FROM MISSENSCENE BLOG (Just in case you missed our Grand Opening Party!)

From the lovely CarrieKravetz

(We couldn't copy her nice pics, but we have linked to the original post for your dining enjoyement...)

ix tapa Cantina Opening in Pasadena
December 2, 2009

Last night, I attended the opening of Jack Huang’s newest restaurant-Ix tapa Cantina. The new Mexican eatery found it’s home at 119 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena (Arroyo Parkway and Colorado Blvd). Huang owns two other restaurants in Old Town Pasadena; Bar Celona and Villa Sorriso (perhaps most well known as the Italian restaurant that hosted Michael Jackson’s burial reception).

“With ix-tapa Cantina, as with everything he does, Huang has taken a hands-on approach, including choosing the name of the restaurant and hand picking lighting fixtures with architect and designer Sat Gard.”*

Apparently Huang wanted ix tapa Cantina to feel like a real beach joint in Mexico.

“I always want to have that fun factor, and this restaurant feels like a beach resort, which fits into the theme we wanted to carry out,” Huang said in an interview with Pasadena Magazine. I think he did a good job, considering the space is 7500 sq feet, much larger than most Mexican beach restaurants I’ve come across. But, the heavy use of neon, and 90s decor elements definitely helped achieve the look.

How about the food? The buffet style line was already super long by the time I got there. It moved pretty quickly, and the staff was was constantly refilling the food in the chafing dishes. The buffet offered a few items off the menu, like; rice and chorizo beans, chicken mole, beef birria, cheese enchiladas and tacos. I don’t eat red meat, and I rarely eat pork, but I just had to try one of the tacos. I thought the pork taco was amazing–almost as good as the chicken tacos I get from my favorite local taco truck.

I’ve gone to quite a few store and restaurant openings in my day as an entertainment reporter. I thought this opening was super fun. Dan Cox, did a wonderful job with the PR. His use of twitter, was a great way to publicize the restaurant via word of mouth. And the press/bloggers received a special treat from Dan Cox: 3 drink coupons to be used at Bar Celona, or Villa SORRISO, after the opening at ix tapa cantina.

I walked about a block to Bar Celona, where my favorite mixologist, and owner of Neve Luxury Ice Company, Michel Dozois was bartending.

I used my drink tickets to try some fabulous drink concotion. I don’t quite remember what I had, but it had tequila, syrup, bitters and Michel’s ice. Maybe it’s me, but Michel’s ice makes drinks taste better.

Between the welcoming hosts, good food, yummy drinks, I’d say it was pretty fun night. The only thing that could make my impression of ix tapa cantina any better, is if I win that trip to Ix Tapa, Mexico they’re giving away.

THREE DAYS AND COUNTING and tonight's contest

THREE DAYS!! THREEE DAYS!!! THREEEE DAYS!!!

So, it appears that it is a mere three days until we draw the WINNING NAME for the IX TAPA, MEXICAN VACATION!

There remain TWO WAYS ONLY to have your name included in Friday's drawing: 1) Brent's Gentlemens Pasadena Mixer TONIGHT AT 6PM at ix tapa Cantina will add the first 25 to arrive tonight into the drawing, and 2) become one of the final DAILY WINNERS BEFORE Friday!

Congrats to yesterday's winner, Tony G, who wins Dinner For Two to ix tapa Cantina. Tony's name goes into Friday's drawing, as well, as does Lucindy O. and Agustin O! Good luck!

Today, we return to an old favorite of this blog: The Pics! Shoot a picture to RSVP@DANCOXPR.COM of YOU AT THE BEACH (it doesn't really have to be you, but you will be giving us permission to post it on this blog by submitting....so if it's not really you, then at least make it a REALLY GOOD PIC! You must include the words "I LOOK GREAT AT THE BEACH!" in the subject line. We will randomly draw from all entries tomorrow morning and CHOOSE TWO LUCKY WINNERS!! Both winners will receive "Dinner For Two to ix tapa Cantina," "Two 2 for 1" coupons to ix tapa Cantina, and both winners will be entered into the drawing for the Mexican resort vacation THIS FRIDAY!

Questions? Bring 'em! DAN@DANCOXPR.COM

THREE DAYS AND COUNTING

Just a reminder:

WE DRAW THE WINNING NAME THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, dec 11, 2009...LIVE AT IX TAPA CANTINA. There are ONLY around 100 names in the sombrero! We will be listing all the names this Thursday, via this blog. If you are one of them, email us at DAN@DANCOXPR.COM ...We'll be happy to buy a Rita or two for you, as we all finally hear the winning name drawn.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

The opening of ix tapa Cantina is IN THE NEWS.

From LA Weekly, Amy Scattergood and Jonathan Gold waxed poetic. (Amy thinks our blog is "cute, eh?" And YES, we ARE flattered!).

From the lovely Carrie Kravetz Missenscene blog.

From Mr. T @ NY Mag's Grub Street blog.

"Jack Huang is not only the owner of Pasadena's popular Villa Sorriso and Bar Celona eateries, he is clearly the restaurant-saturated town's favorite pun-meister too. Humor snobs, beware, and dining snobs, rejoice, because Jack's at it again with IX Tapa, his coming cantina that reconquesta'd the Moose McGillycuddy's Pub/Fred's Cantina space on Colorado Blvd....In any case, we rejoice that Pasadena is to have one more non-chain, non-frat heavy location. IX Tapa currently plans to cut ribbon come fall."

...AND LATER THIS POST FROM GRUB STREET:

"Pasadena restaurateur Jack Huang is a brave man. Not only is he opening a third restaurant next Tuesday amid yesterday's frosty forecast, he's named it Ix-Tapa, reminding our inner old fogies of the various puns put together to slam Ishtar (e.g. "Ishtar ish-tarrible!") Helping us move on, Mr. Huang is giving away a trip to Ix Tapa, Mexico via their Twitter page to celebrate the restaurant's grand-opening. The contest begins today, with prizes like free dinners given away every day until December 11th, when the Mexico trip will be awarded. IX-Tapa will grand-open on Tuesday, December 1st with a private party followed by a public opening at 9 p.m.

Urban Daddy offered up sheer poetry...and invites to our Opening Party for 25, as well as a chance to win our trip to Ix Tapa, Mexico!

"In Mexico, there's a beachside oasis called Ixtapa. Some might call it paradise.And you can find it…in Pasadena.Welcome to ix tapa Cantina, bringing wild nights of tacos, margaritas and dancing to a stretch of road not known for any of those things. The grand opening is Tuesday, right when Thursday's leftovers will run out.This is the kind of place where the sidewalk bleeds into the indoor-outdoor bar, where Watermelon Margaritas and Coconut Mojitos accompany the beautiful Pasadena sunset.And the bar bleeds into the dining room, where you'll start with Roast Corn and Tomato Salad, then move on to the classics—tacos, enchiladas, tequila-lime chicken—and maybe finish up with a Banana Split in a Deep-Fried Tortilla.And beyond that, there's a dance floor with a DJ and sunroof. All the way at the back is a balcony with a view of it all, and a second bar.This is the latest spot from the owners of Bar Celona and Villa Sorriso, both now bustling neighborhood institutions, so it's a safe assumption that this one will be around for a while. And if you're not quite convinced this all holds up to the actual Ixtapa, they're giving away a trip for two to the real thing.But trust us, it's exactly the same. "
Note:
ix tapa Cantina, opens this Tuesday, 9pm, 626-304-1000, follow on Twitter for a chance to win prizesUD HOOKUP: The first 25 people to RSVP here will be added to the list for the VIP private party (Dec 1, 6-8pm) and automatically entered into the vacation giveaway.

And, Thrillist opined to the gentlman readers, offering up free dinners to a dozen lucky souls...

Eat: ix tapa
119 E Colorado; Pasadena; 626.304.1000
"This two-story, brightly-colored cantina from the guy behind Bar Celona's bedecked with two bars, a dance floor, and a massive dining room serving up traditional Mex deliciousness like grilled fish tacos w/ red cabbage, cucumber, mango, and cilantro; carnitas w/ guacamole, onions, and cilantro, and a jalapenos/tomato/onion/Veracruz sauce'd grilled red snapper, which firmly believes all fish should control the means of production. The 50-62nd people to email ixtapaContest@gmail.com get free dinner for two at the restaurant; there's also a contest for a trip to Mexico and more info at ixtapapasadena.blogspot.com."

From our friends at the Los Angeles Times...

"Two newcomers to the same stretch of Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena's Old Town are Mexican restaurant Ix Tapa Cantina and Peruvian spot Choza Mama. The 7,500-square-foot Ix Tapa has a full bar, DJs, dancing, live entertainment and -- need it be said? -- flat-screen TVs. To facilitate what owner Jack Huang calls the “fun factor,” the restaurant is celebrating its opening with giveaways, such as a drawing for a vacation to Ixtapa, Mexico. Ix Tapa, 119 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 304-1000; http://www.ixtapapasadena.blogspot.com. "
-- Betty Hallock

And SO. MUCH. MORE...which we will proudly share with you this week, as we approach our FINAL DAYS UNTIL THE MEXICAN IX TAPA RESORT VACATION HAS BEEN AWARDED on Friday, Dec 11, 2009...LIVE at ix tapa Cantina!!

Thanks for following along! And we do hope to see you at ix tapa soon!!

Press? Hungry? Love a taco? TALK TO US AT DAN@DANCOXPR.COM. AND our most sincere apologies to each writer that is included in this post for the untidy presentation...Blogger simply will NOT cooperate! Please forgive us! We're buying pitchers at the bar!

BEFORE

FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING & THE WEEKEND WINNERS

This weekend all of our prizes winners were chosen exclusively through FaceBook and Twitter!

You can find/friend/follow us @ixtapaPASADENA!

Congrats to our Saturday & Sunday WINNERS!

Dana C, who won Dinner For Two to our sister restaurant, Bar Celona. (http://www.barcelonapasadena.com/) Inspired by the traditional tapas bars of Spain, Bar Celona awakens the flair and party atmosphere of the city that bears its name. Live Spanish music and dancing may often be enjoyed, alongside house made sangrias and a thoughtful offering of authentic small plates and signature paellas. Tapas include “crispy eggplant with honey and spiced yogurt”; “whipped salt cod and potatoes bacalao”; and classic “tortilla Espanola.” The charcuterie bar now offers “pinchos,” tiny bite sized treats to whet the appetite through the cocktail hours.

Mario D, who won Dinner For Two to our Old Town Italian fav, Villa SORRISO! (http://www.sorrisopasadena.com/) Awarded “2009’s Best Outdoor Dining Destination,” Villa SORRISO brings the old world charm of Italy to the doorsteps of Old Town Pasadena. Situated at the western end of the Boulevard, Villa boasts the area’s most luxurious outdoor dining, with a canopy of trees floating above cascading fountains and private cabana suites. The menu of Villa SORRISO was created to please the most discriminating palate, with a large selection of pizzas, pastas, steaks and chops. The expansive bar area hosts the area’s most popular weekend parties and events, with weekday evenings presenting relaxed “rat pack” jazz classics.

Dana & Mario have also been entered into the drawing to WIN A VACATION TO IX TAPA, MEXICO which will be drawn LIVE AT IX TAPA this Friday, Dec 11...let the countdown begin!!

FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING until the Mexican vacation drawing!!!

For the rest of the week, we will draw ONE LUCKY NAME EVERY DAY to win Dinner For Two to Ix Tapa...AND, THREE LUCKY NAMES EVERY DAY to be entered into the drawing for the Mexican vacation (each of whom will receive Two For One Gift Certificates to ix tapa Cantina)!! Which means...today's contest just began....NOWWWWW!

Shoot us an email to RSVP@DANCOXPR.COM with the words "FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING" in the subject line to be entered into today's drawing! Good luck!

Questions? DAN@DANCOXPR.COM

AIN'T NO PROHIBITION IN IX TAPA

Dec 5th is Prohibition Day! We mock the very idea! Instead, we recommend a Margarita...or a Sangria....Or, better yet, A PITCHER!

Just to remind, we ARE GIVING AWAY PRIZES AND DINNERS EVERY DAY, until Friday Dec 11 when we draw for the Grand Prize Trip to Ix Tapa, Mexico!

All prizes this weekend are via Facebook & Twitter ONLY!

Yesterday, we had THIRTY FOUR WINNERS! Curious as to what they won? Follow or Friend @ ixtapaPASADENA!

Salut!