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!

Home-Brewing Workshop

from noon Saturday, June 5th to 5 p.m., Sunday, June 6th

The Orella Stewardship Institute has partnered with Loa Tree eco-lifestyle company to put on a beer brewing workshop the first weekend in June.  The workshop takes place at Orella Ranch in Gaviota where participants can camp overnight (but you must bring your own tent and sleeping bag).

The brewing workshop teaches how to build a home-brewing system and how to brew beer in it.  All meals and snacks are included during the weekend.  The price is $200 per person.

For more details on the workshop, visit the Facebook Page about it.  To reserve a spot, email roots@loatree.com or call David Fortson at Loa Tree, 805-450-2357.

The Plug Nickel honors service men and women

Sunday, May 30th, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.

In honor of Memorial Day, all active-duty or veteran service men and women eat free at The Plug Nickel restaurant by Catering Celebrations on Sunday for brunch.   Offer is limited to one service member per paying customer.   Proof of military service is needed and can include an I.D. card or a picture of the vet in uniform.

Taste & Buy at Jonathan’s

Thursday, May 27th, 6-9 p.m.

There’s a tasting party at Jonathan’s in Ventura tonight.  For $10 you can taste wines from the cellar and buy  bottles at wholesale prices.

Thai Festival Dinner

Saturday, May 29th, 5 p.m.

The waterfall lawn of the Four Seasons Westlake Village will be full of Thai dancers and musicians on Saturday  night.   Chef Srichan Pitak from the Thai Cooking School at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai will create a buffet dinner of traditional Thai cuisine.  The price is $50 for adults; $25 for children.  Beverages are additional. Call 818-575-3000 for reservations.

If you can’t make the festival dinner, Chef Pitak will be cooking Thai dishes for dinner at Onyx May 26-30.

Starry Night at Four Seasons Biltmore

Wednesday, May 26th, 8 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.

Wine Dinner at Melting Pot

Thursday, May 27th, 6 p.m.

The Melting Pot fondue restaurant in Thousand Oaks is stirring up a wine dinner featuring Joel Gott wines.  The 4-course meal begins (Wisconsin cheese trio) and ends (dark chocolate turtle) with fondue.  In between are a strawberry almond salad, and a chicken and duck breast.  The price is $45.   Call 805-370-8802 for reservations.

Louis Gossett, Jr. at ChocolateBox Cafe

Saturday, May 15th, 7-10 p.m.

The ChocolateBox Cafe in the Malibu Lumber Yard will be showing the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman” tonight at 7 p.m.  Before the film, actor Louis Gossett, Jr. will be there signing copies of his new memoir An Actor and a Gentleman. Admission is free.  Tables will be set aside for ChocolateBox Cafe customers.

Tuscan Wine Dinner

Sunday, May 16th, 6:30 p.m.

Tuscany il Ristorante in Westlake Village (968 S. Westlake Blvd.) is hosting winemaker Lorenzo Mottola of Antinori Wines on Sunday night for a winemaker dinner.   The five-course meal includes starters like an heirloom tomato salad paired with Antinori’s Tignanello and a  wild boar pasta with Guado al Tasso wine. The main course is an oak-grilled steak and jumbo prawn paired with a Brunello  Di Montalcino Pian Delle Vigne.  The price is $140.  Call 805-495-2768 for reservations.

Australian Wine Dinner

Friday, May 14th, 7:30 p.m.

The charming wine shop in downtown Calabasas (23538 Calabasas Road), Bernard’s Wine Gallery, is serving a “Down Under Experience” 5-course dinner paired with wines on Friday night at their communal table in the back room.  Prawns on the barbie, bangers and mash, Australian lamb chops, steak pie, and Lamington (sponge cake dipped in chocolate and dusted with coconut) are on the menu along with a Verdelho, a few Shirazes, and a Muscata wine.  The price is $195.  Call 818-224-5662 for reservations.

If you can’t make this dinner, check the website for upcoming Connoisseurs of Wine dinners which happen monthly.  Wine tastings take place at the shop every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 4-8 p.m.

Mother’s Day Dining

Sunday, May 9th

Westlake Village Inn is setting out a buffet brunch in the Provence room from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Sunday.  Carving, seafood, and dessert stations are complimented by made-to-order omelettes and waffles.  The price is $43 for adults, $17 for children 6-12, free for kids 5 and under.

Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas has a 3-course prix-fixe menu on Sunday from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Choices on the menu include quiche with gruyere and sausage, eggs Benedict with applewood-smoked bacon, and macerated strawberries with sweet cream.  The price is $50.

Cafe Provencal in Thousand Oaks is serving an all-day 4-course menu from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. on the 9th.  Appetizer choices include smoked salmon in a potato pancake or a goat-cheese salad.  Next comes asparagus soup and entree choices like New York steak or duck confit.  Dessert is chocolate cheesecake or a mocha cream cup.  The price is $40 which includes a mimosa.

The Plug Nickel in Westlake Village will lay out a buffet brunch from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.  Sit inside or out while dining on seafood, omelettes, waffles, salads, pastries and desserts.  The price for adults is $30, children 5-12 are $12.50, kids under 5 are free.

Spark Woodfire Grill in Simi Valley has a Champagne Brunch for Mother’s Day and every Sunday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.  The buffet includes peel-and-eat shrimp, eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, salads, fruit, desserts, and more.  The price which includes Champagne or a mimosa for adults is $19, kids 6-12 years old are $9, children 5 and under are free.

71 Palm in Ventura is serving brunch from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.  The regular menu will be available along with special dishes like spinach and gruyere crepes, and prime rib with horseradish cream.

Jonathan’s at Pierano’s in Ventura will have an acoustic guitarist and violinist playing at brunch which will be served from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  A 3-course prix-fixe menu will be served with choices like Portugese crab bisque, heart-shaped ravioli, and tiramisu.  The price is $35.  A special kids menu will be available for $10.

Fleming’s Steak House in Woodland Hills has a 3-course prix-fixe meal for Mother’s Day from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Choices include fruit salad, berry-stuffed French toast, and walnut turtle pie.  The price is $30.  The regular menu will also be available.  All moms will receive a $25 gift card for use on a future visit.

All Panera Bread locations, including the Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley locations, will be giving away mini strawberry scones to the first 100 customers to mention “mom” on May 9th.  The giveaway ends at 2 p.m. at the latest.

“Picnic at the Lake” Wine Tasting

Saturday, May 1st, noon - 3 p.m.

Fourteen wineries, all members of the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country Assoc., will be pouring their wares at a picnic on Saturday for adults over 21 years of age.  A buffet lunch will be set out by J.R. Catering and live jazz will play by the lake of the Bridlewood Estate Winery located at 3555 Roblar Avenue in Santa Ynez.

Tickets, which included unlimited wine tastes, are $55.  Tickets must be purchased by noon tomorrow (Friday, April 30th) online or at the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country office.  No tickets will be sold the day of the event.

Conejo Valley Family Fun Fest and Chili Cook-Off

Sunday, April 25th, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks is once again sponsoring the Chili Cook-Off which opens the Conejo Valley Days Carnival. The Cook-Off will be held at Conejo Creek Park South, at the corner of Hwy 23 and Janss Road.

Tickets to the Chili Cook-Off are $10 which buys you a taste of every chili entrant in the contest.  Usually over 75 entries are on hand.  This year Fiamme Restaurant & Bar is entering a red chili and a green chili in the contest.

The Grilled Cheese Invitational

Saturday, April 24th, noon-6 p.m.

This is the 8th annual convocation of The Grilled Cheese Invitational, a grilled-cheese-sandwich competition. It’s being held in downtown L.A. at Los Angeles Center Studios, 1201 W. 5th St., L.A.  Tickets are $15 at the door.

The Grilled Cheese Truck will be there selling its wares along with other food vendors.  The Tillamook Cheese Pavilion will be giving away free grilled cheese sandwich samples, free samples of cheddar, and coupons for Tillamook products.

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.

Older Posts »