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.

Chef Showdown at Onyx

June 15-25, around 6 p.m. nightly

Chef de Cuisine Masa Shimakawa of Onyx at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village challenges  visiting  Executive Sous Chef Tsutomu Konishi from Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi to an Iron-Chef-style throwdown nightly at Onyx.  Guests watch the preparation and cooking, then taste the creations from each chef in order to vote for the winner.  The winning dish is that night’s special.  The competition happens around 6 p.m. nightly until June 25th.

Manly Dining

In honor of Father’s Day, here are some fun and masculine eating opportunities (to which you can take dear Dad):

Saturday, June 18th, 2-6 p.m.

Salute! A Finely Crafted Beer & Food Festival takes place in Ojai, outdoors at Ojai Beverage Company.  General admission tickets cost $43.30 and include unlimited tastings at the festival on Saturday.  VIP tickets cost $92 and include admission to a Connoisseurs’ Pairing Dinner Friday night as well as early admission on Saturday.  You must be 21 or over to attend this festival which offers 100 different craft beers, tastes of food from 10 restaurants, and live music.

Sunday, June 19th, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Catering Celebrations by the Plug Nickel in Westlake Village is offering a free meal for dad with the purchase of another meal.

Monday, June 20th, 7 p.m.

Raphael restaurant in Studio City is hosting a wine dinner featuring Duckhorn Vineyards with winemakers Zach Rasmuson and Neil Bernardi.  Raphael’s chef, Adam Horton (the game master from Saddle Peak Lodge) will prepare a globally inspired 5-course meal to complement the wines.  The whole menu can be viewed here.  Highlights include butter-poached Maine lobster and Wagyu (Kobe-style) beef slow-cooked with Vietnamese spices.  The price is $165 plus tax.

Limoneira Food Truck & Bocce Ball Festival

Sunday, June 12th, noon - 6 p.m.

Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula is the site of the Ventura County Food Truck & Bocce Ball Festival happening on Sunday.  Sponsored by Food Share, Ventura County’s food bank, the festival will have 9 gourmet food trucks (some all the way from LA), a bocce ball tournament, and live music.  Tickets cost $20 for adults ($10 for children) and can be purchased at the door.  Ticket prices do not include food.  The food trucks in attendance include Spencer Makenzie’s Fish Company, It’s In the Sauce BBQ Truck, and The Sweets Truck.

Wine, Waves, and Beyond

June 2-5

Pismo Beach is the location of a four-day wine, food, and surfing festival this weekend.  Wine, Waves, and Beyond features a Barrel to Barrel dinner where winemakers, brewmasters, and local chefs show off their latest creations.  A Brew Masters’ dinner features five chefs from San Luis Obispo County who each create a course of food paired with a specific beer or ale from Firestone Brewing Co.  A longboard surf contest includes BBQ and will showcase the charity AmpSurf which teaches amputees how to surf with their disabilities.  See the Wine, Waves and Beyond website for more details.