Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, March 10, 2018

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 10, 2018 9 
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 
CURRIED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP 
TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills 
thechefknows@yahoo.com 
FOOD & DRINK 
March 17-18, 2018 
Sierra Madre Wistaria Festival 
2018 Sierra Madre Wistaria Festival 
SATURDAY, MARCH 17 – 18, 2018 
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2018 — St. Patrick’s Celebration 
Noon TO 9:00 P.M. — Green Living Expo, Beer Garden and Gem City Jazzcats. No vine viewing on Saturday 
SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2018 — Wistaria Vine Tour 
9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. — TAKE SHUTTLE TO THE HISTORIC WISTARIA VINE! 
$12 ADULTS $7 SENIORS & CHILDREN 6 - 16 
Purchase tickets in Sierra Madre at 
The Bottle Shop Savor The Flavor Bean Town 
Sign up by March 30 for an Early Bird Discount 
Enroll now to join us in Sierra Madre this summer! 
Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 6 PM 
www.goodensummerschool.org 
192 North Baldwin Avenue • Sierra Madre, CA 91024 • 626.355.2410 • Visit us online @ www.goodenschool.org 
An Independent Episcopal School K - 8 
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 a 
dinner for Beth and Tom, which he doesn’t attend. It emerges from the heartbroken Beth that he has left her for 
another woman. Gabe and Karen are almost as crushed, having expected “to grow old and fat together, the four of 
us” 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, Collected 
Stories, Time Stands Still, Brooklyn Boy and What’s Wrong with This Picture? He teaches at the Yale School of 
Drama. 
Director Scott Alan Smith is the Associate Artistic Director of The Road Theatre. His directing credits 
include Melissa Arctic, Sovereign Body, That Good Night, Lady, New York Mets, So Nice to See You and The 
Petoskey 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, CA 
91024. Ample free parking behind the venue. Reservations are not necessary. Admission is free. Donations are 
accepted. 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 
• “Home Is where the heart Is” - written by a Roman 
encyclopedist some 2000 years ago, still holds true today 
• or 
• “Home away from home” - a place where you feel as 
comfortable and content as if you were at home. 
• I enjoy a nice day at the track because I do feel like 
it is my home away from home. Where can you enjoy 
quality food offerings with some of the best thoroughbred 
horses in the world.? Nowhere other then Santa Anita 
Park in Arcadia. If you haven’t been before look at this as 
an introduction. If you have, then maybe you have been 
missing a few gastronomical opportunities. 
• 
• As a foodie, I get double the excitement 
picking horses and dining at the track. Though 
picking horses is tough - so is deciding my daily fare 
with so many choices. Let’s start with the basics. 
Sure, you can go to the concession stand and get a 
dog and a beer, but I recommend going to one of 
the many carving stations and getting one of the 
best sandwiches this side of the Valley. Roast beef, 
corned beef, turkey, and ham all sliced in front of 
you for under $12. You can get it your way, too. Rye 
bread? Sure, they have it. Pickles a must? You got it! 
I got mine with just mustard. Nothing beats getting 
a sandwich and a beer and sitting in the clubhouse 
with an unobstructed view of the San Gabriel 
Mountains... and of course the ponies running in 
front of you. When I feel like a big shot and still 
want a killer view, I head over to the FrontRunner. The 
prices here are very reasonable for top-notch food and a 
wine list any sommelier would appreciate. The kitchen 
is in very capable hands with Executive Chef Paulo. I 
am a creature of habit, so once a month I head right up 
to the FrontRunner and order the “real deal” Maryland 
Crab Cakes ($29) breaded with a panko crust, and really 
enough crab for two to share. I have gone to a dozen or 
so “seafood houses” in Los Angeles and Orange County 
that serve crab cakes for $14, and let me give you a tip: 
pay more and be happy. I will start off the “Santa Anita 
Creamy Clam and shrimp Chowder ($10) I have had my 
share of “Friday” Clam chowders and this one is great on 
any day. Another great starter is the Swedish dill Toast, a 
relatively new and welcome edition to the menu. Oh I 
love to share, so consider the Fig and Cheese Pizza and 
a fine entrée or appetizer. For you seafood fans, I suggest 
the Atlantic Roasted Salmon $27) with a side of asparagus. 
The price, win or lose that day, is a winner. To finish off 
my exotic tri-fecta the Almond Coconut Orange Caje ($8) 
Saving the best item for last, the view from FrontRunner 
is a true postcard. The bar, I am told, is the longest bar 
west of the Mississippi. There is a true “cool buzz” when 
hanging around FrontRunner. 
• 
1. In summary something for everyone to have a great 
day of dining at the Santa Anita race Track. I hope you 
enjoyed the tour. 
` Listen to my radio show every Sunday at 5 PM on 
KRLA AM 870 and check out my food blog. www. 
peterdills.tumblr.com 
Ingredients 
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup) 
3 tablespoons butter 
2 teaspoons red curry powder or curry powder 
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1 14 ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth 
1/4 cup water 
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes (4 cups) 
1 14 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk 
1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream 
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro 
Directions 
In a large saucepan cook onion in hot butter over medium heat about 10 minutes or until tender and 
translucent. Stir in curry powder, ginger, and salt. Cook 30 seconds more. 
Stir in chicken broth and water; bring to boiling. Add squash. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, 
covered, about 40 minutes or until squash is tender. 
Cool soup slightly. Transfer half the soup at a time to a blender or food processor. Blend or process until 
smooth. Return all soup to saucepan. Stir in coconut milk, half-and-half, and chopped cilantro. Heat 
through. Top with fresh cilantro(optional). Makes 6 side-dish servings. 
Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, And Catering