Bone Kettle (bonekettle.com, 626-795-5702, 67 N. Raymond Ave) is a recent, welcome

addition to Old Pasadena. Indonesian American chef Erwin Tjahyadi combines Southeast Asian influences with fine-dining chops from attending Pasadena’s Le Cordon Bleu and working at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. The menu offers something for everyone — zesty appetizers to share; complete “rice plate” lunches; and noodle soups built around the restaurant’s bone broths, simmered for 36 hours and poured while steaming hot over springy ramen noodles. The striking mural by L.A. artist Cleon Peterson — which depicts small-headed, big-bodied figures locked in primordial struggle — seems an appropriate complement to the silken, richly animal soup. Broths ($13 and up) are crowned with your pick of protein right in the bowl, save for the braised oxtails ($22), which are beautifully browned and served on the side, ideal for gnawing. Rice plates ($13 to $15) cover the range of salty, sweet, bitter, spicy and sour with your choice of meats or tempeh, poached egg, sweet chile-roasted corn, cucumber tomato salad, mushrooms and a delicious tangle of greens, all served around white rice. If you have room for dessert, order the dayglow trio of crème brûlée ($11), with custards inflected with sweet pandan leaf, durian and ube (purple yam).