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.
More Easter Eats
Easter Sunday, April 4th
Piatti in Montecito is serving Easter brunch from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Easter dinner from 3:30 - 9 p.m. Specials include smoked salmon frittata with mascarpone cheese ($15), lemon-scented papardelle with rabbit ragu ($17), and veal cutlets with prosciutto in a brown-butter-sage sauce ($25). Call 805-969-7520 for reservations.
The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore in Santa Barbara offers its annual Easter-egg hunt and brunch on Sunday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The brunch takes place in Bella Vista with a buffet of glazed ham, rack of lamb, salads, desserts and chocolates. After brunch, folks will gather on the Monte Vista lawn to meet the Easter bunny and search for eggs. The price is $95 for adults which includes a glass of sparkling wine; $35 for children. Call Bella Vista for reservations at 805-565-8237.
Chef Adam Horton at Saddle Peak Lodge is cooking a three-course meal from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. with choices like a wild mushroom quiche, brioche French toast with bananas Foster, and a sliced leg of lamb sandwich. The price is $50. There’s a special two-course meal for children available for $25. Call 818-222-3888 for reservations.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Woodland Hills and at L.A. Live turns out a three-course meal from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. for $30. Some of the meal options include filet Benedict, berry-stuffed French toast, and walnut turtle pie.
Over in Studio City, The Bistro Garden at Coldwater has a three-course brunch from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. with plenty of dishes to choose from. It all starts with a basket of bread and pastries, then there are options like a roasted corn chowder with lobster, chicken and mushroom crepes, grilled lamb chops, a lemon souffle with raspberry puree, and a warm apple tart with ice cream. The price is $48. A children’s menu is available for $25. Call 818-501-0202 for reservations.
Easter Eats
Easter Sunday, April 4th
The Easter brunch at the Westlake Village Inn from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. begins with a family photo with the Easter Bunny and a champagne or apple cider toast. The buffet inside the Provence room includes an omelet station, a carving station, oyster shots, king crab legs, salads, more entrees and desserts. The price is $43 for adults; $17 for children 6-12; free for children 5 and under. Call 818-889-0230 for reservations.
The Plug Nickel at 717 Lakefield Road in Westlake Village will be open from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. serving Easter Brunch specials like eggs Benedict with smoked salmon, an Italian egg frittata with grilled veggies and fontina cheese, and a grilled shrimp salad. Call 805-495-3469 ext. 1 for reservations. The Plug Nickel is a part of Catering Celebrations.
Cafe Provencal in Thousand Oaks is handing out complimentary mimosas on Easter from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. A special prix-fixe menu has choices like a seafood cake with tropical fruit salsa, crusted prime rib, filet mignon, and carrot cake. The price is $35. Call 805-496-7121 for reservations.
Tuscany Restaurant in Westlake Village will be serving its regular Italian menu from 5-10 p.m. Call 805-495-2768 for reservations.
Restaurant Brooks in Ventura will be serving its regular brunch menu from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Call 805-652-7070 for reservations.
Wine Tasting & Art Show
Saturday, March 27th, 2-4 p.m.
Stevenson's "Being Alive" print
Cafe Provencal will be showing works from artist Valeria Stevenson including some of her new work and some prints. You can see her portfolio at www.clearlycute.com/art. The art will be sold at 30% off for the show. Glasses of wine and appetizers will be passed around. The price is $20.
Cafe Provencal, 2310 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 805-496-7121
The Loaf Love Tour
Friday, March 26th, noon - 7 p.m.
Tillamook, a cheesemaker based in the Pacific Northwest, has launched a tour promoting its cheddar cheese. Tiny VW buses will be rolling around our area today doling out samples. To see the full tour schedule go to loaflovetour.com.
Buses will be at all three locations below from noon to 7 p.m. today.
Albertson’s, 22840 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills
Albertson’s, 1268 Madera Road, Simi Valley
Albertson’s, 541 S. Reino Road, Newbury Park
Wine, Women and Golf + a Giveaway
Saturday, March 20th, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (6373 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818-346-1005) is hosting a golf-themed fashion show and luncheon on Saturday. Callaway Golf will show off its latest women’s collection during a 3-course lunch paired with Mirassou Vineyards wine. The price is $30.
Tickets can be purchased through Women On Course, a group dedicated to active women golfers. If you purchase tickets online, Fleming’s will throw in a $25 gift card good for a return visit.
Fleming’s has also given 805 Living Magazine two free tickets to this event. The first two women to email me at angela@805living.com will get them!
New Irish Pub in Agoura Hills
Wednesday, March 17th
St. Patrick’s Day marks the official opening of Pikeys Pub in Agoura Hills. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. to begin serving Guinness-battered onion rings ($6), mini shepherd’s pies ($8), fish & chips ($12), bangers & mash ($14), and corned beef and cabbage ($15). A full bar offers 16 beers on tap. The lounge area has dartboards, TVs, and an XBox gaming system. At 8 p.m. tonight there will be a traditional bagpipe performance. A DJ starts spinning at 9 p.m. Doors close at 2 a.m.
Pikeys Pub, 30315 Canwood St., Agoura Hills, 818-991-2170
More Irish Eating
Month of March
Great Harvest Bread Co. (2092 Newbury Road, Thousand Oaks, 805-376-0111) is baking up Irish soda bread, hot cross buns, Guinness and Gouda bread, and Blarney scones with with oats, orange and raisins this month. The Irish soda bread and the hot cross buns will be available every Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat through March. The Guinness and Gouda whole-grain bread will be baked every Tues and Fri. And the Blarney scones can be had on Saturdays.
March 17-21
Townhouse Kitchen + Bar (15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818-453-9900) will be serving Irish menu specials all day from March 17-21. Chow on Guinness Banger Sliders ($9) or a Corned Beef Potato Pancake ($10) washed down with one of their 30 beers on tap.
Happy Anniversary Cafe Provencal!
March 16th, 2010
Today Cafe Provencal celebrates 14 years in business in the Conejo Valley. That’s no mean feat in the restaurant world and it’s especially hard to achieve in today’s economic climate.
Congratulations Serge Bonnet!
Cafe Provencal, 2310 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 805-496-7121
St. Paddy’s Day Dining
Wednesday, March 17th
Jonathan’s at Pierano’s is cooking up some Irish specialties on St. Patrick’s Day like corned beef with cabbage, lamb pot pie, and a corned-beef burger. Irish whiskey shots are $5 as are bottles of Guinness. Jonathan’s at Pierano’s, 204 E. Main St., Ventura, 805-648-4853.
Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie will be pouring black-and-tans and Irish whiskey while serving up corned beef sliders with red-cabbage slaw. Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie, 29281 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, 818-477-4566.
Saddle Peak Lodge happens to be hosting its first Jazz Dinner in an upcoming series Wednesday night at 6 p.m. The Marc Bosserman Jazz Trio will be playing from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. throughout the meal. The four-course dinner includes dishes like crispy pork belly, pan-roasted Idaho trout, and chocolate-whiskey cake with Guinness ice cream. The price is $85. Saddle Peak Lodge, 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas, 818-222-3888.
Wine Dinner at Saddle Peak Lodge
Thursday, March 25th, 7 p.m.
The Duke of Bourbon wine and spirits retailer in Canoga Park is helping to host a wine dinner featuring Semler Winery at Saddle Peak Lodge. The four-course meal will be paired with a Sauvignon Blanc (Tai snapper sashimi), a Pinot Noir (pheasant with gnocchi), a Cabernet (beef with morel mushrooms), and a Viognier Ice Wine (pineapple crumble). The price is $95 plus tax and tip.
Saddle Peak Lodge, 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas, 818-222-3888
Wine and Limoncello Dinner at Tuscany
Sunday, March 21st, 6:30 p.m.
Tuscany Il Ristorante has created a four-course meal with hors d’ oeuvres to be served with Ventura Limoncello Company liqueurs and Italian wines. Ventura Limoncello Limosa will accompany small roasted tomato tarts and lemon-risotto croquettes with shrimp. The appetizer is a crab and asparagus salad paired with a Tuscan white Sangria. The first course is a Scottish salmon marinated in Limoncello and served with a fennel-orange salad and a 2008 Sauvignon. For the main course you’ll have a surf and turf combo (shrimp and filet mignon) along with potatoes mashed with lemon oil and a 2005 Super Tuscan. Dessert is a tiramisu made with Limoncello and served with Limoncello Crema Liqueur. The price is $65.
Tuscany il Ristorante, 968 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village, 805-495-2768
Entertainment Schedule at Fiamme
month of March
Fiamme Restaurant & Bar has a stage in its dining room where live bands come to play. The Club Inferno lineup for March is as follows:
March 5th: Uncorked with Chris Wooly & Tim Godwin
March 6th: Special Blend
March 11th: Rosemary Butler
March 12th: Uncorked
March 13th: Rick Whitfield
March 18th: Nuklhedz
March 19th: The Ralph Mathis Band
March 20th: Michael Falcone Trio
March 25th: Rosemary Butler
March 26th: Round Trip Band
March 27th: Rick Whitfield
Full dinners can be ordered while watching the entertainment. Fiamme also has a full bar available. For tickets, visit www.reservationgenie.com.
Fiamme Restaurant & Bar, 3731 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 805-497-9444
Taste of Solvang
March 14-18
It’s time again for the annual Taste of Solvang Festival. This 18th edition begins with Restaurant Week, where many of Solvang’s best restaurants offer three-course meals for only $20.10 plus tax, tip and beverage. This year, the participating restaurants include Root 246, Hadsten House, Mirabelle, Kabuki, Bit O’ Denmark, Red Viking, and River Grill at the Alisal. Visit the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau website for a complete list of participating restaurants.
March 19-21
The luscious Dessert Reception takes place on Friday, March 19th from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $25.
The Walking Smorgaasbord on Saturday, March 20th from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. features 40 taste stops around Solvang village. Tickets are $30.
The Wine Tasting-Room Walk on Saturday, from 6-9 p.m. offers sips from more than a dozen vintners. Tickets which include a souvenir wine glass are $35.
The weekend winds to a close with live entertainment on Sunday, March 21st from noon - 3 p.m. in Solvang Park where people are encouraged to bring their own picnics.
For tickets and more information, visit the official website at www.SolvangUSA.com.
Monday Night Suppers at Artisan
On Monday nights brothers Chris and Mike Kobayashi serve family-style suppers at their modern American restaurant, Artisan, in Paso Robles. These meals have three courses and cost only $38 per person. Each Monday meal showcases a different farmer and each week a vintner or craft brewer will be on hand to pour spirits to anyone wanting to imbibe. The alcohol is offered at an additional price.
For the month of March the farms and wineries/brewers being showcased are as follows:
March 1st: Thomas Hill Organics (duck leg confit with green garlic, crispy pork belly with greens); Aaron Wines & Peachy Canyon Winery
March 8th: Pier 46 Seafood Market (fish & chips, prawn and lobster pot pie); Firestone Brewing Co. beers
March 15th: Rinconada Dairy; Ranchero Cellars and J Dusi Wines
March 22nd: Dos Pasos Ranch; Anglim Winery & Ecluse Wines
March 29th: Peacock Family Farm; Four Vines Winery
Artisan, 1401 Park Street, Paso Robles, 805-237-8084
New Dining Options at Hampton’s
Hampton’s in the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village has some new dining options available. For a real dining deal, there’s the Taste of Hampton’s: a three-course meal (app, entree, dessert) prepared by the Chef de Cuisine Richard Hoffman (pictured above on the right) for only $45 plus tax and tip.
Spa dishes have been added to Hampton’s menu for those looking to reign in calories and saturated fats. You’ll also see new spa dishes on the Lobby Lounge and Onyx menus.
Hampton’s, 2 Dole Drive, Westlake Village, 818-575-3000