Dinner and clementine cake
$$, American, Pico
"Not 1, but 2 birthday cakes! Thanks @#anotheryearolder"
ChefBruce Kalman
Los Angeles
About Bruce Kalman
Bruce Kalman is the head chef at Union. Born and raised in northern New Jersey, he has spent almost his entire life working in kitchens, and was trained by some of the nation’s top chefs. His culinary career began at a local pizzeria owned by a family friend, where he fell in love with fresh ingredients and the beat of the kitchen.
My Venues
- Union Restaurant
- 37 E Union St
- Pasadena, CA
Accolades
- Nominee for Rising Star ChefJames Beard Foundation
- WinnerFood Network's Chopped
- WinnerEsquire Network’s Knife Fight
- ChefsFeed WinnerOne of the Best Things to Eat in Los Angeles
Where I Go Out
Assorted plates
$$$, Outdoor Seating, Wine Bar, Full Bar, New American, West Loop Gate
"Another great meal @#simplefood"
Assorted plates
$$$, Outdoor Seating, Full Bar, American, Southern / Soul,
"Such delicious bites @#pasadena"
Raw bar
$$$, Happy Hour, Reservations, Full Bar, Seafood, Cannonborough Elliotborough
"Beautiful raw bar @#Mozzaplex"
Chocolate Babka and hot fresh bagels
"The chocolate #bagelandaschmear"
Prosciutto and melon
$$$, American, New American, Culver West
"Really delicious and inspiring dinner / date night with my wife @#ingredientdrivenfood"
At My Venues
White truffle Cacio e Pepe with a Sous Vide Egg
$$, Italian, Old Pasadena
"White truffle cacio e pepe with a sous vide egg 🤤🍜 Updating my LA City Guide + got all weepy when i saw this insane creation from @unionpasadena again. I miss it. 😖"
Bread and giardiniera
$$, Italian, Old Pasadena
"The chef at Union used to own his own pickle company, so when I saw this on his menu I had to have it again. Everything at Union is done well, but this is a perfect way to start. I will go there to just enjoy this with a glass of wine to start my evening. The giardiniera is one of the best out there. Put that on top of the cultured butter and the crusty loaf bread that he serves along side it and you wont be disappointed."
Risotto du jour
$$, Italian, Old Pasadena
"Uni risotto: this dish tastes as spectacular as it looks. The rich, briny flavor of uni really shines in every bite. And it's gilded with mushrooms, smoked corn and even more uni."
Roast chicken
$$, Italian, Old Pasadena
"Best roast chicken in L.A. Enjoyed it on a Sunday, served family style. You get a ramekin filled with jus. Moist and tender meat, crispy skin. So much flavor. Editor's note: roasted chicken is served throughout the week and served "family style" on Sundays."
Duck agnolotti
$$, Italian, Old Pasadena
"Everything about this dish is perfect. The fresh pasta is perfectly cooked, and the sauce has deep, dark, rich flavors. It's so good that I mopped up all the leftover sauce with bread."