Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, March 24, 2018

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 24, 2018 9FOOD & DRINK Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 24, 2018 9FOOD & DRINK 
TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dillsthechefknows@yahoo.com 
Read us online at: 
www.mtnviewsnews.com 
OLD-FASHIONED FRUIT CRUMBLE 


Ingredients 4 servings2. cups fresh or frozen fruit, such as blueberries, peaches, strawberries,etc1 tablespoon granulated sugar3 tablespoons whole-wheat or all-purpose flour, divided1 tablespoon orange juice
. cup rolled oats
. cup chopped almonds, or pecans3 tablespoons brown sugar
. teaspoon ground cinnamon2 tablespoons canola oilPreparationPreheat oven to 400°F. Combine fruit with granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and orange juice.
Divide among four 6-ounce ovenproof ramekins. Combine oats, nuts, brown sugar, the remaining 2tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Drizzle with oil and stir to combine. Sprinkle over the fruit mixture.
Place the ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden, 20 to25 minutes. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before serving. 


FREE EVENT! DINNER WITH FRIENDS AT 
SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE ON MARCH 26


 Sierra Madre Playhouse continues its Off the Page series of free staged readings with Pulitzer Prizewinning 
Dinner with Friends on Monday, March 26, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Scott Alan Smith will direct.

Two married couples have been best friends for years. Karen and Gabe, international food writers, are giving adinner for Beth and Tom, which he doesn’t attend. It emerges from the heartbroken Beth that he has left her foranother woman. Gabe and Karen are almost as crushed, having expected “to grow old and fat together, the four ofus” and the shock causes them to take a long, hard look at their own marriage.

Donald Margulies is the playwright. His Broadway credits include The Country House, Sight Unseen, CollectedStories, Time Stands Still, Brooklyn Boy and What’s Wrong with This Picture? He teaches at the Yale School ofDrama. 

Director Scott Alan Smith is the Associate Artistic Director of The Road Theatre. His directing creditsinclude Melissa Arctic, Sovereign Body, That Good Night, Lady, New York Mets, So Nice to See You and ThePetoskey Stones. He is also an actor. He received an MFA from the American Conservatory Theatre.

 
“Monday, March 26, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. At Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA91024. Ample free parking behind the venue. Reservations are not necessary. Admission is free. Donations areaccepted. Website: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org


“Margulies writes about relationships with such intelligence and spiky humor that his comedy-drama…
becomes something quite wonderful”—Time Magazine.

…full of life, warmth, laughs and wisdom…” —N.Y. Daily News 


If it’s new, it must be ready for a review, right? Well, 
I can pat myself on the back for waiting a few weeks.
Actually, the credit goes to the owners of the newnew kid on South Lake Ave., “The Arbour”. Before 
Smitty’s, Del Frisco’s, Crocodile Café and PaulMartin’s, there was Burger Continental and TheChronicle, and that was pretty much it for food fareon South Lake. I was aware of The Arbour opening,
but it was a bit of a cat and mouse game with owner/
chef Ian Gresik - I was ready to come in, but hewasn’t ready for me to stop by just yet. His stint at 
the Drago in DTLA did him right; he knows thata soft opening and limited reservations would bethe foundation of something spectacular, and if myfirst time sitting at the bar was any indicationof things to come The Arbour is not only awelcome addition to South Lake, but the 
entire San Gabriel Valley restaurant scene.

Before I get into the menu, the scene istypical of any modern built-from-the-groundup 
restaurant with a beautiful bar area, openkitchen, and a nouvelle feel. Certainly, thisnot say that the other restaurants on Lakedon’t have their spaces looking sharp, butthere is a feel to The Arbour that might makeyou think that you were dining in Napa if youdidn’t know any better, so much similar butso much different. Are you ready for this,
sports fans? There is no television - no bigscreens anywhere at The Arbour, and I get it!! Thisplace has a real focus on the food - imagine that! Imentioned Drago in DTLA - Ian was the youngestpastry chef in the US with a Michelin Star while atPatina (those are hard to come by). I know Ian andhis wife aren’t going to like this, but do yourself afavor, call first and make sure he is there. It makes 
the night so special with the owner/chef comes byand says hello, and his charm is the signature of the 
restaurant. And if you hold your breath and sayM-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I, you might get him to makehis signature dessert, the California, right at yourtable. Looking to score points with the one you 
love? This a deal closer. 

But wait, Johnny, there’s more! We haven’t eventalked about the food yet. 

My dad used to say pictures tell a thousandstories, and I am glad this article includes thedishes that I tried. I started off with a couple of coldappetizers (appetizer: defined as a small portionto stimulate the desire to eat) beginning with theSeafood Salad of crab, shrimp and shellfish withparsnips and Meyer lemon vinaigrette [side note:
if you like lemonade, Meyer lemons are the best].
Next was the Bison steak tartare and Fresno chili 
stamp served with puffed bread. I mentioned that 
just before I was born that parents lived in Germanyand tartare was very common. Chef Ian, of course, 
is familiar with European eating habits. Next from 
the hot appetizers was the Tagliatte, crumbled pork 


sausage, rapini light chili flakes, and san Joaquingold cheese. From the entrees menu I had the 
Butternut Squash Agnolotti, and then a taste of theSea Bass. My assessment was two thumbs up; theonly problem was there were dishes that I didn’t getto, and so badly want to return for, namely the BeefChili and the Heritage Pork Chop. It’s amusing tome that the menu doesn’t offer descriptions, butwhat I had was so good that I can’t wait for my 
return. 

527 South Lake Ave. Pasadena 
Notable Notes: valet parking/street parking, fullbar, reservations suggested. The menu changesfrequently, so go to their website at www.thearbour. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: