Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, April 7, 2018

9

EDUCATION

FOOD & DRINK

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 7, 2018 

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

NO CHEESEBURGER CHEESEBURGER BUT 

GREAT MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD

Alverno Heights Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Julia V. Fanara

E-mail address: jfanara@alvernoheights.org

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca, 

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 

Head of School: Ethan Williamson

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.org

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527 

Preschool-TK-8th Grade

Principal: Dr. William Walner

website: www. bcslions.org

Clairbourn School

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172

FAX: 626-286-1528

E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809 

Co-Principals Nancy Lopez and Diane Kieffaber

info@foothilloaksacademy.org 

preschool@foothilloaksacademy.org

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255

Head of School: Jenny Janetzke

Email: jenny@frostig.org

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410 

Head of School, Carl Parke 

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road 

Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

La Salle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Principal Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Roberto Hernandez

website: http://phs.pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Principal Joan Harabedian (626) 355-9028 

website: www.st-rita.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Lindsay Lewis

E-mail address: lewis.lindsay@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom

E-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166 

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

Arcadia Unified School District

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net

Monrovia Unified School District

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016

(626) 471-2000 

Website: www.monroviaschools.net

Duarte Unified School District

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010

(626)599-5000 

Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us

Writing reviews on restaurants is subjective, as is 
drinking and wine . I love mom-and-pop restaurants 
that you’ve probably driven past 100 times. I always 
go to the restaurant at least three times before 
ink hits paper in the form of a review (I do take 
recommendations). I love Parkway Grill, Panda Inn 
and Houston’s, but you know those already!

 Sahara Restaurant in central Pasadena is one of my 
go-to spots for both takeout and sit-down dining. I 
probably eat at Sahara at least three times a month. I 
was born in Athens, Greece, and though Sahara leans 
towards Lebanese cuisine, Middle Eastern foods 
are universal in menu selections. They don’t have 
Lebanese beer (the owner’s son said they don’t have 
their home brew because they’d drink it all!), so I have 
my meals with Heineken. The interior is somewhat 
plain with pictures of Lebanon, and the tables and 
chairs could be from any diner in the area. But, the 
food is the highlight of this show. The kitchen is 
open so you can watch your food being cooking on 
mesquite, and it’s ably run by two brothers and their 
sons - it’s a family affair. 

 They offer plenty of standard Middle Eastern 
dishes like kebabs, shawerma, and falafels. I love 
the lulu kebabs (ground seasoned lamb and beef 
($11.25), and for those of you who can’t decide, 
get the combination ($14.75) which has a little 
of everything. For you vegetarians the falafel is a 
crowd pleaser ($8.25). Order a side of babaghanouj 
(eggplant) ($4.50) - they tell me it’s the real deal. 
My buddy Mike Bingley from the tv show Straight 
off the Menu swears by the by the chicken kebab. I 
like it but others seem to be juicer. All dishes come 
with feta cheese, a remarkable starter of pita bread, 
cucumber and your choice of lentil or cabbage salad. 
The cabbage is salad is great, and often I’ll put it aside 
for my next days lunch. Two enthusiastic thumbs 
up for Sahara! Get here early - it’s posted close time 
8:30, but many times Sebestain says bro “we were 
busy we sold out on the food, just like a BBQ joint in 
Texas” - when it’s gone, it’s gone. If you were a fan 
of Burger Continental 20 years ago, you will love 
Sahara. 

Sahara 2226 E. Colorado Blvd Pasadena Closed on 
Sundays (626) 795-6900

 

 Join me on Charter Cable Channel 188 every Sat 
& Sun at 3 PM. Plus check out my updated website 
www.peterdills.com

 Peter Dills local Food and wine writer. Host of 
Dining with Dills Radio Show on Sunday at 5 PM 
KLAA 830


COOKING FOR 
THE KIDS!

By Judy Gold

Did you know that the primary purpose of a 
Kiwanis Club is to benefit children? This ideology 
is at the heart of the Kiwanis Club of Sierra Madre, 
and one of the reasons that the club has their 
annual Chili Cook Off Event. The money raised 
goes to support the ImaginArt program at the 
Creative Arts Group right here in Sierra Madre. If 
your child attends Sierra Madre Elementary School 
he/she partakes in this outstanding program.

 For a first hand look at the ImaginArt program. 
I spent some time with Kristin Naran, Executive 
Director of the Creative Arts Group. The program 
really acts like a field trip with each class walking 
a few blocks to Creative Arts on Baldwin. Grades 
1-5 are given a project to complete. My observation 
of a Fourth Grade Class that was putting the final 
touches on their project: Crocagator. 

 Certain skills are taught to all grades in order 
to build for future years. Projects are tied into 
things they study in school. One of the teacher’s, 
Cathy, gave the fourth graders information on 
American History as well as a history of the 
America’s regarding the meaning of their project. 
The children learned the importance of animal 
spirits among Native Americans as well as cultures 
in Latin America. 

 The children were given the term ”whimsy” as 
the focal point of their project. Each child was 
given a slab of clay to work and roll into a vessel. 
They choose a “whimsical” animal that they attach 
to the vessel. The skill of waxing the bottom of the 
vessel is taught. This keeps the bottom of the vessel 
from absorbing the paint. The object is then ‘fired’. 
When I observed the class they were being taught 
how to mix colors with which to glaze their effigy. 
It is then fired for the last time. All the children 
get to display their projects at a children’s art show 
in May. 

 The teachers of these classes are remarkable. 
Cathy is also a public school teacher and Suzie is 
a local artist who works with ceramics. 

 I was also able to see the First Grade project 
which was a cut out by hand, attached to a slab, 
textured in the background, and painted and 
some of the finished projects from the third 
grade. They, too , started with a slab of clay that 
they learned to roll to shape the body, add pieces 
to make each witch unique, glaze and fire. I was 
amazed at how original and well done these 
witches were. Truly remarkable.

 Kiwanis is one of the sponsors of this program 
raising money from the annual Chili Cook Off 
Event. Peter Dills, a well-known local food critic, 
judges the chili offered by the participants. Every 
person that attends also gets to vote for their 
favorite chili and awards are given for both the 
Celebrity Choice and the People’s Choice later in 
the evening. This year, Henry Duenas will be the 
DJ. There will be wonderful music for dancing as 
well as people to teach line dancing. You know 
you’ve always wanted to learn that, right? Not 
only is there chili tasting but there will be great 
food, great music, a no-host bar, a Silent Auction 
and FUN! Lots of it! 

 Why not become a Kiwanis Member For A Day 
and attend our Dance The Night Away Chili Cook 
Off? Tickets can be bought at Savor the Flavor 
as well as by calling 626-627-3363. Each ticket is 
$30.00. The event will held at the Sierra Madre 
Recreational Center, May 12, 2018 from 6:00PM 
to 10:00PM. 

 Remember, without donor support the 
ImaginArt program would not exist. For more 
information please go to: sierramadrekiwanis.
com/the-dance-the-night-away-chili-cook-off


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com