When Christine Moore followed her Yalie boyfriend to California, she walked off the plane, felt the sunshine, so unlike the dreary East Coast weather she left behind, and decided never to go back. She spent the rest of her life in Southern California, ending up in Altadena, where she lived, and Pasadena, where her popular cafe and bakery, Little Flower, serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week.
The long counter is too fluorescent to be sexy, but still manages to be a scene, especially later in the evening, when nocturnal New Yorkers slink in for an Asahi (the only beer available), and a bowl of jet-black cuttlefish stew. No one who works here has actually been to the original-because they weren't born in time-but they've clearly done their homework.
Owner Theresa Schreiber emphasized the importance of retaining the restaurant's essence while making cosmetic improvements, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere without altering the original layout.
The transformation from MTN to RVR feels like a delightful surprise for diners, bringing a fresh season to a beloved culinary experience that was thought to be long gone.