to capture my beef tartare in the glaring sun across the way. My photos in Saso’s courtyard were bad and humbling, but Alexis unbeknownst to her, had reminded me of a skill I had once honed and had been recognized for. It was the omen I needed in that moment that allowed me to push forward towards something that once brought me so much joy. As I type this, my eyes swell, as it is such a bizarre feeling to love something so much and then one day, you wake up absolutely hating it. For too long I was exhausted eating out at restaurants, taking food photos, “competing” with Instagrammers I didn’t respect, and for what, likes? How was I grown adult acting like that? Looking back, I was unhinged, and am grateful therapy allowed me to see I needed to step away from that world to pursue a healthier lifestyle.

I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to dine al fresco in Pasadena. Although I was still taking very serious COVID precautions, I was starting to feel safer at restaurants as more people were being vaccinated. At this time, I was still only dining outside. Saso had created a welcoming patio and the server, with patience and consideration, ensured that we had a memorable lunch. It felt good to experience a familiar feeling, even if fleeting, that had disappeared in February 2020 with the onset of the pandemic in Los Angeles.

A crudo bar has never made a fool out of me and some of my strongest culinary desires involve a beef tartare. Is there something to be said about a person who always orders beef tartare? Rumor has it that Sigmund Freud ate steak tartare for breakfast every day. Not my ideal touchstone but interesting nonetheless. The Txuletta Tartarra, made with wagyu tartare, caviar, celery, anchovy aioli, sourdough chip was heaven in my mouth. The crunch of the crisp sourdough chip was a welcome vehicle for the creamy wagyu which was so delectable it bordered on hedonism. Writing about it now, my mouth waters as impure thoughts wash over me. I highly recommend this dish.

The Izokin Carpaccio made with ora king salmon, oil cured olives, shallot, lemon zest, radish, and capers, although not elegantly captured by my new camera was also a delightful dish. The salmon melted like fish butter on my tongue, the lemon zest awakening my senses. Raw salmon and lemon zest were a perfect marriage in the mouth, with the brine of capers elevating it to an exciting threesome.

The crudo dishes cut nicely into the savory abundance of La Española plata, served with Basque cheese, Dona’s chorizo, serrano, lomo, pickles, jam, chestnut honey, and Dolly’s sourdough. I could’ve done without their choice of bread which I cast aside but everything else was a solid selection. To finish our meal we chose the Mini Basque Cheese Cake made with goat cheese and market fruit. Since enjoying a delicious slice of Basque cake at Hail Mary in Atwater, I’ve continued to keep my eyes peeled for Gâteau Basque. The Basque cake at Saso was quite dense and after eating a large lunch, it was too heavy to fully enjoy. I surmise the cake would best be enjoyed with a nice espresso as its own moment, like a dessert date, or as a to-go order to be enjoyed at home once you’ve had a moment to digest your meal.

I look forward to returning to Saso for dinner to enjoy their full menu and am grateful for the culinary changes happening in Pasadena.

Location

Saso
37 S El Molino Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 808-4976