Four finds to satisfy the low-on-cash appetite

By David Wonpu

While Valley Fair is a choice destination for many Santa Clara students after (and sometimes in place of) class, many never cross the street to go exploring at Santana Row.

With all its high-end shops peddling the very best in status-boosting luxury items no one really needs, it can be quite the intimidating environment.

Even if Tumi or Burberry are out of an average college student's price range, one can still have a taste (literally) of the best the Row has to offer.

That's because several of its fine restaurants have great food for under $10, perfect for a midday snack or casual meeting.

* Tiramisu at Pasta Pomodoro

If you have a sweet tooth to satisfy, Pasta Pomodoro offers a great tiramisu for $5.25.

The ladyfingers are soaked in espresso and Kahlua instead of just sprinkled with it, which is how some restaurants shamefully prepare it.

The mascarpone zabaione, a mixture of triple-cream cheese and egg custard, is fresh and fluffy.

It's also prepared in a bowl instead of as a cake, a method which greatly changes the delicate texture of the dish by adding more layers of starch.

The coffee-flavored Kahlua is also a welcome twist, as many tiramisu recipes use rum or brandy.

Sure, it's a Mexican liquor, but authenticity is probably not the wisest thing to be expecting from Santana Row in the first place.

* Guacamole at Consuelo Mexican Bistro

Located across from the CineArts theater, this gourmet Mexican restaurant is one of the very best at the Row.

Served á la carte style, the food is always fresh, tantalizing and unique to the palette.

Before digging into the entrees at Consuelo, however, one must order the freshly-prepared guacamole for $9.

Once you taste fresh guacamole which has been prepared in front of your eyes in a molcajete (a Mexican mortar and pestle), you'll never be able to eat the pre-made stuff again.

Instead of diluting the flavor of the dish by adding sour cream, something many American recipes call for, you get the creamy, one-of-a-kind taste of avocado, accented with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapenos, a touch of salt and lime juice (all of which you can adjust to fit your taste).

Freshly made tortillas, with a trio of salsas, accompany the dish. Other restaurants have begun to offer guacamole prepared at your table, including Chevys and The Cheesecake Factory, but they pale in comparison.

* Naan at Amber India

You haven't had bread until you've had it from a tandoor oven. At degrees your lowly GE can only dream of, this classic leavened bread comes to your table hot and texturally perfect.

It's similar to pita bread, only unbelievably crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

You can also order it topped with pesto, rosemary and olive oil or kalonji, an Indian spice.

And, at just $2.95 to $3.50 per order, you can make Dr. Robert C. Atkins turn in his grave.

* Smoothies at Smoothie King

These creamy delights are far superior to those offered by Jamba Juice.

With over 50 different blends, Smoothie King caters to far more tastes and preferences and does it healthier by sweetening their smoothies with honey and turbinado, an unprocessed cane sugar, instead of the refined sugar and corn syrup Jamba Juice uses.

You can even leave the turbinado out and save a hundred calories, and they'll still taste great at approximately $4.

Contact David Wonpu at dwonpu@scu.edu.