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.

Time flies when you’re drinking wine

Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards tasting room manager (and "Sideways" star) Chris Burroughs

 

 

AUG. 12-14
Located on 100 square miles between the Santa Barbara County towns of Buellton and Lompoc, the winemaking region known as the Sta. Rita Hills is small but mighty. Remember how its vineyards, winding roads and local restaurants served as backdrops for the Oscar-winning movie “Sideways”? ‘nuf said.
But the American Viticultural Area that helped launch a thousand merlot jokes has new reason to celebrate: This is the year that the Sta. Rita Hills AVA hits the Big 1-0. And to mark the occasion, members of the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance are presenting Wine and Fire, a weekend-long event packed with open houses, barrel tastings and winemaker dinners. Participants range from Ampelos Cellars to Zotovich Cellars.

The party starts at 6 p.m. Aug. 12, when Avant Tapas & Wine in Buellton is the setting for a tasting of library and large-format wines. A grand tasting is planned  from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 13 on the grounds of La Purisima Mission near Lompoc. On Aug. 14, highlights include an Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyard  library tasting led by Chris Burroughs — yep, the same hat-wearin’ dude who played himself in a tasting-room scene in “Sideways.”

Individual-event tickets ($10 and up) and weekend passports ($60-$175) are available.

Down on the … farm?

 

AUG. 11 (and OCT. 6)

For a farm-dinner experience without the usual views of crops, farmhouses and — dare we say it? — compost piles, check out the next event in the “Dinner at the … “ series presented by Totally Local VC, a marketing campaign designed to highlight businesses in Ventura and surrounding areas.

The first event in the series took place on the lawn outside Ventura’s historic city hall. The setting for the Aug. 11 dinner pairing locally grown produce with regional wines will take place next to the hilltop Serra Cross in Grant Park, affording views of the ocean early in the meal and of the evening fireworks at the nearby Ventura County Fair at the end. In between, chef Jason Collis of the Ventura restaurant  Jonathan’s at Peirano’s will serve multiple courses showcasing ingredients from Rio Gozo Farm, Petty Ranch and Limoneira, paired to beverages by Surf Brewery, Vino V Wines and more.

Prefer your farm dinners to be on a farm? That can be arranged. The final event in the “Dinner at the … ” series will take place at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the McGrath Brothers Great Pacific Pumpkins patch, with French Laundry alum Rachel Main — now of the catering firm Main Course California in Ventura — at the culinary helm. Hay rides and some spooky, Halloween-themed entertainment will be included in the $90-per-person price. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Serra Cross Conservancy and FOOD Share.

Reunited, and it feels so good

Two area restaurants (one no longer with us, sad to say) are the focus of upcoming dinners that will reunite owners with chefs and diners with some beloved dishes from back in the day.

Aug. 13, 5:30 p.m.
A decade has passed since former Ventura mayor Sandy Smith sold his (now closed) downtown restaurant, Rosarito Beach Cafe. But its menu devoted to regional Mexican cuisine (think margaritas with fresh lime juice, crab-and-cheese stuffed chile rellenos and plump, made-on-the-premises tortillas) lives on once a year, thanks to the Rosarito Beach Cafe Annual Reunion Dinner for the Arts.

Slated to start with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 7, the Aug. 13 event will feature Smith and former server turned cook Kelly Briglio (now co-owner of the wine and cheese shop Paradise Pantry) re-joining forces in the Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Pavilion at the Museum of Ventura County. Proceeds from tickets, $100, will benefit the California International Theatre Festival.

Aug. 28 (RSVP by Aug. 22)

Tommaso Barletta and Alberto Vazquez, together again. That’s the idea behind a four-course dinner that will reunite Barletta, owner of Tuscany il Ristorante in Westlake Village, with one of the more colorful chefs to pass through the restaurant’s kitchen. (Known for dressing in studs and black leather, Vazquez recently launched a rocker-themed mobile kitchen, Rock Chef Rolls.)

Their reunion menu will feature crostini with fire-blistered baby tomatoes, pan-roasted wild-caught sea trout with pickled three-bean ragout, medallions of Wagyu beef with braised wild mushrooms and, for dessert, doughnut-holesque bombolini over vanilla bean custard with mixed berries. Reservations, $85, include wine pairing and the chance to sit back and watch a couple of pros at work.

Get your goat

August 3-7, from 5 to 10 p.m.

In the spirit of Old Spanish Days Fiesta, the Santa Barbara restaurant Julienne is planning its second annual Fiesta Goat.  At the center of the limited-time-only menu is Goat Bandito, a dish pairing braised goat with a housemade potato quesadilla, guacamole, pico de gallo, queso fresco and creme fraiche. Reservations are recommended, or you can take a chance and angle for one of the spots at the five-person bar.

Goat not your thing? The field-to-fork restaurant owned by the husband-and-wife team of chef Justin West and Emma West also is serving baby abalone from The Cultured Abalone in nearby Goleta. “They are a little smaller than a silver dollar and so tender that they don’t even need to be pounded,” Emma says of the 1-year-old abalone, which Justin is serving grilled with housemade bacon jam, olive oil-poached tomatoes and a sprinkling of bread crumbs.

 

In the clink for a good cause

JULY 28, from 1 p.m.

If you’ve ever received one of those bogus “I’m stuck in London, please send money,” e-mails, you might view a recent message from Amanda Ramirez, assistant manager at Bernard’s Wine Gallery in Calabasas, with some suspicion. But what Ramirez wrote is true: She really will be in “jail” and in need of  bailing out (to the tune of $2,500) as part of a charity Lock-Up fundraiser benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Friends and patrons are welcome to visit Ramirez “behind bars” from around 1 p.m. July 28  at the Sagebrush Cantina, where tax-deductible donations of any and all amounts will be accepted to assure her freedom. Or, beat the rush and go directly to Ramirez’ donation page. Either way, your donation will help send area children to MDA Summer Camp at The Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center.

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.

Outstanding in the Field Dinner

Wednesday, May 11th 4 p.m.

Earthtrine Farms in Ojai is the site of tonight’s farm dinner from Outstanding in the Field.  Chef Rachel Main of Main Course California Catering will prepare family-style dishes using produce from farmers BD and Liz Dautch.  The evening begins with a farm tour and moves to long tables set up in the farm fields.  Wines are provided by Chris Brown of Cantara Cellars.  Tickets which can be purchased here are $200 each.  Amazingly, they’re not sold out yet, so act fast.

More Mother’s Day Dining

Sunday, May 8th

Padri in Agoura Hills is serving a buffet brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a complimentary glass of Champagne.  The stations will feature carved meats, seafood, pasta, salads, eggs, and desserts.  The price is $39 for adults; children under 10 are $6.

Tuscany il Ristorante in Westlake Village will serve brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Cafe Provencal in Thousand Oaks has a special Mother’s Day menu that will be available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  It comes with a complimentary mimosa.  The four-course meal has options like a tomato stuffed with chicken salad, asparagus soup, salmon & shrimp a la nage (cooked in broth) and doused with a veloute (velvety sauce), and lemon cheesecake.  The whole menu is listed on their website.  The price is $40.

The Plug Nickel by Catering Celebrations in Westlake Village will set up tables inside and outside on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  A buffet will offer made-to-order omelets, crab cakes, shrimp, salmon, roast beef, ham, breakfast potatoes, mac & cheese, pastries, brownies, and cupcakes. The price is $30 for adults; children ages 5-12 are $13; children under 5 are free.

Safire in Camarillo is running brunch specials from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  The all-under-$20 menu includes salads, sandwiches, eggs Benedict, prime rib, and a petite lobster tail.  At dinnertime (4 to 8 p.m.) the regular al a carte menu (check it out here) is up for grabs along with the standard Sunday 3-course meal for $25.

Jonathan’s at Peirano’s in Ventura will have an acoustic guitarist and vocalist on hand to entertain moms.  A special omelet-brunch menu served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. includes dessert and costs $25.  The full lunch menu (posted here) will also be available.

71 Palm in Ventura has brunch and lunch specials from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  They include treats like a 3-egg omelet with feta and asparagus ($11), a seafood crepe with lobster-Champagne sauce ($16), a prime-rib sandwich ($20), and an avocado stuffed with shrimp Louie ($14).  Dinner (see the menu here) will be served from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Mother’s Day Dining

Sunday, May 8th

For the May issue of 805 Living Magazine, my dining feature focuses on LA restaurants.  (You can read the digital flip-book version of the magazine here.  My “Global Dining in LA” story starts on p83.)  Two of those restaurants have Mother’s Day menus.

Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood is serving a 3-course brunch with a dessert buffet and Champagne cocktails.  Menu choices (printed here) include baked quiche, wild salmon and cucumber salad, and New York steak + eggs.   The price is $65.

La Cachette Bistro in Santa Monica will be serving an a la carte Mother’s Day brunch from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.  Entrees include organic sunny-side-up eggs with eggplant and spicy tomato sauce ($14), roasted lamb sandwich with Swiss cheese and horseradish sauce ($14), and a Belgian waffle with fresh strawberries and whipped cream ($10).

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.

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