Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 10, 2011

10

GOOD FOOD & DRINK

 Mountain Views News Saturday, September 10, 2011 

A Musical Tribute to Jazz VocalistsExperience the elegance ofa bygone musical era asthe theatre is transformedinto a musical time capsulefeaturing performancesby legendary jazz vocalistsDinah Washington,
Sarah Vaughn, Nina Simoneand Carmen McRaeto the backdrop of a live jazz trio.
__________________
Final 2011 PerformanceSunday, October 9th at 3pm(626) 355-4318Media Sponsor Produced by 
The Instrumental Women Project (IWP) is an arts agency member of 
E.M.E.R.G.E, the nonprofit fiscal sponsorship program of the Pasadena Arts Council.
Admission $30Group discounts six or moreTickets & Info Available at:
sierramadreplayhouse.orgorWritten and performed byvocalist extraordionaireMs. Phyllis BattleMusic Director, Vanessa BurchAnnouncer, James Janisse
THE BEST? JUST ASK… 

AVANTI CAFÉ PIZZA

A few years back there was a very popular and comprehensive event in Pasadena, one where 
the greatest scholar and meekest shoe shiner were both able to speak with discernment, The 
Pasadena Pizza Cook-off. I was fortunate to be involved in the event for many years. I got a 
little caught up in my flourishing affection for pizza, for I dubbed my car the Pizazar. Next, 
I found myself subscribing to Pizza Today Magazine. The magazine is overtly obscure for 
the pragmatic consumer, those of you that just fancy a good pie (pizza) and don’t wish to 
follow the outer workings of the rolling pin. So, I am a little impetuous and my passion may 
make me a candidate for a white suit with 
straps someday, but hey, we are taking about 
pizza here!!!

 Making a pizza is the easiest and most difficult food item in the restaurant business. Wolfgang 
Puck took this flat circle and added some slices of salmon and a genius was born. 
On the other hand, I have had more than one pizza that must have had cardboard as a 
main ingredient. We are fortunate; we have some great Pizza places in the area: Tarnatinos, 
Domenicos and Zelo. There is this restaurant in the city of Pasadena that I believe is a 
contender as well. Avanti Cafe and Pizzeria. It is an unassuming stop on North Lake. The 
owner, Bobbi Gorfanian and I met some 15 years ago at my Pizza Benefit. 

Avanti Cafe is what I would label as a classic drive-by. A place that draws your attention, but 
is relatively unknown to many, and offers little staging on the exterior by way of a banner 
proclaiming the best Pizza and Elmer Dills agrees. 

What should do you get at Avanti? Here are a few of my favorite selections from the Pizza 
menu and the other entrees. The Avanti Special is owner Bobbi’s favorite ($16.95) Bacon 
Julienne, fresh basil and bacon, From the Garden ($16.95)red onions, black olives, squash 
and mild goat cheese, my friend “Dave the Vegan” loves 
this one long time !! From the pasta side of the menu, here 
are two that I absolutely loved and I think you will too. 
First I sampled the Breast tenders along with fresh red and 
green peppers, Bermuda onions, and cilantro in a tequila 
lime cream sauce and ($12.95) it rivals any pasta that I have 
had in the San Gabriel Valley, next the Chicken Florentine 
($13.95), tender chicken stuffed with Spinach, with light 
mozzarella, mixed in a tomato mushroom cream sauce. 
Yum Yum. For you pizza lovers that have to stay clear of 
cheese, Avanti offers much cheese less pizzas.

What you need to know: Avanti is casual. Dress comfortably, 
and make certain you have room to let your belt out 
an extra notch. They have a small parking lot on the Union 
Side and offer beer and wine. 111 N. Lake Ave. Pasadena, 
CA 91101 Corner of Lake and Union • 1 Block North of 
Colorado Free Parking in Rear off Union

Tel. 626-577-4688 Have a favorite pizza place, of course 
you do! Email it to thechefknows@yahoo.com, watch Dining 
with Dills every Sunday Night at 7 PM on Charter 101

Check me out Facebook, and see my latest restaurant review www.peterdills.com 

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills


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Unique, Personalized Events & Celebrations 
Contact us for a FREE Consultation & Quote 
www.SoozEvents.com Sue Cook 626.253.1323 
FEEDING A FAMILY FOR $400 A MONTH?

Tawra Kellam editor of LivingOnADime.
com does something that most people think 
they can’t do today. She feeds her family of 
6 for $400 a month. Most people say that’s 
an impossible feat but what’s even more 
impressive is that she does it without using 
coupons. 

How does she do it? First, Tawra says, “I 
use what I have. If I don’t have milk in the 
house, I don’t make a special trip to the store 
for it. The kids won’t die from malnutrition 
if they miss drinking milk for a day or two. 
If I’m out of bread, I’ll make some cornbread 
or muffins. If I’m out of fresh veggies, I will 
use canned or frozen instead. Stop going to 
the store for one or two things. I shop for 
food 2-3 times a month and that’s it. ”

Shop the clearance sections “I regularly 
find milk on clearance for $1.75 a gallon. My 
store marks the milk down a few days before 
the “sell by” date. The great part is that milk 
stays fresh for 1 week after it’s opened. I just 
throw several in the freezer and then I don’t 
have to make a special trip for milk. Just 
thaw, shake and serve.”

Purchase meat only on sale or on clearance. 
Again, butchers mark down their meat a day 
or two before the “sell by” date. Generally, 
meat is good for 3-4 days after the “sell by” 
date in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer. 
Tawra says “I never buy meat unless it’s on 
sale for $1.99 or less a pound. If it’s not on 
sale, we don’t eat it. You can get some great 
unadvertised deals just by watching the 
meat counter’s clearance items. I found 5 lb. 
rolls of hamburger for $2.95 each after New 
Year’s Day. Of course we stocked up and will 
have enough hamburger to last 6 months. 
I can get “soup bones” with enough meat 
on them to make a great vegetable stew for 
under $2.00 for the entire family! Add some 
rolls and you have a complete meal for 6 for 
less than $3.00. When chicken is on sale for 
under $2.00 per pound, I stock up. I do this 
with all my meats. This way we can always 
have a variety of meats.”

Ask. Most people are intimidated by 
asking, but Tawra regularly asks when things 
will go on sale or be marked down. By asking, 
she found out that bananas, milk and meat 
are marked down each morning. She tries to 
shop in the mornings to get the best deals. 
She says, “When we lived in another state, 
they marked things down in the evening so 
that’s when we went shopping. Adjust your 
shopping times to find the best deals.”

Serve your family proper portions 
of food. “Most parents give their kids 
way too much milk, juice and soda. 
My kids get soda on special occasions 
only. They eat milk with their cereal. 
For snacks, they eat a piece of string 
cheese, fruit or one or two cookies. 
The kids don’t sip on milk or juice all 
day long. They drink water and are 
just fine with it. As a general rule, I 
try to give them one vegetable and one 
fruit for lunch and dinner and then a 
piece of fruit with cookies or cheese 
as a snack. This gets their “five a day” 
in very easily. Stop letting kids just 
“graze” on chips and other snack food 
all day. My kids get one small “bowl” 
of chips a day and that’s it. ”

So what do the Kellams eat? Tawra 
shares some of their menus with us:

-Slow cooked roast, brown gravy, 
onions, carrots, potatoes, buttermilk 
muffins and a fruit plate

(The next day, the leftovers from 
the roast are used as BBQ beef along 
with potato salad, green beans and 
strawberries or grapes.)

-Pizza (homemade), tossed salad 
and fruit

-Maple glazed chicken, scalloped 
potatoes, glazed carrots, applesauce 
and dinner rolls

-Sloppy Joes, cucumbers and 
tomatoes

-Tacos, refried beans, green beans, 
sliced apples and tortilla chips w/ 
honey

With savvy shopping, you to can cut 
your grocery bill even when prices are 
going up!