i had expressed to duc one day that it had been years since i had ventured to downtownpasadenaso in an effort to re-expose me to the wonder that is the street of colorado blvd and its offerings, he set aside a walking plan for us both which included an early dinner stop at a restaurant whose name he didn't want to reveal to me. that restaurant turned out to be union which is a sweet 50-seat modern take on northern italian cuisine combined with the power of sourcing ingredients locally and responsibly. the seasonality of the menu reflected the nuances of californian cuisine and produce as transposed on what would be classically northern italian food. i for one am a big fan of both styles so was pleasantly surprised not only with the intimate but chic decor inside but also the food and service.