Biography
BIO
Robert Simon was born in Pasadena, CA and raised in Studio City with his father Alvin and mother Simone and brother Steven where he attended Grant High School. His passion for food started with his Nana Bess and Papa Joe who taught him the love of food “and good eating”. He spent portions of his young adult life traveling throughout Europe while paying close attention to cuisine and hospitality, particularly in France. While studying theater at Cal Berkeley, Robert became a protégé of Alice Water’s at Chez Panisse and for Narsai David at Narsai’s to help pay for college and later graduated in 1977. In 1983 he began his career as a restaurateur by opening Café Jacoulet with his father Alvin Simon in Old Town Pasadena. Café Jacoulet was a much loved restaurant for seven years until its sale in 1990. In December of 1990, Robert struck out on his own with Bistro 45, a contemporary French restaurant. Bistro 45 has been a favorite among Pasadena’s cognoscenti for almost 20 years, featuring Michelin recommended award winning cuisine with a wine list that regularly appears on Wine Spectator’s Best of Lists. Hence, Robert’s love of the wine country….hence, a/k/a A Bistro opened in October of 2008.