The Pasadena Playhouse is sharing space with a new full-service restaurant called Elements Kitchen, the creation of executive chef Onil Chibas, founder of nearly five-year old Elements Catering and Elements Café. With the help of chef de cuisine Alberto Morales, Elements Kitchen expands on the cafe’s brunch and to-go concepts, featuring New American cuisine that will change with the seasons.
To stress its seasonal approach and passion for ingredients, the menu here is broken up by star items in their own sections, currently with beef, lobster, oysters, eggs, squash, and cod among the features. Below each of these elements are two to four creative takes on the central ingredient, from an oyster chowder with pork belly under “Oysters” to spaghetti squash with dried olives under “Squash” and a scotch duck egg salad or rare tuna steak with masago caviar under “Eggs.” Stand-out dishes, the restaurant promises, include braised wagyu beef cheeks, a pistachio butter and jelly sandwich, and Bolivian roasted chicken criollo. An international wine list has been curated by Chris Meeske, who owns South Pas’ Mission Wines, while Elements is hoping to get approval for a full liquor license.
37 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. 626-440-0044.
Dinner Menu [PDF]
