Ratatouille provides a perfect portal to the past

In the midst of the 2020 lockdown, 19 year old journalism major, Samantha Williams, started dedicating her newfound free time at home to cooking. With an excess amount of time and nowhere to go, her mom suggested that they start cooking new recipes together. This ratatouille recipe is one that Williams spent much of her 2020 perfecting. Williams had been interested in learning the recipe for this dish ever since watching the animated Disney movie, Ratatouille, when she was younger. This dish that originally began …

Eggs and hotdogs: Odd but perfect combo

Nostalgia on a plate for Amanda Herrera, first year student at PCC, huevos con salchicha is perfect whether it’s a rainy or a stay-at-home sick day. Huevos con salchicha, which translates from Spanish to English means “eggs and hotdog” channels a strong emotional meaning for Herrera as she connects it to her grandparents’ home every time she takes a bite. After her aunt cooked it for the first time, there was no way of removing this core memory dish from her memory bank or taste …

Chicken paprikash and nokedli bring back childhood memories

In a stylish yet cozy Pasadena apartment, the aroma of paprika wafts through the air while a Men I Trust song quietly plays as 23 year old PCC film student Brandon Arthur House cooks for us a traditional Hungarian meal from his childhood. Chicken paprikash and nokedli was a meal that was taught to him by his Mexican grandmother who had learned the recipe from his late Hungarian grandfather, Arthur.  ”It was one of my least favorite dishes when I was a little kid, but …

Roll up to Paper Rice and roll up your own flavor

Paper Rice specializes in build-your-own style spring rolls, a fast and contemporary take on a traditional Vietnamese dish. Owned by Jens Kristen, a Pasadena City College math and computer science professor, the restaurant offers a casual Chipotle style, walk up custom ordering experience where customers can also enjoy spring bowls or a bahn-mi sandwich. I had the pleasure of sampling some of the items on the menu, although the bowl and sandwich seemed appealing, the rolls are their staple and I wanted to see what …

Courier Cookin’: Spice up leftovers with kimchi fried rice

A hungry mind can create an appetite for students putting in the time, and energy at school. PCC is a diverse ecosystem of culinary cultural backgrounds, and when hunger hits, there are certain dishes that are the unequivocal comfort food that have one’s unique spin on an otherwise common recipe. The recipe below was submitted by Ken Juan, a biology major and student in HOSP 015 – Industry Culinary Foundations 1 with professor Chef Colleen Nanno, he plans to transfer to UC Davis, with hopes …

Pasadena Gobbler event seeks to feed 300 local families for Thanksgiving

The 38th annual Operation Gobbler fundraiser and food drive will feed hundreds of people in Pasadena this Thanksgiving.  The Pasadena Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) and Friends in Deed on Sunday, Nov. 20, offering free thanksgiving themed meals to Pasadena locals. Students can contact Friends in Deed for information on signing up and on whether or not they qualify for the thanksgiving meal, according to the executive vice president and secretary of the Jaycees Justine Gray.  The food that will be distributed by the group …

The Courier’s guide to eating in PCC’s food wasteland

At Pasadena City College there are many different ways students can stay focused on their classes while eating a delicious snack or meal. When trying to balance school, work, and life, maintaining healthy eating habits can become difficult. Finding time before class to pack a lunch is not always an option for students. Thankfully, PCC provides different resources for students to satisfy their hunger on campus and off campus with the help of local businesses.  “My friends and I like to eat at Teddy’s Tacos …

Best places to eat around PCC

As a student, you’re probably running late and food is low on your priority list. Being hungry on campus can be distracting to say the least. Student’s with low funds and short on time have a few options to satisfy their hunger. Most of the time, the body craves the nutrients provided by a well balanced meal, but for someone short on time and on a small budget this can be an almost impossible feat to accomplish. Here are a few recommendations for food that …

Bun Bun Bao: New bun spot provides good bang for your buck

Across the street from campus on the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Bonnie Ave., a new Chinese restaurant Bun Bun Bao has recently opened its doors to the public. This restaurant has plans to bring authentic Asian culture into our community with their dishes and drinks.  Students have anticipated trying the new food since their “opening soon” sign first appeared. With limited food options in the area and on campus, there has been a sort of need for diversity amongst the lunch and dinner options nearby. …

Pasadena restaurants fight for their place at the table

Pie and Burger is a charming small restaurant in Pasadena that has been serving since 1963. The restaurant specializes in its classic California hamburgers and top-rated pies, and has received various awards in the past years. Due to the pandemic, however, the restaurant has been having to deal with constant changes in regulations. Local restaurants are facing uncertainty and anguish during COVID times and have been impacted dramatically.