805 Living Dining Blog: Angie Eats
Welcome to the 805 Living Dining Blog where our Dining Editor, Angela Pettera, keeps you up to date on restaurant happenings in the 805. To send her your tips and comments, email angela@805living.com. Happy eating!
Events listed on the blog are subject to change. Please contact the restaurants to confirm availability and details.
Farmers Market Deliveries
A company called Local Harvest Delivery has been launched in Santa Barbara. Julie Beaumont and Sarah Coffman have teamed up to bring their subscribers produce from the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. A Little Harvest Box is only $30 per week and has enough fresh produce for 1-2 people. Subscribers can opt out of non-favorite veggies like radishes or bok choy and opt in for extras like ciabatta from Our Daily Bread, Santa Barbara Roasting Co. coffee, Joelle olive oil, Marcie’s pies, honey from San Marcos Farms, cheese, nuts, dried fruits and/or eggs. Boxes are dropped off every Saturday at subcribers’ homes in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito and Summerland.
http://www.localharvestdelivery.com/
Cafe Provencal MT$30 Dinners
Monday and Tuesday nights
Cafe Provencal is offering a 3-course meal plus one glass of wine for $30 every Monday and Tuesday night. Each course will have multiple choices and changes weekly. One recent dinner consisted of shrimp Caesar salad, braised short ribs with mashed potatoes, and chocolate mousse. Just ask for the MT$30 dinner.
Cafe Provencal, 2310 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 805-496-7121
Tierra Sur Wine Festival
Wednesday, Feb. 3rd, 7 p.m.
Tierra Sur is hosting its 3rd International Food & Wine Festival with vintners from France, Spain, Israel and California on Wednesday. In the afternoon a trade event takes place, but the evening is open to the public. Chef Todd Aarons will prepare Mediterranean cuisine and many of the winemakers will be on hand to discuss their products. One ticket costs $100, but you can buy two or more for $75 each. Herzog Wine Club members pay $50 per ticket.
Tierra Sur at Herzog Wine Cellars, 3201 Camino Del Sol, Oxnard, 805-983-1560
http://www.herzogwinecellars.com/html/eventscalendar.html
FYI, Tierra Sur is no longer serving lunch on Fridays but they are now open from 7-10:30 p.m. on Saturday nights serving tapas, cocktails, and wine.
New Chef at Sagebrush Cantina
The Sagebrush Cantina in Old Town Calabasas announced in a press release the hiring of new chef Salvador Morales. Morales hails from El Santo Cayote in the Melrose area and El Toro Cantina in mid-Wilshire. He specializes in marinated grilled meats, fresh salsas, and endless taco variations. Morales will create dinner specials using seasonal ingredients like cactus paddles. He will also add more vegetarian dishes to the menu along with whole baked fish and ceviche.
The Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, 818-222-6062
Main Course California Serves Dinner
Main Course California in Ventura has begun serving dinner from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
The catering, take-out, and small lunch spot set in an industrial center has been slowly gaining a large following. Now fans can drop by for happy hour from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and for dinner specials like Carpenter Ranch squab with wild rice risotto ($18), smoked beef filet with sour-cherry sauce ($22), and butternut squash gnocci ($14).
Main Course California, 1363 Donlon St. #11, Ventura, 805-658-8900
Happy Hour at Bogie’s
Bogie’s nightclub celebrates happy hour Monday - Friday from 5-7 p.m. Premium drinks are $7; draft beer is $5; and house wine is $4 per glass. All menu items except entrees are half-price.
Each night of the week features different musical styles or sports viewing. Tuesdays feature ballroom dance music with no cover charge.
Bogie’s at Westlake Village Inn, 32001 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, 818-889-2394
Half-Price Wines at Wood Ranch
Every Tuesday, all day, all wines at Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill are half their listed price.
“We wanted to thank our guests for the support they’ve shown us and to make sure that everyone could experience what we think is a great, affordable wine list,” said Eric Anders, co-founder of the restaurant group in a press release.
The half-price Tuesday deal applies to wines by the bottle and the glass at all Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill locations.
Haiti Relief Fundraisers at Restaurants
The American Red Cross has been working hard to bring water, shelter, food, medical supplies and infrastructure to Haiti. They have committed $10 million for immediate-response activities. If you want to donate funds to support them, you can mail a check to: American Red Cross, Haiti Relief, P.O. Box 608, Camarillo, CA 93011 or text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 through your phone bill.
Some restaurants in our area have committed to holding fundraisers for the Red Cross or donating proceeds for a day.
Sunday, Jan. 24th, 5-9 p.m. - a benefit concert at The Lodge (11 S. Ash Street,Ventura) thrown by Zoey’s Cafe and the Ventura County Reporter. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Ventura Visitors Center or online at Zoey’s website.
Monday, Jan. 25th, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. - Ottavio’s Italian restaurant (1620 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo, 805-482-3810) will donate 20% of their proceeds from this day to the American Red Cross.
Thursday, Jan. 28th, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. - Zin Bistro Americana (32131 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, 818-865-0095) will donate 20% of their proceeds from this day to the American Red Cross.
Sunday, Jan. 31st, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. - Mama Rita’s Mexican Cantina (360 Via Las Brisas, Newbury Park, 805-499-9888) is hosting a benefit event with live music, food, children’s activities, and raffles to raise funds for the American Red Cross.
Flemings Winter Meal Deal
The Winter Prix-Fixe Menu at Fleming’s offers 3 courses of food for $40. Start with clam chowder or a salad and end with an apple-cranberry tart a la mode. For entrees, choose from these three options: braised boneless short ribs, seared scallops peperonata, or roasted half duckling. Suggested wine pairings are listed on the menu.
The Winter Prix-Fixe Menu is available from Jan. 5 - March 29.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 6373 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818-346-1005
Happy Hour at Brooks
Brooks celebrates happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. and again on Friday from 9 p.m. -closing.
Tasty tidbits include chicken buffalo boom booms with gorgonzola cream sauce ($5), crab sushi bites ($8), and mini pork shanks with mango-chili sauce ($8). Drink specials include mango Mai Tais, raspberry cosmos, and lemon drops for $5 each.
Brooks, 545 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura, 805-652-7070
Julie, Julia & Jamie
Chef Jamie West of the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa has invited author and blogger (Julie & Julia) Julie Powell to the resort to cook some of Julia Child’s recipes. The cooking demo and dinner that results will be held on Saturday, January 23rd. A screening of the movie Julie & Julia will follow.
The demo, dinner, screening, overnight stay, and breakfast buffet on Sunday, January 24th costs $500 (single occupancy) to $700 (double occupancy). Attendees will also receive a copy of Powell’s book.
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, 905 Country Club Road, Ojai, 800-422-6524
Hitching Post II Fundraiser
The Hitching Post II Restaurant and Winery in Buellton will donate $1 per dinner guest to Direct Relief International Haiti Relief from Jan. 15-21. Also, purchases of products (wine, magic dust, pesto) from the Hitching Post II website will send $1 to DRI for each $50 order placed.
The Hitching Post II, 406 E. Highway 246, Buellton, 805-688-0676
Monday Night Suppers at Artisan
Artisan restaurant in Paso Robles will be showcasing farmers, ranchers, and fishmongers in a series of Mondy-night dinners this month. The three-course meals will also include artisan cheeses, olive oils, and honey from local producers. Meals can be paired with wines from a Paso vintner for an additional charge.
Monday-night suppers are served family-style with the featured farmer or purveyor on hand to talk about their products. Meals cost $38 per person. Here’s the lineup of featured purveyors for the month of January:
January 11 - Jacob Toft and Charter Oak Meats
January 18 - Halter Ranch and Windrose Farm
January 25 - Jack Creek Cellars and Cayucos Abalone Farm
Monday-night suppers will run through March.
Artisan Restaurant, 1401 Park Street, Paso Robles, 805-237-8084
Spa Contest
The California Health & Longevity Institute launched a contest today for those who live or work within 25 miles of its Westlake Village offices and spa at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Contest winners receive a 6-month treatment plan designed to transform their lives. Each plan will be customized to the individual winner but the program includes fitness training, cooking classes, motivational workshops, spa treatments, and a salon makeover.
To enter, submit a short video (5 minutes or less) of yourself explaining why you want this transformation that will lengthen your life. You can enter online at www.CHLI.com/projecttransformation.
The contest ends February 12th, so get crackin’.
New Chef at Tydes
Joel Huff is now the chef of Tydes Restaurant inside Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club (the private club belonging to the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore in Santa Barbara). Huff was most recently the chef de cuisine at The Bazaar by Jose Andres in the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. He has also worked at Mandarin Oriental hotels in San Francisco and New York. Huff was born and raised in Ventura. Of his cooking style he says, “The flavor profiles are distinctly Mediterranean but the selection of fresh ingredients surrounding us in this area is what really drove me in the process of creating this menu.
Tydes in the Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club, 1281 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara, 805-565-8285