Inside Best of Pasadena 2025: Food Journal Magazine’s On-Site Experience

Last Thursday, December 11th, the team at Food Journal Magazine loosened our belts and headed to 340 South Lake Avenue for one of the most anticipated nights of the year: Pasadena Magazine’s "Best of Pasadena 2025."

Hosted at the stunning Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, the event ran from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, but we managed to pack a whole lot of flavor into those two hours. The atmosphere was buzzing with live music and fellow foodies, but let’s be honest—we were there for the menu. If you want great food in Los Angeles or more important in the city of Pasadena, these were the pick of the litter by Pasadena magazine.

Our culinary tour started strong. We sampled delicious bites from Celestino Ristorante and Cityclub, before diving into fresh offerings from MAMA M SUSHI. The Spanish flavors from Telefèric Barcelona were a standout, and Wife and the Somm proved exactly why they are a local favorite.

Of course, we saved room for dessert. We may have gone back for seconds (okay, thirds) at Hansen’s Cakes and Nothing Bundt Cakes, capping off the meal with the perfect sugar rush.

To wash it all down, the beverage stations were flowing. We sipped handcrafted cocktails featuring Dulce Vida Tequila and the always-photogenic Empress Gin. The wine selection was equally impressive, with pours from J. Lohr, Flanagan Wines & Riley’s Rows, Meadows Estate (Umpqua Valley), and Ojai Mountain (Ventura County). Between the wine and cocktails, we made sure to grab a Perfect Hydration water to keep us going.

A huge thank you to Keck Medicine of USC for helping make the night possible. It was an unforgettable evening of community, cocktails, and culinary excellence. Until next year, Pasadena!

Stay Hungry!

Matthew Tropp | Food Journal Magazine