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Bruce Kalman Whips Up Union's Addictive Spaghetti Chitarra

Possibly the best thing to order at the Pasadena Cali-Italian spot.

Matthew Kang is the Lead Editor of Eater LA. He has covered dining, restaurants, food culture, and nightlife in Los Angeles since 2008. He's the host of K-Town, a YouTube series covering Korean food in America, and has been featured in Netflix's Street Food show.

Bruce Kalman has an utter commitment to using local ingredients, and nothing celebrates that dedication than this addictive plate of chitarra pasta at Union, his restaurant in Pasadena. First, local wheat gets milled nearby at Grist & Toll, which becomes the basis for the chewy pasta.

Then, add California San Marzano tomatoes and a gently spiced Anaheim chile pepper for complexity. Probably the only thing that isn't local is the parmigianno-reggiano cheese, which comes from Italy, of course. Take a look at Kalman's technique and check out the dish the next time you're in the 626.

Union Restaurant

37 Union Street, , CA 91103 (626) 795-5841 Visit Website