🔥 Killer Kebabs 🍖

Sometimes you just want to watch the world burn. Rent increases, politics, that one guy at the Red Rock Café who always talks about his NFT startup a little too loudly… all of it. But instead of lighting society on fire (tempting though it is), maybe channel that pyromaniac energy into something more delicious: kebabs.

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Because honestly, few things are as satisfying as skewering stuff, tossing it over an open flame, and watching it transform into something smoky, juicy, and magical. It’s caveman therapy—but with marinades.

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Fun fact: The word “kebab” comes from the Persian kabāb, which literally means “to fry, grill, or burn.” So you're being historically accurate when you torch those bell peppers a little too enthusiastically.

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Need inspiration? We have plenty:

• 🐔 Classic Chicken & Veggie – Bite-sized chicken (or chik'n), bell peppers, onion, and cherry tomatoes. The kebab equivalent of a LinkedIn profile pic: basic, but reliable.
• 🧆 Mediterranean Veggie Kebab (Vegan) – Zucchini, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms, brushed with olive oil, lemon, and oregano. Pro tip: mushrooms get meatier than you think. They’re the tofu of the forest.
• 🇮🇳 Paneer Tikka (Vegetarian) – Cubes of paneer marinated in yogurt, turmeric, and chili. A North Indian classic that proves cheese deserves its moment on the skewer runway.
• 🇯🇵 Yakitori-Inspired – Chicken thighs, green onions, and a tare glaze (soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar). Fun fact: in Japan, there are entire restaurants that only serve skewered grilled things, and somehow they still manage to have better margins than half the startups on Castro.
• 🍍 Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple – It’s Hawaiian-adjacent, it’s salty-sweet, and it’s guaranteed to make at least one person say, “I don’t usually like grilled pineapple, but…” You’ve won.
• 🍫 Dessert Kebab – Marshmallows, strawberries, bananas, and chunks of brownie skewered, then grilled just enough to get gooey. Perfect for when you’re emotionally burned out but still want to light something on fire.

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🪵 Light 'Em Up 🔥

At Ava’s, we don’t just stock food—we stock the tools of fire gods. Butane, propane, matches, and enough lighter fluid to make the MVFD stop by to "just say hi". Basically, if you wanted to start a blaze that could be seen from orbit, we’ve got you covered.

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And sure, these supplies are marketed for grilling and family-friendly BBQs. But when you’re standing there with a gallon of lighter fluid and a fistful of skewers, you’ll feel that primal fork-in-the-road moment: do I roast some bell peppers… or do I burn everything down and dance on its ashes? For moral reasons, we gently nudge you toward the kebabs—they'll fill your roaring emptiness with enough deliciousness to last until your next therapy appointment. 🔥

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🔥 Kebab Tips & Tricks (so you don’t set off that "smart" fire alarm and have to call Google's customer support to figure out how to turn it off. Again):

• Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling—otherwise they ignite faster than a new AI data center.
• Cut ingredients to roughly the same size so they cook evenly. Unless you like the thrill of "raw chicken roulette" 🎲.
• Leave a little space between items on the skewer—crowded kebabs steam instead of grill. We ain't doing noodles here.
• Brush with oil or marinade right before grilling. Think of it as sunscreen, but tastier.
• Don’t be afraid of a little char—that’s flavor. But if it looks (or tastes) like charcoal briquettes, you’ve gone too far.

🤕 Aaand… You Burned Yourself. 🩹

Look, we know you. You’re ambitious, brave, and maybe a little overconfident with fire. Which means somewhere between turning the skewers and cracking open a cold drink, you probably managed to burn yourself in places that normally never meet open flame. Don’t worry—we’re not judging. Honestly, we’re impressed you found a way to get a second-degree burn on your… ahem… well, let's just say that takes talent.

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But here’s the good news: Ava’s has your backside—literally. We stock natural, organic first-aid must-haves like aloe vera gel (aka nature’s icy hug), cooling herbal sprays, and pain relief balms that don’t smell like a chemical factory exploded. So when you inevitably overestimated your flame-controlling powers, you can patch yourself up the wholesome way.

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And hey, if anyone asks about your mysterious grill wounds, just tell them you got them "raging against the machine." Sounds way cooler than “I dropped a skewer on my naked lap.”

Upcoming Events​
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• Every Wednesday, 5-7pm — 🎵 Music on Castro​
  ​Enjoy live performances right in Downtown Mountain View! Come for the tunes, stay for the vibes, and don’t forget to swing by Ava’s to grab dinner from Poké Bowl or Simply Sabor, or just pick up a box of cookies to munch on while you vibe to the music like a very classy raccoon. 🎶🍪🦝
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• Every Friday, 6-7:30pm — 🎵 Concerts on the Plaza​
  ​Didn’t get your full music fix on Wednesday? Perfect—because Friday night, Concerts on the Plaza is bringing the beats that make lawn chairs bounce and dads attempt the moonwalk. 💃🕺 Stop by Ava’s first for a snack, a chilled drink, or a quick wine tasting to fuel your feet and unlock those secret dance moves.
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• Fri, Sep 12, 5-7pm (ish) — 🍺 Beer Tasting​
  ​Free beer tasting with the legendary Anderson Valley Brewing—because nothing says “community bonding” like sipping craft brews near the kale. 🍻 Come for the beer, stay for the awkward eye contact with your neighbors over a crisp IPA.
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• Mon, Sep 22 — 🍂 First Day of Fall​
  ​Sep 22 is the equinox, which means it's the first day of Fall, and the official beginning of Pumpkin Spice Latte season. Pull out your favorite scarf and wool hat, then immediately put them back because it's still too damn warm to wear them. You live in CA, sweetie.