FINEST FAN FARE; SNACK STANDS CATER TO GRIDIRON GOURMETS.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer For Penny Bowen, the difference between an ordinary shredded-beef sandwich and hers is all in the sauce. If she wanted, Bowen could marinate mar·i·nate v. mar·i·nat·ed, mar·i·nat·ing, mar·i·nates v.tr. To soak (meat, for example) in a marinade. v.intr. To become marinated. her famous shredded-beef sandwiches at Simi Valley High School Simi Valley High School is a secondary school located in Simi Valley, California which was established in 1920 as the first high school in the valley. It nestles in the Santa Susana Mountains and is adjacent to the San Fernando Valley, part of the city and county of Ventura. football games with a standard, cost-efficient barbecue sauce. Good thing for hungry Pioneers fans that Bowen strives for perfection. Every year, this mother of a Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. band member orders a tangy sauce all the way from Ponca City Ponca City, city (1990 pop. 26,359), Kay co., N Okla., on the Arkansas River; founded 1893 with the opening of the Cherokee Strip, inc. 1899. It is a trade, processing, and shipping hub in a grain, livestock, and oil area. , Okla. The extra effort makes Bowman's sandwich one of the fastest-selling items on the Simi Valley snack-bar menu. The tasty concoction of thinly sliced beef smothered smoth·er v. smoth·ered, smoth·er·ing, smoth·ers v.tr. 1. a. To suffocate (another). b. To deprive (a fire) of the oxygen necessary for combustion. 2. in the rich Pocatella sauce and served on a soft, French roll is a delicacy. But is Bowen's culinary creation the tastiest dish served at local football games? Arguments abound a few miles west at Royal High School, where famished fam·ish v. fam·ished, fam·ish·ing, fam·ish·es v.tr. 1. To cause to endure severe hunger. 2. To cause to starve to death. v.intr. 1. fans munch on thick tri-tip sandwiches and savory barbecued chicken breasts. If you fancy burgers, Taft chef Michael Cohen Michael Cohen may refer to:
adj. zing·i·er, zing·i·est Informal 1. Pleasantly stimulating: "The times are good. The living is easy. The vibes are zingy" Saturday Review. hot link that satisfies Lobos fans whether the home team wins or loses. Said Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. , who sautes his burgers in Worcestershire sauce and garlic salt Noun 1. garlic salt - ground dried garlic and salt flavorer, flavoring, flavourer, flavouring, seasoning, seasoner - something added to food primarily for the savor it imparts , then tends to them over a piping hot barbecue: ``It's the best. I'm willing to stand them up to anybody.'' Cohen is one of hundreds of volunteers who donate their time each week in hot, steamy snack bars at area high school football games. Thanks to their efforts, local fans rooting for their favorite teams dine on a variety of dishes like chicken burritos, pizza and pasta salads. In many ways, today's concession stands aren't the same as the ones mom and dad ate at years ago. Instead of eating the standard fare of cold hot dogs on mushy mush·y adj. mush·i·er, mush·i·est 1. Resembling mush in consistency; soft. 2. Informal a. Excessively sentimental. See Synonyms at sentimental. b. buns, washed down with flat soft drinks, fans can select from imaginative menus that pacify pac·i·fy tr.v. pac·i·fied, pac·i·fy·ing, pac·i·fies 1. To ease the anger or agitation of. 2. To end war, fighting, or violence in; establish peace in. even the pickiest eaters. Even health-conscious folks can take advantage of salads and baked potatoes, offered with or without all the trimmings. At Canoga Park, barbecued corn-on-the-cob is always a good bet. For the meat lovers, cheeseburgers and hot dogs are available at most schools and some even serve steak sandwiches. ``We try to cater to the kids, who are our biggest ticket buyers,'' said Helen Holm holm n. Chiefly British An island in a river. [Middle English, from Old Norse h , who coordinates Moorpark's ultra-chic food court. Any talk about top area concession stands must include Chaminade and Moorpark, which have perfected the art of snack-bar operation. Moorpark has the edge in menu selection and creativity, offering steak and chicken burritos and West Coast Restaurant-delivered pizza. Musketeers fans can also order old standbys like hamburgers, hot dogs and nachos. In fact, they can attend all five home games and never eat the same thing twice. More important, the food is always well-cooked, hot and tasty. Chaminade is superior in presentation and ambience. Its recently completed snack bar overlooks a well-manicured field, letting fans watch the game while waiting in line for caesar and pasta salads. When the food is served, patrons can dine within view of the action instead of rushing back to their seats. The charming new snack bar is the perfect lure for reluctant parent volunteers who are worried they will miss their son's game-winning touchdown while cooking and serving food. ``The school really stepped up,'' coordinator Nancy Mudy said. ``This was built with the volunteers in mind. Now we've got the best seat in the house.'' Every school relies on an intricate network of dedicated parents, alumni and students who devote hundreds of hours each year to set up, cook, clean and serve. At Birmingham, Jim Pitillo has worked the concession stand since graduating from the school in 1964. Pitillo's motivation is simple: Every year proceeds from the Braves' snack bar helps fund new books, computer equipment and school supplies. In addition, money is set aside to pay the mandatory insurance fee to play sports for needy student/athletes. ``We feel what we do is important and makes a difference,'' Pitillo said. ``Besides, what else would I do on a Friday night?'' Simi Valley's snack bar is staffed by parents of the school's bandand orchestra. The proceeds help fund its annual band competitions. Chaminade's snack bar helps subsidize scholarships. Ultimately, it probably doesn't matter who serves the best food or whether one snack bar offers tri-tip and another just hot dogs. What is important is that concerned parents and caring alumni toil away year after year for the good of the neighborhood school. They arrive hours before game time and don't leave until well after the final gun sounds. Some, like Simi Valley's Penny Bowen, start preparing the night before. A few are more ambitious and offer food of which any restaurant would be proud. Others - well, at least the soda has ice and the coffee is hot. What they all share is devotion. ``It's fun, because you're giving of yourself,'' said Rick Chivaroli, who works at Oak Park games. ``Every year I get burned out and say I'm done. But it's all worth it when you see the hard work pay off.'' Still champion: Taft. Chef Michael Cohen said his Chili cheeseburgers are the bomb and we say right on. A splendid creation seasoned just right. With or without the chili, this burger is all that. Catching up: Chaminade. The burgers are fine, but the condiment selection is out of this world. Onions, ripe tomatoes and crunchy lettuce are available on an easy-to-get to table so you can build your own creation. OLD RELIABLES HOT DOGS The winner: San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. . This monster-sized Hebrew National dog served on a just-warm-enough, just soft-enough bun is heaven-sent. Close second: Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. . You can't argue with authentic, grilled, foot-long Dodger Dogs. You'll swear you're out at the ballpark watching the Dodgers blow another one. TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER Stuff you don't normally see TRI-TIP Can't touch this: Royal. The Highlanders turned to a pro, hiring cooks from Maverick's, a Simi Valley barbecue joint. What they've come up with is a profoundly tasty sandwich. Plenty of meat served on a fresh roll marinated to perfection Adv. 1. to perfection - in every detail; "the new house suited them to a T" just right, to a T, to the letter . Forget the game, this stuff is worth the price of admission. If you're counting the calories, go with the chicken breast. Maverick's also services Oak Park High School. STEAK AND CHICKEN BURRITOS Puttin' their foot in it: Moorpark. Not too spicy, but they aren't bland, either. Plenty of well-seasoned meat, onions and lettuce. CALLING ALL VEGETARIANS Taking care of the health nuts Salads: Chaminade. Pasta salad at a high school football game? We're talking West Hills here, gang. Fresh veggies Veggies of Nottingham, also known as Veggies Catering Campaign, is a campaigning group based in Nottingham, England, promoting ethicalbum alternatives to mainstream fast food. and crisp Romaine lettuce. Baked potato: Agoura. The biggest baked potato this side of Idaho. Fix it anyway you want, Agoura's got you covered with cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter, chives chives alliumschoenoprasm. .. . . Corn: Canoga Park - Barbecued corn-on-the-cob. Enough said. SPECIAL ORDERS Pickle: If you love pickles, get out to a Highland and try the four-inch long, two-inch wide super pickle. Crisp. Delicious. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, 2 Boxes Photo: (1--color) no caption (Taft Chef Michael Cohen) (2) Some snack bars at games offer interesting variety, like this spread from Chaminade High in West Hills. Gene Blevins / Special to the Daily News Box: (1) BEST BURGERS (see text) (2) OLD RELIABLES (see text) |
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