Elements Kitchen and Ajisen Ramen Open, Recap From Last Night's Gourmet Panel

PASADENA— Remember Elements Kitchen? The restaurant and bar opened yesterday serving modern New American dishes like Fois Gras Torchon and Jellied Sauternes and Kabocha Squash and Miso Risotto. Smaller plates are mostly in the $10 range with larger dishes in the low to mid- $20s. Chris Meeske, owner of Mission Wines in South Pas, has selected the wine list which offers selections from the Mediterranean and South America. [EaterWire]

CENTURY CITY— LAW reports on one-monther Ajisen Ramen which has opened up inside the Westfield Mall. The worldwide chain serves steamy bowls of msg-free ramen at about $8 a pop. [LAW]

SEPULVEDA PASS— Last night, The Duchess, Ruth Reichl, was in the hizzy for that Gourmet lecture produced in conjunction with Zocalo Public Square. For those that missed the discussion, here now the requisite YouTube footage. [EaterWire]