Update Sept. 20: Online ticket purchases for Taste of Arcadia must be made before 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, 2014.
This year’s Taste of Arcadia on Sept. 22 will feature the food and beverages of more exciting local restaurants than ever – more than 45 in all, including high-profile first-timer entries Benihana and Hai Di Lao Hot Pot. All will be competing for a handful of prizes for best tasting and most innovative entrees, desserts and drinks. All you can eat and drink for 3 1/2-hours for one entry price. Tickets are $70 now and $75 at the gate ($20 discount for Chamber members). Taste of Arcadia offers food, drinks and desserts of every variety from four dozen local restaurants, bars, caterers, wine and beer vendors and distributors, hotels, and even retirement homes and a hospital. No money changes hands at the food booths lined up in the idyllic lush Los Angeles County Arboretum setting nestled on the soft green grass surrounding the beautiful Bauer Fountain. The majestic San Gabriel Mountains provide a picturesque backdrop. <Story and list of restaurants and food to be served by each continues below the following 4-minute video highlights of last year’s event…>
Benihana – serving fried rice sushi roll – New to the Westfield Santa Anita mall in Arcadia, Benihana is a dining experience unlike any other. Guests are seated at communal tables in groups of eight-to-ten, where your personal chef will perform the ancient art of Teppanyaki. The chef slices and dices mouth-watering steak, tender chicken, succulent seafood, and vegetables. Or you can visit the sushi lounge with smaller tables and more intimate seating as a sushi chef prepares the freshest sashimi, make and signature sushi rolls.- BJ’s Restaurants
– serving BBQ chicken salads and lemon thyme chicken — BJ’s, at 400 E. Huntington Drive in Arcadia, offers catering, deliver, and take out, and features weekday lunch specials and Happy Hour. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. seven days a week, and doesn’t close until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturday nights, and midnight Sunday – Thursday.
- Cabrera’s Mexican Cuisine – serving chicken and beef quesadillas – Cabrera’s, an Arcadia favorite for many years at 625 E. Live Oak Avenue, offers full-service casual dining.
- Cafe Mundial — serving pasta chicken marsala — Located in the heard of Old Monrovia at 514 S. Myrtle Avenue, Cafe Mundial lives up to its name that means “a little bit of eveything.”
Whether your mood is for seafood or steaks, dining inside or al fresco, enjoying great martinis, cocktails or late-night coffee and desserts, the courteous staff offers it all in a comfortable and artistic atmosphere unlike any other. - California Pizza Kitchen
– serving Thai crunch salad, tomato basil fussili — CPK at the Westfield Santa Anita mall (404 S. Baldwin Ave., #115) also offers a catering menu, weekday delivery service from 11-2, and a patio available to reserve. 
Carmine’s Italian – serving beef pasta and bread — Carmine’s is another longtime Arcadia favorite at 311 E. Live Oak Ave.
City Cafe – serving Asian chicken salad — City Cafe at 607 N. Azusa Ave in historic downtown Azusa is San Gabriel Valley’s newest American cuisine restaurant offering steaks, seafood, pasta, pizza, martinis, lemon drops, and cocktails in a contemporary setting.
Claro’s Italian Market – serving salads — Claro’s, in the heart of Downtown Arcadia and also at 1003 E. Valley Blvd. in San Gabriel, is a fill-service deli and also offers catering.
Corner Bakery Café – serving hot pastas, carbonera, pesto cavatappi, kale salad, bundt bite, and lemonade — Located at 3807 E. Foothill Blvd. in the Hastings Ranch area of Pasadena.- The Derby
– serving bread pudding — The Derby is a historic Arcadia steakhouse and fine dining restaurant located at 233 E. Huntington Drive that has been a favorite of the horse racing community since it was owned by the legendary George Woolfe.
- Dogfellaz – serving gourmet hot dogs and home-made sausages — Based in Long Beach.
Four Seasons Tea Room – serving scones, tea sandwiches and tea samples — Four Seasons Tea Room at 75 N. Baldwin Avenue in Sierra Madre, is an English Victorian-style tea room that can seat 80 people and specializes in afternoon tea and some of the most acclaimed scones in the area. They specialize in bridal and baby showers, birthdays, and special events.- Santa Anita Park’s The Frontrunner
– serving desserts — The Frontrunner at the world famous Santa Anita Park horse race track in Arcadia offers elegant and casual dining with the most spectacular views of horse racing and the San Gabriel Mountains. 
Hai Di Lao Hot Pot – The enormously popular franchise in China featuring delicious hot pot selections in a visually dynamic setting and featuring a “dancing noodle” performance opened its first store in the United States right here in Arcadia on the Promenade at Westfield Santa Anita mall. The restaurant also offers catering and delivery.- Hot n Sweet Chicken
– serving Korean fried chicken and cajun salad — Hot n Sweet Chicken offers far more than chicken in its stylish restaurant in the heart of Downtown Arcadia at 48 E. Huntington Drive. It specializes in Korean-inspired flavors on American classics such as Korean fried chicken, K-tacos, Korean pizza, Korean beers and K-martinis. The menu also includes everything from cajun food to Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and don’t forget to try the sweet potato pizza. 
La Luna Negra – serving vegetarian quiche and ceviche — La Luna Negra’s loyal following for its Spanish cuisine, including tapas, and live entertainment developed during its 18-year run on Green Street in Pasadena has followed the business to its large new two-story location in Downtown Arcadia at 21 E. Huntington Drive.- Matt Denny’s Ale House –
Beef BBQ tri-tip and pulled pork, both served with homemade BBQ Sauce. - Natural Selection – serving chipotle, sesame, pesto, medierranean, teriyaki wraps — Located near Downtown Arcadia at 305 Santa Anita Avenue, Natural Selection offers healthy sandwiches, wraps, salads, rice bowls, fresh juices, smoothies and shakes.
The delicious meals are prepared using organic, in-season fruits and vegetables and recipes from unprocessed products right down to the dressings. 
Opera — serving Thai peanut chicken and rice pilaf — This sister restaurant of The Derby is located at 402 S. Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia.- Paco’s Mexican Restaurant
— serving shredded beef tacos and beef tacquitos — Arcadia’s family Mexican Restaurant at 200 E. Foothill Blvd offers breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, a champagne Sunday brunch, a special brunch menu, and a To Go menu for your special event. 
Peacock Grille (Embassy Suites Arcadia) – serving bleu cheese and honeycombed grilled sandwiches; Chinese chicken salad; cheesecake bites — The Peacock Grille (formerly known as Capistrano’s) and Polo Lounge are part of the recently-remodeled Embassy Suites Arcadia in the heart of Downtown Arcadia at 211 E. Huntington Drive. Semi-private and private dining rooms for 10-30 guests, and meeting/banquet space that can accommodate up to 400 people.- Red Robin
– serving chicken tortilla soup and freckled lemonade — Red Robin Gourmet Burgers on the Promenade at Westfield Santa Anita mall, is one of the latest shops of the 45-year-old franchise that offers two dozen types of burgers and bottomless steak fries in a fun environment for all ages. Red Robin also serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature Mad Mixology beverages, and an extensive selection of local and regional beers, and innovative adult beer shakes and cocktails. 
Rita’s Italian Ice – serving Italian ice — Rita’s Italian Ice, which opened this year in a popular Arcadia shopping center off Baldwin Avenue at 733 W. Naomi Avenue offers more than Italian ice — refreshing selections include frozen custard and gelato and blends of each with frozen ice and many candy and cookie ingredient options, as well as sundaes. The store also offers cookies, cakes, and take out and catering, as well as fundraisers.
Sam’s Club – serving cookies and muffins — Sam’s Club is located just south of Arcadia at 1301 N.Santa Anita Avenue in El Monte.
San Luis Sourdough — serving grilled cheese — San Luis Sourdough has been creating handpformed bread in San Luis Obispo since 1983, using a slow-baking process to give it an authentic taste.
Shave It Santa Anita – serving shave ice — The newest store in the Shave It Nation franchise at Westfield Santa Anita mall offers more than 30 flavors of syrup and premium ice cream from McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream in Santa Barbara. All flavors, which are made from pure sugar cane, natural flavors, gluten-free, and kosher, are also available as sugar-free. A Shave It Mobile Van is available for booking at private, public, or corporate events, and schools, organizations, sporting events, and fundraisers. Cell phone: 818-253-5476 or e-mail: ValenciaShaveIt@gmail.com.- Stonefire Grill
— serving lemon garlic chicken BBQ tri-tip; green salad; garlic mashed potatoes — Stonefire Grill, at 473 N. Rosemead Blvd in Pasadena, is a fast casual family-friendly restaurant featuring a diverse menu, generous portions, reasonable prices, and outstanding service. Meat selections include mesquite grilled chicken, tri-tip and baby back ribs, while among the side dishes are garlic mashed potatoes, pesto pasta, macaroni and cheese, and many salad choices and breadsticks. Catering is also available. 
Sweet Nothings Cake Shop, at 1849 Huntington Drive in Duarte, takes custom orders for all cakes, cupcakes, and desserts that vary weekly based on customer favorites, for all occasions, including large-scale corporate events.
T-Neer — serving sandwiches and tea — The brand new T-Neer in the heart of downtown Sierra Madre (162 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.) serves more than 100 varieties of teas in hot and iced forms under the main categories of teas: White, Green, Black, Oolong, and Pu erh. Also offered for take out or while seated in the luxuriously relaxed and contemporary tea room filled with delightful aromas are delicious sandwiches, salads, cakes, scones, and macaroons.- Twohey’s Restaurant
— serving lobster truffle macaroni and cheese – The popular Twohey’s family full-menu restaurant (pronounced two-e’s) is located in Alhambra at 1224 W. Atlantic Blvd. 
Villa Catrina Mexican Restaurant — serving flautas, tacquitos, enchiladas, tacos, and desserts — The new Villa Catrina Mexican Restaurant in Downtown Arcadia at the former Domenico’s location on Santa Anita Avenue at 251 N. Santa Anita Ave., is a family restaurant offering traditional Mexican plates, specialty items, and a kids menu. The venue also includes a full “cantina” bar and sports bar with multiple big-screen HD TVs. Regular offerings include karaoke, Taco Tuesday, lunch specials from 11-3, happy hour from 4-7, as well as banquets, catering, take out, and delivery.
Whole Foods Market — serving huli-huli chicken, shaved brussel sprouts, and kale salad — Whole Foods Market, in the Hastings Ranch area of Pasadena at 3751 E. Foothill Blvd, just off the 210 Foothill Freeway, offers the highest-quality natural and organic products. Additional services include catering, prepared foods, bakery, coffee-juice bar, and multiple sale events and weekly in-store specials.
Zelo Pizzeria — serving corn pizza and beef salad — Zelo Pizza in northeastern Arcadia at 328 E. Foothill Blvd., specializes in cornmeal crust pizzas, while also offering fresh seasonal salads, roasted chicken, and pastas. Zelo’s has twice made it on Jonathan Gold’s annual ranking of the 101 top restaurants in Los Angeles.
Beer and wine vendors include (vendors subject to change):
38 Degrees Ale House & Grill – Located at 100 W. Main Street in Alhambra (and coming soon to 110 E. Colorado Blvd in Monrovia), 38 Degrees Ale House pours amazing craft beer from 38 rotating taps and serves an eclectic selection of new American cuisine. Rated one of the top 100 beer restaurants in the world in 2012 by RateBeer.com.
D’Aquino Italian Imports – serving wine – D’Aquino is located at 1850 Business Center Drive in Duarte.
Goose Island Brewing — serving beer
Shock Top — serving Belgian white beer- Stone Brewing — serving Stone beer
Wine of the Month Club
A hospital, a hotel, and three retirement homes will also show off their own tasty cuisine:
Arcadia Gardens Retirement Hotel – serving hot and cold hors d’oeuvres – Arcadia Gardens is located at 720 W. Camino Real in Arcadia.
Fair Oaks by Regency Park – serving a steak entree – With more than 40 years of experience, Regency Park Senior Living, at 951 S. Fair Oaks, is renown for in Pasadena for its luxurious and beautifully-appointed senior amenities. Their experienced management team and devoted staff help make each Regency Park residence a model of quality retirement living. They invite you to come join in for a lunch and a tour to see for yourself why their communities have been named the Best in Senior Living in Pasadena.
Gables of Monrovia / Brookdale Senior Living – serving lava cakes — The Gables at 201 E. Foothill Blvd in Monrovia offers a private dining room, take-out, delivery, and catering for special events, even preparing dishes from residents’ recipes. Otherwise, trained chefs prepare nutritious meals using low-sodium, heart-healthy cooking techniques.- DoubleTree by Hilton
— serving delicious cookies — Located just past the Eastern border of Arcadia at 924 E. Huntington Drive. 
Methodist Hospital‘s Fresh Inspirations cafe offers one of the most extensive and least expensive salad buffets as well as a full array of heated entrees and daily specials, along with pre-wrapped sandwiches, salads, and frozen desserts and more.
Food and drinks are just one element of Arcadia’s annual signature event, The Taste of Arcadia, from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22. Back for a second year and greatly enlarged is the Monday Night Football Lounge, sponsored by Airstream Los Angeles; a classic car show with all pre-1916 horseless carriages sponsored by Professional Advisory Services; a popular Hollywood-style Red Carpet Experience sponsored by Printing Control complete with paparazzi taking photos as guests arrive; the versatile Lounge-O-Rama live band; the always popular and exotic Brazilian dancers, this time twice as many as ever in a full-blown Carnival show; a record four-dozen participants in the Business Showcase at the Taste, including more new cars than ever from a record five dealers; face painting; and much more. None of it would be possible without the following unprecedented number and variety of sponsors:
- Presenting Gold Sponsors: Westfield Santa Anita (also year-round Community Builder Presenting Sponsor Member); — Methodist Hospital — BMW of Monrovia
- Business Showcase at the Taste Sponsor – Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary (also year-round Keystone 365 Connection Sponsor Member of the monthly Networking Breakfasts)
- Silver-Plus Sponsor: Vons
- Silver Sponsor, Classic Car Show: Professional Advisory Services, Wayne Williams
- Silver Sponsors: Breeders’ Cup/Santa Anita Park — Singpoli — Merrill Lynch, Arcadia
- Silver Lining Sponsor: Foothill Credit Union
- Red Carpet Experience Sponsor: Printing Control-Jerry Dominguez; HMM Legal Services; and The Executive Factor-Andrew Gregson; and Red Carpet TV Raffle: T.G. Metzger State Farm Insurance
- Bronze-Plus Sponsor: Century Rooter Service and Plumbing
- Bronze Sponsor: Wells Fargo Arcadia Main Branch
- Bronze Sponsor, Shuttle: City of Arcadia Transit, Shop Arcadia
- Ticket Sponsor: Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority
- Live Entertainment Sponsor: Southern California Edison
- Tram Sponsors: Arcadia Association of Realtors; Arcadia Transit / Shop Arcadia
- VIP table centerpieces: Majestic Design Florist
- Trash recycling: Waste Management
- Media Partners: Beacon Media’s Arcadia Weekly, Mountain Views News, San Marino Tribune, Pasadena Weekly
- Parking floodlighting and Support Services: Jan’s Towing
- All equipment rentals at a discount: Town & Country Event Rentals and overall logistical management by T&C’s Wayne Tay
And the tireless Taste of Arcadia Committee of Volunteers, including:
- Bruce McCallum, CTO (Chief Taste Officer)
- Vicki Knight (Century Rooter Service and Plumbing), Business Showcase chairwoman; food/beverage vendor support recruiter/support — Support:Kristy Thatcher Bradshaw
- Sylvia Ramos (Dilbeck Realty), Food/Beverage chairwoman (vendors, culinary contest) — Support: Denise Weaver, Sheree Tromblee, Kristy Thatcher Bradshaw, David Flood
- Gil Stromsoe (Mark Shaefer Associates), Budgetary controls — Support: Kim Arnold
- Aaron Rose (Avid Learning Resources), Volunteers
- T.G. Metzger (State Farm Insurance), Ticket sales, Promotion support
- Bruce Snell, Security, Parking Control — Support: Don Fandry; John Davis
- and Chamber staff Taste of Arcadia administration/accounting: Kim Arnold and Bill Hacket; vendor coordination support Kristy Thatcher Bradshaw, CEO Scott Hettrick (sponsors, entertainment, publicity, co-marketing/promotion/advertising), and support staff Lisa Ferrick.
