Welcome to the "805 Eats" dining blog where we'll keep you up-to-date on restaurant and food happenings in the 805. To send tips and comments, email edit@805Living.com.

More Easter Brunches

Sunday, April 24th

Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas is serving a three-course menu on Sunday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Menu choices include wild mushroom quiche, biscuits and wild game gravy, and apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream.  The whole menu can be viewed here.  The price is $55.  A two-course children’s meal is available for $35.  An a la carte dinner will be served after 5 p.m.

Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara is staging its Easter Brunch buffet on the rooftop terrace from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Stations will have waffles, omelets, seafood, salads, leg of lamb, ham, and desserts.  The whole menu is listed here.  The jazz band Ulysses will be playing.  The price is $45.

Easter Brunches

Sunday, April 24th

Bellinis, Mimosas, and Bloody Marys figure prominently in this year’s batch of Easter Brunches.  There’s even an Easter Egg Hunt for adults at Malibu Cafe.

The Fleming’s Bellini (pictured) will be available all day for $7 at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Woodland Hills. From 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. a three-course brunch menu will be on offer along with the a la carte menu.  The brunch, with choices like a Wedge Salad, a frittata stuffed with mushrooms and steak, and walnut turtle pie, costs $33 for adults.  See the full menu here.  A special kids menu can be had for $16.

Malibu Cafe on the grounds of Calamigos Ranch offers endless mimosas at its Easter brunch.  The a la carte Sunday brunch menu will be in effect along with some special dishes ($6-$22).  The lawn will be transformed into an Easter Egg Hunting Ground for children (10-11 a.m.) and then for adults (noon-1 p.m.)  I say it’s about time we grown-ups were allowed in on the fun.  Dogs aren’t forgotten either.  Bring your pup dressed as a wabbit for the Dog-Bunny dress-up contest.  It’s free to enter and so are the egg hunts.

Cafe Provencal in Thousand Oaks will be serving its Easter meal from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday.  It comes with a complimentary mimosa.  The four-course meal has options like a seafood cake with tropical fruit salsa, carrot soup, pepper-crusted prime rib, and carrot cake.  The price is $35.

La Dolce Vita restaurant in Oxnard will set up a huge buffet in the plaza of Heritage Square on Easter Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.  The brunch comes with mimosas, Champagne, or Bloody Marys and a costumed docent-led tour (pictured) of Heritage Square.  Stations include fresh fruit, pastries, roast beef, ham, pasta, quiche, and salads. Poached salmon and au gratin potatoes will be there, too.  The price is $32 for adults and $15 for children under 7.

Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival

Saturday, April 16th, 1-4 p.m.

River Park in Lompoc is the site of this year’s Vintners’ Festival where the 110+ members of the Santa Barbara Vintners’ Association will be pouring their wares.  In addition to lots of wine, there will be wine-country cuisine, live music and a silent auction.  Member wineries plan events all around the festival from Friday through Monday, so visit the official website to see a list of all the wine-related events happening.  Tickets to the festival on Saturday ($75-$100) can be purchased there as well.

Great Harvest Fundraiser

Friday, April 8th, 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Great Harvest Bread Company in Newbury Park is holding a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Friday.  All day at the bakery they will be accepting donations of $1 from customers.  All week they will donate $1 per loaf of Honey Whole Wheat Bread sold.

From the Barrel Tasting

Friday, April 8th 7-10 p.m.

The Santa Margarita Ranch is the setting for this year’s From the Barrel celebration.  Barrel enthusiasts will get to taste libations that come from wooden barrels like bourbons, ports, and barrel-aged beers from Firestone Walker Brewing Company.  Central Coast chefs like Chris Kobayashi of Artisan, Mark Sahaydek of The Grill at Avila Beach Golf Resort, and Justin Gabbert of Novo will be serving tapas to go with the alcohol.  You must be at least 21 to attend.  Tickets cost $50 per person and can be purchased here or by calling 805-540-3508.

Argentina Wine Dinner at Brooks

Friday, April 8th, 6:30 p.m.

Andy Brooks celebrates three wines from Argentina on Friday night with his wine dinner at Brooks in Ventura.  The three-course meal offers seared ahi tuna with a roasted red bell pepper relish; grilled quail with a medjool date sauce and a leek-cheese tart; and a ribeye with a chimichurri sauce.  The price is $65 per person.  Call 805-652-7070 to reserve a spot.

Royal Wedding Celebrations

month of April

Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara is celebrating the upcoming royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton with a “British Biltmore Celebration (BBC).”  Events like lawn bowling, English culinary specialties at Bella Vista, and Royal Spa Treatments will be scheduled all month long.  My favorite “event” is the Royal Afternoon Tea that goes all authentic on Fridays and Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. with finger sandwiches stuffed with horseradish prawn salad, or ham and tomato with English mustard and Branston pickle.  Sweets include crumpets and fruit scones with lemon curd and Devonshire cream.  With exciting nibbles like that it’s hard to Keep Calm & Carry On.