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!

Grapes of Laff Wine & Comedy Dinner

Thursday, July 29th

Fiamme Restaurant in Thousand Oaks is host to Headliners Comedy Club which performs there every weekend.  On July 29th, comedian John DiCrosta, known for his wide range of voices and impressions, will headline.  On that night, a four-course dinner will be served with wines from Cantara Cellars.  Dishes include grilled shrimp with a 2007 Chardonnay, chicken Marsala with the 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel, and chocolate cake with the 2008 Franknvine.  The price, including wine dinner and show, is $50.  Reservations are taken from 6:30 p.m.  The show begins at 8 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling the restaurant at 805-497-9444 or by contacting Headliners at 805-494-LAFF.

Taste of Camarillo

Saturday, July 24th, 5-9 p.m. & Sunday, July 25th, 1-4 p.m.

The Meadowlark Service League is sponsoring A Taste of Camarillo held on the grounds of the Adolfo Camarillo Ranch House.

On Saturday evening, a buffet dinner will be served along with wine and champagne.  Musician Tony Ybara will pay his guitar.  The price is $60.

On Sunday afternoon, experience tastes of food from over 50 restaurants and caterers along with pours of wine from over 100 wineries.  The price is $75 in advance or $85 at the door.

A weekend pass which includes the dinner on Saturday night and the Sunday afternoon tasting event is $125.  Purchase tickets here.

The official After Party is at Safire American Bistro in Camarillo.  Festival ticket holders get 20% of their dinner bill there on Sunday night.

Oxnard Salsa Festival

Saturday & Sunday, July 24 & 25, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Oxnard’s Plaza Park is the scene of the 17th annual Salsa Festival.  Over the space of two days you can enjoy the Salsa Tasting Tent with different salsas dished up by local restaurants and residents, salsa music and dancing, and a marketplace full of salsa commodities.  The food court will feature stands selling carne asada, fish tacos, tamales, empanadas, roasted corn, and barbecue.  Admission and parking are free.

Bocce, Blues & BBQ at Limoneira

Sunday, July 18th, noon - 6 p.m.

The Shoemaker Brothers will be playing music all afternoon on the Bocce Ball courts of Limoneira orchard and packing plant in Santa Paula.  There is no charge for the music or the bocce ball.  Food and liquor from Jonathan’s at Pierano’s will be for sale.  Expect barbecued items like tri-tip sandwiches and burgers.  A full bar will be set up.  No outside food or liquor is allowed.  Bring blankets and chairs to sit on.

Bernard’s Coquelicot Wine Dinner

Thursday, July 22, 7:30 p.m.

Bernard’s Wine Gallery is sponsoring a dinner featuring Coquelicot Estate Vineyard.  The six course meal will be paired with six glasses of wine.  Dishes include baked Fanny Bay oysters paired with Refugio Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2007, tenderloin of beef with morel mushrooms paired with Estate Mon Amour Bordeaux Blend 2006, and a mascarpone tart paired with a Slow Hand Dessert Wine.  The full menu can be viewed here.  The dinner will be held at the Calabasas Country Club.  The price is $70.

Wine Festival in Santa Barbara

Thursday - Saturday, July 15-17

The California Wine Festival taking place in Santa Barbara over the next few days is chock full of wine-tasting events.   Thursday night’s tasting (6:30-9 p.m.) has an Old Spanish Days theme with flamenco dancing and tapas.  Friday night’s tasting (6:30-9 p.m.) takes place at Chase Palm Park.  On Saturday (1-4 p.m.) it’s a beachside wine and food tasting event.  Tickets ($49-$179) can be purchased at the official website or by calling 800-595-4849.  Note:  all events are for those 21 and older, no pets or smoking allowed.

Bastille Day at Ladyface Brasserie

Wednesday, July 14th

Bastille Day festivities at Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie include menu specials like Vichyssoise and a new ale sorbet, but the real draw will be the Parisian Waiters’ Race in the parking lot at 5 p.m. Waiters from Ladyface and other restaurants will run carrying trays laden with full bottles and glasses of liquid.  Hopefully it’s not beer they’ll be spilling.

Cooking Class for College Kids

Tuesday & Wednesday, July 20 & 21, 6-9 p.m.

Send your college-age kids to this cooking class at Main Course California in Ventura designed specifically for those living on their own for the first time.  They’ll learn, in a two-part series, basic knife skills, basic cooking techniques, and how to stock a pantry.  They’ll come away with recipes for cooking on a George Foreman grill, in a toaster oven, and with a crock pot.  The details are here.  The price is $125.  Knowing they won’t starve to death at school–priceless.

Beer Luncheon at Saddle Peak Lodge

Saturday, July 17th, noon

Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas has never done a luncheon before so this must be good, right?  Chef Adam Horton pairs pub grub like Alaskan halibut fish & chips and game sausages & choucroute with six different beers.  The four-course meal, including drinks, costs $50.  The full menu is posted here.

Starry Night at Four Seasons Santa Barbara

Wednesday, July 14th, 8:15 p.m.

The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore in Santa Barbara in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is bringing in members of the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit for a night of educational stargazing.  Telescopes will be set up on the Monte Vista lawn for viewing the moon, planets, and constellations.  Appetizers, beer and wine will also be on hand.  The price is $25 for adults.  Children are free with a paying adult.  Call 805-565-8291 for reservations.

Bastille Day at Cafe Provencal

Wednesday, July 14th, 4:30-10 p.m.

A special menu in honor of Bastille Day will be served all evening on the illustrious holiday at Cafe Provencal in Thousand Oaks.  The menu includes a petite Nicoise tower, sauced sole, mushroom soup, herb-crusted lamb with Bordelaise sauce, and creme brulee.  The price is a mere $35.  After dark, the dancing begins to music from the 70’s and 80’s.  Let freedom ring! (Or, as the French say, Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite!)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Freezee

Tastee Freeze (with a location in Atascadero, just east of San Luis Obispo) has introduced a new freezee flavor for the summer.  The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Freezee is made by blending vanilla soft-serve and bits of cookie dough together.  It’s also available at Wienerschnitzel locations across California including Oxnard, Santa Maria, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Ventura.

Summer Menu at Kabuki

Kabuki Japanese Restaurant (various locations including Woodland Hills) has introduced some lighter, cooler menu items for the summer.  There are cold soba noodles with edamame (soybeans) for $5;  a salad of tuna with avocado cubes and marinated seaweed for $8; and sea bass entree with tomato salsa, corn, asparagus and Japanese mint for $15.  Summer cocktails include a Yuzu Ginger Sparkling Buddha’s Tea made with soju for $7 and a variety of Matsu Mojitos for $8.50 each.

Bastille Day Celebration at 71 Palm

Wednesday, July 14th, 5-9 p.m.

Celebrate the storming of the French prison, Bastille, at 71 Palm in Ventura.  A special three-course dinner menu will give you a taste of France with dishes like French onion soup and steak au poivre.  An accordion player will provide entertainment.  The price tag of $33 includes a glass of wine.

Dancing After Dark

Friday and Saturday nights throughout the summer

Cafe Provencal in Thousand Oaks is celebrating the summer by having music and dancing every Friday and Saturday night at the restaurant.  There’s no charge for getting on your feet and sashaying around.   The music begins at 8 p.m.

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