When Champagne Dieter and bubble lover Stacy Jethroe pitched me this blog piece, I knew she'd have her work cut out for her. I mean, come on, she had to drive all the way to Pasadena to go sip Champagnes all night long and taste delicious food!?!? Now that's a labor of love if I've ever seen one. Stacy had a fabulous time at POP Champagne & Dessert Bar and owner Bob Earhart welcomed her with open arms. She gives us a glowing review of POP and their brand new Champagne Diet™ menu. Prepare to salivate!
by Stacy Jethroe
As a bubbly girl, few things bring me more joy than discovering new places to feed my bubbly ways. When I heard there was a place in Southern California that would give me my fix AND feed me healthy bites from The Champagne Diet ™ it was as if ambrosia had fallen from heaven just for me. In that “it was totally meant to be” way, I found myself headed down from San Francisco to LA for a business conference with just enough extra time to take in the blissful experience of POP Champagne & Dessert Bar.
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| Photo by Jessica Cardelucci |
Nestled in Old Pasadena’s bustling shopping district, the first thing I noticed about POP was the bold, charcoal-colored hanging sign above its door, elegantly designed to let the name, well, pop. A cache of classic champagne bottles and magnums in the front windows herald to all who pass by the sparkly perfection to be found within. As we approached POP's open door on a breezy Thursday night, we heard the sound of live jazz beckoning.
Visually, everything about the intimate dining room let us know we wouldn’t leave without feeling as if we had been properly spoiled. Conceived by a Bay Area designer specifically for POP, the interior was warm, inviting, decadent but not overdone. Elegant chandeliers, walls the color of eggplant, a curved wooden bar complete with tall art deco mirror as the pièce de résistance. The room was comfortably full, the clientele mixed. Couples snuggled in over-sized, velvet-covered booths while friends conversed, enjoying appetizers and dessert after a day of local shopping. The jazz music that had called to us? Just one of the delightful extras provided each night at POP.
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| Photo by Jessica Cardelucci |
We were seated at a table in the center of the restaurant and, after chatting for a bit with owner Bob Earhart about POP’s three year history and the bubbly he prefers (owner-produced Pierre Peters Grand Cru has his heart), we perused the menu to see what goodies were in store. A bespeckled cutie named Steven approached to take our order.
First, the important stuff. Champagne flights? Yes, please. My date went for the “Champagne Bubbles” collection which included true French varietals only: Collet Brut Aÿ, Charles Heidseick Brut Reserve Reims, and Bollinger Special Cuvée Aÿ. I had the “Pretty in Pink Bubbles”, an array of lovely pinks from different countries of origin: Latitude 50 Rosé Sekt Germany, Raventos Cava Reserva Rosado ’08 Penedes, D’Orfeuille Rosé Touraine. (I loved the last one so much I ordered another full glass of it.)
A wonderful mix of creative simplicity, POP’s dinner menu is embracing and unique; every item had our mouths watering upon sight alone. My friend enjoyed an assortment of gourmet deviled eggs to start (bacon-onion for the win) and the Truffle Mac n’ Cheese as a main course. Though not part of the lighter fare of the Champagne Diet, these two delicately rich and creamy dishes are longtime POP menu favorites. Personally, though, I couldn’t wait to try the food I’d really come for.
The Champagne Diet menu was introduced at POP on January 3rd, 2012 and has already been a great success with clientele. Mr. Earhart began testing the diet himself in early December and--holiday indulgence aside--has dropped several pounds already (the flatbread pizza is his go-to favorite). I began my meal with the heirloom tomato bruschetta. The flavor was so deliciously light and bright, the crostini perfectly toasted; a drizzle of sweet balsamic and banana leaf garnish completed the beauty of the dish.
Next came the Champagne Chicken. A variation on the Chef’s Monthly Special, it was just the right amount of food with just the right amount of seasoning. Served with sautéed spinach, mushrooms, and cherry heirloom tomatoes, the chicken was cooked absolutely perfectly {italicized} with a hint of rosemary to balance. Two chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert and I was ready to call it a night. Total calorie intake: 632 for dinner/225 champagne. Total enjoyment intake: 100 percent satisfaction.
With a champagne menu featuring an extensive list of Recoltant Manipulant (RM) bubbles, also known as grower-produced or “Farmer Fizz”, and a menu designed to satisfy decadent and diet-conscious taste buds alike, POP is my new favorite bubbly haunt. Cara, you’re on to something here. This Champagne Diet thing is taking over...one meal (and several glasses of sparkling) at a time.
________________________________________________________Some fun, fizzy facts:
POP received two “Best Of” awards, Pasadena Magazine
Blogs featured on the POP website
Bob's Blog
Yash's Blog
Rafael's Blog
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