Money Savers: Lili's Bistro
By: Brittany Pelletz
Updated: February 18, 2009
Lili's Bistro in Fort Worth knows how to serve up scrumptious meals with a gourmet touch. Take, for instance, their famous waffle fries topped with gorgonzola cheese. Chefs Heather Hogan and Vance Martin say there's no reason to abandon your gourmet fantasies just because you are tightening your purse strings.
Their first tip: make clever substitutions. A good example is with meat.
Instead of pricey tenderloin, try a cheaper cut of beef, pounded to make it more tender.
If you've never seen a leek in your life, you'll survive with scallions or white onions. No worries. Table salt works in a pinch. And while the tartness of sun dried tomatoes is delicious, you can get by with drained, canned tomatoes.
Fresh herbs can be pricey too if you don't grow your own stick with the dried and just use less and make your own heavy cream.
