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.

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’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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.