A few weeks ago, my sisters and I spent a delightful long weekend at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena.

After checking in shortly after noon on Friday, we were ready for a good meal after a long and early morning of travel. Having stayed at The Langham several times previously, Ann possesses a good familiarity with the neighborhood and suggested a stroll down the hill to one of her favorite spots. Julienne quickly became one of mine, as well.

Located in San Marino, a lovely community bordering Pasadena, Julienne offers breakfast and lunch Mondays through Fridays (open 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and b          runch all day Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We arrived to find the outdoor patio/sidewalk seating full, as was the indoor dining space, but we put our names on the wait list (about 30 minutes) and visited the restaurant’s Gourmet Market and gift shop and some of the neighboring boutique shops along Mission Street to pass the time.

The market is open Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m., offering a smorgasbord of house-made, from-scratch foods from casseroles to salads, entrées to pastries as well as freezer and deli cases with all kinds of “grab and go” items. Specialty food products (sauces, preserves, etc.), home décor items and hostess gifts line the shelves, and there’s a nice assortment of domestic and imported boutique wines available. Special picnic menus (offering à la carte or full-plate options) for holidays like Father’s Day and the Fourth of July are available, and patrons can go on line to peruse a week-at-a-glance menu and order ahead to ensure their favorite items will be ready for pick up.

Julienne evolved from Susan Campoy’s 1970s-era home catering business. Established in 1985, it grew from a small café to this thriving establishment with long-time, loyal staff who are very professional while being extraordinarily accommodating and friendly. Julie Campoy, current proprietor and Susan’s daughter, explains why the business  maintains a no dinner, no Sundays schedule (with the exception of special, private events): “We know our limitations and value the quality of life of our employees.” The majority of those staff have been working there for at least 20 years and receive benefits only dreamed of by most restaurant workers. It makes for a dedicated group of individuals who enjoy their work, working with each other and serving equally loyal customers.

We were seated in the smaller of the restaurant’s two indoor dining spaces, the Private Library Dining Room. The décor reminds you of an elegant yet comfortable library in a fine French country house. The extensive menu, while perhaps French-influenced, offers a wonderful variety of options influenced by the freshest local, seasonal produce and seafood.

My sister Julie eats out warily, dealing with both Celiac disease and food sensitivities which force her to regard every menu as a minefield with hidden ingredients lurking to give her physical grief. Our server was wonderful about confirming the contents of certain dishes, generously offering alterations or substitutions and communicating with the chef to ensure a pleasant experience for her.

 
It was an extremely hot day, and Ann found the Les Composées option of the quiche and soup of the day to be ideal: a nice cold gazpacho and quiche with a spinach “crust.”  I opted for one of the specials: mixed greens with fresh asparagus, mango, avocado, pistachios and fresh Dungeness crab and spicy grilled prawns with a creamy pesto aioli — fabulous!!  Julie ordered the signature chicken tarragon salad over fresh greens (instead of in a sandwich). Cool and very satisfying.

Everything was so much to our liking that we returned the next day for another delectable lunch!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor