TORRANCE TRIBUNE July 13, 2017 Page 5 Pizza, Pasta & More VALENTINO S “A Taste of Brooklyn” Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Garden Salad, Garlic Bread, Plus Tax Preparation Created by Chef Jose Mendin, five-time James Beard Foundation “Best Chef: South” award nominee Ingredients Politically Speaking One Man’s Opinion Another Man’s Opinion State Travel Ban to Texas Will Do Little to Help LGBT Community By Cristian Vasquez At the beginning of the year, California lawmakers decided to establish a ban on state-funded travel to the Lone Star State in response to an adoption law that will allow discrimination against members of the LGBT community seeking to adopt children. Without getting lost in details, the Texas law will allow child welfare providers the right to deny referrals for things like contraceptives, drugs or devices, and the ability to refuse to contract with other organizations that don’t share their “sincerely held religious beliefs.” In essence, the law allows any religious zealot to say no to whomever they please. Discrimination of any kind should never be tolerated and without a doubt we should stand and fight against it. However in this case, I do question the effectiveness of this symbolic protest. Californian leaders’ opposition to Texas’ HB 3859 isn’t about far-left political ideology, but about equality. However, the state travel ban, which also includes Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee, is more of a symbolic measure that does little, if anything, to address the issue at hand. Lawmakers in the Golden State should work a lot harder to have an impact where it matters most: in Texas’ pocketbook. Yes, the lack of state officials traveling to Texas will have some financial impact, but not enough to pressure lawmakers to reconsider their choice. Lately, many businesses in California have been closing shop to relocate to Texas (Toyota Headquarters leaving Torrance). California’s leaders need to keep businesses from leaving, but more importantly they need to find a way to entice other companies to make California their home. Not an easy task, but becoming a business destination will have a bigger impact on a state like Texas than a ban on state-funded travel. The more appealing our state is to businesses, tourist and future residents, the more we can fight old ideas of religious-based discrimination. In addition, when Californians visit states where LGBT members are victims of discrimination, it is a learning opportunity for both our elected officials and the demographic being targeted. Plus, few things have a bigger impact on changing minds like financial consequences do. Remember last year when North Carolina presented its controversial Bathroom Bill regarding transgender individuals using government facilities? Due to that attack on the LGBT community a year ago, the NBA relocated its annual All-Star game, which was scheduled to take place in Charlotte. As a result, the city and state lost an estimated $100 million during the course of the weekend. That doesn’t include money lost from concerts and other shows canceled because of the law. Is it possible for California lawmakers to have such a strong impact on Texas’ pocketbook? Probably not, to be honest. But cutting off state-funded travel to the state does more harm than good. You don’t abandon a friend in a time of need, and right now the LGBT community in Texas needs the help of all of its friends. • Traveling Trump Triumphs at G-20 Gathering By Duane Plank President Trump, who returned last weekend from the G-20 summit held in Hamburg, Germany, is now set to board his big plane and jaunt across the pond again. He has accepted an invitation from newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron to participate in France’s revered Bastille Day celebration on July 14. Trump is planning to view the festivities on the French National Day that celebrates a mob breaking into an 18th century Parisian prison to protest what they saw as the tyrannical policies of King Louis XVI. Post the storming of the Bastille, the Bourbon monarchy was toppled, with both Louis and his wife Queen Marie Antoinette paying the ultimate price: “Off with their heads.” Trump will put an American spin on the July 14 date. He will be promoting the 100-year anniversary of the United States’ entrance into World War I. Why is it that Trumps seems most presidential when he is travelling abroad, as opposed to Twitter-warring with the media elites when he is ensconced in the friendly confines of the White House? Trump received high marks for his “presidential ness,” even from some of the media bloviators stealing paychecks after he returned in late May from his first trip abroad that took him and his entourage to Brussels, Belgium- -where he mingled, uncomfortably at times, with the NATO folks, and reminded them that a lot of them were “freeloading” and not paying their fair share to support their common defense mission. He hobnobbed with Middle East dictators in Saudi Arabia, and was granted some face time with Pope Francis behind the walls of the Vatican. An impressive opening gambit. What did the Trump team, with daughter Ivanka in tow and sitting in at occasional meetings for the Donald, accomplish at the G-20 soiree? He brokered a Syrian ceasefire, for one. The Group of 20, by the way, includes the leaders of the world’s 19 wealthiest nations, plus the European Union. He also had a two-and-a-half-hour coffee klatch with Rasputin Putin, where he grilled the Rusky leader about alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election--which caused, according to the Lefties, the shocking Hillary Clinton tank job. Apparently, Putin said, “Heck no, comrade, we would never hack an election!” Putin seems like a believable chap, right? But let’s get real. Only the incredibly naïve would believe that the good-old U.S of A, as well as a heck of a lot of other countries, don’t surveil, hack and try to influence elections and topple powers not amenable to their own self-interests. Back in the day, our CIA just might have “eliminated” a few of these out-of-country tyrants before they could make trouble. Like the little lunatic running N. Korea. That corpulent little brat with the crummy haircut, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, is running amok, playing with his missiles and missile launchers, threatening to develop a nuclear firework that can reach American soil. Hopefully Trump will be able to persuade his foreign counterparts to get on board and stifle KJU’s suicidal impulses. • Ample Seating Now Open Sundays! and a drink $1199 No substitutions and coupon must be presented. Please mention coupon when ordering. One per customer. Expires 7/27/17. EL SEGUNDO 150 S Sepulveda Blvd. 310-426-9494 MANHATTAN BEACH 976 Aviation Blvd. 310-318-5959 • DELIVERY IN LIMITED AREA AT BOTH LOCATIONS • Sauteed Pork Chops With Romesco 1. Heat oven to 325 F. Toss hazelnuts and pine nuts with 2 tablespoons olive oil; spread on small baking sheet. Toast in oven until golden brown. 2. On another baking sheet, spread additional 2 tablespoons of olive oil; place garlic, tomato halves (cut side down), and piquillo chiles on pan. Roast until ingredients begin to caramelize. 3. In food processor or blender, puree all toasted and caramelized ingredients until smooth. Add sherry vinegar and salt, to taste. While processor or blender is running, slowly add 1/4 cup olive oil to the sauce until emulsified. 4. Toss pork chops in marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 5. In large skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Sautee pork chops for 5 to 7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 145 F to 160 F. Let stand 3 minutes before serving. 6. Serve with roasted vegetables on the side. • • 4 Prime Bone-In Pork Chops (1-inch thick) • 2/3 cup hazelnuts • 1/4 cup pine nuts • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided • 5 cloves garlic • 2 tomatoes, halved • 1/2 cup piquillo chiles • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
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