Radhika was originally located on Shoppers Lane next to Green Street.  I always saw it when I ate at Green Street, but never ventured to it.  However, one day Taro and I decided to go try it, but we were surprised that it was replaced by The Counter.  Radhika was there for quite a long time and we were thoroughly disappointed that we could not have some Indian cuisine, but willingingly settled for a burger instead (which was delicious).  A few weeks ago, while driving back from Trader Joe’s, I pointed out that a new restaurant finally opened in South Pasadena where 750ml used to be and was pleasantly surprised that it was not an American restaurant.  We couldn’t figure out what exactly they served, but there were tons of people waiting and the restaurant itself was packed.  So on Saturday, after the Silverlake Jubilee, we decided to try this new South Pasadena restaurant and discovered that it was Radhika, the same restaurant from Pasadena with the same owner.  We were ecstatic and looked forward to some potentially mouthwatering food!

I have really learned to love Indian food and the spices that are present in all the dishes.  Sometimes it can be a bit too spicy, but I enjoy sloshing a piece of naan into curry and picking up pieces of chicken and lamb with rice with my fingers.  Looking back, I cannot believe that I didn’t like Indian food coming out of high school; I now realize that my palate has opened up and that I am so much more open to all types of food.  The foodie and adventurer in me is out and I love it.

At Radhika, we ordered Chana Samosa – crispy turnover stuffed with seasoned potatoes, peas, cilantro, and red onions, Chicken Tikka Masala – marinated boneless chicken breast cooked in a clay oven simmered in tomato yogurt sauce – which is one of Taro’s favorite Indian dishes, and Lamb Shank Kashmiri – spiced with asofoetida, cinnamon, fennel, and dry ginger served with parsley naan.  I am a huge fan of lamb – the “gamey” taste does not even affect me – and am so glad that Taro now appreciates the flavor of lamb – to the point where we almost always get it when it is offered!  Overall, the food was pretty good at Radhika.  The samosa was hearty and the cilantro sauce and other sauce on the plate, which was a bit sweeter, had a lot of flavor.  I thought the lamb was far better than the chicken tikka masala, which was a bit more on the dry side despite the curry having a lot of spice and flavor to it.  The food was good, but it definitely does not compare to the Indian restaurant close to Taro’s work.

For a restaurant that is nearby and local, we definitely would go again.  The prices are a bit higher than most Indian restaurants, but that is what you get when you are eating in South Pasadena, especially since there is no other Indian place close-by (unless you go to Old Town).  I would definitely go back to try the Tandoori Chicken and if anybody is free, I would also definitely go take advantage of the lunch special at Radhika.  With a mango lassi, which was very good here, you will definitely have something to cool the spice and fire in your mouth after dining here.

I saw these flowers as we were walking to Radhika and had to snap a photo of them.  Taro also took the camera from me and caught me smiling and laughing before dinner – well before I was completely stuffed.

Vivian continued working on her mugs.  Watching her put the pieces together looked challenging and afterwards, Rebecca expressed that this was actually a difficult project for someone who hasn’t worked with clay before.  According to Rebecca, this would be a three week project and for Vivian to piece it together in four and a half hours really showed her tenacity and skill.

Some of the other pieces for Week 2 consisted of bowls, vases, and plates.  What I really enjoyed was watching others create and come up with their own interpretation of an everyday object.  We each have our own style and vision, and in the end, they all come together to reflect hard work and a passion for the arts.

Hopefully I am not retelling this incorrectly, but in Chinese culture, women were once referred to as vases.  Empty vessel, perhaps, or something objectified?  Regardless of why, one of the participants at the class created a lovely dress (pictured on the right) which serves as a vase.  The detail on it and the form itself was quite impressive and I could not wait to see how she would glaze it!

Rebecca made the bowl (pictured on the left) in a matter of minutes.  She was showing us how we can blend two different types of clay together and she came up with this beautiful flower design on the spot!

There was definite teamwork in piecing together Vivian’s mugs.  In the end, Vivian wasn’t sure if they would still be mugs, two vases, or potentially bookends.  Whatever it may be, she was able to piece all the individual parts together to create something stunning.  With Rebecca’s mother, she has a fascination with noses.  Because of her intrigue, she made a piece that showcased the nose.  I loved how she added on eyebrows to create more depth to the vase.

Finally, my finished product minus the glaze:

I knew walking into the class that I wanted to either create a plate or bowl.  After sifting through some of the books Rebecca Tager, our instructor, provided, I settled on a bowl with an intricate circle design.  Part of the challenge was finding the perfect circular object to “punch out” individual circles.  Luckily, Rebecca is resourceful and she handed me the lid of her lip balm.  (The sacrifices you make in the name of art!)  The size of the bowl itself was not large, but creating individual circles?  It was time consuming, but as I placed one on top of the other, it came out to this great design.  After finishing the bowl, I actually used a slab to create a piece for our garden – essentially a nameplate.  Something small and cute – me, Taro, and Peanut.

Vivian wanted to create mugs that when joined together, it would be a heart.  Rebecca enthusiastically said yes and she started the task right away.  She used a cutout of a heart to build the shape and had to mold individual pieces – front, back, and sides of the cup.  It took the full two hours to create the components and it actually needed some time to dry before piecing it together.

There were other participants in the workshop and it was great to see the direction they were headed in.  Rebecca’s mother really wanted to create a bowl inspired by her own daughter’s creation.  Another created a bowl with an intricate design acting as the foot of the bowl.  One of the most interesting – she had an inspiration to create it and it just called out it her – was a tiny hedgehog.  I thought it was silly, but in a fun, playful kind of way.

So that was how we all began.  A two hour class goes by in a flash, but what emerges out of it is entirely unique, representative of the individual, and creative.

The creation of my bowl:

The hedgehog piece:

Rebecca is a great instructor and someone so easy to work with.  If you need suggestions or an extra hand, she’s right there to give support and direction.

So as I was sifting through my email, I stumbled upon one from SPACE announcing a two day ceramics workshop, somewhat geared towards Valentine’s Day.  I have always enjoyed “artsy” things – stamps and card-making as a teen, scrapbooking – both traditional and digital – and card-making (again!) as an adult – but I never actually did pottery or any hands-on type of work.  So I thought, two days…that’s not a bad way to try something and if it isn’t for me, it’s not a huge commitment.  I sent Taro a text message, asked him if he was interested, and to my surprise, he said yes.  I signed us both up and anticipated what I was going to create at the ceramics workshop.

The two day workshop was a new experience, but a pleasant, fun, and relaxing one.  I loved that when I walked in the first day, there was a welcoming feel and vibe in the gallery.  In addition, there were books, plates, bowls, shapes, utensils, and clay sprawled out for anybody’s use with a table next to it filled with wine, cheese, and other goodies.  The workshop wasn’t a “this is how you make a ceramic piece” type of class with strict instructions and guidelines.  Instead, it was an environment that welcomed creativity with Rebecca Tager, the instructor, assisting in every way possible.  Want to make a cup?  Knock yourself out.  An abstract, organic piece?  Why not?

So Taro and I were able to create anything we wanted.  So what did we do?  We had to do our own interpretation of Peanut and because the workshop gave us an avenue to run with our crazy obsession about our cat, we each made a piece dedicated to the nut.  I had so much fun creating my Peanut vase; I went into my own little world, throwing, sculpting, shaping, and on the second day, painting the piece and adding more texture and depth to it.

I cannot wait to see the final product, but overall, I am so glad that Taro and I tried something new.  His piece, in my opinion, is amazing, especially for someone who doesn’t always do the “artsy” stuff!  I cannot wait to do this again and am looking forward to the next ceramics workshop that SPACE will be offering.

This is my piece, before I started painting it:

Halfway through painting my ceramic piece, Taro came and this is what his piece looked like.  He was very focused on getting the colors of Peanut just right!

Some of the final products before glazing:

Our figures side by side.  I love them both – maybe even love Taro’s interpretation of Peanut even more than my own.

Some would say it was a downpour that day.  If you ask others, Gina’s dad was showering her with love and happy tears from above.  Regardless, the ceremony was intimate and touching, especially when the couple thanked each other for being the other half and for allowing each to give them a family.  Afterwards, the celebration continued inside the beautiful cottage, The Raymond Restaurant.

The night was not just a celebration of Chris and Gina, but a dedication to family.  Chris surprised Gina with a slide show of her father; with “Dance with My Father” playing in the background, tears were shed by everyone.  It was a moving dedication, followed by a heartfelt dance between father and daughter, Chris and Jade.  Gina, also, had a surprise for Chris.  She discreetly took off her shoes and performed a solo Hawaiian dance.  It felt like the world closed in on just those two – Gina only looked at Chris and Chris stood there in admiration of his friend, wife, partner, and companion.

It was a beautiful ceremony and reception, Chris and Gina, and I feel lucky to have been a part of it and have you two as friends.  May your love continue to grow and flourish!